The Next Step Community

The Next Step Community is a group of people, like you, who need other people to help them take a next step following Jesus. You won’t find any preconceived notions or quick fixes here; just real people trying to follow Jesus in real life. You are welcome to join in!

About

As The Next Step Community, we are sold out on helping each other delight in taking a next step following Jesus. Not everyone is going to resonate with our values or our basic vibe, and that’s OK; we believe having a variety of options is the best way to sustain…Continue reading “About”

For His Bed A Cattle Stall

21 Dec 202121 Dec 2021

By Justin Rossow "Infant holy, infant lowly, for his bed a cattle stall..." I wonder why so many people go out of their way to get together over Christmas. I…

Discipling Leaders…

O Holy Night

The Next Step PodcastSeason 3: Light in the DarknessEpisode 8: O Holy NightDate: 18 December 2021Guest: Jamie Wiechman, Cofounder of Breathe Life Ministries Also available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts,…

Remembering Things that Make You Smile

16 Dec 20212 Nov 2022

By Justin Rossow I have been reading a book lately by Chris M. Coursey called The Joy Switch: How Your Brain's Secret Circuit Affects Your Relationships—and How You Can Activate…

Discipling Leaders…

In the Bleak Midwinter

The Next Step PodcastSeason 3: Light in the DarknessEpisode 6: In the Bleak MidwinterDate: 11 December 2021Guest: Rev. B. Keith Haney, author, host of the Becoming Bridge Builders podcast, and…

Cultural Studies…

A Field Guide to Humans

10 Dec 20212 Nov 2022

A Field Guide to Humans: Their Limitations and Glory By the Archangel Michael (transcribed by Conrad Gempf) My fellow angels! How resplendent you all look! Can I just say, I…

Go and Tell a Friend about Jesus

6 Dec 20211 Nov 2022

By Kim LongdenI’ve noticed that lessons for children in Bible curriculums oftentimes end with an exhortation for them to go and tell a friend about Jesus. This puts an image…

Discipling Leaders…

Comfort, Comfort Ye My People

The Next Step PodcastSeason 3: Light in the DarknessEpisode 4: Comfort, Comfort Ye My PeopleDate: 4 December 2021Guest: Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing, Concordia University, St. Paul Also available on: Apple…

Exegetical Study

The Proof is in the Pudding

3 Dec 202110 Dec 2021

By Justin Rossow 3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the…

Emma

3 Dec 20211 Nov 2022

By Kristeen A. Bruun Ever since Emma turned twelve (she’ll be fourteen in a month) and could therefore fly without paying an extra surcharge for being an unaccompanied minor, she…

I’ve Got You Surrounded!

1 Dec 20211 Nov 2022

By Justin Rossow In Philippians 4:4–7, Paul is landing the plane on his letter to these dear friends with some final words of exhortation and encouragement. Verse 7 includes a…

Discipling Leaders…

Lift Up Your Heads, You Mighty Gates

The Next Step PodcastSeason 3: Light in the DarknessEpisode 2: Lift Up Your Heads, You Mighty GatesDate: 27 November 2021Guest: Jonathan Reitz, Director of Training and CEO at Fluxify Also…

My Christmas Letter to God

26 Nov 20212 Nov 2022

By Alli Bauck Every year around this time I debate sending a family Christmas card. In previous years I have justified my participation in this holiday tradition because we had…

School Photos

21 Nov 20212 Nov 2022

By Valerie Matyas Remember picture day at school? Finding the perfect outfit of which only 1/8th will be visible. Practicing a natural smile in the mirror, varying the degree of…

Faith Experiment

Noticing My Need for Spiritual Rest

19 Nov 20212 Nov 2022

By Alli Bauck As a stay-at-home-mom with two active boys between the ages of 1 and 4 (and in my second trimester with boy #3), I try to make time…

Discipling Leaders…

Welcome Back

The Next Step PodcastSeason 3: Light in the DarknessEpisode 0.2: Intro, Year TwoDate: 13 November 2021Guests: Valerie Matyas and Alli Bauck Also available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora,…

Raising Daughters

7 Nov 20211 Nov 2022

By Heidi Goehmann I was recently asked a question by a friend about raising girls, about raising women: How is it done? Which led to other questions: What’s the “right”…

Cultural Studies…

I Long to See You Face to Face

29 Oct 20211 Nov 2022

It’s been a rather confusing year for worship. We’re called to stay focused on relationship. By Justin Rossow As COVID-19 drags on (and on, and on, and on...), our novel…

Faith Experiment

A New Walk

21 Oct 20212 Nov 2022

By Raelyn Pracht I recently wanted to start a simple new habit to reach a certain step count every day. I knew two things going into this: (1) I needed…