Beyond the Weekend: EPIC
Stories of Trust, Failure and Faith That Point to Jesus
What does it look like to believe God, not just believe in God? This fall, we're diving into the raw, unfiltered stories of biblical heroes who wrestled with doubt, took dangerous detours, and discovered that trusting God means following him even when you can't see the outcome. Their epic journeys of trust, failure and faith all point to the ultimate hero—Jesus.
Key Messaging Points:
- There's a difference between believing in God and believing God
- God speaks in life's detours and disruptions
- Wrestling with God transforms us
- Trusting God means obeying before you see the outcome
- Every story of human struggle points to Jesus
Prepare
Read: Joshua 3:5 Listen: Joshua 3
Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you. Joshua 3:5
God tells Israel to get ready. Joshua and the people wait to cross the Jordan River and enter into the promised land. Israel is bursting with anticipation. There is no turning back this time! The promise God made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is about to be fulfilled. Still, something must happen before this climactic event can occur: Israel needs to consecrate itself. To consecrate means to prepare spiritually. The people of Israel must wash themselves and abstain from certain activities. They must focus their hearts and minds on God. Once finished, Israel will be ready for God to move among them.
Like Israel, our calling involves preparation for the movement of God in our lives. Paying special attention to our spiritual life allows us to be ready for the unexpected. We can strengthen our readiness through spiritual disciplines. There are two kinds of disciplines: abstinence and engagement. Abstinence involves disciplines that stop something. For example, sabbath, fasting, solitude or silence. Engagement involves disciplines that start something. Examples include study, prayer, worship or fellowship. Adding these habits into our daily rhythms can help us be ready for life's turning points.
TODAY: Choose a spiritual discipline you do not practice currently. Ask God for the grace to commit to this new rhythm. Also, consider exploring Joshua’s story further on the Beyond the Weekend Podcast—find it wherever you listen to podcasts or on YouTube HERE.
