Last summer at a BBQ event I tasted the meat and I was blown away!  I had never encountered such a perfect blend of spices and smokey flavor.  I approached the host cook and I immediately wanted to know where it came from.  The lady just looked at me and said, “If I told you what was in it I would have to kill you!”  I said, “No, really, what is in it?”  Then she began to tell me it was an old family recipe passed down for generations.  But she would – not – give – me –  the – recipe.

“Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages.”  Romans 16:25

What is the Secret Sauce of Our Church?  Here, let me just share it with you…     (We are a restored family sent on mission)

#1 Spread The Vision – Restored –  If you believe in something you will spread it as much as you can.  Once the life transformation through JESUS and the Gospel happens, you will do everything possible to make sure other people know!  Give it away for free!  Don’t hold it all for yourself.  We express this idea at our church through baptism.  Once you are baptized you carry the DNA understanding as an agent of transformation.  Invite others, tell others, Encourage others, you are no longer the same you are transformed!

Action:  Get Baptized Now

#2 Share Responsibility For The Work – family – When you share the responsibility for the vision it means that you get busy boldly acting out the vision.  The Gospel is expressed best through acting and being a family.  This means work! It means you have to do something.  You commit to take care of those that are hurting and you own the problems of those around you.  You become committed to making disciples and deeply investing in others and you view everyone in your community as a family.  Families take care of one another.

Actions:  Join a ministry team, invest in a small group family

#3 Serve The Ministry – sent on mission – Many people have no problem with the first two ingredients, but this one trips them up.  Imagine if you left out one key ingredient to the secret sauce.  It wouldn’t be worth tasting would it?  Here is the best way I know to express this idea.  We have to view ourselves as servants to the world we live in.  This means we never let an opportunity to serve someone pass us by.  If people are to truly come into relationship with Jesus, we have to embody what Jesus said about “not coming to be served, but to serve and give his life.” 

Action:  Serve people in your neighborhood, workplace and circle of influence now

This Easter season is an incredible opportunity to reach out and serve your neighborhoods as a family.  We will have 10 different opportunities the week of Easter through our small group families to reach out and serve.  Take this secret sauce and go flavor the world.

Josh

Josh is the lead pastor of 217church, a multi-site, contemporary church in Mercer County NJ planted in 2010.  We are a part of a family of churches planted in Central New Jersey including Princeton Alliance Church in Plainsboro and Element Church in North Brunswick, NJ.  217church is a family with small groups in New Jersey and Pennsylvania that meets Sundays in the Hamilton AMC24 Theater 9:30 & 11am and Grace Rogers School in East Windsor, NJ at 10:15.  Our new East Windsor Campus now meets every Sunday.  If you are looking for a church in East Windsor NJ, Hamilton NJ, Mercer County, Middlesex County or Bucks County, PA, don’t miss our weekend services. Visit www.217church.com for more information.