The Fellowship of Joy

  Monday, February 2 - " (2 Sam 22:37 ) Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip. ." - God has given you enough room to walk wherever He wants you to go. While it may seem that the circumstances of your life are overly restrictive and crippling for your ministry, the Lord who has called you knows what you need in order to fulfill your calling. Trust in Him. Tuesday, February 3 - " (Job 14:16 ) For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin? " - Even in His sorrow and pain, Job understood that he had not escaped God's attention. He is paying attention to you as well. Sometimes we think that God is sleeping or unaware of our struggles. He is not. He is watching over you always. When you step up and when you fall back, His eye is on you. He has you in focus. Wednesday, February 4 - "(Job 31:4 ) Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?" - God is counting your steps. He knows how far you n...

202/STEP UP Retreat Report   Vision Question: "If God placed a dream deep inside you and that dream became a reality, would the world become a better place?" - Erwin Raphael McManus Two Big Dates: 2020 in just 11 years + 1 month & Age 55 (AARP and Hometown Buffet next year)   FOCUS Groups that Reflect Our Values and Corporate Culture The Young – and those with a young outlook on life. The Poor – and those who are called to minister to the poor The Broken – from all walks of life and levels of economic status. We are all broken. The Dreamers – business, social, & spiritual entrepreneurs who see things that never were and say, "Why not?"   CORE Calling : The Great Commandment (Our Ethical Calling), The Great Commission (Our Doctrinal Calling), The Spirit Upon Us (Our Missional Calling).   On Friday night , we celebrated things we do well: welcoming of all ages and types of people, singing, openness to the broken, skate ministry, diversity, ...

What are we trying to do with 2020 and with STEP UP? Review of both processes Review of Pressing Needs Introduction of Financial Peace University Why the Vision Thing?   Vision Question: "If God placed a dream deep inside you and that dream became a reality, would the world become a better place?" - Erwin Raphael McManus   For 2020 VISION: 13% 87%   REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR. - So what are we about if it is not to call people to life change under God's new big deal?   Two Big Dates: 2020 in just 11 years + 1 month & Age 55 (AARP and Hometown Buffet next year)   We must develop a positive and bold strategy to proclaim good news of God's Kingdom and call people to life change. God has placed us … Inner city     New generation         A strange pastor             Worldwide turmoil                 Concern for the poor                     ADD church                         Multiple Everything!   Plant Churches Where We Are ...

Bible Study/Discussion on Vision Genesis 15:1 - After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward. Q and A: What was the purpose of God's vision to Abram? Genesis 46:   - And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, "Jacob! Jacob!"  "Here I am," he replied.  3 - "I am God, the God of your father," he said. "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. Q and A: What was the purpose of God's vision to Israel? I Samuel 3:1 - The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions . 15 - Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, Q and A: Why was Samuel afraid? Psalm 18:19 - Once you spoke in a vision, to your faithful people you said: "I have bestowed ...

STEP UP DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS: Week of January 19-25 January 19 - (Mat 7:24 KJV) " Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock " - There are two steps to the process of preparing for a wise and productive life in the Kingdom of God. The first is to hear. The second is to do. Hearers who are not doers gain nothing. Doers who do not first hear, end up doing the wrong thing recklessly, People who build rock solid foundations for their lives both hear and do. What steps are you taking to more clearly, effectively, and deeply hear the Word of God? What kingdom truths are you practicing daily? January 20 - "(Mat 7:25a KJV) "And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; " - Rain will descend upon the righteous. Floods will come., Winds will blow and beat upon our lives. Count on trouble. Hard times are common for humanity. Chris...

STEP UP STEP UP is a visioning process for the Fellowship of Joy at Baptist Temple church of Fresno, CA. STEP UP is a call to Step Up to the plate and hit a home run for God as one of our members told me Sunday. It is also a capital development campaign, but it is much MORE. It is a time of revival and renewal of our lives, our dreams, and our commitments to Jesus Christ. STEP UP is an opportunity to pray and seek God for miracles in our church, our community, our personal relationships with God, our ministries, and our own finances as we develop sound principles of personal stewardship. STEP UP is an opportunity to serve, commit, and give sacrificially. STEP UP is a bold initiative to clarify our church's VISION, launch a bold strategy, makes some improvements to our facilities, and solidify our financial base so that we can more effectively fulfill our mission in the city. S – S eek God to S ee a vision and S ave room for God to work in your life. In Luke 7:11-17, Jesus interru...

STEP UP is a visioning process for the Fellowship of Joy at Baptist Temple church of Fresno, CA. STEP UP is a call to Step Up to the plate and hit a home run for God as one of our members told me Sunday. It is also a capital development campaign, but it is much MORE. It is a time of revival and renewal of our lives, our dreams, and our commitments to Jesus Christ. STEP UP is an opportunity to pray and seek God for miracles in our church, our community, our personal relationships with God, our ministries, and our own finances as we develop sound principles of personal stewardship. STEP UP is an opportunity to serve, commit, and give sacrificially. STEP UP is a bold initiative to clarify our church's VISION, launch a bold strategy, makes some improvements to our facilities, and solidify our financial base so that we can more effectively fulfill our mission in the city. Monday – January 5 – "Ask and it will be given you." (Matthew 7:7a, NKJV) – At the risk of seeming obvio...