“What’s Next?”
This is an adapted excerpt from Square One, Session 13. Check out the full Square One series here.
Have you ever watched a video of a potter at their wheel? They start with a spinning lump of clay that doesn't look like much at all. But with skilled hands and a clear vision, the potter shapes that formless lump into something amazing — something both useful and beautiful. The prophet Isaiah used that exact picture to describe our relationship with God: “O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand” (Isa. 64:8). So when we ask, “What’s next?” after deciding to follow Jesus, the answer is simple: we climb onto the potter’s wheel, trusting the hands of the Potter as he begins to shape us.
Jesus challenged his followers, saying, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). The goal isn't just to be a student who knows a lot about Jesus, but to become a person who lives and loves like him. It’s a hands-on apprenticeship with the master craftsman, and it requires a lifelong commitment.
The Big Idea
Daily training as Christ’s disciple leaves us looking more like him every day. This transformation isn’t magic; it’s a partnership. The apostle Peter explains that God has already given us everything we need for a godly life, but our part is to “make every effort” to build on that foundation by adding goodness, knowledge, self-control, and love to our faith (2 Peter 1:3-5). We actively participate with God as he shapes us into the people we were created to be.
So how does this shaping happen? Like any master craftsman, the Lord uses a few key tools to form us. These aren't mysterious forces; they’re the regular, daily habits we choose to adopt as we partner with the Potter to mold our lives.
First, we get into the Book and let his Word shape our thinking. To be formed in Christ’s image, we must let his Word renew our minds (Rom. 12:2). Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). Making a daily habit of reading Scripture is like sitting at Jesus’ feet to learn from him directly.
Second, we spend time in prayer and let his values shape our hearts. A life change that doesn't include the heart is just behavior modification. The Bible says, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” (Prov. 4:23). In prayer, we align our will with his and ask him to renovate our hearts so we begin to love what he loves.
Third, we get to work with daily action and let his example shape our behavior. Faith has feet. As James bluntly asks, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? ...faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:14, 17). Our daily choices are the chisel marks that reveal what we truly believe. We choose obedience, trusting that Christ’s way is best.
Finally, we get connected with the church and let him shape our relationships. We are not meant to do this alone. Like iron sharpens iron, the bond we forge with other believers sharpens us and helps us grow (Prov. 27:17). We need that regular encouragement to keep going (Heb. 10:24-25).
The Big Question
Are you ready to make the daily changes needed to continue being shaped by the Lord? It’s the simple, daily, lifelong adventure of becoming more like the one who saved you. May you find joy and confidence in knowing you are the work of his hands, and may you trust the Potter as he continues to shape you into a vessel of honor and beauty for his glory.