5 Steps for a New Believer in Christ

Janee Hughes • Sep 10, 2021

What Does it Mean to Be a Follower of Christ?

As a new Christian, you may wonder what is your next step. Your commitment to follow Jesus Christ through faith is walking in a relationship with God. There is excitement about being a new follower of Christ, but there are also questions about what your life should look like now. A life fully committed to Christ is led by Christ. He guides you every step of the way.

Living a life surrendered to God is following Him wherever He may lead you. This is a guide to help you as you begin your walk with Christ and grow in your relationship with God. Questions and doubts are totally alright, but as long as they keep you moving forward and not backward. May you live fully for God by feeding your faith and growing in your personal relationship with God!

Step One: Follow Christ

If you have made the decision to follow Christ, you have already done the first step. Congratulations on your new life in Christ! If you are still curious about what it takes to follow Christ, continue reading to learn how to make the decision to follow Christ and walk in a relationship with God for eternality.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing;

it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV

What Does it Mean to Follow Christ?

If you have confessed your sins and asked Jesus in your heart that you may follow His ways, then you are saved. God sent His only Son to be the Savior for the sins of the whole world, so that you may have a personal relationship with the Father and live eternally with Him. A following act of obedience is to be baptized in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father

and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

Matthew 28:19, ESV

Baptism is an outward declaration of your inward commitment to God. The commitment comes first. Your baptism is an outward expression of that commitment and it brings newness of life.

“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead

by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

Romans 6:4, ESV

“And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 2:38, ESV

Step Two: Feed Your Faith

Your faith grows throughout your walk with Christ. Christ leads you to be more like Him when you follow His leading in your life. Growth occurs when you dedicate your life to God. A few ways to grow are through God’s Word, prayer, Bible studies, group Bible studies, mentors, and Christian resources (ex. podcast, music). Search out ways that you can grow your faith through church small groups or church classes.

God's Word and Prayer

Two impactful ways to grow your faith are through the Bible and Prayer. For deeper Bible study, we recommend reading from a Study Bible, since the side notes can provide a better understanding of a verse or passage. Here are two excellent Study Bibles that you can find on Amazon: NIV Application Study Bible and ESV Study Bible.

Need a good Bible study to start with? Check out Faith Foundations | A Study on the Basics of Christianity.* This Bible study teaches all the fundamentals of Christianity and Christian living. It's a great choice for a new believer or any Christian who wants to rediscover the wonder of their faith in Christ.

Content List for the Faith Foundations Bible Study by Daily Grace Co.

How Important is Prayer?

Just like all relationships, communication is fundamental. Prayer is our communication with the Lord God, our Father. A deeper relationship with God is formed through prayer, which makes it a vital part of the Christian walk. Prayer is not just for pastors and the “elite.” God has provided this means of communication for everyone. Simply put, it is a conversation with God.

How to Pray?

You don’t have to pray any certain way or in a formal order for God to hear you. God hears all prayers. He wants to hear from you because He loves you! You can pray about anything. Your worries, excitements, fears, uncertainties, and doubts can all be brought to God in prayer. Anything and everything. There is no need to hide anything from God since He already knows everything about you.

From the famous Lord’s Prayer, you can learn from His example to apply to your own prayer life. Matthew 6:9-13, ESV reads,

“Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’”

Notice that Jesus begins the prayer with acknowledgment of who God is and praises God for who He is. He emphasizes God’s will as the best way, regardless of how it appears to man.

Check out this article to learn key elements to include in your prayers: ACTS Prayer Method.

Step Three: Fellowship with Other Believers

Connecting with a local church helps you live fully for God by surrounding you with like-minded people and building your faith. God made us with the desire for fellowship with one another. When you build relationships with other believers you create a support system, which edifies, equips, and encourages you.

Already have a church home? Start getting more involved and connected with the members.

If you are not already in a local church, start visiting churches that teach the Word of God. Pray and ask God to lead you to the right church. There are a lot of different denominations, which can make it very intimidating. Knowing a Christian to ask for church recommendations is a good way to start. They may help narrow it down, at least to some particular denominations.

Here are a few great things to look for in a church home:

Faithfully teaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ through sound doctrine.
Sermons that point you to Christ and not to yourself.
A pastor with a love for God and His Word without being self-centered.
Wholehearted prayers that do not force or declare God to grant things.
A system of accountability in the church leadership.
Good stewards of money with no focus on material gain.

Step Four: Flourish in Your Gifts for God’s Glory

Your life has a purpose! Don’t doubt the gifts that God has placed in you.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,

which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:10, ESV

You are one of God’s workmanship. You are “created in Christ Jesus for good works”. God has prepared for you a great future that will bring glory to His Name. God created all people with unique gifts and talents. Do you know that you have specific gifts and talents for a specific purpose? Yes, you do!

