Crossroads Sunday May 31 2026

May 31, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Stepping Into Uncharted Territory With Threefold Courage

Graduation gowns symbolize both celebration and uncertainty. Life’s transitions—new jobs, diagnoses, or ministries—often feel like standing at a crossroads where every path seems untested. Joshua faced this when replacing Moses, hearing God’s triple command: “Be strong and courageous.” Courage here isn’t fearlessness but choosing to trust God’s presence over self-doubt. When we fixate on our inadequacy, we forget the Spirit who equips ordinary people. God’s call to move forward always comes with the promise of companionship. [36:20]

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
(Joshua 1:9, ESV)

Reflection: What “now what?” moment in your life needs you to trade fear for the next faithful step? How might focusing on God’s presence shift your perspective today?

Day 2: The Impostor’s Antidote: God’s “With You”

Impostor syndrome whispers, “You don’t belong,” but God’s answer isn’t self-confidence—it’s God-confidence. Joshua wasn’t told to channel inner strength but to rely on the Spirit resting within him. The same Spirit that parted seas and resurrected Christ empowers grocery runs, board meetings, and hospital visits. Our resumes don’t qualify us; God’s call does. When inadequacy creeps in, the antidote isn’t striving harder but remembering whose presence walks with you. [39:24]

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
(2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV)

Reflection: Where do you feel like an impostor? How might embracing weakness become the doorway to experiencing Christ’s power there?

Day 3: The Weight You Were Never Meant to Carry

Backpacks overloaded with “what-ifs” exhaust us: What if I fail? What if they find out I’m struggling? God never designed us to haul life’s burdens solo. Joshua carried a nation’s hopes, but God carried Joshua. Parents, leaders, and graduates alike mistake responsibility for isolation. The gospel whispers: Lay down the weight of self-sufficiency. Your community, your faith, and God’s shoulders are broad enough for shared loads. [42:58]

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
(Matthew 11:28-30, ESV)

Reflection: What burden have you been clutching tightly? What practical step could you take this week to share it with God or others?

Day 4: Ditch the Ditches: Walking the Narrow Ridge

Life pulls us toward extremes—reckless impulsivity or paralyzed inaction. Joshua was told to avoid veering left or right, staying centered on God’s path. Polarized culture tempts us to camp in outrage or apathy, but faithfulness thrives in the disciplined middle. Like a tightrope walker fixing eyes ahead, we move forward not by avoiding risk but by rejecting distraction. Steady steps, not grand gestures, define holy obedience. [44:07]

“Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”
(Proverbs 4:25-27, ESV)

Reflection: Where do you feel pressured to choose between extremes? How might focusing on the “next right step” keep you centered today?

Day 5: Ordinary Feet, Extraordinary Footprints

Moses’ staff. Joshua’s sandals. Your coffee mug. God uses ordinary tools to mark holy ground. The disciples weren’t scholars; they were fishermen who said “yes.” Our adequacy comes not from pedigree but from proximity to the One who calls. When the church obsesses over metrics, God whispers: “Two gathered suffices.” Your small obedience—teaching Sunday school, planting tomatoes, listening to a teen—becomes sacred when offered with open hands. [49:26]

“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.”
(1 Corinthians 1:26-27, ESV)

Reflection: What “ordinary” part of your life might God be waiting to make extraordinary? How could you offer it today with less self-consciousness and more trust?

Sermon Summary

Graduation looks like caps, gowns, and a clean finish, but the heart hears questions. What’s next. Will this work. What if it fails. That same tension frames Joshua’s story when Moses is gone and everyone turns to him. Joshua stands in brand-new territory. God answers with the same line, over and over, be strong and courageous. The repetition does not deny fear. It names it. Courage is not bravado. Courage is taking the next faithful step while the knees still shake.

God does not tell Joshua, believe in yourself. God says, I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Confidence shifts from self to presence. Joshua is marked as the one in whom the Spirit rests, which is the real qualification. The Spirit that carried Moses carries Joshua. The same Spirit sustains Christ’s people now.

The habit to carry it all alone runs deep. People carry worries, grief, family, ministry, and then wonder why the soul is so tired. The gospel word cuts through that load. You do not carry this alone. That promise lands on graduates, parents, leaders, and anyone standing in a fog. Christ is with his people to the end of the age. If God is with them, the real weight is not on their shoulders.

The command, do not turn to the right or to the left, keeps the feet out of the ditches. Fear often kicks people to extremes, either reckless rush or frozen refusal. Faithfulness is smaller and steadier. Take the next right step. Then the next one. That is how Joshua advances. That is how a church moves, too.

