Start Strong: A New Believer's Guide to Christianity

You’re not crazy, and you’re not alone.

If you’ve recently started following Jesus, you may feel like you’ve stepped into the middle of a movie without knowing the plot. Start Strong is a step-by-step, Scripture-based guide that helps you understand the gospel, grow in faith, and follow Jesus in everyday life—without assuming you already know the Christian vocabulary.

Who is Start Strong for

• New believers who want a clear, guided introduction to Christianity
• Curious seekers who want clarity on what Christians actually believe
• Mentors, pastors, and leaders looking for a ready-to-use discipleship resource (one-on-one or group)

What it covers

• The essentials of the Christian faith: sin, salvation, grace, faith, repentance, and assurance
• How to grow spiritually: the Holy Spirit, hope, wisdom, and living for Christ
• Real-life questions: how faith connects to relationships, sex, work, and money

How to use it

• On your own: Read a chapter, then work through the “See for Yourself” passages and optional workbook
• One-on-one: Read with a friend or mentor and use the discussion questions for weekly conversations
• Small group or class: Teach it as a new-believer track using the free lesson plans and optional workbook

This isn’t an academic theology textbook. It’s a beginner-friendly guide anchored in Scripture and focused on the foundations you need first.

About the Author: Krisan Marotta, creator of the Wednesday in the Word podcast, is known for clear, verse-by-verse Bible teaching. With over 40 years of Bible study, her work reaches over 50,000 listeners per year in 150+ countries.

Krisan Marotta is the teacher behind Wednesday in the Word, the podcast about what the Bible means and how we know, which reaches 50,000 listeners in 157 countries each year. She holds a journalism degree from Stanford University and completed postgraduate studies in biblical exegesis. Krisan lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, with her husband and loves time with her grandchildren.