If you are reading through this content, it is likely that you have recently received God's gift of salvation, welcome! I'm glad you have taken the time to explore this material, it will aid you greatly as you set out on your journey of following Jesus. Before we go any further, here is a quick summary of what we think you need to know at the outset of your Christian walk:

PRayer

Prayer is communicating with God

The Bible

The Bible is God's Word to you

The Church

The church is where you interact with the family of God
You’ve most likely heard of the phrase, “Be a lifelong learner.” What does that mean? What benefits does it carry? As a follower of Jesus, the same thing applies. Learning from Jesus, and following his way is the process of discipleship. For that reason, every single Christian is a disciple. 

Disciple - Someone who follows, learns from, and mimics their leader with the end goal of becoming like them.

If you are a new Christian, you may be concerned that your attitudes and behaviors from your old way of life have not immediately changed. You may be wondering if something is wrong with you, or whether or not you prayed the right prayer or confessed the right thing. Take heart! Your journey as a disciple of Jesus is a process. Sometimes it can feel like you are taking great strides and at other times it can seem as if you’re stalled out. But the Bible is clear that if you are a disciple of Jesus you are slowly but surely becoming more like him.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. - 2 Corinthians 3:18
This is your story, this is my story, this is our story! We are becoming like Jesus one degree at a time! Think back to your teenage years. If you’re feeling brave, pull out the yearbook from your freshman year and compare it to your senior year. Chances are, you see quite a difference during the span of four years. But while you were growing up and changing in appearance, it’s likely that you didn’t notice the changes on a daily basis. No, you were primarily concerned with your classwork and weekend plans to notice much. Yet, in the midst of the daily tasks and mundane activities of life you were changing and you were growing. The same is true as a disciple of Jesus.

I want to share three practices that are essential to you growing as a disciple of Jesus. As you learn these things and begin to practice them, your life will be transformed! That transformation may or may not show up in a radical way, if it doesn’t, rest in the Bible’s promise that even if you can’t see it immediately you are becoming more like Jesus!

PRAYER - COMMUNICATING WITH GOD

There is a well-known quote whose author time has forgotten that goes like this: “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing!”

Prayer is essential for every disciple of Jesus, and yet, you’re probably asking yourself, “How in the world do I pray?” Good question. Do you have to say the right things at the right time? Do you have to use grand and eloquent words in order to communicate properly? Maybe these types of questions have gone through your mind. The good news is that prayer is much more about the posture of the heart than it is about the words we say. Throughout the gospels (the four books that serve as biographies of the life of Jesus), Jesus’ disciples only ask him to teach them to do one thing. Do you know what they asked him to teach them? How to pray.

While there are many resources and prayer aids available out there, one that we particularly enjoy is P.R.A.Y. Here’s what it looks like:

P - Praise
R - Read
A - Ask
Y - Yield

By using these four guiding words in this acronym, you can establish a vibrant thriving prayer life.

P - Praise

Your life is probably busy. Between soccer practices, piano recitals, trying to respond to all your text messages, exercise, and being involved in your local church, your time for downtime is most likely minimal. I would also guess that at regular points throughout your day you probably have various things weighing on your mind at any one given moment. Should I have my kids in public school or should they be homeschooled? Can we afford that car repair? Am I working a dead-end job? 

This is why the first step in the process of prayer is to pause and praise. Take a breath, literally. Slow down and recognize that there is a God.  God says this:
​
Be still and know that I am God - Psalm 46:10

As you begin to pray, take a moment and ask God to quiet your mind and your heart and remind you of his presence and activity in your life, rejoice and reverentially wonder at who He is. Have you ever seen a woman who has received a new, expensive engagement ring? When people see the ring they marvel as they examine the diamond from every different facet. We view God the same way as we meditate on his attributes. Here are some of God’s attributes that we can praise him for with corresponding scripture references: 
  • God is eternal (Ex. 3:14)
  • God is good (Ps. 25:8)
  • God is gracious (Ex. 34:6-7)
  • God is holy (1 Sam. 2:2)
  • God is immanent (knowable) (Acts 17:27-28)
  • God is immutable (doesn’t change) (Mal. 3:6)
  • God is just (Gen. 18:25)
  • God is love (1 John 4:8)

