I Am a Christian Now...What Do I Do Next?
What to do after becoming a Christian?
”Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,” Psalms 107:2 (NKJV).
Quick answer: Shout it from the rooftops that the Lord of Hosts has paid for your sins and invite someone to the same grace that’s been tugging at them since the day they were born. That is ultimately what many new believers do next. It’s natural and normal to do so because once God saves us, He makes it possible for us to do His will. Sharing what God has done for you with others in the hopes they will come to know the gracious God you know is ultimately God’s will. So if you’ve felt that urge, don’t hold back. Tell someone of God’s goodness.
Hallelujah and praise the Lord for the grace given, and the work started in your life today. Let us be among the first to welcome you into the family. We may have never met in person, but know that once you acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior, we become family by the blood of Christ. We are more than thrilled to encourage you on this journey.
It’s all too common for a new believer to have such a joyous moment and then feel a little (or a lot) overwhelmed on what to do next. You’re not alone in that. There’s a lot of things that may have flooded your mind in a short timeframe, “Should I read my Bible now?” “Goodness, which translations do I need to get?” “What church should I go to?” “How do I find out which church I should attend?” That’s only a few questions; there are several questions that zip through a new believer’s mind.
So what should you do after becoming a believer? Let us share with you 7 things every new believer should do. These are in no particular order, so don’t get hung up on it.
What Scripture tells us: 2 Timothy 2:15
People joke and say that life doesn’t come with a manual, but oh how untrue that is. God gave us all a book of instructions we should live by.
Basic
Instructions
Before
Leaving
Earth
The Bible. It tells us how to live, how to love, how to be. Not only does it give us instructions on how to live, but every answer to every test we go through in life.
There are many people who profess to be pastors, but they’re just spiritual predators looking to make a buck or go viral on social media. All believers are at risk of being deceived, and a new believer is even more vulnerable. So it’s imperative that you know what Scripture says for yourself so you don’t fall victim to the wolves who disguise themselves as sheep.
Don’t get too hung up on translations; we appreciate KJV, NKJV, NLT, LSB, and CSB and actively stay away from the MSG and Passion translations. Just our two cents.
What Scripture tells us: 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (NKJV)
It’s true that salvation happens in an instant. Christ’s blood washes our sins away to present us faultless before God. We become a new creation, yet we are still human beings who must battle against our flesh. Scripture tells us that the desires of the flesh are completely at war with our spiritual desires. If our flesh is constantly fighting against what God wants, how do we get rid of the things that don't please Him?
The beautiful part of the sanctification process is that God Himself will do the work within you (Philippians 1:6). To be clear, this doesn’t mean you sit on the sidelines. As you read the Bible, you will feel convicted about thoughts and behaviors that no longer belong in your life, and you must put in the work to turn away from them. Scripture will instruct you on how to live, and because the Holy Spirit lives inside you, you will feel a deep desire to follow those instructions.
Many people believe they need to "clean up" their lives before they can come to Jesus. Using human logic that makes sense, however, Scripture shows us that God never made that a requirement. In John 14, Jesus tells His disciples, “I go to prepare a place for you.” He promises that a Comforter will come, and that He will be with them and in them…speaking, of course, of the Holy Spirit. Notice, however, that Jesus didn’t tell His disciples to clean themselves up to prepare for the Holy Spirit's arrival. The same goes for us today. We can never clean up our lives enough to be worthy of God’s presence. If we could, Christ died for nothing. We simply wouldn’t need Him.
What Scripture tells us: Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.” (NKJV)
Attending a local church helps strengthen your relationship with God. It provides simple explanations of scripture, support when it’s most needed, encouragement when you feel down, and accountability when you’re tempted to sin.
In Romans, we are told that we are all part of the body of Christ, and each of us has a specific role to play. You may excel in one area while another person struggles in it, and the reverse is also true. For example, if you are a natural encourager, you might notice a fellow believer who needs uplifting and use your words to give them hope. On the flip side, if you are going through a tough season and open up to someone at church, they may have already walked that path and can help you navigate it in a godly way. We all need each other, and to think otherwise is simply not biblical.
