M A K E Y O U R F I R S T S T E P
Wherever you are, start here.
Want to follow Jesus, but you’re just not sure where to begin? Rooted is a space for you to decide which questions or topics resonate with you most, then pick a next step that helps you on your journey and in your relationship with Him.
Encountering God is a holy and disruptive and life-changing experience with God. Everyone has a first encounter with God – a time when you’re in a moment of crisis, or when a child is born. That encounter is a huge moment. But encountering God is not so much a moment, as a practice. Experiencing God day by day. The beautiful thing about encountering God is, it doesn’t matter where you are in your relationship with God – or if you even have one – you can choose to encounter God.
Who Created God? (John Lennox – UCLA)
Apologetics (William Craig Lane)
God (Bible Project)
Does God Exist? – Cliff Knechtle
My Journey from Atheism to Christianity – Rosalind Picard (MIT)
From Atheist to Christian at Yale – Dr. Paul Lim
God – Part 1 – Chad Ragsdale
Faith Foundations – David Platt
The Fine Tuning of the Universe – Frank Turek
Who is Jesus? – Francis Chan
A Historian Explains the Resurrection of Jesus – Dr. Gary Habermas
The Truth about Christianity – The Case for Jesus – Wes Huff
Can I Trust the Bible? – Wes Huff
Embrace
We’ve gathered resources here to help you become deeply ROOTED in your faith, wherever you are in your journey. The resources below are grouped in three sections, and will help us learn how to be with Jesus, how to think like Jesus, and how to live like Jesus. You’ll find some steps you can take alone, and some designed to be done in community – whether that’s you and one other person or you in a group.
Let’s get started. The simplest path is to scroll through the options below until you find a topic that piques your interest. Then, click on the link and begin. Or, you can open the Right Now Media app, scroll down, and click on the image with the words “EMBRACE: How to Start.”
Be With Jesus (Bible Reading, Prayer)
How to Read the Bible – The Bible Project
Learn about the Bible and how to read it well: from an introduction to the important differences of the various literary genres compiled within. 20 animated videos, 5-6 mins each.
The Lord’s Prayer – Right Now Media
Many of us have memorized the Lord’s prayer. But what do the words mean? This is the only prayer Jesus taught his followers to pray, so it’s worth knowing what it is we are praying! In 6 sessions, each 3-5 minutes in length, Laurie will walk you through this prayer, line by line, to discover the meaning and power of each word. You’ll never pray this prayer the same again!
Choosing a Bible Translation – The Bible Project
There are so many translations of the Bible, but which one is best? Check out the latest Bible Basics video to understand how to approach choosing a translation.
A Way God Wants to Connect with You – The Bible Project
The Bible’s main way of talking about God’s relationship to humanity is the image of a partnership. This video on covenants traces the way God entered into a series of formal relationships with various human partners in order to rescue the world through Jesus, the ultimate covenant partner.
Mark is the perfect Gospel to start with if you’ve never studied Jesus before. It’s fast-paced and to the point. In the first half of this book, Marks asks, “Who is this Jesus?” So that’s what we’ll be asking, too. Who is Jesus? Who did He claim to be? Why was His teaching so profound? How did His actions reveals who He was? And why was the watching world so threatened by Him? 30 sessions, each 4 minutes long.
The Reason You Can Trust God (Even When It Seems Risky) – The Bible Project
The word “emet” is a common word used to describe God in the Bible. It can be translated as “faithfulness” or “truth.” So when the authors say that God is “full of emet,” they are saying that he is trustworthy and faithful—we can trust him. But trusting isn’t always an easy thing. In this video, we look at why we can trust that God is full of emet.
Enjoying Jesus – 12 Experiences that Will Draw You Closer – Right Now Media
Enjoying Jesus is intended to be immensely practical. The spiritual disciplines are where theology meets everyday life, but only you can put them into practice in your life. Our hope is that you will try each of the twelve disciplines we’ll cover. The spiritual disciplines aren’t meant to simply be studied, they are meant to be put into action. Their power is in their practice.
Think Like Jesus
What It Means to Love God With “All Your Heart”- The Bible Project
Different cultures have different conceptions of the human heart, what it is and what it does, and the biblical authors are no exception. In this video, we’ll explore the ancient Hebrew words for “heart” as well as the different ideas of what our hearts represent. There is no biblical word that captures better the essence of human thought, feeling, and desire than this rich and wonderful word.
Unashamed, Christine Canie – Right Now Media
Shame has no place in the purpose, plan, and destiny God has for us because shame lies to us, robs us of the freedom we long for, and shackles us in the prison of our past. In this five-session video Bible study (each session 20 mins), author and teacher Christine Caine weaves examples from her life with those of biblical characters who failed but overcame their shame to show how God heals us and redeems us.
The Sermon on the Mount – The Bible Project
An introduction to the most well-known collection of Jesus’ teachings, the Sermon on the Mount. Learn about its meaning and purpose in this 10-part series.
The Book of Proverbs • What It Teaches About Being Good at Life – The Bible Project
Proverbs is the accumulation of wisdom from generations of godly insightful people. It promotes a life of virtue and “fear of the Lord,” so that you can truly experience the good life. Proverbs is one of the three Bible books that explore these themes of biblical wisdom.
