Like a small spark that has the potential to scorch an entire green forest, our tongues are untamable, with the power to control our whole bodies. We have a tool that can be used to build up those around us or tear them down in just a few words. What do we do with that kind of power? We can’t lock it away. But we can, by God’s grace, learn to control it. May 31, 2020
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We all know what it’s like to be hurt by someone who just couldn’t listen long enough to understand us. Maybe in their attempt to be right, they damaged a relationship that could have been saved with a little patience and curiosity. You’ve probably been on the other side of that coin too. Taking the verbal offense may have won the argument, but you lost relationally. What if we didn’t settle for being right, but tried to make things right instead? The longer we listen, the more we learn, and the better chance we have of protecting ourselves from our own big mouths. May 24, 2020
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Remember when you discovered that your unlimited data plan had limits? When the all-you-can-eat buffet fell short? Disappointing, right? Consequently, we’re skeptical of words like “unlimited” and “unconditional.” They usually appear right above the fine print that says “terms and limits apply.” So, let’s be honest. Everything has limits. What are the limits of God’s goodness and greatness? When are things so out of control that they are even beyond God’s control? May 17, 2020
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How are we supposed to remain hopeful in a hopelessly broken world? We want to be hopeful, but when relationships sour, stock prices tumble, dreams disappear, and plans crumble, hope can be hard to come by. In a world without guarantees, hope can be a dangerous thing. But what if the tension we feel is the result of putting our hope in the wrong things? What if God has a different plan for us—a plan built on his unfailing love? May 10, 2020
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Uncertainty. As a society, we live in a world of uncertainty. Uncertain social conditions. Uncertain economic times. Uncertain global developments. Yet uncertainty is nothing new. The characters in the Bible experienced wildly fluctuating levels of uncertainty . . . often feeling as if life was moving backwards, getting worse. And the questions remain the same. Where’s God? Is he going to show up? Is he still in control? May 3, 2020
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In the previous session, we said that God is at work even in uncertain times. It is good to know that he is working, but what should we be doing? How should we live in the midst of uncertainty? How can we keep from being overwhelmed by the fears and insecurities that often go hand in hand with uncertainty? God has a plan, and his plan is to replace our anxieties with peace. April 26, 2020
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Life is full of uncertainties; ups and downs that can impact our jobs, our finances, even our relationships. For many of us today, debt, stress, and uncertainty are ruling our lives. And in the midst of this mess, we often find ourselves wondering, “Where is God?” Is it possible to maintain faith in God when there is no evidence of his activity in our lives? In “Nothing New,” Rich Barrett reminds us that it is during these darkest times that God may be doing his greatest work.
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We talk about the HOPE we all need now, more than ever. April 12, 2020
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Jesus seemed troubled. Initiating this new covenant with God would require sacrifice. What came next would confuse his followers and send them scattering. April 5, 2020
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Jesus didn’t come to initiate Judaism 2.0. And with that new covenant came a new ethic—one that insisted the greatest choose the back of the line. March 29, 2020
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