James H. Hooks

As a new christian you have so many unanswered questions.
1. How do I get started in this new life?
2. What is my part, what Is God’s part?
3. Do I have to go to church to be a christian?
4. Where do I go to church?

These 4 questions are enough for a good start in your new life. We will address them separately.
1. How do I get started in my new life? This is a good question and a very vital one. Answering it is where many churches fail to properly guide you.
Being a new christian means that by asking God to forgive you for your sins and invite Jesus into your life and commit to live for Him means that you have been born again. Jesus said we must be born of the water and the spirit.
A. Born of the water is our physical birth being emerged in water.
B. Being born of the spirit is the spiritual birth.Jesus comes to live with you through the Holy Spirit.
When we are born physically we are babes needing utmost care from our parents who nurture, teach, train, protect and guide us. We are fed milk. If we are fed meat we would chock and possibly die. As we grow and our bodies mature, we can then eat meat for nourishment. We learn with others our age in schools. As we get older we progress to higher education.
When we are born of the spirit we are spiritual babes needing to be fed by others and being fed the milk of the word. If we are force fed meat we could die on the vine.
The difference is no matter how old we are has nothing to do with our spiritual growth or age. If we are 70 years old and just born again we are babes in Christ therefore needing to be fed milk.
This is where many churches fail newly born Christians. They attempt because of their physical age to feed them meat instead of milk. In other words they send them into an seniors class of other Christians their age and force feed them meat which they cannot possibly digest. As a result they are not able to grow, loose interest and stop studying and in many cases stop going to church altogether.
Solution: no matter the age they Need to be fed the milk of the word and encouraged to enlist in a beginners class. (If you are a church that does not have a beginners class means that you do not expect people to get saved.) Start one, even if it is just for one person. Start with reading and teaching the book of John, reinforced by the Romans road.
Move from there to a spiritual progressive class for first two years. By that time your personal calling should be determined and receive training in discipleship.
If your church does not provide that type of training find one that does.
2. What is my part/God’s part?
Your part is to study God’s word, find a bible believing, bible teaching church and attend regularly. God now hears your prayers. Pray each morning for daily Guidence, protection and provisions and yes, others. Pray before study, decision making and daily activities.
God’s part is to empower your learning by the teaching and Guidence of the Holy Spirit. Also to fulfill His promises of forgiving your sins, giving you eternal life, protect, provide a home, food and clothe.He will always fulfill His promises. God never lies, God never fails.
3. Do I have to go to go to church to be a christian?
No, but if you are really a christian you will want to go to church. God says, do not forsake the fellowship of the saints. We need one another.
Remember, when you were in the world without Christ you felt at home and comfortable among non Christians and uncomfortable among Christians. When you become a christian that is reversed. So if you still feel comfortable among non Christians and uncomfortable among Christians a change has never taken place.
You need to be in a church where you will have a supporting spiritual family that understands your new life changes.
4. Where do I go to church?
A. Find one where you feel loved, where people are concerned with your welfare and are not self centered.
B. find a church that provides with the above methods of teaching with a new converts teaching.
C. One that supports missions both local and world wide
D. One that has a community outreach or several outreach ministeries. This shows you that this church is not just interested in paying their own bill but has love for others enough to move to help them meet their physical as well as spiritual needs to go outside their church and express their love for them. If the church does not have a burden for the lost they are not doing their part in the great commission to go into all the world and reach the lost.

Hopefully you find this helpful in your new life in Jesus.