START MY LIFE WITH JESUS
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO START MY LIFE WITH JESUS?
Starting your life with Jesus means trusting Him with your whole life.
It means believing that Jesus is the Son of God, that He gave His life for you, and that through Him you can be forgiven, made new, and brought into relationship with God.
You do not have to clean yourself up first. You do not have to know the whole Bible. You do not have to have perfect faith.
You can begin right where you are.
A simple prayer could sound like this:
Jesus, I want to follow You. Thank You for loving me, forgiving me, and giving me new life. I do not understand everything yet, but I want to learn Your way. Help me trust You and take my next step. Amen.
I SAID "YES" TO JESUS. NOW WHAT?
Following Jesus is a journey, and every journey begins with a next step.
Here are a few simple ways to begin.
1. Tell someone
Faith was never meant to be lived alone. We would love to celebrate with you, pray with you, and help you know what to do next.
2. Start reading the Bible
The Bible helps us know who God is, who we are, and what it looks like to follow Jesus.
A great place to begin is the Gospel of John or the 21-day guide below.
3. Begin talking with God
Prayer is simply honest conversation with God.
You can thank Him, ask Him for help, tell Him what you are feeling, or sit quietly with Him. You do not need fancy words. God welcomes your real words.
4. Get Baptized
Baptism is an important step for everyone who chooses to follow Jesus.
It is a public way of saying, “I belong to Jesus.” It shows that your old life is being washed away and that you are beginning a new life with Him.
5. Find people to walk with
You were not made to follow Jesus by yourself.
Church, groups, and spiritual friendships help us grow, ask questions, receive encouragement, and learn how to live this new life with Jesus.
6. Take Next Steps
Next Steps is a great way to learn more about Rainier View, discover how God has shaped you, and find your place in the church.
JOHN 3:16
"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."
WHO IS JESUS?
JESUS IS GOD AND HUMAN
Jesus is God but in human form. He walked on this earth just like we do. See John 1:1, 5:17-18, and Philippians 2:5-11. The eternal Son of God, Jesus, already existed in heaven before coming to earth (see John 17:5), but then was born to a virgin through the power of the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 1:20).
JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.
Here’s the bad news, we have all sinned (Romans 3:23), but this is why Jesus came. To pay the penalty for our sin, so we don’t have to. It was through His death on the cross that Jesus satisfied sin’s payment so those who accept Him as Lord and Savior can experience forgiveness and eternal life.
JESUS CHANGES LIVES.
People who followed Jesus turned away from their old life of sin and turn to God. Jesus delivered people from demon oppression like Mary Magdalene (Luke 8:2). He called people like Matthew, who was a despised tax collector (Matthew 9:9). He called ordinary people like a fisherman named Peter (Matthew 4:18). For nearly 2,000 years, Jesus Christ has been changing the lives of people all over the world. He can do this for you too!
JESUS LIVES IN HEAVEN AT FATHER GOD’S RIGHT HAND.
After Jesus rose from the dead, He went to heaven to the place where he was with the Father prior to coming to earth. From there he is able to hear our prayers (Romans 8:34).
JESUS CHRIST WILL RECEIVE YOU IF YOU COME TO HIM.
Jesus said, He would not turn anyone away who wants to come to Him (John 6:37). He’s ready to start a personal relationship with you. Your past is never too bad for Jesus to come and help you. It’s time to come to Him and receive His free gift of salvation.
ROMANS 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
RESOURCES
Find some awesome resources below to get you started on your journey with Jesus! YouVersion is an amazing bible app that you can download to your phone to begin diving into the word of God. The Bible Project creates amazing visiualizations and videos of scriptures to help you learn about bible stories. Check out the 21-Day Guide as well to get you started with the first steps of your new life with Jesus.
COMMON QUESTIONS
What if I still have questions?
That is okay. Questions are welcome here. Following Jesus does not mean you suddenly understand everything. It means you are learning to trust Him as you grow.
What if I have made mistakes?
Jesus came for real people with real stories. Forgiveness, healing, and new life are at the center of the good news.
Do I have to be baptized?
Baptism is one of the first steps Jesus followers are invited to take. It does not mean you are perfect. It means you are publicly saying yes to the new life Jesus has given you.
What Bible should I read?
Start with a Bible translation that is easy to understand, like the NIV or NLT. The Gospel of John is a great place to begin.
GETTING CONNECTED
One of the best ways to find connection is by coming to church
As a local church, with a passion to love God, people and life, we trust you feel both at home and at ease. Rainier View is layers deep with wonderful people and fabulous community, and we would love to get to know you more. Whatever season of life you may be in, we sincerely pray you will sense the presence, peace and goodness of God