Postcards from Babylon: Chapters One and Two

This series is based on a book of the same title by Brian Zahnd.

Every week, the sermon will be based on the book, and the following Wednesday at 6:00pm Arizona time, you will have the opportunity to discuss the reading for that week in a new Online Connect Group.

Series Schedule

February 21- Chapters 1 and 2
February 28- Chapters 3 and 4 with special guest Travis Lovrien
March 7- Chapters 5 and 6
March 14- Chapters 7 and 8 with special guest Aaron Strietzel
March 21- Chapters 9 and 10 with special guest Jezekiel Vitalsey
March 28- Special Guest Brian Zahnd

From the publisher: The original gospel proclamation that the Lord of the nations was a crucified Galilean raised from the dead and that salvation was found in vowing allegiance to Jesus of Nazareth unleashed a shock wave that turned the Roman Empire upside down. Early Christianity was subversive and dangerous—dangerous for Christians and a threat to the keepers of the old order. Most of all Christianity was countercultural.

But what about contemporary American Christianity?

Is it the countercultural way of Jesus or merely a religious endorsement of Americanism?

In his provocative book, Postcards From Babylon, Brian Zahnd challenges the reader to see and embrace a daring Jesus-centered Christianity that can again turn the world upside down.

Purchase your book anywhere books are sold, and join us beginning Sunday February 21 for the Lent 2021 series, Postcards from Babylon: The Church in American Exile.

Special Guest Pete Enns

This past year, we witnessed the explosive growth of conspiracy theories, disinformation, and propaganda, along with distrust of medical science and vaccines. While COVID-19 spiraled out of control, many self-professing Christians supported the false claims of politicians with no evidence and even mocked doctors who urged Americans to take common sense precautions. Some Christians have even believed and spread political propaganda that is contrary to their faith.

This has prompted some to ask, “Can a thinking person be a Christian?” Can followers of Jesus trust reason and rationality, or do we have to just accept “blind faith,” and believe in claims in spite of what our brains tell us?

Starting January 10, we will explore the relationship between faith and doubt and faith and reason:

Series Schedule

January 10- The Bible and Your Brain (the Relationship between Faith and Reason)
January 17- Surviving Disinformation and Propaganda
January 24- Interpreting the Bible Intelligently
January 31- The Bible and Science
February 7- Christians, Vaccines, and Conspiracy Theories
February 14- Special Guest Dr. Pete Enns

If God Gave You A Brain It’s Okay to Use It in Church: Christians, Vaccines, and Conspiracy Theories

This past year, we witnessed the explosive growth of conspiracy theories, disinformation, and propaganda, along with distrust of medical science and vaccines. While COVID-19 spiraled out of control, many self-professing Christians supported the false claims of politicians with no evidence and even mocked doctors who urged Americans to take common sense precautions. Some Christians have even believed and spread political propaganda that is contrary to their faith.

This has prompted some to ask, “Can a thinking person be a Christian?” Can followers of Jesus trust reason and rationality, or do we have to just accept “blind faith,” and believe in claims in spite of what our brains tell us?

Starting January 10, we will explore the relationship between faith and doubt and faith and reason:

Series Schedule

January 10- The Bible and Your Brain (the Relationship between Faith and Reason)
January 17- Surviving Disinformation and Propaganda
January 24- Interpreting the Bible Intelligently
January 31- The Bible and Science
February 7- Christians, Vaccines, and Conspiracy Theories
February 14- Special Guest Dr. Pete Enns

If God Gave You A Brain It’s Okay to Use It in Church: The Bible and Science

This past year, we witnessed the explosive growth of conspiracy theories, disinformation, and propaganda, along with distrust of medical science and vaccines. While COVID-19 spiraled out of control, many self-professing Christians supported the false claims of politicians with no evidence and even mocked doctors who urged Americans to take common sense precautions. Some Christians have even believed and spread political propaganda that is contrary to their faith.

This has prompted some to ask, “Can a thinking person be a Christian?” Can followers of Jesus trust reason and rationality, or do we have to just accept “blind faith,” and believe in claims in spite of what our brains tell us?

Starting January 10, we will explore the relationship between faith and doubt and faith and reason:

Series Schedule

January 10- The Bible and Your Brain (the Relationship between Faith and Reason)
January 17- Surviving Disinformation and Propaganda
January 24- Interpreting the Bible Intelligently
January 31- The Bible and Science
February 7- Christians, Vaccines, and Conspiracy Theories
February 14- Special Guest Dr. Pete Enns

If God Gave You A Brain, It’s Okay to Use It in Church: Surviving Disinformation and Propaganda

This past year, we witnessed the explosive growth of conspiracy theories, disinformation, and propaganda, along with distrust of medical science and vaccines. While COVID-19 spiraled out of control, many self-professing Christians supported the false claims of politicians with no evidence and even mocked doctors who urged Americans to take common sense precautions. Some Christians have even believed and spread political propaganda that is contrary to their faith.