As one of God’s People, you are given spiritual gifts through the Holy Spirit. There are a variety of spiritual gifts, but they are all from the same Spirit.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

1 Corinthians 12:4-7, ESV

In 1 Corinthians chapter 12, Paul shares about spiritual gifts from the Spirit and how we are all one body of Christ with many different parts.

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks,

slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”

1 Corinthians 12:12-13, ESV

Do you know your gifts and talents? Consider how you can grow more in your gifts to bring glory to God through your life. Don’t have a clue about what your gifts are? Pray and ask God to reveal them to you. Also, you can ask a close friend to tell you what talents they see in you. People typically can see your gifts and talents better than you can yourself. You can discover your top spiritual gifts for free at SpiritualGiftsTest.com

Step Five: Faithfully Spread the Gospel

This is the beginning of Jesus’ Great Commission:

“And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation…’” Mark 16:15, ESV

Now, that you are a believer in Christ, you get to have a part in spreading the good news of Christ to others. Spreading the Gospel may feel a little overwhelming to you. That is completely normal! Sharing Christ to others isn’t just for pastors, all of God’s People are called to share Christ with the world. Not everyone is called to be a missionary in a foreign country or plant a local church, but you can share the Lord with the people in your daily life.

The act of “spreading the Gospel” can simply be through your actions and words. Just share your personal story and experiences with other people. Share what God has done in your personal life and the ways that He continues to show His goodness and love to you.

The Holy Spirit will help give you the proper words to share the Truth of God’s Word. Rely on the Spirit to lead you, rather than yourself. Follow the example of Christ; His light will shine through your life for His glory.

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Leaning on the Spirit for Godly Patience

By Keshia Cunningham • 23 Apr, 2024

God does expect us to be patient. He expects us to not act or react in a hasty manner especially in certain situations. When we react without exhibiting patience, this often has negative repercussions. God included “patience” as a fruit of the Spirit which is meant to allow us to grow and walk in the Spirit of the Lord. “ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ” Galatians 5:22, NIV I’m sure we all can think about a time when we were kids and were impatient. We wanted something right away but we had to be patient. From wanting to be first in line, the first one to see something, or simply wanting our parents to leave the grocery. Of course, our parents told us to be patient. Now we all either have kids or have interacted with kids at some point. We’ve seen them become impatient and we try to calm them down. We tell them to be patient and to sit still. This is how God wants us to be as well. God doesn’t want us to rush. He wants us to slow down while learning patience. Many of us want to rush the process. The “instant gratification” has become so popular. We can get food delivered, cars delivered, and charge our phones almost anywhere nowadays. We have gotten so used to getting what we want instantly that we often forget that sometimes patience is needed on this journey. The goal isn’t always being first. It’s about being patient and obedient to the will of God. If God is calling us to wait and to have patience, then that’s what we should do. To be completely honest, I sometimes get a little hasty myself. I want to do things my way. I don’t want to wait on God and see what He says. I recently realized that God will slow you down when you aren’t listening to Him and refusing to be patient. A quick story: I was at a certain place where it takes quite a while to get checked in. This was my first time going there, so I was a little anxious. By the time I had made it to the back of this establishment, I was tired and I wanted to simply rush the process. I went to have a seat and I thought to myself, that the exchange that this person and I had was a little short and quickened. That’s not the impression I want to leave at any place. In that moment, I asked God to calm me down. I asked Him to help me change my attitude and focus on what’s important. He told me to, “be patient”. I immediately sensed a calmness come over me. I knew that God saw, felt, and heard everything I had just experienced and that I didn’t like it. A complete shift in my attitude changed the trajectory of my day. I’ve been back to that certain place and I am mindful of the people who are there. I am mindful of my interactions because we’re all in need of something and me being patient can help them get me through the process a lot faster. “ Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ” Romans 12:12, NIV God wants us all to be loving, kind, and patient individuals who lead others into positivity. There are going to be times when we don’t feel like being with others and even ourselves. That is why it’s important to become acquainted with Bible verses, so that when anxiety comes in, we can push it out with the word of God. We can always take our anxious thoughts to God in prayer. God is with us. He knows what we are feeling and what we are thinking. That alone shows us that we can be patient and trust in Him. “ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God .” Philippians 4:6, NIV

