CONGRATULATIONS!
The decision you've made to become a follower of Jesus Christ is the most important decision of your life. God created you with a purpose and that purpose begins with knowing Him. You may not be completely
sure what happens when you decide to follow Jesus or what you should do now. There are probably a million questions running through your mind. This book will answer some of those questions and help you get on the right track in your new Christian life.
God’s word tells us:
Following Jesus is both a one-time decision and a lifelong process. God wants you to have a meaningful life in relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus. However, he doesn't force that desire on you. He gives you a choice. You can choose to live according to His plan, or you can choose to go your own way.
Take note of the story the following verses tell:
You have taken a big step by coming to the point of realization that putting faith in Jesus restores your relationship with God. You have prayed and asked Jesus to be the leader and director of your life. You've asked Him to forgive you for all the ways you've sinned against Him while living life on your own terms, and you've committed to becoming more like Him. At the moment you asked Jesus to come into your life, He did. You are now “SAVED!” But now what? Here are 5 very important “Next Steps” to take right away as a new believer.
The decision you've made to become a follower of Jesus Christ is the most important decision of your life. God created you with a purpose and that purpose begins with knowing Him. You may not be completely
sure what happens when you decide to follow Jesus or what you should do now. There are probably a million questions running through your mind. This book will answer some of those questions and help you get on the right track in your new Christian life.
God’s word tells us:
- “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”—2 Corinthians 5:17
Following Jesus is both a one-time decision and a lifelong process. God wants you to have a meaningful life in relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus. However, he doesn't force that desire on you. He gives you a choice. You can choose to live according to His plan, or you can choose to go your own way.
Take note of the story the following verses tell:
- “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you.” Colossians 3:1-6
You have taken a big step by coming to the point of realization that putting faith in Jesus restores your relationship with God. You have prayed and asked Jesus to be the leader and director of your life. You've asked Him to forgive you for all the ways you've sinned against Him while living life on your own terms, and you've committed to becoming more like Him. At the moment you asked Jesus to come into your life, He did. You are now “SAVED!” But now what? Here are 5 very important “Next Steps” to take right away as a new believer.
NEXT STEP #1: STUDY YOUR BIBLE
How much do you really know about the Bible? Maybe you have read bits and pieces of the Bible, but you never understood it as a cohesive unit. As followers of Jesus, we believe that the Bible is the inspired,
inerrant word of God. Think about these facts:
•The Bible is comprised of sixty-six books that were written over a period of 1500 years by over forty different authors, from different places, and with different life experiences.
•These authors did not collaborate with one another. In many instances, they didn't even speak the same language. Yet their work, passed down through many generations and translated many times, has resulted in the consistent manuscript you are about to integrate into your life—the manuscript that tells God's story of the creation of the universe, the beginning and fall of man, and God's plan and purpose for us to know Him through His son, Jesus Christ.
•God communicates with us through His Word. There are several methods for making that communication a daily part of your experience with God.
You lose grip on something easily if you only hold on with two or three fingers. God wants you to get a good grasp on what is written in the Bible and how you can apply it to your life. Think of holding on to the Bible with all five of these fingers:
•Hear: Make sure you listen to good Bible teaching, both through your church and through other resources you can find. Take notes on what you hear.
•Read: You will get to know God better by spending time reading His Word. Set a goal to read the Bible every day, even if it’s only 5-10 minutes.
•Study: Make sure you are studying the truths you read. As you dig into the Bible, ask yourself these questions:
-What promise is there to claim?
-What example is there to follow?
-What command is there to obey?
-What sin is there to confess?
One of the best ways to study your Bible effectively is to get involved in a Life Group. Life Groups are groups of people that meet to study the Bible, pray for one another, and enjoy life together. We'll take a closer look at Life Groups in “Next Step #3.”
•Memorize: God wants us to hold scripture close to our heart and to be able to call on it when it is needed. This ability comes as we memorize verses that speak to us. Try to memorize at least one verse a week.
•Meditate: This ties in with memorizing. After you memorize a verse, spend some time meditating on it. Analyze and dwell on its truth as you go about your day.
