4 Things My First Church Got Right With New Believers

Any time someone is saved, we ought to rejoice. However, after we celebrate and praise God for His gift of salvation and rescuing that individual, there is more to do. New believers need guidance and, of course, discipleship. The local church plays a large role in a new believer’s growth and spiritual trajectory. So, a church’s approach with new believers can have significant repercussions. My first church did a fantastic job with me immediately after getting saved, and we can all learn from its example.

We Need Our Local Church

I know it’s popular for people to refuse to belong to a church nowadays because they “aren’t religious.” They call themselves “spiritual” instead. Sometimes, the problem people have with going to a church has more to do with the incongruency between the teaching and how people actually live. I get it. We’re not big fans of hypocrisy, but we’re going to find that in every church, business, school, community, and home. That’s how it works when people insist on being human, y’all. No church is perfect, and hoping to find one is a foolish and unrealistic expectation.

Of course, still others simply believe there is no need for the church. Maybe these folks can’t see the positives of church involvement. Or they haven’t read the Bible?

Church Is Part Of God’s Plan

Leadership, Growth, And Maturation

God has appointed leaders in the Church to help believers grow in their faith with the aim of becoming mature Christians who embody Christlikeness. Belonging to a local church body is the most effective way for leaders to lead and all believers to become equipped to minister to others.

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”

Ephesians 4:11-15

Accountability

Belonging to a church means we are held accountable. No one can see my secret sin and lack of growth if I choose to worship at home or by watching church online. On the other hand, regularly attending a local church offers other Christians a glimpse into my life. They will get to know me, and hopefully, lovingly correct me when necessary.

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”

Galatians 6:1

“My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”

James 5:19-20

“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”

Matthew 18:15-17

Community And Encouragement

One of the greatest benefits of local church fellowship is the community. A healthy church is a family. Like all families, there are disagreements, but there is also love and genuine concern for one another. The community plays a large role in a Christian’s growth and development, but the church family is there to be a support, as well.

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

Galatians 6:2

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV)

“Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”

Romans 12:15

Many Members, One Body

This community is not only meant for growth and encouragement. Church members are also supposed to work together for God’s purposes. With our unique gifts and abilities, we serve in the church and help one another accomplish our goals as followers of Christ (i.e., share the gospel, make disciples, raise our children to know the Lord, etc.).

“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.”

1 Corinthians 12:12-14

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”

Romans 12:3-5

What Does The Local Church Have To Do With New Believers?

You might be thinking that I have spent an oddly long time discussing the importance of the local church. I don’t exactly disagree. Frankly, I’m almost offended that I need to discuss this. Shouldn’t it go without saying? It doesn’t! Between deconstructionists, unbelievers, those hurt by the Church, and cynics, it’s a hard sell to get some people to come to church.

The negative outlook on local church membership is sad, but it’s also dangerous for new converts. New believers need the local church in order to gain their footing in their new faith. We often forget what new believers know about God and His Word when they get saved. Nothing! Zip! Nada! Not all new believers are children being raised in a Christian home. Many of us are adults who are starting from square one. We need to get new believers plugged into churches for Christian community and discipleship, but churches need to handle new believers with purpose and care.

Taking Notes From My First Church: What To Do With New Believers

The way a church navigates a new believer’s first weeks and months as a Christian is so important. My husband was saved in a church that implicitly taught him to be a legalist. He eventually came out of that mindset, but for years it was all he knew Christianity to look like. I, on the other hand, was saved in and attended a church that carefully dealt with me as I grew in my faith. I’m forever thankful for that church, and I want to share a few things they did that made a tremendous difference in my life as a new believer.

1. The church made me family.

I got saved on a Sunday and was back at church the next Sunday. (I didn’t know about the Wednesday night prayer meeting and Bible study yet.) Honestly, I was nervous to come back because I felt a little embarrassed about being the new person. The church was small enough that everyone would know I was a new believer. That attention made me uncomfortable. In addition, I was alone. I had no born-again family, and my friends either weren’t saved or had their own churches. I walked in that first Sunday as a Christian feeling very unsure.

