How to Get Started with God

What do you do if you decide you know very little about God, but want to know more? You think you might want to become a Christian, but you aren't sure what that means. You may have a thousand questions and just don't know what to do to get started:

Which Bible do I read? How often should I read it? How long and how often do I pray? What do I pray for? What should I be looking for? What church do I attend?

There are so many questions, and those of us who have been on this path for a while (and maybe who have had someone take us under their wing) can forget how overwhelming it can be. Here are a few tips to get you started:

Read the Bible

• Read Luke, 1 chapter per day, Monday – Saturday (this should take even a slow reader maybe 10 minutes per day)
  
• When done, read Acts, same schedule
  
• Try to read at the same time every day – it will help you establish a routine
  
• Read to enjoy, not for deep understanding – don't skim, but don't get bogged down either.
  
• If you have questions, write them down to ask someone later - then keep reading!

Pray every day

• Even after years of practice, this is still hard for me, and I expect it will be for you, probably because you may not be sure if you are doing it right, or well enough. It's OK, God understands, just pray.
  
• Don't worry about what to say. Just ask for one thing: for God to help you come closer to him. If you feel like praying about other things or for particular people, that's fine, but if not, just that one thing will do.
  

Other Thoughts

• You need the fellowship of Christians at every step in your walk with God. Find a loving church that teaches the Bible and tries to live by it. Naturally I recommend my church, but we don't have a monopoly on the truth.
  
• You don't need to start by attending two or three times per week - just go to the main service on Sunday and at some point you'll find that you want to do more.
  
• Don't worry about any of the implications (real or imagined) of becoming a Christian – just do the above things and everything will take care of itself. Especially don't think that if you become a Christian you will need to give up all of the relationships you currently have - I believe that's a trap and isn't what a Christian is supposed to do.
  
• If you have questions, thoughts, concerns, worries, whatever, hang on! When you feel you are ready, there are tons of people who would consider it the highest honor to study the Bible with you - at your pace, wherever and whenever is convenient for you - just email me if you are interested in that and I'll hook you up (with someone who won't beat you up or try to pound their particular beliefs into you).
  
• Remember that your current goal isn't to understand everything in the Bible; it is to start figuring out what God has to offer, and to just learn more.
  
• Don't worry about your spouse, your kids, or anything else at this point - all of those things will work themselves out as you progress.
  

If you are interested in starting down this path, I hope this helps you, and I want you to know just how many people would be thrilled at the prospect of helping you in any way. God Bless you and good luck!