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
Honor
Read: Joshua 3:4 Listen: Joshua 3
But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it. Joshua 3:4
God's people receive clear directions. Follow the ark. When it moves, you move. When it stops, you stop. Simple enough. But they must remember one key instruction: keep your distance! The ark is not a mere box God told them to make; it is the location of His presence among them. Israel knows God's presence is terrifying! He is the one who split the Red Sea and brought Egypt to its knees. He is the Holy One, the Creator who is pure, beautiful and powerful. To try to come to God on their terms is to tempt death. God desires proximity, but it must be on his terms. Israel must honor God.
We also share Israel's command to honor God. The same God who guided Israel into the land of promise is the one who revealed himself in Jesus. He longs for proximity and relationship, but it must be on his terms. Honor means submitting to his authority. It means trusting that his commands are not only good advice, they are the way we're meant to live. When it's costly and when it's weird. When it doesn't fit into the tidy box of a political party or the expectations of a social class. We are to honor Jesus with our lives. We pray for our enemies. We abstain from intimacy outside of marriage. We share our faith and notice the poor. When we live under God's authority, we honor him.
TODAY: Pray: Heavenly Father, I confess that there are ways I fail to honor you by submitting to your Word. Reveal to me where I fall short and provide me the grace to obey in the future.
