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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 salvation as a community-creating event, how following Jesus isn’t just a private or personal faith, but an invitation into the family of God. We trace Christian community through Acts 2 and 1 John 4, looking at how the early church devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, prayer, generosity, and love. This sermon challenges radical individualism, loneliness, consumer Christianity, and the idea that we can marry Jesus while divorcing His people. #PracticingTheWay #Scripture #Sermon #BibleStudy #Community

Many Christians want to make disciples. But few ever feel prepared to do so. Perhaps it is a lack of motivation, a lack of clarity, a lack of conviction? One thing is sure, if we are going to partner with Jesus in his great mission to make disciples of all nations, baptize them, and teach them to obey (Mat 28:18-20), then we must be equipped to handle the Word of truth faithfully and accurately (2 Tim 2:15). We must be ready to help people fall in love with Jesus to the point they are ready to die with him, and not simply “convert” them to stale religion or denominationalism. ​ This discovery and question oriented Bible study is a resource that acts both as a field guide for making disciples, as well as a framework to unify with other Christians in Jesus’ mission. Making disciples of Jesus is hard work, but I believe it is some of the most rewarding work anyone can do. And everyone can do it! This book will equip you for the journey ahead, the journey of becoming an effective fisher of people (Mark 1:17). This digital forward book has been designed to fuel disciple making themed around the framework of the "seven ones" of Ephesians 4:1-6: ​ “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” ​ This passage serves as a basis for what Paul calls the early Christians in Ephesus to be united on (in the midst of their great ethnic and social divisions between Jews and Gentiles). Because they were prisoners to the Lord, they were to keep the unity of the Spirit (v. 1). This list of seven “ones” is not meant to be exhaustive, but I believe it can be representative of what God calls all Christians to be united on; Body, Spirit, Hope, Lord, Faith, Baptism, and God the Father. These seven "ones" serve as the topics for the main body of biblical studies. ​ What the book covers: ​ This book is designed to be a resource to help people become disciple makers who make disciple makers. The book is framed around the "seven ones" of Ephesians 4:4-6 to help lay foundations of faith using costly stones. ​ ✓ Utilizing Bible studies around the seven ones to help people become disciples of Jesus, as well as to partner together with other followers of Jesus to make disciples together. ✓ Each study is packed with questions that help to plant the seed of the word into the heart, and not simply impart information. ✓ Several appendices of important studies on issues that are needed around disciple making. ✓ Easily shareable content and student worksheets that serve as a primer for Bible study. ✓ Relevant video content for each study including live conversations of small groups digesting and unpacking the content to further aid you in disciple making. ✓ Designed to help new disciples as well as those who are more experienced at disciple making. ONE: Chapter Videos Introduction Alignment One Faith One God One Hope: Part 1 One Hope: Part 2 One Lord One Baptism One Body One Spirit Epilogue Appendix: Who Is Jesus? Appendix: Gospel Presentation Appendix: Philosophical Starting Places Appendix: Sinner's Prayer Appendix: Reliability of the Manuscripts Appendix: Baptism Exposition Appendix: The King and the Kingdom Appendix: Jesus and Nonviolence Appendix: 2 Cor 7:10-11 Exposition - Godly Sorrow & Repentance

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. 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 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 Like About Contact Fueling Faith in the 21st Century 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. This is an invitation to meet Jesus afresh--and to follow him 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 violent past of drugs and crime. Though he was exposed to evangelical Christianity, he did not encounter Jesus 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. Pre-Order Now Articles Interviews Books Sermons

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. Books Books 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. Contact C.S. Lewis - Mere Christianity "If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy , the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world. " Drop Me a Line Here First name* Last name* Email* Message* Submit Like About Contact Fueling Faith in the 21st Century