Statement #1

I will follow Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Most people live their whole lives without ever knowing why. We believe God has made it clear what His desire is for our lives is.
  1. God created you to love you! (Genesis 1:1, Jeremiah 31:3, Ephesians 1:4-5).
  2. God wants to have a personal relationship with you. (John 10:10) .
  3. You have sinned and lived your life apart from God's rule. (Isaiah 53:6). 
  4. Jesus has paid for your sins with his death and resurrection. (Romans 5:8).
For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.
1 Timothy 2:5-6 (CSB)
What does God expect me to do in response to what he has done for me?
Admit that God has not been first place in your life.
Believe that Jesus died to pay for your sins and rose again. (Romans 10:9).
Accept God's free gift of salvation. (Ephesians 2:8,9)

Prayer of Commitment

You can take these steps by praying a simple prayer of commitment.
Dear God, thank you for loving me even when I've ignored you and have gone my own way. Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, into the world to die on the cross for me. I am sorry for my sins and I ask you to forgive me. Please help me to understand you more. I want to follow you from now on. Please come into my life. I accept your free gift of salvation. - Amen!

Statement #2

I will be baptized by immersion in water as a believer, if I haven't already been.
The first big step of obedience every new believer in Jesus should take is being baptized by immersion in water.  
Why should I be baptized?
  1. To follow the example set by Jesus. (Mark 1:9)
  2. Because Jesus commands it. (Matthew 28:19-20)
  3. It demonstrates that I really am a believer. (Acts 18:8, 1 John 2:3)
What does baptism mean?
  1.  It illustrates Christ's death and resurrection. (Colossians 2:12)
  2. It illustrates my new life as a Christian. (Romans 6:4)
Why baptism by immersion?
  1. Jesus was baptized that way. (Matthew 3:16) 
  2. Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion. (Acts 8:38-39) 
  3. The Greek word baptizo means to dip under water.
  4. It best symbolizes a burial and resurrection.
We believe that everyone who has personally received Christ should be baptized after receiving him. We speak honorably of the commitment parents make when they have their children baptized, but we see it as similar to child dedication. So we ask that those who were baptized only as infants to be baptized as believers.
We baptize at least once per quarter or more as needed. When God moves in a person’s life to the point of salvation, we invite people to decide to be baptized. We also believe in the value of inviting loved ones a witness to this spiritual marker experience.  
If you are interested in being baptized by immersion, please see one our pastor for more details and the date of our next baptism service. You can also access our online form below to sign up.
Access our Baptism Form here

Special Topic: Communion

(aka, The Lord's Supper)

Jesus never asked His disciples to remember His birth. But He did instruct them to remember His death and resurrection. He gave the church two visible symbols (called “ordinances”) as reminders of His death. These two ordinances are: Baptism and The Lord’s Supper.
The Lord’s Supper is an object lesson that represents a great spiritual truth for believers.
 According to 1 Corinthians 11:23-26...
What is the Lord's Supper?
  1. It is a simple act. (v. 23) 
  2. It is a reminder. (v. 24) 
  3. It is a symbol. (v. 25) 
  4. It is a statement of faith. (v. 26)
Who should take the Lord's Supper? All believers. (v. 29)
How do I prepare myself for the Lord's Supper?
  1. Self-examination. (v. 27) 
  2. Recommitment. (Romans 12:1) 
  3. Confession of sin. (1 John 1:9) 
  4. Restoring relationships. (Matthew 5:23-24)
When and how often should we observe the Lord's Supper?Jesus never said when or how often believers should observe The Lord’s Supper.
At Shiloh, our desire is that the Lord's Supper be a teaching and learning moment in addition to being a worship moment. So, we observe communion once per quarter, as well as special occasions during the church year (Christmas, Easter, etc). Also, at Shiloh the Lord’s Supper is open to all those who have made a profession of faith in Christ Jesus regardless of their church membership.

Statement #3

I will join (or start) a small group.
Our primary way of helping people find freedom in Christ, study His Word, and grow spiritually is through Small Groups.

At Shiloh, weekly small groups are met through our Sunday School Ministry, and through selected small group Bible Studies throughout the year. Real life change happens in the context of God’s Word and through the connection of relationships – small groups. In the Bible, they worshipped in the temple but ministry happened house to house.
"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
Small Groups provide three things...
A place to connect. (1 Corinthians 9:22)
A place to protect. (1 John 3:16)
A place to grow. (Proverbs 27:17)
How Small Groups Work
Our small groups (Sunday School) meet weekly here at Shiloh and other locations to provide a place for you to connect, grow, and discuss the issues and challenges of life through the lens of God’s Word. Small Groups are also where we pray, care for one another, and allow us to minister and reach out through missions.

You could START a Group!
We believe that everyone has areas of strength and gifting that could benefit others. You’ll discover that it’s easier than you think. To talk about starting your own group, connect with one of the pastors.
Check out our Small Groups Here

Statement #4

I will grow in grace (through the power of the Holy Spirit) and knowledge (by connecting with God through prayer and Bible Study).
Attending worship services and being part of a small group are a great start, but there are at least two personal habits you need to develop in your daily life.
  1. Developing a quiet time for prayer and Bible reading.
  • Hearing God’s Word. (Romans 10:17) 
  • Reading God’s Word. (Revelation 1:3)
  • Studying God’s Word. (Acts 17:11) 
  • Memorizing God’s Word. (Proverbs 7:2-3)
  • Meditating on God’s Word. (Psalm 1:2-3) 
In my daily prayer time, I am:
  • Giving devotion to God. (2 Chronicles 31:21)
  • Getting direction from God. (Psalm 25:4-5)
2. Living under the influence of the Holy Spirit continually. 
The Holy Spirit isn't a substance or a mystical, cosmic force. The Holy Spirit is God – living inside each of us as believers. He's the third member of the Trinity, one we cannot discount. The New Testament talks about believers being "filled with" the Holy Spirit, which has to do with being under his influence.
How do we live under the Spirit's influence?
  • Remove all the barriers. (Acts 2:38)
  • Relate to Him daily. (2 Corinthians 13:14)
  • Remain under his influence. (Ephesians 5:18)
Thank you for completing session two! Next up is session three where you will finish discovering Shiloh Baptist's 8 statements with statements 5 - 8!
Discover Shiloh: Part 3