Discipleship

At New Life, we are ‘all in’ on developing disciples who can then make new disciples! It’s what God calls us to in the Great Commission. Matthew 28:18-20 says, “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.”

A disciple is someone who believes in Jesus, has accepted the free gift of salvation that He offers on the cross, and commits to making Him Lord over every area of their life. They want to learn all about how Jesus lived and then practice living that way more and more by the power of the Holy Spirit – God’s supernatural power that they are filled with when they join His forever family. 

There are many ways we can develop as disciples of Jesus, and at New Life we want to equip you with helpful tools and resources so you can take next steps whenever you’re ready! Check out the steps below and see where God is leading you to grow. We’re here to support you on your journey!

Ready to take a next step on your discipleship journey? Let us know via this Online Connection Card!

We want to partner with you as you continue to pursue God and all He has for your life.

Next Steps for Disciples

Prayer is how we communicate with God – by both talking to Him as well as listening! Although prayer may seem intimidating, think of it as a meaningful conversation between you and God. He created you, knows everything about you, and loves you unconditionally – so talk to Him like you would a friend that you can share anything and everything with.

Prayer is a vast topic, so to get you started, check out this sermon called 7 Truths about Prayer | How to Talk With God

Another great way to learn how to pray is to experience prayer with others. Everyone has their own style and way of praying, just as we all have different personalities. Attending a prayer group or coming to Tuesday Prayer at New Life may kickstart your confidence. Check out our calendar to see our events and groups, including information on Tuesday Prayer!

Reading the Bible is a foundational part of growing in our relationship with God and understanding how He wants us to live. The Bible is a big book, which can make knowing where to start a bit tricky! Here are some recommendations to get you started:

• Pick up a Study Bible – this will give you plenty of built-in tools like maps, chapter and character summaries, and footnotes that explain what each verse or section of verses means.

• Start in the New Testament – we suggest starting with the book of John, which goes through Jesus’ life and ministry. Then you can continue forward in Acts, which tells us all about the early Christian church. Once you finish that, Romans is filled with wisdom and instruction on how to live the Christian life well.

• Focus on quality over quantity. It’s not about how fast or how much you read, but that you understand it and can apply it to your life. Even one chapter a day can be meaningful and give you plenty to think about! Highlight and underline things that stand out to you. If one verse really seems to grab your attention, pause and pray about what God wants to speak to you through it.

• If you want to read the Bible while on the go, download the free YouVersion Bible App – it’s filled with different translations of the Bible, reading plans, devotionals, and more! You can even create a profile and add friends to do reading plans with.

For those who want to dive into understanding all the Bible has to offer, Pastor Jordan created a free booklet, “Understanding and Studying the Bible” to give you a more in-depth understanding about God’s Word and how to get the most of it.

You can also watch Bible Basics – Answers to 7 Common Questions About the Bible or Receiving Real Truth from God

Once you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, a natural next step in your faith journey is baptism. This is one of the Sacraments of our Christian faith – an outward sign of inward grace and change. Baptism shows the world that we belong to God and want to make Jesus Christ Lord over every area of our life – sacrificially living for Him by the power of the Holy Spirit. We do not have to have everything “together” in our lives before we are baptized – God’s grace moves in us right where we are at, and often gives us new spiritual power for the Christian walk ahead.

You can learn more and request to be baptized right here – or watch a message on the importance of baptism here.

Spending time with other believers at church on Sundays is an important part of staying connected to the church body, being encouraged weekly, worshipping and praying together, and having opportunities to love one another well. Meeting in large groups has a definite impact – but it doesn’t give space to form close friendships like smaller groups do. That’s why we’re so passionate about small groups! We have many different styles of groups, along with our Celebrate Recovery services for all ages on Thursday evenings. If you’re looking to make real connections and build trust with a few close friends, groups are for you!

Learn about Small Groups

Learn about Celebrate Recovery

Questions about groups? Email Pastor Jordan at [email protected]

Serving others is a two-way blessing – we get to use our gifts and talents to build up people and ministries in the church, and in return we feel the joy of purpose and seeing God move through us! We have many opportunities to volunteer, whether you have an hour a month, or want to make one service every Sunday your time to give back.

Check out our Volunteer Page for more details and to view our Volunteer Packet PDF.

It takes the faithful giving of our congregation to make church happen each week – we couldn’t do it without you! As we develop our relationship with God and understand that everything we have is a gift from Him, it allows us to be generous with our resources so that He can use them for Kingdom purposes. Giving should never be done out of compulsion or pressure – it should be done with a joyful, grateful heart – even when it’s sacrificial. Over time we will realize that God provides all we will ever need when we trust Him fully.

You can check out our Giving Portal if you’d like to give or see our “Because You Gave” summary.

Message: How Giving Generously Can Change Your Life

Partnership is New Life’s version of church Membership. This is for people who call New Life their home church and want to invest in all we’re doing here by partnering with our Mission and Vision. We offer Partnership Classes throughout the year so you can learn about New Life’s history, what we believe, what we’re all about, and how to take next steps with us.

To learn more or register for our next class, visit our Partnership Page.

As you grow in your faith, God will give you opportunities to share parts of you story with other people – to encourage them, give them hope, and point them to Jesus. The idea of evangelism – sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with others – can be intimidating; but God promises to be with us and guide us through those moments with the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s not about having the perfect words, or knowing the whole Bible by heart – it’s about being open to how God may use you to impact someone else and plant seeds of faith in their lives.

Message: Finding the Courage to Share Your Faith

Spiritual Disciplines are things we can prioritize in order to grow deeper in our relationship with God. When we make them a regular part of our lives, we will find power and passion to live the life we are called to as disciples of Jesus. Some of these are Prayer, Studying the Bible, observing the Sabbath, Fasting, Meditation, Confession, Worship, and Celebration.

We have a message series all about this coming out in February, 2026! Come back here to learn more once their released.

It can be very helpful to sit down with a pastor for guidance on where you can grow in your spiritual journey. If you have questions, concerns, or feel “stuck” in your walk with God, having someone partner with you and pray with you can make all the difference! Fill out a connection card and let us know you’d like to meet. 

Message Series – GROWTH

Message Series – GOOD NEWS

Helpful Resources

Download the New Life App •  Join our Email List • Check out our Podcast

Join RightNow Media (Christian Video Content) • Download the YouVersion Bible App