“In the beginning. . . .” can be a loaded phrase—one that forces us into debate and doubt. But maybe we’re missing the point of Genesis 1:1—a point Moses made to a world where the violence and injustice of the gods justified and legitimized the violence and injustice of human rulers. Moses introduced a radically … Continue reading "The Bible for Grown-ups, part 2: In The Beginning"

Most of us know some Bible stories, but very few of us know the story of the Bible. And it may be surprising to discover it’s a story that doesn’t actually begin in the beginning. It begins with the accounts of a few men who sat down to record the death and resurrection of Jesus. … Continue reading "The Bible for Grown-ups, part 1: Last Things First"

When it comes to family, the only thing we all have in common is conflict. Family conflict is like no other because when you win an argument in your family, you don’t really win anything. The conflict is never fully resolved.What if there was a way to resolve family conflict by dealing with it at … Continue reading "Future Family, part 3: Common Cause"

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