New Christian Looking for Advice

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Josefine

Josefine

Member
#1
Feb 23, 2025
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#1
Hello ❤

My name is Josefine but you can call me Jo.

I'm a new member of this site, but I'm also a new Christian :giggle:

If anyone has any advice for me as a new follower of Christ who is still a minor and not attending church (my family is atheist), I would love for you to share it!

God bless everyone!
 
K

keepingthingsreal

Guest
#3
#3
Josefine said:
If anyone has any advice for me as a new follower of Christ who is still a minor and not attending church (my family is atheist), I would love for you to share it!
Click to expand...
Hi, Jo.

The first thing that you need to recognize is that the "church" is not a building that people go to. The Greek word ekklēsia, which is translated into English as "church" in the Bible, literally means a called out assembly or congregation of people. In other words, it refers to anybody who has been called out of darkness and into God's marvelous light. With that being the case, you are not only a part of the church yourself, but so is every other true believer that you come into contact with, and that includes true believers that you may talk to here.

As far as advice is concerned, I would recommend that you either read the Bible on your own, or listen to it on an audio Bible app, or both. Here is a link to a site where you can listen to different Bible versions being read to you by different speakers.

https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/kjv/Gen.1

If you follow that link, then you can use the drop down arrows to pick which Bible version you want to listen to, what book of the Bible you want to hear, and what narrator will narrate it to you.

Whether you read the Bible or listen to it on audio, pray first, and ask the Holy Spirit, who the Bible calls the Spirit of truth, to give you understanding. He is the one who inspired the writing of the scriptures, and he knows exactly what they mean.

Welcome to the family of God.
 
ResidentAlien

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
#4
Apr 21, 2021
8,758
3,818
113
#4
Josefine said:
Hello

My name is Josefine but you can call me Jo.

I'm a new member of this site, but I'm also a new Christian :giggle:

If anyone has any advice for me as a new follower of Christ who is still a minor and not attending church (my family is atheist), I would love for you to share it!

God bless everyone!
Click to expand...
Even though your parents are atheists, it will please the Lord if you honor them and make them proud of you. Don't use your faith to antagonize them; just let them see your good conduct in Christ. Also, try to find another believer to baptize (immerse) you. Read through the book of Acts and notice that this is the first thing new believers did. It doesn't have to be anything fancy; just do it with faith in Christ. This represents your death and burial with Him and your resurrection to new life with Him. God bless.
 
Josefine

Josefine

Member
#6
Feb 23, 2025
79
50
18
14
#6
keepingthingsreal said:
Hi, Jo.

The first thing that you need to recognize is that the "church" is not a building that people go to. The Greek word ekklēsia, which is translated into English as "church" in the Bible, literally means a called out assembly or congregation of people. In other words, it refers to anybody who has been called out of darkness and into God's marvelous light. With that being the case, you are not only a part of the church yourself, but so is every other true believer that you come into contact with, and that includes true believers that you may talk to here.

As far as advice is concerned, I would recommend that you either read the Bible on your own, or listen to it on an audio Bible app, or both. Here is a link to a site where you can listen to different Bible versions being read to you by different speakers.

https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/kjv/Gen.1

If you follow that link, then you can use the drop down arrows to pick which Bible version you want to listen to, what book of the Bible you want to hear, and what narrator will narrate it to you.

Whether you read the Bible or listen to it on audio, pray first, and ask the Holy Spirit, who the Bible calls the Spirit of truth, to give you understanding. He is the one who inspired the writing of the scriptures, and he knows exactly what they mean.

Welcome to the family of God.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much :giggle:

I will definitely check out the Bible audio

I truly appreciate everything that you wrote! God bless ❤
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#7
Aug 13, 2014
28,286
10,002
113
#7
Josefine said:
Hello ❤

My name is Josefine but you can call me Jo.

I'm a new member of this site, but I'm also a new Christian :giggle:

If anyone has any advice for me as a new follower of Christ who is still a minor and not attending church (my family is atheist), I would love for you to share it!

God bless everyone!
Click to expand...
Howdy and welcome to the Forum.

Always remember that just because you are outvoted doesn't mean you are wrong. We humans really like consensus, we like for people to agree with us. But it doesn't really matter for what is right and what is wrong.

Always remember that Jesus loves your family just as much as he loves you. Treat them with respect even when they disagree with you. They are not the enemy. They have just been tricked by the enemy.
 