The Bible is useful and helpful in all situations. Here is a powerful verse from the book of Hebrews reminding us of this truth:
CHOOSING A BIBLE TRANSLATION
Although there are many worthwhile translations of the Bible, here are three that are easy to read and accurate:
•The New Living Translation (NLT)
•The New International Version (NIV)
•The New King James Version (NKJV)
Try going to a bookstore or reading passages online (see appendix 4) to see which translation that you are most comfortable reading. As you take the step to integrate the Bible into daily life, you will see how it is relevant to everything that you face. God will use your time in the Bible to teach you about His truths and draw you closer to Him.
How much do you really know about the Bible? Maybe you have read bits and pieces of the Bible, but you never understood it as a cohesive unit. As followers of Jesus, we believe that the Bible is the inspired,
inerrant word of God. Think about these facts:
•The Bible is comprised of sixty-six books that were written over a period of 1500 years by over forty different authors, from different places, and with different life experiences.
•These authors did not collaborate with one another. In many instances, they didn't even speak the same language. Yet their work, passed down through many generations and translated many times, has resulted in the consistent manuscript you are about to integrate into your life—the manuscript that tells God's story of the creation of the universe, the beginning and fall of man, and God's plan and purpose for us to know Him through His son, Jesus Christ.
•God communicates with us through His Word. There are several methods for making that communication a daily part of your experience with God.
You lose grip on something easily if you only hold on with two or three fingers. God wants you to get a good grasp on what is written in the Bible and how you can apply it to your life. Think of holding on to the Bible with all five of these fingers:
•Hear: Make sure you listen to good Bible teaching, both through your church and through other resources you can find. Take notes on what you hear.
•Read: You will get to know God better by spending time reading His Word. Set a goal to read the Bible every day, even if it’s only 5-10 minutes.
•Study: Make sure you are studying the truths you read. As you dig into the Bible, ask yourself these questions:
-What promise is there to claim?
-What example is there to follow?
-What command is there to obey?
-What sin is there to confess?
One of the best ways to study your Bible effectively is to get involved in a Life Group. Life Groups are groups of people that meet to study the Bible, pray for one another, and enjoy life together. We'll take a closer look at Life Groups in “Next Step #3.”
•Memorize: God wants us to hold scripture close to our heart and to be able to call on it when it is needed. This ability comes as we memorize verses that speak to us. Try to memorize at least one verse a week.
•Meditate: This ties in with memorizing. After you memorize a verse, spend some time meditating on it. Analyze and dwell on its truth as you go about your day.
The Bible is useful and helpful in all situations. Here is a powerful verse from the book of Hebrews reminding us of this truth:
- “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” Hebrews 4:12
CHOOSING A BIBLE TRANSLATION
Although there are many worthwhile translations of the Bible, here are three that are easy to read and accurate:
•The New Living Translation (NLT)
•The New International Version (NIV)
•The New King James Version (NKJV)
Try going to a bookstore or reading passages online (see appendix 4) to see which translation that you are most comfortable reading. As you take the step to integrate the Bible into daily life, you will see how it is relevant to everything that you face. God will use your time in the Bible to teach you about His truths and draw you closer to Him.
NEXT STEP #2: LEARN TO PRAY
The best way to build a relationship with someone is to spend time talking to the other person. You wouldn't have many friends if you never talked to them, would you? How would your relationship with your family suffer if you never made time for them, or never let them speak to you? The same thing is true in your relationship with God. Just as reading your Bible helps you know God more intimately, so does spending time with him in prayer.
Prayer is your way of communicating with God. Here are a couple of tips for developing a strong prayer life:
•Set aside time every day for prayer.
•Don't be tempted to push your conversations with God into the leftover pieces of your busy day.
•Make prayer a priority.
•Combining your prayer time and your Bible reading time into a morning devotional is a great idea. “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.”—Mark 1:35
Don’t role-play for God. Just be yourself and talk to Him. You don't have to use fancy words and you don't have to try to impress Him. Just come to God as simply and honestly as you can. Speak from your heart. He is your father. “I will give them hearts that recognize me as the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me wholeheartedly.” Jeremiah 24:7
Now that you know you need to spend time in honest, open conversation with God every day, you may be wondering what that looks like. Consider this scripture: “Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Philippians 4:6
So, how should you pray? You can pray in a number of ways, but over the years, these are some ways that I have found to be helpful in praying:
•Spend some time praising and thanking God for the good things in your life.
