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
Wrestling’s End
Read: Matthew 1:1-6 Listen: Matthew 1
“This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.” Matthew 1:1-2
God promises to bless the entire world through the line of Abraham (Genesis 12). But, as the story unfolds, the line of Abraham is dysfunction junction. From Abraham comes Isaac and Jacob. Then Jacob has twelve sons with four different women. Nevertheless, God works through the dysfunction of Abraham’s family tree. Judah is one of the sons born of Leah (Jacob’s unloved and ignored wife). Through Judah, God fulfills his promise of blessing the whole world. The royal line comes through Judah, eventually leading to the birth of Jesus, the Messiah.
Jacob was known for his striving, and his family tree was one of great dysfunction. Yet, it is amid such dysfunction that God provided a Savior. The sin and brokenness we see exposed in Jacob’s story (and throughout the pages of Scripture) find their remedy in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus came to forgive us of our sins and redeem our stories of brokenness. He came to purge the evil in our hearts, rewrite our stories and give us a forever home with him in his eternal kingdom. Our wrestling and striving cease when we turn to and trust in Jesus.
TODAY: Have you placed your faith in Jesus? If you have never received Jesus by faith, today is a great day to take that step. If you have, today is a great day to give God thanks. Praise God by singing with our worship team, “Hope Has a Name.”
