First Steps
Congratulations on your decision to follow Jesus Christ! We want you to grow stronger in your relationship with Him, so Pastor Greg wants to share some important first steps to follow in your newfound faith.
For a more in-depth look at each of these steps, please select a topic below:
Pray
Prayer is as essential to knowing God and growing spiritually as breathing is to living and staying healthy. Just as you need to communicate effectively to be a good employee or spouse, our walk with God is only as strong as the communication between you and Him.
You might ask, "If God already knows what we need before we ask, why even bother praying?" Scripture makes a very strong case for prayer in the life of the believer.
- Jesus told us to pray. Luke 18:1 says, "Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart." We should pray simply because Jesus told us to and emphasized it in His life and teaching. There really is no better reason to pray than this.
- Prayer is God's appointed way of obtaining things. James 4:2 says, "You do not have because you do not ask." Do you ever wonder why you never seem to know the will of God for your life, why you never have any opportunities to lead others to the Lord, or why you always seem to be scraping by? Maybe you haven't seen answers because you haven't asked God. He wants us to experience the blessings of seeing our prayers answered, such as the salvation of a loved one, a divine healing, or a wonderful provision. But we first have to ask.
- Prayer is the way by which God helps us to overcome our anxiety and worry. Philippians 4:6 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
When you come to God and present your fears and anxieties to Him, He will give you His peace and comfort. That doesn't necessarily mean He will take away whatever it is that is causing your worry. But you can know that He is with you, helping you persevere.
Prayer is one of the ways we make ourselves ready for the return of Jesus Christ. Luke 21:34–36 says, "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will be as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." As believers living in the last days, our lives should be characterized by watchfulness and prayer (see also Mark 13:32-33).
Whatever concerns you may have at this moment, it is always time to pray! Remember, Scripture tells you to "[cast] all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7).
The Bible identifies several different types of prayers we can pray. One model for how we should pray is captured in the acrostic A.C.T.S. Each letter stands for a specific aspect of prayer, arranged in a very natural order.
- A: Adoration (Worship)
- C: Confession (Of Specific Sins)
- T: Thanksgiving (Gratitude)
- S: Supplication (Specific Requests)
- Adoration: Jesus essentially taught us the same thing in the Lord's Prayer, which begins, "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name" (Matthew 6:9). This puts things in perspective for us. A good example of this type of adoration is found in Psalm 95:1-7. When we take time to praise and worship God in our prayers, we are placing God where He rightfully belongs. As a result, our problems and needs come into their proper perspective.
- Confession: The closer we draw to God, the more we sense our own sinfulness. When Isaiah came into God's presence, he said, "Woe is me, for I am undone!" (Isaiah 6:5). The confession of our sin removes any barriers and clears the air of anything that would cause God not to hear our prayers. As 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us . . . " This is, once again, modeled in the Lord's Prayer. After "Our Father who art in heaven," we find, "Forgive us our sins" (Matthew 6:12).
- Thanksgiving: Our immediate response after confession is thanksgiving. We should be thankful that God would indeed cleanse and forgive us. Should we give thanks because everything is going perfectly in our lives or because we are in a good mood? No, we should give thanks because God deserves our praise. Psalm 118:1 says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For his mercy endures forever." As another translation puts it, "His love endures forever." By giving thanks, or simply expressing gratitude for what we have, we prevent our focus from shifting to what we do not have.
- Supplication: If we are faithful in the first three steps, the last step will not degenerate into some spiritual shopping list. Too often in prayer, we cut to the chase instead of spending time in adoration, confession, and thanksgiving first. Yet, God does want to hear our needs and requests. Scripture tells us, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6-7). We are also promised, "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:l9).
Do not neglect this vital part of your Christian walk. As someone has said, "Prayer is the breath of the newborn soul, and there can be no Christian life without it."
Find a Church
Finding the Right Church
One of the keys to spiritual growth is to become part of a local church. In its biblical form, the church should provide biblically-sound teaching, genuine worship, an atmosphere in which Christians are able to use their God-given gifts and abilities, and spiritual leadership that will help keep believers accountable.
There are those who might say, "I don't need to go to church. I like to spend my time alone with God, and I don't need to be around other Christians." The reality is that no Christian can endure or prosper long if he or she lives in isolation without the support of a church. No matter how many Christian books, magazines, CDs, and movies you have, they can't replace the experience and fellowship you get from attending church and being with other believers.
In the book of Hebrews, it says, "Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some do, but encourage each other, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near" (Hebrews 10:24-25).
A model for the modern-day church can be found in the book of Acts, which describes the early days of the church. The first-century church turned the world upside down, spreading the gospel around the known world.
The Bible has plenty to say about the characteristics of a healthy, vibrant church, and you can measure its vitality by comparing its qualities to the characteristics of the first-century church (Acts 2:42, 44-47).
A healthy church meets together regularly, places a high priority on Bible study and develops caring people who concern themselves with the well-being and spiritual development of each member. It recognizes the power of corporate prayer and worship and demonstrates Christ's love in meaningful ways. Its members desire to minister to others and seek to share God's good news with others.
In any Biblically-sound, God-centered church, the following beliefs should be obvious:
- The Bible is held as the inspired and only infallible authoritative Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16).
- God is eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (John 14:26, Matthew 28:18, 19).
- Salvation is the free gift of God to all who will repent of their sins and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the only way to come into a relationship with God (John 14:6, Ephesians 2:8-9).
A healthy church is also a growing church. But growth alone should not necessarily be viewed as proof of God's blessing. The first disciples had a "gladness and a singleness of heart" about the early church. Your church home should be a place you look forward to attending not only on Sundays, but throughout the week.
