Once you have become a follower of Jesus Christ (a believer), there are a number of steps you should take to grow in your faith. The Christian life is an exciting journey. You will continue to learn and grow. It does not all happen overnight and is not always easy, but you can enjoy each step of the process in getting closer to God.
Attend a Local Church
The first step in your Christian walk should be to find a local church to attend (even if you are still unsure about God, this is an excellent place to learn more). Being a part of the right church is essential to your growth as a believer. It provides the proper foundation for learning more about your faith, getting involved with church activities and building relationships with other Christians. It is much more than attending a church service on Sunday. The church becomes your family in Christ.
How do you find the right church for you? Here are several important elements to look for in your search: a church that holds exclusively to the fundamental principles of the Bible, one that is committed to teaching the Bible as its ministry foundation and a place where there is an emphasis on fellowship among church members. Also seek a church that offers opportunities to learn through Sunday school classes, Bible studies or home small groups, has a focus on serving the needs of others both inside and outside the church and conveys a warm, friendly atmosphere.
There are a few other more personal items that you may want to evaluate, like size of congregation, type of worship music and available programs for individuals and/or families. It is a good idea to obtain a list of area churches, check out their websites and call their offices to learn more. It is also beneficial to visit a church more than once before deciding.
Read the Bible
The Bible is the primary method through which God reveals himself. It is a collection of 66 books that were written by various authors, but every word is inspired by God. “All Scripture (the Bible) is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).1 The Bible explains God and his character, how he created the world, how his people came to know his authority, and God’s plan of salvation through his son, Jesus Christ. It documents the life of the early Christian church and Jesus’ promise to someday return and reign forever. It is the greatest story ever told!
It should be our desire to learn more about the God who has saved us from sin and has provided us with an exciting future and hope. Throughout the Bible, God has given us guidelines on how to live the Christian life. It is our instruction manual. As you read the Bible, your knowledge and faith will grow. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16). You must know what the Bible says before you can apply it to your life. “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).
There are many outstanding Bibles, but consider getting a study Bible, such as ESV (English Standard Version) Study Bible or Ryrie Study Bible, which provides many features besides the books of the Bible. These extras often include expert commentary notes, a concordance (word index), illustrations, historical maps, and various articles and resources about the Bible. There are also many different translations of the Bible. A couple of the popular ones to consider are the ESV and NIV (New International Version).
How should I read the Bible? It should be your goal to read at least a small section of the Bible daily. It will ignite your faith and keep God’s word in your heart. There really isn’t a wrong place in the Bible to start reading, but beginning with the New Testament is recommended. A great initial book to read is Mark followed by John. They both outline the life and ministry of Jesus. Next consider Acts, which documents the history of the early church, and then perhaps Romans, Ephesians and Philippians. From there you may want to launch your Old Testament reading with Genesis, Exodus and Psalms. Be sure to ask the pastor at your church if you have any questions.
Develop a Prayer Life
Praying is simply talking to God. He loves you and wants to hear your most inner thoughts and needs. Many people find it easiest to focus on praying when they are in a quiet place. However, praying to God can be done anywhere and anytime. The Bible instructs us to pray throughout the day as it states to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
What should I pray about? You can talk to God about anything that is on your heart, like confession of sins, concerns, thankfulness for all God has done for you, needs of others, desire to grow closer in your faith and need for his guidance. “You will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: ‘Here I am’” (Isaiah 58:9). You can have confidence that God will answer your prayers even if his answer is not the one you expect or does not come when you want. You can trust that his answer will always be for your good. “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Even though you can talk to God anytime, it is customary to carve out a time each day to specifically pray. Many Christians pray first thing in the morning to get their day started, but for you, it might work better at a different time. It can be helpful to keep a prayer list of people and circumstances you want to pray about. As you develop a regular prayer life, you will feel God’s presence and his working in your life.
Experience Christian Fellowship
The Christian life is designed to be enjoyed with other Christians who can support you through your faith journey. Christian fellowship is important to a new believer for many reasons: it builds genuine friendships with people who have similar values, offers encouragement and support when going through challenges, allows for learning from other believers and provides fun through participating in various activities.
The need for Christian fellowship is found in the Bible: “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another” (Hebrews 10:24-25). In the book of Acts, the early church placed a strong emphasis on fellowship: “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42).
In what ways can I enter into fellowship with other believers? There are many possibilities available for Christian fellowship, which include talking with people before and after church, attending a Sunday school class, joining a home fellowship group where you can get to know other church members and discuss the Bible, participating in church social events like picnics, helping serve in the church and attending Christian-based events in your community.
Serve the Needs of Others
When we serve others, we are showing them love. The very nature of serving is caring. Christians are called to love people: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another” (John 13:34). We are also called to serve people: “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10).
There are many ways in which you can serve. Churches usually have a number of opportunities to serve, such as greeting at the door, setting up the coffee, assisting with various aspects of the church service, helping out in the nursery or children’s church and pitching in with work projects. There are also chances to serve in the community, like volunteering at a local food bank or homeless shelter and simply helping out a neighbor in need. Mission projects that reach worldwide have service and resource needs as well. When you give of your time, talents and resources to serve God and others, he will bless you in so many ways!
Share Your Faith
God has changed you, forgiven your past and brought you into a new and exciting life. You may want to share what God has done for you with other people. There are so many people who do not know the loving and saving power of Jesus Christ. How will they know if someone does not tell them?
The easiest way to share your faith is inviting people to your church. They can learn more about God through the service, pastoral staff and various church programs that may be available. This is an effective method for you to introduce people to God in a very low key manner. Another approach is simply telling people who you know (family, friends, neighbors or co-workers) about your faith and how God has changed your life.
What Is the Meaning of Life?
For many in this world, this is a question that has no true answer. But for Christians, we know this vexing question has an answer and that is…
To have a relationship with God through following Jesus Christ!
Thanks for reading and may God richly bless you!
1 The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton: Crossway, 2008. [utilized for all Bible references]