Ps Glyn Barrett - A Space to Move

Devotional

Day 1: Remembering God’s Faithfulness Through Monuments

God’s people were instructed to take twelve stones from the Jordan River and set them up as a monument, so that future generations would remember the miraculous way God brought them into the Promised Land. These stones were not just a pile of rocks, but a testimony to God’s faithfulness and power in the lives of His people. In the same way, we are called to remember and mark the moments when God has moved in our lives, so that we and those who come after us can look back and see His hand at work. When we honor the past by remembering what God has done, our faith is strengthened for the future. [01:25]

Joshua 4:1-7 (ESV)
When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’” Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”

Reflection: What is one “stone” or moment of God’s faithfulness in your life that you can share with someone younger this week to encourage their faith?

Day 2: Moving Forward by Letting Go of Negative Monuments

Sometimes we build monuments in our hearts to painful or negative moments from our past, and these can keep us from moving forward into what God has for us. God’s intention is not for us to be stuck staring at the stones of our past hurts, but to honor what He has done and look ahead with hope. As we build new monuments to God’s goodness, we are invited to let go of the monuments to pain, regret, or disappointment, and instead allow God to use our story to point others to His grace and future promises. [07:10]

Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: Is there a negative memory or regret you keep revisiting? What would it look like to surrender it to God today and build a new monument of gratitude?

Day 3: Stepping Out in Faith Creates Space for God’s Miracles

When the Israelites faced the flooded Jordan River, it was only as the priests stepped into the water in obedience that God stopped the river and made a way for them. Sometimes, God asks us to step out in faith before we see the miracle, trusting that He is already at work upstream. In our own lives, stepping out in faith—especially when it feels risky or uncertain—creates space for God to move and for His provision to be revealed. [12:07]

Joshua 3:14-17 (ESV)
So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.

Reflection: Where is God asking you to step out in faith before you see the outcome? What is one step you can take today to trust Him with the unknown?

Day 4: Movements Multiply When Everyone Plays Their Part

The movement into the Promised Land was not accomplished by a few, but by everyone carrying a stone and participating in what God was doing. In the same way, God’s movement in our church and city depends on each person playing their part, no matter how big or small. When everyone contributes—whether through giving, serving, or encouraging—God multiplies the impact, and together we create space for more people to encounter Him. [10:04]

Romans 12:4-6 (ESV)
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can “carry a stone” and participate in God’s movement in your community this week?

Day 5: Radical Obedience Ignites Faith and Releases God’s Provision

Radical obedience to God’s voice may look reckless to others, but it is the pathway to seeing God move powerfully in our lives. When we respond to God’s prompting—especially in our giving, serving, or stepping out—we position ourselves to experience His miraculous provision and faithfulness. Rather than giving out of compulsion or recklessness, we are called to listen for God’s leading and respond with faith, trusting that He will provide and multiply what we offer. [15:06]

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (ESV)
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

Reflection: What is one area where God is prompting you to be radically obedient? How can you take a step of faith today, trusting Him to provide?

Sermon Summary

Today marks a significant milestone in our journey as a church family—a moment that is both a culmination of weeks of prayerful preparation and the beginning of a new chapter. Drawing from Joshua 4, we reflect on the Israelites crossing the Jordan River, a moment when God called them to mark His faithfulness by building a monument of stones. This act was not just about remembering the past, but about creating a legacy for future generations—a visible reminder of God’s power and provision.

Life is made up of moments: some unforgettable, some regrettable, some that fill us with gratitude, and a few that are eternally monumental. Today, we stand in one of those monumental moments. As we prepare to sow into our vision offering, we are not just raising funds; we are participating in something that will echo into eternity. The cathedral we are building is more than a structure—it is a monument to God’s faithfulness, a testimony to what He has done, and a declaration of what we believe He will do.

Monuments serve a dual purpose: they honor the past and point us toward the future. We remember those who made space for us, who sacrificed and believed so that we could gather, worship, and grow. But we are also called to move forward, to make space for others who have yet to encounter God’s love. The act of giving today is not about staring at stones or clinging to the past, but about stepping out in faith, trusting that God will create space for miracles as we obey.

Movements begin when we remember what God has done, but they multiply when everyone participates. Just as each Israelite was called to carry a stone, each of us has a part to play. Our collective obedience and generosity will create space for God to move in our city and beyond. As we give, let us do so radically, by faith, with wisdom, and in obedience—knowing that we are building not just for ourselves, but for generations to come.

Key Takeaways

1. Moments shape our lives, but only when we recognize and mark them do they become monuments that inspire faith for the future. The Israelites’ act of building a monument was not just about nostalgia, but about creating a legacy that would remind future generations of God’s faithfulness and power. Our willingness to mark God’s work in our lives can ignite faith in others long after we are gone. [02:34]
2. Monuments are not meant to be objects of fixation, but signposts that honor the past and propel us into the future. God never intended for His people to remain fixated on past victories or failures; rather, monuments are reminders that God’s faithfulness continues and that we are called to move forward in hope and expectation. Let us honor what God has done, but never let the past limit our vision for what He will do next. [06:08]
3. Movements require participation from everyone, not just a select few. In Joshua 4, every tribe was called to carry a stone, symbolizing that the movement of God is a collective endeavor. When each person takes responsibility and steps out in faith, the impact multiplies, and the church becomes a living movement rather than a static monument. [10:04]
4. God often creates space for miracles in the midst of what seems impossible or inconvenient. The Israelites had to step into a flooded river before the waters parted, demonstrating that faith sometimes requires us to move before we see the miracle. In our own lives, interruptions or challenges may be God’s way of creating space for us to hear His voice and experience His provision. [11:45]
5. Radical obedience in giving is not recklessness, but a response to God’s voice that leads to remarkable encounters with His provision. True faith is not about giving beyond our means out of compulsion, but about listening to God and responding with courage and trust. When we give as God leads, we position ourselves to witness His miraculous work in and through our lives. [15:06]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:04] - Joshua 4: Crossing the Jordan
[02:34] - Moments and Monuments
[03:25] - Four Types of Life Moments
[04:43] - An Eternally Monumental Moment
[05:18] - Moments Lead to Monuments
[06:08] - Honoring the Past, Pointing to the Future
[07:10] - Moving Beyond Negative Monuments
[07:51] - Monuments Point the Way Forward
[08:22] - From Moments to Movements
[09:33] - The Power of Remembrance
[10:04] - Everyone Carries a Stone
[11:02] - God Creates Space for Miracles
[12:37] - Stepping Into the Space
[13:37] - Making Space for Others
[15:06] - Radical, Faith-Filled Giving
[16:43] - Prayer and Response