•Confess any sin that you may be struggling with.
•Tell Him what is worrying you and what you need help with.
•Pray that God will guide and direct your life in the way it is supposed to go.
Remember, prayer is a conversation, not a monologue. As you develop your prayer life, you will get more comfortable both speaking to and hearing from God. So, go ahead and talk to God. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. He is your guide on this journey. Make sure the
lines of communication are open.
The best way to build a relationship with someone is to spend time talking to the other person. You wouldn't have many friends if you never talked to them, would you? How would your relationship with your family suffer if you never made time for them, or never let them speak to you? The same thing is true in your relationship with God. Just as reading your Bible helps you know God more intimately, so does spending time with him in prayer.
Prayer is your way of communicating with God. Here are a couple of tips for developing a strong prayer life:
•Set aside time every day for prayer.
•Don't be tempted to push your conversations with God into the leftover pieces of your busy day.
•Make prayer a priority.
•Combining your prayer time and your Bible reading time into a morning devotional is a great idea. “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.”—Mark 1:35
Don’t role-play for God. Just be yourself and talk to Him. You don't have to use fancy words and you don't have to try to impress Him. Just come to God as simply and honestly as you can. Speak from your heart. He is your father. “I will give them hearts that recognize me as the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me wholeheartedly.” Jeremiah 24:7
Now that you know you need to spend time in honest, open conversation with God every day, you may be wondering what that looks like. Consider this scripture: “Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Philippians 4:6
So, how should you pray? You can pray in a number of ways, but over the years, these are some ways that I have found to be helpful in praying:
•Spend some time praising and thanking God for the good things in your life.
•Confess any sin that you may be struggling with.
•Tell Him what is worrying you and what you need help with.
•Pray that God will guide and direct your life in the way it is supposed to go.
Remember, prayer is a conversation, not a monologue. As you develop your prayer life, you will get more comfortable both speaking to and hearing from God. So, go ahead and talk to God. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. He is your guide on this journey. Make sure the
lines of communication are open.
NEXT STEP #3: CONNECT TO A GROWING CHURCH
As a new follower of Jesus, it is critically important that you get plugged in with a growing, healthy church. The best place to learn about God and grow in your faith is around other people who want to do the
same. At 5 STONE CHURCH, our mission is "Equipping people for victorious living.” That happens through larger weekend services, mid-week smaller groups, and ministry groups. Making the commitment to get involved in church gives you many great opportunities to grow in your faith. You get the opportunity to:
•WORSHIP: TOGETHER we have the great opportunity to corporately experience WORSHIP on a DEEPER level as the Heavens open up during our Worship Experiences and invades our earthly atmosphere and lives.
•GROW: TOGETHER we find the potential to Grow to HIGHER HEIGHTS than we ever could reach individually. This takes more than just coming to church on Sunday. It’s a radical life change.
•CONNECT: TOGETHER THE CHURCH becomes the strongest undergirding you can find for Victorious Living! There’s no other place to experience this level of emotional support, prayer support, burden-bearing encouragement & exhorting, wise guidance, and Spiritual Gifts.
•GIVE: TOGETHER we have the opportunity to GIVE GREATER and make a greater impact than we ever could individually. We all have been blessed by God with the ability to give a portion of our time, talents, and treasure. Therefore, we make the high commitment to be a part of what the church is doing not just spectating.
•REACH: TOGETHER we have the awesome potential to REACH FARTHER and accomplish more for the Kingdom of God than we ever could alone. As a new believer in Christ, you are now part of a powerful movement that continues to change the world with the message of love, forgiveness, hope, help & healing!
Actually, getting involved in church is not optional. God commands us to gather together as a spiritual family. He wants us to understand the importance of meeting together regularly with other people who are
passionate about following after Him. If we don't, we will naturally begin to get discouraged and pulled down by the everyday concerns of life. We have to have set apart time to come together with other believers for worship and teaching.
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another...” -Hebrews 10:24-25
As a new follower of Jesus, it is critically important that you get plugged in with a growing, healthy church. The best place to learn about God and grow in your faith is around other people who want to do the
same. At 5 STONE CHURCH, our mission is "Equipping people for victorious living.” That happens through larger weekend services, mid-week smaller groups, and ministry groups. Making the commitment to get involved in church gives you many great opportunities to grow in your faith. You get the opportunity to:
•WORSHIP: TOGETHER we have the great opportunity to corporately experience WORSHIP on a DEEPER level as the Heavens open up during our Worship Experiences and invades our earthly atmosphere and lives.
