I DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS!

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6

We're so excited that you decided to follow Jesus! Here are some first steps that you can take as you follow Jesus to help you internalize and express your faith in your every day life.

1. Get Connected
2. Be Baptized
3. Grow in Spiritual Disciplines as you follow Jesus

GET CONNECTED.

 If you have made a decision to follow Jesus, one of the most important things you can do is connect to people who can spur you on in your faith. Being connected to others is not just for new Christians; it is an essential element for everyone who is following Jesus.

To get connected at Hope Valley, you can talk to people on Sunday morning, join a group, or shoot us an email and ask for help getting connected.

BE BAPTIZED IN WATER.

Baptism is an important "next step" in the life of every believer after he or she has surrendered their life to Christ. We'll talk about this when we meet up, or you can sign up for baptism today. 

Here are a few reasons that it is so important:
  1. Biblical Precedent. In acts chapter 2, Peter calls people to "repent and be baptized" for the forgiveness of sins. In this way, being baptized is an act of obedience to God's will for us as revealed in scripture.
  2. Public Profession of Faith. Baptism is a public declaration of the deeply personal and saving faith in Jesus Christ. It symbolically identifies the new believer with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It signifies a new beginning, much like washing away old clothes and putting on new ones.
  3. Formal Commitment to Christ and His Church. In the same way that baptism requires someone else to be involved in your life (you really shouldn't be baptizing yourself), we are reminded that we are not only devoted to Jesus, but also being added to the global and historical church.
  4. Unification of Faith. Baptism unifies believers across denominations and cultures. It’s a common practice that bridges the gap between Christians, emphasizing our shared faith in Jesus.  

If you want to know more about baptism talk to someone this Sunday or in your small group - or just fill out the form below.

INTRO TO SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

Spiritual disciplines are the things that we do to connect with Jesus so that our lives can be more deeply formed by Him. The following videos are from our "How to Church" class and can help you get started with some of the core spiritual habits that help believers sustain continued healthy growth.
Following Jesus - What is the Gospel?
David Hermes, Andrew Jackson, Megan Hermes
Following Jesus - Reading the Bible
David Hermes, Andrew Jackson, Megan Hermes
Following Jesus - Prayer
David Hermes, Andrew Jackson, Megan Hermes
Following Jesus - Worship
David Hermes, Andrew Jackson, Megan Hermes
Following Jesus - Rest
David Hermes, Andrew Jackson, Megan Hermes