Category Archives: 2017

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Gaining the Competitive Advantage

So who is your team today?  No doubt there will be hundreds of millions of people watching this Super Bowl game and the coaches and players will participate in one of the most watched events in the history of mankind!  So how are they preparing? They are watching hours upon hours of film…Analyzing, digesting, and putting together a game plan that has the most competitive advantage for a Super Bowl victory. Win and you make history!  Leave it all on the field!

football play

“…but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons.”  Romans 8:15

But what about your life?  “Are you leaving it all on the field?” Where are you feeling like you are failing?  Is it in your mind?  Is it in your execution?  Are you addicted to substances or destructive habits?  What do you spend your time thinking about?  Having a relationship with Jesus gives you the Competitive Advantage.  If you want to activate the competitive advantage you already have, you need to execute the fundamentals on the most important stage you’ll ever see…YOUR LIFE!

Remember These Things – Gain Your Advantage…

1. Your Birthright – (Remember who you are) It’s easy to forget who you are.  Life changes, disappointments happen, and your attitude can go south in a hurry.  But remember you belong to Jesus and no one can change that.  Maybe you have forgotten your identity?  Most sin is because of an identity crisis.  Isn’t it time to recall the great sacrifice Jesus paid on the cross for you and depend on the Spirit of God in your life.  Remember who you are.

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons”  Romans 8:15

2. Your Clarity – (Remember who the enemy is)  All sin traces back to this question… “Did God really say?”  Yep, whenever you hear that voice inside of you creating doubt about what right and wrong is, the enemy is eroding your advantage!  He is cutting you down through deception.  Remember who he is and that, well, He doesn’t like you.

“but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”  Romans 8:13

3. Your Vision – (Remember where you are going) This life is a temporary home for us.  Jesus already chose heaven for me.  I don’t know about you, but this is the best news I have heard all day.  It doesn’t mean I’m unhappy, it’s the reason I can live happy, content and anticipating the future.  I already know what the the scoreboard says.  When Jesus was raised from the dead, Jesus won, game over!  Don’t let the limited perspective of today, destroy your tomorrow.

“…because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”  Romans 8:27

It’s game time, leave it all on the field!

Josh

Josh Conn is the founding pastor of 217church, a multi-site, contemporary church in Mercer County NJ.  217church is a family with small groups in New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania that meets Sundays at 10:30am at Sharon Elementary school in Robbinsville, NJ.  If you are looking for a church in East Windsor NJ, Lawrenceville NJ, Ewing NJ, Robbinsville NJ, Hightstown NJ, Hamilton NJ, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Burlington County or Bucks County, PA, we would love to have you join us.  Don’t miss our weekend services. Visit www.217church.com for more information. or watch a weekend message here

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You Need A Watchdog

I love dogs and this is Harley, my golden doodle.  She looks out for everyone in the house.  She is flat out AWESOME!  If there is a fight amongst our other dogs, she breaks it up.  If there is a fight among people, she gets between you.  If you come to my door uninvited, well, let’s just say she will let you know she is there.  She is the enforcer, but with a loyal, justice driven motive.  There is something about the qualities she exhibits that reminds me of what we should be for each other as the church.  Who is looking out for you?  Who are you looking out for?

Harley Watchdog

“I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.”  Romans 15:1

SO…Who are you looking out for?  Is there another person you feel personally responsible for?  Everyone needs someone to look out for and for someone to look out for them.  This is the definition of what the church should be doing for one another.  This scripture implies also we should believe the best about the motives of one another and be careful not to assume the worst.  We are responsible for one another.  As a matter of fact, there are over fifty “one another’s” in scripture.

How To be a “Watch-dog” and Look Out For One Another…

1. Privately Correct – We are all going to blow it, mess up, make mistakes – say something we shouldn’t say, post a photo we shouldn’t post, act in public in a way that isn’t God honoring.   FOR EXAMPLE – I saw something on Facebook the other day that disturbed me.  It was a public rebuke of what some would consider an “inappropriate photo”  But here was the problem…It was rebuked in a public way by someone, without gentleness and in an embarrassing manner.  More and more I am of the opinion that public social media rebukes are pointless.  The person almost NEVER hears what you are really saying and written harsh communication on a social media channel will almost ALWAYS be misconstrued in some way.  If something someone posts troubles you and you aren’t willing to privately go to them, don’t say anything.  After all, when you love someone enough to say something privately, you are respecting the image of God in them.  Disagree?  private message me, but this verse implies you are just flat out WRONG!