Josefine

Josefine

Member
#8
Feb 23, 2025
79
50
18
14
#8
ResidentAlien said:
Even though your parents are atheists, it will please the Lord if you honor them and make them proud of you. Don't use your faith to antagonize them; just let them see your good conduct in Christ. Also, try to find another believer to baptize (immerse) you. Read through the book of Acts and notice that this is the first thing new believers did. It doesn't have to be anything fancy; just do it with faith in Christ. This represents your death and burial with Him and your resurrection to new life with Him. God bless.
Click to expand...
That's amazing, thank you so much! God bless ❤
 
Josefine

Josefine

Member
#9
Feb 23, 2025
79
50
18
14
#9
Lynx said:
Howdy and welcome to the Forum.

Always remember that just because you are outvoted doesn't mean you are wrong. We humans really like consensus, we like for people to agree with us. But it doesn't really matter for what is right and what is wrong.

Always remember that Jesus loves your family just as much as he loves you. Treat them with respect even when they disagree with you. They are not the enemy. They have just been tricked by the enemy.
Click to expand...
That's really great advice, and a very powerful message. Thank you, and have a blessed day!
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#10
Aug 13, 2014
28,286
10,002
113
#10
Josefine said:
Hello ❤

My name is Josefine but you can call me Jo.

I'm a new member of this site, but I'm also a new Christian :giggle:

If anyone has any advice for me as a new follower of Christ who is still a minor and not attending church (my family is atheist), I would love for you to share it!

God bless everyone!
Click to expand...
If you want some good recommendations for Christian music, let me know what style you like and I will try to recommend some groups you will like. Or tell me what groups, Christian or secular, you like and I can find some Christian groups with the same sound. I have a large and varied music collection.
 
Josefine

Josefine

Member
#11
Feb 23, 2025
79
50
18
14
#11
Lynx said:
If you want some good recommendations for Christian music, let me know what style you like and I will try to recommend some groups you will like. Or tell me what groups, Christian or secular, you like and I can find some Christian groups with the same sound. I have a large and varied music collection.
Click to expand...
Oh, thank you so much ❤

I have started a playlist with Christian music but it's kind of all over the place (not just one genre)

I guess I tend to enjoy any song that's upbeat and at a faster pace, so perhaps that would be best
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#12
Aug 13, 2014
28,286
10,002
113
#12
HealthAndHappiness

HealthAndHappiness

Well-known member
#13
Jul 7, 2022
11,112
4,796
113
Almost Heaven West Virginia
#13
Josefine said:
Hello ❤

My name is Josefine but you can call me Jo.

I'm a new member of this site, but I'm also a new Christian :giggle:

If anyone has any advice for me as a new follower of Christ who is still a minor and not attending church (my family is atheist), I would love for you to share it!

God bless everyone!
Click to expand...
Hello Jo,

Good to have you aboard. Your short intro has me curious. How did you become a Christian in an atheist family?

As to what you should do, I suggest getting a KJV Bible with large legible print and large margins is you can find one. That gives the best of both worlds.
A. It's easier to read God's inerrant word with the larger print.
B.. When you read it daily, you'll eventually notice that the Holy Spirit will point out important things you'll want to remember. Write those in the margins. You'll start finding connecting verses and perhaps word definitions. This will assist you better than a study Bible with someone's commentary. I would avoid commentaries. Paper is best, but here's an electronic one that's free until you get one. Bookmark this on your PC and phone.

King James Bible

.
C. After reading the Bible, take time to pray in the morning.
 
Josefine

Josefine

Member
#15
Feb 23, 2025
79
50
18
14
#15
HealthAndHappiness said:
Hello Jo,

Good to have you aboard. Your short intro has me curious. How did you become a Christian in an atheist family?

As to what you should do, I suggest getting a KJV Bible with large legible print and large margins is you can find one. That gives the best of both worlds.
A. It's easier to read God's inerrant word with the larger print.
B.. When you read it daily, you'll eventually notice that the Holy Spirit will point out important things you'll want to remember. Write those in the margins. You'll start finding connecting verses and perhaps word definitions. This will assist you better than a study Bible with someone's commentary. I would avoid commentaries. Paper is best, but here's an electronic one that's free until you get one. Bookmark this on your PC and phone.

King James Bible

.
C. After reading the Bible, take time to pray in the morning.
Click to expand...

Hi! Thank you so much for your thoughtful message ❤

To answer your question, I started talking to an online friend, who was a Christian. She basically introduced me to Jesus and was helping me start my journey. But since she was relatively new to Christianity as well, I wanted to join other communities such as this one in addition.

I have been reading the bible online, but I will try to get a physical copy as soon as I can.

God bless!
 
JohnDB

JohnDB

Well-known member
#16
Jan 16, 2021
6,372
2,619
113
#16
Advice?
Well this is the internet.....EVERYONE has an opinion.

Being a Christian is about relationships.
Primarily Having a positive relationship with God and subsequently your relationships with others. (Which may or not be so positive due to their choices)

Sure, there have been many songs and sermons/lectures on the subject....all desiring to express emotions that you should own. But at the end of the day....

