Youth Encouraged to Place Faith in Jesus at Passion 2026
In a powerful opening message at the Passion Conference 2026, Pastor Earl McClellan urged attendees to seek the enduring spiritual transformation that only Jesus can provide, rather than relying on the emotional highs of a conference experience.
Addressing tens of thousands of college-aged young adults gathered at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, McClellan delved into Luke 3, emphasizing the theme of “Fresh Fire” and challenging his audience to focus on lasting faith, repentance, and spiritual endurance.
“We’re glad that you came with expectation, but please do not put that expectation on us,” McClellan, founder and lead pastor of Shoreline City Church, remarked. “We are not the ones that will be able to save. We are not the ones that will be able to fix. We are not the Messiahs in anybody’s life.”
Passion 2026, a three-day event running from Thursday to Saturday, attracted young adults aged 18 to 25 from around the globe. The Passion movement, established in 1995 by Louie and Shelley Giglio, aims to inspire students to live for “the name and renown of Jesus.”
The first night featured worship led by Kristian Stanfill, followed by Matt Chandler’s prayer, asking for divine guidance and transformation in participants’ hearts during the conference.
McClellan explored Luke 3:15–18, noting how people expectantly wondered if John the Baptist might be the Messiah. He pointed out that while their anticipation was well-placed, their hope was misdirected.
“They are coming with anticipation in their hearts,” he said. “They’re coming with a yearning and a desire in their hearts. They are wondering, is this the Messiah? Is this the one that’s going to get Rome off of our backs? Is this the one that takes away the shame and the problems and the difficulties that we’ve been navigating? Is this the one that’s going to make everything right? Is this the one that is going to fix all the brokenness in the world? Is this the one that we’ve been waiting for?”
His message warned against placing faith in conferences or human figures as saviors, emphasizing that salvation comes from Jesus alone. “If the songs are just right, if the message is just right, we might think that’s the thing that saves us,” he noted. “But we are not the saviors. We’re here to lift up one name and one name alone, and He is the only one that can save. His name is Jesus.”
Throughout the sermon, McClellan highlighted the power and authority of Jesus, contrasting him with weak or overwhelmed portrayals by referencing Colossians 1 and Revelation 22 to illustrate Him as the creator, sustainer, and redeemer.
“This is not a limping Jesus,” he declared. “The Jesus we are talking about is not someone who is weak or anemic. The Jesus we are talking about is the Son of the living God. The Jesus that we are talking about is all-powerful. And you think He can get you out of the thing you’re in. I promise you He can, because He is the way, the truth and the life. He is the son of the Almighty God.”
McClellan addressed the spiritual meaning of fire, often linked to purification and renewal, by recounting John the Baptist’s teaching that Jesus would baptize with “the Holy Spirit and fire.” He used the analogy of threshing grain to illustrate the process of spiritual growth and sanctification, where believers are refined through challenges.
“When we’re brought in, we have good stuff and bad stuff,” he explained. “And Jesus brings all of it in.”
He counseled against losing faith during hard times, asserting that such periods are crucial for spiritual development. “Do not quit when you feel like you’re being stepped on,” he said. “Do not quit when you feel like you’re being tossed in the air. … Do not quit when you feel like you’re going through the fire, because it’s Jesus who was involved in that whole process to help you become the man or the woman that He called and destined for you to be. It’s the process of sanctification. You being made holy, conformed to the image of Christ.”
McClellan also critiqued cultural misconceptions about God’s love, arguing that true love from God calls for transformation rather than endorsing every behavior. “’God loves you’ does not mean remain how you are,” he stated, advocating for grace that invites change.
To illustrate the theme of fire, he referred to Old Testament stories like the burning bush in Exodus and Elijah’s experiences with the prophets of Baal. These instances, he said, symbolize God’s power and presence, rekindling faith in believers.
At the sermon’s conclusion, McClellan quoted Hebrews 12, reminding the audience of their place within an unshakable kingdom and encouraging them to embrace their role in a larger divine narrative.
Other notable speakers at Passion 2026 include Sadie Robertson Huff, Jonathan Pokluda, and Craig Groeschel, enriching the conference experience for attendees.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
