This morning at Advent Lutheran Church (ELCA). we continued our Meeting Jesus Again series. Sermon My message, “Welcoming Doubt" is based on the narrative lectionary passage: Luke 7:18-23. You can watch below or read the manuscript. Excerpt Just as good church members – of actual congregations as well as fictitious ones – know what to expect of a prospective pastor, John the Baptist knew what to expect of Jesus. Remember siblings in Christ, this is the same John Read More …
doubt
Doubting Debie (and Doubting Thomas) (#2160)
This morning I preached the first message in a series based on Debie Thomas’ new book A Faith of Many Rooms: Inhabiting a More Spacious Christianity (Broadleaf, 2024).Today, we focused on doubt. Sermon My message, “Embracing Doubt” was based on Genesis 17:17-22, 18:10-15 and John 20:24-29. Doubt You can watch the sermon below or read the manuscript. Excerpt Doubt isn’t something to fear; it is one of the ways we explore our faith and truly make it our own.Looking at Read More …
Thinking Theologically: Exploring 5 Tweets (#1931)
I've been tweeting as @SoWhatFaith since 2009. In 2021, the majority of my tweets have been quotes from new books. Interestingly, according to Twitter's built in analytics, my top tweets this year consist of four such tweets alongside one I wrote in response to a very difficult day. I invite you to read these five tweets, and select one to explore in greater depth. Carry the words of that tweet with you for a few days, then share your reflections. Brian McLaren. "Eventually, I came to Read More …
Great News Books -January 2021 (#1909)
My first post of the year focused on great new books features eight volumes published in 2020 and two published in 2021. (5.0) Faith After Doubt: Why Your Beliefs Stopped Working and What to Do About It by Brian D. McLaren (St. Martin's Press, 2021) (4.5) The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism by Katherine Stewart (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020) (4.5) Future Church: Seven Laws of Real Church Growth by Will Mancini and Cory Hartman (Baker Books, 2020) (4.5) Read More …
No Longer Taboo (#1286)
Zack Perkins, a blogger who is "trying navigate Christianity as a Millennial through the Orthodox way," recently shared a list of five uncomfortable issues the church needs to talk more about: addiction, sexuality, sincere doubt, mental illness, and loneliness. So What? Perkins is right when he suggests that the items appearing on his list are "issues that individuals in the Church are dealing with—issues that the Church Body should be talking about." I am thankful that I Read More …
Theology on Tap / Theology Pub Discussion Starters (#0344)
Adam Walker Cleaveland is Minister for Youth and Young Adults at Asbury United Methodist Church in Livermore, CA. At 31, he is among the younger voices of note in the emerging church movement and a co-founder of Presbymergent. Adam is a candidate in the Presbyterian Church (USA) ordination process as well as a prolific and thoughtful blogger, writing primarily on his sites: PomoMusings and DazedDad. To connect with him, view his flickr stream, follow him on Read More …