What should the Church do when someone is trying to escape abuse, exploitation, or oppression?

Hidden in Deuteronomy 23:15–16 is a remarkable command. When an enslaved person escapes and seeks refuge among God’s people, God tells Israel: Do not send them back. Let them live among you. Do not mistreat them.

Those words still matter.

In this sermon, Pastor Jason Barnett explores what Deuteronomy reveals about God’s heart for the oppressed and what that means for Christians responding to abuse, human trafficking, exploitation, and people seeking safety.

Maybe you have been hurt by someone who was supposed to love you. Maybe a church told you to stay in an unsafe situation, protected someone who caused harm, or made you feel responsible for what happened to you. Maybe experiences like those have left you wondering whether God sees people who are trying to get free.

This passage offers a powerful answer.

God’s people are called to protect the vulnerable, confront oppression, and become a community where those seeking freedom can find safety and dignity. Following Jesus does not require someone to remain trapped in abuse, and the Church should never force the oppressed back into the hands of their oppressor.

Jesus came bringing freedom, healing, and hope. His Church should be a place where wounded people can discover that freedom too.

If you have ever wondered what the Bible says about escaping abuse, how Christians should respond to oppression, or whether the Church can truly become a safe place for wounded people, this message is for you.

Let them flee. And when they come to us, let them find the love of Jesus.

Send us Fan Mail

Linkoln shares his story on why he started coming to Ravenna Church of the Nazarene and shares why you should consider doing the same.

Ravenna Church of the Nazarene
530 Main Street, Ravenna, KY 40472

Support the show

The Dirt Path Sermon Podcast is a place for real sermons that speak to real life. Subscribe and walk the path with us every week.

Consider visiting Ravenna Church of the Nazarene where Pastor Jason is the Senior Pastor.   

Have a prayer need? Want to share something with Pastor Jason? Email [email protected]

Why does it seem like life gets harder when you decide to follow Jesus more seriously? Why does spiritual growth often come with spiritual resistance?

In Deuteronomy 11:16-25, Moses gives Israel God's game plan for living in the Promised Land. Their greatest battles would not begin on the battlefield, they would begin in their hearts. The same is true today.

Pastor Jason explores what it means to become a "game changer" for the Kingdom of God. As we draw closer to Christ through obedience, prayer, and His Word, our lives begin to change, and so does the enemy's strategy against us. The goal of the Christian life isn't merely to survive. Through Jesus, we are called to become people who change the game for His Kingdom.

If you've been wondering why your faith feels like a fight, or you're longing to grow deeper in your walk with God, this message will encourage and challenge you to keep taking the next faithful step.

Send us Fan Mail

Linkoln shares his story on why he started coming to Ravenna Church of the Nazarene and shares why you should consider doing the same.

Ravenna Church of the Nazarene
530 Main Street, Ravenna, KY 40472

Support the show

The Dirt Path Sermon Podcast is a place for real sermons that speak to real life. Subscribe and walk the path with us every week.

Consider visiting Ravenna Church of the Nazarene where Pastor Jason is the Senior Pastor.   

Have a prayer need? Want to share something with Pastor Jason? Email [email protected]

The gospel is the story of God's love to justify sinners so they can shamelessly live their faith. Pastor Jason shares from Romans 1:16-17. #ravnaz #thedirtpathsermonpodcast #thedirtpathpastor

Send us Fan Mail

Linkoln shares his story on why he started coming to Ravenna Church of the Nazarene and shares why you should consider doing the same.

Ravenna Church of the Nazarene
530 Main Street, Ravenna, KY 40472

Support the show

The Dirt Path Sermon Podcast is a place for real sermons that speak to real life. Subscribe and walk the path with us every week.

Consider visiting Ravenna Church of the Nazarene where Pastor Jason is the Senior Pastor.   

Have a prayer need? Want to share something with Pastor Jason? Email [email protected]

Moses was called to lead the people, but he was never meant to do all the work himself.

In Exodus 31:1–11, God gives specific skills, wisdom, and creativity to Bezalel, Oholiab, and others to help build the Tabernacle. Their abilities were not accidents, they were gifts from God for the work He had called His people to do.

In this message, Pastor Jason Barnett explores how God uses different people with different gifts to accomplish His purposes, and why the Church works best when everyone embraces the particular set of skills God has given them.

From leadership and craftsmanship to service and encouragement, this sermon reminds us that no one is called to do everything, but everyone is called to do something.

Send us Fan Mail

Linkoln shares his story on why he started coming to Ravenna Church of the Nazarene and shares why you should consider doing the same.

Ravenna Church of the Nazarene
530 Main Street, Ravenna, KY 40472

Support the show

The Dirt Path Sermon Podcast is a place for real sermons that speak to real life. Subscribe and walk the path with us every week.

Consider visiting Ravenna Church of the Nazarene where Pastor Jason is the Senior Pastor.   

Have a prayer need? Want to share something with Pastor Jason? Email [email protected]

What do you do when the battle won’t let up and your strength starts to fail?

In Exodus 17:8–13, Moses stands on the hill with his hands lifted—but when they fall, the battle turns. The lesson? Victory isn’t just fought in the valley, it’s sustained through prayer.

But here’s the truth: prayer gets heavy.

Pastor Jason Barnett explores why you were never meant to fight alone and how God uses people to hold you up when your strength runs out.

If you’re tired, worn down, or in a battle that feels bigger than you… this message is for you.

Send us Fan Mail

Linkoln shares his story on why he started coming to Ravenna Church of the Nazarene and shares why you should consider doing the same.

