Beyond the Weekend: Parables
The stories Jesus told and what they mean for your life today.
Why did Jesus teach in stories? Because the deepest truths about God are often found in the ordinary moments of life.
In the parables, Jesus takes everyday things, a lost sheep, a dinner party, a farmer planting seeds and uses them to show us what God is really like and what it means to follow him.
This summer, we’re spending seven weeks in the parables from Luke’s gospel. Whether you’ve heard these stories a hundred times or this is your first time, you’re invited to come and hear them fresh.
June 27/28–August 8/9
Heavenly Worship
This year in Beyond the Weekend, journey through different biblical models of prayer—one each month. July’s focus is Worship.
Read: Revelation 4:8-11 | Listen: Revelation 4
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Revelation 4:11
The book of Revelation is a prophetic letter written by John, one of Jesus’s first followers. This letter encourages believers’ faithfulness now through truths about the future. Jesus’s identity, mission, and work—particularly his triumph over sin and evil—are to embolden believers now, as they realize that Jesus has conquered their greatest enemies. The letter hinges with this throne room scene in chapter four, where John envisions a gathering of living creatures and twenty-four elders offering ceaseless praise to God—the One who is worthy of all glory, honor, and power.
The heavenly vision found in Revelation reminds us of something central to both worship and prayer: God is worthy of all our praise. Much like the sun gives light to all the earth, God is the One who gives life to all of creation and is, therefore, worthy of all our praise. He is worthy of our worship. He is worthy of our time and attention. And he is worthy of our all and everything. One of the key struggles of the Christian life is keeping our focus on God and remembering who he is. Passages like this peel back the curtain and remind us of the nature of God. He is the uncreated Creator deserving of all our praise.
TODAY: Celebrate the worthiness of God. Often, reflecting on the character of God through music can help our hearts bring truth to praise. Sing of God’s worthiness through the song, “Worthy of It All.” As you sing, reflect upon the worthiness of God to receive glory, honor, and power.
