CALVARY
BAPTIST
What's your next step in following Jesus?
Everyone has a next step for their life
Everybody is on a journey of faith. Some are brand new to church and God, while others are looking to continue growing in their faith. Wherever you currently find yourself, our desire is to help you take steps toward the full and rich life that God has for you (John 10:10).
At Calvary we want to make taking that next step easy. Stop by our Home Room this weekend or email us at calvarywtx@gmail.com
01
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FOLLOW JESUS?
The Gospel is God's rescuing work through the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ
The Problem
Sin has separated us from God. Sin is failing to live up to God’s standard for our lives. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:23.
The Consequence
No amount of effort can close the gap between us and God. As a result, our separation from Him extends from this life into the next one, where we will spend eternity in Hell. “These shall be punished with everlasting destruction.” – 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9
The Solution
God loves us so much that he sent his son Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sins by dying on a cross in our place. After Jesus died, God raised Jesus from the dead. “For Christ also suffered once for sins … that He might bring us to God.” – 1 Peter 3:18
The Opportunity
Jesus has done the work to restore our relationship with God, but we must act. We must respond to God with our heart, mind and will. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God.” – John 1:12
Our Response- You can receive the work of Christ by:
+ Admitting you're a sinner and asking God for forgiveness (1 John 1:9)
+ Telling God that you believe in and appreciate what He has done in sending Jesus Christ to die for your sins and rise again (Romans 10:9)
+ Asking God to be the Lord of your life by committing your life and heart to Jesus. (Romans 10:9-10)
Celebrate Your Faith
If you’ve made the decision to follow Christ, baptism is one of the most meaningful next steps you can take. Baptism is a public celebration of your decision to follow Christ.
"For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives." (Romans 6:4)
02
WHAT DO FOLLOWERS OF JESUS BELIEVE?
What you believe always precedes and determines what you do. A foundational part of growth as a follower of Jesus is to understand what the Bible says.
God the Father
God is the creator of the world and calls us His children.
"See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him." (1 John 3:1)
The Son- Jesus Christ
Jesus is fully God and fully man and is alive today in Heaven.
"Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us" (Romans 8:34)
The Holy Spirit
The power of God is alive in us through the Holy Spirit.
And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us." (1 Corinthians 2:12)
03
HOW DO I GROW MY FAITH?
God wants to have a relationship with us and He’s given us ways to know Him better. The reality is- it is never going to happen by accident. Spiritual growth is intentional.
Read the Bible
The Bible is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs about living. Because God speaks through His Word, you will get to know Him better and learn what pleases Him. As you obey His Word, you will grow strong and begin to see positive changes in your life. (2 Timothy 3:16)
Download the Bible App and find a Bible reading plan to help you make the Bible part of your everyday life.
A great reading plan to start with if you are new to the Bible is the First Steps Reading Plan.
Make Prayer Part of Your Day
Prayer is as essential to knowing God and growing spiritually as breathing is to living and staying healthy. Prayer is talking to God, and there’s nothing more powerful than asking for God’s help. (Philippians 4:6)
Start Living for God
A sure sign of a changed heart is the desire to live for God. What does this mean? It means that you want to please God and to obey Him as best you know how. You will begin to filter your thoughts and actions through God’s Word in order to become a reflection of Jesus Christ.
Don't Get Sidetracked
Being a Christian is not always easy. There will be times when you’ll feel pressured to back down or give in. When you became a child of God, you also became an enemy of the devil; and he will try to tempt you into disobeying God. It isn’t a sin to be tempted—even Jesus experienced temptation (see Luke 4:1–3)—but giving in to the temptation is sin. Christians will experience times of testing and trials, but God promises to be with us and give us the strength we need to get through hard times.
04
WHAT IS MY NEXT STEP IN CHURCH?
Church plays a vital role in your spiritual growth. If simply attending church is your plan, you are missing out on the best God has to offer.
Connect
Life is better together. Church plays a vital role in your spiritual growth. Fellowship with other Christians will give you much needed Biblical encouragement, support, instruction and equipping.. (Acts 2:42)
Give
When we give our time, talents, or financial gifts, we give God the chance to prove His faithfulness. (Malachi 3:10)
Share
When you experience something as good as God’s love, you want to share it with the people in your life! You don’t have to wait until you’re an expert in the Bible to witness to others. You can share what you know—your own story of what Jesus has done for you. Talk about how God has changed your life, build relationships, and invite someone to come to church with you. (Matthew 28:19-20)