Welcome to Following Jesus
We are delighted that you have decided to learn more about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and what it means to follow Him as a disciple. Once you complete this course, and are ready to give your life to Christ and/or take the next step of faith in baptism, please click the button below. To continue in this course, scroll down and begin with Video #1.
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The Gospel
Who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ is the Eternal Son of God – who entered the human race by relinquishing His divine attributes but not His divine essence and took on human form. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and is fully God and fully man. He lived a life of perfect obedience, without sin, to the Father and voluntarily fulfilled the will of God by laying down His life as the atoning sacrifice for humanity’s sin. Having fully satisfied divine justice, He achieved salvation for all who place their trust in Him. Raised from the dead by God, He ascended to heaven and is currently interceding for His own, awaiting His return to consummate God’s kingdom and redemptive plan.
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What is sin?
Watch this series to learn more about your identity in Christ.
We believe that Man was created in the image of God to multiply, fill, and subdue the earth but was separated from God because of sin (The Fall). As a result, the image of God in man became damaged but not erased. Therefore, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are unable to function in moral responsibility before God. We need spiritual regeneration before we can become what God meant us to be and will be redeemed and restored when Christ returns.
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What is salvation? Why do we need it?
We believe that salvation is a free gift of God that comes by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Humans are fallen beings completely dead in their sin and unable to save themselves. One achieves salvation at the moment they put their faith in Christ believing that He died upon the cross as a sinless substitute for sinners of all ages and times and was raised from the dead. Only those who respond to God’s gift of grace through Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection are justified and will inherit eternal salvation. Upon a confession of faith in Christ, humans are regenerated through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit becoming new creations in Christ and put their faith into action through sanctification.​
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Baptism
What is baptism?
Baptism does not save you however, it does allow us to spiritually identify us with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It's a public profession of Jesus as our Savior & Lord before the Church.
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Why should you be baptized?
There are 4 reasons why you should be baptized:
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To OBEY Christ's Command
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To PUBLICLY PROFESS Faith in Christ
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To COMMIT to Christ's People
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Jesus was baptized demonstrating His own obedience, humility, and the filling of the Holy Spirit
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Watch this sermon to learn more about baptism.
What is Believer's Baptism?
Believer’s Baptism is both a symbolic and vital step of obedience in professing our conversion and new life in Jesus Christ, which He also commands us to do. We hold that Baptism, which is the ceremonial process of being dipped into water during a time of worship before the whole church body, is a beautiful sign and symbol of Christ’s own death, burial, and resurrection. When we are each baptized, symbolically we also are being “buried” into the water and then raised out of the water which symbolizes our “resurrection” to new life in Jesus Christ. We baptize individuals who can articulate their conversion experience.
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Moreover, the word “Baptize” means to dip, immerse, sink, or plunge. The ancient Greek Word “Baptize” cannot mean to pour-out/over or to sprinkle. The Bible nowhere uses pour/sprinkle as a mode of baptism. Baptize is always used in the New Testament as being “immersed” or dunked.
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Why Believer's Baptism?
We affirm the biblical teaching that only professed Believers, (i.e. those who are old enough to profess that they have had a conversion experience and have given their lives fully to Jesus Christ for salvation) – should be baptized. AFTER, we have received Christ as Savior, we are called to publicly identify with other Believers within the Church that Jesus has saved us . The symbolic act of baptism declares publicly that we desire to walk in obedience with Him. Therefore, the act of Believer’s Baptism is commanded in Scripture for all believers, is a symbolic act for our spiritual resurrection and identification with Christ’s, and is a beautiful public profession that we stand with other Believers of all ages as born-again followers of Christ.​
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Communion
What is communon?
The local church was commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ to remember His death until He returns by taking communion (the Lord's Supper), a symbolic act of obedience, with one another preceded by a time of self-examination. This is a symbolic act of obedience.
