"Take the Next Step"

Introduction

Women often find the male mind hard to understand

Why can’t men just read the instruction manual?

Why can’t men find the ketchup in the refrigerator

Why can’t men pore over a self-help book on relationships when it can help them in their emotional skills?

Why can’t men just stop and ask for directions?

A study done in 2010 by a British car insurance company called Sheila’s Wheels, revealed that the average male drives 276 miles every year as a result of being lost.

Perspective—Cincinnati to Nashville.

One out of 4 men (26%) will wait at least 30 minutes before asking for directions

12% refuse to ever ask a stranger for help.

Depending on where you are in the world, the directions you receive may vary

There are the cardinal directions (N,S,E,W)

Hardly anyone knows this at any given moment

There are the monumental directions

Go up to Eddie’s red barn and make a right. Drive until you get to the Maple Tree near Granny May’s house and you’ll cross the bridge near the truck that has a tree growing up through it.

No wonder men hate asking for directions.

All of these issues can be fixed with two words. “Follow me.”

When someone is willing to take you to where you need to go, that unstucks you from your problem—you’re lost.

They are taking on the responsibility to get you unlost.

“I’ll be sure you get there. I’ll help you find it.”

Jesus gives this same type of assistance to Matthew, a Tax Collector.

Matthew 9:9 ESV

9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

Big Idea: Take the Next Step

The People Need It

The Bible Commands It

It’s Jesus’ Mission

Conclusion

Our problem is not that we are healthy

Our problem is that we’re sick

Our problem is not that our sacrifice is sufficient

Our problem is that we don’t deserve mercy

Our problem is not that we’re righteous

Our problem is that we’re sinners!

We’re lost! We need someone to come along and call us out of our lostness!

How do you get unlost?! “Follow me!”

a