This Sunday is our fall launch! Join us for breakfast at either 9:00am or 10:30am and celebrate what is sure to be one of our largest weekends ever!  As we enter into a new season and start a new series on Courage, I am reminded of how we were started and all the people that courageously stepped forward to help us plant 217church four years ago.

Whether you sacrificed financially, helped with our preview services, or were a part of the original launch team, I want to personally thank you for your belief in the 217church vision.  We CELEBRATE BIG this fall because we our taking our most courageous step ever as a church.  We are starting a new church location in East Windsor, New Jersey on October 13.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous”  Joshua 1:9

What is it that causes us to be courageous?  Is it personality, circumstances, or maybe past performance?  Courageous steps must come from absolute dependance on God.  We must learn this if we are to live the Restored life and fully follow Jesus.  What is the most courageous step you have ever taken?

4 Courageous Steps You Must Take

1. Forgive – Who do you need to forgive?

It’s that simple.  Forgiveness is sometimes the most difficult thing to do, but if you fail to take the courageous step of forgiveness, you limit your own growth.  EVEN when you have done NOTHING wrong! “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”  (Mark 11:25)  Then after we have forgiven, Jesus tells us to KEEP FORGIVING.

2. Begin – What has Jesus told you to do?

Sometimes we know Jesus has told us to do something, but we make excuses and let guilt, pain, insecurity and pride derail us from God’s best for us.  When Joshua set out to cross the Jordan river at flood stage, all he had was God’s word.  This was his only guarantee “‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’” (Joshua 3:8)  Joshua actually DID what God said! Try it! It works.

3. Risk – What are you afraid of?

This is very difficult but what do you have to lose?  Life is too short to live with regret of NOT obeying God and you must confront your fear.  You have to be more afraid of missing a God given opportunity than failing!  Take out a sheet of paper, write all the pros and cons of the risk.  Now that you have that done, TEAR IT UP and stop being afraid of what you can’t control. “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” (1 John 4:18)  You may always be a little fearful, but Courage inspired by love will guide you.

4. Trust- What do you trust in?

We have a huge problem in our culture.  Our money says “in God we trust” but most of us don’t trust God with HIS money.  That’s right it’s HIS.  You can usually tell how much someone trusts God with money by how much they give.  It’s all God’s property and he has given us specific commands and instruction to live a life of generosity and continual financial giving.  This is just one area to trust God with.  Try praying this prayer:  “give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, ⁹ lest I be full and deny you and say,“Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God” (Proverbs 30:8-9)  Fear being poor or wanting to get rich are two reasons we won’t give.

It’s time to build our COURAGE muscle as a church!  What step is God asking you to take?

Do it!

Josh

217church is a multisite church in Mercer County NJ with small groups for families in New Jersey and Pennsylvania that meets in the Hamilton AMC24 Theater.  Our new East Windsor Campus will meet at Grace Rogers School beginning October 13.  If you are looking for a church in Mercer County, Middlesex County or Bucks County, PA, don’t miss our weekend services at 9:30 or 11 am! Visit www.217church.com.