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LifePaths

Guides to the steps you take as you follow the way of Jesus, and signposts to further helpful resources.

  • Beginning to Pray 3: The Lord’s Prayer

    Beginning to Pray 3: The Lord’s Prayer

    Learning to pray can feel intimidating at first. What should I say? Am I doing it right? Does God really hear me? Jesus’ own disciples had the same questions. When they asked him to teach them to pray, he didn’t give them a lecture. He gave them a prayer. It’s come to be known as Read more

  • Knowing Who You Are In Christ

    Knowing Who You Are In Christ

    When you became a Christian, remember that you didn’t just sign up to a new belief system or commit to a better way of living. You received a brand-new identity. Look again at the notes on baptism where we reflected on this: when you were baptised, you were united with Christ in his death and Read more

  • Baptised in the Spirit

    Baptised in the Spirit

    When John the Baptist came baptising people, he prepared the way for Jesus by saying, “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am…I baptise you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:8) The Promised Holy Spirit Jesus himself spoke of this promise: On the last and greatest Read more

  • The Way of Obedience

    The Way of Obedience

    When Jesus instructed his first followers to go and make disciples, their core task after baptism was this: teach them to obey everything he had commanded (Matthew 28:20). Obedience was to be the defining mark of a disciple. In his most famous sermon, the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus ended with a striking parable about Read more

  • The Good Things 6 – Sealed by the Spirit

    The Good Things 6 – Sealed by the Spirit

    The Spirit within us is God’s unbreakable seal — marking us as his, securing us in Christ, and promising the glory to come. A further blessing that the apostle Paul highlights about The Good Things We Have in Christ (Ephesians 1:1–14) is that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit. “And you also were included Read more

  • The Good Things 5 – Recipients of an Inheritance

    The Good Things 5 – Recipients of an Inheritance

    In Christ we are heirs of glory — we get a foretaste of the inheritance now, and the fullness of it in eternity. In our journey through Ephesians 1, discovering the good things we have in Christ, we now arrive at this verse: Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance Read more

  • The Good Things 4 – Redeemed and Forgiven

    The Good Things 4 – Redeemed and Forgiven

    The breathtaking joy of being forgiven and set free because of the price Jesus paid In our journey through The Good Things We Have in Christ (Ephesians 1:1–14), we now come to another rich blessing: we are redeemed and forgiven. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with Read more

  • Life in the Spirit

    Life in the Spirit

    When you become a follower of Jesus, you’re not just agreeing to try harder or live a better life. Something far deeper and more powerful happens. God gives you a whole new life from the inside out. The Bible says that when we put our trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live in Read more

  • The Importance of Church

    The Importance of Church

    When you begin following Jesus, you may wonder: Do I really need to go to church? Can’t I just pray, read the Bible, and follow Jesus on my own? While a personal faith and walk with God are essential, being part of a church community is just as vital. In fact, the Bible doesn’t imagine Read more

  • The Importance of Baptism

    The Importance of Baptism

    Baptism is the practice of immersing new Christians in a pool of water as a powerful and symbolic act, an outward sign of our inward faith. Some Christian traditions practise baptism by sprinkling water on babies  as their parents commit to bringing them up in the Christian faith (sometimes called ‘christening’ or ‘infant baptism’). The Read more

  • A Simple Overview of the Bible – Part 2

    A Simple Overview of the Bible – Part 2

    Getting to know and to use the Bible in our lives is essential to living in the way of Jesus. This is why, in the First Steps resources to help new Christians, there will eventually be a number of posts about the Bible (most will be shorter than this one). In the accompanying post to Read more

  • A Simple Overview of the Bible – Part 1

    A Simple Overview of the Bible – Part 1

    In an earlier post, I provided a guide for those who were not familiar with the Bible on how to find your way around it. We focused on how to look up specific verses and passages, for example. In this post, and the accompanying post, I want to help by providing an overview of the Read more

  • The Good Things 3: Adopted and Accepted

    The Good Things 3: Adopted and Accepted

    We are no longer slaves, but children the Father delights to draw to himself. In this short series, we are looking at the importance of understanding who we are and what we have in Christ by exploring the blessings listed in Ephesians 1. The second gift Paul names is this: we are adopted and accepted. Read more

  • The Good Things 2: Loved and Chosen

    The Good Things 2: Loved and Chosen

    We are chosen by God simply because we are loved by God. In the previous post on The Good Things We Have In Christ, we said that understanding and experiencing these truths is foundational to our faith and to walking in the way of Jesus. The first “good thing” Paul names in Ephesians 1 is Read more

  • The Good Things We Have in Christ 1

    The Good Things We Have in Christ 1

    It is vital as Christians that we know who we are and what we have in Christ. To live the Christian life well, we need to understand two things clearly: who we are in Christ (our identity) and what we have in Christ (our inheritance). These two realities often overlap but both are essential. Together Read more

  • Finding Your Way Around the Bible

    Finding Your Way Around the Bible

    If you are a new Christian, it is possible that you are not used to the Bible at all. It may be completely new to you. Trying to find your way around it might be a little overwhelming at first, but you can find your way around it easily enough so that you become used Read more

  • Beginning To Pray 2 – Pray To Your Father

    Beginning To Pray 2 – Pray To Your Father

    Pray to the Father When his followers first asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, he began with the words ‘Our Father’. Jesus prayed to the Father and continually talked about his relationship with his heavenly Father. Understanding that God is your Father is essential to having a genuine and effective life of prayer. Read more

  • About Further Steps

    About Further Steps

    At the heart of the Christian gospel is a kingdom that is totally unlike the kingdoms of this world.  Read more

  • Beginning To Pray 1 – Starting Off

    Beginning To Pray 1 – Starting Off

    Talking to God Prayer is simply talking with God. You may already have prayed, even if all you said was, ‘Help me!‘ Prayer can begin there. It doesn’t have to be complicated—just speak to God as you would to a trusted friend or family member. About anything! Tell him how you feel. Share what’s on Read more

  • About First Steps

    About First Steps

    First Steps is a growing collection of resources designed to help new Christians who are setting out on the journey of faith for the first time. These resources will be built up gradually over the years, with the aim of being clear, simple, and accessible to everyone—whatever your background. They assume no prior knowledge of Read more