Okay I Just Got Saved, So Now What?
There are three key things that will to help new believers get started in their walk with God.
1. Read the bible
Finding the right bible for you ~ If you have been led to salvation through a friend, you may have already been given a bible. If not, you may find it difficult in choosing the right one. I was given the Good News bible which was okay for my first bible but my suggestion is that you get an "New International Version."
I still use this bible NIV84' because it is simple and easy to read without being too watered down as some bibles tend to be...
The bible can be difficult to read for a new believer, firstly because it is put together in a style that will be unfamiliar until you work out how it is organized. Old and New Testament, book, chapter and verse - and secondly because you may be wondering where to begin reading.
As an evangelist, my personal favorite is Mark because this book gives new believers an introduction to Jesus, his ministry, life, death and ascension... and also because it is a good overview of the Gospels in general.
You can also get a "Read your bible in a year" study tool, which is available in most Christian bookshops or the local church. This is a reading plan designed to help you to read through the bible on a daily basis. Breaking the bible up in sections, chapters and verses makes it so much easier and a lot more fun to learn.
2. Find a Fellowship of believers.
The bible says that we need to be fellow-shipping together Hebrews 10:24-26 so it's important that we are a part of a Church or a group of believers who regularly meet for fellowship. This is because it is so easy for new believers to be lured back into their old lifestyle without the support and encouragement of other believers and also because we can grow and learn from each other.
Most new believers will be inclined to join the Church of the friend or person who led them to salvation. There may be times when that has not happened or is not practical. I encourage new believers to find a church that is Christ centered, preaches the whole word of God and allows the gifts to function. Having a new believers program is also a plus eg: The Apha course and if you are a youth - youth groups are awesome places to grow, make new friends and learn more about God.
IMHO the best Church I have come across for new believers has been the Baptist because they strongly emphasize the word of God and I personally learned the word during my time there. You may be in a position where you are unable to get to a church due to your employment or some other reason. Another alternative is finding a home Church or study group.
3. Study with others.
I love study groups/ home groups because it is more intimate than the Church environment and enables you to ask questions, discuss personal issues and study the bible with others. Good friendship are made in small settings like this and you will also find a lot of encouragement and growth in your walk because everyone is at certain levels. some of my best friends today, are those I met in home groups that I joined 20 plus years ago....
My old home group leader taught us many things, including the importance of memorizing chapter and verse when quoting scripture. This has become a habit in my life and I am truly grateful to him for ensuring that we all learned that. He also use to give us spot quiz's on certain chapters or verse that he had taught us during my time in his study group. That was fun because he was always trying to catch us out and most of us were ready for it.
Studying with others is so much fun but it is just as important to study at home for yourself. Your Pastor or home-group leader may be able to help you to choose a good study to do at home.
When I first began to study at home on my own, I just happened to mention to my Pastor [Baptist] at that time, that I was studying on "Spiritual Warfare through Intercession." Well, within that day, he appeared on my doorstep with another study about "Building Bricks of God." Lol! ^_^
Bless ya!!!
There are three key things that will to help new believers get started in their walk with God.
1. Read the bible
Finding the right bible for you ~ If you have been led to salvation through a friend, you may have already been given a bible. If not, you may find it difficult in choosing the right one. I was given the Good News bible which was okay for my first bible but my suggestion is that you get an "New International Version."
I still use this bible NIV84' because it is simple and easy to read without being too watered down as some bibles tend to be...
The bible can be difficult to read for a new believer, firstly because it is put together in a style that will be unfamiliar until you work out how it is organized. Old and New Testament, book, chapter and verse - and secondly because you may be wondering where to begin reading.
As an evangelist, my personal favorite is Mark because this book gives new believers an introduction to Jesus, his ministry, life, death and ascension... and also because it is a good overview of the Gospels in general.
You can also get a "Read your bible in a year" study tool, which is available in most Christian bookshops or the local church. This is a reading plan designed to help you to read through the bible on a daily basis. Breaking the bible up in sections, chapters and verses makes it so much easier and a lot more fun to learn.
2. Find a Fellowship of believers.
The bible says that we need to be fellow-shipping together Hebrews 10:24-26 so it's important that we are a part of a Church or a group of believers who regularly meet for fellowship. This is because it is so easy for new believers to be lured back into their old lifestyle without the support and encouragement of other believers and also because we can grow and learn from each other.
Most new believers will be inclined to join the Church of the friend or person who led them to salvation. There may be times when that has not happened or is not practical. I encourage new believers to find a church that is Christ centered, preaches the whole word of God and allows the gifts to function. Having a new believers program is also a plus eg: The Apha course and if you are a youth - youth groups are awesome places to grow, make new friends and learn more about God.
IMHO the best Church I have come across for new believers has been the Baptist because they strongly emphasize the word of God and I personally learned the word during my time there. You may be in a position where you are unable to get to a church due to your employment or some other reason. Another alternative is finding a home Church or study group.
3. Study with others.
I love study groups/ home groups because it is more intimate than the Church environment and enables you to ask questions, discuss personal issues and study the bible with others. Good friendship are made in small settings like this and you will also find a lot of encouragement and growth in your walk because everyone is at certain levels. some of my best friends today, are those I met in home groups that I joined 20 plus years ago....
My old home group leader taught us many things, including the importance of memorizing chapter and verse when quoting scripture. This has become a habit in my life and I am truly grateful to him for ensuring that we all learned that. He also use to give us spot quiz's on certain chapters or verse that he had taught us during my time in his study group. That was fun because he was always trying to catch us out and most of us were ready for it.
Studying with others is so much fun but it is just as important to study at home for yourself. Your Pastor or home-group leader may be able to help you to choose a good study to do at home.
When I first began to study at home on my own, I just happened to mention to my Pastor [Baptist] at that time, that I was studying on "Spiritual Warfare through Intercession." Well, within that day, he appeared on my doorstep with another study about "Building Bricks of God." Lol! ^_^
Bless ya!!!