LET'S KEEP CLIMBING - NEXT STEP SUNDAY - MARK PETTUS

Main message: God invites us to keep climbing toward "more" in our walk with Him by taking honest, incremental steps of spiritual growth rooted in deeper foundations and lived out in community. Today’s call was to evaluate where we are, take one next step on the Growth Path, and not climb alone.

Key points:

• God has more for every believer; spiritual growth happens step by step, not all at once.
• Evaluate your foundations honestly across four pillars—life with God, life with yourself, life with others, and life in mission—asking if each is collapsing, stuck, or climbing.
• Growth requires deepening roots (internal formation) before rising; identify your current "You are here" and ask God to show it.
• Take one practical next step (e.g., join the Growth Path, a small group, lead a group, get baptized) rather than trying to change everything at once.
• Don’t climb alone: community and accountability (small groups) are essential because we will stumble and need others to help us up.
• Invitation and response: an altar call to commit/recommit to Jesus and a commissioning prayer for those taking next steps.

Scriptures mentioned: Habakkuk 3:19, Philippians 3, Colossians 2, Lamentations 3:40, Matthew 22:37-38, 3 John 1:2, Proverbs 27:17, Matthew 5:16, Psalm 139, Ecclesiastes 4