GROWING IN CHRIST

Now that we know where you are on the spiritual pathway, do you want to move toward God? Faith is personal and depenedant on a person wanting to grow and become closer to God. We can’t make you grow. You need to want to move. So, do you want to move?

Yes – If you are ready to move, then we want you to take the next step. The spiritual next steps are practical steps a person can do to begin growing and moving on the spiritual pathway. Keep reading below to find your next step.

No – If you do not want to move in your faith right now, that is okay. You are loved and welcome at Freshwater! When you are ready, let us know and we’ll help you move forward.

Whether your answer is “no” or “yes” or if you’re just not sure, we are here to help!

Use the button below to connect with one of our leaders and have a spiritual conversation.

How do you move? Take the Next Step.

NEXT STEPS are actions you can take from wherever you have self-identified. Within the NEXT STEPS, there are 4 Key areas a person can look at to begin taking next steps of faith and continuing to grow.

Pick a step in one of the key areas below. Once you have mastered that step, pick another one. After you have taken several steps, you will find yourself moving forward in your faith and transitioning into the next segment of the Spiritual Pathway, “Growing in Christ.”

Next Step: Learn about baptism and get baptized.

Why should you get baptized? What is the point about Baptism? Read this short article answering those questions and more: Baptism at Freshwater
Then use the button below to let us know you’re ready to take this step. 

Next Step: Attend Church Regularly, whether online or in-person. Believers need each other. We need community (fellowship) and encouragement, and we need to learn the Word of God. We also share communion together, worship in song together, and give generously to help others. This is why Freshwater Church exists.  

• Freshwater Church exists to help REACH non-believing individuals, to CONNECT them with other Christians, to help them to GROW in their faith and to challenge the growing, to SERVE others, and HONOR God with their life.
• “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25
• “They (the believers) devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42

Our service times are listed above in the header and on our home page, and you can watch LIVE online here.
 
Next Step: Serve Others. God desires to use you to bless the lives of others. God has given every one of us gifts and talents that we can use to serve others and bring glory to Him. Feel like you have nothing to offer? Remember that if you allow Christ to live through you then nothing is impossible.
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10
Use the Connection Card to let us know you want to serve and a staff member will contact you.
 
Next Step: Discover your  S.H.A.P.E. Did you know that God has placed within you strengths and giftings to use for His glory? SHAPE is an acronym that will help you get a clearer picture of what the Bible says about how God has uniquely gifted you. This is what the acronym S.H.A.P.E. stands for:

• Spiritual gift. What spiritual gifts has God given you?
• Heart. What do you have a heart for?
• Ability. What abilities do you have that can be used to glorify God?
• Personality. Are you an outgoing person? A reflective person? Do you like to serve in a group setting or on a much smaller team?
• Experiences. What experiences have you had that you can use in a ministry setting?

 
Next Step: Become a Member. The Membership Class is designed to give you a better understanding of Freshwater and the core beliefs held. Discussion includes:

• Freshwater’s history, values and purpose statement
• Christianity and doctrine
• Membership covenant
• Lunch with Pastor

You can find and register for the next Membership Class here.

Next Step: Pray Daily. Prayer is a talking to God. Prayer draws us closer to God. You can pray anytime, anywhere, and about anything. God will hear you. He loves you and wants to communicate with you. We believe in the power of prayer, and are here to pray for you!

• Share your prayer requests here.
• Want to join to prayer team? Sign up here.
• “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” Ephesians 6:18
• “Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
• “This, then, is how you should pray:” ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.  Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ Matthew 6:9-13

Next Step: Read Your Bible Frequently. How can we be constantly learning more about God if we’re not in His Word?  As believers, we need to be in the Scriptures daily to strengthen our faith and relationship with God.

• “I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11
• “Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
• Not sure what to read? Download the Freshwater mobile app (Apple) (Google) and follow along with our Bible reading plan.
• Need a Bible? Stop by the Connection Center in the lobby on a Sunday to get a free one, or access it digitally in the Freshwater mobile app.
• Don’t like to read? Listen to the Bible in the Freshwater mobile app (Apple) (Google).

 
Next Step: Be Generous. Start to give financially (tithe) to the Church. Everything we have is a blessing from God. God gives generously to us and He commands believers to give 10% back to Him as a tithe. Step out in faith and give the first ten percent (a tithe) of the income you make back to God. Believers tithe to their local church.

• How do I give? Go to our Giving Website to give online and learn more about other ways to give. and click on the giving link to see the different options for giving.
• “A generous man will himself be blessed for he shares his food with the poor.” Proverbs 22:9
• “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

Next Step: Tell others about Christ. Your life changed when you heard about Jesus and put your faith in Him. Now tell others, so they can experience that same life change!

Next Step: Participate in a Small Group. A Small Group is where friends gather to do life together, under a trained leader. These include studies, service projects, accountability, balancing the 5 purposes of the Church, and more. These can be started anytime, as long as the leader has been through our Small Group Leadership Training. Our desire is that you get involved in a Small Group. Everyone needs to do life together with someone. At Freshwater, we do this through small groups. This is where we rapidly grow spiritually and move one step closer in living a Christ-centered life.

• Find a small group here.
• Or we’ll help you find a group!
• “All the believers were together and had everything in common.  Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:44-47