Spiritual Formation

Following Jesus

Salvation is God’s gift to you.

Because of His great love, God rescues you from the eternal consequences of sin and gives you eternal life. Salvation isn’t something you earn or achieve. It’s what God has already done for you through Jesus.

How am I saved?

Ephesians 2:8 tells us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

You are saved by grace, God’s unearned favor, through faith in Jesus. It’s not based on your efforts, your goodness, or your works. It is entirely based on what Jesus has done for you through His death and resurrection.

What do I need to do to be saved?

Romans 10:9 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Salvation begins when you:

  • Turn away from sin
  • Repent
  • Believe in your heart
  • Confess Jesus as Lord

You don’t have to work for salvation, you simply receive it by faith.

References: Romans 3:20, Romans 5:8, Romans 10:13

Why is following Jesus the most important decision you’ll ever make?

Choosing Jesus changes everything.

Through Christ, you receive a living hope (1 Peter 1:3–6). Your sins are forgiven. Your relationship with God is restored. And your life begins to move in a new direction—one filled with purpose, peace, and freedom.

Salvation also begins a lifelong journey called sanctification, becoming more like Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:17 declares, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

This means your past no longer defines you. The weight of guilt and shame is lifted. God gives you a brand-new start and a new way to live.

And when you make Jesus Lord, you gain direct access to God the Father. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Only Jesus can save us and only through Him do we discover everything God has prepared for us.

As you begin your journey, you may find yourself asking…

  • Why is there sin in the world?
  • Why did Jesus have to die for my sins?
  • Why is salvation a gift I receive, not something I earn?

These questions are part of growing in your faith.

To understand God’s plan, not just for your life, but for all humanity, you must become a student of His Word.

Psalm 1:1–3 paints the picture perfectly: “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked… but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season… whatever they do prospers."

The Bible is alive, powerful, and God-breathed. It’s how He speaks to you. It reveals His story and shows you your place within it.

What is Sin

What is Sin?

Sin is anything that goes against the character, nature, or direction of God. It’s more than just doing something “wrong”, it’s missing the mark of God’s perfect design for our lives. Every time we choose our own way instead of God’s way, we step outside of His best for us.

Who is the serpent?

In Genesis 3, the serpent appears as the tempter, the one who convinces Eve to question and disobey God. Scripture later identifies this deceiver as Satan, the adversary of God and His people.

Satan’s goal has always been the same:
to deceive, divide, and destroy.

Throughout the Bible, we are warned to resist the devil so we don’t fall into the same lies that trapped Adam and Eve.

References: 2 Corinthians 11:3 | 1 John 3:8 | John 8:44

How does sin affect us?

Sin creates a separation between us and God. Because God is perfectly holy, He cannot coexist with sin. The moment humanity chose disobedience, a divide formed, one we could never bridge on our own.

But God refused to let sin have the final word.

Because He so loved the world, God set a plan in motion to bring us back to Himself.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” — John 3:16

All throughout Scripture, we see God drawing near to humanity, revealing His heart to restore what sin broke. Beginning with the Israelites, His chosen people, God showed the world what it looked like to walk closely with Him and pointed toward the Savior who would come through them.

That Savior is Jesus.

Jesus, God’s Son, came to take away our sin and lead us into a new life, a life marked by forgiveness, freedom, and a restored relationship with God.

Why did Jesus need to die for my sin?

Romans 6:23 tells us, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The consequence of sin is spiritual death, eternal separation from God. Because every one of us has sinned, the penalty had to be paid.

Jesus stepped in and paid it for us.

He took our place.
He bore our punishment.
He carried our sin.

The prophet Isaiah described what Jesus would do hundreds of years before it happened:

“He was pierced for our transgressions,
crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.” — Isaiah 53:5

Jesus died the death we deserved so we could receive the life He freely gives.

How did Jesus overcome sin?

Jesus faced every temptation we face yet He never sinned. Because He lived a perfect, sinless life, He was the only one worthy to be the sacrifice for humanity.

But Jesus didn’t just die.
He rose again.

After three days in the tomb, Jesus defeated death, sin, and the grave. His resurrection proves His power and guarantees eternal life for all who believe in Him.

Because Jesus lives, you can live free.

Why do I accept the gift rather than earn it?

You cannot earn salvation. No amount of good works, church attendance, or personal effort can save you. Even on your best day, you still fall short.