Ravenna Church of the Nazarene
530 Main Street, Ravenna, KY 40472

Support the show

The Dirt Path Sermon Podcast is a place for real sermons that speak to real life. Subscribe and walk the path with us every week.

Consider visiting Ravenna Church of the Nazarene where Pastor Jason is the Senior Pastor.   

Have a prayer need? Want to share something with Pastor Jason? Email [email protected]

A building is not a requirement for worshipping God, it is surrendered and obedient hearts. Pastor Jason shares from Ezra 3:1-6. 

Send us Fan Mail

Linkoln shares his story on why he started coming to Ravenna Church of the Nazarene and shares why you should consider doing the same.

Ravenna Church of the Nazarene
530 Main Street, Ravenna, KY 40472

Support the show

The Dirt Path Sermon Podcast is a place for real sermons that speak to real life. Subscribe and walk the path with us every week.

Consider visiting Ravenna Church of the Nazarene where Pastor Jason is the Senior Pastor.   

Have a prayer need? Want to share something with Pastor Jason? Email [email protected]

Eastern Kentucky District Superintendent, Rev. Doug Wyatt shares a message from Ephesians 1 as he installs Pastor Jason as the pastor at Ravenna Church of the Nazarene in Ravenna, Kentucky.

DS Wyatt shares a brief update on the efforts in response to the flooding in east Kentucky. Click this link to give : Flood relief

Send us Fan Mail

Linkoln shares his story on why he started coming to Ravenna Church of the Nazarene and shares why you should consider doing the same.

Ravenna Church of the Nazarene
530 Main Street, Ravenna, KY 40472

Support the show

The Dirt Path Sermon Podcast is a place for real sermons that speak to real life. Subscribe and walk the path with us every week.

Consider visiting Ravenna Church of the Nazarene where Pastor Jason is the Senior Pastor.   

Have a prayer need? Want to share something with Pastor Jason? Email [email protected]

What happens when God’s blessing in your life creates tension with others?

In Genesis 26, Isaac experiences incredible prosperity as God blesses his work and provides abundance. But instead of celebration, his success sparks jealousy. The Philistines respond by filling in the wells his family had dug — cutting off resources, creating conflict, and forcing Isaac to move on.

This episode explores how envy and insecurity often cause people to resist or misunderstand God’s work in someone else’s life. Rather than retaliate or fight for his rights, Isaac chooses a different path: humility, peace, and trust in God’s continued provision.

Through this passage, we discover practical wisdom for handling opposition, navigating jealousy, and responding faithfully when others lash out because of blessing or growth. The story reminds us that God’s provision cannot be stopped by human resistance — and that sometimes the wisest response is to keep digging new wells instead of fighting over old ones.

If you’ve ever felt misunderstood, pushed out, or resisted while trying to walk faithfully, this message offers biblical encouragement and perspective rooted in God’s faithfulness.

Send us Fan Mail

Linkoln shares his story on why he started coming to Ravenna Church of the Nazarene and shares why you should consider doing the same.

Ravenna Church of the Nazarene
530 Main Street, Ravenna, KY 40472

Support the show

The Dirt Path Sermon Podcast is a place for real sermons that speak to real life. Subscribe and walk the path with us every week.

Consider visiting Ravenna Church of the Nazarene where Pastor Jason is the Senior Pastor.   

Have a prayer need? Want to share something with Pastor Jason? Email [email protected]

A book explaining wisdom and its depths comes this conclusion: "Fear God and keep his commands." 

This sermon is based on Ecclesiastes 12:12-14.

Send us Fan Mail

Linkoln shares his story on why he started coming to Ravenna Church of the Nazarene and shares why you should consider doing the same.

Ravenna Church of the Nazarene
530 Main Street, Ravenna, KY 40472

Support the show

The Dirt Path Sermon Podcast is a place for real sermons that speak to real life. Subscribe and walk the path with us every week.

Consider visiting Ravenna Church of the Nazarene where Pastor Jason is the Senior Pastor.   

Have a prayer need? Want to share something with Pastor Jason? Email [email protected]

Why is our first instinct when we make a mistake to hide it?

From the earliest pages of Scripture to our everyday lives, people often respond to failure with denial, blame, or silence. Yet the Bible presents a different path — one that leads not to shame, but to healing. This sermon explores how God’s confrontation of sin is not meant to crush us, but to invite us into humility, honesty, and restoration.

Looking at themes of confession, forgiveness, and spiritual renewal, this sermon reminds us that God is both holy and loving. Justice is real, but so is mercy. Through Jesus Christ, the full penalty for sin has already been paid, which means we no longer have to pretend, defend, or run. We can be truthful with God and discover grace instead of condemnation.

If you’ve ever wrestled with guilt, shame, or the fear of being exposed, this message offers a hopeful reminder: humility brings freedom, and honesty opens the door to peace. Faith grows not by hiding our flaws, but by trusting the God who promises to forgive and cleanse.

Send us Fan Mail

Linkoln shares his story on why he started coming to Ravenna Church of the Nazarene and shares why you should consider doing the same.

Ravenna Church of the Nazarene
530 Main Street, Ravenna, KY 40472

Support the show

The Dirt Path Sermon Podcast is a place for real sermons that speak to real life. Subscribe and walk the path with us every week.

Consider visiting Ravenna Church of the Nazarene where Pastor Jason is the Senior Pastor.   

Have a prayer need? Want to share something with Pastor Jason? Email [email protected]