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onmyown said:

OK. Something is stirring within me. I think it may be G-d related.
Now, from where I sit, there are many churches, creeds, denominations, faiths, religions, etc, etc.
So I believe that the Gospels are true.
But what next for me?
Baptism?
Confirmation?
Which church?
How to decide?
I know my faith icon indicates 'seeker', but I really do believe in Jesus. (I know I can get my faith icon changed).
I'd like advice from Christians only please.

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OnMyOwn ~ I am really excited for you.

You need to connect with a Bible Based Church.
A church that teaches the Bible, God's True Word.

I can recommend 3 Bible Based "denominations". Send me a PM.

You really don't need to go and do something now.
Baptism is the first act of obedience.... and a Bible Based church will walk you through that process.

Baptism says: Look what I have done !
I have accepted Jesus as my Savior !

I sent you a private message, due to no-spam rules. =3

I agree with the other poster. I was about to add in something about confessing sins, but figured maybe it was premature, also, a good scripture oriented church will probably evoke that reaction naturally anyhow.

I am very happy for you though, and I really hope it's all you expected.

God Bless!
Digit

onmyown said:

OK. Something is stirring within me. I think it may be G-d related.
Now, from where I sit, there are many churches, creeds, denominations, faiths, religions, etc, etc.
So I believe that the Gospels are true.
But what next for me?
Baptism?
Confirmation?
Which church?
How to decide?
I know my faith icon indicates 'seeker', but I really do believe in Jesus. (I know I can get my faith icon changed).
I'd like advice from Christians only please.

Click to expand...

From 0 to saved in ? seconds
The Speed Of His Light!!!
When you make your confession with your mouth before witnesses that you have faith in Jesus as the Savior, you have entered in and can rest, knowing God is faithful to keep that which is committed to Him. He will never leave or forsake us and He is faithful towards us to complete the good work He begins in us when we submit ourselves to Him in obedience. Pray, talk with God about life everyday and read His words from the Bible to build up your faith in Him and help find Hs good will in your life.
I pray that God will strengthen you and put a hunger in you for His word so that it becomes alive in you and a blessing to al others who come into contact with you.
The road ahead is not always easy, but God has much blessing for you even in the smallest step of faith. God bless you on your confession and on this journey of life, I pray.

Php 1:6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

I think the only answer I have for you is you need to really get to know Jesus. Its not just knowing about him, and believing that he exists and is active in our world, but knowing him. The more you know him, the more you will be able to follow his guidance to the place he wants you to be. You will be able to more clearly understand what his truth is and what it isn't and which faiths stand for what you hold as truth, as well as help you to grow in your understanding and your relationship with him.
Don't jump into baptism too quickly.. seek first the truths and the relationship with God, so that you can know you are making the right decision. Baptism isn't what 'bumps you over the line', it it merely a symbol.. and unless the symbol has meaning for you, it is pointless for anything other than show. Being saved is an ongoing choice to let Jesus have control of building us into who he wants us to be, and allowing him to pay for (by dying on the cross) all the wrong things we do so that we can share in the glory he is building for us. The cool thing is, John 3:18 says "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son" So you don't have to wait and find out, or hope you've done enough good things or avoided enough bad things.. Gods got it covered.
Try some different churches out..Ask them questions, then go home and see if what they say matches up with what you read in the Bible. If it does, ask more.. if it doesn't, its not the place - keep looking.
You are in a really exciting place to be onmyown! I'll keep you in my prayers as you search for your place in Gods family Trust what you feel - God might not give you all the answers immediately, but yiou will always know what you need to know when you know it.

Dear onmyown,

"OK. Something is stirring within me. I think it may be G-d related.
Now, from where I sit, there are many churches, creeds, denominations, faiths, religions, etc, etc.
So I believe that the Gospels are true.
But what next for me?
Baptism?
Confirmation?
Which church?
How to decide?
I know my faith icon indicates 'seeker', but I really do believe in Jesus. (I know I can get my faith icon changed).
I'd like advice from Christians only please."

What great news this is! One other thing that you may want to keep in mind is the kind of music that you like as this can influence where you will enjoy worshipping God at. For me personally, while I like the old hymns, I prefer modern praise and worship music so I'm more inclined to go to modern churches (like Hillsong) than to go to the more traditional churches.

