Follow Jesus
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
Choosing to follow Jesus is the most important decision you’ll ever make. It’s not about joining a religion or trying harder to be good. It’s about starting a life-changing relationship with the God who created you and loves you deeply.
Choosing to follow Jesus is the most important decision you’ll ever make. It’s not about joining a religion or trying harder to be good. It’s about starting a life-changing relationship with the God who created you and loves you deeply.
Why does God care about me?
Because He made you! He knows you and He loves you. He has a plan for your life and He desires to personally know each of us.
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. — Ephesians 1:4-5
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. — Ephesians 1:4-5
Why does God feel far away?
God created us to be close to Him. But sin, our selfishness, pride and brokenness, separates us from that relationship. We often try to fill that gap with things that never satisfy us.
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. — Romans 3:23
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. — Romans 3:23
Can I fix that by being a good person?
We can’t earn God’s love or forgiveness by trying to be good enough. No matter how hard we try, nothing we do can make us good enough to fix our separation from God. Still, God deeply loves us and desires for us to cross this gap and be in a relationship with Him.
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. — Ephesians 2:8-9
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. — Ephesians 2:8-9
So, what will make me good enough for God?
Jesus is your hope. He is the bridge between us and God.
God sent us His Son, Jesus, to live a perfect life and die in our place. He rose from the dead, defeating sin and death forever. Through a relationship with Him, we can be forgiven and made new.
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. — Romans 5:8
God sent us His Son, Jesus, to live a perfect life and die in our place. He rose from the dead, defeating sin and death forever. Through a relationship with Him, we can be forgiven and made new.
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. — Romans 5:8
How do I start a relationship with Jesus?
You can begin a relationship with Jesus right now by talking to Him in prayer. Here’s a simple example of what you can say:
“Dear God,
I confess that I have sinned and can’t fix it on my own. I believe that Jesus died for my sins and rose again. I accept your gift of forgiveness and invite you to be the leader of my life. Help me to follow you and live in your grace and truth. Thank you for your grace and forgiveness and for giving me the gift of a new life in you. Amen.”
If you openly declare that 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
“Dear God,
I confess that I have sinned and can’t fix it on my own. I believe that Jesus died for my sins and rose again. I accept your gift of forgiveness and invite you to be the leader of my life. Help me to follow you and live in your grace and truth. Thank you for your grace and forgiveness and for giving me the gift of a new life in you. Amen.”
If you openly declare that 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
What happens now that I am in a relationship with Jesus?
When you put your faith in Jesus:
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. — Romans 5:1
I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. — John 5:24
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! — 2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. — Romans 5:1
I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. — John 5:24
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! — 2 Corinthians 5:17
Get Baptized
Baptism is a way to show the world that you’ve chosen to follow Jesus. The word baptism literally means “to dip” or “immerse,” and that’s exactly what we do. It’s a symbolic act and your first step of commitment after putting your faith in Jesus as your Savior. When you are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 10:48), you are declaring that your life now belongs to Him and you are choosing to serve and follow Him for the rest of your life.
Who should get baptized?
Anyone who has made the decision to follow Jesus.
At River Ridge Church, we wait until someone is old enough to understand what baptism means before doing it. We won’t baptize infants, but we do offer a Child Dedication for parents who want to commit their child to the Lord and raise them in his Church. That happens during a special service whenever families are ready.
“Those who believed and accepted his message were baptized...” — Acts 2:41
“Simon himself believed and was baptized...” — Acts 8:13
“But when they believed Philip as he preached the Good News... and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” — Acts 8:12
At River Ridge Church, we wait until someone is old enough to understand what baptism means before doing it. We won’t baptize infants, but we do offer a Child Dedication for parents who want to commit their child to the Lord and raise them in his Church. That happens during a special service whenever families are ready.
“Those who believed and accepted his message were baptized...” — Acts 2:41
“Simon himself believed and was baptized...” — Acts 8:13
“But when they believed Philip as he preached the Good News... and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” — Acts 8:12
When should I get baptized?
As soon as you’ve decided to follow Jesus. In the Bible, people didn’t wait long after putting their faith in Jesus.
