I'm new

[clo101]

Hello!

I would like some guidance/answers/clarification, I think.

Short story;
I have had a really tough couple of years and the other month just came to a crossroads I knew things had to change, my life had to change and I had to find direction, I have a few christian friends so I asked them what they thought, they recommended a church to me and I've been going for about 4 weeks, I really love it, alot of it makes so much sense to me.

However,
I don't know where to start with the bible and I don't really know how to pray.

Any guidance would be great.

Thanks, in advance

 

[Harry3142]

clo101-

Welcome to CF! We're glad to have you here.

As concerning Scripture, it's best to begin with the reading of entire passages. This can prevent confusion, as well as serve as a barrier against those who would lead others astray. Here are some passages that can give you a foundation:

1. Romans 3:19-5:10 - This passage tells us clearly that our hope for salvation lies in what God himself has already accomplished on our behalf, rather than its depending on our being 'good enough' to earn our own salvation. What we are to do is place our trust in what God has done, thereby accepting the gift of salvation which he offers to all people.

2. Romans 9:30-33 - This passage tells us that those who put their faith in the efficacy of Christ's sacrifice have assurance of salvation, while those who put their trust in their own works fall short of the righteousness required for salvation.

3. I John 3:21-24 - There are two commandments which we are to accept as Christians. Those commandments are to accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as cleansing us of our sins, and to love one another.

4. Galatians 5:16-26 - Proper behavior as Christians does not depend on our keeping a certain set of laws. Instead, it depends on our trusting God to send his Spirit to dwell within us. With the Spirit comes a new nature (the fruit of the Spirit), and it is this new nature that directs us to live our lives in such a manner as to be a credit to God.

I also suggest that as time permits you read in their entirety The Gospel of St. Luke and Romans. Those two books will give you a firm foundation in Christian belief. From there you can proceed to the reading of the other books contained in the New Testament.

God bless-

 

[clo101]

Hello
Thanks for your reply
I have started reading Johns Gospel as I'm watching a DVD called "Identity" all about god and the man on it keeps referring to Johns Gospel so I thought it made sense to start there. My plan tonight when I sign off is read a little bit more and find a meaningful quote and write it on my white board in my room so I can see it all week. I'm enjoying my journey but I would like to feel a little bit more "aware" I keep getting conflicting views about where I should start with the bible, but I'm sure I will get there.
Thanks again for your advice.

God Bless

 

[St_Worm2]

Hi Clo101, first off, WELCOME TO CF ..

As far as your choice of where to begin reading the Bible, I was going to recommend John's Gospel, but since you're already there, GREAT ..

As far as praying goes, here's something I wrote in another thread recently for someone who had a similar question:

I think that it helps to have a pattern to pray by. For me, it is most often the acrostic, ACTS, which stands for:

Adoration (Praise)
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication (Intercession for others)
​

This will help you get started praying, and remind you of, and keep you focused on, the things you need to pray for. For the "S" part (supplication), you could also use a notebook or set of index cards to go over as you pray to make sure you remember what and/or who you are supposed to be praying for.

Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, as you read your Bible, respond back to God in prayer as you sense Him speaking to you with prayers of thanksgiving, or praise, or confession, or supplication. You could also respond back with a question, of course. It doesn't matter. Clearly God is interested in having a relationship with us. What better way than a regular dialog to help further that relationship along, yes ..

Don't forget too that prayer doesn't need to be formal or lengthy. Sometimes my prayers are nothing more than, "Thank you Lord", in response to something He's shown me in the Bible, in Creation, when I think about my wife or my son, etc.

Yours and His,
David

 

[silverrune]

I think you've received some great advice so far mate. This is the Edification forum link. You might find help there too.

 

[St_Worm2]

Here's an additional link that I think will be beneficial to you. It's called "Spiritual Boot Camp" and it is a four-part series that looks at four of the most important aspects of the faith for a new believer. You can buy the series for $16, or just listen online for free. This series is a production of Grace to You ministries and they are all sermons by Dr. John MacArthur.

The four parts of the faith it covers are:

1) Bible Study
2) Prayer
3) Fellowship
4) Witnessing
​

To listen or buy, go here, SPIRITUAL BOOT CAMP, and scroll down until you see the four parts (just click on the "LISTEN" buttons to listen for free online). There is quite a bit of information in each section, but I do believe they may be just the thing for you right now.

Yours and His,
David
p.s. - if you'd like to both listen AND read these four sermons at the same time, you can do that at the link below. Once you get there just scroll down and click on the "READ" button next to each sermon.

SPRITUAL BOOT CAMP .. READ AND LISTEN online for free.

 

[asiyreh]

Expanding on what Harry has spelled out so clearly. Those three books he mentioned are three of the greatest books in the bible if such a statement can be made.

John's gospel, The book of Romans and Galatians give the Christian a very firm foundation of the faith and gospel we love and share with the world.

Our gospel meaning "The Good News" is that the creator of the universe was revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.
That he claimed that he has the power to forgive sin and in him a restored complete and loving relationship with God can be experienced. That the Father raised Jesus from the dead in confirmation of this beautiful truth and in him is all truth and love and life.

I'm so happy for you sister. Welcome to the family.