Small, concrete acts line up with that call. A food pantry opens. A blessing box stands. A community garden grows. Youth meet. Lay servants are trained. A new season for Christian education takes shape even before every detail is known. The point is not to be big or impressive. Where two or more show up, that is enough. By themselves, Moses was not enough, Joshua was not enough, the apostles were not enough. The story of faith is ordinary people trusting an extraordinary God.

Readiness matters. Opportunities often pass because hearts are not prepared to move when the door opens. The call is simple and costly. Get ready, stay centered, and when the moment comes, take the step. Not alone, but with God, who will be with his people. That is enough.

Key Takeaways

1. Courage walks through fear with God [39:24] Courage does not wait for fear to vanish. It leans on God’s promise, not self-hype, and moves one step at a time. The presence of God reframes risk, because companionship changes the weight of the road. When God says, I will be with you, the ground under the next step gets firm. [39:24]
2. Do not carry this alone [42:38] Self-carrying is a quiet unbelief that exhausts the soul. Sharing the load with God and God’s people is not weakness, it is obedience to the way the Spirit works. Release is often the doorway to real strength. The yoke is shared, so the work becomes possible. [42:38]
3. Stay centered, avoid the ditches [43:42] Fear tugs toward extremes, either sprinting ahead without listening or refusing to move at all. Wisdom lives between the ditches, where steady obedience keeps step with God’s word. The middle is not compromise, it is faithfulness that refuses panic. One centered step beats a hundred frantic ones. [43:42]
4. Prepare so obedience can move [51:12] Open doors often come with a clock. Preparation lets the heart move when the invitation arrives. Formation before information builds muscle memory for trust. Readiness is love’s way of saying yes on time. [51:12]
5. Ordinary people trust extraordinary God [49:26] The storyline of Scripture is not heroic resumes, it is holy reliance. God delights to work through small people and steady steps so the credit runs upward. Accepting ordinariness can free a life from performance and comparison. Trust becomes the only boast worth keeping. [49:26]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[29:41] - Graduation intro
[31:46] - Uncertainty of what’s next
[34:41] - Joshua steps in after Moses
[36:20] - Be strong and courageous
[37:49] - Courage is the next faithful step
[39:24] - Presence over self confidence
[40:19] - The Spirit qualifies
[41:05] - Stop carrying it alone
[43:42] - Avoid the right and left ditch
[44:55] - Take the next right step
[45:17] - Small faithful steps in ministry
[47:47] - Change is scary and good
[49:26] - Ordinary people, extraordinary God
[50:37] - Preparation meets opportunity

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
- Joshua 1:9 (ESV): "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
- Numbers 27:18 (ESV): "So the Lord said to Moses, 'Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.'"
- Matthew 28:20 (ESV): "Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Observation Questions

In Joshua 1:9, God repeats the command to "be strong and courageous." What specific reasons does He give to support this command?
How does Numbers 27:18 connect Joshua’s leadership to the work of the Spirit?
What practical examples of "small, faithful steps" were mentioned in the sermon (e.g., food pantry, blessing box)? [45:17]
How does Matthew 28:20 address the fear of being alone in uncertain seasons?

Interpretation Questions

Why might God emphasize not turning to the right or the left (Joshua 1:7) as part of staying courageous? How do extremes like recklessness or paralysis hinder faithfulness?
The sermon says, "Courage is taking the next faithful step while the knees still shake." How does this redefine cultural ideas of bravery or success? [37:49]
What does it mean that Joshua’s qualification was "the Spirit resting on him" (Numbers 27:18) rather than his resume or abilities? How does this apply to ordinary believers today?
How does the promise of God’s presence (Matthew 28:20) change the weight of responsibility in leadership or daily decisions?

Application Questions

Where do you feel the pressure to "carry it all alone" right now—in your family, work, or spiritual life? What would it look like to release that burden to God or share it with others? [42:38]
Fear often pushes people toward extremes: rushing ahead recklessly or refusing to move. What is one situation where you need to take a small, centered step instead of reacting impulsively or freezing? [43:42]
The sermon mentions "ordinary people trusting an extraordinary God." What ordinary act of faithfulness (e.g., serving, praying, showing up) could you prioritize this week to reflect reliance on God? [49:26]
Preparation is key to readiness. What habits (prayer, Scripture study, community) could you strengthen to better respond when God opens a door? [51:12]
Reflect on a time when God’s presence made a difference in a fearful situation. How can that memory encourage you in your current challenges?

Sermon Clips

60s

#GodIsWithYou

“Imagine it. We're trying to follow Moses. Being the leader after the great leader. And here we are stepping into leadership. Joshua stepping into leadership knowing that everyone is going to compare you to the person who came before you. Just imagine wondering if you were enough. Yet, god never tells Joshua, don't worry, you're amazing. God never says, believe in yourself. God doesn't say, it's all good. You got it? God says, will be with you. I will never leave you, and I will never forsake you.”

