First Steps:
FAITH IN GODClicking on this link could literally change your life. The information to follow will answer some of life’s most important questions, as well as, give you the steps to follow that will help you experience everything God purposed for your life. No matter where you are at this point in your life, we need to rethink our lives to determine for what and whom are we living. Our prayer is that the this link will help you discover the LIFE you have always wanted.
CHURCHWhen you stepped over the line of faith and chose to follow Jesus, you became part of a movement. But this movement. Christianity, is not a solo sport. That’s why the local church exists. Each week, when we gather together as a church, we come to worship God, discover His plan for our lives, and learn how to live our His priorities. As you continue to walk with faith, make a commitment to the local church. The Bible calls it your “spiritual family.” It is crucial to your growth and experience of the abundant life Christ has in store for us.
GET BAPTIZEDSimply put, baptism is an outward display and celebration of your inward decision to trust Christ with your eternity. It’s an act of obedience, a step of acknowledgement that is representative of the fact that Jesus died on the cross, was buried and rose again from the grave, alive, so each of us can experience eternal life. When you step into the water, you are letting the world know that you have walked into a new life of faith in Jesus Christ and that you are committing to follow Him down a new path. If you’ve made the decision to follow Jesus, baptism is your next step in your spiritual journey. Acts 22:15-16 “You will be my witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on His name.”
FAMILY & FRIENDSOur relationship with Christ might be personal but it is not private. God has called each us to be His witnessed to our friends, family, co-workers, and classmates. Acts 1:8 (NLT)”…and you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere–in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samria, and to the ends of the earth. John 9:25 (NLT) “…But I know this: I was Blind, and now I can see!” The most powerful story you can tell someone is the story of how Jesus changed your life. Just like the blind man in the above, he didn’t know how to answer all the questions or explain the details of what happened in his life. However, he knew these things for certain; he was blind and his personal encounter with Jesus allowed him to see.
Growth Steps:
READ YOUR BIBLEAs followers of Christ, we need God’s help to grow and reach our full potential in Christ. The Bible is God-breathed, which means it was written by God. Therefore, it is your key for success as a Christ follower. Not only do we need to study it, but more importantly we must apply it to our daily lives. When you obey the principals taught in the Bible, God promises that your journey through life will be blessed and successful. God wants you to prosper in your relationships, marriage, family and work. He has given you the Bible for success. You decide where you obey it and prosper or whether you ignore it and fail. James 1:22-25 (NLT) But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like, But if you look carefully in the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
Suggestions: Find a translation of the Bible that you like and is easy to read (e.g., New Living Translation, New International Version). YOu can download a free digital Bible that offers a variety of translations to your computer, handheld device or smart-phone. This allows you to have your Bible with you at all times. Go to www.youversion.com At This website you will also find Bible reading plans for you to flolow throughout the year that can send daily readings to your inbox. Click here for a 30 day reading plan that follows the life of Jesus to help you get started.
PRAYJesus regularly spent time in prayer to God. He understood that getting together and talking with another person is the best way to develop a relationship with that person. Getting together and talking with God is called prayer. There are many kinds of prayer recorded in the Bible. God wants us to use all of them when talking with Him. The ACTS pattern is a simple way to begin using every kind of prayer.
ADORATION: telling God what He means to you.
CONFESSION: Telling God your sin and receiving His forgiveness.
THANKSGIVING: Telling God how grateful you are for all He’s done for you.
SUPPLICATION: Telling God your specific needs.
ADORATION: telling God what He means to you.
CONFESSION: Telling God your sin and receiving His forgiveness.
THANKSGIVING: Telling God how grateful you are for all He’s done for you.
SUPPLICATION: Telling God your specific needs.
Jesus makes it clear that when His words, the Bible, become part of you, you will pray and God will answer. Knowledge and understanding of the Bible is a major component to confident praying. God answers every prayer. His answers are NO, YES, WAIT. God may not answer prayer the way that we want, but He will answer prayer in a way that He see best. If God says no or wait, know that God has a greater purpose He wants to fulfill. God’s delays are not always God’s denials. We must be patient and persistent with our prayers.
GIVEMoney represents so much of who we are and what we do. What we do with our money tells others who we are and what we do. When we tithe, we acknowledge the fact that God is in control of our lives. A Tithe means 10%. And in the Bible God challenges us to bring 10% of all we make back to Him through the local church. It’s not because God needs your money. It’s because He knows that when you get an accurate handle on money, money will not handle you. Our Giving reflects our trust that He will continue to provide for us, and allows us to be a part of His work here on earth. It’s something we do with joy. Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Learn more about Giving Online
LIFE GROUPS“You are better off to have a friend than to be all alone….If you fall, your friend can help you up. But if you fall without having a friend nearby, you are really in trouble.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 God’s plan for growth and freedom always includes other believers. If we are losing a battle or repeating a cycle, the answer just might be a good friend. We can’t get better on our own, we need the help of other people.
LifeGroups are the friends that you grow, laugh and serve with. We were designed to thrive in community with other believers and grow better together! Here’s how you can find the right group for you: www.LifeWay.cc/lg
SERVEMost of us want to make a difference: we want to leave our footprint on the world. And God has gifted each of us with a particular set of skills to do just that-through the local church. As a new Christ follower, one of the most powerful lessons you can put into action is serving in the church; it’s stepping outside of your comfort level and stepping up to serve others. Jesus himself said that He did not come to be served, but to serve others. When you volunteer your time and talent in the local church, you will discover the key to unlocking a life of influence and change. Read these words from the Bible and take the next step of serving in the church. 1 Peter 4:10 “Each one should use whatever gifts he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”
GET HELPYour next step may be gaining freedom from harmful influences in your life, like recovering from addiction or reframing unhealthy relationships. We have relationships with area counselors that can help. We would be glad to help you. You can call or email our church office.