The Trap of Control (Bad Parents 1 - Pastor Jared)

Are you parenting out of trust or control?,. In the kickoff of our new sermon series, "Bad Parents of the Bible," we take an honest look at the messy family dynamics of Isaac and Rebekah,,.Parenting is often an exhausting journey of investing and "pouring in," waiting for our children to finally "turn a corner" in their maturity,. But what happens when the pressure to succeed—or even a divine promise—leads us to favoritism and manipulation?,,,. Through the story of Esau and Jacob, we explore how favoritism often stems from what a child "gives back" to us emotionally or physically, and how trying to control the outcome can lead to short-term wins but devastating long-term consequences,,.We also address the unique fears of parenting in 2026. From the constant "scrolling" of social media to the alarming emergence of AI technologies like "Mythos" that can find vulnerabilities in global systems, the world feels increasingly unpredictable,,. When fear rises, we often tighten our grip, but the line between guiding and controlling is remarkably thin.Key Takeaway: Your child's future is not resting on your control, but on God's grace. While we are called to have the courage to have hard conversations and to stay invested, we can find peace knowing that God loves our children even more than we do,,.In this message, you’ll discover:* Why we naturally gravitate toward favoritism in our relationships,.* The difference between guiding our children and trying to control them.* How to navigate parenting in a high-tech world filled with deep fakes and cyber threats,.* The freedom found in realizing that God’s love for us is based on His grace, not our parenting performance.