Through the Bible for Skeptics and Seekers

The message Jesus shared called the Sermon on the Mount is a new way of seeing the world. In Matthew 5 and following, Jesus takes on religion - another danger to the movement He was starting. Jesus starts with blessed are the poor in heart - the ones who know they need God then Jesus calls us to an impossible standard and a call to be perfect which should lead us to become poor in heart and acknow...

What have you experienced that you would describe as supernatural? Ever had an evil thought that scared you?  While Jesus was in the wilderness, the Accuser tempts Him to take an easier path. Jesus overcomes these lies with Truth. Jesus announces the Kingdom of Heaven has come, and the way to enter this Kingdom is through repentance - acknowledging you need help and forgiveness from God. Jesus beg...

Do you have a religious view of God or a relational view of God? John the Baptist confronts the religious leaders. Relationship begins with repentance - acknowledging we need God's help. God proclaims His love for Jesus at His baptism before He ever taught a message, healed someone, or even began His public ministry. God has the same posture towards us! God loves us, values us, considers us wo...

Matthew was an eyewitness of Jesus writing his account of his experience with Jesus to help people discover that the Jesus is the promised Messiah. Jesus fulfilled the prophecies about the Messiah which are mathematically improbable! We have copies of the Hebrew Scriptures that pre-date the life of Jesus so these fulfilled prophecies were not written up after Jesus' life. Many of these prophec...

What if God put us in our family line to bring healing to those older than us and hope to those to come? Matthew 1 reveals that Jesus’ family tree was filled with good guys and bad guys and people who were both! He came as a fulfillment of the prophecies of the One who will come to rescue us all. What is one way you can apply what you’ve read in Matthew 1? How does God want to work in your life? H...

Was Christmas just a pagan holiday? Do we even know if or when Jesus was born? We actually have lots of evidence that Jesus was a real person probably born in September or October in one of the years between 2-7 B.C.. The exact date isn’t as important as the fact that it actually happened!

Why 4 Different Gospels? Each was written to 4 different audiences AND I think all 4 represent the 4 main types of personalities! Matthew was an SJ Mark was an SP Luke was an NT John was an NF What do you think of this theory? Other evidence you think for why this may be true? Follow along as we read through the New Testament in one year - 1 chapter a day, 5 chapters a week.

I grew up hearing: "The Bible says it. That settles it. I believe it." The problem with that is I had lots of questions! I deconstructed my faith without throwing out baby Jesus with the bath water. I reconstructed my faith in Seattle with Gary Irby (Northwest Church Planting) , Dave Bruskas (Acts 29), and Norm Finch followed by 12 1/2 years with Erwin McManus in Los Angeles (Mosaic), an...

I grew up doing Bible Drill and learning the books of the Bible. I may have had ulterior motives (free candy), but it's amazing how God has brought to mind some of what I learned as a kid. I can even say the books of the Bible in order in less than 30 seconds! :) Follow along as we read through the New Testament in one year - 1 chapter a day, 5 chapters a week.

The Bible is to be read on our own and in community. We need to read beyond our Western and individualized approach. Instead, the Bible can transform us and transform society. Special tools to help us include The Bible Project and the For Everyone Bible commentaries by N.T. Wright . When we discover the context and let the Scriptures help us interpret the Scriptures, the Bible will come alive! Fol...

Too often people have claimed the Bible is misogynistic, racist, and irrelevant. What if God intended the complete opposite? What if this was misunderstanding came as a result of people using the Bible for their own agenda? Follow along as we read through the entire New Testament in one year - 1 chapter a day, 5 chapters a week.