Discover how to trade superstition for steady faith by focusing on Jesus rather than the religious practices and objects that remind us of Him. Through the story of the sons of Sceva in Acts 19, explore why invoking Jesus’ name is not a formula for getting what we want and why spiritual growth comes from knowing and trusting Him. Whether you keep a cross nearby, read Scripture daily, or rely on familiar prayers for comfort, consider how these practices can deepen your relationship with God instead of becoming substitutes for it. Learn practical ways to build authentic faith, trust in Christ’s victory over darkness, and pursue a closer walk with the Lord.
Highlights
Understand the difference between genuine Christian faith and superstition rooted in religious objects or rituals.
Explore Acts 19 and the account of the sons of Sceva to discover why Jesus’ name is not a magical formula.
Recognize that the power of salvation and victory over darkness comes from Jesus Christ Himself.
Learn how crosses, Bibles, prayer, and other spiritual practices can serve as reminders of faith without replacing a relationship with God.
Reflect on whether any religious habits have become ways of seeking control or protection rather than trusting the Lord.
Discover why authentic spiritual growth comes from knowing Jesus and relying on His finished work on the cross.
Consider practical ways to invest in your relationship with God and develop a steady, sincere faith.
Click to Listen to Signs of Life: UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org
Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was—and is—an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.
UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org
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Full Transcript Below:
Trading Superstition for Steady Faith
By: Sophia Bricker
Bible Reading:
“When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor” (Acts 19:17, NIV).
A card and a cross. Those were the two items I regularly kept with me during my first year of middle school, or junior high as it is sometimes known. The card bore the picture of Saint Patrick with a blessing printed on the back, which I kept in my pocket or bag