Where do I start?

Good morning,

I have had a personal relationship with God since I was 11 years old and started praying and contemplating and giving as much of myself as I can to those in need.

I am just now starting out at Church and joining the United Church in my area.

I have no idea where to start to get familiar with the Bible and community based faith.

I've googled "Christianity 101" etc. but I am still feeling confused about how to start my search.

If i was a new Christian the first thing i would do is get myself a Bible and read the New Testament..

And be asking God for understanding every time i pick it up to read..

There is good news for you. The place to start reading the Bible is the book of Romans, in that book is basically a treatise on the fundamentals of Christianity.
I recommend an LCMS Lutheran Church, (there are many synod's of Lutheran churches but the LCMS is the only one I recommend) to get started at church. Don't even bother to go to the main service for a while just go to the Bible study for a while.

With Covid-19, you may find it difficult at this time to find actual services going on and instead have to resort to online resources.

Good morning or afternoon,
I just would like to come to understand what you mean you have had a personal relationship with God since 11 years old?

it sounds like you are needing to be " Discipled". here are a few things you can do. If you have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, you have the Holy Spirit who will help you as you grow in the understanding of God's word.

1. Pray, pray that the Lord would lead you where to go and who to see as in church setting Ask The Lord to teach you and lead you into all truth John 14
2. Find a Bible Believing Church that Holds to Jesus as the only way of salvation.
3. get into a good Discipleship class for yourself read the Bible every day, start in the Old Testament @ Genesis and the New Testament @ gospel of John.
4. pray after you have read the Bible.

Hello and welcome to CC, Kate,
You mention "United Church". In Canada (at least) the United Church is no longer Christian and doesn't hold the Bible as the sole rule of faith. I don't know where you are, but I suggest you look at the church's statement of faith. I do not recommend that you ask the pastor or any person who attends that church, because their answer will be based in their belief, not necessarily the truth. I know that might seem confusing.

I would suggest that, as Adstar noted, you read the New Testament for yourself. Most people suggest starting with the Gospel according to John (the fourth "book" in the New Testament).

Pray every day. Invite Jesus to reveal Himself to you through the Bible. Keep hanging out here and asking questions.

Trust that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion! (That's from Paul's letter to the Philippians).

I was about to say the same. Ministered in United churches back home, they hadn't heard of salvation. It was like a new message to them. I was surprised.

Hello Kate,

I am also a new Christian.
I would advise that you start reading the Bible.
I would advise reading the new testament, and then when you have done this I would advise going back and reading the Bible from the beginning.

I would also advise the following:

1. Don't rely on your Church to interpret God's word for you. Read the Bible and interpret it for yourself.
If you rely on others to interpret scripture for you, you open yourself up to all kinds of manipulation. Be wary of this.
In particular, if people start telling you that God wants you to give them money, run in the opposite direction!

2. Don't allow your faith in Jesus to become linked to any particular Church or group of people.
I had a bad experience at a Church and for many this may have damaged their faith, but because my relationship with Jesus is independent of any Church or group of people, my faith was undamaged by the experience.