PERSONAL GROWTH |
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SALVATION |
NEXT STEPS |
DISCIPLESHIP |
BIBLE INSTITUTE |
Step 2: Next Steps
Baptism
Water baptism is an outward expression of an inward decision to follow Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord of your life. Not only does the Bible command us to be baptized, but Jesus Himself was water baptized by immersion. It is the first step of obedience after accepting Jesus as your Saviour. Baptism is a public profession about what happened to us at salvation - it pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and shows to the world that we have a new life in Him (Romans 6:1-4).
Baptism does not save us, but shows to everyone that we are saved. The word "baptism" means immersed.
Acts 2:41, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."
Matthew 3:16a, "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water...."
Baptism's Picture
Picture of Jesus'
Death
Picture of Jesus'
Burial
Picture of Jesus'
Resurrection
Church Membership
The Bible teaches us that upon our Biblical baptism, we are members of the local New Testament church.
The word "church" appears more than a hundred times in the New Testament, referring to a local body of believers who have united together for worship, teaching, and encouragement. A church is a "safe haven" for Christians in this world, where they can be nurtured, get support, and serve others. By joining a church, a Christian takes his or her role in the fulfilling the Great Commission given by Jesus to his churches (Matthew 28:18-20). Baptism is a prerequisite to church membership.
You can join the church in one of three ways:
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By baptism by our church;
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By transfer of letter, when your membership is transferred to us from another church that believes like ours; or
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By statement, when a transfer of letter is not possible but you can give testimony of having been baptized by another church that believes like ours.
Acts 2:41, Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Fundamental Five
There are some activities that a Christian should do regularly for spiritual growth. Five, in particular, are critical to helping a Christian develop healthy a relationship with the heavenly Father.
We call these the fundamental five:
Bible study - Our heavenly Father speaks to us through the Scriptures. Daily reading and study of His word will help us to learn about His will for us (2 Timothy 2:15).
Prayer - Prayer is the act of taking our thoughts, troubles, and desires to our heavenly Father. He wants to hear from us, and we need to talk to him regularly (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Church attendance - We need to be regular in our church attendance, so we can worship, learn, and be encouraged, and so we can encourage and serve others (Hebrew 10:25).
Tithes and offerings - We should give a portion of our income to our church regularly and generously, to be used in carrying out the church's mission. Regular giving is a sign of maturity, and opens us up to God's blessings (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).
Witnessing - Witnessing is telling other people about what has happened to us. By telling others, we spread the gospel message and become an encouragement to those around us (1 Peter 3:15).
We encourage and support our members in each of these areas, as they take the necessary steps to personally grow closer to the Lord.
Serving
Just as Christ died for us, we are ultimately called to die to self and serve others (1 Peter 2:21). Members should take on responsibility for executing the mission of the church, according their talents and abilities, and how they are called by God (1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11-12). We are the church, and the church's mission is our mission.
If you would like to serve our church in any capacity but aren't sure how, please talk to the Pastor or another leader. We will be happy to help you get involved in church ministries.