Getting started as a Christian

What is a Christian?

A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ. Becoming a Christian is a life changing event. Jesus called it being 'born again.' ⁱ Jesus said that God could change men and women from the inside out.

The Bible teaches that such a change is both necessary and possible.

It is necessary because 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.'ⁱⁱ Without God's help men and women are lost, spiritually blind and out of contact with God.

It is possible because Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, lived and died and rose again to make a way for everyone to know forgiveness for their sins and to have fellowship with God. Only God, the creator, can recreate us to fullness of life and purpose, both now and forever.

John Newton expressed his 'new birth' like this in his hymn Amazing Grace: 'I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.'

This new birth may happen suddenly with a dramatic conversion experience of Christ. It may happen after a gradual process of searching. The Bible teaches not only that we may search for God but also that God loves us and searches for us.

How do I become a Christian?

Accept that God loves you and has a great plan for you 'For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.' ⁱⁱⁱ
Be willing to turn away from your sins. Jesus said, 'unless you repent from your sins... you will perish.'^iv Repentance means turning around from living your way to living God's way.
Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the dead. 'If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.' ^v
Pray and invite Jesus Christ to come into your life and to be your Lord and Saviour.

Effective prayer is praying from your heart. One of the shortest prayers in the Bible was also one of the most effective. A despised tax collector said: 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' Jesus said: 'I tell you that this man... went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.' ^vi

Right now 'is the day of salvation'^vii and now is the moment you can pray a prayer of commitment to God. Here are some words to help you:

God, I thank you that you love me. I am sorry for my sins. I decide today to turn away from my sin and to live in the new way that you will show me. I ask you to forgive me.

I believe that Jesus died on the cross for me and rose again from the dead. I now receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. From this moment on I want to live for Him and serve Him. In Jesus' name, Amen.

If you have prayed this prayer, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us.

How can I grow as a Christian?

As soon as you decide to become a Christian you have a new start in life and a new status as a child of God. 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!'^viii

Your decision to become a Christian is just the first step of an amazing journey. God is a good God and he wants you to have the very best. He has a great plan for your life. He wants you to realise your full potential and to fulfil your destiny. The best times of your life are now ahead of you!

'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'^ix

In keeping with this new life you need to embrace a new lifestyle. Core to this is:

Water baptism

Baptism is a sign that we have died to an old way of life and have been raised by Christ to a new way of life. 'We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.'^x

Jesus himself was baptised and commanded that all those who are his disciples follow his example.

Baptism is a public display of your commitment to Jesus Christ.

We run baptismal services throughout the year. If you would like to be baptised please contact us.

Baptism in the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity along with God the Father and God the Son. The Holy Spirit makes us aware of the presence and power of God. When Christians are 'filled with the Holy Spirit' they can live confidently face and overcome life's challenges.

In the Bible when people repented and were baptised they could expect to 'receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call.' ^xi

Daily prayer

Prayer is talking and listening to God. You can talk to God about everything and anything. He is interested in what is going on in your life and the things that concern you.

The Bible encourages us to be 'praying continually'^xii . It is also a good idea to set aside a time at the start of each day when you can spend uninterrupted time with God. Jesus himself did this and we should follow his example.

Each day we should pray for 'our daily bread.'^xiii In The Lord's Prayer (click link to Resources, The Lord's Prayer) Jesus gave us a template to help us as we pray.

Bible reading and study

The Bible is the word of God, and His word is truth. 'All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.'^xiv

As you read the Bible, God will speak to you and His words will encourage, strengthen, help and direct you on your journey with Him. It is a good idea to begin by reading one of the gospel accounts of Jesus' life in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. You could also use Bible reading notes to guide you in your reading.

We have listed some suggested Bibles and Bible Reading notes below.

Commitment to church

Church is not about buildings but people. When you were 'born again' you were also born into a family. You are not alone! You are to grow with the help, support and direction of a community of brothers and sisters and fathers and mothers in Christ.

All Christians are part of the worldwide body of believers and all Christians need to be part of a local body of believers. The Bible encourages us to regularly meet up with other believers.

The basic unit of the family of King's Church is a 'cell' group. This is an ideal way for you to get fully connected with the church family.

A cell group is a small group that meets during the week. In a cell group meeting, members get to know each other better, learn from the Bible, develop in their faith and character, and pray.

Each group consists of 3-12 people and is led by a church member who has been trained on our School of Leaders. Meetings last for about an hour and take place at various times and in various locations across the Thames Valley.

If you would like to join a cell group, please contact us.

The church also runs an 'encounter' ministry as part of a process of development as a Christian.

An Encounter Weekend gives you an opportunity to have a close encounter with Jesus Christ. It is about coming to know the Father heart of God, putting things right with him, receiving inner healing from past hurts, experiencing the Holy Spirit and understanding God's plans for your future.

A four-week pre-encounter course will prepare you for the Encounter Weekend and will answer any questions you might have. Following on from the weekend is the Post-Encounter Course, which runs over 8 weeks and will help you to develop your faith and keep you moving forward in your Christian life. Each session of the Pre-Encounter and Post-Encounter courses lasts for just one hour each week.

Telling others about your faith in Christ

It is very important that you tell others about your commitment to Christ. This will give you strength and courage. Jesus said, 'everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven.'^xv

Sharing your faith should be done naturally in conversation and with a great love for the people that you are talking to.

Helpful resources

To help you in your life as a Christian, we recommend the following books.

Life Application Study Bible

The world's best selling book, complete with explanations, historical and geographical facts.

30 Days

A 30-day introduction to reading the Bible. It is written by Nicky Gumbel, the pioneer of the Alpha course.

The Purpose Driven Life

Understand why you are alive and God's amazing plan for you - both here and now, and for eternity. Rick Warren will guide you through a personal 40-day spiritual journey that will transform your answer to life's most important question: What on earth am I here for? This book is an international bestseller with over 30m sold.