Essentials - Step Two
Lesson Description
Four essential habits every new believer needs to develop in their first 30 days: get baptized, read God's Word daily, commit to prayer, and live a life of repentance.
Jason Kennedy
Pastor
Why Habits Matter
Big Idea: Just like GPS gives you turn-by-turn directions to reach your destination, these four habits will guide you in following Jesus daily.
Scripture to Read:
John 14:15 - "If you love me, you will keep my commandments"
1 Timothy 4:7-8 - Train yourself for godliness
Hebrews 10:25 - Don't neglect meeting together
Reflect:
Have you ever gotten lost without GPS? How did it feel?
Jesus gives us instructions on how to live. Are you ready to follow them?
What habits do you already have (good or bad)? How did they form?
The Truth: It takes 21-30 days to develop a habit. That's why this guide focuses on your first 30 days as a believer. These four habits will set the trajectory for your entire Christian life.
HABIT 1: Get Baptized
Big Idea: Baptism is your public declaration that you follow Jesus. It's the first step of obedience.
Scripture to Read:
Acts 2:37-41 - Peter's first sermon: "Repent and be baptized"
Matthew 28:19 - Jesus commands His followers to be baptized
Romans 6:3-4 - Baptism symbolizes death to old life, resurrection to new life
What Is Baptism? Baptism is a simple, sacred act where you go down in water and come back up. It demonstrates to the world what's happening inside you—you're dying to your old life and rising to new life in Christ.
Why Does It Matter?
It's a command from Jesus, not a suggestion
It's been the pattern of believers for 2,000 years
On the day of Pentecost, 3,000 people were baptized after believing
It's the easiest and simplest first step of obedience
Reflect:
Have you been baptized since becoming a believer?
If you were baptized as a baby but just recently gave your life to Christ, it's completely okay to be baptized again as a declaration of your faith
What's holding you back from taking this step?
Action:
If you're in Bakersfield: Sign up for the next baptism at your church
If you're elsewhere: Connect with a local church and ask about baptism
Need help finding a church? Reach out and we can help you find one
Important: Baptism doesn't save you—Jesus does. But it's your first act of obedience to publicly identify with Him.
HABIT 2: Read God's Word Daily
Big Idea: How can you possibly know what Jesus wants you to do without reading His Word?
Scripture to Read:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 - All Scripture is God-breathed and useful
Psalm 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet
Joshua 1:8 - Meditate on God's Word day and night
Why Does It Matter? The Bible is God's instruction manual for life. It's how He speaks to you, guides you, corrects you, and encourages you. You can't follow Jesus if you don't know what He says.
Your 30-Day Challenge: Commit to reading the Bible for the next 30 days. Use the Bible reading plan provided (or start with the Gospel of John—one chapter per day).
How to Read the Bible: Get a pen and paper. As you read, answer these four questions:
Question 1: What stood out to me today?
What verse or idea jumped off the page?
What surprised me or made me think?
What have I never noticed before?
Write it down.
Question 2: What did this tell me about God?
Does it show God's love? His power? His justice?
What attribute of God do I see here?
How is God different from what I expected?
Write it down.
Question 3: What does this tell me about humanity or sin?
Does this passage reveal something about human nature?
Is there a sin I need to confess or avoid?
How does this apply to my life?
Write it down.
Question 4: Do I need to do anything based on this scripture?
Is there a command to obey?
Is there a promise to claim?
Is there an action I need to take?
Write it down.
Congratulations! Once you do this, you've completed your first Bible study. Many Christians have never done this.
Action:
Start TODAY with one chapter
Set a consistent time (morning, lunch, evening)
Use the four questions every time you read
Pro Tip: Read slowly. It's better to read one chapter slowly and thoughtfully than to rush through five chapters.
HABIT 3: Commit to Prayer
Big Idea: Prayer is simply a conversation with God. It keeps you connected to Him.
Scripture to Read:
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - Pray without ceasing
Matthew 6:6-13 - Jesus teaches how to pray (The Lord's Prayer)
Philippians 4:6-7 - Don't be anxious; pray about everything
Why Does It Matter? Prayer is how you talk to God. It's not about fancy words or long speeches—it's about honest conversation. God wants to hear from you.
Your 30-Day Challenge: Take 7 minutes every day for the next 30 days to pray. (If you can pray longer, great! But start with 7 minutes.)
How to Pray (An Easy Framework):
1. PRAISE (Be Thankful)
Start by thanking God for what He's done:
Thank You for saving me
Thank You for my family, my health, my home
Thank You for loving me when I didn't deserve it
Spend 2 minutes praising and thanking God.
2. REPENT (Acknowledge Your Sin)
Confess your sin and ask for forgiveness:
I'm sorry for losing my temper today
I'm sorry for lying, cheating, gossiping
Forgive me for not trusting You
Spend 1-2 minutes repenting.
