The Next step
So you might be asking yourself - What’s next, where do I go from here?
First of all we want to welcome you to Oakland New Life and tell you how much you matter to us. Each one of us enters God’s family at a different place and position in our life. In our walk with Jesus, everyone needs to take the next step as we strive to be closer with him. Because each one of us begin our next step at a different time or place in life, each one of our next steps might look a little bit different. So right now your next step might be different from the one I made when I was a new believer in Christ.
We hope this page will help you on your journey and adventure towards Christ.
1. Repentance
What does it mean to be repentant? It means that you have come to realize that sin is offensive to God, and it separates us from him. True repentance is a change of mind, heart, and direction. We were once headed the opposite direction away from God with sin in our lives, but now we have turned back and headed the opposite direction back towards God.
Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord.
Acts 3:19-20
2. Accept Jesus
Accepting Jesus into your heart and life will be the most life altering and important decision you will ever make in your life. This experience will change you from the inside out. When we make this step in our life we go from being lost to finding our home and rest in Jesus. From being empty inside to now being filled. From hopelessness to being hopeful of our future with Him.
If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.
Romans 10:9-10
3. God’s promise of Eternal Life
Accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior means you receive God’s promise of forgiveness and eternal life.
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
Jesus calls us to follow Him in these 5 practical ways:
1. Follow me in Baptism
God asks all those who believe in Him to show their faith by being baptized in water. We follow Jesus’s example for he was baptized in public by John the Baptist.
Peter replied, 'Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Acts 2:38
2. Follow me and read the words I left you. “Read the Bible”
There is no better way to follow Jesus than to learn about who God is and his plan for our lives.
The Bible, or Scripture, teaches us about God’s nature and His loving plan for our lives through Jesus. The Bible is more than just a story, it is the living Word of God, meaning its message is still relevant to each person today.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
3. Follow me and “Pray Each Day”
Prayer is just talking with God. This doesn’t have to be complicated or wordy. Just be consistent in setting aside time to talk to God and listen to what He may say to you.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done." Philippians 4:6
4. Follow me and “Attend Church Regularly”
Attending church gives you an opportunity to grow not only in your faith but in your relationships with others.
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT)
5. Follow me and “Get Connected”
God’s plan for each one of us is not to do life alone. Christian living is all about community and sharing. It’s important to build healthy relationships that will support and help sustain your relationship with Jesus.