The Journey - Smyrna International Church

The Journey

Salvation

God loved YOU so much that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, so that if YOU believe in Him, YOU will not perish but will have everlasting life.

The journey BEGINS when you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead; then you are saved!  Jesus Christ is both your Lord and your Saviour; you are a part of the family, a child of God!

John 3:16, Romans 10:9 and 1John 1:12

Baptism

This is the next step which symbolises that you have made a decision to be a follower of Jesus Christ. You are baptized in water for repentance; as a demonstration that the old you has gone. You are resurrected from the water as a demonstration of the new you, alive in the power and love of Jesus Christ. (The water itself is not special)

Matthew 3 and 1Corinthians 5:17

Connect 

Having taken the initial steps, it is time to get to know your family. As a child of God, you are in a family which regularly meets together to share and encourage each other in experience, word and prayer. Make friends with other brothers and sisters who will encourage you and inspire you in the things of God.

One way of connecting is to join a home-group or a fellowship group (youth ministry, women’s ministry etc.). These are smaller groups which are more personal, laid back, word and activity based. Check out our calendar to see what´s going on.

Hebrews 10:25, Colossians 3:16.

Growth

This journey in the Kingdom of God, as a child of God, grows you from glory to glory, gradually becoming more like our role model, Jesus Christ.

As you focus, connect and learn more from God’s word, you will begin to see the truth. Your talk, your walk, your desires, your character and your outlook on life will be completely transformed; your mind renewed by the word of God through Jesus Christ. You will begin to know what the will of God is. This is an amazing and fruitful continuous process.

We encourage you to habitually press on, never stand alone, have a mentor and outrageously pursue God by engaging in a bible study where you can listen to the word of God, meditate on it and learn how to have a personal and intimate walk with Him.

Our weekly Sunday services are also essential for the spiritual food that you need.

Romans 12:1-2, 1Peter 3:17-18, 2Corinthians 3:16-18

Serve 

The word of God tells us to use whatever gifts we have received to serve others, with the strength of God, for even  Jesus Christ did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Moreover, our attitude in service is unto God with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

We kindly advise you to honour the process of growth before you can step into service. When you have matured, we invite you to link up with your mentor or pastor to assist in guiding you to your best suited area of service. This could start off within the family during church services, stepping out into the community and extending into missions among the Nations.

1Peter 4:10-11, Mark 10:45, 1Chronicles 28:9

Give

In this journey with God, there are a couple of spiritual nuggets that act as catalysts to your faith. One of these is giving to The Lord. We encourage you to commit to honor God with your finances. When you commit to give the Lord the first fruits, 10%, of your income, God promises He will pour out blessings you cannot contain. Tithing is the first key to financial prosperity which is also a step into total freedom and trust in Christ.

Scripture says, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

Malachi 3:10, Proverbs 3:9-10

The Lord’s Table

The Lord’s Table also referred to as Holy Communion is a poignant part of a believer’s life. Jesus shared bread and wine with His disciples before His death. The bread was a symbol of His body broken for us and the wine a symbol of His blood poured out for us in the new covenant.

Jesus Christ asked us to do this as often as we can, in remembrance of Him. It is a constant reminder of the price He paid, the new life we have in Christ, and the love and power of God through Christ Jesus.

1Corinthians 11:24-29

Testimony

Another nugget that acts as a catalyst to your faith is testifying. We encourage you to share who God is to you, what He has done for you and how your life has been changed by Him. This will encourage both you and your hearer and will open more doors to a lifestyle of victory, to the glory of God.

Revelations 12:11, Acts, The Scriptures.