What Should I Do After Becoming a Christian? Your First 30 Days

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

The short answer: After becoming a Christian, begin with four simple things: read the Bible a little every day, talk to God in prayer, find a church where you can belong, and walk with a more mature Christian who can help you grow. You do not need to know everything or fix everything in your first month. The plan below gives you one short reading a day for thirty days, one simple practice each week, and questions to talk through with a mentor.

Jump to the 30-day plan

If you have recently put your trust in Jesus, welcome. Something real has happened. You may feel joy, relief, or simply a quiet sense that you have come home. You may also feel unsure what to do next. Many people tell me that after the moment they believed, nobody showed them where to start.

I have walked with many new believers over twenty years of pastoring in different countries. The ones who grow steadily rarely begin with big plans. They begin with small, daily steps, taken alongside other believers. That is what this guide is for.

First, Know What Has Happened to You

Before you do anything, know this: you are not saved by how well you do in the next thirty days. "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8–9, ESV).

Your new life began with what God did, not with what you will do. The habits below are not ways of earning God's love. They are ways of getting to know the God who already loves you. And He has promised to finish what He started: "he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6, ESV).

If you would like to understand more about the change that has happened, read what it means to be born again.

The Four Habits of the Early Church

At Pentecost, about three thousand people received Peter's message, were baptised, and were added to the community of believers (Acts 2:41). Luke then describes the practices that shaped their new life: "they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers" (Acts 2:42, ESV).

Those four practices are still the foundation of a new Christian life:

• The apostles' teaching: reading and learning God's Word.
• The fellowship: belonging to other believers.
• The breaking of bread: sharing in the life and worship of a church, including the Lord's Supper.
• The prayers: talking with God, alone and together.

The thirty-day plan below draws on these four practices from Acts 2, and adds a mentor to help you put them into practice.

Your 30-Day Plan

Daily readings

For the first twenty-one days, read one chapter of the Gospel of John each day. John wrote his Gospel so that readers would know who Jesus is: "these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31, ESV). For the last nine days, read short passages about your new life in Christ.

If you miss a day, pick up where you left off.

Keep it simple. Read the passage slowly. Then write down one sentence: something you noticed, something you did not understand, or something you want to obey. If you are not sure how to read the Bible, start with how to study the Bible for beginners.

Week 1 (Days 1–7): Get to know Jesus

Practice this week: Read your chapter of John each day and write one sentence about it. Each evening, thank God for one thing.

Talk with your mentor:

• What made you decide to follow Jesus?
• What surprised you about Jesus in the first chapters of John?
• What questions do you have about your new faith?

Week 2 (Days 8–14): Learn to pray

Practice this week: Pray the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13) slowly each morning, then talk to God in your own words about your day. Prayer does not need special language. It is talking honestly with your Father.

Talk with your mentor:

• What is easy for you about prayer, and what is hard?
• What would you like to pray about together?
• Is there someone you would like to pray for regularly?

If you prayed in the past and stopped, you may also find how to start praying again helpful.

Week 3 (Days 15–21): Belong to a church

Practice this week: Attend a church service this Sunday. If you already go, introduce yourself to the pastor or a leader and tell them you are new to faith. Ask what the next step is for new believers there. If you do not have a church yet, how to find a church when you are new to Christianity gives you a simple checklist for your first visits.

The Christian life is not meant to be lived alone. Hebrews 10:24–25 encourages believers to keep meeting together and to encourage one another. A local church is where you will be taught, cared for and given room to serve.

This is also the week to ask about baptism. In the New Testament, people who believed were baptised (Acts 2:38, 41). Churches differ in how they practise baptism, so ask your pastor what your church teaches and how to take that step. To prepare, read should I get baptised?, which ends with ten questions to take to your church leader.

Talk with your mentor:

• How did it feel to go to church this week?
• What questions do you have about baptism?
• In John 14–16, what does Jesus say the Holy Spirit will do for His followers?

Final nine days (Days 22–30): Live your new life

Practice this week: When you know you have done wrong, tell God straight away and receive His forgiveness: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9, ESV). If it is safe to do so, consider telling someone you trust that you have decided to follow Jesus. If sharing could put you at risk, you can wait and talk privately with someone trustworthy about what to do next. For more help, see when your family opposes your faith.

Talk with your mentor:

• Where are you finding it hardest to follow Jesus right now?
• Who in your life could you tell about your faith?
• After reading 1 John 5, how confident are you that you belong to God?

Finding a Mentor

A mentor is a more mature Christian who meets with you regularly, reads the Bible with you, prays with you and answers your questions. This is how Paul trained Timothy, and how the church has always passed on the faith.

If you do not have a mentor, ask your pastor to connect you with someone. Look for a person who is steady in their faith, honest about their own struggles, and willing to meet with you every week or two for the next few months.

If you are a more experienced believer helping someone new, see how to disciple a new believer.

Common Questions in the First Month

What if I don't feel different?

Feelings come and go, especially in the early weeks. Your new life rests on what God has promised, not on how you feel on a given day. John wrote, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:13, ESV). Keep reading, praying and meeting with other believers. Growth is often slow and quiet. If doubts about whether you are really saved keep returning, read how to know you are saved when you still have doubts.

What if I sin after becoming a Christian?

You will. Every Christian does. That is why 1 John 1:9 is written to believers. When you sin, do not hide from God. Confess it, receive His forgiveness, make things right where you can, and keep going.

What if my family does not support my decision?

This can be very painful. Be patient, kind and honest, and let your changed life speak. For more help, read when your family opposes your faith.

Do I have to change everything at once?

No. God changes us over a lifetime, not in a weekend. Begin with the small daily steps in this guide. As you read God's Word and walk with other believers, He will show you, one step at a time, what needs to change.

What should I learn after these thirty days?

Keep reading the Bible daily and keep meeting with your mentor and church. If you want a guided next step, the Following Jesus courses take you further, starting with Begin: New Life in Christ, eight lessons for the first steps of following Jesus. You may also like What Do Christians Believe? and How Do Christians Grow Spiritually?

Your Next Step

If this guide has helped you, the Following Jesus video courses were written for exactly this season. Begin: New Life in Christ walks through the gospel, repentance and faith, being born again, assurance, the Bible, prayer and belonging to Christ's church. Each lesson is short, narrated and comes with a reading plan, and there is a Leader's Guide if you want to take it with a mentor or small group.

A Prayer for Your First Days

Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me and giving Yourself for me. Thank You that I belong to You now. Teach me to know You through Your Word. Teach me to talk with You in prayer. Lead me to a church where I can belong, and to people who will help me grow. When I stumble, help me come back to You quickly. Finish the good work You have begun in me. Amen.