I Dare You To Take Your Next Step
October 16, 2022

I Dare You to Take Your Next Step

“Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.” Acts‬ ‭6:1-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬‬‬

Life does not happen all at once but one step at a time

  1. We all have room to grow.

    • Growth is a step of faith we are all called to.

    • “You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.” Hebrews‬ ‭5:12‬ ‭NLT

    • Growth is outside of our comfort zone but inside of the will of God for our lives.

    • “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;” Colossians‬ ‭1:9-10‬ ‭ESV

  2. Your next step is about the One More.

    • “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” Philippians‬ ‭2:3-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬
    • People matter to God and God uses people to fix the “ONE MORE” problem.

  3. We all have a role to play.

    • “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

    • There are no insignificant roles in God’s church. Everything matters.

    • “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.” 1 Peter‬ ‭4:10-11‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

  4. My next step will help God’s church take a next step.

    • “So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.” Acts‬ ‭6:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
    • Greater opportunities to share Jesus
    • Greater growth in people following Jesus
    • Inroads with those who opposed Jesus

What Next Step will you take today?

  • Grow in my leadership
  • Grow in my commitment
  • Grow in my understanding
  • Grow in my faith