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What's Next?
Become a Follower of Jesus
Let us know today that you've made a decision to follow Jesus! We'll send you a Bible in the mail, pray for you this week and encourage you in your new faith. This is the most important and significant decision you'll ever make ... let us walk along with you and support you in your faith!
What does it mean to follow Jesus?
Following Jesus is the most significant and incredible decision that you'll ever make in your life. In fact, it says in the Bible that all who follow Jesus are a new creation:
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Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Cor. 5:17)
Click the video above to see how you can become a follower of Jesus today. There's just three simple things you need to do to receive this new life in Jesus:
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Turn away from my sin
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Sin just means missing the mark -- not living up to the standard that God originally set for our lives. Sin separates you from God, and because God is perfectly just, requires a punishment. But the good news is, we've all made mistakes before. But the Bible promises that when we admit those mistakes and turn away from our old sinful selves, that God offers unlimited forgiveness. And incredibly, God made a way for us to be reunited with Him again without a punishment for our sin ...
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Turn to Jesus
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God loves you so much that He doesn't want you to live without the fullness of His promises in your life. He wants to turn your sin around and provide a way for you to follow His original plan for your life to the fullest. That's why He sent His only son Jesus down to earth. Jesus lived a perfect life. He's the only person to ever walk this earth who never once turned away from God's plan. He never sinned. And then, to take away our sin, he died on a cross for you in your place. He took the punishment for your sin so you don't have to. And as you turn to Him, he'll take your sin upon his shoulders and provide a way back into God's arms.
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Commit to following Jesus
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Jesus came to give you eternal life through his death on the cross. He provided a way for you to be reunited with God forever in Heaven. But also, when you commit to following Jesus, he promised to give you a rich and full life. So as you follow him and commit to living in the example of Jesus, then you'll experience that life!
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To receive this full life and become a follower of Jesus, pray this today ....
Father God, I am sorry for how I have turned away from you before. I come to you today and ask for your forgiveness for the times in my life where I've not done the right thing. Please forgive me for the sin in my life. Today, I choose to follow another way. I want to follow your son Jesus. Thank you for sending him to die on a cross for my sins. Today I commit my life to following him. Amen.
What now? - 4 Steps for a New Beliver
So you've just become a follower of Jesus, but you're wondering what's next? God wants to have a relationship with us and He’s given us ways to know Him better. As we get to know God, we better understand His plan for us and we can strive to be more like Jesus. Here's your next four steps after becoming a follower of Jesus.
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STEP 1: Make my new faith public by getting baptized
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Baptism by full water immersion is a public display of your new faith in Jesus. It's the symbolic representation of your faith in Jesus -- telling all your family and friends that you have decided to follow Jesus. While baptism isn't required for you to become a Christian, it is a significant and important step for you to take.
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Baptism FAQ
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Who can be baptized?
Anyone who has decided to follow Jesus and commit their life to following him.
When can I be baptized?
If you've decided to follow Jesus, you should be baptized immediately. In the Bible, people who decide to follow Jesus are immediately baptized.
What is full immersion baptism?
Full immersion baptism is when you are fully submerged under water and then raised out of the water. It represents the fact that your old sinful life is gone and a new life has begun. When you go into the water, you symbolically proclaim that Jesus died for your sins, and therefore you have put off your old life. When you emerge from the water it represents your new life in Christ.
What is the meaning of baptism?
We believe baptism is a public display of your new faith in Jesus. Baptism does not save you - only your faith in Jesus can do that. Rather, baptism is an outward display of your internal transformation as a new believer.
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What should I expect when I get baptized at Calvary?
One word - a party. Baptism is an opportunity to celebrate Jesus at work in your life. We encourage you to invite your family and friends, and expect there to be lots of laughter, celebration, cheering and joy over your decision and your baptism!
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STEP 2: Read the Bible
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The Bible is God's story to humanity of how He is at work. It describes the fall of humanity into sin and the story of how God did everything required to save us by sending His son Jesus to die on a cross.
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The Bible is God's instruction manual for how we can live our best life. It is the central source of authority for a follower of Jesus.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. (2 Tim 3.16-17)
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You can download the Bible on your phone, or we'll even send you a copy of the Bible if you let us know!
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If you don't know where to start, don't worry. We've got a few helpful links to help you get started:
- How to Read the Bible
- 6 tips for reading the Bible
- Where is the best place to start reading?
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STEP 3: Find Christian community
It’s really important to meet up with other people who follow Jesus too, by getting in Christian community. To do that, we recommend getting in a small group. Small groups are groups of 10-20 people who meet weekly in homes all across Stockton, Lodi and the central valley. You'll be encouraged in your faith and challenged to read God's word (the bible). Sign up today to a group by clicking the button below.
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STEP 4: Tell someone
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It’s good news! Tell it, sing it, post it. Telling other people about your life changing decision is really important too. This is called sharing your testimony. There are lots of ways to share your testimony online and offline. Posting something to social media is a great way to start. Write it down and start sharing.
If you’re not sure how to personally share your testimony, or you’re unclear about what to say — don’t stress. Here is a free eBook: 8 Essential Steps to Writing Your Testimony — So you can start telling people what Jesus has done for you.
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