You have made the decision to become a Christian, congratulations!
It’s only the beginning of your new life with Christ. The process of learning and growing in your new faith is called discipleship. Adult & Teen Challenge has many studies to help you in your Christian walk with the Lord. You will want to grow and mature as a Christian to learn more about God and His plan for your life.
Here are a few essential elements to help you in your journey.
1. Prayer
It is important to spend time in prayer every day. Your spirit needs spiritual food to grow, even more than your body needs physical food. Time in prayer is one avenue to feeding your spirit. We have access to God’s presence anytime we want to spend time with Him. Prayer is simply talking with God. Learn to share your thoughts, fears, and desires with Him. Praise, thankfulness, confession, and requests will become an active part of your prayer-life.
2. Bible Reading
The second way to feed your spirit is with Bible reading. To grow as new Christians, it is essential to develop a daily habit of spending time in God’s Word. As you read and study it will become clear how passages apply to your life. The Bible is God’s way of sharing Himself with us. Find a translation that is easy for you to read – perhaps the New Living Translation (NLT) or the New King James Version (NKJV). A good place to start reading is the Gospel of John and 1 John in the New Testament.
3. Fellowship with Other Believers
We all need help and support in life. Our Christian walk is no different. It’s important to become part of your local church, but it’s more than attending services on Sunday morning. (There’s a Bible verse about the importance of meeting with other Christians – Hebrews 10:25.) As you get involved in small groups and sharing with others, you will receive encouragement and strength from others. It’s important to make new friends who share your new beliefs; they will help you continue to grow and learn from others.
4. Learn to Trust God
It’s often difficult to believe that God has really forgive and accepted you. Ephesians 2:8 explains it: “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” Don’t doubt God’s plan for your salvation.
5. Memorizing Scripture
Reading the Bible is the first step in understanding God’s Word. But when you memorize a scripture, it’s with you at all times. If you are doubting that God has forgiven you, memorize 2 Corinthians 5:17: “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” or 1 John 5:13: “I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.”
In 1 Corinthians 13:11 the apostle Paul wrote about spiritual growth: “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” We all want to grow and mature in our Christian life. Blessings as you begin your new life in Christ!
If you want more help with your journey consider Adult & Teen Challenge curriculum: How Can I Know I’m a Christian and Who is God?
