How can I help new believers?

When I became a new believer, my sister helped me become more knowledgeable about the foundations of the Christian faith. There's so much to learn and so many good and bad voices claiming to know "right" theology or practices. Without the help my sister provided me, I wouldn't have had as good of a spiritual foundation. And I am still growing in my faith every day.

Our spiritual journey is a lifelong thing and we'll all have have ups and downs, forward and backward motion, and sometimes we'll feel totally stuck and inadequate. It's OK to have doubts sometimes and ask questions. That's all a part of maturing in our faith. That's why it's so important to keep learning (Psalm 119)!

We All Need a Little Help

When we're new believers, we often don't have a solid groundwork of what the Bible actually says. Because of this, we need more mature believers to help guide us toward truth and away from deception (Matthew 7:15-20; Titus 2:7-8). Mature believers can act as big brothers and sisters in the faith—ready and willing to answer questions, find answers, and walk alongside their new sibling in Christ (1 John 3:1-2; Proverbs 27:17).

Just to clarify, when we say "mature" believers, we mean mature in faith and relationship with God. A "mature" believer isn't going to automatically be an "older" believer. There are a plenty of adults and elderly people who become new believers too. And there are plenty of people who have claimed to be Christians all their lives but have matured little in their faith.

New believers need someone who can help them build a strong, biblical foundation for their faith, who can answer questions, pray with them, and who can point them back to Jesus.

Where should new believers start?

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." —2 Corinthians 5:17

Like newborn babies who need milk before they can eat solid food, new believers need to understand the basic building blocks of the Christian faith (1 Peter 2:2) before they start delving into gritter, more complex topics like eschatology (study of the end times) or predestination.

Be sure they fully understand the gospel of Jesus, God's grace, and how to find answers in the Bible. If you don't know the answer to a new believer's question, it's OK to say you don't know. You could research the Bible together (2 Timothy 2:23-26).

Start with the Basics

If you're able to disciple (or teach) a new believer, it's often best to start with the basics: the Bible, prayer, and community.

Reading God's Word

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." —2 Timothy 3:16-17

We should encourage new believers to read the Bible on their own, listen to an audio version, or even read it with them. We'll also want to be on-hand to answer (or help research) the questions they are certainly going to have. Help new believers learn how to read the Bible in context so they can avoid misinterpreting passages. (BibleRef is a great resource we recommend!)

Talking to God

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." —Colossians 4:2

We have an incredible opportunity to speak to the Creator of the universe, and we ought to take advantage of that whenever we can. Pray with your friend and encourage them to pray on their own and to pray for others.

Living in Community

"Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." —Hebrews 10:25

A good local church may provide resources for these "newborn" Christians through classes, small groups, mentorship programs, and more. If you already have a trusted church community, then invite your friend! You could even join a class with them so you can discuss what they're learning.

It’s important for new believers to spend time with other believers regularly to pray and reflect on God’s Word together. Show them the importance of living out their faith and devoting themselves to serving God and loving others—especially together.

Recognizing Truth vs. Lies

We need to help new believers recognize false teachers. Many “Christian” speakers and content creators are not truly following Christ. In fact, Satan and his demons are known to masquerade as "angels of light" (2 Corinthians 11:15). Some religious authorities promote themselves as being 100% correct, but this is 100% false.

"If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth." —1 John 1:8 (NLT)

Some red flags are the promotion of God as a wish machine (a.k.a. the prosperity gospel), endorsement of false religions, or insistence on controlling/manipulating others "for their own good" (a.k.a. spiritual abuse).

We can help new believers learn how to "test the spirits" (1 John 4:1-6) of all teaching they encounter. And, yes, we ought to humbly welcome a challenge to our own thinking as well.

Truly "Blind" Faith is Not a Thing

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." —1 John 4:1

God doesn't want us to blindly believe everything everyone tells us. Scripture commands us to be wise, clear in our thinking, and to fact-check what it says. Encourage new believers to ask questions so they can sus out damaging theology, comparing what is being said by others against what the Bible says.

Lead by Example

Priscilla and Aquila were friends of the apostle Paul and knew what it meant to help new believers (Acts 18:25-26). They even held church in their home, where followers of Christ could meet to worship God and learn (1 Corinthians 16:19).

They'd discipled many by time a young man named Apollos, with a talent for public speaking, came through Ephesus. Apollos preached a passionate, yet incomplete, message about Jesus. This godly couple helped Apollos get his doctrine straight without discouraging his zealousness. They had a gift for helping new believers grow and flourish in their faith.

If new believers are looking to you for mentorship, questions, or partnership in Bible study, then you have the responsibility to live your life as a good example of a Christ follower and lead them toward the truth of God’s Word (1 Corinthians 11:1; 2 Timothy 2:15).

Every person has a different learning style and timeline, so resist the urge to rush new believers. Leave space for the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts. If we push head knowledge without allowing room for the Spirit to work, we may create confusion or ensnare them in the unnecessary worries of legalism.

"Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." —Colossians 4:5-6

Teach with Gentleness & Mercy

We ought to learn from Jesus' teaching style and speak with mercy, compassion, and respect. Never look down on new believers. Be humble and patient when others don't understand something that seems plain or basic to you.

Kindly respond to the questions you can, and admit when you don't know an answer. Just like everyone, new believers will stumble and even fall now and then. Don't we all? Help them get up and encourage them to press on.

"Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." —Philippians 3:13-14

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