Why is this a good exercise to be done regularly? I’m glad you asked. You and I constantly face the temptation of assuming that life is all about us, or all up to us; our own achievements, our own merits, our own comforts, our own successes or failures. And we live in light of that narrative we craft for ourselves. However, when we begin our time in prayer by reminding ourselves of who God is, we naturally find ourselves shifting out of the seat of most importance, and keeping God in his rightful place at the center of our lives and the universe itself!

APPLICATION: You have to slow down. Quiet your physical life and your thought life for a simple time of reflection. For most disciples throughout the ages that time has been in the morning. However, based on your station in life, that may not be your best time. If you have toddler-age children at home, your schedule in the mornings can be dicey depending on what time they decide to wake up that morning! Your best time to be “quiet” may come in the evening. It is important to remember that the most important thing is not the time when we pray but the posture of our hearts while we pray. 

R - Read
A little bit later during our time together, we will discuss how to read and understand the Bible, so all we will mention here is the importance of spending time regularly in God’s word to you. 
​This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success - Joshua 1:8

After you have spent time praising God, you are ready to dive into his word. If you’re new to the Bible, it can be an intimidating book to pick up, but don’t let that deter you! One important thing to remember when you are reading your Bible is that the time you spend in it is formative. You are not simply going after information transfer as if you were a student preparing for a test. Do you remember how we defined what a disciple is? A disciple is someone who follows, learns from, and mimics their leader with the end goal of becoming like them. This means that what you are after in your Bible reading is life transformation. As you read and apply the Bible to your life, you become more like Jesus!

APPLICATION: It’s best to start with a regular, systematic reading plan. We recommend that you begin reading one of the biographies of the life of Jesus (these are traditionally known as ‘gospels’, and there are four of them: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). We love for those new to the faith to begin reading in Mark. To learn more about Mark's gospel and how to begin to study it, click here!

A - Ask

There are so many things we can ask of God in prayer, including needs in the world and you as well as your own life. If you are aware that there is a gap that exists between the way things are and the way things ought to be, you have something to ask the Lord for in prayer.
​Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. - Mark 11:24-25

As Jesus instructed his disciples to pray, he said, “Pray then like this: Our Father…” When Jesus himself taught his disciples (and by extension, us) to pray, he taught them to address God as Father. That is the kind of access we have to God! We don’t have to make our petitions with anxiety and trembling as if we stood before some cold and calculating judge. God welcomes your prayers and rejoices to hear from you, as a father rejoices in his child!

APPLICATION: It is always a good idea to record your prayers. Whether you write in a physical journal, or use the notes app on your cell phone, make a record and develop a list of things to pray for in your life, in the church, in the community, and in the world. As God answers these prayers, make sure to record it so that you have a monument to the faithfulness of God! 

Y - Yield

This last, but pivotal step will feel counterintuitive. If I want to make gains at my job or at the gym, I’ve got to get after it. I have to strive and struggle. God’s economy is different. This doesn’t mean that we don’t have to put in any effort or throw up our hands and say, “I’m fine how I am, I’ll let God sort it out!” Not at all. 

The closer you get to God, the more you recognize your need for his grace in your daily life. As you praise him, read his word, and petition him in prayer, you begin to rightly see him in all his glory, and yourself in all your deficiencies. Yield means to surrender. It’s like a clenched fist slowly turning into an open hand, or an athlete after being battered and bruised in a match slowly lowering into an ice bath. The act of yielding is, in and of itself, a prayer! It is an admission of our own tendency to forget about God in the everyday, mundane tasks of life. It is an admission of our regular need to recenter our lives on the wonderful truth of the gospel.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. - Psalm 32:8-9

THE BIBLE - GOD'S WORD TO YOU


Understanding the Book

The Bible is God’s Word to you. What an extraordinary gift! It is often thought of as a book, but it is actually a collection of 66 individual books that make up one unified story. Those 66 books are split into two testaments; the Old Testament (with 39 books) and the New Testament (with 27 books)

The Old Testament contains all the books written before Jesus, and the New Testament contains all the books written after Jesus. 

