Next Steps
1 John 4:9 "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him."
What is Salvation?
Salvation means that your relationship with God is made right. This is God’s plan for your life because He loves you and wants a relationship with you. Salvation brings new life which includes (among other things) eternal life, peace with God, peace in your life, forgiveness of all your sins, purpose in this life and the next. Our salvation is the reason Jesus came to earth and died on the cross. (John 3:16)
What is the gospel?
The word “gospel” comes from a Greek word that means “good news.” What is the good news of Christianity? According to 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, the good news of Christianity is that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that Christ was buried, and that Christ rose from the dead the third day and was seen by a multitude of people.
Why do I need to be saved?
The Bible is clear that we all have inherited a sin nature and have fallen short of God’s glory though our sins. (Romans 3:23 and 6:23) These sins separate us from God (Isaiah 59:2). When we are saved, our sins are forgiven and they no longer separate us from God. If someone dies without this forgiveness of sins, they will be separated from God for all of eternity (Romans 6:23). Everybody needs to be saved from that destiny! Further, none of us are able to earn or achieve a right relationship with God (Galatians 2; Ephesians 2). Thankfully, Jesus Christ intervened on our behalf. Jesus, who is God, left heaven and came to earth to pay the death penalty for sin. He lived a sinless life and offered Himself as a perfect substitute, dying for our sins and in our place so that we might be forgiven of our sins and receive eternal life. His death satisfied the righteous demands of God and made it possible for sinners to be declared righteous and enter into a right relationship with God. Three days after His death, Jesus rose from the grave in victory over sin, death, and Satan. His resurrection assures His followers that they too will triumph over sin, death, and Satan!
How Should A Person Respond To The Good News Of Jesus Christ?
Repentance and faith. First, we must repent. To repent means to change the way you think about God, sin, and yourself. It means to change the way you think about God, moving from open rebellion to humble submission. It means to change the way you think about sin, moving from viewing sin as something to be desired to viewing sin as something that destroys your relationship with God and with others. It means to change the way you think about yourself, moving from seeking to control your life to willingly surrendering your life to Jesus Christ.
Second, we must exercise faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Genuine faith includes knowledge (an understanding of the facts), assent (believing the facts are true), and trust (resolving to rely on the truth for life). Exercising saving faith means knowing the facts of Jesus Christ (He is God, He died for our sins, He rose from the dead, and He offers forgiveness, a transformed life, and eternal life to those who trust Him), believing those facts are true, and trusting in Jesus Christ and Him alone for forgiveness, change, and eternal life.
How do I get saved?
It is vitally important to understand your need for a savior, and then recognizing that He is Jesus. It is also important to know that we cannot earn our salvation. When Jesus died on the cross, his death fulfilled the payment for all sins. So, we cannot “pay for our sins” again—they have already been payed for. It is important to know that salvation is a gift from God (Romans 6:23). To receive this gift, we make Jesus our Lord by believing that Jesus died in my place and rose again from the dead, and by receiving Jesus as my Lord and Savior, calling out to Him (Romans 10:13). We, at that moment then become God’s child. In order to have a relationship with God and an eternal home in Heaven, we must stop trusting ourselves, our works, and our religions, and place our full trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of our sin and eternal life. In Romans 10:13 the Bible says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” That is a promise directly from God that if you will pray to Him, confess that you are a sinner, ask Him to forgive your sins, and turn to Him alone to be your Saviour; He promises to save you and give you the free gift of eternal life.
What is Salvation?
Salvation means that your relationship with God is made right. This is God’s plan for your life because He loves you and wants a relationship with you. Salvation brings new life which includes (among other things) eternal life, peace with God, peace in your life, forgiveness of all your sins, purpose in this life and the next. Our salvation is the reason Jesus came to earth and died on the cross. (John 3:16)
What is the gospel?
The word “gospel” comes from a Greek word that means “good news.” What is the good news of Christianity? According to 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, the good news of Christianity is that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that Christ was buried, and that Christ rose from the dead the third day and was seen by a multitude of people.
Why do I need to be saved?