•GROW: TOGETHER we find the potential to Grow to HIGHER HEIGHTS than we ever could reach individually. This takes more than just coming to church on Sunday. It’s a radical life change.
•CONNECT: TOGETHER THE CHURCH becomes the strongest undergirding you can find for Victorious Living! There’s no other place to experience this level of emotional support, prayer support, burden-bearing encouragement & exhorting, wise guidance, and Spiritual Gifts.
•GIVE: TOGETHER we have the opportunity to GIVE GREATER and make a greater impact than we ever could individually. We all have been blessed by God with the ability to give a portion of our time, talents, and treasure. Therefore, we make the high commitment to be a part of what the church is doing not just spectating.
•REACH: TOGETHER we have the awesome potential to REACH FARTHER and accomplish more for the Kingdom of God than we ever could alone. As a new believer in Christ, you are now part of a powerful movement that continues to change the world with the message of love, forgiveness, hope, help & healing!
Actually, getting involved in church is not optional. God commands us to gather together as a spiritual family. He wants us to understand the importance of meeting together regularly with other people who are
passionate about following after Him. If we don't, we will naturally begin to get discouraged and pulled down by the everyday concerns of life. We have to have set apart time to come together with other believers for worship and teaching.
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another...” -Hebrews 10:24-25
NEXT STEP #4: GET BAPTIZED
Baptism confuses a lot of people. Initially, it's not easy to understand the significance of being totally immersed in water after becoming a Christian. Much of the confusion centers on questions like, “I was sprinkled as a child, so I don't have to be baptized, right?” or “If I
don't get baptized does that mean I'm not saved?
When you make the decision to commit your life to Jesus Christ, the Bible teaches that you then have to be baptized by immersion, following Jesus's example. Baptism is an act of obedience and a public declaration of faith. When Jesus was ready to begin His earthly ministry, He showed His devotion to the Father by being baptized: “Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,' he said, 'so why are you coming to me?” But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him. After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” Matthew 3:13-17
Later, the apostles taught that all who accept the message of Jesus Christ and invite Him into their lives should follow His example of baptism: Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.....” Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all. Acts 2:38, 41
Baptism is symbolic of two essential truths of your faith:
1. What Jesus did for you: “He died for your sins, was buried and came back to life" (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).
2. What has happened to you: “You died to your old life, are buried in baptism and raised to live a new life in Jesus Christ” (Romans 6:3–4).
Never get tricked into thinking that baptism is what saves you. The work of your salvation was done the moment that you believed in your heart that Jesus is Lord and professed that belief with your mouth by
asking Him to come into your life and forgive you of your sins. Baptism is a Next Step of obedience—the outward symbol of the work that God has done in you.
You have been raised to walk in newness of life! That's definitely something to celebrate! Stop at our “Starting Point” in the foyer or tell a leader in the church that you need to be baptized and you can get signed up to take part in the next baptism celebration. If you have more questions about Baptism, see appendix 2.
Baptism confuses a lot of people. Initially, it's not easy to understand the significance of being totally immersed in water after becoming a Christian. Much of the confusion centers on questions like, “I was sprinkled as a child, so I don't have to be baptized, right?” or “If I
don't get baptized does that mean I'm not saved?
When you make the decision to commit your life to Jesus Christ, the Bible teaches that you then have to be baptized by immersion, following Jesus's example. Baptism is an act of obedience and a public declaration of faith. When Jesus was ready to begin His earthly ministry, He showed His devotion to the Father by being baptized: “Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,' he said, 'so why are you coming to me?” But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him. After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” Matthew 3:13-17
Later, the apostles taught that all who accept the message of Jesus Christ and invite Him into their lives should follow His example of baptism: Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.....” Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all. Acts 2:38, 41
Baptism is symbolic of two essential truths of your faith:
1. What Jesus did for you: “He died for your sins, was buried and came back to life" (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).
2. What has happened to you: “You died to your old life, are buried in baptism and raised to live a new life in Jesus Christ” (Romans 6:3–4).
