Our God is a way maker. As Pastor James will explain in today’s message, this attribute is made clear in the book of Joshua. Have you ever driven on a road that required you to drive through a body of water? This isn’t that common of an experience in the day of well-developed roads, with clear paths and safe bridges. That wasn’t the case for the Israelites as they approached the Jordan river. Crossing a river wasn’t easy or safe. But God would once again make a way where there was no way.

As the Israelites approached the Jordan, ready to cross into the land God had promised them, they faced one final obstacle. God used Joshua to direct the priests to step into the water. This step of faith was huge. They trusted that God would respond by making a way, and He did. As Pastor James will explain in today’s message, these priests offer us a picture of the work Christ has done for us. As the final High Priest, He stepped into this world and made a way for us to cross into His Kingdom.

There’ve been many beautiful portrayals of Jesus through history. While their creators may have had good intentions, many of those works were misleading. Whether it was in the skin tone or the demeanor they depicted, they were attempting something impossible. As Pastor James will explain in today’s message, to truly picture Jesus, you have to view Him with your soul. Consider who He was, not what He looked like. He was God in the flesh, and reflected all of God’s characteristics perfectly.

If you’ve placed your faith in Jesus to save you, He’s freed you from the power of sin. Yet, how often do you find yourself falling back into it? In today’s message, Pastor James will confront this common problem. Why would a slave ever go back into slavery once they’ve been freed? As the Israelites wandered through the desert, looking back at Egypt longingly, they showed that sometimes the chains of sin seem easier than the arduous journey God has in store for us as He leads us to the Promised Land.

If the people in your life – your family, friends, coworkers – were surveyed regarding you, what would they say? Would they remark on your visible faith and the way you reflect your Savior? Sadly, for many of us, some of the people in our lives may be completely unaware of our faith. They may even be surprised to find out we call ourselves a follower of Jesus. As Pastor James will challenge us in today’s message, make the presence of Christ obvious in your life – don’t hide the hope He’s given you.

You have the power of the Creator of the Universe on your side - the One who breathed all of this into existence. That’s a lot of power. But how will you use His truth? Will you use it as a weapon to tear down others and puff yourself up? Or will you use it as an instrument of grace, lifting up the broken? As Pastor James will point out through the example of Jacob offered in today’s chapter, true wisdom and strength are demonstrated in those who surrender their control to serve God’s greater purpose.

You only live once. This popular phrase is true. You can respond to it in a few different ways. The way the world encourages is to live fast and loose, ignoring fears and inhibitions in order to consume as much of what this world has to offer as possible. The way of God’s Kingdom is much different. As Pastor James will explain in today’s message, as a follower of Christ, you’re called to give as much of yourself as possible towards serving Him and others, not wasting one moment on selfish desires.

If you knew you only had moments to live, what would you want to convey to the people you love? Not that you need to be serious all the time, but if you keep that in mind in your interactions, it would most likely change your conversations dramatically. As Pastor James will challenge us in today’s message, we need to be the kind of friend who loves enough to speak words of encouragement as well as calling out sin. Don’t waste your words. They have more of an impact than you may realize.

Have you ever thought about your last words? I know… it’s a morbid thought, but if Christ doesn’t return in your lifetime, you’ll find yourself in that position, at death’s door, leaving all you know and love on this earth behind. As Pastor James will point out in today’s message, as Joseph knelt by his father Jacob in his final moments, Jacob demonstrated how essential trusting God was in his life. His last words were words of faith that inspired Joseph, as well as all believers that would follow.

Don’t fall for the idea that a life following Jesus will be easy. It’s compared to a race in Scripture. And it’s much more like an ultra-marathon than a short sprint. It requires perseverance and determination - not to battle your way to victory by your own strength, but to keep your heart surrendered and focused on following Jesus. As Pastor James continues our study of Genesis in today’s message, he’ll remind us that this challenging race can only be completed through the strength of Christ.