Fresh Start
When you chose to commit yourself to following Jesus, you made the most important decision of your life. You have become a part of the family of God and have started an exciting journey. You can now find the purpose for which you are made and fulfill it. As a new believer, you have taken an important first step. Now it is time to take some other steps! You have been given the gift of eternal life. Now it is time to grow into the new life God has given you.
FAQ
How do I pray?
Prayer is a conversation with God. You don’t need to use any special words – you can keep it simple. Talk with Him like He is in the room with you (He is!) and use your everyday language. Tell Him about what you are thankful for, what you need, and what you need Him to forgive you for.
Why isn't my pain or struggle gone?
It may be some day. As we follow Christ, His power increasingly flows through our lives and brings order. But if the pain is not gone right now, understand that God is with you. You can rely on Him for the strength you need to make it through today. There is no such thing as a pain-free life. Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Next Steps
Step 1 - Tell someone about your decision.
Tell a friend or family member that you have made the choice to start following Jesus.
It will strengthen your commitment and it will benefit the person you tell. If that person is a believer, they will be encouraged (and encourage you!). If the person is not yet a follower, it may be just the prompt they need to investigate Jesus, too.
Step 2 - Connect with other believers.
No one can follow Christ alone; we need others in order to grow and thrive. Crossroads Church is here to assist you on your journey. Our mission is “to change the world by making disciples who make disciples.”
Two great ways to grow along with others are:
a. Check out a small group.
This is a great way to meet other people who are starting on the same journey that you are on. These groups are a wonderful way to explore with others what it means to follow Jesus in a safe, caring environment. Ask if your campus offers a Starting Point small group, which meets at the church for 6 weeks and provides childcare.
Even if you have never opened a Bible before, this is a great place to start.
b. Attend a Following Jesus class.
It covers the basics of the faith, like how to know you belong to God, how to pray, how to resist temptation, and more. It’s a 9-week class held at the church.
Classes start regularly. Contact us for more information.
Try one or both of these, and build a strong foundation for your relationship with God.
Step 3 - Start to meet with God.
Worship weekly with others, and personally meet with God through reading the Bible and praying.
10 Days of Personal Time With God
As believers, we have the great privilege of meeting personally with Jesus. One of the most important practices in growing spiritually is to read and respond to the Bible. If you have never read it before, don’t be scared off by how big the Bible is. Yes, it is a lot of pages, but reading even a few minutes at a time will help you to hear from God and build truth into your life.
These 10 sessions are designed to help you start to interact with God through responding to the Bible. It should only take you about 15 minutes per day to do these, but it will pay off big time!
Here are a few tips as you get started:
- Try to find a regular time and place each day to do these.
- Don’t start at the beginning of the Bible and read straight through. You can do that later, but right now we suggest you start with the passages we list in these studies. (Remember, you can use the Table of Contents.)
- Get a version of the Bible you can understand. We have copies of the NIV (New International Version) at the church. If you don’t have one, feel free to take one next weekend at worship. You can also read online or download a Bible app for your smartphone at www.bible.com.
- Before you begin to read, pray: “Lord, show me what you want me to understand.”
SOAP Bible Reading
- Scripture: Read the Bible verses.
- Observation: What does it say?
- Application: What will I do about it?
- Prayer: Talk with God.
We're here to help you grow!
You may be asking what do I do now that I’ve finished these 10 sessions?
Spiritual growth is to grow in three directions:
– Passion for God
– Love for other people
– Love for a broken world that is far from God
The ministry of Crossroads Church is designed to help you grow in those three ways by:
– Worshipping weekly
– Getting connected to others in a small group or in the Following Jesus class
– Serving on a team
Please be sure to contact us if we can be of help in any way.