Take a breath. You’re doing great!
You walked through the doors. You felt a pull toward something bigger, truer, and kinder. You said “Yes” to Jesus. And then… you realized everyone else seems to be speaking a language you didn’t learn, referencing stories you’ve never heard, and following “unwritten rules” that make you feel like you’re constantly stepping on a spiritual landmine.
Most resources for new believers are either written for five-year-olds or for people who grew up in the pews. There’s a gap. A big one.
We aren’t here to make you a “perfect” Christian (spoiler alert: those don’t exist). We’re here to help you feel at home. To give you a foundation that doesn’t shake when life gets loud.
Welcome to the beginning.
The “First 48 Hours” Guide
(The Basics)
The Prayer
You don’t need “Thee” or “Thou.” Just talk. It’s a conversation, not a court hearing. No, it doesn’t have to be out loud. Yes, you can pray anywhere, anytime!
The Bible
You don’t have to start at page one (Genesis is great, but Leviticus is a tough place to spend your first week). Try John. It’s the “bio” of Jesus that just hits different.
The Feelings
Some days you’ll feel like you’re walking on air. Some days you’ll feel like nothing changed. Both are okay. Faith is a relationship, not an emotional high.
Check out these quick Posts on all the basics!
The “No-Shame” Vocabulary List
A quick “Translator” for words you’ll hear in the first 20 minutes of a church service.
| Word | How it’s used | What it actually means |
| The Word | “Follow The Word” | Usually refers to the Bible or Jesus Himself. |
| Christ | “Jesus Christ” | Not Jesus’ last name. It’s a title meaning “Anointed One” or “The Promised King.” |
| Repent | “Repent of your sins” | A 180-degree turn. Realizing you’re going the wrong way and turning back to God. |
| Sin | “We are all sinners” | Anything that “misses the mark” of how God designed life to work. |
| Gospel | “Spread the Gospel” | Literally “Good News.” It refers to the story of Jesus. |
| Amen | Usually said to end a prayer. | Literally “Let it be so.” It’s the verbal way of hitting the ‘Like’ button on a prayer. |
| Testimony | “Please share your testimony.” or “Testify” | Your story. Specifically, the “Before Jesus vs. After Jesus” version of your life. |
| Fellowship | “Join us in fellowship” | Hanging out with other believers. Usually involves coffee or food. |
| Holiness/ Holy | “Live in holiness” | Being “set apart.” Living differently because you belong to God. |
Christian Word Glossary
Hear a weird word, and want to know what it means?
Search for it here! If you can’t find it, reach out to us! We love to keep our list up-to-date.
Q&As
Top questions new believers have, but are too shy to ask!
Do I have to become ‘boring’ now? Like, can I still go to the club with my friends or watch R-rated movies?
Becoming a Christian isn’t a personality transplant. You aren’t “trading in” your life; you’re “upgrading” the foundation of it. As you grow, some things will naturally fall away because you will find that you don’t actually want them anymore, but don’t try to force a “fake” version of yourself.
I’ve lived a lot of life over the years. Do I have to tell everyone at church all the bad stuff I’ve done to be ‘official’?
Absolutely not. Your “testimony” is your own, and you get to choose the volume. God already knows the story and He’s already cleared the tab. You don’t owe the congregation a confession; you owe yourself a fresh start.
I tried reading the Bible from the beginning and got stuck in a long list of ancient laws about goats. Am I doing this wrong?
Welcome to the “Leviticus Wall.” We’ve all hit it. Think of the Bible like a library, not a single novel. Flip over to the Book of Mark. It’s short, fast-paced, and all about Jesus. Save the goat laws for later. As you keep reading other books—like Hebrews or Galatians—the authors will actually explain why those old laws existed and how Jesus fulfilled them. You don’t have to master the “Why” today. Save the deep-dive on ancient rituals for later. For now, just focus on getting to know the Person (Jesus) who makes sense of it all. Click Here for more on Leviticus.
I’m a logical person. Do I have to leave my brain at the door to believe in miracles?
Nope. God invented logic. You’ll find that the more you look into it, the more faith and reason actually hold hands. It’s okay to have questions that don’t have 5-second answers.
Have More Questions?
The Community Q&A: This is our shared space to figure out how to follow Jesus in our real, messy, adult lives. Use this comment board to ask the community questions, or help answer a fellow struggling believer’s questions. Let’s build a foundation together. We’re all learning here. If you are still a bit shy, there is a ‘private’ option!
Not quite ready for the comment board? I’ve been there. I know you’re scared to ask because you think it sounds silly… It doesn’t! This contact form goes straight to my inbox. Drop it in the box below—anonymous or not—and I’ll do my best to hunt down a real answer for you.