Why Do Next Steps Matter?

 Why Do Next Steps Matter?

Last Sunday at Grow we talked about Next Steps and why they are vital to Suburban Survival.

The Journey

If you have ever been on a journey then you realize that next steps are really important. Whether you are climbing a mountain, running a race or taking a long car ride on a vacation you realize that every step you continue to take becomes just a little bit harder. Even though these times seem impossible they are necessary to reach the end goal.

Sometimes people don’t think of heaven in this way. They think, “I made it… now ill just wait out the rest of my time here.” If our relationship with God is a journey and Heaven is the end goal… then why do we think it is okay to stop taking next steps? That kind of attitude would leave you stuck on a mountain, short of the finish line or failing to arrive at your vacation destination in our other scenarios.

The Need for Next Steps

Do you remember some of the core things that you learned in the second grade? Maybe you learned to read or split an atom….easy stuff. Take some time and try to list a few of these things in your head. How would you react if a family member who was in the second grade approached you and said, “ I think I’m done with school. I have learned a lot and it seems like a waste of time for me to continue.” If you have a brain you would try your hardest to convince the child that you cared about that they still had plenty more to learn. The child might say, “I have made such progress! When I started school I was learning colors and now I know how to spell those same words that younger students struggle with.”

Obviously this is a ridiculous scenario but my hope is that it proves the point that we were meant for more than a 2^nd grade faith. In Philippians 3 Paul writes about how he realizes that he still has a lot of room to Grow closer to God. This is Paul we are talking about! If I’m a spiritual 2^nd grader he has his doctorate. The reason he talks about his need to grow closer to God is because he realizes that there is a continuous need for him to take next steps.

Some Facts About Next Steps

-Even though we are all at different stages there is no disputing that they need to happen.

-Next Steps are tough

-Some people wont understand

-You will want to give up

-You will become a step closer to having something to brag about.

-You will have less desire to brag.

Always take next steps… never stop growing closer to Jesus.