THE WKND 2026: SESSION 1

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 sessions message, Austin invites us into a profound exploration of what it means to truly behold God's glory through the lens of the Prodigal Son parable in Luke 15. At its core, we're challenged with a transformative question: What does God think when He thinks about us? The journey begins with understanding that what we look at long enough, we become—a concept the Bible calls 'beholding.' Rather than focusing on trying harder at faith, we're encouraged to change what we're looking at. The younger son's story reveals the devastating trap of sin—how it entices, entertains, and ultimately destroys—yet it also unveils the breathtaking reality of our Father's heart. When the son came to his senses in the pig pen, his life didn't change because he cleaned himself up or perfected his apology. Everything transformed when he finally looked toward his father. The most stunning moment comes when the father, scanning the horizon, sees his son from a distance and runs to him—an act of humiliation in that culture—covering him with kisses and throwing a celebration. This is who our God is: unconditionally loving, completely forgiving, and relentlessly pursuing us. We're called beyond 'snow flurry Christianity'—a surface-level acknowledgment of God—into a winter wonderland experience where we're utterly overwhelmed by the magnitude of what He's rescued us from and the depth of His love for us.

Key Points:

What you behold, you become, and what you become is ultimately what your life will reflect

Sin is not just a mistake but a deadly trap that costs more than you can pay, keeps you longer than you want to stay, and hurts far worse than you ever dreamed

You won't find salvation in yourself; you'll only find it in the Father

God loves you unconditionally—past, present, and future sins

You have been forgiven no matter how messed up you might feel

God is relentlessly pursuing and chasing after you right now

The younger son's life didn't change when he cleaned himself up or fixed his behavior, but when he looked to his father

We are all born spiritually broken and separated from God, deserving of wrath

Jesus came not to change God's mind about you, but to change your mind about God

The gospel is the greatest trade in history: Jesus takes your sin and gives you His righteousness

Many people have a "snow flurry" Christianity rather than a transformative vision of who God is

Scripture Reference:

2 Corinthians 3:18 (Theme verse): "And we all, with unveiled face beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit"

Luke 15:1-24 (The Parable of the Prodigal Son)

John 10:10: "The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But Jesus says, I've come to offer life and life abundantly"

Genesis 3: The entrance of sin into the world