The Bible is clear that we all have inherited a sin nature and have fallen short of God’s glory though our sins. (Romans 3:23 and 6:23) These sins separate us from God (Isaiah 59:2). When we are saved, our sins are forgiven and they no longer separate us from God. If someone dies without this forgiveness of sins, they will be separated from God for all of eternity (Romans 6:23). Everybody needs to be saved from that destiny! Further, none of us are able to earn or achieve a right relationship with God (Galatians 2; Ephesians 2). Thankfully, Jesus Christ intervened on our behalf. Jesus, who is God, left heaven and came to earth to pay the death penalty for sin. He lived a sinless life and offered Himself as a perfect substitute, dying for our sins and in our place so that we might be forgiven of our sins and receive eternal life. His death satisfied the righteous demands of God and made it possible for sinners to be declared righteous and enter into a right relationship with God. Three days after His death, Jesus rose from the grave in victory over sin, death, and Satan. His resurrection assures His followers that they too will triumph over sin, death, and Satan!
How Should A Person Respond To The Good News Of Jesus Christ?
Repentance and faith. First, we must repent. To repent means to change the way you think about God, sin, and yourself. It means to change the way you think about God, moving from open rebellion to humble submission. It means to change the way you think about sin, moving from viewing sin as something to be desired to viewing sin as something that destroys your relationship with God and with others. It means to change the way you think about yourself, moving from seeking to control your life to willingly surrendering your life to Jesus Christ.
Second, we must exercise faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Genuine faith includes knowledge (an understanding of the facts), assent (believing the facts are true), and trust (resolving to rely on the truth for life). Exercising saving faith means knowing the facts of Jesus Christ (He is God, He died for our sins, He rose from the dead, and He offers forgiveness, a transformed life, and eternal life to those who trust Him), believing those facts are true, and trusting in Jesus Christ and Him alone for forgiveness, change, and eternal life.
How do I get saved?
It is vitally important to understand your need for a savior, and then recognizing that He is Jesus. It is also important to know that we cannot earn our salvation. When Jesus died on the cross, his death fulfilled the payment for all sins. So, we cannot “pay for our sins” again—they have already been payed for. It is important to know that salvation is a gift from God (Romans 6:23). To receive this gift, we make Jesus our Lord by believing that Jesus died in my place and rose again from the dead, and by receiving Jesus as my Lord and Savior, calling out to Him (Romans 10:13). We, at that moment then become God’s child. In order to have a relationship with God and an eternal home in Heaven, we must stop trusting ourselves, our works, and our religions, and place our full trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of our sin and eternal life. In Romans 10:13 the Bible says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” That is a promise directly from God that if you will pray to Him, confess that you are a sinner, ask Him to forgive your sins, and turn to Him alone to be your Saviour; He promises to save you and give you the free gift of eternal life.
Acts 8:37-38 "And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him."
What is Baptism?
Baptism is a physical act. You physically enter into the water. Your body goes under the water and is lifted up out of the water again. This physical action represents a great spiritual truth. Romans 6:1-14 describes this beautifully, telling us how our salvation is like a spiritual baptism that identifies us with Jesus who died, was buried, and rose again. Our physical baptism publically identifies us as Christians and pictures this truth for all to see.
Does Baptism make me saved?
No. Baptism pictures our salvation, but does not save us. We are saved by God's grace, not anything we do to earn it, including baptism. (John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9)
Why Should I get baptized?
Baptism is an “ordinance”. That means God ordered it to be done. He gave this ordinance to the church – to baptize those who become Christians. It is as if you are preaching your first message to others through this symbolic demonstration. If you need to obey God by getting baptized, make sure you invite your family and friends to be witnesses of your testimony.
Can I get Baptized?
If you are a Christian (you have been born again by putting your faith in Jesus to save you), you can and should be baptized. (Acts 8:36-38)
What is Baptism?
Baptism is a physical act. You physically enter into the water. Your body goes under the water and is lifted up out of the water again. This physical action represents a great spiritual truth. Romans 6:1-14 describes this beautifully, telling us how our salvation is like a spiritual baptism that identifies us with Jesus who died, was buried, and rose again. Our physical baptism publically identifies us as Christians and pictures this truth for all to see.
Does Baptism make me saved?
No. Baptism pictures our salvation, but does not save us. We are saved by God's grace, not anything we do to earn it, including baptism. (John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9)
Why Should I get baptized?
Baptism is an “ordinance”. That means God ordered it to be done. He gave this ordinance to the church – to baptize those who become Christians. It is as if you are preaching your first message to others through this symbolic demonstration. If you need to obey God by getting baptized, make sure you invite your family and friends to be witnesses of your testimony.
Can I get Baptized?
If you are a Christian (you have been born again by putting your faith in Jesus to save you), you can and should be baptized. (Acts 8:36-38)
1 Corinthians 12:27 "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."
What is Church Membership?
