It is necessary to take the next step to grow. If you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior of your life, you will get to know him by spending time with him in your morning devotional. And now it's time to take the next step, which is to meet his spiritual family and learn what God is doing among your new family and grow with them in God's purpose.

There are benefits to meeting or congregating with your spiritual family.
The pastor will bring you a message from God. It is important to listen well because the message will increase your faith. "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) Every time you listen to the Word of God your faith grows. Take your Bible to church (or get a Bible app on you phone like e-sword) so you can read the scripture for yourself. And bring a notebook to take notes or get an app you can type note on like Notebook. The truth is that the more senses you use the more you can remember. So by hearing the message, using your eyes to read the scripture, and jotting down the scriptural message and points that resonate with you, you will remember more of the message. This way you will have a better opportunity to apply the Word of God to your life. Hearing, reading, writing and applying will help you share God's Truth with others.

But perhaps there are doubts and questions. Where will I go? There are many churches and many denominations. What's with that? I will explain it very briefly. There are Christian churches and other places that are not Christian. How will you know which are Christian and which are not? If you have received Jesus as the Lord and Savior of your life, then you are a Christian. You need to congregate in a Christian church.

The Christian churches have fundamental beliefs in common, although they will have different names, belong to different denominations and although perhaps their practices are a little different from each other. I won't name the different denominations, but study the fundamental beliefs and avoid churches that don't believe this. When you visit a church, they may have brochures explaining what they believe.
If they don't, talk to the pastor and ask how they believe the following 7 basic Christian beliefs and Scriptures supporting these beliefs.

1. Jesus always existed with the Father and the Holy Spirit and created the world together with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

"He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not." (John 1:10) "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." (John 1:3) "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:" (Colossians 1:16) "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;" Hebrews 1:1,2)

     2. Jesus was born human of a virgin and was all God and all human.

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." (Matthew 1:23) "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (God with us)." (Isaiah 7:14) "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 1:18) "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)

     3. There is only one God and 3 persons, Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit in one God. This is called the Holy Trinity.

"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4:4-6) "I and my Father are one." (Jesus speaking in John 10:30) "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas." (2Corinthians 13:14)

     4. Jesus went to the cross, died and rose from the dead after 3 days and ascended to heaven and is at the right hand of the Father interceding for those who have received Him.

"Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:" (1 Corinthians 5:7) "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1:29) "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead." (1Corinthians 15:20-21) "Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." (John 20:17) "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:9-11)

     5. There is salvation and eternal life only in Jesus through faith through the Grace of God and it is not by works or anything else that we can do. It is a gift from God that cannot be earned or bought.

"This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:11-12) "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

     6. Our sins are forgiven by the shed Blood of Jesus.

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." (Colossians 1:20) "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;" (Ephesians 1:7)

     7. Jesus will come again to earth for us.

Jesus speaking: "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:1-3)

It is important to investigate because each denomination has practices that are not directives of the Bible, but there are some that have deviated so much from what the Bible says that they put believers in danger of sin. But these 7 are basic and fundamental core beliefs and must be present.

In the next lesson I will cover some beliefs in some churches that you definitely want to avoid.