The Old Testament tells the story of God’s development of a people from whom will come the savior of the world. The New Testament tells us about the life, death, and resurrection of that savior (Jesus), and how his followers went about proclaiming that story and living in community.

Where do I start? That is a good question! I suggest starting with the gospel of Mark. This is one of the four biographies (gospels) written about Jesus. Tradition holds that its author, Mark, took down the testimony of one of Jesus’ disciples, Peter. Mark’s gospel is action-oriented (with the word immediately used 37 times), and fast-moving. As we said earlier, it is a great place for you to begin your journey.

The Biggest Story

Just as I said earlier, it is important to understand that the Bible is one, unified story. The big story of the Bible tells us how God is reconciling the universe to himself through his son Jesus. There are four major movements in this story:
  • Creation - The first words of the Bible inform us that everything was created, but God already existed (In the beginning, God… Gen. 1:1). God created the universe; sun, moon, stars, plants, and mankind, and declared that everything he created was ‘good’ (Gen. 1:4,10,12,18,21,25,31). Mankind lived in perfect harmony with God in the Garden of Eden.
  • Fall - In the third chapter of the book of Genesis, things take a turn. Adam and Eve (the first man and woman) sin against God by blatantly disobeying his good command, dreaming about a world where they are the ones in charge. Genesis 3 is more than a simple account of taking ‘forbidden fruit’, it is a choice mankind made to defy God’s loving rule and follow their own desires. This is still the essence of sin.
  • Redemption - Redemption simply means the release of someone or something from bondage through the payment of a price. In Genesis 3, immediately after the fall, God promises to remove the curse mankind has brought upon himself and restore peace to the world he has created. This promise begins with the shedding of blood as God makes clothing for Adam and Eve out of animal skins (Gen. 3:21) as well as assures Eve that a snake crusher is going to come from her family line (Gen. 3:14-15). Throughout the rest of the Old Testament, we look forward to the coming of this figure mentioned here, as evil seemingly continues its vice grip on our world. In time, God sent his own Son to earth as our redeemer who fulfills the promise through His death and resurrection.
  • Consummation - One day, God will renew and restore all things and bring the earth and mankind to the glory originally intended for them. We eagerly look forward to the day when he will make ‘all things new’ (Rev. 21:5).

The Bible is Enough

Disciples of Jesus call the Bible “God’s Word” because they believe that God, through his Spirit, spoke in a unique way to the 40 or so authors of the various books of the Bible. A helpful acronym to help us understand and remember the incredible value of the Bible we hold is S.C.A.N.
  • Sufficiency - The Bible contains everything we need for knowledge of salvation and godly living. We don’t need any new (additional) revelation.
  • Clarity - The saving message of Jesus Christ is plainly taught in the Scriptures and can be understood by all who have ears to hear it. It is clear.
  • Authority - The last word always goes to the word of God. We must never allow popular opinion, human reasoning, or church tradition to take precedence over the Bible.
  • Necessary - We cannot know God savingly by means of personal experience and human reason. We need God’s word to tell us how to live, who Christ is, and how to be saved. 

It’s likely that you have more questions about the Bible. Let me share with you a secret that isn’t so secret; one of the greatest resources available to you are those who are a part of the local church. They can help guide you and answer questions that you may have. Also, we have listed some good resources for you in the Appendix to help guide you along the way. However, one of the best things you can do with your questions about the Bible is simply to read the Bible and let it speak for itself! It is a book like no other; written over a span of 1500 years, in 3 different languages, across 2 continents, and it still tells one, unified story!

