Welcome to New Hope Students' Next Steps! This is a spot we hope you find helpful in helping you decide what you should step into next. This list is neither exhaustive or directive in nature, but is instead suggestive to what might be most helpful for you! Also take a look at the infographic below to help you take your next step!
Baptism
In a sermon found in Acts 2:14-41, the Apostle Peter was addressing a group of non-believers. At the end of his sermon Scripture tells us that they were “cut to the heart” and asked, “What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Peter responded by saying that they must “Repent and be baptized.” (Acts 2:38). We believe that baptism is the outward expression of an inward decision to follow Jesus. When we place our faith in Jesus, we are to then be baptized as we tell everyone that we’ve decided to follow Jesus just as we see Peter say here in Acts 2.
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
Spiritual Practices help a believer demonstrate that they have faith in Jesus. Our actions don’t earn our salvation, but our actions show that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8-9). When we place our faith in Jesus there are certain things that we are supposed to be a part of. Along with other actions we are to do. These things make up Spiritual Practices.
Spiritual Disciplines
When deepening a relationship with a friend, the proper response is to talk to them frequently and often. Along with this, you’ll probably do things that deepen your understanding of them. In the same way, God calls us to deepen our relationship with him. Spiritual Disciplines are things that we do that help us to deepen our faith in Jesus (Luke 6:46-49).
SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP
As we deepen and develop our faith in Jesus, we quickly learn that we aren’t supposed to stop there. Rather, we are to help others deepen and develop their faith in Jesus as well. Whether it’s with a stranger or a friend God calls us to take on a level of Spiritual Leadership somewhere in our life. As we see in Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus gives a call to all believers to help others not only learn about Jesus, but to help them to be fully devoted followers of Him as well.
SPIRITUAL MULTIPLICATION
In Scripture there’s a man named Timothy who is commonly known as Paul’s “son.” Although Timothy is not actually Paul’s son, Paul references him as such primarily because of the relationship that they have. Paul took Timothy under his leadership and teaching to help Timothy develop as follower of Jesus (2 Timothy 2:1-2). This action is what we call Spiritual Multiplication where someone would help another person deepen their faith in Jesus while doing life with them.