Never get tricked into thinking that baptism is what saves you. The work of your salvation was done the moment that you believed in your heart that Jesus is Lord and professed that belief with your mouth by
asking Him to come into your life and forgive you of your sins. Baptism is a Next Step of obedience—the outward symbol of the work that God has done in you.
You have been raised to walk in newness of life! That's definitely something to celebrate! Stop at our “Starting Point” in the foyer or tell a leader in the church that you need to be baptized and you can get signed up to take part in the next baptism celebration. If you have more questions about Baptism, see appendix 2.
NEXT STEP #5: LIVE A LIFE OF WORSHIP
You were made to worship God! Worship is not just something that happens in a church service. Your daily life is an act of worship, as you live in a way that brings pleasure to God.
“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.” -Revelation 4:11
You bring pleasure to God when you:
•Love Him supremely
•Trust Him completely
•Obey Him wholeheartedly
•Praise Him continually
•Use your abilities
Every aspect of your life can be an expression of worship when you live in the realization and recognition of who God is and what He has done. Every activity can be transformed into an act of worship when you do it for the praise, glory and pleasure of God. How then is it possible to do everything for the glory of God? By doing everything as if you were doing it for Jesus and by carrying on a continual conversation with him while you do it. Worship can happen anytime and anywhere. In fact, God calls us to a life of worship. So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.
Here are some ways you can live out WORSHIP at 5 Stone Church:
•Stone #1 – WORSHIP DEEPER: There is something powerful and transforming that happens when you participate in corporate worship opportunities. Make that aspect of worship a weekly priority in your life. We worship together as a 5 Stone Church Family every Sunday morning at 10am.
•Stone #2 – GROW HIGHER: Every journey has a starting point and steps of growth that follow. These are necessary steps that lead to spiritual maturity and discovering purpose. As a new believer, you are invited to take a special 4 week HIGHFLYER COURSE with our Lead Pastor that will help you to soar higher in your faith. For more information, visit Starting Point in the church foyer or online at 5stonechurch.org.
•Stone #3 – CONNECT STRONGER: There is strength in numbers! By joining a Life Group, you’ll not only build friendships, you will find encouragement, prayer partners, accountability, and family! We are continually developing our Life Groups at 5 Stone Church and we are committed to helping you find the right group fit. For more information, visit Starting Point in the church foyer or online at 5stonechurch.org.
•Stone #4 – GIVE GREATER: As you grow in your faith, you will soon have a desire to not only “come to church,” but also to help in the work and ministries of your church. We call this being generous with your Time, Talents, and Treasures. We encourage everyone to volunteer in some way on either Sunday mornings or during the week. In addition, you can give financially (called Tithe and Offerings) to support your church and it’s ministries. Many people do this as an act of worship every Sunday morning during the service.
•Stone #5 – REACH FARTHER: We are called by God to carry on the work and ministry of Jesus as long as we are here on this earth. That’s a high calling for every believer to share the good news that Jesus loves the world and offers hope, forgiveness, freedom, strength, love, encouragement, and when this life is over- a home in Heaven! You can make a difference! Begin to share your story (your testimony) of what God has done for you with everyone who will listen.
You were made to worship God! Worship is not just something that happens in a church service. Your daily life is an act of worship, as you live in a way that brings pleasure to God.
“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.” -Revelation 4:11
You bring pleasure to God when you:
•Love Him supremely
•Trust Him completely
•Obey Him wholeheartedly
•Praise Him continually
•Use your abilities
Every aspect of your life can be an expression of worship when you live in the realization and recognition of who God is and what He has done. Every activity can be transformed into an act of worship when you do it for the praise, glory and pleasure of God. How then is it possible to do everything for the glory of God? By doing everything as if you were doing it for Jesus and by carrying on a continual conversation with him while you do it. Worship can happen anytime and anywhere. In fact, God calls us to a life of worship. So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.
Here are some ways you can live out WORSHIP at 5 Stone Church:
•Stone #1 – WORSHIP DEEPER: There is something powerful and transforming that happens when you participate in corporate worship opportunities. Make that aspect of worship a weekly priority in your life. We worship together as a 5 Stone Church Family every Sunday morning at 10am.
