This is the third lesson in a series adapted from Dana Morey’s discipleship guide Your New Life.

To grow into a strong disciple of Jesus, think about a plant. A plant begins as a seed. For that seed to grow, it needs three main things: good soil, water, and sunlight. When a seed is planted in good soil, receives water, and gets enough sunlight, something amazing happens. It grows into a healthy plant that produces good fruit. In the same way, there are a few important things you need in order to grow strong and live a fruitful life as a follower of Jesus.

Join a Good Church

First, you need to be planted in good soil. This means becoming part of a strong, healthy church and connecting with other believers who will help you grow in your relationship with Jesus. You cannot do this alone. You need the help of others who are serious about loving and following Jesus. As you grow together, you will help one another become stronger in your faith. God created us to live this way, to support each other, encourage each other, and protect one another.

Even in nature, we see how being together makes us stronger. Geese are large birds that often travel long distances to find food as the seasons change. They fly in what is called a “V” formation. By flying together this way, they can go much farther than a single bird flying alone. When one goose falls out of formation, it feels the resistance of the wind and quickly returns to the group. The lead goose works the hardest, so when it becomes tired, another goose takes its place. As they fly, the geese make sounds to encourage one another to keep going. If a goose becomes sick or injured and cannot keep up, two other geese leave the group to stay with it, helping and protecting it until it can fly again.

These are powerful lessons for us. The Bible teaches us again and again that we need each other. When you are part of a church, you share life together. If you are hurting, others will comfort you (Galatians 6:2). If you lose your way, they can help restore you (Galatians 6:1).

Another benefit of being part of a strong church is that we can accomplish much more together than we can alone. The Bible says, “Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand! All your enemies will fall beneath your sword” (Leviticus 26:8, NLT). When we work together, our impact grows.

The Bible also encourages us, “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25, NLT). Life will bring challenges. We will all face difficulties, loss, and hardship. But when you are connected to other believers, you do not have to face these things alone. Others will stand with you, pray for you, and help carry your burdens.

You are now part of the family of God. You need your family, and your family needs you. The Bible says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend” (Proverbs 27:17, NLT). As believers, we help each other grow stronger in the Lord. This is one of the most important truths to remember: we need each other. You need a church family.

Baptism

A good church is also a place where you can be baptized in water. Baptism is a very important step of obedience. It shows that you truly want to follow Jesus.

After the first message about Jesus was preached, about three thousand people believed. They asked what they should do next. Peter, one of Jesus’ first disciples, answered them:

Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38 (NLT)

You have already repented and believed the good news about Jesus, and Jesus has commanded all who believe in Him to be baptized in water. Because of this, baptism should be a priority in your new life with God. It is a meaningful step of obedience that publicly shows your faith in Him.

Baptism is both a joyful and significant experience. It marks the beginning of your walk with God and demonstrates to others that you have committed your life to Jesus Christ.

How to Recognize a Good, Biblical Church

Here are some simple ways to recognize a good, healthy church.

A joyful and loving church: look for a church where people truly love one another. This love comes from the Holy Spirit. You will see it in the way people care for each other, welcome visitors, and are glad to be together.

A church that teaches the Bible: look for a church that teaches the Bible clearly and believes that it is God’s true and trustworthy Word. The Bible should guide how they live and what they teach.

A church that reaches others: look for a church that cares about people who do not yet know Jesus. Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone” (Mark 16:15, NLT). A healthy church shares the message of Jesus with others and helps those in need.

Godly leaders: look for leaders who live in a way that honors God. The Bible says:

A church leader is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life.

Titus 1:7-9 (NLT)

No church or leader is perfect. But it is important to find a church that is seeking to live in a way that is humble, honest, and faithful to God’s Word.

In the next lesson, discover why God’s Word, the Bible, is essential water for this growth.