Salvation
GIVE YOUR HEART TO JESUS
We believe that God designed us for personal relationship with Him and healthy relationships with each other. The greatest first step you can take is to receive the love, forgiveness, and relationship Jesus is extending to you today! In order to experience the grace that brings you into relationship with God, you must be born again and have Jesus Christ as your Savior.
If you want to make a confession of faith and start your journey with God right now, all you have to do is repent of your sins and believe in Jesus as your hope for Salvation and everlasting life. You can pray something like this,
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Your Name, Amen.
Remember, it's not the words of the prayer that save you; it's the repentance and faith in your heart that lay hold of salvation.
If you have just prayed that prayer, let us know! We'd love to welcome you to the family of God and walk with you in your next step toward Christ.
Water Baptism
SHOW THE WORLD THE CHANGE IN YOUR HEART
If you've made a decision to follow Jesus, we believe one of the next steps of obedience is water baptism. This step allows us to show others that we have personally trusted in Jesus for salvation.
Jesus was baptized when He was on the earth, and we do it to follow His example. When Christians are baptized, they are submerged under water to identify with the death and burial of Jesus and raised out of the water to identify with His resurrection.
Baptism says:
- You are a follower of Jesus.
- You are beginning a changed life in Christ.
- You are part of a new family.
If you would like to be baptized, you can let us know HERE!
Holy Spirit
LIVE IN THE FULLNESS & POWER OF LIFE IN THE SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). The Holy Spirit is the very Presence of God given as a gift to all who have chosen a life in Christ. The infilling of the Holy Spirit follows the salvation experience and empowers Believers with power and understanding of spiritual truth. A growing and maturing Spirit-filled life is characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
If you would like to know more about living a life filled with the power of the Holy Spirit let us know!
Generosity
DEMONSTRATE HIS GOODNESS TO THE WORLD
Generosity is one of God’s primary characteristics. He is so generous that He gave His only Son for the salvation of all mankind. When we operate in generosity, we represent God’s heart. We demonstrate His goodness to ourselves and to the world. And He is so generous that He set up His Kingdom to operate in such a way that when we are generous, we never lack.
Generosity is rooted in giving, which is a core belief at East Coast. Being part of a church is not just about receiving, but is also about giving and being generous. In Matthew 23, we see a picture of Jesus talking to the Scribes and Pharisees about tithing. Tithe means ten percent and refers to giving the first ten percent of our income back to God. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus says, “Yes, you should tithe, but do not neglect the more important things.”
Jesus was telling these religious leaders not only to tithe from their incomes and gardens, but also to pay attention to other important matters including justice, mercy, and faith. In Malachi 3:10, God reminds us to “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse.”
Putting God first through tithing is a basic first step toward generosity and honoring Him.
The next step of generosity is offerings. Offerings are gifts beyond the tithe. For example, some people will tithe to the local church and then give additionally to support a specific ministry such as a missionary overseas. There is also alms, which is giving to help the poor. An example of this is the Food Pantry ministry that provides food to those in need.
Ultimately, generosity is a demonstration that we trust God to supply our needs.
When we give generously, not because we feel compelled, but rather because we feel led by the Holy Spirit, then we can expect to have all that we need for the good works that He has given us to do.
We invite you to study the scriptures above and check out these additional resources HERE, HERE, and HERE to grow and learn more about the heart of generosity.
Prayer
RELATE WITH GOD THROUGH DAILY CONNECTION
Developing a habit of daily prayer will help you grow in your relationship with God. Jesus showed us exactly how to relate with God through prayer, and it gave Him strength and insight to live in pursuit of the Father's will. Through Jesus' example, we see that prayer doesn't have to be a mysterious activity. It is simply talking (and listening) to God.
"One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, 'Lord, teach us to pray.'" Luke 11:1
"This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hollowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.'" Matthew 6:9-13
Apply Jesus' example by using the acronym, A.C.T.S.:
ADORATION
Acknowledge God's power and His care for your life.
CONFESSION
Speak God's promises over yourself and others.
THANKSGIVING
Thank God for His past and present works in your life.
SUPPLICATION
Pray for the things you need and desire.
Bible Study
DIG INTO THE WORD AND LET IT TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE
The Bible is the Word of God, and it is the most beneficial tool in growing in knowledge and understanding of Him. That said, it's a large book that can feel daunting. Where do you begin? What does it mean? How do I apply it to my life?
We've got you covered. As a church, we are daily reading through the scriptures as a family one chapter at a time. As a bonus, we have a podcast called Morning Breath where East Coast pastors and leaders gather to discuss what the Spirit of God is breathing on that day's chapter.
Download the East Coast App so you can listen and read along daily!
Evangelism
SHARE JESUS WITH THE WORLD AROUND YOU
After His resurrection, Jesus said, "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 28:19-20
If you have said "yes" to Jesus, you are part of the transformed life promised to those who believe. Now what? We are called by Jesus to carry the Good News of the gospel to our own communities, friends, and spheres of influence.
If that sounds too intimidating for you, we want to help you take the next step toward believing for salvation in the lives of the people around you as well as equip and encourage you along the way.
Ask the Lord who He has put in your circle that needs Jesus and ask Him to show you opportunities to love and lead that person toward relationship with Him.
You can also join the One Soul Network and let us partner with you on your journey of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ!