Pastors Writings

Next Steps for New Believers

If you're reading this as a new believer in Christ, let me be the first to say, welcome to the family of God!

You are beginning an amazing adventure that will change your life forever. You now have peace with God, and as a result, you can experience the peace of God in a way you never have before.

Right now, you might be asking yourself, "Okay, I'm a new believer. What now?" That's a great question—and in the next few moments, I want to walk you through some important first steps in your new life with Christ.

Step One: Keep Pursuing the Gospel

Now that you've believed the gospel and trusted Jesus Christ to save you from your sins, the Bible says you are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). But salvation is just the beginning—there is so much more to learn and experience in the Christian life.

Start by continuing to learn about and trust in the gospel. The same good news that brought you salvation is the same good news that will guide your spiritual growth (sanctification) and help you become more like Christ (discipleship).

The gospel is not something you move past—it's something you go deeper into. Think of it like a diamond. Every time you look at it from a new angle, you see a fresh glimmer of beauty. Your new life in Christ is the same.

So make a commitment today to get to know Jesus more and more each day. This is not the end of your spiritual journey—it's the very beginning. One of the challenges in many churches is that once someone is saved and baptized, we often treat them as if they've arrived. While it's true that salvation is secure, don't treat your new life in Christ as finished. You're just getting started!

Step Two: Find a Healthy, Bible-Preaching Church

I wish I could say all churches are spiritually healthy, but that's not the case. Just like families, churches can be either spiritually mature or spiritually immature.

One of the blessings of the Christian life is the freedom to worship in a variety of ways that reflect different cultures and communities. In the Old Testament, worship was highly structured and specific. But in the New Testament, we see more flexibility and creativity in worship styles.

For example, in Uganda, churches may worship for hours with drums and dancing. In Rome, the service may be more solemn and formal. Both can be God-honoring—it just depends on where you feel most at home.

I plan to write a full article on how to find the right church, but for now, here are some non-negotiables:

1. Does the church believe the Bible?
You may be surprised how many churches no longer hold to the authority and infallibility of Scripture. Some treat Genesis as just one of many creation stories or deny the miracles of Jesus—even the resurrection. If you encounter one of these churches, don't just walk away—run.

2. Do you feel comfortable there?
Finding a church is a bit like finding the right pair of shoes—what fits one person might not fit another. Some people prefer large churches; others feel more at home in small ones. Both can be good. What matters is finding a place where you can grow and serve.

3. Once you find the right church, commit to it.
Avoid the temptation to "church hop"—constantly jumping from one church to another. No church is perfect. They're full of imperfect people (just like you and me). Don't look for perfection—look for health. And when you see problems, ask God how you can be part of the solution. Pray for your church. Support it with your time, talents, and resources.

Step Three: Read Your Bible Daily

This is what we call developing a devotional life. You need more spiritual nourishment than just what you get on Sunday morning. Church services, Bible studies, and small groups are important—but nothing will feed your soul like reading God's Word every day.

Challenge yourself to read the Bible from cover to cover in a year. There are many reading plans and apps to help you get started. In my family, we started reading the Bible together on January 1st with the goal of finishing on December 31st. It's been life-changing.

And don't be afraid to ask questions. The Bible has some hard-to-understand sections. Having a pastor, mentor, or friend you can text or call for guidance is incredibly helpful.

Step Four: Cultivate a Life of Prayer

Entire books have been written on prayer—why we pray and how we pray. But here's my simple encouragement: pray every day. Even if it's just for a few minutes, begin cultivating time alone with the Lord.

• Pray before meals—it's a great way to teach your children how to pray.

• Pray with your spouse before bed—it can strengthen your marriage.

• Pray with your church family—our church, for example, hosts a weekly prayer call on Wednesday nights.

How should you pray?
The disciples asked Jesus that same question. He responded with what we call "The Lord's Prayer" (Matthew 6:9–13), though it might be better called "The Disciples' Prayer" because it's a model for us.

It teaches us to:

• Praise God ("Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name...")

• Ask for our needs ("Give us this day our daily bread...")

• Confess sin ("Forgive us our trespasses...")

• Seek God's guidance ("Lead us not into temptation...")

You don't need fancy words. You don't need to feel confident first. Just start. As you pray more, your comfort and confidence will grow.

In Closing

There's so much more I could share about your new walk with God. These steps aren't exhaustive, but they are foundational.

In future articles, I plan to cover topics such as:

• How to find a church that's right for you

• How to study your Bible

• How to develop a Bible study or sermon

• How and where to serve in your church

• Ideas for getting involved in foster care ministry
  ...and much more.

But for now, focus on these first four steps:

1. Pursue the gospel daily

2. Find a healthy church

3. Read your Bible every day

4. Develop a life of prayer

If you do these things consistently, you'll begin to grow stronger in your faith and walk more closely with Jesus. Welcome again to the family—and may God bless you on this new and beautiful journey.