Tips for Helping a New Christian?

[IntoTheCrimsonSky]

Happy Sabbath!

I'm not sure if any of you are familiar with Yahoo! Answers, but I sometimes go there. I recently answered a question by someone, which lead to them now emailing with me. Apparently they're a new Christian, still looking for a church and going through some big personal struggles (dark stuff, to do with black magic and such). I won't get into details, anyway.

Since I honestly feel like God has brought this wonderful person into my hands to help her through this, I thought I'd ask if you guys have any tips. I looked around a bit for any articles to read on how to work with new Christians (Ha! Like I'm not still one myself?), as this is normally my area of lacking, but didn't find any.

Anyone know of something good and inspiring I could read?

How do you normally deal with this kinda thing? I figure I'll give it to God and see where the email convo goes on it's own, but it sometimes feels so overwhelming when I look at how little I know!

Then again..I guess He wouldn't put me in this place, if He didn't know I was right for it.

Anyway, any tips or advice is appreciated. I know a lot of you have so much more experience as Christians than I do!

Blessings and Love,
Sarah

 

[TrustAndObey]

Sarah, I have to get ready for work, so I can't type much, but I did want to just suggest encouraging your friend to read the Bible. It's life-altering to do that instead of just relying on people to tell you what it says, and I think it was a major turning point in my life (and many other people's).

Also, focus on Who you know (Christ) and not what you know.

Once someone falls in love with our Savior, the "want" for learning gets very strong and sponge-like. It's almost overwhelming, really. Wanting to know everything about Him so you can be like Him.

Good for you that you're taking the time to talk with her!

 

[DRL]

Sarah, I would tell that person to throw away all literature/books/etc about the occult/black magic -burn them. Then read the New Testament starting with the book of John, the other gospels and then the rest of the NT. While doing that I would tell them to pray and ask God to teach them what He wants them to know. I would tell them to listen to Christian music and sing along when they can. And most important to pray and pray and pray some more.
DRL

 

[TrustAndObey]

Sarah, I would tell that person to throw away all literature/books/etc about the occult/black magic -burn them. Then read the New Testament starting with the book of John, the other gospels and then the rest of the NT. While doing that I would tell them to pray and ask God to teach them what He wants them to know. I would tell them to listen to Christian music and sing along when they can. And most important to pray and pray and pray some more.
DRL

I'm just curious why you'd have a new Christian skip over the Old Testament?

I don't know of any other book that someone would skip the entire first half of....the foundation.

 

[IntoTheCrimsonSky]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the advice. There's some good suggestions here. Beyond even just this specific situation. She's going through a lot right now, so I haven't heard back in a little bit..But, God willing I will.

I completely agree with your suggestion to focus on Jesus, rather than the specifics I know. I think that could work well with Adam (the guy I told you about), too. I often come off waaay too harsh. Like outta no where..I'm going on about the most strict of my beliefs. Talk about scare people off. *lol*

 

[IntoTheCrimsonSky]

I'm just curious why you'd have a new Christian skip over the Old Testament?

I don't know of any other book that someone would skip the entire first half of....the foundation.

Hm. Well, I did find that I didn't really..get to know Jesus untill I got to the NT. It's probably different for each person, though. I spent 2 years on the OT, and I think I've grown as a Christian 10 times that amount since I got to the NT. *lol*

Interesting, though. I remember when I told my Pastor I was going through it in order..and he looked concerned and suggested skipping over Leviticus. Still puzzles me.

 

[Sophia7]

Hm. Well, I did find that I didn't really..get to know Jesus untill I got to the NT. It's probably different for each person, though. I spent 2 years on the OT, and I think I've grown as a Christian 10 times that amount since I got to the NT. *lol*

Interesting, though. I remember when I told my Pastor I was going through it in order..and he looked concerned and suggested skipping over Leviticus. Still puzzles me.

When I first started reading the Bible, I began with Genesis and tried to read straight through, but I got bogged down in Leviticus and quit reading for a few years because I thought it was too boring. When I finally picked up my Bible again, I started with Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and then read through the rest of the NT. I got to know Jesus that way, and then I went back and read the OT.

 

[Sophia7]

Sarah, I would tell that person to throw away all literature/books/etc about the occult/black magic -burn them. Then read the New Testament starting with the book of John, the other gospels and then the rest of the NT. While doing that I would tell them to pray and ask God to teach them what He wants them to know. I would tell them to listen to Christian music and sing along when they can. And most important to pray and pray and pray some more.
DRL

Listening to Christian music also played a huge role in my experience of becoming a Christian.

 

[DarylFawcett]

I agree with the suggestion of beginning with one of the gospels such as John and going on from there.

 

[DRL]

I'm just curious why you'd have a new Christian skip over the Old Testament?

I don't know of any other book that someone would skip the entire first half of....the foundation.

