In A Fresh Perspective, dig into topics central to the Christian experience in fresh ways, and (re)discover a faith you can love.

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What’s the Issue Anyway?

The Bible has been a significant source of ___________.

The Bible has been a significant source of _____________.

Christians are leaving the church because of the ___________ more than any other single reason.

A Fresh Perspective on the Bible starts with knowing a little secret about _____________-_____________ interpretation methods.

What Is the Fresh Perspective on the bible?

A Fresh Perspective affirms an ________________-___________________ interpretation of the Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Corinthians 4:7 and Luke 24:13-35

Stories can be ___________, even if they are not factual reports.

A Fresh Perspective affirms the Bible as _____________.

By affirming its sacredness, we are saying that the Bible is our ___________________ document, _______________ document and _____________ tradition. A Fresh Perspective affirms Jesus as the ___________ of the Bible.

A Fresh Perspective affirms the ___________________ nature of the Bible.

Don’t Miss This!

A Fresh Perspective is important because sometimes the Bible is ___________.

A Fresh Perspective free us from the tyranny of those who ________________ the Bible.

How can I live this in my everyday, normal life?

Embrace the Bible _______ ___________, not the one modernity wanted.

Let _____________ be your travel companion as you wander through the Bible. Remember that taking the Bible ________________ does not mean taking it ________________.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

A Fresh Perspective can help us (re)discover a Bible that we can ___________ to read.

What is God inviting you into today?

1. Sign me up for the Thursday Evening Conversation Group at the Crossroads building.
2. I would like to get the digital weekly conversation guide.
3. Sign me up for the Digital Conversation Group.
4. Read one Psalm each day this week, looking for the metaphorical meaning.

Thought provoking questions:

1. When you think of the Bible, what word comes to mind? Why that word?
2. Have you ever felt like the Bible was being used as a weapon against you? How so?
3. Does it make you nervous, bring you a sense of freedom, or something else to think of the Bible as written by humans?
4. Why are stories such a powerful way to convey truths?
5. Is the idea that the Bible is wrong at times but also sacred easy or difficult for you to hold? Why?

For Further Reading

1. Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality by Richard Rohr
2. The Bible Tells Me So: Why Defending Scripture Has Made Us Unable to Read It by
3. Peter Enns
4. How the Bible Actually Works by Peter Enns
5. Convictions by Marcus Borg
6. The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a Life of Faith by Marcus Borg
7. Reading the Bible Again for the First Time by Marcus Borg
8. A More Christlike Word by Bradley Jersak
9. What is the Bible by Rob Bell
10. How to Read the Bible and Still Be a Christian by John Dominic Crossan