It’s easy for new believers in Christ to feel a bit overwhelmed. “Where do I go from here?” “What does God want from me?” “How does following Jesus impact my everyday life?” Maybe these questions, and a host of others, are running through your mind as you embark on this new journey of following Jesus. But the really cool thing about following Jesus is that we don’t need to figure things out alone. The Bible actually talks a lot about the importance of having other people come alongside our faith journey.
1. DIGGING IN (God, Show Me!)
God has actually wired us to be social creatures. Being in community with others is not just how we survive, it’s how we grow, how we thrive, and how we plug into the larger body of believers (often called the body of Christ) all over the world. As you read the following Scriptures notice all the ways that others can help you in your walk with Christ. In fact, make a list of these ways on a sheet of paper or in an e-doc.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Proverbs 15:22
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approachin
2. TAKING IT INWARD (God, Teach Me!)
We need godly relationships in order to grow. As a new believer, finding these relationships can make the process of growing in Christ much easier. Below you’ll see three names that represent the types of relationships that we see in the Bible that are key to your growth as a believer.
- Paul: The apostle Paul was a spiritual father to both Timothy and Titus. A “Paul” in your life would ideally be someone older than you and more mature in the faith. Think of this person as a spiritual guide who speaks from a position of authority and experience. This could be a pastor, youth pastor, parent, grandparent, coach, teacher, etc.
- Jonathan: Jonathan was the son of King Saul. He was a cherished friend and spiritual brother to David. A “Jonathan” in your life would be someone who would encourage you, pray for you, walk with you in the faith, and even hold you accountable when necessary. This could be a close friend, someone at a similar place in his or her faith.
- Timothy: Timothy was a young church leader mentored by Paul. A “Timothy” in your life would be someone younger than you and newer to the faith. While you may not feel like a “Paul” right now, part of growing in your faith will include mentoring those younger in the faith.
Now think about the people in your life who can represent these three types of relationships. Write names in the spaces provided.
My Paul is: ______________________________
My Jonathan is: __________________________
My Timothy is:___________________________
3. SEAL THE DEAL (God, Change Me!)
Maybe you’ve been blessed to have a couple of these relationships already in place in your life. But if you are lacking one or more of these relationships, perhaps now would be a good time to start praying for God to send these people into your life. Once you’ve prayed, don’t be afraid to approach someone to ask him or her to invest in you in the ways mentioned above. If you already have one of these relationships in place, take a moment to thank that person. Send a text that says something like: “Thanks for being a ‘Paul’ in my life!”