To begin with I always suggest that because I want them to meet Jesus Christ and find out how much the Father loves them. That is what I learned when I read John. By the time they get to Hebrews they can reference back to the Old Testament. After reading the NT then read the OT. That is why I make this suggestion.
DRL

 

[TrustAndObey]

To begin with I always suggest that because I want them to meet Jesus Christ and find out how much the Father loves them. That is what I learned when I read John. By the time they get to Hebrews they can reference back to the Old Testament. After reading the NT then read the OT. That is why I make this suggestion.
DRL

It's not BAD advice, so I didn't mean to suggest that. I was just curious as to why you wouldn't encourage them to read the OT first.

Mostly because in my experience (and I know everyone's is different), I heard/learned about Christ all the time in church, but they never really covered the "bones" of why He came here, why what a lot of what He did while on earth was prophetic, etc. They didn't cover the why's very well.

Personally, I had a lot better picture of the NEED for a Savior after reading the OT. I knew the Savior, but never really understood His purpose/love until I understood the wrath of God.

 

[IntoTheCrimsonSky]

When I first started reading the Bible, I began with Genesis and tried to read straight through, but I got bogged down in Leviticus and quit reading for a few years because I thought it was too boring. When I finally picked up my Bible again, I started with Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and then read through the rest of the NT. I got to know Jesus that way, and then I went back and read the OT.

Ohhh. That might explain it. I guess I'm the odd one out. It always puzzled me because I actually like Leviticus. I found it really inspiring and encouraging, and actually helped me know God better. Which is actually weird in a way, I guess, but I could really connect to it. We're all different, though. Thanks for sharing that.

 

[IntoTheCrimsonSky]

It's not BAD advice, so I didn't mean to suggest that. I was just curious as to why you wouldn't encourage them to read the OT first.

Mostly because in my experience (and I know everyone's is different), I heard/learned about Christ all the time in church, but they never really covered the "bones" of why He came here, why what a lot of what He did while on earth was prophetic, etc. They didn't cover the why's very well.

Personally, I had a lot better picture of the NEED for a Savior after reading the OT. I knew the Savior, but never really understood His purpose/love until I understood the wrath of God.

It really is amazing how everyone's experiences are different.

I think I got the opposite. My times in church and listening to sermons tended to result in a greater knowledge of the technical things (prophecy, how to be as a Christian, etc)..and little about who Jesus actually was. I noticed quite quickly that a lot of the sermons seemed to take for granted the fact people already knew Jesus.

I know it's hard to balance that, though. Do you focus on making sure new Christians know the specifics of Jesus, or the ones who have been around awhile who want to know the "meat"? Probably a downside to going to a very small church. *lol* A friend of mine goes to one (not near me) that has an actual group for newbies, which teaches the basics. I think all churches should have something like that. Even if there isnt enough for a group, at least some sort of..training? A couple meetings with an elder or Pastor or something, going over the basics, or even just a couple sheets of paper to be handed out that point out specific verses and stuff.

 

[Sophia7]

Ohhh. That might explain it. I guess I'm the odd one out. It always puzzled me because I actually like Leviticus. I found it really inspiring and encouraging, and actually helped me know God better. Which is actually weird in a way, I guess, but I could really connect to it. We're all different, though. Thanks for sharing that.

I like it now, but at the time I couldn't get through it. For me it was more helpful to read the NT first, and then when I went back and read Leviticus, I could understand it better.

 

[DRL]

For me I HAD to learn how much God loves me. I am glad I read the NT first. Then when I got to Hebrews that explained the OT. I learned that the NT is the fulfillment of the OT. Right now I am doing a detailed study of Hebrews. It explains the OT so well.
DRL

 

[TrustAndObey]

Sarah, I think a big key to giving someone the thirst for seeking knowledge themselves, is to point out some of the things we're NOT told in our churches.

For instance, I talk to people all the time that decided to "skip" the Old Testament, and they have NO idea who "Israel" is in scripture. They think it's the country we know today and have no clue it's a person and his offspring.

Ask them where Israel is, and when they tell you the map coordinates (lol), say "no, he's dead and buried." Tell them to check it out for themselves. Gen 32:28

I also like to ask how many of each animal Noah took on the ark. The answer is ALWAYS "2" and that's not correct. Genesis 7:2-3

Ask them how many wise men went to see Jesus after He was born, and the answer is always "3" which is incorrect also. The Bible doesn't tell how many. It could've been thousands.

Stuff like that gives people a desire to find other things they DON'T hear about and it makes them question what we hear over what scripture actually says.

It's a gift to give someone that thirst, I feel, and once they have it....there's no stopping them! You can give them the "want", but not the relationship obviously.

There are also other little tidbits about praying after a meal, about souls taking baths, etc that I like to use when talking to my teenager (who was recently given a set of the "Left Behind" books, btw). It's always a challenge to keep people from following the leader...unless you can show them that the leader needs some glasses and is blind as a bat!

 

[moicherie]

Point them to Jesus, keep them away from (some of) His followers, to paraphrase Ghandi, he said Christ he has time for, its His followers that are the problem....