That’s why salvation is a gift.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith… it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” — Ephesians 2:8–9

Jesus did all the work.
Your role is to believe and receive.

Your salvation is secure because of Jesus alone, never your performance.

And here’s the good news:
There is nothing you could ever do to make God love you more, and nothing you’ve ever done that makes Him love you less.

When you’re saved, you become a child of God. And when the Father looks at you, He doesn’t see your sin or your past, He sees Jesus.

Because of grace, your sins, past, present, and future, have already been forgiven. There is no sin too big for God’s mercy and no life too broken for Him to restore.

The Word of God

The Bible is fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and God breathed

The Bible is not just a book. It is the living and powerful Word of God. He chose faithful men to write the Scriptures, and the Holy Spirit guided every word they recorded. The truth of the Bible did not come from human ideas or understanding. Every part of Scripture carries the breath and authority of God.

Each writer brings a unique perspective, yet all of Scripture points to who God is, what He is like, and His amazing plan for humanity.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”
2 Timothy 3:16

Let’s look at His Word

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Genesis 1:1

From the very start, God reveals Himself as the Creator of everything. Everything you see, feel, and experience was spoken into existence by Him.

Genesis tells us that God created the first humans, Adam and Eve, and placed them in the Garden of Eden to tend and care for it. Humans were created with a special purpose because God breathed His own breath into them. He gave them authority to rule over the earth and to reflect His goodness in the world.

God’s original design was for humanity to share in His authority and live in close relationship with Him. He also gave people the gift of choice. We could follow His wisdom and walk in His blessing, or choose our own way and rely on our own understanding.

In the Garden, God instructed Adam and Eve not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. When they chose to disobey and eat the fruit, influenced by the serpent, sin entered the world. They chose their own way instead of trusting God’s way.

The story of Scripture reveals how God has been working from that moment forward to rescue, redeem, and restore His creation.

Strength for your journey

You grow spiritually by reading the Word of God, and you grow even stronger when you read it in community. We invite you to join us on the journey and dive into our One Year Bible Reading Plan.

Why We Pray

At Church on the Rock, we believe in the power of two simple words: Pray First.

Before we act, before we decide, before we worry, before we move forward, we choose to Pray First. Prayer positions our hearts to trust God and invites His wisdom, strength, and presence into every part of our lives.

Prayer is powerful. When we pray, we deepen our dependence on God and strengthen our faith. We place everything in His hands and trust that His hand will be at work in our circumstances and in the lives of those around us.

Prayer also builds intimacy with God. It is a spiritual habit that helps us know His heart and hear His voice. Every time you pray, you are talking to a God who listens, who cares, and who invites you to partner with Him in what He is doing.

Because God hears us and responds, we can pray with confidence. Our prayers are not empty words. They are powerful and effective, and God uses them to bring change, healing, and hope.

There are no levels or ranks in prayer. Anyone can pray with a heart of trust, openness, and faith. Prayer is not about having the perfect words or perfect circumstances. It is about coming before God with a posture that says, "I trust You."

When you Pray First, you open the door for God to do far more than you could ever ask or imagine.

What prayer does in your life

  1. Prayer sharpens your faith.
  2. Prayer creates deeper intimacy with God.
  3. Prayer is powerful and brings about change.


Why We Fast

Fasting is an ancient and meaningful spiritual discipline where we choose to set something aside, often food, for a period of time so we can focus more fully on God. The purpose of fasting is not to prove something to God but to become more like Jesus. When we fast, we quiet the desires of our flesh and make space for the Holy Spirit to work in us in a deeper way.

The motivation behind fasting is simple. We want to draw closer to the heart of God. Fasting helps us loosen the grip of our cravings, habits, and distractions and strengthens our hunger for God and His presence.

“Fasting is not just a physical discipline. It is a spiritual feast.”
— Jentezen Franklin

In other words, fasting is not about getting something from God. It is about getting closer to God. It shifts our attention from what we are giving up to the One we are pursuing.

There are different ways to fast. We encourage you to ask God what type of fast is right for you in this season.

Types of Fasting

Liquid fast
Consuming only liquids for a set period of time.

Partial fast
Abstaining from certain types of food. An example of this is the Daniel Fast.

TV or Social Media fast
Choosing to step away from certain technologies so you can focus your attention on God.

What fasting does in your life

  1. Fasting helps break the power of the flesh and strengthens your spiritual life.
  2. Fasting is not about getting from God but getting to God.
  3. There are different methods of fasting, but the heart behind it is always the same.