•Stone #2 – GROW HIGHER: Every journey has a starting point and steps of growth that follow. These are necessary steps that lead to spiritual maturity and discovering purpose. As a new believer, you are invited to take a special 4 week HIGHFLYER COURSE with our Lead Pastor that will help you to soar higher in your faith. For more information, visit Starting Point in the church foyer or online at 5stonechurch.org.
•Stone #3 – CONNECT STRONGER: There is strength in numbers! By joining a Life Group, you’ll not only build friendships, you will find encouragement, prayer partners, accountability, and family! We are continually developing our Life Groups at 5 Stone Church and we are committed to helping you find the right group fit. For more information, visit Starting Point in the church foyer or online at 5stonechurch.org.
•Stone #4 – GIVE GREATER: As you grow in your faith, you will soon have a desire to not only “come to church,” but also to help in the work and ministries of your church. We call this being generous with your Time, Talents, and Treasures. We encourage everyone to volunteer in some way on either Sunday mornings or during the week. In addition, you can give financially (called Tithe and Offerings) to support your church and it’s ministries. Many people do this as an act of worship every Sunday morning during the service.
•Stone #5 – REACH FARTHER: We are called by God to carry on the work and ministry of Jesus as long as we are here on this earth. That’s a high calling for every believer to share the good news that Jesus loves the world and offers hope, forgiveness, freedom, strength, love, encouragement, and when this life is over- a home in Heaven! You can make a difference! Begin to share your story (your testimony) of what God has done for you with everyone who will listen.
A FINAL THOUGHT
You are a new creation on a new journey. I hope that you will take the five “Next Steps” we've discussed to heart. As you become a Christian by faith, you should do all you can to seek, study, and learn about the life that is now yours through Christ. I trust that this book has been and will continue to be helpful to you as you start walking your new path. It isn't meant to answer every single one of your questions. No book could ever do that. The truth is that I can't tell you every twist and turn that your journey with God is going to take, because I don't know. That's the beauty of a relationship. You jump in and see where it leads. Enjoy the journey! "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." -1 Corinthians 2:9–10
APPENDIX 1
WHO I AM WHEN I FOLLOW JESUS
•I am God's child. -John 1:12
•As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ. -John 15:15
•I have been made right before God. -Romans 5:1
•I am together with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit. -1 Corinthians 6:17
•I have been bought with a price -1 Corinthians 6:19–20
•I am a member of Christ's body. -1 Corinthians 12:27
•I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child. -Ephesians 1:3–8
•I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins. -Colossians 1:13-14
•I am complete in Jesus. - Colossians 2:9–10
•I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ. -Hebrews 4:14-16
•I am free from condemnation. -Romans 8:1-2
•I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances. -Romans 8:28
•I cannot be separated from the love of God. -Romans 8:31-39
•I have been established and anointed by God. -2 Corinthians 1:21-22
•I am hidden with Christ in God. -Colossians 3:1-4
•I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me. -Philippians 1:6
•I am a citizen of heaven. -Philippians 3:20
•I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. -2 Timothy 1:7
•I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me. -1 John 5:18
•I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life. -John 15:5
•I have been chosen and, appointed to bear fruit. -John 15:16
•I am God's temple. -1 Corinthians 3:16
•I am a minister for God. -2 Corinthians 5:17-21
•I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm. -Ephesians 2:6
•I am God's workmanship. -Ephesians 2:10
•I may approach God with freedom and confidence. - Ephesians 3:12
•I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13
APPENDIX 2
QUESTIONS ABOUT BAPTISM
Q: When should I be baptized?
A: As soon as you have decided to receive Christ into your life, you can and should be baptized. There is no reason to delay.
Q: Can I be baptized together with my family and friends?
A: Yes! If each person fully understands the meaning of baptism, and each one has personally placed his or her trust in Christ for salvation, we encourage families to be baptized at the same time. However, it is important to remember that baptism is a personal statement of faith, not a family or group tradition. It is usually not wise to delay your baptism while waiting on others to join you. This puts an undue pressure on them, and delays your obedience.
Q: What should I wear when I am baptized?
A: Women should wear shorts and a top. Men should wear shorts and a T-shirt. Bring a change of clothes, a towel, and a plastic bag for your wet clothes.
Q: What will happen at my baptism?
