Advice for New and Stuck Christians

If you are a new Christian or a stuck Christian trying to get back on track, I have some advice for you.

My advice doesn't come from being an expert. I'm a fellow struggler myself, and I’ve had to learn these lessons the hard way. I've guided new believers and those who feel stuck, and I've found two pieces of advice particularly helpful. They're simple, and I hope they won't be too overwhelming for you.

Get in the Bible

First, and most importantly, get in the Bible. I can't emphasize this enough. Get a Bible if you don't have one. Choose a translation that you can understand, like the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) or the English Standard Version (ESV). If you can afford it, get a study Bible. I recommend the CSB Study Bible because it's clear and the notes are very helpful. Get the Bible and get in it.

It's impossible to overstate the importance of the Bible in the Christian life. The Apostle Paul writes:

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)

Only Scripture comes from God. Only Scripture can give us what we need to be built up and corrected so that we’re equipped for what God wants us to do.

Likewise, Psalm 1 talks about a life built around what God reveals. It’s a life that flourishes. I often try to reflect on Psalm 1 and what it would look like for me to delight in Scripture the way the psalmist does.

In our lives, we’re always going to face choices between what we think is right and what God has revealed to be true. Whenever we face this decision, go with what God says is right, which means getting to know what he’s revealed in the Bible.

Lifeway Research shows that regular Bible reading is strongly linked to spiritual growth, but many Christians do not read their Bibles regularly. Get a Bible, get a good study Bible that you can understand, and start reading it. Decide to take it seriously and believe what it says is true; it will begin to change your life.

You don’t need to understand everything right away. That’s an unrealistic expectation. Just dive in; it’s okay if you don’t understand everything at first. Keep going, and your understanding will grow over time.

Ignore those who question whether you can trust or understand the Bible, or if it will make a difference. Believe me, it will. Get in the Bible. Read a little every day. Read systematically if you can. Make it manageable but do it consistently. Make the Bible a regular part of your life.

Get Involved in the Church

Here's the second piece of advice I'd offer: Find a good church and get involved.

A lie we tend to believe is that we can live the Christian life on our own. It’s not true; we need the church. My best advice for new believers or those feeling stuck is to find a good church through online directories like this one, and commit to attend every Sunday.

Make it a priority in your life. Pray before you arrive so you'll get everything you can out of the service on Sunday. Lean into the Word and meditate on what it teaches you. Sing with others.

But don't just attend a service. Get to know people too. Invite them into your life. Share honestly about your struggles and growth. Get input and advice from people who are farther ahead of you in their faith journey.

Resolve that you won't live the Christian life alone. The church exists for his glory but also helps us grow. We need it. We weren't meant to live the Christian life alone; we were meant to be part of His people.

Starting with these two pieces of advice will motivate you in your faith journey.

Both pieces of advice are counter-cultural: The world will tell you to live your way and independently, but God teaches us to live according to his revelation and with his people.

Lean into God's Word and live according to God's wisdom, and become part of his church.