What do I do after I'm saved?

Learn about bapism

Once you have made the commitment to follow Jesus, what's next?

Tell someone!
Right now. Call anyone: Your mother, a friend, your brother or co-worker. Contact anyone who you think would celebrate your decision to follow Jesus. You can tell us right now at I-did-it@mail.gabc.org and we will rejoice with you and pray for you.

Find a church.
This is especially important, especially if you don't know someone who would celebrate your decision to follow Christ. Christians in a church will walk with you as you explore this new life. If you would like a list of churches near your home, follow this link: http://www.sbc.net/churchsearch/default.asp

Begin reading the Bible.
Try to set aside time for Bible reading each day. Pray before you start and expect God to teach you from His Word. Your new life is not about feelings, but trusting in God and learning more about Him. Reading the Bible each day gives food to your spirit, in the same way mealtime satisfies your natural daily hunger for food.

Where to start?
Get a modern version of the Bible such as the "New International Version." And, don't try to read the Bible straight through from the beginning. You could easily become disillusioned and give up! Try reading from the New Testament to begin with.

You will find the New Testament in the last third of your Bible. Start with the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These books will give you a broad picture of Jesus, His life and death from different viewpoints. If you don't own a Bible you can start reading or purchase one online at www.biblegateway.com and type in "Matthew 1."

Join a group.
Find a Bible study class or group at your church. There you can ask questions and meet fellow learners.

Pray.
Prayer is talking to God. He loves you and wants you to know Him better. It may seem awkward at first, but any new relationship takes time to feel natural. Use that time to tell God about your day, about your questions and about the things that may be troubling you. Use it to ask Him for direction and just to tell Him how much you appreciate what He has already done for you.

It's helpful to have a set daily prayer time. Having a regular prayer time built into your daily routine will help you become established as a new Christian.

Get baptized.
Baptism is the public act of identifying yourself as a Christian. Jesus commanded all His followers to be baptized. Learn more about baptism