Conversely, if you feel uncomfortable about your church, it may be the Holy Spirit telling you that church is unscriptural. As you grow in your understanding of the Scriptures and seek God's will through prayer, you will be able to discern truth from error.
Avoid any group that teaches doctrines, beliefs, or rituals that deviate from the Bible. Many false teachers speak only parts of the truth and their messages have been aptly described as the "skin of the truth stuffed with a lie." Most cults are identifiable because they refuse to:
- Adhere solely to the 66 books of the Bible. Instead, they add their "special revelations."
- Accept that our relationship to Jesus Christ has been provided by God through His grace and is received through faith alone. Instead they practice salvation by works.
- Acknowledge Jesus Christ as the divine Son of God and give Him the full recognition He merits.
Commonly known cults are Jehovah's Witnesses, Latter-Day Saints or Mormons, Unification Church, Unitarians, Spiritists, and Scientologists.
Find Your Place
It has been wisely said, "The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints." Regular fellowship and participation in the church for a disciple cannot be overemphasized. As you come to church and find your place in it, you will then be in a position to give to others what God has given to us.
The church that is right for you will be a place where you can grow in your love for the Lord and serve Him by contributing to the life of the church. Remember, we are all sinners doing our best to follow God's teaching. Rely on Him to show you the way.
Remember that the model for a God-honoring church is in the Scriptures. Study God's design and pray to be led to the place He has prepared for you. God bless you as you grow in your faithfulness.
Read the Bible
Have you ever missed a meal or two because you were really busy? At some point, your body probably told you it needed food, whether it was hunger pangs or a growling stomach. Whatever the sign, you need to eat.
Now, you could keep ignoring the signs, but your body would gradually begin to break down. In other words, you need to eat to survive.
The same is true of our spiritual lives. If we don't feed ourselves, we will begin to die spiritually. And one of the most important ways we feed ourselves spiritually is by studying the Bible—God's Word. In Scripture, King David declared God's Word to be sweeter than honey (see Psalm 19:10), and Job said that he treasured God's Word more than his necessary food (see Job 23:12).
Bible study tends to fall into one of three categories. As you grow in your relationship with Christ, you should take advantage of all three on a regular basis.
Directed Study
A directed, or deductive, study is meant to bring about an understanding of Scripture by applying it to everyday life. A directed study will be biblically-based, providing specific biblical principles and ways in which we can put those principles to work each day or in a particular situation.
A sermon at a church service is a form of directed study, but there are also many published Bible studies that fall into this category too.
Discovery Learning
Also known as inductive Bible study, discovery learning is more of an individually-based study of God's Word. Rather than relying on a speaker or a book to direct the process, discovery learning puts on the emphasis on your willingness to get into Scripture.
This could be likened to a search for treasure, in which you are exploring an area and examining everything you find for something of value. In fact, the writer of Psalm 119 uses this analogy when he writes, "I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure" (Psalm 119:162).
There are three basic skills that come into play with an inductive study:
- Observation. This involves asking who, what, when, where, and why questions about the passage you're reading. When studying Scripture, it's important to understand the context of the passage. Think about the people, places, and events mentioned in the section you're reading. Don't be afraid to look at biblically-sound outside sources to provide a complete picture; just don't rely on it solely.
- Interpretation. Now that you understand the background of the passage, it's time to look for the meaning. What does this Scripture teach about God? What does it say about man? Is there a command to obey? A promise to claim? Is there a warning to heed? Is there an example to follow or avoid? The Bible is filled with principles—the building blocks that form the foundation of what we believe and how we behave toward God and others. Simply put, a principle is a spiritual lesson.
- Application. This is where the rubber meets the road, so to speak. Now that you've gained knowledge and spiritual understanding, you need to put it to work in your life. What is God trying to teach you through this passage? How does what you've learned apply to your life? How will you cooperate with God in living what you have learned? One thing you can do is write a statement of how you will put the spiritual lesson into practice. For example: I will be a consistent and faithful student of God's Word so I will grow.
Inductive study sounds like a difficult task, but it is something that anyone can use, no matter where you are in your walk with Christ. The secret lies not in having a head for facts, but in having a heart to listen, learn, and obey.
Devotional Reading
One of the easiest—yet most difficult—methods of studying the Bible is devotional reading or quiet time. This is simply a time of one-on-one fellowship with God through the reading of His Word, worship, and prayer.
First and foremost, make sure you set aside a reasonable amount of time and a quiet place where you can read and pray without distractions. This is time you're setting aside to spend with God. You don't want anything to interrupt you during this time.
Have a plan of action. Whether you want to read through the Bible in a year, study one of the gospels in depth, or focus on a single person, there are many resources that can help you in those areas. A good starting point is simply to read a chapter of Scripture a day and keep on going.
Don't rely too much on outside sources. Devotional books are not bad, and can be a good supplement to your Scripture reading. But remember that the focus on your quiet time should be on reading God's Word and meditating on it, not what someone else wrote.
Once you've read through the passage, consider what God is communicating to you through that piece of Scripture. Maybe it has to do with something you're going through. Maybe it's something you're going to experience, and you just don't know it yet! Regardless, allow God to speak to you in His still, small voice as you contemplate His Word.
Now, it's time to pray about it. Talk to God about what you have read, seeking His insight and His will. Ask that He would help you take what you've read and apply to your life today.
A great way to remember the things you're learning is to keep a journal. Write down what you read and what the Lord is speaking to you through it. Write out how it applies to you and how you will respond. This way, you can come back later, see how God has been teaching you all along, and be encouraged by it.
And last but not least, put what you learn into practice. All the quiet time in the world won't help you if you're not willing to live out what you've learned.
