NEXT Steps - You Gotta' Move!
Following Jesus means you can't sit still. You gotta' move! But where? What's next? What about after that? Relax. Being a follower of Jesus isn't about a bunch of rules or a list of to-dos. It's about a relationship. So here's some things that will help you grow in that relationship.
It's as simple and easy as 1, 2, 3.
1 - Church
Jesus said, before anything else, that we need to "repent" ("metanoia" in the Greek). In fact, John the Baptist, Peter, Paul, and all the disciples said this as well. So what does that mean exactly? It means we need to change our minds (meta = change, noia = mind). Because when you change your thinking, everything changes (Romans 12:2). However, in order to do that, you need to change your environment. Whether we like it or not, we are a product of our environments. That's why we need to make it a habit of being in church on Sundays. Whether it's hearing the talk, worshiping God, or simply hanging around other believers, a consistent habit of participating in church will change you for the better.
2 - Get in the Word!
Only God's Word (the Bible) can truly and permanently...eternally!...change the way we think. After all, it's God's Word. It's not the only way God can speak to us (remember, it's about a relationship), but it's the clearest way that we can hear Him. God's Word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12) and as we read it, God transforms us. The goal isn't to get through the Bible, but for the Bible to get through to you. At Gateway, we use a simple tool to help us read the Bible in a relational manner. We call it S.O.A.P. which stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer.
3 - Serve
It's one thing to change how you think about something, but when you begin to act on it, that's when true transformation occurs. Jesus has called every follower to serve. He led the way and now we must follow. This is also where true joy and fulfillment begin to occur in a believers life: when we are serving. At Gateway we believe that God has given everyone something to offer. If you don't know what your gift is or where you should serve, please contact us straight away and we'll help you discover your gifts and start getting you plugged in as soon as possible.