The Philippian jailer was baptized in the middle of the night (Acts 16:33).
Paul got baptized before he ate anything after fasting for three days (Acts 9:18-19).
The Philippian jailer was baptized in the middle of the night (Acts 16:33).
Paul got baptized before he ate anything after fasting for three days (Acts 9:18-19).
Why should I get baptized?
Because Jesus said to.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” — Matthew 28:19
Baptism is an awesome way to show what you believe. Going under the water represents Jesus dying and being buried. Coming up out of the water shows He rose from the dead and that you’ve got a brand new life in Him.
Like it says in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” — Matthew 28:19
Baptism is an awesome way to show what you believe. Going under the water represents Jesus dying and being buried. Coming up out of the water shows He rose from the dead and that you’ve got a brand new life in Him.
Like it says in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
How should I be baptized?
By being fully immersed in water.
“As Jesus was coming up out of the water…” — Mark 1:10
“Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water…” — Acts 8:38-39
John the Baptist baptized “at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water.” — John 3:23
That’s why we baptize by immersion. It follows the example Jesus gave us.
“As Jesus was coming up out of the water…” — Mark 1:10
“Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water…” — Acts 8:38-39
John the Baptist baptized “at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water.” — John 3:23
That’s why we baptize by immersion. It follows the example Jesus gave us.
Does baptism save me?
No. Jesus does.
The Bible is clear. Baptism cannot save anyone (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, Jesus commanded that we be baptized as an expression of our faith and obedience. It’s our way of saying, “Yes, I’m all in.”
The Bible is clear. Baptism cannot save anyone (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, Jesus commanded that we be baptized as an expression of our faith and obedience. It’s our way of saying, “Yes, I’m all in.”
What if I haven't been baptized yet?
It’s never too late to take that step. If you’re a follower of Jesus and haven’t been baptized yet, we’d love to talk to you about it.
Take a little time to read through the verses above, pray and ask God what your next move should be.
Read to go for it? Just fill out the form below and we’ll help you take that next step!
Take a little time to read through the verses above, pray and ask God what your next move should be.
Read to go for it? Just fill out the form below and we’ll help you take that next step!
Read God's Word
In 2023, we did something big as a church. We journeyed through the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. That year sparked a powerful rhythm in our church family: reading Scripture daily and growing together in God’s Word.
To keep that momentum going, we’ve created a new daily Bible reading plan that takes you through one book at a time, giving you space to slow down, dig deep and grow in your relationship with Jesus. We call it River Ridge Daily. You can download the plan by clicking here. Want to get the most out of your Bible reading? Try using the S.O.A.P. method. All you need is a journal and a few quiet moments, or you can use your phone and Notes app.
To keep that momentum going, we’ve created a new daily Bible reading plan that takes you through one book at a time, giving you space to slow down, dig deep and grow in your relationship with Jesus. We call it River Ridge Daily. You can download the plan by clicking here. Want to get the most out of your Bible reading? Try using the S.O.A.P. method. All you need is a journal and a few quiet moments, or you can use your phone and Notes app.
S: Scripture
For this first step, write down the verses that stood out to you.
O: Observation
For the second step ask; what do you notice? Is there a truth, command, promise or example worth paying attention to?
A: Application
For the third step answer, how can you apply this verse to your life?
P: Prayer
Finally, write a short response prayer asking God to help you live out what you’ve learned.
Helpful Resources
The Bible Project
We love The Bible Project. They created animated videos that help you understand the big picture of the Bible. From book overviews to theme studies, these short videos are great companions to your daily reading.
Bible Study Playlist
Need a soundtrack for your quiet time? We’ve put together a worship playlist full of instrumental worship music and classic hymns. It’s perfect for reading, praying or just reflecting.
We love The Bible Project. They created animated videos that help you understand the big picture of the Bible. From book overviews to theme studies, these short videos are great companions to your daily reading.
Bible Study Playlist
Need a soundtrack for your quiet time? We’ve put together a worship playlist full of instrumental worship music and classic hymns. It’s perfect for reading, praying or just reflecting.