Next Steps
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Ephesians 4:14-16
Do you remember a time you were new at something? How long ago was the first time someone showed you how to make a craft, play an instrument, work on a car, or cook a meal? It may be tough to remember when the experience was new. As much as I love cooking and grilling as an outlet now, I can remember being six years old when my grandmother invited me to try scrambling an egg for the first time. It’s hard to think about how much I’ve learned since then, and I like to think I’m better at it now. Whatever activity comes to mind for you, you can probably remember a time when you didn’t know how to do it well, even if you were naturally talented. It’s only through practicing and learning over time that you have reached a certain level of knowledge and performance.
Have you brought that same approach to your walk with Christ? So often we think of our relationship with Jesus as leading to a big moment, like baptism or joining the church. Those important moments are more like turning pages to begin new chapters in our ongoing story. Our relationship with Christ is a journey. Growing in faith is an expectation as we spend more time walking and talking with Him. This scripture reminds us of how important it is that we keep growing in our relationship with God. It talks about developing and maturing so that we love Jesus as He hopes.
So, what’s next for you as a disciple of Jesus? Asking this question doesn’t mean that something is wrong. It’s meant to have you think about how you’re moving forward in your walk with Christ. No matter how long you have known God, there’s probably an area of faith where you’d like to learn more or get better. This fall, we’re going to start some small groups that are focused on helping us take the “Next Steps.” These groups will allow us to study aspects of our discipleship purposefully so that we can go further in our relationships with God. We’ll be exploring questions like:
Why should I begin a devotional life that helps me focus on God every day and learn new things?
How do I strengthen my prayer life so that my talks with God are more meaningful?
How do I learn to listen to God and discover God’s will for my life?
How can I discover my spiritual gifts and calling?
How do I figure out where God may want me to serve in the church and the community?
How do I start reading the Bible if no one has helped me make sense of it?
There will be more information coming on these as well as sign-up sheets in mid-August. We’ll form as many groups as needed to help accommodate everyone’s schedules and interests. The groups will begin in early September. Let the upcoming season be one where you take the next step God is calling you to take.
Pastor Scott
