THE WKND 2026: SESSION 2

This year’s theme, “Behold and Become,” comes from 2 Corinthians 3:18—reminding us that as we behold the glory of the Lord, we are transformed to become more and more like Him.

In this session, Austin confronts us with a transformative truth: salvation isn't just about escaping hell—it's about becoming like Jesus right now. Drawing from Romans 8, we're challenged to understand that while we've been declared 'not guilty' through Christ's sacrifice, our spiritual journey has only just begun. The message uses the compelling image of the Wright brothers' first flight to illustrate how the Holy Spirit works within us—not removing the gravitational pull of sin, but empowering us to overcome it. We're reminded that spiritual growth isn't passive; it requires 'grace-driven effort.' Just as working out at the gym doesn't create muscles but develops what's already there, working out our salvation means actively developing the new nature God has placed within us. The call is clear: get into God's Word, surround ourselves with the right people, and specifically address the patterns of sin in our lives. This isn't about shame—it's about freedom. When we name our struggles, set boundaries, share our battles, and daily ask God for help, we position ourselves to be transformed from one degree of glory to another. The question isn't whether we'll struggle with sin, but whether we'll fight it or let it slowly take over our lives.

Key Points:

Salvation includes both a positional declaration (being declared righteous) and a transformational process (becoming righteous)

God works in us through His Spirit, and we must work out our salvation through intentional spiritual disciplines

Two forces are at work in believers: the sinful nature pulling away from God and the Spirit leading toward Christ

Spiritual growth requires grace-driven effort; believers don't naturally drift toward holiness

Essential practices for transformation include: reading God's Word daily, surrounding yourself with godly friends, and addressing sin patterns

The enemy knows our weaknesses and strategically tempts us where we're most vulnerable

Four steps to fighting sin: name the pattern, set boundaries, share your struggle, and ask God for help daily

What we minimize or justify, we never learn to defeat

Growing spiritually is like working out—it requires exercising what's already there to watch it grow stronger

Scripture Reference:

Romans 8:1-12 (primary focus, particularly verses 1, 5-6, 12-13)

2 Corinthians 3:18 (theme verse for the weekend)

1 Peter (holiness passage)

Philippians 2:12-13 (working out salvation)

Ephesians 6:11 (standing firm against the devil's strategies)