Christmas services will soon be here and we’ll be communicating the message of salvation through Christ. That IS good news.
And the great prayer of the Church is for an extraordinary number of people to say yes to Jesus in Christmas services around the world.
What is our responsibility to these new Christians?
Like with a newborn to our own families, new believers deserve the very best of love and intentional care.
Helping new Christians grow in their faith is core to the mission of the Church.
How do we get to the core of what we need to teach new Christians?
After all, there are thousands of Scriptures; and hundreds of biblical principles, prayers, and practical applications. There are dozens of parables, warnings and exhortations; 10 Commandments, nine fruit of the Spirit, and one Great Commission.
And it’s all important!
Thankfully, the Holy Spirit leads us to what we need as individuals. I remember when I was a new Christian, that I was inexplicably drawn to 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
I didn’t fully understand the verse in the moment, but I clung to it and over time it gained deeper life-changing meaning in my mind and soul.
In attempting to select out of all this content what you present to new Christians, it’s important to remember that the process of spiritual formation and maturing in our faith is a lifelong endeavor. It’s not a race and we need not be in a hurry.
With that said, the way a person begins their growth as a new Christian sets the tone and trajectory for their lifelong spiritual journey. Therefore, what we teach new believers truly matters.
Further, faith is best developed in community. It’s best lived out in the company, support and encouragement of other believers.
If you select a small and manageable number of major categories that cover the spectrum of spiritual formation, you can provide a framework for spiritual growth over a lifetime.
3 Essential Practices for New Christians (That Will Help Guide What You Teach)
(These three practices can serve as a framework of growth for a lifetime.)
1. Trust God
What we believe to be true about God and his word empowers us to consistently trust him in every facet of our lives.
Our faith begins by trusting God and his promises, and our faith builds as we experience the truth of God and His unwavering faithfulness.
In the early stages we barely understand what we believe, then as we mature, we gain wisdom by experience and a deeper grasp of God’s truth. The interesting question is then, is our faith stronger in the moment of conversion or is our faith stronger the more we understand?
Our faith is stronger and more mature according to the level of risk we perceive as we trust God and continue to take steps of faith. The practicing of our faith requires maturity, not mere belief.
