“Submission” is one of the fastest ways to make people tense up, but Pastors Aaron and Lauren argue it’s one of the most life-changing Kingdom principles you can live. In this episode, they break down mutual submission as a path to unity, harmony, trust, and protection, not hierarchy or manipulation.

Using Ephesians 5:15–33, they explain why many teachings start at the wrong verse, how Paul frames marriage with a call to submit to one another first, and why Christ is the head of the church, not man.

They also open the hood on how mutual submission works in their unique context as co–senior pastors, how they stay submitted to spiritual authority, and what happens when they hit a real impasse.

You’ll hear two key real-life examples:
• A high-pressure 2020 COVID-era leadership decision where Pastors Aaron and Lauren could not reach unity and recused themselves, submitting the final call to their elders.
• A parenting situation with their oldest where they submitted to trusted marriage counselors, changed roles, and rebuilt unity at home.

They also bring this into team culture: why “Who has the final say?” is the wrong question, how collaboration creates both necessary and unnecessary tension, and why slowing down can expose dysfunction and help the best idea win.

In this episode, you’ll hear:
• Why “submission” is for everyone, not just wives
• How Ephesians 5 is often taught backwards
• Why unity is entered through the Holy Spirit, not forced
• The role of elders, oversight, and spiritual covering in healthy leadership
• A practical “release valve” when a couple cannot agree
• Parenting without good cop/bad cop, fear-based control, or abdication
• Collaboration at work: harmony over hierarchy
• A key mindset shift: “better to be in relationship than to be right”
• What “headship” means to them: initiation, not domination

Scripture Teferenced
• Ephesians 5:15–33

Chapters

00:00 Intro and why this topic matters
02:30 Why “submission” triggers people
05:00 Reading Ephesians 5 in context
10:30 Mutual submission as the foundation for marriage
14:00 Submission in church leadership: elders and covering
18:30 2020 example: the mask decision and submitting to elders
27:30 Submission at home: parenting conflict and counselor wisdom
35:30 Why unity creates blessing even when decisions are imperfect
39:00 Workplace culture: “who has the final say?” is the wrong question
46:00 Collaboration, tension, and hearing God together
52:00 Relationship over being right
56:00 Headship as initiation and love

If you’re stuck in a repeating conflict, stop trying to win and start trying to get into unity. Decide who you trust for outside wisdom, invite covering into the conversation, and let the Holy Spirit lead you into harmony.If this episode hit home, share it with a friend or couple who’s navigating conflict, leadership, or parenting pressure.

Pastors Aaron and Lauren get real about something they’ve practiced for 5 to 6 years: an annual marriage and family vision retreat. Starting out of a hard season and counseling, this practice became one of the most life-giving rhythms in their relationship.

In this episode, they walk through why having a vision for “this season” matters more than chasing a vague life vision, how couples drift without realizing it, and how intentional time away creates deeper connection, trust, and unity.

They also share practical tools for planning your own retreat, including recommended guides, what to do if you cannot travel, how to pace the conversations, and why the goal is not productivity but hearing God together.

In this episode, you’ll hear:
• Why most couples do not “fall apart,” they slowly drift
• How changing seasons (kids, schedules, unexpected family stress) demand new alignment
• What a vision retreat actually looks like (2 to 3 days, built-in fun, honest conversations)
• Why “we agree on principle” still breaks down in the details
• How to handle sensitive categories like finances, intimacy, and conflict without rushing
• The difference between a system and a God-breathed direction for your family

Resources mentioned:
• XO Marriage Vision Retreat Guidebook by Jimmy and Karen Evans (also available on Amazon)
• “Couple Goals” Vision Retreat resource from Sean and Lanette (shared as a free download via QR code when they visited)

Key Scripture referenced:
• Hebrews 2:1 (warning against drifting)

Chapters

00:00 Intro and topic setup
02:00 Why they started doing vision retreats (counseling, rebuilding trust)
07:00 Vision for a season vs “vision for your whole life”
12:00 What couples drift from and why it happens slowly
16:00 Retreat resources: XO guidebook + Couple Goals workbook
22:00 How to plan the retreat: get away, remove distractions, pace it
30:00 Common friction points: finances, intimacy, parenting, extended family
36:00 Daily, weekly, quarterly rhythms that support long-term connection
43:00 Systems vs God’s voice: finding “God’s way” together
50:00 Hebrews 2:1 and the warning against drift
54:00 Wrap-up

