You might have noticed that the name of the card you are given when you arrive at church has changed! This is not just mere cosmetics – the new card is designed to create a fundamental shift in the way we think about what happens at church.
Last week I mentioned in a few services Couch to 5K. It is a step by step running program that is designed to help anyone of any level of fitness to run 5km non-stop. The key to the program is following the steps. If you are sitting on the couch eating a tub of ice cream, the idea of running 5km is ridiculous. But the idea of walking down the street for 20 minutes is probably not. And that is where it starts. You go step by step, improving all the time working towards the goal.
The Christian life is much the same. Or should be. Step by step, working towards the goal. But preachers like me have often not acknowledged this and have painted a picture of the Christian life and Christian discipleship that is practically unattainable. To be sure, the Bible speaks in absolute terms – take for example Ephesians 4:
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
The idea of ridding yourself of all anger/ hate/ lust/ sin might sound ridiculous. But what if I told you it was a step by step process? What if I told you to work hard at it with the Spirit and to keep improving? What if I asked you this: what is the next step for you in squelching your sin? That is an easier question and a realistic one that you can prayerfully work on now. Anyone can take one step towards being more Christ-like!
The Next Steps Card is designed to help you do just that… take the next step in your Christian walk. Each week in church, we want you to consider filling it in. Perhaps you will write your next step and take that card home to remind you. You can also hand it in and we will pray for you, remind you of your next step via email or phone and guide you where you need help. The choice is yours.
But we’re doing this so we don’t see church as just a moment in our week but as a growing opportunity. This is the shift the Next Step card helps us to make.
We don’t want anyone to stand still. We are called to be growing together in Christ. Let’s encourage one another in this often.