READY TO ACCEPT JESUS?

Did you know that God loves you? He created you, wants a relationship with you, and ultimately wants to spend eternity in heaven with you! In order for you to have a relationship with God, you must first ask Him into your heart. Why? Because He created us and He loves us. God has freely given us the gift of eternal life and all we have to do is accept Him. We live in a broken and fallen world full of addictions, poverty, death, and destruction. Often times we fail to recognize that God is waiting for us to look to Him for guidance and for support. The daily things we deal with in life can distract us and confuse us. Guilt, shame, and sin drive us away from a merciful, gracious, and loving God.

But, there is a permanent solution for our problems! God sent his son Jesus to teach us how to live righteously before he died for us on the cross! Jesus paid the ultimate price by giving his life on the cross and taking the punishment for the sins of all mankind.

The Bible says that God will forgive those who place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Personal Lord and Savior. Accepting Jesus and asking God to forgive us of our sins, keeps us from from hell and allows us to join God in heaven when we die.The Bible tells us that there is only one God and that way is Jesus. "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6. Through Jesus, God forgives all of our past, present and even future sins! This is all possible by placing our faith and trust in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

If you want purpose, peace, and freedom from sin, then you can receive Jesus right now by praying this simple life-changing prayer: Dear God, I turn away from my sins and ask you to forgive me. I confess with my lips and believe in my heart that Jesus is your Son. I believe that He died on the cross and rose from the dead as the sacrifice for my sins, so that I may have eternal life. Jesus, I ask you into my life as my Lord and Savior forever.  Amen!

NOW WHAT?

Do not be discouraged when things get crazy and some of your friends become upset with you for becoming a Christian. The Bible says "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." Matthew 5:11 When you first give your life to Christ, the devil will try to distract you and move you away from God when trials come your way.

God gave us His Word as a defense against the devil! Join our church if you don't attend one already and join a Bible study group! As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ it is important that you belong to a group of believers. Why? A Christian on their own will not be as effective for God compared to a Christian within a body of believers. Christians need to be held accountable to one another and that can't be done outside of a church or study group. So, don't just attend a church--belong to one, get involved and serve Christ with the gifts He's blessed you with.

Prayer is how we communicate with God. God loves His children and loves to hear from us! There is no formula for praying correctly. Prayer is simply talking to God as you would talk your best friend. So pray out loud and consider what a blessing it is to communicate with God. He knows your needs and desires of your heart before you tell Him, but He loves to hear it from us anyways! Once you begin to pray on a frequent basis, you will see how God truly listens and answers you through people, places, and "coincidental" events.

We share the "Good News" of Jesus Christ because the Bible tells us to! "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

Jesus wants us to share His love and grace with everyone and gave us sense of urgency for those that do not know the Lord. We are saved by grace to do good works, so we can help others in need!

need a bible?

We have free Bibles in the foyer to give you or anyone you know! Our Bibles are purchased in bulk, individually wrapped, and are ready to be picked up at any time. Even if you have never attended SFRC, if you are in need of a Bible, contact us and let us know so we can put one in your hands. Our great commission as believers is not to have churches filled with people, but to share the Gospel and have more people filled with God! In the back of each Bible is a study on Salvation and the work of the Cross as well as a 30-day Devotional Reading Plan on getting to know who Jesus is! We are already excited to see you thrive in your journey of faith!

Our Identity In Christ

  • Beloved - “The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness” (Jer. 31:3).
  • His Child - “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him” (1 John 3:1).
  • Delighted In - “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he w ill no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing” (Zeph. 3:17).
  • Forgiven - “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Pet. 2:24).
  • Washed Clean - “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool” (Isa. 1:18).
  • Free - “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1).
  • Temple Of The Holy Spirit - “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own” (1 Cor. 6:19).
  • Adopted Into God's Family - “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to son-ship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:15).
  • Co-Heir With Christ - “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co- heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Rom. 8:17).
  • Righteous - “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21).
  • Sanctified - “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:11).
  • New Creation - “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ , the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Cor. 5:17).
  • Set Apart - “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Pet. 2:9).
  • An Ambassador of Christ - “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20).
  • A Co-Laborer - “For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building” (1 Cor. 3:9).
  • Never Alone - “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deut. 31:8).
  • A Masterpiece - ‘For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph. 2:10).
  • Wonderfully Made - “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Ps. 139:14).
  • Have Guaranteed Victory - “You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great” (Ps. 18:35).
  • Have A Future - “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jer. 29:11).
  • Blessed - “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Eph. 1:3).
  • Friends Of God - “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15).
  • Whole In Christ - “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority” (Col. 2:9-10).
  • Unconditionally Loved - “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38-39).

30 DAYS WITH JESUS READING PLAN

DAY 1: Jesus'Coming Predicted | Read: Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:1-9, Luke 1:26-38
DAY 2: Jesus Is Born | Read: Matthew 1:18-2:23, Luke 2:1-20
DAY 3: Jesus is Baptized | Read: Matthew 3:1-17
DAY 4: Jesus Begins Public Ministry | Read: Matthew 4:1-17, Luke 4:11-44
DAY 5: Jesus Calls His Disciples | Read: Luke 5:1-11, Luke 6:12-16, John 1:35-51
DAY 6: Jesus Speaks to a Pharisee and a Samaritan | Read: John 3:1-4:42
DAY 7: Jesus Delivers the Sermon on the Mount | Read: Matthew 5:1-7:29
DAY 8: Jesus Heals People in Need | Read: Matthew 8:1-9:8
DAY 9: Jesus Tangles With Pharisees | Read: Matthew 12:1-45
DAY 10: Jesus Teaches Using Parables | Read: Matthew 13:1-52
DAY 11: Jesus Demonstrates Power Over Nature | Read: Mark 6:45-52, Luke 8:22-25
DAY 12: Jesus Heals Many | Read: Mark 5:1-43
DAY 13: Jesus Feeds 5,000 | Read: John 6:1-15
DAY 14: Peter Identifies Jesus as the Messiah | Read: Matthew 16:13-17:13
DAY 15: Jesus Casts Out an Evil Spirit | Read: Mark 9:14-32
DAY 16: Jesus Teaches on Forgiveness | Read: Matthew 18:15-35
DAY 17: Jesus Teaches on the Kingdom of Heaven | Read: Matthew 13:24-52
DAY 18: Jesus Confronts the Young Rich Man | Read: Mark 10:17-31
DAY 19: Jesus Sends Out His Disciples | Read: Luke 10: 1-24
DAY 20: Jesus Teaches on Love and Prayer | Read: Luke 10:25-11:13
DAY 21: Jesus Teaches About Himself | Read: John 10:1-42
DAY 22: Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead | Read: John 11:1-44
DAY 23: Jesus Travels to Jerusalem | Read: Matthew 21:1-27
DAY 24: Jesus at the Last Supper | Read: Matthew 26:17-30, John 13:1-17
DAY 25: Jesus Comforts His Disciples | Read: John 14:1-16:33
DAY 26: Jesus is Arrested | Read: Matthew 26:36-75
DAY 27: Jesus on Trail | Read: John 18:19-19:16
DAY 28: Jesus Crucified and Buried | Read: John 19:17-42
DAY 29: Jesus Rises From the Dead | Read: John 20:1-21:25
Day 30: Jesus Ascends Into Heaven | Read: Matthew 28:16-20, Luke 24:36-53