 

[Bible2]

clo101 said in post 1:

I don't know where to start with the bible and I don't really know how to pray.

When one of Jesus' disciples asked him how to pray, he told all his disciples to pray what we call the Lord's prayer (Luke 11:1-4, Matthew 6:9-13). So believers should pray the Lord's prayer, every day, and learn to concentrate on everything it says. It's the perfect model prayer, from which any further, more specific prayers can follow. But there's no need to get repetitious or long-winded (Matthew 6:7-13, Ecclesiastes 5:2). It's better to pray a short prayer with faith than a long prayer with doubting (James 1:6-8).

In order for our prayers to be heard, and answered, we must not "ask amiss, that we may consume it upon our lusts" (James 4:3). Before we pray, we must make sure that we have repented from all our sins (Hebrews 10:26-29), and done all that we can to make peace with everyone we have ever wronged and who could still be holding a grudge against us (Matthew 5:23-26, Romans 12:18, Acts 24:16, Hebrews 12:14). And we must make sure that we have completely forgiven everyone who has ever wronged us (Matthew 6:15). And when we pray for something, we must pray for it with an unwavering faith (James 1:6-8), and with an unwavering perseverance (Luke 18:1-8). And we must actually be obeying God in our lives (1 John 3:22). And what we ask for must be according to God's will (1 John 5:14). We must be willing to put aside our own will, and seek God's will in all things (Luke 22:42, Matthew 6:10; 2 Corinthians 12:8-10, Deuteronomy 3:25-26).

clo101 said in post 1:

I don't know where to start with the bible and I don't really know how to pray.

After you've finished reading the Gospel of John, read the book of Romans. Ultimately, of course, you will want to read every book of the Bible, and read them over and over again. One way to do this is to think of the Bible as 7 volumes:

1. Genesis to Deuteronomy
2. Joshua to Esther
3. Job to Song of Solomon
4. Isaiah to Malachi
5. Matthew to Acts
6. Romans to Philemon
7. Hebrews to Revelation

You can read a chapter in each volume every day. This will keep you current in every part of the Bible. After a while, there won't be any part that you haven't read recently enough to remember what it says. When you reach the end of a volume, simply start again at the first chapter of that volume. In this way, you will be cycling through smaller volumes like #6 and #7 much more often than larger volumes like #2, but the smaller volumes are so much more dense with doctrine that it can be profitable to read them over and over more often.

Also, you can listen to recordings of people reading the Bible, whenever you need to keep your eyes on something else while you listen (such as keeping your eyes on the road while you drive, or on a cutting board while you're preparing food, or on your clippers while you're trimming a hedge). In this way, you can listen to the Bible throughout the day, whenever you don't need to be thinking about something else (such as at your workplace). Also, you can listen to the Bible even while you're going to sleep, so that it will become part of even your subconscious mind.

 

[americanvet]

First welcome to the Faith and the site.

I suggest these books in this order: Gospel of John, Romans, 1 John, Acts or this www.sohmer.net/media/professor_grant_horners_bible_reading_system.pdf .

 

[clo101]

Hello,
Thank you all for your lovely support
I read more of John last night and prayed before I went to sleep - daft question, how will I know that God is listening to my prayers?
Also, I realise this is a life style overhaul rather than just a Sunday thing, the problem i'm having is obviously the way I deal with things like (falling out with friends, money etc) probably aren't the way christians deal with things, so how do I become a better person overall?

 

[asiyreh]

You don't do anything as such... coming closer to God has a effect on Christians.

Christ shows us his love and forgiveness, it kind of becomes contagious. Study the word for the moment. Try not to get to caught up with the legalism that often goes around in these parts.

Forget everything else, your job at the moment is to find out about the character of God through his Word... simple.

 

[clo101]

Thank you

 

[Emmy]

Dear clo101. You had some good advice, here is one more.
In Matthew 22: 35-40: Jesus tells a Lawyer: " The first and great Commandment is: Love God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. The second is like it: Love thy neighbour as thyself." Jesus points out this great truth: " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." God wants our love, freely given and NO conditions tagged on.
A good way to start is: treat all you know and all you meet, friends and not friends, treat them all as you would love to be treated, with kindness and always friendly words. God will notice your efforts, and God will approve and bless you. Jesus will give us His Love and Joy, and the Holy Spirit will empower us with His Love, also. ( Matthew 7: 7-8 Jesus told us to: Ask and ye shall receive," then we thank God, and share all Love and Joy with our neighbour. We keep asking God and thanking God, then sharing all Love and Joy with our neighbour. We might stumble or forget sometimes, but then we
ask God to forgive us, and carry on loving and caring.
A Christian`s great weapon is Love, with Love we can overcome all enmity and
wrong behaviour. People will treat you as you treat people, and God`s Love and Joy will be noticed all around us. We will be sign-posts to our Heavenly
Father, God is LOVE, and God wants loving children/sons and daughters.
The Bible tells us to: " Repent," change our selfish and unloving way, into
loving and caring. It will be strange at first, but love is very catching, and soon we will turn into the men and women which God wants us to become:
Loving God with all our hearts, souls, and minds, and treating our neighbour
as we love to be treated. It might seem a bit strange to start, but soon
we will become as God wants us to be. I say this with love, clo.
Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.