The Bible is our personal love letter from God. He wants us to know how much He loves us, understand who He is, and learn the best way to live our lives for Him. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

Translations: The Bible was originally written in Greek and Hebrew, so you'll find lots of different translations into English and other languages. None of these is perfect, but we highly suggest that you choose a Bible you find easy to understand and that is faithful to the original text. BibleGateway.com or YouVersion.com are great places to try out some of the most popular translations today.

Where to start reading: There are 66 books in the Bible, which might seem kind of overwhelming. A really good place to make that first crack in your Bible is the book of Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. These books are commonly referred to as the gospels and tell the story of what Jesus did and said while He was a man on earth.

As a new believer in Christ, we should hold an open conversation with God. Prayer is just a word for simply talking with God. Some people believe prayer is a set of formal words or includes a list of certain things or that it can only be done during church. But that is so not the case!

The Bible actually tells us to pray without ever stopping (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Praise God day and night in everything that happens to you. Ask Him to provide for your essential, daily needs. Pray for your friends, your family, your teachers, your neighbors. He is always there and always listening. No need to make an appointment, call, or text. Just think. He desires to know you deeply as He cares about you more than anyone you know. To know Him well, just the same way we get to know anybody, we should keep the conversation going always. Jesus' closest friends asked Him how to pray, and you can find His answer in Matthew 6:9-13.

Once we have invited the love of Christ into our lives, that love begins to spread. You may find that you have a new desire to help other people in need. Let the Holy Spirit be your guide in recognizing ways to help. Always be on the lookout for those little moments. Maybe you help an elderly lady across the street. Maybe you pick up groceries for a mom whose 2-year old just tossed them into the parking lot. Maybe you offer to help a friend who is having a hard time at school. Maybe you pick up a rake and help your neighbor with yard work. Maybe you make a card and visit a sick friend. The Holy Spirit is always whispering these little acts of God's love; we just need to listen and act (1 John 3:17-18).

Baptism is a symbol that publicly shows your decision to have a new life in Christ. It's a way to tell everyone, "Hey, I believe, and I'm committed to Jesus now." Even Jesus was baptized (Luke 3:1-22), and He wants His followers to be baptized too. It's important to note though that baptism is NOT what saves you. The grace of God and your faith in Jesus is what saves you (Ephesians 2:8). Baptism is more of a proclamation than anything else.

Becoming a Christian should not be a secret; it’s the most amazing celebration in Heaven and on earth! Tell anybody who will listen about how God has changed your life and how He is working through you. Who knows? Maybe you will change a life eternally just by sharing your story! In the moments before Jesus returned to Heaven, He told His disciples to "make disciples of all the nations" (Matthew 28:18-20). That applies to believers today too. We are still called to shine the hope of Christ upon others (1 Peter 3:15-16). You have the greatest gift in the universe right now, and it is meant to be shared!

Hopefully these few tips will help you get started as a new believer in Christ. But remember, they are not requirements you must follow in order to either become a Christian or to stay one. You have been saved by God's grace through your faith alone—not by doing anything (Ephesians 2:8-9). God has started spreading His love in your heart, and He promises to see you through to the end (Philippians 1:6).

As a new believer, you will find yourself faced with new challenges and lots of questions. Build friendships with others Christians so that they can encourage you and you can encourage them in return. Jesus spent a ton of time with His twelve closest friends—the disciples. We should try to do life together, hanging out, talking about problems, praying for each other, and helping each other stay strong when times are hard.

Reading through the New Testament (the last half of the Bible), you'll find over 50 verses that use the term "one another," meaning that they refer to loving one another, serving one another, encouraging one another, and praying for one another. Having other believers have your back is an essential part of positive spiritual growth.