At Harvest, we practice “close” communion, which means we do not prevent people from taking communion with us. Following an explanation, we “welcome” all born again believers to join with us in communion whether members at Harvest Ministries or not. We believe this best honors our responsibility to fellowship with all believers as members of the body of Christ and allows each individual to be responsible for his or her faith and actions.
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Watch this sermon to learn more about communion.
Aspects of Communion
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Remembrance - Communion reminds Jesus' followers of how He rescued us from sin
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Reflection - Communion helps Jesus' followers grasp the idea of dining with King Jesus because they are royalty and therefore comes with restrictions and requirements
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Anticipation - Communion helps Jesus' followers get ready for the greater meal to come with God
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Nourishment - Communion nourishes and strengthens the faith of Jesus' followers as beneficiaries of God's new covenant promises
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Togetherness - Communion brings Jesus' followers together as a family​
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Believers in Christ should always consider one or more of the following each time before they take Communion:
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You were once an enemy of God but are now adopted into His family
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You were once condemned in sin but are now declared righteous by God
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You were once in bondage to sin but are now free to serve God
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You were once dead in sin but are now alive in Christ
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You were once headed to hell but are now a citizen of Heaven
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Holy Spirit
Who is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make humanity aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He is the Helper that the Son promised to all that believe in Him and therefore lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. The Holy Spirit has many functions including providing the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth guidance in doing what is right. The maturing Christian seeks to live under His control daily.
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Watch this sermon to learn more about the Holy Spirit.
Evangelism
What is evangelism?
Evangelism is teaching the gospel with the aim to persuade.
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Teach - This is done from one-on-one to group settings such as during a sermon. Teaching helps to remove obstacles, answer questions, correct misconceptions, and reveal the gospel's truth that Jesus is at the center of the Christian faith.
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Gospel - This is the message of what God achieved in Christ that leads us to salvation. (refer back to the "What is the Gospel?" lesson
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Aim - Evangelism is not about simply the transfer of information but rather the bringing about of life transformation.
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Persuade - Evangelism is not about manipulation or coercion but rather how we speak and what we say should be filled with grace.​
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Watch this series to learn more about evangelism.
How do I evangelize?
Here are a few ways to evangelize or share the gospel with others:
When evangelizing, it's encouraged to share your testimony, which is simply a personal account of how God has worked in your life. You testimony can be shared by answering 3 simply questions:
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What was my life like BEFORE Christ?
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When did I ACCEPT Christ?
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What is my life like now WITH Christ?
By answering these 3 questions, you are sharing a personal account of how God has worked in your life.
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The Bible
What is the Bible?
The Bible or "Scripture" is the word of God. All of Scripture is inspired by God as a revelation of Himself to human writers, by no means of their own, but under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Since God is the only divine Author, the words of Scripture are true and free from error in their original form. Scripture is the supreme and final authority for believers in any age, sufficient for saving knowledge and godly living, and complete in its 66 books (Old and New Testaments), making it profitable for practical instruction and conduct. All Scripture, when properly read and understood, leads to Jesus Christ as it pertains to His person and work and first and second coming, making Him our true living hope.
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Watch this series to learn more about the Bible.
The Church
What is the Church?
There is one true Church universal (the body of Christ), consisting of all who recognize Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The body of Christ finds expression as local churches where those who have been regenerated by the Spirit come together. Operating under the direction of Jesus as Lord and Head of His body and through Godly servant leadership, believers devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Word, observance of baptism and communion, fellowship, service to the body and outreach to the lost. (Matthew 16:18; 28:18-20; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Corinthians 12:4-13, 27; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:1-16)
Church membership is a mutual, self-conscious commitment between a church and a Christian in which the church affirms and cares for the Christian, and the Christian submits to the cares for the church.
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Watch this sermon to learn more about church membership.
What's Next?
Now that you know who Jesus and what the Gospel is, have you accepted Him as your Lord and Savior? If not, are you ready to do so?
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If you've already accepted Christ but have yet to profess your faith publicly through water baptism, are you ready to do so?
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If you have already accepted Christ and have been baptized, are you ready to get connected at Harvest Ministries?
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