Christian Starter Pack

A good place to start.

I get hundreds of message per week saying something along the lines of: “I grew up in a Christian home but I haven’t been to church or read the Bible since I moved out. Where should I begin?” This list is not exhaustive nor is it the only way, but here’s how I usually respond:

1 - Get a good Study Bible- here are a few of my favorites (hyperlinks to purchase are in the name):

1. Reformation Study Bible: Pretty straight forward, this is a great Bible with solid commentary on most verses. There are also helpful summaries and outlines of each book that will explain the main themes of each section of Scripture along with interesting points to look for. This is my go-to daily Bible for reading and devotion. It used to be available in NKJV but I think now it’s only offered in ESV. Awesome option. I have the condensed version, which is like a 3/5 on the thicc scale that I just made up.

2. Heritage Reformation Study Bible: This might be the most comprehensive Bible I’ve ever come across, and it’s my go-to for serious study and meditation. It contains all of the major Creeds and Confessions (Westminster Confession of Faith, both the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, the Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, Canons of Dort). The authors have included discussion questions and thoughts for reflection after every single chapter of the Bible, which I’ve found really helpful for family/small group discussions, etc. There are also hundreds of pages devoted to practical advice on Christian living sprinkled throughout, along with a century-by-century look at church history. It’s absolutely packed full of helpful knowledge. KJV isn’t very popular these days but I’ve found that it can be helpful in making you slow down and actually consider what you’re reading. Also, the KJV has a very cool history. I can’t recommend this Bible enough. She’s a big girl; 5/5 on the thicc scale. Probably best to keep at home on your desk or bookshelf.

3. ESV Study Bible: Also a great option. In my opinion, it’s not as in depth as the other two, but still a really great resource to have on hand. It’s thicccccc. 4/5 on the thicc scale.

2 - Learn the basics of the faith as found in a major confession with Biblical proof texts. This type of language tends to scare folks because it sounds very rigid and formal, but it’s not:

• A confession is simply a statement that sets out essential religious doctrine.

• A catechism is simply a summary of the principles of Christian religion in the form of questions and answers, used for the instruction of Christians.

• Each confession has a corresponding catechism that enables Christians to more easily learn and recite the basics of our faith based on Biblical teaching.

- I highly recommend the Westminster Shorter Catechism. It was written in the mid-17th century to teach the basics of the faith to covenant children.

Here’s an example: Question 1, “What is the chief end of man?”

Answer: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” Well, says who? Fortunately, it lists all of the supporting verses in Scripture immediately after.

Another example from the Heidelberg Catechism: Question 1, “What is your only comfort in life and death?”

Answer: “That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit he also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for him.”

And again, at the end of each question, you’ll see direct quotations from the Bible that support the answer.

These are just two examples, admittedly from a Presbyterian persuasion. Baptists tend to prefer the 1689 Baptist Confession for obvious reasons. But nonetheless, these are all incredible tools for storing up rich knowledge of the Christian faith in our minds and hearts. Previous generations have done the hard work from which we can now benefit.

3 - Get plugged into the local church.

1. This should be priority #1 (even though it’s #3 on my list). The Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation. I get hundreds of messages from guys who feel like it’s futile trying to live as a Christian in today’s world; unsurprisingly, almost none of them are attending a local church.

2. Here’s a good tool for finding a faithful church. Again, this search engine will give you results based on a Protestant/Reformed denominational bias; that’s where I come from and I believe it’s the best option out there. The point isn’t that you need to be the same denomination as me, though; the point is, get into a local church that preaches the gospel, administers the sacraments, and practices church discipline (three signs of a true church) and start getting involved.

3. I highly recommend that once you attend on a Sunday morning, don’t leave before you meet the pastor and/or other church leaders. Let them know you’re new to the faith and/or returning to the church, and that you need Christian community and mentorship. You can’t go at this life alone, it’s not the way God designed you.

4. Find a church that loves people of all ages; I don’t want to over-generalize here, but if there’s an over-concentration of hipster millennials, look elsewhere. Churches need the time-tested wisdom of older generations. If the church sends their children away to a separate building during “big church,” I’d also look elsewhere. The church should love and cultivate its future. As they say, “if a church ain’t crying, it’s dying.” Inter-generational congregations are a beautiful thing.

5. Finally, remember that there is no such thing as a perfect church, and as the old adage goes, if you find the perfect church don’t join it because it won’t be perfect anymore. What this really means, though, is that real life is awkward. You will have awkward conversations with people at church, it might not be as “entertaining” as you’d like, or as ____ (fill in the blank) as your home church, etc., etc. The point though is don’t approach church with a consumerist mindset; we are not there to be entertained but to worship God as He has directed us to worship Him, and to live alongside God’s people in a fallen world. Embrace the awkward conversations, the bad coffee, and the lady singing off-key in the row behind you. Learn to love these things because Christ loves them.

Vital to all of these things, though, is prayer:

1. Pray that God would illuminate His word to you as you read the Bible.

2. Pray that He would help you to understand the truths of the Christian faith and the rich history of the church as you study the Creeds and Confessions.

3. And pray that He would lead you to a God-honoring church where you can be discipled and encouraged by other Christians who love the Lord.

This list is not exhaustive, but I think it’s a good start. As always, if you need anything, reach out.