50s

#TakeTheNextStep

“So today, whether you're graduating, whether you're beginning something new, whether you're grieving something old, whether you're simply trying to figure out what your next step is, I want you to hear god's promise. will be with you. Not you have all the answers. Not you'll never be afraid. Not you'll never make a mistake. Just this, will be with you. And in the end, that is enough. Because courage isn't the absence of fear. Courage is taking the next step anyway.”

58s

#OrdinaryPeopleExtraordinaryGod

“I've never really been one who believed in that because the scripture tells us where two or more are showing up. That's enough. And y'all we got more than two. The truth is we are inadequate. We are inadequate by ourselves. But that's never been the point. Joshua wasn't enough by himself. Moses wasn't enough by himself. The disciples, the apostles were not enough by themselves, and neither are we. The story of faith has never been about being extraordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things on our own. It's about being ordinary people, trusting an extraordinary god.”

57s

#StayCentered

“When god gives Joshua another instruction that says, do not turn from the right or from the left. Charles Spurgeon once said that there is always a right hand ditch and a left hand ditch and that both are dangerous. Because life constantly teach tempts us to go toward the extremes. When we're afraid, often we overreact. We become reckless or sometimes we become paralyzed and some people charge ahead without listening and others refuse to move at all. And god tells Joshua to stay in the center, to stay grounded, to stay focused, to keep walking the path that feels especially relevant in our world today.”

61s

#SpiritLedLeadership

“Joshua isn't called to a confidence in himself. Joshua is called to a confidence in god. A confidence in god's calling on Joshua's life. Not something from himself, not from his resume, not from his experience, not from his abilities. Confidence because of the presence of god. Back in numbers 27, Joshua is described as a man in whom the spirit rests. That's a pretty great qualification right there. The spirit of god is with him. The same spirit that had empowered Moses, the same spirit that would guide Israel, the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead, the same spirit that lives in us.”

61s

#ReleaseTheBurden

“You see, god never call carry god never called us to carry life by ourselves. We're never meant to, yet so many of us spend our days trying. We carry all these worries alone. We carry our grief alone. We carry our fears alone. We carry our ministry alone. We carry our responsibilities alone. And then we wonder why we are so tired, why we are so exhausted, why we have trouble dragging ourselves out of bed for the next day because we're just tired, because we're trying to do it all by ourselves, all by ourselves. And the good news of Joshua is that god says, you do not carry this alone.”

51s

#StepByStepFaith

“Because we live in a world that is pulling us to be on polar opposite sides of the extreme. Either to be an outrage on one side or the other, to live in fear or one side or the other, to live in despair on one side or the other, to to live into arrogance on one side or the other, to be a part of division. The world is calling us there. I'm here to tell you, faithfulness isn't found in the extremes. Faithfulness is is found in taking the next step. Taking the next right step. The next faithful step. And then taking one step more and one step more and one step more and pretty soon you're just moving forward. And that's how god led Joshua. That's how god leads us.”

45s

#SilenceTheImpostor

“And maybe that's exactly why god chose him because courage isn't the absence of fear. Courage is taking the next faithful step anyway when you are afraid, even when you are scared, even when you are terrified, even when you are not sure if that's the right thing to do or not. It's taking that next step. One of the biggest challenges that many of us face is this thing called impostor syndrome. It's that voice in your head. Maybe it's your mother's voice. Maybe it's a teacher's voice.”

36s

“The truth is we are inadequate. We are inadequate by ourselves. But that's never been the point. Joshua wasn't enough by himself. Moses wasn't enough by himself. The disciples, the apostles were not enough by themselves, and neither are we. The story of faith has never been about being extraordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things on our own. It's about being ordinary people, trusting an extraordinary god.”

62s

“You see, god never call carry God never called us to carry life by ourselves. We're never meant to, yet so many of us spend our days trying. We carry all these worries alone. We carry our grief alone. We carry our fears alone. We carry our ministry alone. We carry our responsibilities alone. And then we wonder why we are so tired, why we are so exhausted, why we have trouble dragging ourselves out of bed for the next day because we're just tired, because we're trying to do it all by ourselves, all by ourselves. And the good news of Joshua is that God says, you do not carry this alone.”

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Crossroads Sunday May 31 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Stepping Into Uncharted Territory With Threefold Courage

Day 2: The Impostor’s Antidote: God’s “With You”

Day 3: The Weight You Were Never Meant to Carry

Day 4: Ditch the Ditches: Walking the Narrow Ridge

Day 5: Ordinary Feet, Extraordinary Footprints

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Crossroads Sunday May 31 2026

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