“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”  Galatians 6:1

2.  Adamantly Protect – I love it when I know people have my back.  I love it when people who are a part of our church and our small group communities stand up against gossip amongst each other.  I love having someone to protect and having someone protect me.  This is what we are called to do for one another.  If you always have to have your way, you are prideful.  If you are always complaining about a church, another church, or your small group, something is desperately wrong.  The person you just criticized was made in the image of God and is a son or daughter of God.  I love watching the church care and stand up for one another. And one more thing – Please, if you claim to be a Christian – please work out your issues with other Christians in a private matter.  You are destroying the testimony of the church by airing all your complaints.

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  Ephesians 4:1-3

3. Carefully Instruct – Life isn’t easy and we all will get led astray, but we must be allowed to speak into each other’s lives with conviction and passion.  If no one can speak into your life, you have a serious problem.  Quick, name the person who has that authority in your life?  You need someone who is helping you in your marriage, finances, parenting, personal knowledge of the bible, you need a go to person who is doing the good work of discipleship in your life.

“…filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.”  Romans 15:1

4. Relentlessly Care – If someone is fighting sickness, battling addiction, struggling in their marriage, facing a loss of a job, desperately alone, hopelessly abandoned, OUR ROLE IS TO WATCH OUT FOR THEM.  Fight for those who can’t fight for themselves.  Don’t just talk a big game, get in the game and let your life be about caring for the church and those who are your brothers and sisters.  Loyalty matters, take a cue from my Harley. Be a #Watchdog  

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”  Galatians 6:2

This past Sunday we had 24 new people said they wanted to commit to the vision of 217church.  They have made a covenant to protect the unity of the church.  I love it.  Jesus died for us so let’s come together and stand together for what he wants to accomplish through us and for what he has promised to us.

Josh

 

Josh Conn is the founding pastor of 217church, a multi-site, contemporary church in Mercer County NJ.  217church is a family with small groups in New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania that meets Sundays at 10:30am at Sharon Elementary school in Robbinsville, NJ.  If you are looking for a church in East Windsor NJ, Lawrenceville NJ, Ewing NJ, Robbinsville NJ, Hightstown NJ, Hamilton NJ, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Burlington County or Bucks County, PA, we would love to have you join us.  Don’t miss our weekend services. Visit www.217church.com for more information. or watch a weekend message here

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Why You Belong In the Church Family

Sunday I have the privilege of preaching at Princeton Alliance Church about the nature of the church.  The church IS a family, period.  But are you giving yourself in biblical community or just attending a Sunday gathering?  For some of us, we don’t want to answer that question.  It may be the most important question in front of us if we are going to be a church that makes disciples.  Most of the people who read this will have attended a church service in the past 60 days.  But attending a gathering doesn’t make us a disciple nor does it make us a disciple maker or one who has said, “yes” to playing a role in the family of God, the great love of Jesus, the church.  Losing a family member is incredibly painful.  Seeing those who are orphaned, alone, abandoned and struggling is equally troubling.  Our church MUST be about those who need family, and our church family is the answer one of the greatest questions people are asking, “Where do I belong?”

We MUST ALWAYS be the church where the spirit of adoption defines us…

 
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“…but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15

For some of us adoption is difficult to understand.  We can’t imagine being dropped into a family whom we don’t share bloodlines with.  But until you can get your mind around this theological and deeply meaningful truth, you won’t understand God’s great Missionary heart for the world. Until you accept this reality in your own life, you won’t fully give yourself to your adopted family, the church.  Adoption is the very metaphor and family reality that leads us to understand the heart of the Father.  Once we understand His heart, we are then able to do His work.

4 Reasons Why You Belong In The Church Family…

#1 You Are Chosen –  There is nothing like being chosen.  You are not an accident.  God doesn’t make mistakes.  God has chosen you to be who you are.  For just a moment stop asking questions and just accept a God who wrote you into the story in Genesis through Adam by breathing His VERY BREATH in your lungs.  He didn’t just give you life but walked through the garden in the cool of the day with you.  Not because of what you could do for him, but because you were created in HIS VERY IMAGE!  Sounds like a family to me.  What about today though?  We failed and here is the part that gets me every time.  Because of Jesus, HE STILL CHOOSES US.  YOU ARE FAMILY.

#2 You Are Adopted –  Jesus forgives us.  I almost want to stop writing and just make those three words the totality of the point.  Because Jesus forgives us, we are to forgive each other.  When we accept His full approval into His heavenly family and call him Father because of the sacrifice of Jesus, we then call each other brother and sister.  Nothing quite like finding out you have a bunch of brothers and sisters you didn’t know about!  YOU ARE FAMILY.