This has prompted some to ask, “Can a thinking person be a Christian?” Can followers of Jesus trust reason and rationality, or do we have to just accept “blind faith,” and believe in claims in spite of what our brains tell us?

Starting January 10, we will explore the relationship between faith and doubt and faith and reason:

Series Schedule

January 10- The Bible and Your Brain (the Relationship between Faith and Reason)
January 17- Surviving Disinformation and Propaganda
January 24- Interpreting the Bible Intelligently
January 31- The Bible and Science
February 7- Christians, Vaccines, and Conspiracy Theories
February 14- Special Guest Dr. Pete Enns

If God Gave You A Brain It’s Okay to Use It in Church: The Bible and Your Brain

This past year, we witnessed the explosive growth of conspiracy theories, disinformation, and propaganda, along with distrust of medical science and vaccines. While COVID-19 spiraled out of control, many self-professing Christians supported the false claims of politicians with no evidence and even mocked doctors who urged Americans to take common sense precautions. Some Christians have even believed and spread political propaganda that is contrary to their faith.

This has prompted some to ask, “Can a thinking person be a Christian?” Can followers of Jesus trust reason and rationality, or do we have to just accept “blind faith,” and believe in claims in spite of what our eyes and brains tell us?

Starting January 10, we will explore the relationship between faith and doubt and faith and reason:

Series Schedule

January 10- The Bible and Your Brain (the Relationship between Faith and Reason)
January 17- Surviving Disinformation and Propaganda
January 24- Interpreting the Bible Intelligently
January 31- The Bible and Science
February 7- Christians, Vaccines, and Conspiracy Theories
February 14- Special Guest Dr. Pete Enns

All Was Not Calm: Light at the End of 2020

This Christmas will feel different than others.

We will celebrate during the darkness of a pandemic, often at a distance from those we love. It may feel even more painful because of the “warm and fuzzy” feelings we have toward Christmas, an idyllic view of a perfect day of light and inspiration, like the lyrics of “Silent Night.”

But that’s not what the first Christmas was like.

The real Christmas story tells us that it was not a silent night and all was not calm. Jesus was born into a dark, noisy world, a world ruled by dictators, with fear of disease, and increasing hatred for those perceived as different in any way.

When the Christmas story speaks of light shining into the darkness, we now know what that darkness feels like. The first Christmas was just like this one. The world into which Jesus was born was just like ours. So, in 2020, the real Christmas story means more now than ever.

This Advent,  join us for “All Was Not Calm.”

All Was Not Calm: The Power of Serving

This Christmas will feel different than others.

We will celebrate during the darkness of a pandemic, often at a distance from those we love. It may feel even more painful because of the “warm and fuzzy” feelings we have toward Christmas, an idyllic view of a perfect day of light and inspiration, like the lyrics of “Silent Night.”

But that’s not what the first Christmas was like.

The real Christmas story tells us that it was not a silent night and all was not calm. Jesus was born into a dark, noisy world, a world ruled by dictators, with fear of disease, and increasing hatred for those perceived as different in any way.

When the Christmas story speaks of light shining into the darkness, we now know what that darkness feels like. The first Christmas was just like this one. The world into which Jesus was born was just like ours. So, in 2020, the real Christmas story means more now than ever.

This Advent,  join us for “All Was Not Calm.”

All Was Not Calm: Good News in 2020

This Christmas will feel different than others.

We will celebrate during the darkness of a pandemic, often at a distance from those we love. It may feel even more painful because of the “warm and fuzzy” feelings we have toward Christmas, an idyllic view of a perfect day of light and inspiration, like the lyrics of “Silent Night.”

But that’s not what the first Christmas was like.

The real Christmas story tells us that it was not a silent night and all was not calm. Jesus was born into a dark, noisy world, a world ruled by dictators, with fear of disease, and increasing hatred for those perceived as different in any way.

When the Christmas story speaks of light shining into the darkness, we now know what that darkness feels like. The first Christmas was just like this one. The world into which Jesus was born was just like ours. So, in 2020, the real Christmas story means more now than ever.

This Advent,  join us for “All Was Not Calm.”

All Was Not Calm: The Pain of the Present

This Christmas will feel different than others.

We will celebrate during the darkness of a pandemic, often at a distance from those we love. It may feel even more painful because of the “warm and fuzzy” feelings we have toward Christmas, an idyllic view of a perfect day of light and inspiration, like the lyrics of “Silent Night.”

But that’s not what the first Christmas was like.

The real Christmas story tells us that it was not a silent night and all was not calm. Jesus was born into a dark, noisy world, a world ruled by dictators, with fear of disease, and increasing hatred for those perceived as different in any way.

When the Christmas story speaks of light shining into the darkness, we now know what that darkness feels like. The first Christmas was just like this one. The world into which Jesus was born was just like ours. So, in 2020, the real Christmas story means more now than ever.

This Advent,  join us for “All Was Not Calm.”

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