Let’s see, attending a service and having your name on a list in some filing cabinet in the church office … Isn’t that exciting? Hardly. Biblical church membership is a whole lot more than that – God wants to use you to further His kingdom! Membership includes making a commitment to be a part of the body of Christ in a local assembly of believers. This means that whatever the body is doing, the different parts are all working together to accomplish it.
Does Membership Matter?
The Christian life is not just our own private affair. It is to be a family affair in which we enjoy fellowship with our Heavenly Father and with each other. Every Christian should unite with a local, Bible-believing church and share in its worship, its fellowship and its witness (Ephesians 5:25).
FBC is a Body of Believers.
The word member means body part (1 Corinthians 12:27). When the various members of a body come together, all the members must be functioning together in the ways they were designed to function for the body to be whole and functional. The body needs its’ members and the members need their body. How well would your body function without its’ right arm? How well would your right arm function without your body? This is the picture God gives us to understand the local church and our roles in it. (1 Corinthians 12)
What is Church Membership?
Let’s see, attending a service and having your name on a list in some filing cabinet in the church office … Isn’t that exciting? Hardly. Biblical church membership is a whole lot more than that – God wants to use you to further His kingdom! Membership includes making a commitment to be a part of the body of Christ in a local assembly of believers. This means that whatever the body is doing, the different parts are all working together to accomplish it.
Does Membership Matter?
The Christian life is not just our own private affair. It is to be a family affair in which we enjoy fellowship with our Heavenly Father and with each other. Every Christian should unite with a local, Bible-believing church and share in its worship, its fellowship and its witness (Ephesians 5:25).
FBC is a Body of Believers.
The word member means body part (1 Corinthians 12:27). When the various members of a body come together, all the members must be functioning together in the ways they were designed to function for the body to be whole and functional. The body needs its’ members and the members need their body. How well would your body function without its’ right arm? How well would your right arm function without your body? This is the picture God gives us to understand the local church and our roles in it. (1 Corinthians 12)
1 Corinthians 12:7 "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal."
Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
What do you mean by service and ministry?
“Service” is when we work for the sake of the church body. Examples of service include cleaning, serving in Sunday school, Singing in the choir, greeting people, etc. The church needs many workers to function properly and we are all called to serve. “Ministry” is a service that includes teaching the Word of God in some way. This includes small group Bible studies, discipleship, preaching, teaching and many other opportunities available at FBC.
Better Together. Serving Jesus.
Church is more than a place to go. It is somewhere you can make a difference by actively serving and giving back to others. We serve because God has designed us and called us to do good works. Scripture teaches that Jesus didn’t come to be served, but to serve others and to give His life for us (Matthew 20:28). As Christians, our goal is to be more like Jesus; to reflect Him in our everyday lives. There are opportunities for you to serve where you can make an impact on people’s lives and point others to Jesus. Our desire is for you to use your talents and time to serve and make a difference for the Kingdom of God.
Won’t They Do It?
No. There is no “they”, there is only “us”. The Bible teaches that we are the church. The church is the body and we are members gifted to serve. We believe God has you here to be the church, not just attend services. One of our principles at FBC is “Every member a Minister”. God wants to use you to further His kingdom. If you see a need, join a team and fill that need. The question for the believer is never “Will you serve”, the question is “Where Will You Serve?”
Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
What do you mean by service and ministry?
“Service” is when we work for the sake of the church body. Examples of service include cleaning, serving in Sunday school, Singing in the choir, greeting people, etc. The church needs many workers to function properly and we are all called to serve. “Ministry” is a service that includes teaching the Word of God in some way. This includes small group Bible studies, discipleship, preaching, teaching and many other opportunities available at FBC.
Better Together. Serving Jesus.
Church is more than a place to go. It is somewhere you can make a difference by actively serving and giving back to others. We serve because God has designed us and called us to do good works. Scripture teaches that Jesus didn’t come to be served, but to serve others and to give His life for us (Matthew 20:28). As Christians, our goal is to be more like Jesus; to reflect Him in our everyday lives. There are opportunities for you to serve where you can make an impact on people’s lives and point others to Jesus. Our desire is for you to use your talents and time to serve and make a difference for the Kingdom of God.
Won’t They Do It?
No. There is no “they”, there is only “us”. The Bible teaches that we are the church. The church is the body and we are members gifted to serve. We believe God has you here to be the church, not just attend services. One of our principles at FBC is “Every member a Minister”. God wants to use you to further His kingdom. If you see a need, join a team and fill that need. The question for the believer is never “Will you serve”, the question is “Where Will You Serve?”
