New To Faith?

Welcome. We’re so glad you’re here.

If you’ve recently given your life to Jesus—congratulations. This is the most important step you’ll ever take, and we believe it’s just the beginning of something beautiful. Right now, heaven is celebrating you (Luke 15:10). And so are we.

We know this journey is new. Maybe exciting. Maybe a little overwhelming. That’s okay. You don’t have to figure it all out today. You’re not alone—and we’re here to walk with you.

What Just Happened?

Something real has shifted in your life.

Whether you feel joy, peace, confusion, or tears—it’s all valid. But here’s what’s true:

  • You’ve been forgiven. You are a new creation in Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17).
  • You’ve been adopted. You belong to God’s family now (Ephesians 1:5).
  • You’ve been filled. God’s Spirit is with you and in you (Ephesians 1:13–14).

This kind of news changes everything—and it’s worth sharing. This week, try texting two friends who follow Jesus and two who don’t. Let them know what’s happened, in your own words.Want to celebrate? We’d love to help you mark your spiritual birthday—cupcakes, community, or just a quiet moment of prayer and reflection with someone from our team.

How Do I Grow?

Your faith is alive—and it’s meant to grow.

Jesus compared faith to a seed. With time, it grows into something strong, rooted, and full of life (Matthew 13). Like any seed, your faith needs a few essentials:

1. Scripture: Feed on the Word

The Bible helps you know who God is—and who you are in Him. Start simple. We recommend the Gospel of John as a starting point. It’s all about Jesus. 

If the Bible feels confusing, don’t worry. That’s normal. These resources are super helpful:

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, correction, reproof, and training in righteousness so that servant of God may be fully equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

2. Prayer: Talk with God

Prayer is at its most basic essence – a conversation with God. Communication lies at the heart of every relationship – and it is no different with God. Prayer doesn’t have to be fancy. It’s a conversation—honest, simple, sometimes raw. You can talk to God anytime, anywhere. If prayer feels intimidating or daunting to you, you are in good company. Of all the things Jesus’ own disciples saw Jesus do, there is only one thing they ever asked him to teach them to do: to pray. 

Many people find this pattern helpful:

  • A – Adoration: Tell God who He is to you
  • C – Confession: Be honest about your struggles or sin
  • T – Thanksgiving: Say thank you
  • S – Supplication: Ask for what you need

Others have found the Lord’s Prayer to be invaluable, especially used as a guide for our won prayers.

Want help growing in prayer? Check out The Prayer Course —a simple, powerful series that teaches you how to pray. It uses the Lord’s prayer as a guide. We also recommend this book: How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People, by Pete Grieg.

3. Community: You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

Following Jesus was never meant to be a solo journey. We grow best in community. At Sanctuary, we believe formation happens in relationships—with Jesus and with others. The best way to learn how to read the scriptures and to pray are not by yourself but with other Jesus followers – especially if they’ve been on the journey longer. And so, of all the things you could do to grow and nurture your faith, perhaps the most important is to link up with some friends on the journey. 

Your next step? Find someone a little ahead of you in their faith and ask if you can meet regularly. We encourage a rhythm of once or twice a week for a few months—to read Scripture, pray, and talk about your new life in Christ and answer your questions as they come up. This makes all the difference.

If you don’t know who to ask, reach out—we’d love to help you find someone.

This Week’s First Steps

In summary, here’s a simple roadmap/checklist for the next few days ahead:

  • Start reading the Gospel of John
  • Spend a few minutes in prayer each day
  • Text 2 Christians + 2 non-Christians about your decision
  • Find a mentor or spiritual friend to walk with you

Join us on Sundays – you’ll grow just by being in the room

You’re Not Alone

You’ve just stepped into a lifelong journey with Jesus. It won’t always be easy, but it will always be worth it.

You’re loved. You belong. You’re part of the family now.

Let’s walk this out together.

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Join us this Sunday
15 Hayes St, Providence, RI – 10:00am

Got questions? Want prayer? Need help finding community? Reach out to us here.