Follow Jesus
So you want to follow Jesus?
THE DECISION TO ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE YOU’LL EVER MAKE.
For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
1 John 5:11-12
Q: HOW DO I BEGIN A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS?
Forgiveness of our sins is a gift from God when we accept Jesus as the one who saved us. We’ve all sinned and fall short of God’s standard. That results in a penalty of separation from God and ultimately death. But Jesus took the penalty of our sin for us, therefore we can have a fresh start, a clean slate, and a new life. We can’t earn forgiveness and we don’t deserve this gift of grace and forgiveness, but he chooses to give it to us freely.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
IF YOU WANT TO BEGIN A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN TALK TO HIM AS YOU WOULD A FRIEND. WE OFTEN SAY IT’S AS EASY AS ABC.
Admit- That you’ve sinned and fall short of God’s standard.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9
Believe- that God sent His Son Jesus to die for your sin.
Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
John 5:24
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
Commit- to receive this gift of grace and to follow Jesus.
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
John 1:12
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Matthew 4:19
HERE IS AN EXAMPLE:
Dear God,
I admit that I am a sinner and I fall short of your standard. I believe that Jesus died to pay the penalty for my sins and then rose from the dead on the third day. I accept your free gift of for- giveness and salvation, and I commit my life to you. I’m turning away from doing things my own way. Please help me live my life according to your way. Thank you for your grace and forgiveness and for giving me a new life in you. Amen.
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Romans 10:13
If you prayed this prayer...
Congratulations!
When you receive Christ, you are born into God’s family and the Holy Spirit, God’s Spirit, which guides you and reveals God’s truth, now lives in you. You have a new relationship with God and a new future. All of Heaven is rejoicing, and we are too. Welcome to God’s family!
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
2 Corinthians 5:17
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Romans 8:15-17
There is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents. Luke 15:10
Q: WHAT’S NEXT?
Deciding to follow Jesus is more than just a one-time prayer. It’s a lifelong journey of getting to know God and growing deeper in your faith. If your heart and spirit have changed, your outward actions, ambitions, and priorities will follow.
HERE ARE SOME GREAT NEXT STEPS YOU CAN TAKE:
COME TO CHURCH REGULARLY
God’s truth is meant to be lived out in our lives. By regularly coming to church, you are exposing yourself to applicable biblical truth, growing deeper in your faith while connecting with other Christ followers.
BE BAPTIZED
Celebrate your new life in Christ by publicly declaring your faith through immersion baptism. We hold services twice a year—in the Spring and Fall. Visit the Next Steps area in the lobby or click here to learn more and to register for an upcoming service.
SPEND TIME WITH GOD DAILY
You will get to know God’s heart better when you connect with him through prayer and reading the Bible.
Prayer is simply having a conversation with God as you would a friend. Praise Him for who He is, confess the sin in your life, thank Him for all that He has done, and ask Him for help and guidance each day. If you don’t have a Bible, we’d love to help you get an easy-to-understand version as you start reading God’s Word. Just contact Laurie at You can also download the You Version Bible App to get started right away, and download the Sunnybrook App and follow along with our series daily devotions.
We also have a 31-day reading plan that you can download below. It focuses on the life of Jesus and our new life in Him. You can dive in right away or save it for a later date. Either way, we encourage you to start spending time with God daily by reading the Bible.
Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5
CONNECT WITH A GROUP
We believe life change happens best in the context of a small group. You can connect with a small group here:
SHARE YOUR STORY
Tell your friends and family about your decision to follow Jesus. Share your story about the difference He’s making in your life. By doing so, you are demonstrating your new life in Christ by showing your love and concern for others. Maybe a door will open for you to invite them to church!