2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Pray Every Day
Jesus said, "...men ought always to pray..." (Luke 18:1) and the Scriptures also teach, "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). You should form the habit of praying daily for definite people and specific things.
A prayer list may provide help in making your prayers more meaningful. There is nothing too great and nothing too small to take to the Lord in prayer. Thank God for all He has done for you. Ask Him for the strength and help you need to live for Jesus.
Daily Bible Reading
Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Just as you need physical food in order to sustain life, you need spiritual food (the Bible) to maintain spiritual life. We suggest you begin in the New Testament by reading the Gospel of John or Mark. Follow this with the book of Acts. Next, read Paul's Epistle of the Romans.
Set aside a few moments at the beginning of the day for Bible study. Look for promises to claim, commandments to obey, for examples to follow and sins to avoid. Memorize key verses such as John 3:16. Your growth as a Christian will be directly related to your personal application of the Word of God.
Witness For Christ
The greatest work in the world is soul winning and every Christian can, and should, bring others to Christ (Acts 1:8). Try to speak naturally and cheerfully everyday to someone about Christ. The Bible says, "He that winneth souls is wise" (Proverbs 11:30).
Remember you are a witness by what you do as well as by what you say. At home, work or school, there should be something about you that is different: love, patience, understanding. Then tell someone about Jesus who made the difference.
Pray Every Day
Jesus said, "...men ought always to pray..." (Luke 18:1) and the Scriptures also teach, "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). You should form the habit of praying daily for definite people and specific things.
A prayer list may provide help in making your prayers more meaningful. There is nothing too great and nothing too small to take to the Lord in prayer. Thank God for all He has done for you. Ask Him for the strength and help you need to live for Jesus.
Daily Bible Reading
Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Just as you need physical food in order to sustain life, you need spiritual food (the Bible) to maintain spiritual life. We suggest you begin in the New Testament by reading the Gospel of John or Mark. Follow this with the book of Acts. Next, read Paul's Epistle of the Romans.
Set aside a few moments at the beginning of the day for Bible study. Look for promises to claim, commandments to obey, for examples to follow and sins to avoid. Memorize key verses such as John 3:16. Your growth as a Christian will be directly related to your personal application of the Word of God.
Witness For Christ
The greatest work in the world is soul winning and every Christian can, and should, bring others to Christ (Acts 1:8). Try to speak naturally and cheerfully everyday to someone about Christ. The Bible says, "He that winneth souls is wise" (Proverbs 11:30).
Remember you are a witness by what you do as well as by what you say. At home, work or school, there should be something about you that is different: love, patience, understanding. Then tell someone about Jesus who made the difference.
Acts 1:8 "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
What is Missions?
The word “Missions” refers to activities required to accomplish the mission of God has given. We believe that mission is to go and make disciples. We also believe that missions is for all of us, not just missionaries who get on a plane and go somewhere far away. God wants to use you to be a part of His mission anytime, anywhere.
Going Local
FBC offers local outreach right in here in our own community. We have several opportunities to go locally and serve those in our neighborhood. From ongoing ministries to special events, we are able to impact those that are near with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ!
Going Global
FBC occasionally participates in mission trips. We call this global outreach. These trips help us as God works in us as we commit our time, money and energy to fulfill His mission. He also works through us to help our missionary partners all over the globe.
Engaging the Mission
For some, God will call you to go somewhere for a matter of weeks, months, or years, or perhaps for the rest of your life. We hope to be an equipping church that will prepare you for this type of life. Making disciples here first within the structure of FBC is the best way to get equipped to do it somewhere else.
What is Missions?
The word “Missions” refers to activities required to accomplish the mission of God has given. We believe that mission is to go and make disciples. We also believe that missions is for all of us, not just missionaries who get on a plane and go somewhere far away. God wants to use you to be a part of His mission anytime, anywhere.
Going Local
FBC offers local outreach right in here in our own community. We have several opportunities to go locally and serve those in our neighborhood. From ongoing ministries to special events, we are able to impact those that are near with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ!
Going Global
FBC occasionally participates in mission trips. We call this global outreach. These trips help us as God works in us as we commit our time, money and energy to fulfill His mission. He also works through us to help our missionary partners all over the globe.
Engaging the Mission
For some, God will call you to go somewhere for a matter of weeks, months, or years, or perhaps for the rest of your life. We hope to be an equipping church that will prepare you for this type of life. Making disciples here first within the structure of FBC is the best way to get equipped to do it somewhere else.