Who Leading Your Next Move? The Decision Before the Decision

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Follow along with us!

Back-to-school season is here.

At our house…

• A start date
• A schedule
• A supply list
• A clear destination

School comes with a supply list. Life usually doesn’t.

It comes as:

• An opportunity
• A decision
• An open door
• A relationship
• An unexpected change
• A question I cannot answer

I know what it is to wonder:

• Is this opportunity from God?
• Is this a step of faith—or a distraction?
• Should I move—or wait?
• What if I choose wrong?

Their next is school. But I have a next too—and I don’t always know what it is.

DO WE KNOW WHAT COMES NEXT?

We all have decisions in front of us.

• Stay in this job—or take the other one?
• Move—or remain?
• Date this person? Marry this person? End this relationship?
• Go back to school? Start the business? Retire?
• Step through the door—or wait?

We have more options than ever—but more options have not given us more clarity.

CHOICES WITHOUT DIRECTION

47% of Americans feel ill-equipped to make the decisions in front of them.

31% delay decisions as long as possible.

33% regret decisions they have made.

47% regret opportunities they failed to take.

Source: HSBC, Seizing Uncertainty study (2024), U.S. sample.

We are afraid to move because we might choose wrong.

We are afraid to stay because we might miss something.

We get stuck between the fear of failure, the fear of regret, and the fear of missing out.

So we research. Overthink. Ask everyone. Replay every possibility.

We pray—and wonder whether we heard God or ourselves.

• What if I miss God?
• What if this door closes?
• What if I waste years?
• What if I choose the wrong person?
• What if I end up in the wrong place?

So how do we decide what is next?

How do we move forward without knowing every outcome?

How do we make the next season count?

Let’s look to God and His Word.

“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew.”  —Matthew 4:18 NIV

Peter and Andrew were fishing.

• Their career
• Their routine
• Their income
• Their plan

Then Jesus stepped into their ordinary day.

“Come, follow me, and I will make you out to fish for people.”  —Matthew 4:19 NIV

Jesus did not give them:

• A five-year plan
• A salary guarantee
• A detailed itinerary
• Every possible outcome

Jesus gave them Himself.

They didn’t know what was next. They knew who to follow.

The Jesus Game Plan
1. “COME, FOLLOW ME”

Before Jesus told them what they would do, He settled who they would follow.

We want Jesus to tell us: which job, city, person, opportunity, door?

Jesus begins with a better question: “Will you follow Me?”

“I am the way and the truth and the life.”  —John 14:6 NIV

Jesus does not merely point toward a way. Jesus is the way.

The first decision is not what we will do.
The first decision is who we will follow.

• Before choosing the job—choose the Lord.
• Before choosing the relationship—choose the Lord.
• Before choosing the destination—choose the Lord.

Jesus cannot be one option among many.

He is the One through whom every other option must be evaluated.

2. “I WILL MAKE YOU”

Jesus did not only tell them to follow. He promised: “I will make you.”

We ask: “Where am I going?”

Jesus also asks: “Who are you becoming?”

• A new job with the same broken character won’t create a new life.
• A new relationship with the same patterns won’t create a healthy future.
• A new city with the same unhealed heart won’t create freedom.

Changing where we are will not change who we are.

Jesus forms us along the way. That is discipleship.

• Learning His words
• Practicing His way
• Receiving His correction
• Becoming like Him
• Allowing Him into every part of life

Following Jesus is not one more burden added to an already crowded life.

Jesus reshapes every part of life from the inside out.

Jesus doesn’t only help you find what’s next.
Jesus makes you ready for what’s next.

Want to become a better father? Follow Jesus.

Want to become a better husband or wife? Follow Jesus.

Want to become healthier in body, mind, soul, and spirit? Follow Jesus.

Want to become a better leader, employee, friend, or neighbor? Follow Jesus.

The greatest thing Jesus may do next is not change where you are.
It may be changing who you are.

Jesus teaches patience, sacrifice, truth, forgiveness, faithfulness, humility, self-control, rest, community, and purpose.

Following Jesus does not guarantee an easy life or that every plan works exactly as expected.

Jesus forms us into people who can faithfully face whatever comes next.

3. “FISH FOR PEOPLE”

Jesus gave them a purpose bigger than themselves.

Culture tells us to choose what gives us more money, comfort, recognition, control, and happiness.

Those things are not automatically wrong—but they are not big enough to build a life around.

“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  —Matthew 6:33 NIV

Jesus gives us a better question: “How can this next season serve God’s purpose?”

• Love God?
• Grow in faith?
• Serve others?
• Help someone find Jesus?
• Become more like Christ?

The job we think is next cannot forgive our sin.

The relationship we think is next cannot heal our soul.

The success we think is next cannot give us eternal life.

The opportunity we think is next cannot promise to stay when life falls apart.

Do not become so focused on what is next that you miss Jesus now.

The best next step is the most faithful step.

JESUS MEETS PETER AGAIN

Peter followed Jesus—but Peter also failed.

• He denied Jesus three times.
• Jesus was crucified.
• Jesus rose from the dead.
• Peter found himself asking again: “What’s next?”

Jesus met Peter on the shore. He restored him. He gave him purpose.

“Follow me!”  —John 21:19 NIV

The first call was: “Follow Me.”

After Peter’s greatest failure, the call was still: “Follow Me.”

Your past wrong decisions do not disqualify your future with Jesus.

• The cross paid for our sin.
• The resurrection proves failure does not get the final word.
• Jesus can forgive.
• Jesus can restore.
• Jesus can redirect.

Jesus met him… restored… watch what happens next.

“Lord, what about him (John)?”  —John 21:21 NIV

“What is that to you? You must follow me.”  —John 21:22 NIV

Peter wanted to know someone else’s next.

Jesus brought him back to his own discipleship.

We will never discover our next by copying someone else’s.

• Their marriage
• Their career
• Their success
• Their timeline or calling

Jesus says: “What is that to you? You follow Me.”

“Will you follow Me?”

Jesus never answered every question Peter had.

He answered the question beneath all the other questions:

“Will you follow Me?”

Jesus is not asking:

• Did you enjoy this message?
• Do you agree with the denomination?
• Would you like to add a little religion to your life?

At some point, listening must become movement.

Prayer must become surrender.

Faith must become obedience.

You may not know the entire plan.
But you can decide who you will follow.

CALL TO ACTION — WHAT WILL YOU DO NEXT?

1. COME TO JESUS

Some of us do not need another plan. We need new life.

Your first next step is Jesus.

“Jesus, forgive me. Save me. Become Lord of my life. I choose to follow You.”

Come receive prayer today.

2. NAME WHAT’S NEXT

Take the note card. At the top, write:

WHAT’S NEXT FOR ME?

Write the decision, question, fear, or season in front of you.

• Job?
• Relationship?
• Health?
• Family?
• Calling?
• A door you’re afraid to walk through?
• Something you need to leave behind?

Name it. Stop allowing it to remain a cloud of anxiety. Put it into words.

3. MOVE TOWARD JESUS

On the other side of the card, write:

HOW WILL I MOVE CLOSER TO JESUS?

Write one clear step:

• I will pray about this every day.
• I will read the words of Jesus.
• I will obey what Jesus has already shown me.
• I will ask a mature believer for wisdom.
• I will forgive.
• I will be baptized.
• I will get connected.
• I will serve.
• I will start a conversation today.

Don’t only ask: “What should I do next?”

Ask: “How can I follow Jesus next?”

Then take that step this week.

Bring the card with you. Come to the altar. Let us pray with you.