Social Dallas Podcast

Episode: "Watch Your Step" | Robert Madu | November 9, 2025

Overview

In this compelling sermon, Pastor Robert Madu shares a message titled "Watch Your Step" as part of the ongoing series "God Hates __." Drawing from Proverbs 6 and John 13, Pastor Robert explores why God "hates feet that are quick to rush into evil," the spiritual significance of our steps, and the power of surrendering our path to Jesus. The episode navigates the connection between the body and the soul, the subtlety of spiritual drift, and the hope for returning to God no matter how far one has wandered.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Series: Understanding What God Hates

• Theme Recap: Each week, the series examines what God hates—not people, but the things that harm them, as outlined by King Solomon in Proverbs 6.
  • "God is love. He doesn't just do love. He is love, and he hates what harms us." (02:43)
• Scripture Foundation: Anchored in Proverbs 6, focusing this week on “feet that are quick to rush into evil.” (03:30–04:43)

2. The Spiritual Weight of Our Steps

• Everyday Steps, Eternal Direction:
  • Pastor Robert humorously addresses the “step people,” connecting step-counting in fitness to larger life journeys.
  • Quote: "Your feet don’t just move your body. They move your life. And the direction of your destination is always determined by the steps of your feet." (07:51)
• Biblical Symbolism:
  • Feet signify direction, decisions, and destiny in scripture (12:15).
• Life Application:
  • Small, often unnoticed steps shape our entire path—both physically and spiritually.
  • "Isn’t it interesting we don’t think about the steps we take, and yet your entire life is being carried one step at a time." (07:23)

3. Biblical Examples of Life-Giving Steps

• Abraham: Called to leave what’s familiar and step out in faith (14:37).
• Moses: Encounter at the burning bush; instructed to remove sandals as a mark of holy ground (15:09).
• Joshua: God promises every place his foot treads (15:35).
• Application:
  • Pastor Robert encourages acts of faith, even before seeing the outcome:
    "There are some things you gotta put your foot on. God said, I’ll give you where you step." (15:57)

4. Feet Can Honor or Harm

• Spectrum of Steps:
  • Feet can carry the good news or lead us toward destruction (17:24).
  • "There is no neutrality in the Kingdom of God... you are either moving closer towards God or moving close to destruction.” (18:13)
• First Prophetic Word:
  • Genesis 3:15’s first Messianic prophecy shows Jesus crushing the enemy’s head with his heel—emphasizing the importance of one’s walk (18:47–19:53).
  • "The enemy is under my feet. And guess what? He's under your feet, too." (20:18)

5. The Stealth of Spiritual Drift

• "Baby Steps" into Trouble:
  • Sin rarely comes as a leap but as a subtle series of compromises.
  • Quote: "You don’t lose your walk with the Lord in leaps. You lose it in steps." (21:51)
  • Examples given: Social, financial, and moral missteps all begin with minor concessions.
  • "It doesn’t start at full-blown alcoholism. It starts with, I just need to unwind.” (22:51)
• Planned Sin vs. Stumble:
  • God hates not just that we sin, but when we plan and rush toward it.
  • "It’s not just that you’re going to evil. You got a quickness with it." (24:06)

6. Access & Influence: The Paths to Evil

• Access Points:
  • Proximity to temptation enables rapid wrongdoing (24:19).
  • "Some of you, the best thing you can do is to cut off the access point so you don't move with the quickness." (24:40)
• The Influence of Community:
  • Our crew can hasten our steps toward or away from God.
  • "Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future." (26:18)
• Guarding Our Children:
  • Parental wisdom: "It is true. Who you run with matters." (27:24)

7. Judas: Proximity vs. Transformation

• The Paradox of Judas:
  • Despite the best spiritual environment, Judas’ heart grew distant while his feet followed Jesus.
  • "Judas is proof positive that your feet can be following him, but your heart can be resisting him." (29:32)
• Departure Begins in the Heart:
  • Example of worship when Mary anoints Jesus’ feet, and Judas objects—not out of piety, but hidden selfishness (32:59–34:22).
  • Even trusted people can fall; integrity can erode over tiny steps.
  • "We don’t lose our walk with the Lord in leaps. We lose it in baby steps. Are you watching your step?" (44:41)

