“I just met Jesus … now what?”
We are so glad you clicked on this article! It either means you were just introduced to Jesus, you know someone who was, or maybe you’re curious about going a little deeper with the Lord. Whatever your reason for pausing here, we want you to know we are here for you as you get to know Jesus on a deeper level. Here are four clear, simple next steps you can take in your relationship with the Lord:
1. Read the Bible
“I feel far from God—how do I get closer?” This is a common question asked by new and longtime believers. The best place to start getting to know Jesus better is through God’s Word—the Bible. Someone once said that the Bible is the only book in which the Author is in love with the reader, and that’s the best lens to read it through. Everything in Scripture is part of God’s plan to restore you to relationship with Himself.
A great place to start in the Bible are the Gospels—the books about Jesus’ life on earth. They’re the first four books in the New Testament. You could start with the Gospel of John and add a chapter of Proverbs or a Psalm. (Proverbs is a book full of wise sayings, and the book of Psalms is a collection of songs to the Lord.) Regardless of what book of the Bible you begin with, we encourage you to just get started!
2. Get Water Baptized
An incredible next step in your relationship with the Lord is water baptism! This is a public, outward expression to show the world your inward decision to follow Jesus. The physical act of being immersed in water illustrates your participation in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. When you go down into the water, you’re dying to your old, sinful life and laying it to rest. When you are raised out of the water, you’re stepping into the brand-new life Christ has for you!
Pastor Jelani Lewis recently preached a sermon to help our church family better understand the purpose and meaning of water baptism. You can watch his message or visit our water baptism page to learn more!
3. Plug Into a Church Community
The more time you spend reading Scripture, the more you’ll notice that God wants us to be in a community of people who can challenge us, encourage us, and help us grow. Community can be messy sometimes because people can be messy, but community is also part of God’s design to draw us even closer to Him. Getting plugged into a small group is a perfect place to find community. There are small groups across our campuses for men, women, prayer, growth, sports, knitting, serving … you name it! Serving with others in the church is also an incredible way to surround yourself with community and show Jesus’ love to others. Take the next step to get involved with volunteering and serve your campus as a greeter, a barista, a kid’s leader, or something else you feel excited about!
4. Find Support
Deciding to surrender your life to Jesus is the biggest (and best!) decision you will ever make! The Bible tells us the angels in heaven rejoice anytime a person surrenders their life to Jesus. We want to rejoice with you! And we also know this decision can often mean a desire for change in your current way of living. If you’d like to receive prayer from a pastor or church leader about your decision to follow Jesus, you can text PRAYER to 71010.
Above all, we want you to know how proud we are of you and how happy the Father is to welcome you into His family with open arms. We are all rejoicing! And we want to do whatever we’re able to support you in your decision to follow Jesus.
Additional Resources
Get more connected with the Gateway Church family
Watch past Gateway Church sermons
Listen to Gateway Worship online
Download the YouVersion Bible App