New Christian :)

[trowe87]

I have recently found Jesus and God.
I was religious when i was a child, however reaching early teen years i lost my faith.
Recently i met an evangelist, who told me some of his experiences with God, i met his wife and they explained what happened when they both accepted Jesus into my life.
He actually gave me his autobiography, which i read and thought was amazing and very inspiring, all the miracles he observed.

I don't know any other christians so i'm not too sure where to go from here, i have emailed my local methodist church, hoping they will be able to help and i will be able to attend there.

I know everyone has slightly different rules and things to do (catholics, mormons etc) are there any specific to methodist's? Will i need to be baptised ( i was christened as a baby)

Also i wanted to purchase a Bible, not being able to find the bible i was gifted with as a baby However it's all so confusing, with all the different ones which one would be the best for me to start with?

Thanks all

 

[Justaman0000]

Awesome hope all goes well for you. Check out www.bible-stuff.com for a free NIV study bible and more.

 

[LilLamb219]

We have a Methodist forum here where you might get better responses to your questions: http://www.christianforums.com/f365/

 

[asiyreh]

Why not celebrate a baptism, if even simply to know that you're experienced Christ in your life?
A public declaration and chance to give your testimony of how you came to experienced Christ; have a personal relationship with him and what he means to you.

This is a new life it need s fresh new clean start.

That's what waters for

Rules you will usually have to follow to one degree or another so find a church that's most inline with your own beliefs.
Take time to study scripture and then make a decision.

Once you do; follow the advise of the pastor or leader of your church, they will be a great guide to you along the way, in Jesus Christ.

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1​

And btw that's not a slight on the Methodists, I think they'd be a great choice if that's your decision. But it's just good scriptural advise in general. It's a new life and that's a good verse to guide you on your way.

 

[Sketcher]

I'd go with the ESV, or if you can get your hands on one, a 1984 NIV (not the 2011 edit).

 

[thesunisout]

I have recently found Jesus and God.
I was religious when i was a child, however reaching early teen years i lost my faith.
Recently i met an evangelist, who told me some of his experiences with God, i met his wife and they explained what happened when they both accepted Jesus into my life.
He actually gave me his autobiography, which i read and thought was amazing and very inspiring, all the miracles he observed.

I don't know any other christians so i'm not too sure where to go from here, i have emailed my local methodist church, hoping they will be able to help and i will be able to attend there.

I know everyone has slightly different rules and things to do (catholics, mormons etc) are there any specific to methodist's? Will i need to be baptised ( i was christened as a baby)

Also i wanted to purchase a Bible, not being able to find the bible i was gifted with as a baby However it's all so confusing, with all the different ones which one would be the best for me to start with?

Thanks all

Hi Trowe,

Welcome to the family! I praise God that you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Basically, what you need beyond anything else, is to develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Now that you're saved and born again, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to you and He lives within you. That same Holy Spirit will be your teacher and your guide:

John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

So, in considering the church you will go to, pray and ask God to guide you to the one He wants you to attend. He will guide you to that church and into a fellowship with other Christians. Yes, I believe you should get baptized. Baptism is an outward sign of the inward change God has worked into us. This is something you must consciously do under your own volition. Having it done while you're a kid and don't know the Lord doesn't count for anything.

Developing a relationship with God starts with a burning desire in your heart to know Him. The first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord thy God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength. But we also have to be mindful that this God we serve is a holy God. Therefore, He has commanded us to be holy as He is holy. That means we cannot live any way we want to anymore. We must give up the things we know are wrong, and the word tells us about that, as well as our own conscience.

This isn't to say that God conditions His love and acceptance of you based on your performance. Quite the contrary actually; God bases His love and acceptance of you based on the finished work of the cross. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, and that His blood covers our sins, when God looks at you He sees you as righteous and holy in His sight. Satan will try to condemn you for past sins but Jesus said on the cross "it is finished!" What does that mean for us when we stumble?

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we confess our sins He will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When Satan tries to lie to you and say that you are guilty for something you did which you have confessed, point him to this scripture. You can meet all of Satans lies with the truth of the word of God. This is why it is very important for you to read and study Gods word daily.

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

God gave us His word to guide us in our daily lives and to help us to understand His will. He will also use the word to speak to us. Part of our intimate relationship with God is through reading the word and prayer. Pray before you study Gods word that He will help you understand it.

