Over 400 of you were baptized this past Easter Sunday—congratulations! Some of you might be totally new to church and thinking to yourself this week, What do I do now?
The short answer is enjoy. Jesus is the greatest giver ever and has given you a new life (John 10:10). You have a God who has made you into a new creature and has given you a new heart (2 Cor. 5:17). May you bask in the joy of your salvation and savor the sweetest reality of all: Jesus loves you, and you belong to him.
As a new follower of Jesus, the Holy Spirit now dwells in you and is already at work in changing your desires and what you love most. This is great news because it means that being a Christian is not a self-reclamation project in which you have found a new way to get your act together. Jesus saved you and will finish what he started in freeing you from Satan, sin, and death (Phil. 1:6).
Wanting to be helpful though, here are a few instruments Jesus uses to grow us and give us more joy.
1. Get into the Bible
God has been so kind to tell us all about himself in the story of the Bible. If you don’t have a Bible, just ask for one at your Mars Hill Church and they will be happy to give you one. It can seem a bit intimidating and overwhelming to think about where to start in reading the Bible. Just relax though—there is no test, and you have the rest of your life to dig in. A good place to start is the book of Luke in the New Testament, and then read through to the end of the Bible in the book of Revelation. It would also be worthwhile to invest in a good study Bible, which has tons of little notes, articles, and additional insights on the entire Bible. These are often invaluable for a new believer as they help you explore the setting of the Bible and more fully grasp what is going on in whatever passage you are reading.
You might also want to check out these two sermons series by Pastor Mark that cover the basic story and themes of the Bible and what the life of a follower of Jesus looks like.
- It’s All about Jesus (2009)
- Doctrine (2008)
2. Get into community
The church is a group of people who belong to Jesus and are a family. As a Christian, you are made to be in relationships with others. It is in these relationships that you will grow in your love for God and for people (Prov. 27:17). Being a disciple of Jesus is not an individual thing. Meaningful relationships with other Christians will massively shape you and help you grow as a disciple of Jesus. The New Testament has over 50 “one another” verses that refer to loving one another, serving one another, encouraging one another, and praying for one another, etc. Each of these commands requires relationships with other Christians. Take a minute right now and get connected to a Community Group if you’re not already in one. Also, think about finding out more about Mars Hill Church by attending at an upcoming membership class at your local Mars Hill church.
3. Join the mission
Your life is not an accident or purposeless. Jesus has now called you to be part of the incredible mission he has given us of making disciples (Matt. 28:16–20). All of us have a part in this and every part is important and valuable (1 Cor. 12:12). There are skills, talents, and resources that Jesus your Lord has entrusted you to use wisely to help this mission to see more people meet Jesus and hear the good news of his gospel go forward.
Jesus is not so much concerned about how much you have or how talented you are, but just that you are faithful with what he has given you. Think about how you can begin serving and giving at your local church. If you are not sure how to start serving or giving at your local Mars Hill church, go here or talk to someone at the Connect Desk on Sunday.
4. Tell everyone you know what’s happened
A miracle has happened: God has saved you and gave you new life! How amazing it is that you have met Jesus and he has taken away your sin so that you can have eternal life and joy. Jesus is all, he is the King of kings, the Maker of all creation, and filled with amazing love! And you know him! You don’t have to be a Bible expert, have all the answers, or be able to explain everything about God—you just need to tell your story. You are a witness to how amazing Jesus is, so tell everyone you know this good news.
Remember, Jesus loves you, Mars Hill Church loves you, and we are here to serve you.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6
