You’ve just become a Christan…
Now what?
If you have given your life to Christ and invited him into your heart, then you are a Christian. Jesus called this being born again. “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” (John 3:3) Paul said that becoming a Christian is like starting a whole new life. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Here are some helpful things you can do to put yourself in a place where you can grow:
Stay in fellowship
This means to maintain close relationships with other Christians. At Vineyard, believers stay in fellowship by regularly attending one of our weekend worship gatherings and by joining one of our small groups. As a new Christian, you may want to consider joining a small group. Vineyard small groups are designed for new and more experienced believers. They are modeled after Jesus and his twelve disciples—he spent time in relationship with them, showing them how to live for God. New small groups are starting up all the time at Vineyard so call the church office, or click here, to find out about one that is right for you.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer…Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God…” (See Acts 2:42-47).
Spend time praying every day
Prayer is just like talking to God. A simple formula to follow when praying is A.C.T.S., which stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication. When praying, make sure to praise God for who he is, to honestly confess your sins to him, thank him for what he’s done for you, and ask him for what you need. Be open during your prayer time for God to speak to you about what he may want you to be doing or changing in your life.
“You do not have because you do not ask God.” (James 4:2)
“I love the Lord, because he hears my prayers and answers them. Because he bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I live.” (Psalm 116:1-2; paraphrase)
Share Jesus with others
As a Christian, you are called to be a witness for Christ. This means you are to tell others what the Lord has done for you. It is not necessary to be a bible scholar or to have all the answers.
Sharing your “testimony” (the story of your journey toward Christ) is one of the most effective ways of helping others find him. There are some benefits in it for you as well. Sharing your faith forces you to discover what you really believe and why, and it enables you to participate with the Lord in his plan for the world.
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15).
“I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing
we have in Christ.” (Philemon 6)
“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)
Read the Bible every day
The Bible is God’s Word—he is the author. It’s the primary way God communicates with us. By reading the Bible, you’ll learn more about him, what he has done for you, and his plan for your life. You’ll also find comfort during difficult times and answers for your problems. We need to read the Bible every day in order to live and grow as Christians, and a good place to start is the biographies of Jesus called the gospels. They’re the first four books of The New Testament. We recommend reading a modern translation of the bible, such as the New International Version (NIV) or the New Living Translation (NLT).
Jesus answered, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
(Matthew 4:4)
We want to help you begin this new life you’ve started with Jesus.