In this message titled “Beyond Belief”, Pastor Ben Pantoja discusses the importance of moving beyond mere belief in Jesus toward living as a faithful, committed disciple. He frames this as a vital approach to facing the “second period” of 2026, using a hockey-inspired metaphor for the remainder of the year.

Key themes include:

• Faith vs. Discipleship: Pastor Ben highlights that while many people identify as believers, true discipleship requires ongoing commitment to Jesus’s teachings, not just intellectual assent (16:01). Drawing on research about the drift of Christian students, he emphasizes the necessity of a faith that is personally owned and rooted in conviction rather than just culture or “youth group fun”. (10:15 – 13:30)
• The Evidence of Faith: Using John 8:31-32, he explains that remaining in God’s word is the mark of a true disciple. He notes that just as the Pharisees were experts in the law but missed the reality of God, modern Christians can fall into the trap of being “believers” on Sundays but not “followers” in their daily lives. (17:54 – 18:52)
• Practical Faithfulness: Pastor Ben encourages the congregation to move beyond “Sunday Christianity” by surrendering fully to God. He emphasizes that if God is not the Lord of all, He is not Lord at all. He shares a personal anecdote from a meeting at Costco to illustrate how we should offer comfort and prayer in the middle of life’s hardships, rather than judging or questioning God. (1:22 – 3:11, 33:58 – 34:55)
• Conclusion: The message challenges listeners to consider the evidence of their own lives. Rather than relying on a “date” of conversion, he asks, “Was there an evidence that you are my follower?”. The call to action is to live faithfully and truthfully, allowing that commitment to lead others to the liberating truth of Christ. (26:47, 38:05)