In this sermon, Jon Sherwood explores what healthy Christian community looks like when it is shaped by both grace and truth. Beginning in John 1, he examines Jesus as God dwelling among His people “full of grace and truth” and explains why Christian community cannot be built on love without conviction or truth without relational commitment. #PracticingTheWay #Scripture #Sermon #BibleStudy #Community

Follow Jesus into the cross-shaped way of peace. Pastor Jon Sherwood is an unlikely pacifist. Born into a military family and raised in the American Bible Belt, he was shaped by a difficult past of drugs and crime. Though surrounded by evangelical Christianity, he did not encounter Christ as the Prince of Peace until he began examining Jesus' words for himself. What he discovered changed not only his life, but the life of his church. In Southern evangelical "God and guns" culture, embracing the unarmed truth of Jesus' kingdom may seem unlikely. Yet this story shows it is not only possible but transformative. For those, like Sherwood, who love Jesus yet have rarely heard nonviolence named as a central tenet of discipleship, The Unarmed Truth offers a Scripture-rooted invitation to examine our faith, culture, and inherited assumptions. In these pages, readers will discover how Jesus confronted violence--not by wielding coercive power, but by laying down his life. Through self-giving love of enemies, Jesus waged war on war itself and inaugurated a radically different way of peace. Discover the power of a faith that refuses violence and thus changes everything. Table of Contents Foreword Preface 1 A War on Mars: A Southern Pastor’s (Reluctant) Journey into Nonviolence 2 But I Tell You: Jesus’ Vision of Enemy Love 3 Subversive Confrontation: Jesus and the Powers 4 A Cosmic War: The Apostles Follow Jesus into Nonviolent Battle 5 Swords into Plowshares: The Early Church Witness to the Sanctity of Life 6 A Marriage of Two Kingdoms: A Seismic Shift 7 No Blood but Our Own: The Historic Peace Churches 8 One Nation Under God: Christian Nationalism in America 9 God and Guns: The Myth of Redemptive Violence 10 Let God Sort ’Em Out: A Southern Congregation’s (Reluctant) Journey into Nonviolence and Hope for a New World 11 Exilic Outposts: Peaceful Resistance and Uncivil Worship Common Scriptural Questions about Christian Nonviolence Common Ethical Questions about Christian Nonviolence Study Guide Notes The Author Endorsements “For too long, a wider culture of violence has edited and shaped the gospel to fit the convenience of retaliation, retribution, and revenge. Sherwood unmasks these false notions and places us on the path of communal restoration.” —Otis Moss III, professor of homiletics at the McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University “Even rarer than changing one’s mind is truly changing one’s life. Sherwood has done both. He models repentance as the early church taught it, a radical reorientation of mind and life that comes from acknowledging Jesus’ lordship in everything.” —Meghan Larissa Good, author of Divine Gravity “An exciting book, reflecting a fresh discovery of Jesus-based nonviolence from an author with a most unlikely starting point. The Unarmed Truth demonstrates the continuing appeal of the radical way of Jesus.” —David P. Gushee, author of Changing Our Mind and After Evangelicalism

In this sermon, we explore what it means to live as a covenanted community and how Jesus redefines family not through shared DNA, marriage, or legal status, but through shared faith, loyalty, love, and obedience to God. #PracticingTheWay #Scripture #Sermon #BibleStudy #Community

Jon Sherwood is a pastor of a micro church network in Asheville, NC and while in the midst of various world-views and the challenge to truth from relativism, is dedicated to providing fresh and relevant Christian discipleship resources such as bible studies, bible courses, podcasts, and sermons to help ignite and fuel faith in Jesus in the 21st century. Like About Contact Fueling Faith in the 21st Century Jon Sherwood Jon Sherwood is a pastor theologian providing resources to help ignite and fuel Christian faith in the 21st century. Jon loves spending time with his family and the beauty of the blue ridge mountains where he lives. He holds degrees from the University of Florida, Columbia International University, and a doctorate from Mercer University. Learn More Featured News & Updates The Unarmed Truth: 9.1.26 🙌 Following the Prince of Peace in a World of Violence Follow Jesus into the cross-shaped way of peace. Pastor Jon Sherwood is an unlikely pacifist. Born into a military family and raised in the American Bible Belt, he was shaped by a difficult past of drugs and crime. Though surrounded by evangelical Christianity, he did not encounter Christ as the Prince of Peace until he began examining Jesus' words for himself. What he discovered changed not only his life, but the life of his church. In Southern evangelical "God and guns" culture, embracing the unarmed truth of Jesus' kingdom may seem unlikely. Yet this story shows it is not only possible but transformative. Order Now Articles Interviews Books Sermons UNpolished church podcast UNpolished church podcast UNpolished church podcast UNpolished church podcast Honest conversations about the complexity , frustration , and beauty of church life in the 21st century. Topics range from theology , ecclesiology , discipleship , practical ministry , missions , spiritual formation , and other things related to following Jesus in community.

Jon Sherwood is a pastor of a micro church network in Asheville, NC and while in the midst of various world-views and the challenge to truth from relativism, is dedicated to providing fresh and relevant Christian discipleship resources such as bible studies, bible courses, podcasts, and sermons to help ignite and fuel faith in Jesus in the 21st century. About My Story making known the path of life While I love the ministry, I didn't grow up religious or with the dream to one day be a minister. I know what it's like to have doubts and to question the sincerity of religious leaders and institutions. I strive to treat people with respect and dignity while expressing my heartfelt beliefs about Jesus and the Christian faith. While growing up in north-central Florida I learned to love the outdoors, and frequented my father and grandfather in Colorado who were experienced outdoorsmen. I was exposed to hunting, fishing, rock climbing, carpentry, horseback riding, blacksmithing, and a general love of God's beautiful creation. During my youth I was not overly religious and was heavily involved in athletics and eventually became a competitive tennis player. Late in high school I started heading down a dark path of self-destruction. After years of drinking, heavy drug usage, and several bouts with the law, I eventually came to a place where I was sick of life and suicidal. I had come to the end of myself. I wanted to end the misery, pain, and hopelessness that I had exposed life to be ... yet deep down, I longed for something more, some deeper meaning and purpose to life than simple pleasures (read Ecclesiastes). Through a series of events during my second attempt at college, I learned about God, Jesus and the truth according to the bible, and decided to dedicate my life to following Jesus Christ, becoming His disciple. It was, and continues to be the best decision I have ever made. Since, I have lived all over the country, and traveled through many parts of the world proclaiming the message of Christ, helping people find true meaning and fulfillment in their lives through Him. Along the way I married the love of my life and together we pursue helping others learn what has been made known to us. You have made known to me the path of life; you fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11 Like About Contact Fueling Faith in the 21st Century

Jon Sherwood is a pastor in Asheville, NC and while in the midst of various world-views and the challenge to truth from relativism, is dedicated to providing fresh and relevant Christian discipleship resources such as bible studies, bible courses, podcasts, and sermons to help ignite and fuel faith in Jesus in the 21st century. Sexuality Latest Sexuality Posts 1 2 3 4 5 Like About Contact Fueling Faith in the 21st Century