Next Steps: Show Up, Believe, Grow, Serve, Share

Devotional

Day 1: Throwing Plastic at Baskets

Jesus called fishermen to follow Him while they worked. He met them casting nets, not in synagogues. Alex’s disc golf hobby mirrors this: faith grows through shared moments, not just sermons. When disciples dropped nets to follow, Jesus built relationship through action. Your faith thrives when you show up where life happens—not just in pews, but in parking lots and coffee shops. [31:56]

Showing up first requires presence. The early church met in homes, breaking bread with glad hearts. Proximity to believers stirs love and good works. Isolation starves faith; shared spaces feed it.

Where do you hide behind screens instead of faces? Name one relationship needing your physical presence this week. Will you trade three scrolls for a handshake?

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
(Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to highlight one person who needs your tangible presence today.
Challenge: Text someone within the next hour to meet face-to-face this week.

Day 2: No Grandchildren in Heaven

Peter stood by the fire, denying Christ three times before the rooster crowed. His faith wasn’t inherited—it was forged in failure and restoration. God has no grandchildren, only children. The rich young ruler knew commandments but lacked surrender. Belief requires personal yes, not family tradition. [44:21]

Mental assent isn’t salvation. Demons believe—and shudder. True faith grips like Jacob wrestling the angel: “I won’t let go until You bless me.” It’s scars and broiled fish, not dusty catechisms.

When did your faith shift from routine to resurrection? What step of surrender have you postponed because it felt too costly?

“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
(Romans 10:9, ESV)

Prayer: Confess one area you’ve treated faith as inheritance rather than intimate choice.
Challenge: Write down three reasons you personally trust Christ—not your parents’ or pastor’s.

Day 3: Delayed Obedience Splashes

A toddler tests boundaries by spitting water after being told “stop.” Delayed obedience drowns floors—and discipleship. Naaman almost missed healing by resisting Jordan’s muddy waters. The Ethiopian eunuch didn’t wait: “What prevents me from being baptized?” [52:42]

Baptism isn’t graduation—it’s initiation. Like wedding vows, it’s public covenant, not private sentiment. The jailer baptized at midnight; Paul arose immediately. Postponement breeds excuses.

What baptism barrier have you built? Convenience, fear, or waiting for “perfect” timing?

“And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”
(Acts 2:38, ESV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for His immediate “yes” on the cross. Ask courage to say your “yes” aloud.
Challenge: Call the church office today to schedule baptism or share your story with one friend.

Day 4: Red Bulls and Relentless Invites

Philip sprinted to the chariot when the Spirit said “Go!” He didn’t overthink theology—he opened Isaiah. The gas station invites mirror this: awkwardness fades; eternity doesn’t. Share like the Samaritan woman—offer living water, not debate points. [01:04:37]

Jesus didn’t commission experts. He sent fishermen with fish stories. Your testimony isn’t polished—it’s personal. One beggar telling another where to find bread.

Who’s your “gas station attendant”? What simple phrase could you say today: “Come see” or “I’d love you to meet my church”?

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
(Matthew 28:19, ESV)

Prayer: Ask boldness to invite one person to church before sunset.
Challenge: Buy a coffee for someone this week and say, “God’s crazy about you.”

Day 5: Dusty Trophies and Warm Water

The paralyzed man waited 38 years by the pool, stuck in routine. Jesus asked, “Do you want to be healed?” Growth requires choosing daily immersion in Word and prayer, not relying on past mountaintops. [36:09]

Manna rots when hoarded. Fresh bread comes daily. You can’t coast on last year’s quiet times. Like muscles, faith atrophies without use.

What spiritual habit have you replaced with nostalgia? When will you trade trophy-polishing for towel-washing service?

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
(2 Peter 3:18, ESV)

Prayer: Confess one area of stagnation. Ask for hunger to replace complacency.
Challenge: Set a 7:00 AM alarm titled “Bread O’Clock” to read one Psalm daily this week.

Sermon Summary

We celebrate graduating students and give thanks for seasons of formation, then turn our attention to the urgent spiritual question of next steps. We notice how easy it is to treat faith like a hobby we pick up and set down when life gets busy, and we name the danger of allowing our relationship with God to gather dust. We trace a clear path forward: show up, believe, be baptized, grow, serve, and share. These six steps act not as ranks but as rhythms that move our faith from attendance to active discipleship.

We insist that proximity to faithful community matters. Showing up changes us by placing us in the company of people who love and challenge us; community pulls us out of isolation and shapes our habits. Belief must become personal; mental assent and family tradition cannot substitute for a surrendered heart that confesses Jesus as Lord and trusts his resurrection. Baptism follows belief as a public act of obedience that welcomes celebration, signals repentance, and invites multiplication.

We commit to spiritual growth through daily practices that form our souls: Scripture, prayer, worship, community, and obedience. Growth never happens by accident; it requires pursuit, intentional rhythms, and church structures that equip us to disciple others. We also take up servant action as evidence of maturity: serving with joy and humility reveals the gospel more convincingly than arguments alone. Finally, we take seriously the call to share the gospel. Inviting neighbors, telling testimonies, praying with others, and making disciples carry the good news beyond our walls and multiply the kingdom.