God created you to be uniquely you for His purposes. To affect change in your sphere of influence for goodness.

And that thought alone should give you some pause. Especially with two questions.

"Who am I?/Who do others think I am?"

"What is truly good according to God?"

A lot of the things most Christians do or believe they should do, like studying the Bible or reading devotionals, are things that help them learn those two things.

I like listening to music, I love studying history and anthropology, I love studying poetry. I really like cooking and making things. But I can't be a Christian if that's all I ever do. I can't hide away in my home doing those things and believe I've done what God wants me to do.

So....join a church you like (emotional support of friends) and look about your community of how you might be the hands and feet of God to those you know and those you want to know.
 
Josefine

Josefine

Member
#17
Feb 23, 2025
79
50
18
14
#17
JohnDB said:
Advice?
Well this is the internet.....EVERYONE has an opinion.

Being a Christian is about relationships.
Primarily Having a positive relationship with God and subsequently your relationships with others. (Which may or not be so positive due to their choices)

Sure, there have been many songs and sermons/lectures on the subject....all desiring to express emotions that you should own. But at the end of the day....

God created you to be uniquely you for His purposes. To affect change in your sphere of influence for goodness.

And that thought alone should give you some pause. Especially with two questions.

"Who am I?/Who do others think I am?"

"What is truly good according to God?"

A lot of the things most Christians do or believe they should do, like studying the Bible or reading devotionals, are things that help them learn those two things.

I like listening to music, I love studying history and anthropology, I love studying poetry. I really like cooking and making things. But I can't be a Christian if that's all I ever do. I can't hide away in my home doing those things and believe I've done what God wants me to do.

So....join a church you like (emotional support of friends) and look about your community of how you might be the hands and feet of God to those you know and those you want to know.
Click to expand...

THANK YOU ❤

That really means a lot, and it's a very inspiring message

Do you have any advice for how exactly I can start because I'm still very new to all of this?

Thank you again, and have a blessed day!
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#18
Aug 13, 2014
28,286
10,002
113
#18
JohnDB said:
Advice?
Well this is the internet.....EVERYONE has an opinion.
Click to expand...
That first bit there, that was the most important thing anybody has said yet in this thread.

On an internet forum you will get all kinds of advice, and a lot of it will contradict other advice from other forum members.

Proceed with caution. Don't take it as gospel truth just because somebody posted it on a Christian forum. ;)
 
JohnDB

JohnDB

Well-known member
#19
Jan 16, 2021
6,372
2,619
113
#19
Josefine said:
THANK YOU ❤

That really means a lot, and it's a very inspiring message

Do you have any advice for how exactly I can start because I'm still very new to all of this?

Thank you again, and have a blessed day!
Click to expand...
The "DB" in my avatar name stands for "duh Baptist"....so I ALWAYS prefer a Baptist church to join. (Widest pail of conservative orthodox beliefs....i kinda sit on the rim of the pail) They should have a regular program of small group bible study where you can make some friends and congregation service for music and sermons. During one of those sessions they will likely mention having some sort of community outreach program for things like crisis pregnancy centers, food banks, community Healthcare, daycare or other altruistic endeavor. Maybe also interdenominational baseball league firing up (it is spring)

But....I've also been to non-denominational churches and methodist churches (that don't fly that rainbow flag....because they are more interested in that flag than God)
Even a Seventh Day Adventist church on a dare once. (My buddy dared me)
Your Mileage May Vary....

Just look online for the hours they operate and come Sunday morning show up....

It's not like they will turn you away. I'm sure you will find them very welcoming.

Depending upon where you live....the churches can be as small as a dozen families (Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia have thousands of these) in rural areas or churches so large that after you park your car you have to ride a golf cart or tram to the church building.

I, personally like one that is larger instead of smaller. More opportunities to be of service and make more friends. They also will have more resources for beginning Christians.
 
T

ThereRoseaLamb

Well-known member
#20
Jan 17, 2023
5,361
2,352
113
#20
Josefine said:
Hello ❤

My name is Josefine but you can call me Jo.

I'm a new member of this site, but I'm also a new Christian :giggle:

If anyone has any advice for me as a new follower of Christ who is still a minor and not attending church (my family is atheist), I would love for you to share it!

God bless everyone!
Click to expand...

Welcome! You will find a lot of help here. My main advice is to remember that being a Christian isn't just a feeling. Some days you're not going to "feel" like a Christian, but it doesn't mean you aren't one. Know that being a Christian is a relationship with Jesus and He will never let go of you, even when there are days you might feel He isn't near or isn't listening. He is, just read the Bible and get closer to Him. Don't go by feelings. And if you can find a good church, start going, it could help you grow.
 
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