THe CHURCH - interact with God's family



First and foremost, we must understand that using the phrase “going to church” is poor language, instead, we say “being a part of a church”. The Bible tells us that when we receive salvation we are saved from sin (Eph. 2:1), and saved to God and his family (Eph. 1:22-23). So church isn’t something we do, and it's not a brick-and-mortar building at a physical location, it is something we are a part of!

What is the Church?

Being a disciple of Jesus is a personal response to his call, but we are also called to be a part of a community of disciples. The church universal is made up of all disciples of Jesus across the world and across time, but the local church, like the one you are already a part of (or are considering being a part of), is understood as a local community of disciples following Jesus at this time. This is important to understand about who makes up a local church. Since the church is made up of disciples who are striving to learn from, follow, and mimic Jesus, there are going to be imperfections in that process. Mistakes will be made and at times, people may even get hurt. That is not good but it is to be expected because the church is made up of imperfect people just like you and me!

How does the Church help me grow?

While we certainly cannot cover all how you’ll grow by being a part of a local church, we can cover a few important things here:
  • The church is where you publicly affirm your faith - There will come a time when you are ready to publicly proclaim that you are a follower of Jesus. This is the next step in your discipleship, and you can do this through baptism in water. Jesus himself gave baptism a unique role as the way people declare themselves to be his followers, and after he was raised from the dead, he commanded his followers to “make disciples of all nations” and “baptize them” (Matt. 28:16-20). With Citipoint Church, to help you prepare for your baptism, we offer a short class that will help you understand what water baptism is, what it isn’t and how you can share your story of how Jesus has changed your life with others!
  • Commitment to the church brings about mutual growth - In their book, Why We Love the Church, Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck offer some insight as to why the church is antithetical to the culture we are a part of: "We live in a therapeutic age where everything is measured by how much I get out of it,” he continues. “The church ought to be measured by what we put into it for God and others.” When you are committed to the local church, you will benefit from gathering with other Christians, sitting under the teaching and preaching of the Bible, and being ministered to by other disciples of Jesus. However, you will also contribute to the life of the church, something unique and special for which God has gifted you! It is vital that you are a part of a local church. Pastor Brent Kimball says it like this, “A Christ-follower cannot faithfully carry out the commands of God given to the church without being committed to a local church.”

Gathering with the Church

It is important to understand that the church is a people, and not a building. While the gathered church meets at a physical address to admonish and encourage each other through the word of God and worship on the Lord’s Day (which is Sunday), it is not the only expression of the church. The church remains the church even when the people scatter throughout their community during the week. To function properly as a disciple of Jesus, it is important to connect with the church not just on Sunday in its gathered form, but throughout the week in its scattered form as well. This is why we offer something called Natural Community. Natural Community is a place where people of similar interests and passions can meet together throughout the week to further friendships with those who are a part of the church. To learn more about Natural Community, click here!
​

CONCLUSION


​Prayer, reading the Bible, and gathering with the church. Pretty simple, right? That’s the beauty of it! These foundational elements of discipleship will serve to grow you in greater ways than you can imagine. As you begin to engage in these disciplines on a regular basis, your love for Jesus and his church will be kindled. As you begin to pray and communicate with God on a regular basis, you will marvel that the God who created and sustains the universe we inhabit, has made himself available to you. While reading through the gospel of Mark, you will be struck by Jesus’ care and concern for all those he comes into contact with, in awe that the King of kings came not to be served by people, but to be a servant, ultimately giving his life. You’ll gather with the church family on the Lord’s day and beyond and be thankful that God, through the Spirit is knitting you together in community with others who are also on a journey of following Jesus.
​

NEXT STEPS

If you have made a decision for Christ and received him as your Lord and Savior and have not yet had a chance to talk to a pastor or trusted mentor, that is your next step! If there is someone in your life who has guided you in your faith, please reach out to them, but if not, one of our pastors or elders would love to meet with you either in-person or over the phone to discuss your next steps! To set up a meeting, simply click the button below!