January 16th, 2022 | Barry Swindon
This week is a follow-up to some of the ideas expressed in the Bible Project video we watched last week. We’re talking about God and who and what God is and how we know he is real. We also dive into what God is like and how we can know him better. WEEK 2: STUDY GUIDE WEEK 2: ANSWER KEY
January 2nd, 2022 | Barry Swindon
Make some time to engage in some rhythms and practices of spiritual formation after Christmas. This is Part Two of a self-guided teaching (Part One is HERE) for you and your family during Christmastide, commonly known as the season between Christmas Eve and the New Year as we head towards the next season, Epiphany (Don’t know what that is? Look … Read More →
December 26th, 2021 | Barry Swindon
Make some time to engage in some rhythms and practices of spiritual formation after Christmas. This is part one of a self-guided teaching for you and your family during Christmastide, commonly known as the season between Christmas Eve and the New Year as we head towards the next season, Epiphany (Don’t know what that is? Look it up!). Look for the … Read More →
December 24th, 2021 | Barry Swindon
The story of the first Christmas has become so normalized and ordinary that we don’t even see the extraordinary elements, objects and people within the narrative anymore. We have succumbed to the “lullaby effect” where we “know” (or think we know) the story so well that we “fall asleep” when we hear it and we aren’t really listening…instead, we’re nodding … Read More →
December 19th, 2021 | Barry Swindon
“You go, and do likewise,” are the words Jesus conveys to the lawyer at the end of a certain story about a Samaritan. It’s a perfect scripture to take a look at during Advent as we remember the first Christmas long ago…and realize with thankfulness that God didn’t “walk by on the other side” of the universe and instead sent … Read More →
December 12th, 2021 | Barry Swindon
If you had a financial manager in charge of all your assets and you found they were cheating you and using your resources for sketchy dealings…would you tell them, “Good job”? Probably not. Well, that’s Jesus’ hook for a story we dive into this week as he illustrates the idea that if you’re following him…be smart, be ready, be scheming…have … Read More →
December 5th, 2021 | Barry Swindon
This week we examine what it means to follow Jesus’ Great Commandment to love God and love others (his definition of a growing Christian) in a more specific as we weigh the lessons taught in his Parable of the Talents. This has to do with attitude, expectations and the excuses we make…and if we’re brave enough, becoming the best version … Read More →
November 28th, 2021 | Barry Swindon
Have you ever been frustrated while driving? Traffic jam? Idiotic driver in front of you? Behind you? All around you? Today we’re going to talk about the assumptions we make about other people; the value judgments we make and place on others because we assume we know what’s going on in their life or because we don’t approve of their … Read More →
November 21st, 2021 | Barry Swindon
Using Jesus’ definition based on the Great Commandment we explore what it means to grow spiritually in terms of the role God plays in the process. This means figuring out what God does and what we can and cannot do. Jesus’ words in the scriptures help us realize that developing our awareness of what God is doing in the world … Read More →
November 14th, 2021 | Barry Swindon
This message will be a challenge for you. You will encounter a clear-eyed view, an honest look, a “keeping it real” moment… when it comes to the part you play in the discipleship process…and whether you are up to the task of owning your part. Do you want to attain the character and skill set of Jesus? If you answer … Read More →