We conclude with a clear challenge: identify the next step God has set before us and take it this week. Whether that step is showing up for community, deciding to believe, stepping into baptism, committing to regular spiritual practices, serving in tangible ways, or sharing the gospel, each next step propels the whole body forward. We pray for courage to move, for honest hearts to repent quickly, and for a church that multiplies by loving and leading others into new life with Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. We must consistently show up Showing up places us where spiritual transformation happens; proximity to the right community shifts habits, offers accountability, and brings tangible care. Presence fights the isolation of digital connection and creates real opportunities for mutual encouragement. Regular attendance becomes the foundation on which belief and growth can reliably form. [40:13]
2. We must confess and truly believe Belief requires a personal surrender that moves beyond inherited religion or mere knowledge; it names Jesus as Lord and trusts his resurrection. Saving faith reorients our identity so actions follow conviction rather than cultural habit. We cannot carry others into faith; we call them to show up so they can decide. [43:47]
3. We must obey through public baptism Baptism functions as immediate, visible obedience to the gospel and an invitation to communal celebration. Delaying obedience often becomes an excuse that sabotages the joy and witness of new faith. Public baptism multiplies the church by signaling repentance and welcome. [48:12]
4. We must pursue steady spiritual growth Spiritual maturity grows by disciplined practices: Scripture, prayer, worship, community, and obedience. Growth never arrives accidentally; we must intentionally create rhythms and use church equipping structures to become disciples who disciple others. Healthy souls produce fruit for the sake of the kingdom. [56:22]
5. We must serve and then share Serving with humility and joy reveals the gospel in action and prepares natural openings to speak truth. Service authenticates words; compassionate deeds remove barriers to listening. Sharing the gospel completes the cycle by multiplying disciples and expanding the church’s witness. [59:13]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[09:39] - Graduate Recognition
[12:24] - Opening Prayer and Transition
[30:47] - Hobbies and the Question of Next Steps
[34:58] - The Crossroads: Commit or Drift
[37:01] - Overview of Six Next Steps
[40:13] - Show Up: Community Matters
[43:47] - Believe: Personal Faith
[48:12] - Baptism: Public Obedience
[56:22] - Grow: Spiritual Disciplines
[59:13] - Serve: Gospel in Action
[62:17] - Share: Make Disciples
[66:18] - Choose Your Next Step
[67:56] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Acts 2:38 (ESV)
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Observation Questions

According to Hebrews 10:24-25, what two specific actions are believers called to prioritize in community?
In Acts 2:38, what two responses does Peter link to receiving forgiveness and the Holy Spirit?
What practical examples were given in the sermon about how serving others can create opportunities to share the gospel? [59:13]
How does Matthew 28:19-20 connect baptism to the broader mission of discipleship?

Interpretation Questions

Why might the author of Hebrews emphasize “not neglecting to meet together” as a safeguard against spiritual drifting? How does this relate to the idea of faith becoming a “dusty trophy”? [36:09]
Acts 2:38 ties repentance to baptism. Why is public obedience (like baptism) necessary even after personal belief? How does delaying baptism risk disobedience? [52:06]
The sermon describes serving as a sign of spiritual maturity. How does Mark 10:45 (“the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve”) redefine what true leadership looks like in the church?
Why does Jesus pair “making disciples” with teaching obedience in Matthew 28:19-20? How does this challenge the idea of faith as a private or passive commitment?

Application Questions

Which of the six steps (show up, believe, be baptized, grow, serve, share) feels most urgent for you to take this week? What specific action will you commit to? [06:18]
Identify one person in your life who needs to “show up” in community. How could you intentionally invite or encourage them this week? [41:00]
If you’ve never been baptized, what hesitation or fear is holding you back? If you have been baptized, how could your story of obedience encourage someone else to take that step? [48:12]
What daily spiritual practice (Scripture, prayer, worship, etc.) have you neglected that you need to prioritize for growth? How will you build it into your routine? [57:02]
Think of a place you frequent regularly (work, gym, coffee shop). How could you turn a simple interaction there into an opportunity to serve or share the gospel? [04:37]
When have you treated faith like a “hobby” you set aside when life gets busy? What habit or relationship will you adjust to keep God central? [35:29]
Share a time when someone’s joyful service impacted your view of Jesus. How could you mirror that same attitude in your next act of serving? [59:56]

Sermon Clips

Throughout scripture, Jesus is always calling people forward, whether he's calling Abraham to leave home or for Moses to go talk to pharaoh multiple times, not just the one, multiple times. After that first one, I'd I'd be too scared to go back. I mean, I'd be terrified. I was too terrified to go in the first place. But then after that one, I mean, he asked him to go a lot. And then he also asked Peter to get out of the boat. He wants your faith to move forward. That's what we always see in the Bible is that faith always moves. And so here at Heights student ministry, we try to simplify our faith walk, at least the very beginning of it, and then how we see the end of it into six steps. [00:38:46] (38 seconds) #MoveInFaith

Honestly, I think that a lot of us treat our relationship with God that way. I think a lot of us can find ourselves treating our relationship with God as something to pick up whenever it feels exciting. And when we put it down, it's because life gets busy, we make an excuse for this thing. And we engage when it's convenient, but we drift when it's not. We find ourselves looking at God more as a hobby, and before long, our faith can slowly become like that dusty trophy sitting in our storage. [00:35:37] (27 seconds) #FaithNotHobby

Now these six steps are not levels of Christianity. You're not better than other people because you've happened to reach the last three or you've done the first three really quickly. These aren't levels. What these are, these are rhythms of following Jesus. And so we're gonna walk you through these next steps today so that you can walk along with us in in Heights student ministry and see what we've been working on. And by the end of this, what I want you to be doing is asking yourselves, what is my next step? So that leads me to my first point is show up. [00:39:25] (28 seconds) #FaithRhythms

Because the thing is, is one of the easiest ways to drift spirits spiritually is to convince yourself that because you know Jesus, there's nothing left for you to do. It's so easy for us to drift away from the Lord and let it become a dusty trophy in our once incredible collection instead of picking up the Lord and walking with him because we don't let these steps keep renewing in our lives. [00:38:23] (23 seconds) #KeepRenewingFaith

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