In our society, there are a number of cultural factors within the church that turn people off, trip people up. That push them away from church.
That push them away from Jesus. These are Stumbling Blocks.
This fall, we’re going to learn together how and why these Stumbling Blocks hinder people from knowing Jesus.
We are going to clear away the false stumbling blocks so people can perceive the true stumbling block- Jesus - in all his particularity, the Rock of our salvation.
Week 1
9/8/24
On Stumbling Blocks
Scriptures: Acts 4:1-12, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
On Stumbling Blocks
Scriptures: Acts 4:1-12, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
Week 2
9/15/24
Christian Nationalism
Scriptures: Philippians 2:1-11, Mark 12:13-17
Christian Nationalism
Scriptures: Philippians 2:1-11, Mark 12:13-17
Week 3
9/22/24
LGBTQ+ Exclusion
Scriptures: Acts 8:26-40, Luke 17.11-19
LGBTQ+ Exclusion
Scriptures: Acts 8:26-40, Luke 17.11-19
Week 4
9/29/24
Sexism
Scriptures: Luke 24:1-11, Romans 16:1-7
Sexism
Scriptures: Luke 24:1-11, Romans 16:1-7
Week 5
10/6/24
Racism
Scriptures: Ephesians 4:11-22, Galatians 3:28-29
Racism
Scriptures: Ephesians 4:11-22, Galatians 3:28-29
Week 6
10/13/24
Resistance to Science
Scriptures: Matthew 16:1-4, Job 38:1-7, Psalm 111:1-5
Guest Speaker: Dr. Stephen Moshier, Wheaton College
Resistance to Science
Scriptures: Matthew 16:1-4, Job 38:1-7, Psalm 111:1-5
Guest Speaker: Dr. Stephen Moshier, Wheaton College
Week 7
10/20/24
The Scandal of Particularity
Scriptures: John 10:22-33, Genesis 12:1-5
The Scandal of Particularity
Scriptures: John 10:22-33, Genesis 12:1-5
Week 8
10/27/24
The Scandal of Grace
Scriptures: Romans 5:1-10, John 3:14-17
The Scandal of Grace
Scriptures: Romans 5:1-10, John 3:14-17
Week 9
11/3/24
The Scandal of The Church
Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Matthew 18:15-22
The Scandal of The Church
Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Matthew 18:15-22
Let justice roll down like water, And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, So that you may be children of your Father in heaven.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Against such things there is no law. Let us walk worthily as disciples of the risen Lamb.
Resources
Christian Nationalism
Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor by Caleb Campbell
Holy Post Podcast interview with Caleb Campbell
Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States by Andrew Whitehead and Samuel Perry
Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America by Russell Moore
The Spirit of Our Politics by Michael Wear
Holy Post Podcast interview with Caleb Campbell
Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States by Andrew Whitehead and Samuel Perry
Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America by Russell Moore
The Spirit of Our Politics by Michael Wear
LGBTQ+ Exclusion
God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships by Matthew Vines
Changing Our Mind: Definitive Edition of the Landmark Call for Inclusion of LGBT Christians by David Gushee
Does Jesus Really Love Me?: A Gay Christian's Pilgrimage in Search of God in America by Jeff Chu
The Reformation Project website
Jen Hatmaker “For the Love” Podcast: “A Moment of Pride - Jen and Sydney Hatmaker on Being Gay and Loved:
We also recommend this thread from Twitter by Jonathan Merritt:
https://x.com/JonathanMerritt/status/1707416840845107682
Changing Our Mind: Definitive Edition of the Landmark Call for Inclusion of LGBT Christians by David Gushee
Does Jesus Really Love Me?: A Gay Christian's Pilgrimage in Search of God in America by Jeff Chu
The Reformation Project website
Jen Hatmaker “For the Love” Podcast: “A Moment of Pride - Jen and Sydney Hatmaker on Being Gay and Loved:
We also recommend this thread from Twitter by Jonathan Merritt:
https://x.com/JonathanMerritt/status/1707416840845107682
Sexism
What Paul Really Said About Women: The Apostle's Liberating Views on Equality in Marriage, Leadership, and Love by John T. Bristow
Gifted to Lead: The Art of Leading as a Woman in the Church by Nancy Beach
Emboldened: A Vision for Empowering Women in Ministry by Tara Beth Leach
A Year of Biblical Womanhood: How a Liberated Woman Found Herself Sitting on Her Roof, Covering Her Head, and Calling Her Husband 'Master' by Rachel Held Evans
Jesus Feminist: An Invitation to Revisit the Bible's View of Women by Sarah Bessey
Gifted to Lead: The Art of Leading as a Woman in the Church by Nancy Beach
Emboldened: A Vision for Empowering Women in Ministry by Tara Beth Leach
A Year of Biblical Womanhood: How a Liberated Woman Found Herself Sitting on Her Roof, Covering Her Head, and Calling Her Husband 'Master' by Rachel Held Evans
Jesus Feminist: An Invitation to Revisit the Bible's View of Women by Sarah Bessey
Racism
The Color of Compromise: The Truth About the American Church’s Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby
Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America by Michael O. Emerson and Christian Smith
Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope by Esau McCaulley
Rediscipling the White Church: From Cheap Diversity to True Solidarity
by David W. Swanson and Brenda Salter McNeil
Roadmap to Reconciliation 2.0: Moving Communities into Unity, Wholeness and Justice by Brenda Salter McNeil, Eugene Cho
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
13th (documentary film by Ava DuVernay; available for free on Youtube)
Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America by Michael O. Emerson and Christian Smith
Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope by Esau McCaulley
Rediscipling the White Church: From Cheap Diversity to True Solidarity
by David W. Swanson and Brenda Salter McNeil
Roadmap to Reconciliation 2.0: Moving Communities into Unity, Wholeness and Justice by Brenda Salter McNeil, Eugene Cho
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
13th (documentary film by Ava DuVernay; available for free on Youtube)
Resistance to Science
Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World by Katherine Hayhoe
The Evolution of Adam by Pete Enns
Star Struck: Seeing the Creator in the Wonders of Our Cosmos by David Bradstreet
The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief by Francis Collins
A Climate for Change: Global Warming Facts for Faith-Based Decisions by Katharine Hayhoe and Andrew Farley
BioLogos Website: BioLogos explores God’s Word and God’s World to inspire authentic faith for today. Our vision is faith and science working hand in hand.
The Evolution of Adam by Pete Enns
Star Struck: Seeing the Creator in the Wonders of Our Cosmos by David Bradstreet
The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief by Francis Collins
A Climate for Change: Global Warming Facts for Faith-Based Decisions by Katharine Hayhoe and Andrew Farley
BioLogos Website: BioLogos explores God’s Word and God’s World to inspire authentic faith for today. Our vision is faith and science working hand in hand.