The Difference Between God’s Tests and the Enemy’s Traps – The Bible Project
Why does God test people? In this video we trace the repeated theme of testing in the Bible and see how God determines the loyalty and trust of his covenant partners. Though these tests are rarely easy, they offer God’s people important opportunities for growth and transformation.
Live Like Jesus
The Narrow Path, Rich Villodas – Right Now Media (six 12 minute sessions)
Modern life often overloads us with choices. What we think, how we act, and, ultimately, where our lives are headed are all influenced by what we value. For Christians, if we aren’t intentional with our choices, we can wind up far from where God intends us to be. In this five-session series, author and pastor Rich Villodas will teach us about the formative choice we face: Will we walk the narrow path of Jesus or the broad path that leads to despair? While the narrow path may seem restrictive, when we walk it with Jesus, we will find the fullness of life we long for.
The Lie You Don’t Know You Believe, Jennie Allen
Most of us have been living inside a lie so long it feels like the truth. It has quietly shaped our identity, our relationships, and even how we see God. Whether you’re struggling to feel worthy, wrestling with fear, or longing to break old patterns, this study will equip you to silence the lies with God’s Word and unleash lasting transformation in Christ.
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, John Mark Comer – Right Now Media
We are all busy. Some of us can’t remember the last time we rested or even had free time. Our busyness can feel productive but it is a toxic distraction, sapping our spiritual, physical, and emotional vitality. It may seem like we have no choice but to live at a frantic pace, but God has a better path for us. Instead of allowing our calendars and screens to control our lives, Jesus offers us a new rhythm of life, overflowing with grace, peace, and beauty.
The word “love” is one of the sloppiest words in our language, as it primarily refers to a feeling that happens to a person. In the New Testament, “love” or “Agape” refers to a way of treating people that was defined by Jesus himself: seeking the well-being of others regardless of their response.
The Dream of You, Jo Saxton – Right Now Media (6 sessions, 15 minutes each)
Let’s be honest, the life you lead isn’t what you’ve always dreamt. And maybe the person you’ve become isn’t who you’ve always imagined. You can scrub the surface of your life until it gleams and still never address the fact that somehow you lost sight of who you really are and what you’re living for. In this powerful 6-session Bible study, author and speaker Jo Saxton examines biblical figures and shares her personal story as she invites you to turn to the One who knows you intimately and loves you deeply. Discover how to exchange an identity built on lies, guilt, and brokenness for your true child-of-God self.
The Community Practice, John Mark Comer – Right Now Media
Despite the unprecedented connectivity of the modern era, genuine community is vanishing. Isolation, transience, and superficiality can sabotage our formation into people of mature love. But through Jesus, we enter a new kind of family that offers intimacy, joy, healing, and commitment.
This Lie Can Keep You From Living Generously – BibleProject
In the story of the Bible, God is depicted as a generous host who provides for the needs of his guests. However, humans live from a mindset of scarcity and hoard God’s many gifts. In this video on Generosity, we explore God’s plan for overcoming our selfishness by giving the ultimate gift of himself in the person of Jesus.
Embody
If you are in this embody stage, it is not that you are not asking fewer questions…your asking deeper ones. So you can better understand God, His plan and how that impacts all the parts of your life, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Instead of asking “What should I believe?” it now shifts towards a curiosity of “How does this actually shape everything in my life?”
If you find yourself here, we have compiled some of the questions and concerns that tend to surface within the Embody phase and some resources for you as well.
I’m scared every part of my life isn’t aligned with God
This stage brings a desire for wholeness—not just compartmentalizing your faith.
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Sharing my faith with others, family, and friends
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Mentoring
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Deeper / Healthy Relationships
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Diving into the word or practices
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Utilizing Lectio Divina
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Journal Prompts – Am I living the same way in private as I do in public? Do my habits, spending, time, and relationships reflect what I say I value?
How do I know when God is leading vs. when I just want something?
There’s less reliance on external rules and more wrestling with inner guidance and wisdom.
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Study on Discernment
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Study on Trust and/or Fear
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Gray areas – Hard questions
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Boundaries
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Holy Spirit – learning how to hear
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Journal Prompts
Is this thought or idea truly from God or just me?
Am I making decisions out of trust…or fear?
How do I navigate gray areas where there’s no clear answer?
What am I still holding onto?
- Breath prayers -need a resource
- Unanswered prayers
- Soundtracks – John Acuff
- Journal Prompts
What am I unwilling to give up if God asked?
Are there outcomes I’m trying to control?
Can I trust God even when prayers feel unanswered?
What does radical love actually look like in grace and forgiveness?
- Journal Prompts
How do I love difficult people without becoming unhealthy or enabling?
What does forgiveness look like when trust can’t be rebuilt?
How do I balance truth and grace in real relationships?
- Forgiveness – The Bible Project – Podcast Episode
- Paul’s View of Grace – Classroom
- The Forgiveness Dilemma
- Serving others – in your life and community
- Liturgy of God is Love
FAQs & Resources
There is a wealth of information and resources out there, so some of this material in each section is available from trusted partners and organizations to help round out all areas of Grow.
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