When we think of courage, we usually think of deathdefying acts or great heroic sacrifices…a fireman rushing into a burning building to save trapped children…a soldier dashing across a mine field to rescue trapped comrades…a policeman putting himself in harm’s way to protect innocent people. We think of the astronauts on Apollo 13 or the survivors of the Holocaust.
The truth is, it takes a great deal of courage to face some of the ordinary challenges of life. It takes a lot to live and to do the right thing without wimping out. Our every day choices reveal courage or cowardice.
In this series, we’ve talked about commitment, integrity, and passion. Underlying all of these is courage. You can’t make a difference in the world by imitating it. If you want to make a difference, you’ve got to be different, and that takes courage.

It takes courage to own up to your sins.
Romans 3:23, All have sinned.
1 John 1:8, If we say that we have not sinned, we are deceiving ourselves.
Proverbs 28:13, You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins. It takes courage to stand up for what is right.
1 Corinthians 16:13, Stand true to what you believe. Be courageous. Be strong.
Psalm 119:41, 42, 46, Let your love, O God, shape my life. Then I’ll be able to stand up to mockery because I trust your Word. And as I look for your truth and your wisdom, I’ll tell the world what I find and speak out boldly in public unembarrassed. (Message) It takes courage to speak up for Christ.
Romans 1:16, I am not ashamed of the Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work.
1 Timothy 1:8, Don’t be embarrassed to speak up for our Master. (Message)

Go public with your faith through baptism.
Acts 2:38, Repent and be baptized…
Baptism is your “coming out party.”
Baptism says your not ashamed of Jesus.
It doesn’t make you a Christian, but it shows that you are one.
Be filled with the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18, Let the Holy Spirit fill and control you.
Acts 1:8, When the Holy Spirit has come on you, you will receive power.
2 Timothy 1:6-7, Fan into flame the spiritual gift God gave you…For God has not given you a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline. Expect God to use you.
Philippians 1:20, I expect and hope that I will have the courage now, as always, to show the greatness of Christ in my life, (NCV)
Joshua 1:9, Be strong and courageous! Don’t be
afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go! Courage is not the absence of apprehension or nervousness. It is doing what is right in spite of it. Remember the end of the story.
James 5:8, Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.
Job 11:18, You will have courage because you will have hope.
The end of the story: WE WIN!
It takes enormous courage to be a committed follower of Jesus. Christianity is not for wimps. Do you have such courage today?