CONGRATULATIONS!

In the Bible, Jesus said that He came to give us life—a life of fulfillment and purpose!

“…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” –John 10:10 NIV

That life began the moment you accepted Jesus as your Savior, but that is just the beginning.

You’ve taken the first step. Now what?

We’re here to help give you an idea of what your next step may be. Below, we share some practical steps you can take to grow in your relationship with God.

We are all on a journey, and you probably still have questions about your decision.

That’s ok!

Having questions is normal, but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep moving forward!

SALVATION

DECIDE TO FOLLOW JESUS

First, let’s talk about the amazing decision you just made.

You were created good, made in the image of God to live in close relationship with Him. But from the beginning, humanity chose its own way, turning from God—what the Bible calls sin. Sin isn’t just about breaking the rules, it’s about missing the life we were created for. Sin leads to bondage, brokenness, and ultimately, death.

But Jesus stepped into our story to make things right.

He revealed what it looks like to live empowered by the Holy Spirit, and He overcame the powers of sin and death through His life, death, and resurrection. Jesus didn’t just forgive sin; He defeated it and restored our path to becoming who God created us to be. He opened the door to freedom, wholeness, and a restored relationship with God.

That’s what salvation is all about.

It’s not something we earn. It’s a gift, a new life we receive through repentance, faith, and surrender to Jesus as Lord and Savior. Salvation is something God has already accomplished through Jesus, is working in us now, and will bring to completion when Christ returns.

The good news is that God has already done His part; now it’s up to us to receive it. How do we do that?
BELIEVE
Believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died to set you free from the power of sin and that He rose from the dead and is alive today.

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” –Romans 10:9-10 NLT
RECEIVE
Receive God’s forgiveness and the free gift of salvation. Don’t try to earn it.

“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…” –Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT

Our relationship with God is not restored by anything we do but because of what Jesus already did for us!
INVITE
“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan,
but a birth that comes from God.” –John 1:12-13 NLT

Salvation isn’t just a one-time decision; it’s the beginning of a new way of life, marked by ongoing growth and transformation. But this first step of surrender is deeply significant. It marks the start of a lifelong journey with God.

WATER BAPTISM

GOING PUBLIC WITH YOUR FAITH

If you’ve received Christ as your Savior, your next step is to be Water Baptized.

“At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.”
—MARK 1:9-10 NIV

But it’s so much more! It’s an act of obedience, where we acknowledge that Jesus died on the cross, was buried and walked out of the grave alive, so each of us can have eternal life.
DISPLAY
Water Baptism is an outward display of your inward decision to trust Christ as your Savior.

The original meaning of the word for baptize means to immerse, so Water Baptism simply means to be immersed under water. While not required for salvation, Water Baptism is important because Jesus commanded it and was even baptized Himself, as an act of obedience to God the Father.
DECIDE
Water Baptism is a decision that each person must make for themselves.

The Bible teaches that Water Baptism is a public expression of worship symbolizing the new life we have after receiving Jesus as our Savior.

When you step into the water, you are letting the world know that you have accepted Jesus as your Savior and are committed to follow Him.

PROCLAIM
When you step into the water, you are letting the world know that you have accepted Jesus as your Savior and are committed to follow Him.

If you’ve made the decision to follow Jesus, Water Baptism is the next step in your spiritual journey.
The good news is that our relationship with God is not restored by anything we do but on the basis of what Jesus already did for us!

GATHERINGS

PRACTICING OUR FAITH TOGETHER

Following Jesus isn’t something we do alone. One of the most powerful ways we grow in our faith is by gathering together with other believers to worship, learn, pray, and encourage one another. It is how we practice our faith.

At Opendoor, we believe that when we regularly come together, our faith deepens—we become more passionate and unashamed in our worship, more rooted in truth, and more connected to God and His people.

There are several gatherings we have designed to help you grow:
WEEKEND SERVICES
Our weekly services are for everyone, whether you’re brand new to faith or have been walking with Jesus for years.

Together, we focus on the Word of God, worship, prayer, and Communion as we grow in our relationship with Him. We have age-appropriate environments for your kids each week as well as regular gatherings for youth and young adults to build a foundation of faith.
OPENDOOR CONFERENCE
Each year, we kick off with a powerful churchwide gathering to seek God’s vision for our lives and families.

It’s full of worship, teaching, prayer, and ministry for all ages.
PRAYER SERVICES
We offer weekly opportunities to come together in prayer, seeking God, growing in intimacy with Him, and lifting up the needs of our church and community.
These gatherings aren’t just events; they’re moments to encounter God and grow stronger in your walk with Him.

COURSES

LEARNING TRUTH TOGETHER

Spiritual growth doesn’t just happen; it comes as we renew our minds with truth.

In today’s world, we’re constantly surrounded by voices telling us what to believe, how to live, and what matters most. But Jesus came to give us a different way—a life built on truth that leads to freedom, purpose, and lasting change.