8. Repentance & Return: It’s All in the Steps

• Contrast to Judas:
  • Judas’ tragedy was not his betrayal but not returning—unlike Peter, who failed but found restoration (47:07–48:15).
  • "He could have been just as forgiven as Peter... but he didn’t stick around for the resurrection." (48:15)
• Hope for the Drifting:
  • "If I can lose my walk in steps, I think I can come back home in steps, too." (48:50)

9. The Prodigal Parable: God Runs Toward Homebound Feet

• The story of the prodigal son shows God’s eagerness to receive those who turn back, even with faltering steps (49:47).
  • "If you could just turn your feet in the direction to your Father and take a step, He’s already taken 20 steps to get to you." (49:59)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Direction and Destiny:
  • "Your feet biblically represent a direction, a path, a decision, or a destiny." (12:15)
• On Subtle Spiritual Drift:
  • "You don’t lose your walk with the Lord in leaps. You lose it in steps." (21:51)
• On Strategic Sin:
  • "God hates feet that are quick to rush to evil…this isn’t a stumble…you got an outfit for this sin." (24:03)
• On Influence:
  • "Who’s your crew? Who’s your counsel?…Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future." (25:47–26:18)
• On Judas’ Heart:
  • "Your feet can be following Him, but your heart can be resisting Him." (29:32)
  • "Judas was walking with Jesus…but somewhere along the way, his heart left Him." (29:32)
  • "Worship is powerful…that cost you something." (32:21)
• On Titles for Jesus:
  • "Judas…does not say ‘Lord, is it I?’ Judas said ‘Rabbi, is it I?’…There’s a difference between Lord and Rabbi." (40:03)
• On Redemption:
  • "If I can drift in steps, I can come home in steps." (48:50)
  • "God hates feet that are quick to rush into evil. But he loves feet that are quick to come home." (54:01)
• On Personal Responsibility:
  • "Are you checking your heart, so you can watch your steps, or you got something to say about everybody else’s heart and everybody else’s steps?" (39:30)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–04:43: Introduction, declaring the year’s verse, recap of the “God Hates” series, and reading Proverbs 6.
• 05:41–07:51: Step counters, fitness watches, introduction of feet as a sermon metaphor.
• 12:15–18:13: Biblical symbolism of feet; scriptural references from Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and Proverbs; feet as destiny-setters.
• 18:47–20:31: Genesis 3 prophecy—Jesus’ foot crushes the serpent; Satan under our feet.
• 21:51–24:06: Subtlety of spiritual drift, concept of “baby steps,” and the gravity of quickness to sin.
• 24:19–29:21: The danger of easy access to temptation, the company we keep, and the importance of holy friendships.
• 29:21–34:22: Judas and the heart’s drift, the story of Mary’s worship, and the difference between outward proximity and inward transformation.
• 37:19–43:26: The Last Supper, checking the heart, Jesus as Lord versus Rabbi, and the act of foot washing as a symbol of the cross.
• 46:13–48:15: The tragedy of Judas, contrast with Peter, and the path to restoration.
• 49:47–54:01: The prodigal son parable, God’s eagerness to extend grace, call to return home.

Closing Exhortation & Altar Call

• Pastor Robert invites anyone drifting or distant to “come home,” promising God’s eagerness to restore, not condemn.
• Quote: "If I can drift in steps, I can come home in steps, too." (56:10)
• Final segment includes a prayer of surrender, leading the congregation in making Jesus “Lord, not just Rabbi.” (57:50–59:14)

Tone & Style

Pastor Robert’s tone is humorous, energetic, and empathetic—blending vivid storytelling, everyday analogies (e.g., step counters, donuts), and deep scriptural insights. The message is highly accessible, relatable, and stirring, calling listeners to honest reflection, repentance, and hopeful return.

Summary

"Watch Your Step" challenges listeners to recognize the spiritual significance of their everyday choices, urges vigilance against spiritual drift, and trumpets the relentless grace of God. With the story of Judas as a warning and Peter and the prodigal son as beacons of hope, Pastor Robert compels the audience to reflect, return, and entrust their steps—and hearts—to a loving Savior.

Main Takeaway:
You may lose your way gradually in small, unnoticed steps—but one step toward home is all it takes for God to come running. Watch your step, and let your feet lead you back into the embrace of grace.