Following Jesus begins with understanding who Jesus is, what He has done for you, and choosing to put your faith in Him. Pastor Mark would love to walk you through what that means in a simple, easy-to-understand way.
God created you to know Him and have a relationship with Him. But sin separates us from God–and none of us can overcome that separation on our own.
That’s why Jesus came.
Jesus gave His life for our sins and rose again so that we could be forgiven, made new, and brought into relationship with God. Salvation isn’t something we earn by being good enough. It’s a gift from God that we receive through faith in Jesus.
The Bible says:
“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.”
The Bible tells us that all of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s standard. Following Jesus begins by recognizing that we need a Savior and cannot save ourselves.
Believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died for your sins, and that God raised Him from the dead. Put your trust in what Jesus has done for you rather than what you can do for yourself.
Following Jesus means turning away from your old way of life and turning toward Him. You don’t have to clean yourself up first. Come to Him as you are and surrender your life to Him.
Following Jesus isn’t simply believing something about Him. It’s choosing to trust Him with your life and begin living with Him as your Lord.
If you’re ready to follow Jesus, Pastor Mark will lead you in a simple prayer in the video above. You can also pray in your own words. What matters isn’t saying the perfect words–it’s putting your faith in Jesus and sincerely surrendering your life to Him.
Dear Jesus,
I come to You today.
I recognize that I’m a sinner.
I recognize that I’m apart from You.
I confess with my mouth, Jesus, You are Lord.
I believe in my heart that
God raised You from the dead.
Because I have confessed with my mouth
and believe in my heart,
Your Word says I am saved.
Forgive me, Jesus.
Be my Lord, my Savior, and my best friend.
I give You my hopes and dreams.
I give You everything from this day forward.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
If you just said yes to Jesus, we’d love to know.
You don’t have to figure out what comes next on your own. Let us know about your decision, and someone from CLC will reach out to encourage you, pray with you, and help you take your first steps in following Jesus.
Your decision to follow Jesus is the beginning of a new life with Him. You won’t learn everything overnight–and you don’t have to.
Start taking simple steps that will help you know God, grow in your faith, and build relationships with people who can walk alongside you.
Baptism is an important next step after choosing to follow Jesus. It’s a public declaration of your faith and a picture of the new life you’ve received through Him.
Keep showing up. Being part of a local church gives you a place to worship, learn what the Bible teaches, ask questions, receive encouragement, and grow alongside other believers.
You weren’t created to follow Jesus alone. A Life Group gives you people to build relationships with, pray with, learn with, and walk through life with.
Faith Essentials will help you understand the foundations of your new faith and learn practical ways to grow in your relationship with God.
Prayer is simply talking with God. You don’t need special words. Talk to Him honestly, thank Him, ask for His help, and take time to listen.
Make worship part of your everyday life–not only on Sundays. Worship helps turn your attention toward God and reminds you of who He is.
Faith grows over time. Stay connected to church, surround yourself with other believers, keep learning, and keep taking your next step.
