Advice For New Believers

My advice to new believers:

I grew up with books. Lots of books. My earliest memories of books were at my grandparents house. They lived in a huge old rock school house that even had a gymnasium in it that they had converted into a large den where all of us kids would run and play, listen to old records, bang on the piano, and of course read. They had every book imaginable. From homesteading, wildlife, history, and the most important (theological books). Bibles, commentaries, bible dictionaries, concordance's, church history, and books by many different Christian authors. They were not like the self help Christian books you find at Walmart (stay away from those) or the books the t.v. preachers on TBN are always trying to sell (stay away from those too). But they were sound biblical books and resources. I would just flip through bible Dictionaries and look up definitions of biblical words, the historical backgrounds of cities, and bio's of the men and women of the bible. Concordances to where you could look up the literal Hebrew and Greek translation of a scripture.

One older book that she had was from a mighty preacher by the name of Leonard Ravenhill called "Why Revival Tarries". That book blew me away and his sermons shake me to the core to this day. My grandparents were avid readers and grandma would fall asleep every night reading the bible. They provided us with a seminary sized education in that old school house on Cole Strang Road. My mother was the same way. Like my grandmother she acquired old books from estate sales and auctions. She was an antique dealer so there was no telling what she would bring home.

So no matter whose house we were at I was surrounded by books. Both my grandma and mom had a Ryrie KJV Study Bible and of course I had to get me one too. I devoured that study bible in High School. My favorite books at that time was 1st Samuel (cool name), Ezekiel, and Jeremiah. I still remember calling grandma up with a question about 1 Corinthians Chapter 2. After High School I dove into the gospels and went verse by verse discovering who Jesus really was/is. Why? Cause I was getting tired of the fake t.v. preachers putting out a false representation of Christ and I wanted to find out for myself who Christ is and not who some slick haired charloten said he was....after they asked for your money ( stay away from them).

But the point is I read. I read the bible, I wanted to know the historical backgrounds of the people of the time and the culture. I wanted to go deep. As we all should. For me learning started young and it started at home. I learned more at home on my own than I ever did at church.

This is proof also, young people can handle theology and the deep things of God. It was as a child I started to think about heaven, death, and the reality of God. Goodness, I remember my little boys blowing me away at early ages with deep questions about God. So don't be afraid to talk to your kids about God and encourage them to learn about Christ at a young age. If they can program your smart t.v. for you at the age 10 and read Shakespeare in High School they can handle the deep spiritual things.

To grow in the grace and knowledge of God you can't rely on your emotions, thoughts, and who you think He might be, or who you want him to be. You must go straight to the source, scripture. Read, study, learn. How else can you rightfully worship God unless you know who He is. How do we know who He is? His Word. You can't separate Him from His Word either. Get you a good study bible, get connected in a church, ask questions, surround yourself with godly people. People who have a hunger for Christ and growing in Him as well. Soak up good solid biblical preaching. Stay away from the self help, get rich, and how to get your best life now preaching. I'd say do not pay any attention to this "Christian" books in Walmart and stay away from those t.v. preachers on TBN etc. Just because they're on t.v. doesn't make them biblical. If you would like my recommendations of books and preachers let me know and I'll give them to you. But you must fill your mind with the Word of God and surround your self with sound biblical teachers and preachers. No matter how old or young you are dig in and seek Christ through His Word. Below is what I suggest to help you in learning and growing as a Christian. The more you know God, the more you love God.

In Christ,

Sam

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I recommend the following (more in comments)

1. Good study bible with foot notes and cross references.

2. Bible Dictionary

3. Concordance (also apps for these)

4. Bible Commenaries ( Matthew Henry etc.)

5. Sound biblical authors

6. Listen to sound biblical preaching

7. Pray for understanding

8. Find a biblical church to learn and serve in

9. Stay humble

10 base your faith on Christ and His Word

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Matthew 11:29

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalm 119:105

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

1 Peter 2:2‭-‬3

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

2 Peter 3:18