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Why do we join a church? What expectations do we, especially as Americans, bring when we walk through those church doors? For many, it's the hope of finding a recipe for a 'blessed' life, a path to recovery, the keys to building strong families, and the secrets to peace of mind. These desires, while valid, often take center stage in our minds. But here's a perspective shift: did you know that these aspirations aren't even among the top five missions of the church? It's time to recognize that the purpose of the church extends far beyond the pursuit of earthly blessings. Your time within the church is just a small part of God's grand plan of redemption. He didn't create His church solely for your benefit; it was designed with a transcendent purpose that goes beyond our individual agendas. Today, let's delve into the deeper mission of the church, one that involves our active participation in a battle that spans the history of redemption—a battle against the forces of evil. So, get ready, because in love, we want to implore and encourage you to become a true part of God's church in this ongoing battle.

"We are pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed...for we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh" - 2 Corinthians 4:8-9,11

Have you ever felt the weight of opposition to your faith, from skepticism to outright hatred? The world's hostility toward the Gospel can be overwhelming, and it's in these moments that we may question how to persevere in our journey of faith. By examining the experiences of the Gibeonites in Joshua chapters 9 and 10, we seek to find guidance and inspiration in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges. Join us as we explore how, even amidst opposition, the life of Jesus can shine brilliantly through us, providing strength and purpose for our continued faith journey.

When you first approached God, did you have all the answers? Were you instantly a master of repentance, knowing precisely how to pray and what steps to take? It's not just newcomers; even the church, often led by long-time believers, can stumble in their approach to God. Sometimes, we all seek shortcuts to gain favor with God, hoping for self-serving blessings. We may misuse prayer, even venturing into requests for personal vengeance or political gain, when we should know better. Given the mix of newcomers' ignorance and the flaws within the church responsible for teaching them about Jesus, it's reasonable to wonder how anyone finds God and learns to follow Him. Yet, amidst all these imperfections, God's grace intervenes, overcomes, and weaves our shortcomings into His story of redemption.

In the aftermath of Jesus's resurrection, Jews worldwide converged to celebrate Shavuot, commemorating the Torah's reception at Mount Sinai. This pilgrimage, marked by diverse languages and a united purpose, connected devotees with their hometown rabbi. He guided them through a cleansing ritual before Temple worship. The day the Holy Spirit descended, the Apostles spoke in foreign tongues, addressing a crowd with awe and skepticism. Peter seized the opportunity in this moment, recounting Jesus's life, miracles, and resurrection. Prompted by the Spirit, he urged the travelers to embrace Jesus as Messiah. Peter's sermon led 3,000 to publicly affirm their faith, undergoing baptism in Jesus's name—a declaration of resurrection belief. Today at GraceLife we have people who came to us from different places, declaring that Jesus is their rabbi and have chosen to be baptized in the name of their rabbi Jesus, the same way the travelers in Acts 2 did.

The journey of Joshua leading the Israelites to the valley near Mount Ebal is a remarkable story of obeying the commandments of God. After building an altar, Joshua reads the law, and the people worship with a sense of holiness and faith. But what's even more amazing is that among those worshipping, there are also sojourners from other nations who chose to abandon their old lives to become a part of God's covenant people. This shows that God is patient in bringing people under His wings, and He calls all His beloved chosen sojourners into His family. This invitation is not just reserved for the Israelites but for everyone. Throughout the Scriptures, we see that strangers are invited to become part of God's covenant family through repentance and belief in Jesus' Gospel. Here at GraceLife, we extend the same invitation to all who need redemption to be a part of our Covenant community by embracing what Jesus has done on the cross.

As followers of Jesus, we often experience moments of personal failure that can leave us feeling embarrassed, discouraged, and unworthy of grace. These "Ai moments," are a common occurrence in our spiritual journeys and while the impact of these moments can range from annoying to devastating, true followers of Jesus understand that they are opportunities for us to become more intimately connected with God and His people. Let's explore how Christians should respond to their own Ai moments as we look at the story of Joshua, who had an Ai moment that was both discouraging and devastating. Despite the setback, God did not allow Ai to be an excuse for Joshua to quit. Instead, He used the moment to make Joshua a better leader and more reliant on God than he had ever been before. Through Joshua's example, let's discover how we can learn, grow, and become better followers of Jesus in the face of our own Ai moments and see that for true believers, these moments are not the end of the journey but rather a stepping stone to greater intimacy with God and a stronger commitment to His Kingdom.