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 Laban
Read: Genesis 29:16-35 Listen: Genesis 29
“She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, ‘This time I will praise the LORD.’ So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.” Genesis 29:35
Jacob arrives in Haran and meets Laban’s family. He is smitten with Rachel at first sight, Laban’s youngest daughter. Jacob agrees to work seven years for Rachel’s hand in marriage. Laban, however, tricks Jacob and gives him Leah instead. Jacob eventually ignores Leah, who longs for her husband’s love and affection. The pattern of sin and brokenness that began in Isaac’s family has now been passed down to Jacob’s family. Nevertheless, after birthing several sons, Leah turns to God and praises him despite Jacob’s absence.
We all have cycles of sin and brokenness that we were exposed to in our home of origin or in other contexts while growing up. Unfortunately, when we have been harmed by others, we are at increased risk of passing on similar harm. If left unchecked and unaddressed, we will pass on patterns of sin and brokenness to our families. So, we must identify these patterns and turn from them before we repeat them in our relationships with others.
TODAY: One way we take part in breaking cycles is by bringing them into the light by talking with other believers. Talk with a trusted Christian friend about struggles in your life. Are you looking for a friend or a group of believers you can share life with? Join a small group! Being part of a small group is one of the best ways to share and process life with like-minded believers. Sign up for a group HERE.
Explore Jacob’s story further on the Beyond the Weekend Podcast—find it wherever you listen to podcasts or watch on YouTube.