Remember to ask God to help you before you attempt anything. John 15:5 tells us that apart from Jesus we can do nothing. Take that truth deeply into your heart because it will save you a lot of trouble when you realize how true it is. This is especially true for overcoming the sin in our lives. We can only do it with His strength; if we try it any way else we will fail. So instead of waiting until you have fallen into a big mess to call upon God for help, call upon Him before you even begin. Don't attempt to do anything without consulting Him first. He wants us to prioritize Him in our lives:

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Read Matthew 6:25-34 and you will see how you will prosper as a Christian. He said in this passage that if we seek Him first, all of these other things we need (food, clothes, etc) will be given to us. Don't worry about where the resources are coming from, but rather trust Him who controls all the resources and seek His will for your life, and then those resources will be provided.

God does not promise you will never suffer now that you are a Christian. In fact, His word says that we will be hated and we will suffer because we are Christians. What God does promise though is that He will be there, always, to help us get through it. No matter what the trial is, we can call upon God for His help. He is our high tower; the righteous run into it and are safe. (proverbs 18:10)

As far as a bible goes, I recommend the New King James version. This one in particular:

http://www.amazon.com/NKJV-New-Spir...7569&sr=8-1&keywords=spirit+filled+life+bible

It is one of the best bibles I've ever seen and I highly recommend it.

Remember you are never alone; Jesus said He will never leave you or forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5) Cast all of your cares upon Him, because He cares for you. If you have a burden, whatever it is, give it to the Lord and He will give you rest.

Father, I thank you for what you're doing in Trowes life. I praise you for the wonderous miracle of salvation and the powerful testimony of a changed life you have given her. I ask Lord that you would give Trowe many opportunities to share your love with others and shine your light into the lives of her friends and family. Guide her daily Lord, and make her sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Please bless your precious daughter with wisdom and discernment. Please by your Spirit reveal to her right now anything in her life which is not pleasing in your sight, and please give her the strength to overcome it. Please pour out your Spirit in her life and fill her to the full with your love, peace and joy. Lavish your life upon her Lord Jesus. I thank you for all of these things in the wonderful and precious name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

[trowe87]

Thank you for all your messages, especially yours thesunisout it was lovely.
I think God is pointing me towards the Methodist Church, i did inwardly ask him yesterday to show me where i should go.
I had a bizarre sign when walking home from dropping my daughter to school (the same way i met the evangelist!)
There is an old abandoned building down the road from me on the opposite side, i've never really even looked at it before, but its been that way for over a decade. I never knew what it was before.
Today for some reason as i was walking past i had a good look at it and saw the small words on the wall "Methodist Church", the old abandoned building was once upon a time a Methodist Church!! I feel this was God's sign to me especially as i was on the same road i had been when i met the Evangelist.

 

[Emmy]

Dear trowe87. Welcome into the Family. You had much advice given you, may
I give some, too. 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."
Then Jesus states this great truth: " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." God is Love, and God wants our love, freely given and No conditions made. Jesus has promised 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, i.e. all we know and all we meet, friends and
not-friends. God will see our sincere efforts, and God will approve and bless
us. We keep asking God and thanking God, then we carry on Loving God with all our being, and loving our neighbour as ourselves. We might stumble or forget at times, but then we ask God to forgive us, and carry on loving and caring for our neighbour.
God is Love and God wants loving children/sons and daughters. We are the only representatives which God our Heavenly Father has in this imperfect world. People will treat us as we treat people, Love is very catching, and soon we will change into the men and women which God wants us to become.
All we say or do, all we advice or stand for, should be from Love to God, and love to all around us. Jesus will help and guide us: JESUS IS THE WAY.
I say this with love, trowe. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[fm107]

You can also read the Bible online for free here: John 1 NIV

 

[Harry3142]

trowe87-

The Methodist Church has a catechetical class which they have people attend who want to become members. This is an excellent idea, as it educates them as to what Christianity teaches, as well as teaching them the 'personality' of that particular denomination. They will also accept the christening you had as an infant as fulfilling their requirement for baptism.

There are some denominations on the radical fringe who demand that a person must be baptized by full immersion of his body into either a pool built into the church itself, or a river. What these denominations fail to tell the people they are trying to convince of doing this is that the baptism itself causes the person to be listed as a member of that particular denomination, even if he never sets foot inside one of their churches again. They also will not transfer membership, so if you should become a member of one of these denominations, and later decide that they really weren't your 'cup of tea', they would refuse to transfer your membership to any other denomination.

 

[asiyreh]

Paul's letters best described the setting up of the churches. And I believe at least in Spirit answers this question. Perhaps a solid study of Titus and Timothy would give everyone the answer to this question. Some great other stuff in there too, night night folks.

 

[trowe87]

Thanks I've got a free copy on my kindle now. Unfortunately the links to buy were no good as I'm in the UK! Lol.
Harry3142 thanks for the info, the other denominations sound a bit scary!
I've spoken to the reverend at the Methodist church and he's linked with a few other churches in the area which is good, so I can attend their services and groups as well. He's also advised messy church for my four year old.