Our Story

We really just want to Make Disciples...like Jesus.

Commitment is essential to the life of a disciple (follower of Jesus), more commitment, not less. The steps provided show how one that has been transformed by Christ can grow into a healthy, reproducing disciple of Jesus. Would you be willing to go to the next step?

STEP 1—COMMIT TO CHRIST
Do you know that God is perfect and holy? Do you know that your sin is what separates you from His presence? Do you know that God made a way for you to be right with Him? Only Jesus who lived a perfect life could take on the sin of the world and die as our substitute. He died where we should. But God raised Him from the dead to show victory over sin and death. Now God says that He will apply Christ’s death toward our sin if we repent (turn) from our sinful ways and trust in Jesus. Is that you? When you trust Christ, God will radically change you into a new person because His Holy Spirit will come to live inside you.
AT GPEH, we have a free resource for new believers in Jesus Christ called, Just for Starters. This concise booklet looks at what the Bible teaches on seven fundamental topics: Saved by God, Trusting in God, Living God's way, Listening to God, Talking to God, Meeting with God's family, Meeting the world.

STEP 2—COMMIT TO MEMBERSHIP/BAPTISM AT GPEH CHURCH
After a person is transformed by the gospel, he/she should be baptized into a local church. Here at GPEH we believe this is an important step for your growth in Christ. During the membership journey, an individual will learn the core beliefs of the Christian faith. He/she will also learn more about what it means to be part of the local church at GPEH.

STEP 3—COMMIT TO PERSONAL GROWTH
Growth as a Christian is essential. Growth indicates life. We believe there are at least 2 areas where members should be ever-growing in their relationship with the Lord.

A. Attend. Prioritizing Sunday morning worship gatherings is crucial for a disciple of Christ. God forms His people through the preaching of His Word, and Sundays are where that happens. Christians also are encouraged by other like-minded believers when they gather. We participate in the Lord’s Supper as a gathered body. All of this happens on Sunday, so you should attend on Sunday mornings but not just on Sunday mornings.At GPEH we want to offer many other avenues for discipleship. Smaller Bible study groups are great ways for you to grow as a disciple. Significant discipleship happens when we gather through the teaching of the Word and in fellowship with other members.

B. Care for Members. Our love for one another should be ever-growing. The ways one can care for other members is endless, but we want to include a few ideas. The importance of praying for one another cannot be underestimated, so we want to commit to pray for the other members. Sharing life together is another way to care for members. You could invite another member to your home, out to dinner, for a cup of coffee, etc. Many people wonder how they can get involved in the church; asking someone to lunch would be a great way to start. When members suffer, we should suffer with them. If you hear of a sickness or loss in another member’s family, you may want to reach out to them with a phone call, prepare a meal, visit the hospital, or even attend a funeral. All these suggestions show a fellow member that you care about them.

C. Commit to Health. We give a 26-page booklet, Your Local Church and Why it Matters? by John Macarthur, to all prospective members. It is a gem for anyone wanting to grow as a disciple to get ideas how you could be growing.

D. Serve the Church Body with Your Spiritual Gift(s). At salvation all Christians are promised to receive a gift from the Holy Spirit to be used for the good of the body. We need you to utilize your spiritual gift, so we can be complete and whole. Without you we suffer. Some of these gifts are used during the gathering of the church on Sundays, but do not think your gift must be used only on Sunday.

Evangelism. Evangelism is telling someone of their sin before a holy God and asking them to respond by repenting of their sin and placing their trust in Christ for salvation. Evangelism is not complete until the person is baptized and connected into a local church.
Personal evangelism is the most effective method of evangelism

 A. Know the Gospel. It is impossible to be saved and not know the gospel. It is also impossible to share the gospel without knowing the gospel. We have an excellent resource called, “Two Ways to Live”, that is a perfect tool to help you learn & commit to memory the main details of the gospel message of Jesus Christ.  

B. Write Dow the Names of 3 non-Christians for whom You Can Pray.  God uses our prayers in salvation. We may never knowwhy but we know He does. When you pray for 3 non-Christians you are asking the sovereign Lord in heaven to bring about a transformation in a non- Christian’s soul. You will likely find your heart softening toward non- Christians.

C. Pray for Opportunities to Share the Gospel. Be bold. Ask God to give you opportunities to share the gospel. Ask the HolySpirit to empower you. Then seize the opportunities the Lord gives you.

D. Invite non-Christians to Church or Church Activity. As the Lord draws non-Christians to Himself, follow the Holy Spirit as you invite them to experience what the family of God is like.

Discipleship. Discipleship is helping other Christians follow Jesus better. While discipleship can happen in large gatherings and haphazardly, smallgroups with great accountability seem to be how Jesus did it (Peter, James, and John) and produce the greatest growth.

A. Help Other Christians Follow Jesus Better. Helping others grow does not happen without intentionality. But who should you focus on? The world is a big place with lots of Christians. Special attention should be given to your fellow members since you have committed to them, see them regularly, and share the same values.
Pray about taking a new believer through the booklet, Just for Starters. This concise booklet looks at what the Bible teaches on seven fundamental topics: Saved by God, Trusting in God, Living God's way, Listening to God, Talking to God, Meeting with God's family, Meeting the world. You could meet with them one night a week for coffee or dinner and disciple them through the first weeks of their new life in Christ.
Perhaps there is another fellow believer that you could come alongside and encourage through a weekly study of Christian Living for Starters. This 7-study booklet covers topics including: Confident hope, Living by Faith, Loving Like the Son, Joy in Adversity, Gracious Generosity, Holiness, & Spirit-Filled Living.
 
B. Be Accountable to A Member or Members. Accountability keeps us in check. Without it many fall by way of sin. We have some accountability questions available to you and recommend you ask someone to meet with you regularly to go over them. This will be for your spiritual good.