1 Chronicles 13:1-14

Perhaps the most repulsive parts of the Bible are the violent ones.

God commands the Israelites to wipe out other nations: men, women, children.

The Lord strikes dead a man who touched the ark of the covenant, trying to steady it.

God kills all the first-born Egyptians, so Pharaoh will set the Hebrew slaves free.

Is this really the God and Father of our Lord Jesus? This Sunday we’ll look at some of the ways Jesus’s people have reconciled these hard passages with their faith.

2 Timothy 3:14-17

The Bible is full of bold, universal statements. It says only Israel’s God is the true God, while the gods of the other nations are empty idols. It claims that Jesus is Lord of heaven and earth – and that he’s the only way to salvation. If that’s true, then we have to be ready to respond to questions like these.

What about people who were born and raised in Pakistan?

What about former Christians who now believe in some other religion?

Can two-thirds of the world’s 7.8 billion people be wrong?

Isn’t it easier to believe all paths lead to God?

Genesis 1:26-31; 2:1-7

In one corner we have the Bible with its description of a six-day creation. In the other corner we have science with its belief in 3.7 billion years of evolution. But do we have to pick sides between the Bible and science? Reading Genesis 1 and 2 the way the original audience understood it, instead of through our 21-century lenses, will help us address questions like these.

Does the Bible teach that the earth is 6,000 to 10,000 years old?

Did dinosaurs and humans ever coexist?

Was Eve really created from Adam’s rib?

Luke 24:1-11

Does the Bible denigrate women? Here are a few verses you might find offensive.

“If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as male servants do” (Exodus 21:7).

Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says (1 Corinthians 14:34).

I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.

That sounds misogynistic, doesn’t it? But if we keep reading the Bible, we find that’s not the direction it’s heading.

Hebrews 1:1-3

Beware of Bible verses taken out of context.

For example, in Genesis 1:29 God says to humans, “I give you every green plant for food.” Does this mean Christians who eat meat are disobeying God?

Here’s another. In Leviticus 25:44 God tells Moses to instruct the Israelites, “You may buy slaves.” How can God allow something as evil as slavery?

Anything pulled out of context can sound absurd – or worse. As one of Pastor Steve’s seminary professors was fond of saying, “Context is everything.”

The Bible can be hazardous to your faith! Some people find it easy to believe in God – until they read the Bible.

That’s when they find all kinds of horrific stuff. How could God . . .

allow slavery?

tell women to keep quiet?

forbid eating shrimp?

create light and daytime before creating the sun?

kill all firstborn Egyptians?

During this series we won’t back away from hard questions like these. And we’re going to learn that the Bible was written for us, but not to us. It was written to a much different audience. Only when we understand the Bible from their point of view, do these hard passages start to make sense.

Jonah 2:1-10, NLT

Join us this Sunday as we explore the famous story of Jonah.

We’ll examine the role of problems in our lives and the helpful (and unhelpful) ways we respond.

We’ll talk about what it means to follow Jesus when we’re in the middle of big challenges.

We’ll learn some important lessons Jonah learned sitting in the belly of that whale.

2 Kings 10:15-16

Every congregation has its own culture. Each one has its own form of government, style of worship, and unique beliefs. What’s our attitude toward those that aren’t like us? We could say our differences don’t matter, but sometimes they do matter. What matters more is the way we love one another, possessing what John Wesley called a catholic spirit. If we were to have a catholic spirit, what would it look like?

Ephesians 2:1-10

One part of salvation is being forgiven. What an amazing gift of grace! Our sins are pardoned, and our guilt is removed. And we receive this gift through faith in Jesus. Another part of salvation is being transformed and living a holy life. Does this happen by our efforts? By trying harder? Or does it come through faith? The answer strikes at the heart of the Methodist movement.

Matthew 10:5-8, 40-42

This Sunday instead of giving a message, Pastor Steve will interview several students about their summer mission trip to Loveland, Colorado. Hear their stories and see their pictures. Let’s support our students!