That’s why Courses are a key part of how we grow at Opendoor. We offer several Courses to help you learn together with others. They’ll help you build a strong foundation in your faith, understand and apply God’s Word, and develop spiritual habits that can transform your life.

Whether you're brand new to faith or ready to go deeper, Courses create space for learning, asking questions, and growing alongside others.

Your Next Step: Growth Track

Growth Track is an in-person course that exists to help you learn more about Opendoor Church and find connection and purpose with others. It is made up of three sessions that equip you to believe in Jesus, belong to our church family, and become who God created you to be by connecting with others in community.
It’s the perfect starting point, and we’d love to invite you to join us online for these sessions offered Thursday night every month.
Coming Soon: 12-Week Spiritual Growth Course

Launching in Fall 2025, we’ll be offering a new 12-week course that’s designed to equip you with practical tools, core habits, and biblical wisdom to follow Jesus in every area of life.

It’s not just for new believers; it’s for anyone ready to grow in their faith, discover their gifts, and take the next step in becoming a fully devoted follower of Jesus.

We’ll share more details as the launch gets closer, but we’re excited for what’s ahead!

Tools for Ongoing Learning

We also offer additional learning resources—like video studies, podcasts, and marriage tools—through the Opendoor App and RightNow Media.

COMMUNITY

CULTIVATING AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS TOGETHER

At Opendoor, community is all about building relationships that help us follow Jesus more faithfully. It’s more than showing up on Sundays; it’s about being known, growing together, and walking through life with people who encourage you in your faith.

We believe spiritual growth happens best in relationship and that you were never meant to follow Jesus alone.

To help explain what we mean by community, we talk about it in four levels:
TRIBE
The largest level with the most people: our whole church family. You may not know everyone, but being part of something bigger gives you a sense of belonging and shared purpose.
VILLAGE
A smaller group of people you serve or volunteer with regularly. You’re getting to know names and faces, building consistency, and starting to connect.
CIRCLE
A close group of 10–15 people who really know you. This is what we call Small Groups, where you grow spiritually, build trust, and support each other.
CORE
Your deepest relationships. These are just a few people who walk closely with you, encourage you, and hold you accountable.
While we encourage everyone at Opendoor to grow at every level of community, the best place to start is usually with your Circle, by joining a Small Group.

Small Groups are where you’ll find real friendships, grow in God’s Word, pray together, and serve others. Whether you're new to faith or have been in church for years, there's a group for you.

SPIRITUAL PRACTICES

Habits that Help You Grow in Faith

When you surrender your heart to Jesus, it’s not just a one-time decision; it’s the beginning of a lifelong relationship. And just like any relationship, that connection grows through time, communication, and shared experience.

That’s where spiritual practices come in.

Spiritual practices—sometimes called spiritual disciplines—are intentional habits that help us stay close to God and become more like Jesus. They’re not about rules or rituals. They’re about learning to walk with Him daily.

There are several practices you can begin like worship, serving, fasting, Sabbath rest, studying Scripture, prayer, and more; but you don’t have to start them all at once.

Two of the best places to begin are Bible reading and prayer.

Below, you’ll find a simple 14-day Bible reading plan and a link to our digital prayer guide. These tools are here to help you start building daily rhythms that keep your faith strong and growing.

YOUR NEW IDENTITY

REALIZING WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE

Understanding what God says about you is one of the most important parts of growing in your relationship with Him. It’s where we really discover our God-given identity.

Throughout the Bible, God reveals who you are and how He sees you. As you grow in your relationship with Jesus, these truths will anchor you, encourage you, and help you become who He created you to be.

Here are just a few things God says about you:
You were created by God, on purpose and with purpose.
You are not an accident. You were made in the image of God, created with intentional design, and deeply loved. When God sees you, He sees someone He handcrafted for a reason.

“…you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” —Psalm 139:13 NIV
You are forgiven and made new through Jesus.
Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, your past no longer defines you. When you receive Him as Lord and Savior, you are made new. God wipes the slate clean and invites you to live a new life, rooted in His grace and led by His love.

“…anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” —2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
You are loved and celebrated by your Father.
When God created you, He created someone He celebrates! You are loved, accepted, and valued not based on what you do, but because of who your Father is.

“Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love.” —Ephesians 1:4 MSG
Your identity is now found in Christ, and that changes everything. God is shaping your thoughts, your character, and your purpose. You’re not just saved; you’re being transformed.

Be open to the work of the Holy Spirit in you and let God’s Word define who you are. Let His voice be the loudest. You are chosen, called, forgiven, loved, and created to walk in relationship with Him.

NEED CARE?

We’re honored to walk alongside you on your journey of faith. Life can be full of both joy and challenges—and you don’t have to face any of it alone. Whether you’re navigating grief, need prayer, want to meet with a pastor, or are looking for trusted counseling recommendations, we’re here to support you.

Simply text “CARE” to 45000 to connect with a pastor. We’ll help guide you to the right resources—whether that’s one-on-one prayer, pastoral care, grief support, or connecting you with a professional counselor.

You’re not meant to walk through life alone—and at Opendoor, you don’t have to.

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