Ask the Pastor with J.D. Greear

What Are the Three Most Important Things for a New Believer to Do Immediately?


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Pastor J.D. discusses the three most important things for new believers to do as they begin their relationship with Christ.

A glimpse inside this episode:

#1: Learn how to spend time with God.

  • There’s absolutely nothing that will benefit you more than spending time with God every single day.
    • Find a time that works for you, and set aside time.
    • Start with 10-15 minutes if you need to, but make sure you have time to read Scripture and spend time praying.
    • A lot of people who start well in the Christian life don’t always end well — like in the parable of the seed. The problem with the seed, though, is that it didn’t go deep enough.
    • I recommend reading a book of the Bible all the way through, rather than trying to read the whole thing front-to-back.
      • The book of Mark is a great place to start.
      • We advocate the “HEAR” method here at our church. Highlight, Examine, Apply, Respond.
      • #2: Plug into a gospel-centered local church and get involved.

        • You’ve gotta be known, you’ve gotta be serving… there’s just something essential about the local church.
        • Yes, you can get podcasts like this one and sermons online and that’s great, but good content can’t replace being a part of the church.
        • Even though it doesn’t technically have to be your nearest Summit Collaborative church, I am of the opinion that they’re the best… even though I may be a little biased.
        • Seriously though, it’s vital to get plugged into a local church that preaches the Word of God right away.
          • If you’re not sure where to start, ask some friends that are believers where they go.
          • Or, look around online, and make sure you read the “What we believe” section of the church’s website.
              • One of the best analogies for the body of Christ is… well, the actual body. When I have an itch on my left arm, my body sends a message to my mind which sends a message to my hand telling me to itch. It doesn’t just magically happen.
                • In the same way, if you’ve cut yourself off from the church, you’ve cut yourself off from one of the ways God has to meet your needs.
                • But do you really need the church?

                  #3: Get into a small group.

                  • You need to be able to ask questions and get honest answers.
                  • You need to be able to be honest with people about struggles and sin.
                  • You need accountability.
                  • And, you need people to have fun with and live life with that have the same beliefs as you.
                  • A small group is a great connection point of connection.
                    • Your friends are the future you. You will be the average of your 5 closest friends in 5 years.
                    • So when you’re in a small group where people are calling out things to you and about you and preaching doctrine constantly, that’s a big step in the right direction.
                    • You need someone to help you know God. A lot of people never take that initiative.
                    •  

                      The sponsor for this week’s episode:

                      For more than 25 years, Portable Church® has helped thousands of churches launch strong and thrive in a mobile setting. They design custom solutions that fit each budget, vision, and venue. Everything you need to launch a mobile church — an inviting worship space, kids ministry areas, welcome spaces, storage cases, etc — all in a system refined to make it fast, easy & fun for the weekly volunteer teams. portablechurch.com/lifeway
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                      Ask the Pastor with J.D. GreearBy J.D. Greear

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