Pastor Paul centers on the idea of “barriers to entry,” and explores how personal attitudes, insecurities, past experiences, and expectations can make us difficult to approach and hinder meaningful connection with other people. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 13, he emphasizes that true, Christlike love is patient, kind, and accessible—modeled perfectly by Jesus, who welcomed all people regardless of their status or past. We should ask ourselves can people approach me or have my relational barriers to entry kept them at a distance. Whether its trust issues, avoidance of effort, value judgements, fear of rejection, pressures of perfection, we’re called to examine our own relational barriers, embrace our identity as loved and valued by God, and intentionally lower those barriers so others can experience His love through us.

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