It is easy to dismiss the need for fellowship and think, “I can just study the Bible on my own,” or, “It’s too confusing and I don’t know who to trust.” You absolutely should study the Bible for yourself! Your concerns are completely valid, especially since there are people posing as pastors who preach messages that should never have left their lips. We cannot ignore that God gives us simple instructions to gather, fellowship, and build each other up. It’s important to visit different churches and pray for guidance on which church you should join.
I think it’s worth noting that you’re not looking for a church that makes you “feel” good. You’re looking for a church that explains scripture or preaches biblical principles. The purpose is to help you understand God’s instruction book.
What Scripture says: Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (NKJV)
When God has done something in your life, you don't have to hide it. Psalm 107:2 says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” Your story is evidence of God's faithfulness, and someone else may need to hear it.
You may think you need to know exactly what to say, how to explain the Bible, or have an answer for every question someone might ask. You don't. Start with what you know: tell someone what God has done for you. Tell them where you were, what God showed you, how He met you, or how He is changing you.
You’re not called to be the most outgoing person. Saying the perfect words isn’t a requirement either. You simply have to be obedient when God gives you the opportunity to share your testimony. Pray for wisdom. Ask God to show you who needs to hear your story, and trust Him to lead the conversation.
And don't let fear convince you that your story isn't important enough to share. You may still have questions. You may still be growing. You may not have everything figured out; that's okay. As a new believer, you’re qualified tell someone what Jesus has already done for you.Your testimony doesn't have to be polished to point someone to Christ. Just tell them what He's already done. One plants. One waters. God will give the increase.
What Scripture says: scripture sdfjsk
It doesn’t matter if you wake up at 4:30 am or 9:00 am. It matters how you start your day, that can have a tremendous impact on your attitude, behavior, and life. Some believers gripe about not wanting to make prayer and Scripture reading just a habit, but to be honest, it’s the perfect habit to have.
In the morning when your eyes open, but before you sit up, before your feet hit the floor, whisper an intentional “Thank You, Jesus”. Not only will you start your day off slowly and allow your mind some time to wake up,
you’re starting your day with gratitude. Give this a try for thirty days.
Your morning routine doesn’t have to be complicated. If you don’t know where to start, use this guide to help you get started. You can always add to it.
Pray for understanding
5 minutes of silence
Read scripture
Express gratitude to God
You’ll find that different seasons of life will look different and so will your morning. The important part in all of this is that you’re spending time learning about the God you’re living for and letting Scripture direct your life.
In the same respect, whether you go to bed at 8:00 pm or midnight doesn’t matter. It’s how your day ends that makes a difference to your spiritual walk. You may be extremely exhausted, so this routine needs to be something that you can do within 5-10 minutes.
Just like the morning routine, it should be simple.
Express gratitude for the day (even if it’s a rough one)
Reflect on your attitude throughout the day (how could you reflect Christ more)
Pray that God graces you with another day and another chance to be more like Him
Of course, you can add to this list or take away things that make sense for you. Remember, every season may look different, and that’s ok.
What Scripture says: Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.” (CSB)
That may seem daunting, we get it, but hear us out. Once you find a church, it’s very easy to make excuses why you won’t get involved:
I need to get settled first.
I don’t know anyone yet.
I don’t know which ministry would be suitable for me.
All of those are excuses no matter how you try to slice it, and if we’re honest (brutally honest), it’s self-centered thinking. That’s human nature at its finest. Selfish. Instead of asking “which ministry should I join?”, ask “where can I best be of service?” There’s nothing in the rule book that says you can’t bounce around ministries to see where you can be of service to others.
Honestly, the excuses you’re making may be exactly why you should get involved in at least one ministry. Think of getting involved as a quick way to get results in these areas. Nothing helps you settle into a new church, meet more people, and find the best fit for your particular set of gifts.
Getting involved in church creates a more intimate form of accountability, fellowship, and edification. You’re not just a number in a sea of people (especially if the church you attend is a larger church). You’re seen, heard, helped, and able to help better.
To be honest, you don’t have to limit your gifts, talents, and skills to just church. There are plenty of places that could use your unique touch. Pray for the opportunity to serve others, even outside of church, so that your life proclaims the name of God.
Where should a new Christian start reading in the Bible?