#3 You Are Wanted – Every one of us at one time in our life has felt left out, maybe even ostracized, or made to feel worthless.  But the church is different.  You need to know you are wanted.  That doesn’t mean any pastor or one person can meet all your needs, it means that you are now to step up and start meeting others needs!  Do you want to be a part of a disciple making church?  It won’t come in a class, a bible reading plan, or a performance, merit based system.  It only comes when we step up and start to act like a family that wants to take care of each other and doesn’t wait for a pastor to initiate.  YOU ARE FAMILY.

#4 You Are Valuable –  Written in Luke 15 are three parables, back to back to back.  The parable of the lost sheep which teaches us Jesus leaves all to go and rescue you.  The parable of the lost coin which emphasizes the great worth you have and the celebration that happens when one sinner repents.  Finally, the Prodigal Son which gives us a beautiful picture of failure and redemption through Christ Jesus as we are welcomed back into His family lived out today through the church.  There is no disputing that Jesus looks at us and sees value beyond measure.  YOU ARE FAMILY.

Share below why you feel like you belong in the family of God.  Be bold and courageous and share a story of encouragement to others.

Sunday at Princeton Alliance Church, we will discover how hope for the future always outweighs the pain of the present.  If we want to be a part of the family of God, the church, we must learn to relate together.  Will we be perfect? No, but will we bear one another’s pain and work together, YES!

 Together PAC Original

Josh

Josh Conn is the founding pastor of 217church, a church plant of Princeton Alliance Church.  217church is a contemporary church in Mercer County NJ and meets Sundays at 10:30am at Sharon Elementary school in Robbinsville, NJ.  Visit www.217church.com for more information. or watch a weekend message here.

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Getting Rid Of Materialism

Money IS NOT BAD.  I knew you would like that statement.  There, now that I have your attention, one of the most difficult things to learn in this life is how to be content with what we have.  Let’s face it, we all would enjoy a better job, a nicer car, a little bit more stuff and additional convenience.  As I was back to school shopping I caught what I call the “more bug”  We need more, more and more!  This is not true and this though has the power to absolutely RUIN us!  Why is it that so many of us are dissatisfied with our current circumstances?  Probably because we have been fed the lies that a materialistic culture saturated with marketing breeds.  We are the most marketed culture EVER!

SO NOW that we have established we have this dysfunctional disease called materialism, what do we do to get rid of it??

It’s not how much you have but what you do with what you have.

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“…give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me,”  Proverbs 30:8

5 Ways to Get Rid Of Materialism

#1 Stop Comparing: One of the foolish things we tend to do is compare our own standing financially with others.  This is as simple as visiting someone’s home and seeing they have “nicer stuff” than you. Their TV is flat screen, their refrigerator is stainless steel, their house has new carpet, and on and on the comparing goes.  What has God blessed you with? Do you feel it is enough? There will always be someone who has nicer things than you do.  It is not about what you have, but how satisfied are you with what you have.

#2 Give First: Try this for 30 days and see if it doesn’t reorient your financial life.  Ask God how much you should give and to whom and then obey.  When you give, you are saying to your money, “you don’t own me and I will not be mastered by you.”  After you give celebrate by telling NO ONE!  Just quietly develop the lifestyle of generosity without the approval of others.  Then you will ensure you are not doing it for man’s approval, but rather for God’s.

#3 Eliminate Entitlement:  You do not DESERVE a new <fill in the blank>.  Entitlement is destroying the financial future of the next generation. Work an honest wage for an honest job and learn to wait for what you want or think you need.  No one owes you anything.  God’s chief purpose for your life is not for you to be rich, but you were born to glorify God with all you have.  This means you must pray to God that he will rid you of thinking you are better than other people.

#4 Pray Continually: Beating materialism on your own is one of the most foolish things you can attempt to do, especially if it is something you have struggled with in the past.  God has to literally root this out of you.  You will have to plead with Him to beat down and subvert your fleshly desires for more things.  The SALE sign may be your worst enemy.

#5 Get Accountability: You will almost always be better at this if you have someone walking along side you.  Is this a problem for you?  If you can’t submit to someone in your finances, you will have problems growing.  How bad do you want to beat this? Don’t justify and call a want a need, you know what that means.

Contentment isn’t easy, but it will only come from a close relationship and dependence on Jesus.

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Our Financial Breakthru Series continues Sunday at 217church.  Come explore 4 words that lead to financial break thru:

February 26 – Work / With all your Strength – WATCH THE MESSAGES HERE

March 5 – Give / Give up control

March 12 – Save / Plan for the future

March 19 – Live / With NO regrets

Josh Conn is the founding pastor of 217church, a contemporary church in Mercer County NJ.  217church meets Sundays at 10:30am at Sharon Elementary school in Robbinsville, NJ.  Visit www.217church.com for more information. or watch a weekend message here.  