If you and your spouse have never done a vision retreat, start this year. Pick a weekend, grab a guidebook, and commit to honest conversations that help you hear God together. Your marriage is worth building on purpose.If you want the resources mentioned in this episode, go search:
• “XO Marriage Vision Retreat Guidebook”
• “Couple Goals vision retreat Sean and Lanette”

• After a long-awaited return from sabbatical, Pastors Aaron and Lauren Kennedy dive deep into what it really means to be a godly woman in today’s world. Building off their recent marriage series, this episode explores the first half of their “Eight Attributes of Godly Men and Women” message, focusing on how women can cultivate prayer, trust, wisdom, and quiet confidence in a culture full of noise and pressure.

• With honesty, humor, and practical wisdom, Aaron and Lauren share how prayer keeps us grounded, how Scripture nourishes our souls, and why trusting God (not control) changes everything. From parenting to marriage to personal growth, this conversation is both challenging and deeply encouraging for anyone wanting to live with peace, purpose, and strength rooted in God.
• 
  
• Topics include:

• The difference between being busy for God vs. being still with God
• Why women can’t find peace without the posture of prayer
• Learning to trust God instead of controlling outcomes
• What real honor and wisdom look like in relationships
• The power of “quiet confidence” in a loud world

It has been said that if you try to become a good leader while you are in a position of leadership, you are setting yourself up for failure. In this episode, Pastors Aaron and Lauren share insights into how you can prepare for leadership long before you sit in a particular seat of leadership.

In today's culture, sexuality is an ongoing topic of discussion, but for parents, it can often be one of the more daunting subjects to discuss with their kids. When is the appropriate time to start the conversation? What is the world teaching my kids? In this episode, Pastors Aaron and Lauren talk about how to bring the Holy Spirit into the conversation and why it is so important to be the first ones your kids hear from about sexuality.

For any questions or comments you would like to share, leave a comment or email us at ⁠⁠[email protected]

Difficult people are, unfortunately, a reality in our lives. At some point, we will be tasked with leading someone who seems to make things more challenging than they need to be. In those moments, how do we, as leaders, get the best out of the individual? Hint: it starts with leading the person we have the most difficult time leading—ourselves.

For any questions or comments you would like to share, leave a comment or email us at ⁠[email protected]

A healthy sex life is a vital part of a healthy marriage, but it is much deeper than just having sex frequently. It involves intimacy and truly understanding the depths of your spouse. Like all aspects of a relationship, this requires effort. In this episode, Pastors Aaron and Lauren provide helpful insights and practical tips for cultivating a thriving, holistic relationship.

Check out this helpful resource: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:ef60bc8e-064f-4523-ac92-72c2ea7abc82

For any questions or comments you would like to share, leave a comment or email us at [email protected]

In marriage, we all have different "factories" that shape and mold what we bring into a relationship. This can make things very challenging, especially when thinking about raising kids together. In this episode, Pastors Aaron and Lauren discuss what it takes to navigate these challenges in a healthy way. Honor is key, and forgiveness is essential.

Check out this helpful resource: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:1058f84b-d0cc-4b28-8c54-80aaf53b9369

For any questions or comments you would like to share, leave a comment or email us at [email protected]

In this episode, Pastors Aaron and Lauren discuss how to navigate and grow in a relationship with someone with differing attachment styles. They take a look at Genesis to see how attachment styles correlate all the way back to the fall. Every relationship has unique differences between people, but the willingness to work on it is key to understanding and growing within it.

Check out this helpful resource: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:6c68d315-0e17-4cae-8921-53d3b33b5bc1

For any questions or comments you would like to share, leave a comment or email us at [email protected]

Navigating "triggers" in relationships can be "triggering." In this episode, Pastors Aaron and Lauren recount one of the first times this occurred for them, explaining how they managed it then and how they address it now. They provide valuable resources to help you tackle these challenges in a healthy manner.

Check out the helpful resources listed below.

https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:646e9353-6992-4bbf-9ac0-0879539a87c2

https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:53dfbbc8-236f-441b-a519-6211cb710a39

For any questions or comments you would like to share, leave a comment or email us at [email protected]