How to Prepare for a Fast

Fasting is powerful, but preparing your heart and mind before you begin will help you experience everything God wants to do in you. Here are simple steps to help you start well.

1. Pray about your purpose

Before you fast, ask God what He wants to do in your life during this time. You might be believing for direction, breakthrough, healing, clarity, or simply wanting to grow closer to Him.

When you know why you are fasting, you will stay focused and encouraged.

Ask God:

  • What should I fast?
  • How long should I fast?
  • What are you wanting to show me during this fast?

2. Choose the type of fast

There is no one right way to fast. Select a fast that aligns with your health, your season of life, and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Common types of fasts:

  • Liquid fast
  • Partial fast or Daniel Fast
  • Specific food or meal fast
  • Social media or technology fast

Choose a fast that stretches you spiritually but is realistic and sustainable.

3. Prepare your schedule

Fasting is not just about removing something. It is about replacing that space with God.

Plan ahead so you can slow down a bit. Consider:

  • Setting extra time for prayer and worship
  • Reading Scripture more intentionally
  • Journaling what God speaks to you
  • Limiting unnecessary activities or distractions

Create room for God to move.

4. Prepare your body

If your fast involves food, ease into it.

  • Drink plenty of water
  • Eat lighter meals the day before
  • Avoid heavy or sugary foods

If you have health concerns, talk to a doctor before beginning a food fast. The goal is spiritual growth, not physical strain.

5. Prepare your heart

Fasting is an invitation to let the Holy Spirit work in you at a deeper level.

Ask God to:

  • Search your heart
  • Help you release any distractions or sin
  • Fill you with strength, joy, and peace
  • Give you a greater hunger for His presence

Approach the fast with faith and expectation. God always responds when we draw near to Him.

6. Expect resistance and choose discipline

There may be moments when you feel tired, emotional, or tempted to quit. Remember, this is normal. Lean into God during those moments and let the discipline of fasting strengthen your spirit.

Fasting reminds us that we can rely on God more than our cravings or comforts.

7. Believe for breakthrough

Fasting is not about earning something from God. It is positioning yourself to receive from Him.

As you fast, believe that God is working in you and for you. Expect:

  • Clarity
  • Peace
  • Freedom
  • Strength
  • Spiritual growth
  • Breakthrough

God honors every step you take toward Him.


Sanctification

Now that I have received salvation, what comes next?

Salvation is the starting point of your new life in Christ. Sanctification is the journey that follows. Sanctification is the ongoing process of allowing God to shape you, grow you, and develop the character of Christ in you. It is not about perfection. It is about progression. Every step you take toward God is a step of sanctification.

Sanctification, holiness, and separation all work together in your spiritual growth. Sanctification is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit transforming you to look more like Jesus. As you walk through that process, you practice separation, intentionally turning away from sin and anything that pulls you from God. Separation does not make you holy; it simply positions your heart to grow. Holiness is the result of sanctification, a life shaped by God, set apart for His purpose. We pursue sanctification, which produces holiness, and along the way we choose separation, so our hearts fully belong to Him.

The Holy Spirit is the one who transforms you. He renews your mind, convicts your heart, and strengthens your spirit. Your role is to keep turning away from sin and choosing God’s way each day. As you obey His Word and follow His Spirit, you grow to look more like Jesus.

Sanctification is a partnership. God does the work in you, and you respond with faith and obedience.

Disciplines That Strengthen Sanctification

These spiritual habits help you stay close to God and grow in His purpose for your life.

Read the Bible
Pray to God
Connect to Church

Each of these disciplines positions your heart to hear from God and follow Him with confidence.

Bible Tips

  • Schedule your Bible reading time
  • Choose a Bible reading plan
  • Set a reading goal
  • Find a quiet place and remove distractions
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to you

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16–17

Prayer Tips
  • Talk to God daily
  • Be open and honest
  • Pray for others as well as yourself
  • Find a quiet place
  • Practice silence and solitude

“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:12–13

Church Tips

“You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.”
Acts 20:20

Water Baptism

Water baptism is a beautiful and powerful step in your walk with Jesus. The Bible teaches that every believer should be baptized in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We practice water baptism because Jesus modeled it for us.

Luke 3:21 says, "When all the people were baptized, Jesus was baptized too. As he was praying, heaven was opened."

When you are baptized, you are following the example of Jesus and publicly declaring your faith in Him.

