Congratulations! You're Part of God's Family Now

Big Idea: You just made the most important decision of your life. Now what? This guide will help you understand what just happened and what comes next.

Scripture to Read:

• 2 Corinthians 5:17 - You are a new creation

• 1 John 1:9 - God is faithful to forgive

• Romans 12:1-2 - Present yourself as a living sacrifice

It's About Progress, Not Perfection

Big Idea: You'll never be perfect, but God calls you to make progress day by day.

Scripture to Read:

• 1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"

• Philippians 3:12-14 - Paul says he's not perfect, but he presses on

• Proverbs 24:16 - The righteous fall seven times but rise again

Reflect:

• Do you feel pressure to be perfect now that you're a Christian?

• What does it mean that God is "faithful" to forgive? (Answer: He'll do it EVERY SINGLE TIME)

• What does it mean that God is "just" to forgive? (Answer: He always does the right thing)

The Truth: Sometimes you'll take great leaps forward. Sometimes you'll take tiny baby steps. And yes, sometimes you'll fall down or take steps backward. But God loves you and forgives you every single time. That's what "faithful and just" means.

Action: When you mess up this week (and you will—we all do), remember: confess it, receive forgiveness, and keep moving forward. Don't stay stuck in shame.

You Are a New Creation

Big Idea: When you gave your life to Christ, everything changed. The old you is gone. The new you has come.

Scripture to Read:

• 2 Corinthians 5:17 - "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come"

• Ephesians 4:22-24 - Put off the old self, put on the new self

• Colossians 3:9-10 - You have put off the old self and put on the new

Reflect:

• What does it mean to be a "new creation"?

• All the sin, shame, guilt, and problems of your past—they're gone. How does that make you feel?

• What does it mean that you get to "start over"?

The Mulligan Illustration: In golf, a mulligan means you get a do-over. You hit a bad shot, drop the ball, and try again. That's what forgiveness in Christ is—a complete do-over. You don't have to carry your past anymore.

Action: Write down one thing from your past that you've been carrying (guilt, shame, regret). Then write "FORGIVEN" over it. Thank God that the old is gone and the new has come.

You're Part of God's Family Now

Big Idea: You're not just forgiven—you're adopted. You're a member of God's family.

Scripture to Read:

• John 1:12 - To all who received Him, He gave the right to become children of God

• Romans 8:15-17 - You've received the Spirit of adoption; you are God's child and heir

• 1 John 3:1 - See what kind of love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God

Reflect:

• What does it mean to be a child of God?

• You have a heavenly Father who loves you perfectly. How is that different from earthly family?

• You have brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world. You're not alone anymore.

Action: Pray this simple prayer: "Father, thank You for adopting me into Your family. Help me understand what it means to be Your child."

What Do I Do Now? Two Key Scriptures

Scripture 1: Romans 12:1-2

Read It: "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Break It Down:

• "By the mercies of God" - Because God showed you mercy and forgave you...

• "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice" - Offer your whole life to God

• "Your spiritual worship" - Living for God IS worship

• "Do not be conformed to this world" - Don't let culture shape you

• "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind" - Let God change how you think

• "Discern what is the will of God" - You'll learn what God wants for your life

What It Means: Because God has been so merciful to you, the way you respond is by giving your whole life to Him. This is worship. And as you do this, God will transform you from the inside out.

Scripture 2: John 14:15

Read It: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments."

Break It Down: Jesus makes it simple: if you love Him, you'll obey Him. Obedience isn't a burden—it's how you show love.

What It Means: Following Jesus isn't about earning His love (you already have it). It's about responding to His love by doing what He says. This is how transformation happens—by following Jesus' commands.

Your Next Steps

This Week:

1. Talk to God Daily

• Prayer is just talking to God like a friend

• Thank Him for saving you

• Ask Him to help you grow

• Tell Him what's on your heart

2. Read the Bible

• Start with the Gospel of John (it's about Jesus)

• Read just one chapter a day

• Ask: What does this teach me about God? About myself?

3. Tell Someone

• Share your decision with a friend or family member

• You don't have to have all the answers—just share what Jesus has done for you

• Romans 10:9 says if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, you will be saved

4. Find a Church

• You need a church family to grow

• Look for a church that teaches the Bible and loves Jesus

• Get plugged into a small group or Bible study

5. Get Baptized

• Baptism is your public declaration that you follow Jesus

• It's a picture of dying to your old life and rising to new life in Christ

• Ask your pastor about getting baptized

Remember These Truths

✓ You are forgiven - Every sin, past, present, and future
✓ You are loved - God's love for you will never change
✓ You are new - The old you is gone; you're a new creation
✓ You are family - You're a child of God and part of His family
✓ You have purpose - God has a plan for your life
✓ You are not alone - The Holy Spirit lives in you and will guide you

When You Mess Up (Because You Will)

1. Confess it - Tell God what you did wrong

2. Receive forgiveness - Believe that He forgives you (1 John 1:9)

3. Get back up - Don't stay down; keep moving forward

4. Learn from it - Ask God to help you grow through it

Remember: God is faithful (He'll forgive you every time) and just (He'll always do the right thing).

Final Encouragement

You just started the greatest adventure of your life. There will be highs and lows, victories and struggles, leaps forward and steps backward. But God is with you every single step.

He will never leave you. He will never stop loving you. And He will finish the good work He started in you.

Welcome to the family. Let's do this together.

What's Next? Continue with the rest of this series to learn how to grow in your relationship with Jesus. Each lesson will give you practical steps to become the follower of Christ God created you to be.