Finding Peace through Christ

By Keshia Cunningham • 20 Mar, 2024

True peace can only be found in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To be fully at peace in the Christian walk starts with having a relationship with Jesus. Our relationship with Jesus gives us some crucial tools to have peace in this life. Incorporating hope in Jesus, hearing what He has to say, and also allowing Him to heal our brokenness can bring us peace. As we explore these three topics and how they relate to peace, may you rest in Jesus and allow Him to work in our lives to bring about true peace. Hope in Jesus Can Bring Us Peace First, let’s take a moment to understand the definition of Hope . It is “ a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen .” This definition gives us assurance that if we are seeking something, we should be expecting it to happen. We lean on hope that better days are coming for us. We also may lean on hope for a miracle or a great change in our lives. That hope is placed in Jesus. Giving Jesus complete control and having hope in Him to do what’s best for us also calms our racing thoughts to usher peace into minds. “ That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe ." 1 Timothy 4:10, NIV Hearing Jesus Speak to Us Can Bring Peace Secondly, peace can be found by simply hearing what Jesus is telling us. One of the ways we can hear what Jesus is saying to us is through prayer. He doesn’t use harshness when reacting to our prayers. Jesus hears us and shows us that He is truth and life. Not only do we have the opportunity to have an open conversation, but we have the honor of hearing what we need to have peace. The beauty of Jesus and walking Him, is that He doesn't leave us hanging. He gives the answers we need which will always lead us to peace of mind. “ As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built .” Luke 6:47-48, NIV True Healing Can Bring Us Peace And lastly, in order to have peace in our lives, we must work on healing. Jesus gives the tools we need to heal. We must allow Him to help us work through our concerns. Healing allows us to have clear space in our minds, in order to think of all of the good things that Jesus has done for us. To be free from the trauma of the past, overthinking, and clutter, can bring us peace. Letting go of all the negative experiences brings us great, profound peace and hope. It all begins with taking the first step of letting Jesus have control over our lives to move toward peace. True healing is found in Jesus! “ You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you .” Isaiah 26:3, NIV In conclusion, these are a few ways that we can find peace in Jesus Christ. When it seems like all hope is lost, it can be found in Him. Peace isn’t something that any of us can borrow or buy. It can only be obtained through faith and also hope through Jesus. Surrendering to Jesus’ plans for our lives will always bring us peace. The peace that truly surpasses all understanding. May you open your heart and let Him fill it with an immense amount of peace.

Remaining Joyful in Uncertain Times

By Keshia Cunningham • 20 Feb, 2024

There is a distinct difference between happy and being joyful. Being happy usually involves something that is acquired from outside of you. Being joyful is usually associated with feeling excitement on the inside. The feeling of joy isn’t necessarily dependent on what’s going on around you, but rather what’s going on inside of you. Joy will always bring you peace because being happy is often short-lived. Being joyful, especially as a Christian living in this world, can at times be challenging. These days it’s important to not become weary but to be joyful. We shouldn’t focus our attention on the negative aspects of life. We can’t sit in the things that are going on around us. We must focus on the good things in life that bring us great joy. It’s some of the simple things that can bring us joy. Waking up to another day that the Lord has made, thanking the Lord for that cup of coffee, and spending time with our loved ones that the Lord has blessed us with can bring us joy. Joy is Found in the Lord Joy is found in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The One who shed his blood for our soul brings me great joy. Whenever I find myself feeling unhappy and in need of joy, I turn to the Word of God. I’m reminded of a timely Bible verse in the book of Psalms that often soothes my worries and anxieties. It’s an encouraging message from David to be glad, rejoice in the Lord and praise God. This is such an encouraging Bible verse because no matter what things may appear to be, we can always give glory to God in all circumstances. “ Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart! ” Psalm 32:11, NIV Joy is Found in Serving Others If we ever lack the feeling of being joyful, we can take the emphasis off of ourselves to serve others. This not only brings comfort to the person you’re helping but this will also bring joy into your heart. You’re doing the work of God just by helping bring light into their life. The love and light you gave them will spread onto someone else. Being a cheerful giver pleases God and brings hope to the world. “ The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed .” Proverbs 11:25, NIV Joy is Found in Every Season Every moment in our life may not be happy moments, however, that doesn’t mean that we can’t find the simple joys in everyday living. During our times of despair, it may seem difficult to seek out joy. When we’re sad or brokenhearted, we can still find comfort in knowing that Jesus is with us always. We weren’t created to be hopeless but to be hopeful and joyful. In Romans, there is a very familiar Bible verse that echoes great encouragement to set our eyes on hope, to rejoice, and pray. This leads us to being joyful. I can’t stress enough how imperative it is to seek The One who gives us all that we need and more. If you ever lack joy in your life, seek Jesus. “ Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer ." Romans 12:12, NIV

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