3. ASK (Pray for Others)
Pray for the needs of others first:
Pray for your family members
Pray for a friend going through a hard time
Pray for someone who doesn't know Jesus
Spend 2 minutes praying for others.
4. YOURSELF (Pray for Your Needs)
Finally, pray for yourself:
Help me overcome this sin
Give me strength for today
Show me what You want me to do
Spend 1-2 minutes praying for yourself.
Tips for Prayer:
Pray out loud or silently—both work
Write your prayers in a journal if that helps you focus
Find a quiet place with no distractions
Don't worry about sounding "spiritual"—just be honest
Action: Start your 7-minute prayer time TODAY. Set a timer if needed. Watch how God transforms your life through prayer.
HABIT 4: Live a Life of Repentance
Big Idea: Martin Luther said, "All of life is repentance." You'll never stop needing God's forgiveness and cleansing.
Scripture to Read:
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us
Proverbs 28:13 - Whoever conceals sin will not prosper, but whoever confesses will find mercy
Psalm 51:10 - Create in me a clean heart, O God
What Is Repentance? Repentance means turning away from sin and turning back to God. It's confessing what you've done wrong and asking God to forgive you and make you clean.
The Courtyard Illustration: Imagine working all day in a courtyard—planting flowers, spreading mulch, mowing. Even if you're not intentionally jumping in a mud hole, you're going to get dirty just from working. At the end of the day, you go home and take a shower to wash off all the dirt.
That's what repentance is. As you live in the world every day, you're going to get spiritually "dirty"—even unintentionally. Sin accumulates. So every day, you go to God and ask Him to wash you clean again.
Why Does It Matter?
Sin separates you from God
Unconfessed sin hardens your heart
Daily repentance keeps you close to God and sensitive to His voice
How to Practice Daily Repentance:
Examine your heart - At the end of each day, ask: "Where did I fall short today?"
Confess specifically - Don't just say "Forgive me for sinning." Name the sin: "I lied to my boss today. Forgive me."
Receive forgiveness - Believe that God forgives you (1 John 1:9 promises He will)
Turn away from it - Ask God to help you not repeat that sin tomorrow
Action:
Before bed each night, take 2 minutes to examine your day
Confess any sin to God
Thank Him for His faithful forgiveness
Ask Him to help you walk in obedience tomorrow
Remember: Repentance isn't about feeling guilty all the time. It's about staying clean, staying close to God, and experiencing His mercy daily.
Pro Tips: Making It All Work
Big Idea: Decide when, where, what, and how you'll build these habits into your daily life.
TIP 1: Decide WHEN
Pick a consistent time every day:
Morning (recommended) - Start your day with God before distractions hit
Lunch break - Take 15 minutes in your car or at your desk
Commute - Listen to the Bible on audio and pray while driving
Evening - Wind down your day by connecting with God
Action: Write down your time: "I will read the Bible and pray every day at ______."
TIP 2: Decide WHERE
Find a consistent, distraction-free place:
A quiet room in your house
Your car before work
A park bench
Your desk before everyone else arrives
Why it matters: Distraction is the enemy of a quiet time. If you're constantly interrupted, you won't connect with God deeply.
Action: Write down your place: "I will meet with God at ______."
TIP 3: Gather WHAT You Need
Have your tools ready:
A Bible (English Standard Version, New International Version, or New Living Translation are all great)
A pen
A notebook or journal
Your phone on silent (or better yet, in another room)
Action: Gather these items TONIGHT so you're ready tomorrow morning.
TIP 4: Decide HOW You'll Approach God
Get your mind right before you start:
Take a few deep breaths
Ask God to speak to you through His Word
Clear your mind of distractions
Approach with expectation: God WILL meet you there
Action: Before you read or pray tomorrow, pause and say: "God, I'm here. Speak to me. I'm listening."
Your 30-Day Checklist
Use this to track your progress:
Week 1:
□ Get baptized (or sign up for baptism)
□ Read the Bible 7 days in a row
□ Pray 7 minutes every day
□ Practice daily repentance before bed
Week 2:
□ Continue Bible reading (answer the 4 questions)
□ Continue 7-minute prayer time
□ Continue daily repentance
□ Share one thing you learned from the Bible with someone
Week 3:
□ Continue Bible reading
□ Continue prayer (try extending to 10 minutes)
□ Continue daily repentance
□ Memorize one verse from your reading
Week 4:
□ Continue Bible reading
□ Continue prayer
□ Continue daily repentance
□ Celebrate! You've built four life-changing habits
Final Encouragement
These four habits—baptism, Bible reading, prayer, and repentance—are the foundation of your walk with Jesus. They're not about earning God's love (you already have it). They're about staying connected to Him and growing in your relationship with Him.
Will you miss a day? Probably. Will you mess up? Definitely. But don't give up. Get back up, confess it, and keep going. Progress, not perfection, remember?
God is so proud of you. Now let's build these habits together.