Immediately, people greeted me with smiles and genuine interest in who I was. The young woman I had spoken to the week before remembered me and spoke with me again as if we were old friends. But what I remember most clearly is the pastor’s wife. She sat up front with her children who were mostly grown. They nearly took up an entire pew, but she came straight to me and invited me to sit with her and her children.

You might be reading this and thinking, “who cares?” Well, I did. In an instant, I went from a stranger to sitting with a family. I belonged and was wanted. In all honesty, I like being alone. I need that time to recharge. However, I don’t want to be forced to be alone. At that point in my life, my new faith was ostracizing me from my family and friends, and I needed somewhere to belong. In the blink of an eye, I belonged.

2. Discipleship was an immediate response.

My church didn’t leave me to figure it all out on my own. I was invited to Bible studies, coffee dates, and Sunday dinners right away. I had more of a social life as a new believer than I did hopping from bar to bar before my salvation. Go figure!

In addition to people taking me under their wing, my pastor (and others) didn’t shy away from my questions. I had what my husband and I call a “Mack truck conversion.” Jesus hit me like a bus, and everything in my life flipped in an instant. Predictably, that left me with a ton of questions. I wanted to know everything I could about God, and I was also trying to figure out what was true and false from my life before salvation. People loved my questions. They would sit down with me and lead me through the Bible and help me understand my new faith.

Too many Christians can’t explain why they believe what they believe, and that leaves new Christians in need of answers. It’s no wonder so many believers never seem to mature. Even when they reach out, many are ignored or given a pat answer.

3. The church was excited for me.

My first church celebrated my salvation. The church members were excited for me and gladly praised God for what He had done for me. No one looked put out that I was changing their church by being there or questioning my sincerity. All I received was love and encouragement.

I asked to get baptized within weeks of getting saved, and I remember standing in the baptismal looking out at the auditorium. My mom and stepdad were there, but my dad and stepmom had elected not to come because “you’ve already been baptized, Julie.” My dad was referring to my infant baptism in the Catholic Church. I felt his absence on this important day, and it put a cloud around the morning a bit for me. My church, though, reacted so positively that I was able to put my dad’s disinterest aside.

My pastor asked me to say when I got saved and why I wanted to be baptized. There were audible gasps when I said how long I had been a believer. (Some people didn’t know it had just happened a few weeks prior.) I didn’t know if those gasps were good or bad until I came up from the water. People cheered and clapped and laughed. There was so much joy over my salvation and my first step of obedience through baptism. I had no doubt these were my people. They cared for my soul, and that made me know I was in the right place. I could trust this church to help me grow.

4. No one rushed me into ministry.

I’ve heard a lot of stories about new believers getting put into ministry roles almost immediately. The church might have a need in children’s church, nursery, VBS, or some other area, and the pastor decides that new believer would be just perfect to fill the role. It’s funny how it always seems to work out that way, you know?

My pastor didn’t discourage me from serving in the church, but he wanted me to grow in my new faith. Also, I didn’t know what my spiritual gifts were. So, I helped in small ways to start, and I watched how various ministries ran. But I didn’t jump in or get thrown into any ministry. It was time to learn, ask questions, and get to know myself as a Christian.

Encouraging me to take my time and allow God to lead me regarding serving others was one of the best things that could have happened to me. It wasn’t long before I began to sing special music, volunteered in the nursery, and worked with women in the addictions program. Nevertheless, it all came about naturally and without pressure from my pastor. Sure, the church needed volunteers, but I needed to mature and participate in some discipleship first. My spiritual health came before volunteer needs.

Final Thought

New believers need other Christians to come alongside them and help them with those first steps in their Christian walk. Admittedly, there are numerous ways to go about that. The first step should be to find a local Bible-believing church. The second step is to seek disciplers and mentors. For me, though, the key component to successfully transitioning from my life prior to Christ to my life with Him was the personal, loving attention and care I received from my first church. If churches would treat new believers like spiritual children in need of guidance rather than a number for the membership roll, I believe less new believers would be trapped as spiritual babies living ineffectual lives for Christ.

What do you think churches should do to help new believers?

Image courtesy of Martin Adams via Unsplash.