I won't answer your question about which church you should go to as being different people, what appeals to me might not necessarily appeal to you. As for how to decide what church to go to, I suggest that you try going to one church this week, a different one next week, a different one the week after that, and so on until you've "done the rounds" and decide which one made you feel welcome and apart of the body of believers the most there, which church had inspiring and practical messages that helped you, one in which you enjoy worshipping God and can connect with Him. It doesn't matter if you end up going to the Baptist, Catholics, Salvation Army, Anglicans, Uniting church, or whoever else, because we all serve the same God and you're taking time out of your day just to reflect on Him and share with fellow believers.

Try to avoid the cults (such as the church of the later day saints of Jesus Christ, a.k.a. Mormons, Christian Science, etc) as Satan uses them to deceive many people.

Btw, I love the name of this thread as a previous poster commented. It is incredible, isn't it, that it just takes one prayer and we're saved ... not because of what we've done, but because of what Jesus did!

Baptism is a good thing if you feel that you are ready to publicly announce that you are dying to self and living for Jesus, that is, placing the needs of others above your own (don't take that too literally, you still need to take care of yourself). One example may be doing the washing up without being asked, which for me is difficult and against my fleshly desires because I hate the washing up as it makes my hands go all wrinkly (they make me feel like a 70 year old and I'm not even 20! lol), yet I will force myself to place the needs of Mum above those of my own desires.

Once you join a church, joining a Bible study group would be a good idea because they really help in deepening your roots into the Word of God and are often very practical in nature when led correctly.

Anyway, I just wanted to say welcome to the family of God and it is my hope that God will strengthen you, revolutionize your life, and use you to the glory of His Kingdom, in time.

Your brother in Christ,
Bluewing.

You need to go to all your local churches, one by one, and chat to the people there and the ministers and get a feel for the places - I'm sure you will find somewhere you can call home. It needs bravery though! Many of your local churches will have websites- you can explore those first.

As to bible-believing. Denominations all belive different things about the same bible, so I'm not sure how helpful as a criteria you will find that. I was exhorted to find a 'bible-believing' church when I left university. I couldn't find one, because there wasn't one that believed the exact same things about it that I had already been taught were truth, so I didn't go for the next 10 years. Look for a home.

I couldn't find one, because there wasn't one that believed the exact same things about it that I had already been taught were truth, so I didn't go for the next 10 years. Look for a home.

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)-;

That's such a long time. I think sometimes God leads us to places we don't fit, intentionally... but people seldom talk about that.

onmyown said:

OK. Something is stirring within me. I think it may be G-d related.
Now, from where I sit, there are many churches, creeds, denominations, faiths, religions, etc, etc.
So I believe that the Gospels are true.
But what next for me?
Baptism?
Confirmation?
Which church?
How to decide?
I know my faith icon indicates 'seeker', but I really do believe in Jesus. (I know I can get my faith icon changed).
I'd like advice from Christians only please.

Click to expand...

Hi, Try to find a Christ centered church, and what I mean by that is you will hear from the sermons, whether preaching on the old or new testament, somehow, the pastor will bring Christ into the sermon and relate that to life for you today. He is alive and when He is raised He draws all men to himself.

Now you can't tell if something is true or not, until you know the bible for yourself. That comes with time, but God will guide you and the Holy Spirit will teach you things.

So the first thing, really is start reading. As someone said call a lot of churches. Depending on your personality, your level of comfort will determine what type of church you may feel comfortable at. What I mean by that, is I'm more comfortable in wear whatever you like, and contemporary music. The first thing I always look for though is Christ centered teaching.

If you are in a certain city, maybe list that on the forum here under regional and see if anyone suggests a church there.

I don't know if that would help, but it can't hurt. Here's the regional url: http://www.christianforums.com/f204-regional.html

Also post a prayer request for God to lead you to a church and anything else that is on your heart. Here is the url for that. http://www.christianforums.com/f273-prayer-requests-by-non-christians.html

I just heard that one man who posted there found a church that way, even though he posted sometime last year, God led him to a church.

If you are a little shy about church, go to the wed or sunday evening services, or bible studies. Bible studies are neat, cause it's a small group of people and you can make friends and learn. May God lead you to a church that preaches Christ and rightly divides the word of God.

Mainly get in the word. Many rely on pastors and never find out for themselves till many years later if that, what the truth is. That's why it's so important to read the bible.

Ask God to reveal Himself to you in your reading and growth.

God bless you,
tapero