Conclusion: Rooted and Built Up

You made it! If you’ve read all six books of Rooted, you’ve spent 180 days with God. That’s half a year of reading His Word, learning about Him and talking with Him. What an amazing thing!

Let’s go back to where it all started. On the very first day of Book 1, we read this verse:

“Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

— Colossians 2:6–7 (BSB)

Look how far you’ve come since then!

You learned that you were planted in God’s family by receiving Jesus. You walked with Him through His life. You watched Him grow fruit in you. You learned to stand strong in storms. You reached out in love to others. And now you’ve discovered that God made you on purpose, for a purpose: to bear fruit that lasts forever.

But notice the word Paul used: “continue.” Continue to walk in Him. The journey doesn’t end here. In a way, it’s just beginning! Everything you’ve learned in Rooted is a foundation for a whole lifetime of following Jesus.

If you haven’t trusted Jesus yet

Maybe you’ve read these books and learned a lot about God, but you’ve never actually trusted Jesus for yourself. There’s no better day than today. God loves you. Jesus died on the cross for your sins and rose again. He offers you forgiveness, new life and a place in His family forever, as a free gift. You can pray something like this:

Dear Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God. I believe You died on the cross for my sins and rose again. I’m sorry for the wrong things I’ve done. I trust You as my Savior, and I want to follow You as my Lord for the rest of my life. Plant me in Your family, and help me grow. Amen.

If you prayed that, please tell someone: a parent, a pastor or a Christian friend. They’ll want to celebrate with you and help you keep growing!

Where to go from here

Here are some ideas for how to keep growing after Rooted:

• Read a whole book of the Bible. Try the Gospel of John, the Psalms, or the book of Acts to see what happened after Jesus went back to heaven.
• Read Rooted again. You’ll be surprised how much more you notice the second time through.
• Read true stories of faith. Look for books about people who followed God, like the Brave for God series on Ochorus.
• Keep a prayer journal. Write down your prayers and how God answers them.
• Find a mentor. Ask an older Christian to meet with you, read the Bible with you and pray for you.
• Serve. Find a way to use your gifts at church or in your community.

Wherever life takes you, remember: you’re a tree planted by streams of water. Keep your roots deep in Jesus, and He will keep you growing, strong in the storms and full of fruit, for the rest of your life.

We’re so glad you’ve been on this journey. Keep growing!

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.”

— Jude 1:24–25 (BSB)