Where Do We Go From Here?

Introduction

I. 	You have, no doubt, had experiences in travel or other areas of life when you may have said, or heard some other say, “Where do we go from here?”
A. 	If one gets in a situation in travel where he/she does not know what to do at the moment, the question may be the beginning of a solution.
B. 	You may have tried to work out a problem in your employment when someone raises the question as a means of provoking thoughtful discussion.
C. 	A consideration of “Where do we go from here?” may be appropriate in many situations.
II. 		There are several New Testament examples when men asked 	similar questions or thought similar thoughts.
III. 	 We shall consider some of these situations and will consider the 	question, “Where do we go from here?” in our lives today.

Body
 
I. 	Several examples in the New Testament relate to the question. 
A. 	In John 6:22-59, Jesus taught that He came to earth as “the bread of life” and that only those who ate His flesh and drank His blood would have eternal life.  (See vss. 48-58.)
1. 	Many of His disciples made a decision on the question, “Where do we go from here?” and ceased to follow Jesus.  (See vss. 60-66.)
2. 	Jesus asked a form of the question we’re considering of His chosen twelve, “Would ye also go away?” John 6:67.
3. 	Peter knew where they should go.  John 6:68-69.
4. 	Jesus knew that Judas would make the wrong answer to the question.  John 6:70-71.
B. 	Nine, or more, days after the resurrection of Jesus, the question of where to go came up to the apostles as Peter said, “I go a fishing.”  John 21:1-3.
1. 	We are not told why the seven apostles decided to go fishing, but four of them, at least, had been fishermen. 
2. 	They experience another (the third) appearance of Jesus.             John 21:4-14.

Where Do We Go From Here?, page 2.

C. 	After talking with the disciples over forty days about the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3), Jesus answered the question, “What do we do now?” for the apostles by giving them the “great commission.”  Acts 1:4-5; Matt. 28:18-20;            Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-49.
1. 	The apostles waited in Jerusalem as instructed and on the day of Pentecost, they had no question about where they were “to go.”  Acts 1:12-2:4.
2. 	They faithfully preached the word of God.  Acts 2:14ff.
D. 	No doubt the question again arose when the severe persecution began with the death of Stephen.  Acts 8:1-3.
1. 	The disciples answered the question by preaching the gospel in other places.  Acts 8:4-40.
2. 	Other examples could be given of the faithfulness of the disciples from this day on.

II. 	  All in this audience have to answer the question, “Where do we  	go from here?”
A. 	Those who have never obeyed the gospel must answer the question with regard to Jesus’ teaching.  Mk. 16:15-16;      Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3-4, 16-18; Rev. 2:10.
B. 	Christians must answer the questions about our attendance.  Heb. 10:24-25.
C. 	Christians must answer the question with regard to whether or not we will live moral lives.  I Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:13-25.
1. 	We are not to be weary in well doing as we try to help others with their needs, both spiritual and material.    Gal. 6:1-10; Eph. 4:31-32.
		2.  Jesus is our example.  I Peter 2:18-25.
D. 	Our ultimate answer to the question, “Where do we go from here?” should be “We are going to heaven.”  Rev. 14:13; 21:1-7; Phil. 3:20-21.

Conclusion

I. 	Do you understand the proper kinds of answers to the question, “Where do we go from here?”
II. 	Are we making the correct answers in our lives?
III. 	Make the correct answer today by obeying the gospel to begin as a Christian, to correct your life which is unfaithful as a Christian, or to get busy doing the work of a Christian.
IV. 	If you have not yet obeyed the gospel, do so today. 

Prepared by:
   David Arnold
   November 17, 1996