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Joshua 4:1-7 (ESV) — 1 When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua,
2 “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man,
3 and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’”
4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe.
5 And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel,
6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’
7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”

Observation Questions

According to Joshua 4, what did God instruct the Israelites to do after crossing the Jordan River, and what was the purpose of the twelve stones?
In the sermon, what are the four types of life moments described, and which one did the pastor say today represents? [[03:25]]
What does the pastor say is the dual purpose of monuments, both for the Israelites and for us as a church? [[06:08]]
How did the Israelites have to act before the miracle of the Jordan River parting took place? [[11:45]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God wanted each tribe to carry a stone and not just one person or a select few? What does this say about participation in God’s work? [[10:04]]
The pastor mentioned that monuments are not meant to be objects of fixation but signposts for the future. How can remembering the past help us move forward, and how can it sometimes hold us back? [[07:10]]
The Israelites had to step into a flooded river before God parted the waters. What does this teach us about faith and obedience in situations that seem impossible or inconvenient? [[11:45]]
The sermon talks about radical obedience in giving, but not recklessness. How can someone discern the difference between the two in their own life? [[15:06]]

Application Questions

The Israelites built a monument so future generations would remember God’s faithfulness. What is one way you can “mark” or remember God’s work in your own life so that it inspires faith in others? [[05:55]]
The pastor said, “Movements multiply when everyone carries a stone.” What is a practical way you can participate in what God is doing in our church or community, rather than just watching from the sidelines? [[10:04]]
Are there any “negative monuments” or past hurts in your life that you keep looking back to, which might be holding you back from moving forward? What would it look like to let go of those and focus on what God is doing now? [[07:10]]
The Israelites had to step into the river before seeing the miracle. Is there an area in your life where you sense God is asking you to step out in faith, even though you can’t see the outcome yet? What would it look like to take that first step? [[11:45]]
The sermon encourages us to give “radically, by faith, with wisdom, and in obedience.” What does radical, faith-filled giving look like for you personally? Is there something you feel God prompting you to give or do that feels a little uncomfortable? [[15:06]]
The pastor mentioned making space for others, just as previous generations made space for us. Who in your life might need you to make space for them to encounter God’s love, and how could you do that this week? [[13:37]]
When you look back at your life, what is one “monumental moment” where you saw God’s faithfulness? How can you share that story with someone else to encourage their faith? [[05:55]]

Sermon Clips

Monuments honor the past. I believe that in this offering today, that as we break ground on our cathedral just after Easter, on this location, we're doing it to honor the past. The Bible says here, when your children and your children's children ask you why this monument, you are able to say, look at what God has done. That's what it's about. [00:06:21] (25 seconds) #HonoringThePast

This new monument is a monument to everything God is doing. This new monument is all about surpassing previous monuments in our life because monuments don't just look back and honor the past. Monuments also point forward. They point the way forward. [00:07:37] (21 seconds) #MonumentsPointForward

Movements start with a memory. God, we're thankful for what You've done. And church, I want you to know that forgetfulness kills fear. It kills faith, but remembrance ignites it. That's why we build monuments, to remember, God, You've done this. [00:09:21] (17 seconds) #RemembranceIgnitesFaith

How many of you know in the dark times of your life, it's easy to forget? It's easy to forget what God has done. It's easy to get so consumed with our emotions and our feelings and the circumstances at that moment in time. And so the reason we build a monument is to remind ourselves of what God has done. And what He will do. [00:09:38] (25 seconds) #MonumentsRecallGodsFaithfulness

It required for them to step out in faith in accordance with what God had said. God then, He stopped the flow of the water and created space so all the people could walk through into the promised land. And this is significant, friends, because I believe that as we, in a moment's time, we continue to hear from God about how we can sow into this cathedral project, that as we step out in faith today and give, it may feel like the River Jordan is in flood, but the miracle, is on the way. [00:11:51] (40 seconds) #GodCreatesSpace

We are building a cathedral in order to step into a space to hold hands between what was and what will be. We're actually stepping into that space in order to make space for others. Friends, please hear me. This is about making space for others. [00:13:12] (22 seconds) #GratefulForGenerations

When your children ask, why was this cathedral built in Manchester? Then you tell them what God has done in your life and prepare them for what He will do in theirs. [00:14:08] (18 seconds) #SpaceSustainsMovements

Listen, moments start, but movements, but monuments mark them, but space sustains them. And that's what this moment is about right now as we come around our presentation here. We are making space for God to move. [00:14:26] (20 seconds) #RadicalNotReckless

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