There's no right or wrong way on where to start in the bible, but if you need a little direction, we always recommend the four gospels. This helps you deeply understand what Christ has done for you. Getting familiar with the good news is important. Next up, Romans and then Ephesians.
What Should I do if I don't understand the Bible?
James 1:5 (NKJV) "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."
God wants you to know Him and His word. There will be things in here that can be a little challenging to understand, but we are instructed to pray for wisdom and believe God will give it to us willingly, readily, without hesitation. Not by osmosis, but through various means like a good sermon, another Christian , or understanding gained from going through a trial.
Why do I still struggle with sin after becoming a Christian
It doesn't matter if you're a mature believer or a babe in Christ, sin is something we all struggle with as believers. The key word is struggle. Even Paul had this same internal conflict. Romans 7:15 "I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate." Paul goes on to conclude that he is struggling with his flesh. And since the flesh is a part of this life, we'll have to contend against it. You can conclude the same. We live in a fallen world and the later in Romans, Paul tells us that the flesh and spirit are at constant war.
How do I know what things in my life don't please God?
Reading Scripture can help you examine your life. Romans 12:2 tells us to not think or act like the world does. Ephesians 5:10 encourages us to seek to find what pleases God. In Psalm 139 the Psalmist is asking God to search his heart and essentially lead him away from what isn't pleasing to God. This is something we can model. Pray ask God to reveal what needs to removed from your heart.
Why should a new Christian join a church?
No one person has all the answers. Throughtout Scripture, we're told to seek wise counsel (Proverbs 12:15). We go to church to learn more about who God is, how He works, understand scripture, to fellowship with and be of service to others, and to be obedient. Hebrews 10:25 instructs to not forsake the assembling of ourselves. Christ, Himself, exemplified this practice. He gave teachings to multitudes.
How do I find a good church?
Make note of different churches in your area.
Visit several throughout a certain length of time.
Make note of the teachings.
See if they align with or against Scripture.
Cross off the ones that don't align
Pray about the ones that follows Scripture.
Keep visiting until you feel drawn to join one of them.
What if I'm afraid to tell poeple I'm a Christian?
Always pray to God for the courage to obey His word and direction. Often times, we hesitate to share our faith or that we've been saved due to the opposition many people in the world (maybe family or friends) display when it comes to Christianity. We have to remember that our goal as a believer is to please God and not man (Galatians 1:10). Resist the urge to not share your faith due to fear (James 4:7) because that doesn't come from God (2 Timothy 1:7). Breathe. Pray. And challenge yourself to speak up about your faith.
Do I need to know the Bible really well before sharing my faith?
No. Scripture says "let the redeemed of the Lord say so", not "only Biblical scholars and apologists". Take the pressure off of yourself to know everything before sharing anything. Share what you know and watch how God moves.
Do I have to pray every morning and every evening?
Short answer: no. Keep reading.
"Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). It's good to pray all throughout the day. Starting and ending our day in communication with God changes a lot of things in our life: our perspective, attitude, and heart posture. It's also how we acknowledge that we cannot do this life on our own.
God is also not one to force us to do anything. So do you have to pray every morning & evening? No. Should you? Yes.
What should I do if I miss my morning or evening routine?
Extend grace. God isn't waiting for you to mess up so He can punish you. His mercies are new each morning (Lamentations 3:22-23) and He doesn't condemn us for our faults (Romans 8:1). Besides, morning routines are helpful, but they aren't something to be worshipped. Morning routines are set so you can create a healthy habit of spending time with God. Don't hold the morning routine so sacred that it becomes an idol in your life. If you miss your routine, it's OK. You can pray and read Scripture all throughout the day. Relish in the face that God is with you and ready to hear from you always.
We pray these tips help you understand the next steps to take as a new Christian. It’s important not to focus on getting everything right. It’s not about perfection; It’s about taking steps that help you deepen your walk with Christ. Sharing what God has done for you, reading the Bible for yourself, joining a church, creating routines, and getting involved in church are all things that can give you direction as you walk this narrow path.
You don't have to be loud to let your light shine or know it all to share God's goodness in your life. Start with one conversation.
Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep living out what you believe. And when you're ready, Printed Faith will be here with tools to help you Know Christ, Live His Word, and Make Him Known.
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