A: At the beginning of the service, one of the pastors will briefly explain the meaning of baptism. You will wait for your turn to be baptized. The pastor will introduce you, briefly lower you just under the water, and then raise you back up. Once you've been baptized, you can dry off and watch the others. Later you will receive your baptism certificate. We encourage you to invite your relatives and friends to attend your baptism.
APPENDIX 3
HOW CAN I BE SURE OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS?
Sometimes, after accepting Jesus into our lives, we begin to doubt whether His forgiveness really covers all of our past mistakes. We wonder if Jesus dying on the cross was enough to truly cover every one of our sins. What we are actually questioning is the assurance of our salvation. These doubts may surface because of a persistent sin, a personal crisis, or a feeling of separation from God.
God wants us to have the full assurance that He loves us and that, because we have asked Jesus to be our Lord, He has forgiven us – completely. The doubts and uncertainties that creep up are not from God. When we face such questions, we must rely on his promises rather than on our own judgment or emotions. In on our own understanding, we are likely to minimize the significance of what God has done.
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7
To overcome doubts, spend some time meditating on the single most important fact about salvation. Here it is: Salvation is a gift from God.
God is so serious about saving us from our sins that he sent Jesus into this world as a sacrifice. God freely forgives us, and gives us purpose, when we confess our sin to him and ask his son to come into our lives as our leader and director.
When a new Christian questions whether or not he has experienced true forgiveness, he needs to look back to his original decision to begin a relationship with Jesus. If he was serious about becoming a follower of Jesus and receiving forgiveness for his past mistakes, then God is just as serious about engaging in that relationship.
We can rest in the assurance of our salvation without doubt because salvation does not depend on us – it depends on God. And he is trustworthy. Several issues common to our human nature could lead you to doubt whether or not you are truly a follower of Jesus. Here are some struggles that you may experience:
•Doubting God's love after a period of falling away: Understand that being a follower of Jesus does not mean that you will never again be tempted, or that you'll never make another mistake. We are all still human and we have to work at growing into fully-developing followers of Christ. Even when you stumble, God still loves you because you are his child. I John 1:8-9 tells us how to deal with our times of failure: “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” -John 1:8,9
Remember what we said earlier – becoming a follower of Jesus is both an event and a process. If we have committed ourselves to God as he has made himself known to us, we have his assurance of our salvation. If we have sincerely asked for forgiveness for our sins and invited Jesus into our lives, we can trust that we are new, forgiven creatures in right relationship with God. “Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.” - Isaiah 55:7
You are a new creation on a new journey. I hope that you will take the five “Next Steps” we've discussed to heart. As you become a Christian by faith, you should do all you can to seek, study, and learn about the life that is now yours through Christ. I trust that this book has been and will continue to be helpful to you as you start walking your new path. It isn't meant to answer every single one of your questions. No book could ever do that. The truth is that I can't tell you every twist and turn that your journey with God is going to take, because I don't know. That's the beauty of a relationship. You jump in and see where it leads. Enjoy the journey! "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." -1 Corinthians 2:9–10
APPENDIX 1
WHO I AM WHEN I FOLLOW JESUS
•I am God's child. -John 1:12
•As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ. -John 15:15
•I have been made right before God. -Romans 5:1
•I am together with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit. -1 Corinthians 6:17
•I have been bought with a price -1 Corinthians 6:19–20
•I am a member of Christ's body. -1 Corinthians 12:27
•I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child. -Ephesians 1:3–8
•I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins. -Colossians 1:13-14
•I am complete in Jesus. - Colossians 2:9–10
•I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ. -Hebrews 4:14-16
•I am free from condemnation. -Romans 8:1-2
•I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances. -Romans 8:28
•I cannot be separated from the love of God. -Romans 8:31-39
•I have been established and anointed by God. -2 Corinthians 1:21-22
•I am hidden with Christ in God. -Colossians 3:1-4
•I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me. -Philippians 1:6
•I am a citizen of heaven. -Philippians 3:20
•I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. -2 Timothy 1:7
•I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me. -1 John 5:18
•I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life. -John 15:5
•I have been chosen and, appointed to bear fruit. -John 15:16
•I am God's temple. -1 Corinthians 3:16
•I am a minister for God. -2 Corinthians 5:17-21
•I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm. -Ephesians 2:6
•I am God's workmanship. -Ephesians 2:10
•I may approach God with freedom and confidence. - Ephesians 3:12
•I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13
APPENDIX 2
QUESTIONS ABOUT BAPTISM
Q: When should I be baptized?