Here is what water baptism represents.

  • Baptism is an outward confession of an inward decision.
    You are showing others that you have chosen to follow Jesus.
  • Baptism is a command.
    Every believer who confesses Christ is called to be baptized.
  • Baptism means to immerse.
    The word “baptize” literally means to go under the water.
  • Baptism represents a burial of the old way of life and mindset.
    Going under the water symbolizes leaving your old life behind. Coming up from the water symbolizes rising into a new life in Christ.
  • Baptism is not a prerequisite for salvation.
    You are saved by grace through faith. Baptism is an act of obedience that follows salvation.
  • Baptism does not get you into heaven.
    It announces to your friends and family that you have decided to follow Jesus and that heaven is your home.
What the Bible Says About Baptism

Matthew 28:19
"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."

Acts 2:38
"Peter replied, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Romans 6:4
"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."

Ready to Take Your Next Step?

Sign up here for our next Water Baptism and take this powerful step of obedience and celebration in your journey with Jesus.

Communion

Why We Remember

Mark 14:22 to 26
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it. This is my body.”
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them.
“Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Communion is a powerful and sacred practice that has been part of the church since the very beginning. Jesus is the one who established communion, and He invited His followers to continue it so we would always remember His sacrifice and His love.

In Mark 14, Jesus shares a final meal with His disciples on the night before He goes to the cross. They are celebrating Passover together, a tradition rooted in God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt. Jesus uses this moment to show His disciples the deeper meaning behind His mission. Through the bread and the cup, He explains why He must give His life.

The Meaning of Passover

Passover is a Jewish celebration that remembers how God rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. When the people cried out for help, God heard them. He sent Moses to lead them out, confronted their oppressors, and brought them into freedom.

The final act of judgment in Egypt was the death of all firstborn males. Yet God provided protection for His people. He instructed the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb and place its blood on the doorposts of their homes. When God saw the blood, He passed over that home and the family was spared.

The Passover meal included four main elements:

  1. Unleavened bread
  2. Bitter herbs
  3. Lamb
  4. Wine

Each part told the story of God’s rescue and provision.

Jesus Reveals a New Meaning

During the Passover meal, Jesus gives these elements a new and greater meaning.

Just as the Israelites needed a deliverer, humanity needed a Savior.
Just as the lamb protected the people from death, the blood of Jesus would protect every believer from spiritual death.
Just as the lamb was sacrificed for a single night of deliverance, Jesus would give His life for the salvation of the entire world.

The bread now represents His body that was willingly broken for us.
The cup now represents His blood poured out for the forgiveness of our sins.
The bitter herbs point to His suffering and death.
The lamb points to Jesus Himself, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Jesus not only died in our place, He rose again, defeating death and offering us new life.

Why We Take Communion Today

When Jesus redefined the Passover meal, He invited us to remember the price of our freedom. Communion reminds us that our salvation cost Jesus everything. His body was broken. His blood was shed. His life was given so we could be forgiven and restored.

We celebrate communion together to remember the sacrifice of Jesus and to encourage each other in our faith. Instead of remembering the Exodus from Egypt, we remember the new covenant made through the blood of Christ. We remember that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but will have everlasting life.

Communion is a moment to pause, reflect, and give thanks.
A moment to remember that Jesus is our Savior.
A moment to celebrate the new life we have in Him.

May we always take the time to remember.

Bible Study Journal

The Bible Study Journal is a faith-filled companion designed to help you stay consistent in God’s Word all year long. Along with our One Year Bible reading plan, it includes yearly goal-setting pages, end-of-year reflections, encouragement on the benefits of reading the Bible, and gratitude prompts to help you build a steady journaling rhythm. With monthly context, key themes, and space to reflect and pray, this beautifully designed journal helps you apply Scripture to everyday life and stay grounded in God’s truth.

Learn More

Next Steps

Plan a Visit


Planning your visit to Church on the Rock is simple. Find service times, locations, and what to expect so you can arrive feeling comfortable and ready to experience worship, a practical message, and a welcoming community where God is for you.

Learn More

God is for You Class


God is for You Class is designed to guide you to discover your purpose and live the life God created for you. Through our God Is for You Classes, you can become part of the Dream Team, make connections, and build relationships.

Learn More

Small Groups


We believe that life works better when we’re connected. We have many different groups for you to join, from those who share similar interests or stages in life to those who grow right where you are in your relationship with God.

Learn More