In this session of our Jesus Centered series we take a look at politics. How does Jesus' kingdom impact and affect our political involvement and civic engagement? Jon encourages us that no matter how we choose to engage the politics of the world, or not, we do so through an explicitly Christian worldview.

What if Jesus meant every word he said? Dean Taylor is president of Sattler College in Boston and author of A Change of Allegiance , a book that chronicles his journey of faith to wrestle with the question, " what if Jesus meant every word he said ?" While a soldier in the United States Army, Dean wrestled with the idea of Christian nationalism as he and his wife sat in the bunks reading their Bible every night. They simply couldn't get past Jesus' abundantly clear teaching to love your enemy. What if Jesus really meant every word he said ... Referenced Just War Debate: "It's Just War" : https://youtu.be/K4xQaDDKY7k #interviews #nonviolence

In this interview with Tim Mackie of The Bible Project , we discuss the origins of The Bible Project and how two friends threw some videos up on Youtube that have now become a full blown Christian animation studio that is impacting how people understand, read, and engage the bible. #technology #biblestudy #spirituality

An interview with Dr. Douglas Jacoby where we discuss postmodernism and how it effects us as Christians, many times without us even knowing. #postmodernism #culture

An interview with Dr. F LaGard Smith where we discuss the narrative of "big E" evolution in our culture, and why Darwin has a problem with sex. #evolution #culture #sex

In this interview with John Eldredge of Ransomed Heart Ministries and author of Wild at Heart, we discuss what life is like in the midst of the pandemic and how we can use this as a gospel moment and be part of spiritual revival. PauseApp.com #coronavirus #culture #meditation

A discussion with pastor Scott Kirkpatrick from Columbia, SC and bible teacher Michael Burns from Minneapolis, MN about race relations and civil unrest and how to meet it as the church of Jesus Christ. #culture #race #diversity #protest #racism

Talking with Marty Solomon of the BEMA podcast about a myriad of things such as the nature of discipleship, the holy Scriptures, why BEMA has blown up and whether or not any of us are saved or Christians at all. Oh yea, and Marty basically rebukes St. Augustine's interpretation of the Apostle Paul, I'm just sayin. Learn more about BEMA and find Marty Solomon at: https://www.bemadiscipleship.com #discipleship #BEMA

Here I interview Ellen Radcliff, a licensed marriage and family therapist who used to live as a lesbian, and now lives her life radically for Jesus. And no, she didn't pray the gay away. Ellen serves as COO (deputy director) of Strength In Weakness ministries and helps Christians with unwanted same sex attractions and gender identity issues find their hope, joy, fulfillment, and identity in Jesus. In this interview we discuss topics of homosexuality, transgender, and other sexual identity issues. This interview will help young people that are saturated in a culture that encourages, even demands, a gender and sexual identity that is far from the creator's intent. It will also help parents and grandparents be better able to discuss topics of faith, gender and sexuality in ways that are helpful and promotes dialogue. Strength In Weakness Ministries: https://www.StrengthInWeakness.org Ellen's Site: https://www.HeartSetAbove.com Ellen + Guy's Book: https://www.ipibooks.com/products/gay-christian

In this session of the Jesus Centered series, Jon Sherwood talks about Jesus being the center of our lament in light of the recent hurricane and events that happened in western North Carolina. What is lament, and how can we learn from Jesus as we walk with God and one another through tragedy and hardship?

The Western Carolina mountains are the coldest climate I have ever lived in full-time. As it snows a few inches today (to my more northern friends; try not to laugh), my attention is turned to something God has been trying to get through to me, which I admit I have been reluctant to embrace. I think I am willing to embrace the concept , but apparently not the practice of Sabbath. Rest. Slowing down. Being still. If I'm honest, I hate it. A couple of months ago we experienced a natural disaster here in the Carolina mountains when hurricane Helene devastated this region . Many people lost their lives and we experienced catastrophic damage to our basic infrastructure systems. Personally our home was not damaged, but we didn't have power, signal, internet, or clean water for a couple of weeks. And we were some of the fastest back on the grid. We had friends that didn't have clean water at their home for two months. During those days and nights we were forced to go to sleep when the sun went down, and realized the importance and necessity of clean water for survival when we would normally not think twice about having the luxury of turning on a faucet and having an endless supply of clean water, at temperatures that I can control no less. It was in this experience that I began to better detect my addiction to going , my aversion to slowing down . Sure, for a few days it was nice to slow down and live so much more simply. But after that wore off, I found myself being incredibly restless. Feeling bad about not being productive. Missing the opportunities to tune out and be entertained by a screen. Wondering how people lived in the past without high-speed internet. In this mountain climate that experiences a genuine winter (unlike where I grew up in Florida), the entirety of creation and the animal kingdom seem to slow down when the temperature drops and the hours of sunlight shorten. The bears around here hibernate, aquatic life slumber in the depths of the ponds and lakes, you rarely see birds fly around. Everything slows down ... But not me. Not us . We continue to flip the switches of our electricity that give us light during all hours of dark, we fuel our engines and travel far distances in relatively small amounts of time (except for those of you that deal with nightmarish metro traffic everyday of your lives - my heart breaks with yours). And we continually scroll on our screens ... searching ... for God only knows what. As the first snow falls here outside my house today, I am reminded of God's whispering call to me, "slow down ... be still. I am here." His call is bolstered by my own child's voice that recently ask, "Daddy, do you have to work every day?" Ouch. 🤦‍♂️ I know that not everyone will necessarily share this same struggle, but for those of us that do ... This winter may we learn from the created order around us and slow down . [ And not feel bad doing so ] Even with high-speed internet ...

We see the Spirit of God introduced on the first pages of the Biblical narrative representing the creative power of God as his Spirit hovers over the chaotic waters and brings order to chaos (Gen 1). Throughout the Old Testament we also see the God of Israel tell of a time when his people would have their hearts of stone (hardened, immovable, resistant) removed and replaced with a heart of flesh (malleable, soft, supple), as he puts his own Spirit in his people. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. - Eze 36:26-27 The Spirit of God, the same Spirit present in the creation of the universe that brought order to chaos, is the same promised Spirit that God says will one day be given to his people. That day is now. Now under the new covenant of Christ, the Spirit of God is still bringing order to chaos as he leads and guides us and helps us to overcome our flesh. This process of course is not without conflict (Gal 5:17), but God has indeed given us a heart of flesh and removed our heart of stone. He is shaping our lives as we walk with him and surrender our lives and hearts to him. We must remain malleable and supple as we walk with God's Spirit, paying attention to how he may be trying to bring order to the chaos. God, through his promised Spirit, moves us to follow and obey him, but not against our will. We must submit and surrender to the Spirit's movement, otherwise we can harden ourselves and take up that immovable heart of stone again and again (Heb 3:13; 1 Tim 4:2). We do this, we surrender to the Spirit, but choosing to obey when the Spirit brings things to our attention. This can happen as we hear and read the word of God, as we talk with people, the small and quiet places that allow us to hear from God and his direction for us. The Spirit can move us in many different ways, but are we willing to be moved? Memory Scripture: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.." - Eze 36:26-27 Meditation/Reflection/Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me a new heart. Thank you for giving me your Spirit who leads me to follow you. Action Item: Where do you see your "heart of stone" tend to rage against the heart of flesh that God has given you through his Spirit? What can you do to act upon the heart of flesh, and not the heart of stone in that area? Study Questions: Do you believe that God has given you a new heart? Why or why not?