In his letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul drew from Jesus’ use of power what is perhaps the most powerful relational teaching of all – an instruction that changes everything in family dynamics. It all comes down to asking a simple question:What can I do to help? September 20, 2020

When the ideal is hard to attain, it’s tempting to just lower the bar and redefine the ideal. This can be especially true when it comes to Jesus’ teachings about family, which many of us have already fallen short of. In this message, Rich Barrett explains why aiming for God’s ideal is still worth it, … Continue reading "Future Family, part 1: Ideally Speaking"

The best way to predict your future is to pay attention to where you’re headed. But sometimes it’s easy to get distracted by what’s on the path. The appeal of money, acceptance, or security can lower your defenses and lead you away from the path you want to be on. So is there a way … Continue reading "The Beginner’s Guide to Predicting Your Future: Appealing Is Revealing"

We all start out life with great intentions. But our intentions aren’t good indicators of our destinations. In fact, our direction trumps our intention every time. That’s why we all need to follow someone we trust. Someone who can make our lives better and make us better at life. We all have a decision to … Continue reading "The Beginner’s Guide to Predicting Your Future: Follow"

Nobody gets lost on purpose. But we often find ourselves in places we never intended. If there’s a disconnect between what you hope to be true in the future and the direction you’re headed now, maybe it’s time to take a closer look at your path. Our direction, not our intention, will determine our destination.Direction … Continue reading "The Beginner’s Guide to Predicting Your Future: Your Intention Please"

We’re all going to end up somewhere in life, but often there’s a disconnect between where we want to end up and the path we choose. So how can we avoid choosing a path that’s guaranteed to get us where we don’t want to be? Wise people understand that life is connected and that a … Continue reading "The Beginner’s Guide to Predicting Your Future: Principle of the Path"

The unity and diversity of the early church shocked and intrigued the ancient world. Ours should as well. August 9, 2020

Our political views are shaped by a number of variables: our backgrounds, education, and personal experiences to name a few. It’s easy to feel like our view is the right one, but the person beside you is more precious to God than your political view. August 2, 2020

Your favorite candidate will win or lose based on how our country votes this November. However, the church will win or lose based on our behavior between now and then. Listen to Talking Points, Part 1: One Is The Win with Rich Barrett.

When we experience a loss, we often experience a loss of hope as well. But hope is a feeling, and we can regain that feeling if we fix our hearts and eyes on something other than what has been lost. July 19, 2020