Conversations in the Barn

Love bends low, reaches down, and points straight to Christ. The final candle shines bright because God sent His Son, bringing hope, peace, joy, and love to every corner of our lives.This week’s reflection—Love & the Christ Candle—reminds us that God’s love has come. He is here. And He will never let go.

James reminds us of an uncomfortable truth: we all stumble, especially with our words. Using vivid imagery of bits, rudders, and sparks, Pastor Isaac shows how something so small as the tongue can steer our lives for good or for harm. Though no one can fully tame the tongue through willpower alone, hope is found at the source. Jesus taught that our words flow from the heart, meaning real change begins within. The challenge is not just to control our speech, but to allow God to transform our hearts so what overflows brings life, not destruction.#FaithInAction #BookOfJames #ChristianLiving #WordsMatter #CowboyChurch

Faith isn’t proven by what we say. It’s proven by what shows up when life gets heavy.This week, we’re talking about what it looks like to live what we believe and put our faith under saddle, where it’s tested, trusted, and put to work.

Is your faith merely ornamental, or does it actually work under saddle? In this message from the book of James, we’re challenged to examine whether our actions truly align with what we claim to believe. Using rodeo imagery, the sermon reminds us that just as a horse’s value is proven when it’s put to work, genuine faith is revealed through action.We explore the often-misunderstood relationship between faith and works, discovering they are not opposed but work together to make faith complete. Through the example of Abraham, we see that authentic Christianity goes beyond religious words and traditions, it’s lived out in obedience and trust.As we move into the Christmas season, this message asks a sobering question: it’s easy to participate in religious activities, but are we actually living Christ-like lives? This sermon calls us beyond comfortable faith statements and into a transformed walk that truly matches our talk.

In this episode of Conversations in the Barn, Rachel reflects on James 2 and the life-changing truth that mercy doesn’t just meet us, it triumphs. Through Scripture, honest reflection, and a real-life ranch story, she explores what it means to receive God’s mercy and extend it to others. As we head into Christmas, let this message settle your heart and remind you of the freedom found in Christ.

The second candle of Advent is lit… Peace. Not the kind of quiet that depends on calm circumstances but the kind that comes from God’s presence in the middle of life’s storms.This week, let’s lean into that steady, trail-tested peace. One deep breath. One quiet moment. One whispered prayer: “Lord, be near.”Read this week’s reflection, Peace for the Trail, and take a pause with us in the midst of this busy season.

This message explores James 2’s teaching that breaking even one part of God’s law makes us lawbreakers, reminding us that sins we consider “small,” like favoritism, still matter. Yet the passage also reveals the hope of “the law that gives freedom,” where God’s mercy triumphs over judgment. We’re invited to receive that mercy, letting go of guilt Christ has already paid for and to extend it to others. Like Jesus teaches in the Lord’s Prayer, forgiveness isn’t meant to be stored but shared. The message challenges us to examine where we withhold mercy and to align our hearts with God’s, becoming people who confidently live out the truth that mercy triumphs.

In this Christmas-season episode of Conversations in the Barn, Rachel reflects on James 2 and the difference between healthy preferences and sinful favoritism. Through personal stories, practical examples, and insights from the Wesleyan tradition, she explores what it means to love our neighbors as ourselves in a world that often ranks and divides people.This episode dives into: • When preference becomes favoritism • How God’s value system flips ours upside down • The call to practical holiness • Why you can’t give what you haven’t received • Making room for others—just like Jesus did at ChristmasWhether you're wrestling with relationship tensions, trying to love difficult people, or simply wanting to grow spiritually, this episode offers grace-filled, grounded encouragement.Join us—and if you're local, come celebrate Christmas Eve at Black Hills Cowboy Church at 3 or 4:30 PM!