ARE YOU NEW?

We know visiting a new church can be scary — especially one that meets in a gym!

WHAT TO EXPECT

On a typical Sunday at SweetWater, you can expect: 

  • Live music that focuses on our connection with God begins at 10am.

  • One of our pastors teaches a practical lesson from the Bible that usually lasts around 30 minutes.

  • After the message, we always give you an opportunity to respond by reflecting upon your own spiritual life.

  • We often include a testimony from someone in our church or an encouraging story or lesson through media.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

SweetWater Church is an evangelical church that uses the Bible as our guide for faith and practice. We are a self-governing autonomous church, sponsored by Bridge Church of Madisonville. In order to minister more effectively for local, state, and global missions, we maintain affiliations with Northshore Baptist Association, the Louisiana Baptist Convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention. 

  • SweetWater Church is an evangelical church that uses the Bible as our guide for faith and practice. We are a self-governing autonomous church, sponsored by Bridge Church of Madisonville. In order to minister more effectively for local, state, and global missions, we maintain affiliations with Northshore Baptist Association, the Louisiana Baptist Convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention. 

  • SweetWater Church meets at the Abita Springs Recreation Center in order to live out the values of simplicity and reproducibility. This helps us keep our expenses low so that we can put more of our resources into our mission of helping people find Christ and bring hope to the world. We value our relationship with the Abita Springs Recreation Center and hope to continue our partnership in the community.

  • Feel free to wear what makes you feel the most comfortable — after all we meet in a gym! Most everyone dresses casually. Our pastor usually wears jeans and polo.

  • SweetWater Church welcomes everyone. We teach directly from the Bible. Dress is casual, and the setting may seem too informal for some. The songs may be new to you. We have a class for the children during the sermon. We will respect your desire to grow and learn at your own pace. You will probably meet other Catholics who reconnected with faith at SweetWater Church.

  • You won’t be alone at SweetWater Church. If you’re checking out Christianity for the first time, come as you are. Dress is casual. No previous church experience is required. You won’t feel pressure from us, but you can expect that we give you a warm welcome.

  • While we are a new church, we know that children have needs that differ from adults. At SweetWater Church, we have the children remain in the gym with the parents through the music portion of the service. This usually lasts between 20-25 minutes. The children are dismissed along with the SweetWater Kids leaders to the space provided down the hallway from the gym.All our teachers and helpers go through background checks and regular training.

WHO IS SWEETWATER CHURCH?

We are a body of believers committed to helping one another bring glory to Jesus Christ, grow closer to God and each other, and serve our friends and neighbors so that they can find faith in Christ. 

WHO IS JESUS?

/next-stepsIn a world in which information is readily available and opinions abound, this fundamental question stands above all other inquiries and considerations. We believe Jesus is true God and true man in one person. He is the Son of God who was crucified and raised from the dead for the salvation of all trust in Him.


Christ is not His last name but identifies Him as the Messiah. Christ is the Greek translation of Messiah, who is the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises that God would save His people. This fulfillment and salvation happened in history. Our calendars divide time into two large time periods: BC, meaning “before the time of Christ,” and AD, a Latin term that means “in the year of our Lord.” God lived in real time and in a real place (first century AD in Israel) through a flesh-and-blood person named Jesus.


The Bible is the true and trustworthy Word of God that records God’s love for the world through His Son Jesus. The miracles recorded in the Gospels and the teachings of Jesus are true and accurate.


Jesus physically died on a cross and physically rose from the grave on the third day. He physically ascended into heaven, and He will return a second time when He will judge all people. Those who trust in Jesus as Savior will rise to eternal life.


CONNECT WITH CHRIST 

WHAT IS THE GOOD NEWS?

God loves you.

The Bible says that man was made in the image and likeness of God. God designed creation as a perfect place of fellowship between God and man. However, when man chose to sin the fellowship God had established was destroyed. The world became cursed with grief, sorrow, pain, and death. Yet from the beginning, God provided the way for fellowship to be restored. God sent His Son to atone for sin, defeat death, and restore relationship with God. (Genesis 1:1; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:4-5)


You are a sinner. 

The Bible says that the first man, Adam, disobeyed God, which caused sin to enter the world. However, we can simply blame our sin on Adam and Eve. The Bible says that every person has sinned and falls short of the glory of God. Sin is the rejection of God. Sin is choosing to live without God. (Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:10; 23)


Sin separates you from God. 

Sin keeps you from having a right relationship with God. The Bible says that the “wages of sin is death.” God is holy and because of sin, mankind cannot stand in His glorious presence. Without Christ, the Bible teaches that those who die in their sin will find their eternal destiny in a place called hell. (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:23)


You cannot save yourself. 

The Bible says that our good works are seen like filthy rags before a holy and perfect God. No amount of good works, giving money, or even religious piety can earn forgiveness or wash away our sin. You cannot earn God’s salvation. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Romans 4:4-5)


God sent His Son, Jesus, to remove the sin barrier.

What you cannot do for yourself, Jesus Christ has already accomplished. Your sin is barrier between you and God. But the good news is that Jesus died on the cross for you and then rose from the dead to demonstrate that His payment was acceptable to God. By taking your punishment on Himself, Jesus made a way for a relationship with God. (1 Peter 2:23; Romans 5:8; 10:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21). 


You can receive Jesus Christ through faith.

People often think that through their efforts they can overcome the sin barrier between themselves and God. This is not true! There’s nothing you can do to restore the broken relationship with God. You can’t earn God’s salvation. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Romans 4:4-5)


Through prayer you can trust in Jesus Christ.

Through prayer, you declare that you are relying on Jesus Christ as your Savior. There are no “magical” words that result in salvation. It is only faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection that can save you. If you understand that you are a sinner and in need of salvation through Jesus Christ, you can pray something like this:


“God, I know that I am a sinner. I know that I deserve the consequences of my sin. However, I am trusting in Jesus Christ as my Savior. I believe that His death and resurrection provided by for my forgiveness. I trust in Jesus and Him alone as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord, for saving me and forgiving me! Amen!”