 

 

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5 Ways To Get Financially Healthy

Handling money is an acquired skill that can bring great satisfaction or great destruction and pain throughout your life.  It’s not about how much money you have, but how you handle it that counts.  No doubt by now, you have heard about retirement.  Maybe you think are almost there, maybe it seems far, far away.  I woke up yesterday and realized my oldest daughter leaves for college in just about 3 years.  A sobering truth.  Here is the tension:  If you neglect to save anything, you burden others. You are a fool.  (Proverbs 21:20) If you accumulate too much you depend of money instead of God. You are a fool. (Luke 12:20)  Money can ruin your heart, even when you don’t think it is happening.

“…for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”  Luke 12:15

So how do we achieve this balance in this life?  Let me make one thing clear, THE GOAL IS NOT TO RETIRE!  The goal Jesus has for you is to be absolutely spent accomplishing his mission.  If you have breath, you are on mission.  If you die rich, you missed the boat.  If you die broke, you get it. Achieving financial health has more to do with your habits and less to do with “how much.”

How To Get Financially Healthy…

  • Get Rid of Laziness – The person who doesn’t want to work costs everyone else money.  Get a job!  It doesn’t matter what kind of job, just get one.  Then keep it for a while.  One of the most valuable things parents can give their kids is WORK ETHIC.  If your kids are mooching off you, STOP THE MOOCH!  This means you have to initiate tough love.  This means you are going to have to work hard.  I live in the Northeast next to the financial capital of the world, New York City.  I can promise you this:  If you don’t work hard you will not be financially prosperous.  Hard work may not make you incredibly rich, but it will make you credible!
  • Get Rid of Entitlement – No one owes you anything!  Not even your parents, especially if you are in college.  If you expect a handout, you have a problem.  I said nothing about helping those who are having trouble make ends meet, but when you expect a “freebie”, then you have a character problem.  If you enable this behavior, you have a character problem.  These first two ideas live and feed off each other. 
  • Get Rid of Greed –  The more money you get, the more you tend to spend, and the more you spend the more you want!  You can unsubscribe, delete, complain or get mad at that statement, but that is pretty much a basic human condition.  How do I know this?  The average American household has over $8,000 in unsecured credit card debt.  You want more and I know it!  So do I!  But I must work to battle against my own evil desire to have and accumulate more stuff.   There is hope to temper the sin of always wanting more possessions, but it will take a lot of hard work and a lifetime to control.  It is NEVER good for anyone to get everything they want, nor is it healthy.  This doesn’t mean you have to live in poverty, but if your identity is in a symbol on your car, your street address, or the size of your house you have a greed problem.  I don’t want greed to have any influence in your life.  You probably have “enough” already.
  • Get Rid of Credit – Credit card debt isn’t about your income, but how you manage your income!  Could you go thirty days without using a credit card?  What if by the beginning of 2018 we all paid off our credit card debt.  In order to have the confidence to stop using credit, you will need a BUDGET.  A budget is simply planned spending when you tell your money where to go, and how to work for you. borrowing from your future will cost your future.  The bank loves you because you are their slave.  Slavery exists today, and we have made it legal.  “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.”  Proverbs 22:7
  • Get Rid of Some Stuff – The more you hold on to your money, the more it gets a grip on your heart. If you want to take a first step in getting financially healthy, you have to learn to GIVE.  Otherwise, you will be a prisoner to your money.  Still don’t believe me?  Want to take a BIG RISK in your heart management?  Take something you have had for a long time, that you value deeply, that has monetary value, and GIVE IT AWAY!  When you die, it won’t be yours anyway.  Don’t just give away your junk!  Don’t think about it too much. JUST GIVE.  IF you think you will give when you have more, you won’t.  The more you have, the more difficult it is to part with your money.

Exploring our heart connection with money is both difficult and character building. Our community of  217church is learning to be more giving to the mission of the church in the community and this week is all about SAVING.

Don’t miss this Sunday…

 

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Our Financial Breakthru Series continues Sunday at 217church.  Come explore 4 words that lead to financial break thru:

March 12 – Save / Plan for the future

March 19 – Live / With NO regrets

Josh Conn is the founding pastor of 217church, a contemporary church in Mercer County NJ.  217church meets Sundays at 10:30am at Sharon Elementary school in Robbinsville, NJ.  Visit www.217church.com for more information. or watch a weekend message here.