This Sunday, we’ll wind up our worship series focused on the new vision statement of The United Methodist Church. Our theme this week is “Courageous Leadership.” To help us understand this component of the UMC Vision Statement, we’ll be exploring one of the Bible’s most encouraging passages about leadership and faithfulness: Joshua 1:1-9. These familiar verses were spoken during a moment of great uncertainty. Moses, Israel’s trusted leader, had died. The people stood at the edge of the Promised Land, facing an unknown future.
It was now Joshua’s turn to lead.
Imagine the weight he must have felt. He wasn’t simply stepping into a new position—he was following one of the greatest leaders in Israel’s history. Yet God’s message to Joshua was remarkably clear: “Be strong and courageous.” Three times God repeats those words, not because Joshua has no fear, but because courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is choosing faithfulness even when the path ahead is uncertain.
Most of us will never be asked to lead a nation, but all of us are called to exercise courageous leadership in some way. We lead in our homes, our workplaces, our schools, our neighborhoods, and within the life of the church. Sometimes leadership means making a difficult decision. Sometimes it means speaking a word of hope, extending forgiveness, standing up for what is right, or simply taking the next faithful step when we cannot see the whole journey.
As followers of Jesus, courageous leadership is rooted not in self-confidence but in God’s presence. The promise God gave Joshua remains a source of hope for us today: “For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” We do not walk alone. God equips us, strengthens us, and goes before us in every challenge we face.
This Sunday, we’ll reflect on what it means to lead with courage in a world that often rewards fear, division, and self-interest. Together we’ll discover how God continues to call ordinary people to extraordinary faithfulness and how God’s presence gives us the courage to answer that call.
I hope you’ll join us for worship as we seek God’s guidance, encourage one another in faith, and discover anew that the same God who called Joshua continues to call and strengthen us today. I look forward to worshiping with you.