Where Do I Start With Jesus?
Step 1: Commit Your Life To Jesus
The greatest day of your life is when you commit yourself to Jesus! The Bible tells us that Jesus has the power to “make all things new.”
Jesus desires for you to experience new purpose, new joy, new peace and new life greater than you can imagine.
Why Do I Need Jesus?
We begin life separated from God because of sin, which is falling short of God’s perfect standard. Sin leads to death and eternal isolation from God.
There is nothing we can do to bridge the gap between us and God—not religion or being good. Only Jesus can rescue us by bridging the gap.
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” - Romans 3:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 6:23
What Did Jesus Do for Me?
But there’s good news—God loves us too much to leave us hopeless in our sin, so He sent His only Son, Jesus, to this earth.
Jesus lived a perfect life and willfully chose death on a cross to pay the price for our sin. Three days later He rose from the grave, defeating death to bridge the gap between God and us!
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” - Romans 5:8
How Do I Cross the Bridge Jesus Made?
The Bible says we need to believe that Jesus died for our sin and rose from the grave. Also, we must choose to surrender to Jesus, fully committing our lives to follow Him.
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done…” - Ephesians 2:8–9
Committing your life to Jesus starts with the ABC’s:
Admit you need Jesus.
Believe that Jesus died and rose from the grave for you.
Commit to follow Jesus the rest of your life.
”…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.“ - Romans 10:9
Make Jesus Your Bridge Today!
Pray: God, I believe You love me and want a relationship with me. I admit I’ve sinned, separating me from You. I believe You sent Jesus to die on the cross for my sins and He rose again to be the bridge to You. Today, I turn from my sins and surrender my life entirely to You and ask You to save me. Amen!
Step 2: Get Baptized Like Jesus
After you have made the decision to commit your life to Jesus, baptism is your next step! Baptism is an outward display of your inward decision to trust Christ with your life. When you step into the water, you are letting the world know of your new commitment of faith in Jesus. Here at Fellowship Church, every baptism is a celebration!
“You will be His 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.” - Acts 22:15–16
What Is Believer’s Baptism?
Every baptism in the Bible was done by immersion. “Baptism” comes from the Greek word baptizo, which means “to immerse.” That means going under the water briefly, and then coming back out. It’s that simple!
When we go under the water, it symbolizes Christ’s death and the surrender of our old sinful ways. When we come back out of the water, it symbolizes Christ’s resurrection and our new life in Him! Baptism itself does not wash away sin; it’s only Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and our surrendering to Him that saves us.
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” - Romans 6:4
Why Is Baptism So Important?
Baptism is commanded in Scripture for those who have made a personal decision to receive Christ. Going public with your faith through baptism is the first step of obedience after committing your life to Jesus. It identifies you as a Christ-follower.
“Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” - Acts 2:41
Was Jesus Baptized?
Yes! Jesus is our guide in every area of life, including baptism! He was immersed in the Jordan River in obedience to God and as an example to us.
“Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then John consented.” - Matthew 3:15
What If I Was Baptized As An Infant? Do You Baptize Children?
In Scripture, a believer’s baptism is reserved for those who are old enough to make their own faith decision to become a Christ-follower. Every baptism in the Bible, came after a person’s decision to follow Jesus. Here at Fellowship Church, a child may participate in baptism if they are at least six years old. We provide Kid’s Baptism Class to teach your child about how to make a personal decision to receive Christ.
Step 3: Grow Daily with Jesus
Like any healthy relationship, your relationship with Christ needs intentionality, communication, trust, and time. As you grow closer to Jesus, you will begin to understand who you are in Him and discover more of what He wants for you. You can strengthen your relationship with Christ by praying, reading your Bible daily, and attending church regularly.
Bible
The Bible is the most important book you will ever read. It is God’s very word spoken to you. The Bible is true, timeless, and able to equip you for every step in your journey with God. If you’re not sure how to get started, download the Fellowship Church app to read the daily devotionals and make them a regular part of your day. You could also read the book of John in the New Testament, or download the YouVersion Bible App to find a Bible reading plan.
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” - Psalm 119:105
Church
The only thing Jesus ever established was the local church. This journey of faith isn’t meant to be traveled alone. At church each week, we unite to worship God, discover His plan for our lives, learn to live out His priorities, and build relationships with others who have a commitment to Christ.
“...not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another...” - Hebrews 10:24-25
If you’re looking for how to get involved, here’s some next steps:
Newcomers Luncheon - Discover all the great things God has for you. Learn more about our vision and values while also having the opportunity to officially join Fellowship Church.
Groups & Classes - Find community and learn to apply God's word to your daily life.
Pray
Prayer is one of the most crucial aspects to a vibrant and growing relationship with God. Prayer is simply having a conversation with God – something everyone can do. There’s no one way to pray, but here is a template that may help you as you begin to connect with God through conversation:
Praise – Begin your prayer with PRAISE. Praise is thanking God for who He is, what He can do, and what He has done.
Repent – Take a moment to REPENT. Recognize your shortcomings and turn away from them. God isn’t surprised by anything you bring to Him, so don’t be afraid to admit those things that fall short of His standard for your life.
Ask – Be willing to ASK. God wants us to ask Him for things in our lives. He wants His children (that’s us) to come to Him with our requests.
Yield – Finally, YIELD. Prayer is not just asking God for what we want; it is putting ourselves in a position to want what God wants. When we yield to His plan and His purpose above all, we show that we trust in His goodness.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” - Philippians 4:6