A: As soon as you have decided to receive Christ into your life, you can and should be baptized. There is no reason to delay.
- Those who believe ... were baptized ... that day! -Acts 2:41
- Then Philip began with the scripture and told him the Good News about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water, and the man said, “Look, here is water! Why shouldn't I be baptized right now?' Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The man answered, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.' So they went down into the water and Philip baptized him. -Acts 8:35-38
Q: Can I be baptized together with my family and friends?
A: Yes! If each person fully understands the meaning of baptism, and each one has personally placed his or her trust in Christ for salvation, we encourage families to be baptized at the same time. However, it is important to remember that baptism is a personal statement of faith, not a family or group tradition. It is usually not wise to delay your baptism while waiting on others to join you. This puts an undue pressure on them, and delays your obedience.
Q: What should I wear when I am baptized?
A: Women should wear shorts and a top. Men should wear shorts and a T-shirt. Bring a change of clothes, a towel, and a plastic bag for your wet clothes.
Q: What will happen at my baptism?
A: At the beginning of the service, one of the pastors will briefly explain the meaning of baptism. You will wait for your turn to be baptized. The pastor will introduce you, briefly lower you just under the water, and then raise you back up. Once you've been baptized, you can dry off and watch the others. Later you will receive your baptism certificate. We encourage you to invite your relatives and friends to attend your baptism.
APPENDIX 3
HOW CAN I BE SURE OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS?
Sometimes, after accepting Jesus into our lives, we begin to doubt whether His forgiveness really covers all of our past mistakes. We wonder if Jesus dying on the cross was enough to truly cover every one of our sins. What we are actually questioning is the assurance of our salvation. These doubts may surface because of a persistent sin, a personal crisis, or a feeling of separation from God.
God wants us to have the full assurance that He loves us and that, because we have asked Jesus to be our Lord, He has forgiven us – completely. The doubts and uncertainties that creep up are not from God. When we face such questions, we must rely on his promises rather than on our own judgment or emotions. In on our own understanding, we are likely to minimize the significance of what God has done.
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7
To overcome doubts, spend some time meditating on the single most important fact about salvation. Here it is: Salvation is a gift from God.
- God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. -Ephesians 2:8,9
God is so serious about saving us from our sins that he sent Jesus into this world as a sacrifice. God freely forgives us, and gives us purpose, when we confess our sin to him and ask his son to come into our lives as our leader and director.
- "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”John 3:16,17
When a new Christian questions whether or not he has experienced true forgiveness, he needs to look back to his original decision to begin a relationship with Jesus. If he was serious about becoming a follower of Jesus and receiving forgiveness for his past mistakes, then God is just as serious about engaging in that relationship.
- My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand.” -John 10:27-29.
We can rest in the assurance of our salvation without doubt because salvation does not depend on us – it depends on God. And he is trustworthy. Several issues common to our human nature could lead you to doubt whether or not you are truly a follower of Jesus. Here are some struggles that you may experience:
- Placing too much emphasis on emotions: Becoming a follower of Jesus is usually expressed in terms of feelings, but the assurance of our salvation is found in the significance of God's gift to us. We do not become followers of Jesus based on a feeling, but rather based on the start of a relationship with Jesus. We can trust him even when our own faith is weak, when we have done wrong, or when he feels distant. Think about this promise from scripture: "Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything." -1 John 3:19,20
•Doubting God's love after a period of falling away: Understand that being a follower of Jesus does not mean that you will never again be tempted, or that you'll never make another mistake. We are all still human and we have to work at growing into fully-developing followers of Christ. Even when you stumble, God still loves you because you are his child. I John 1:8-9 tells us how to deal with our times of failure: “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” -John 1:8,9
Remember what we said earlier – becoming a follower of Jesus is both an event and a process. If we have committed ourselves to God as he has made himself known to us, we have his assurance of our salvation. If we have sincerely asked for forgiveness for our sins and invited Jesus into our lives, we can trust that we are new, forgiven creatures in right relationship with God. “Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.” - Isaiah 55:7