Hyde Park United Methodist

The cleansing (expiation) atonement theory sees sin as a blemish or tarnish that we cannot cleanse on our own. Likewise, the stain of shame and guilt makes it hard for us to offer forgiveness, receive forgiveness from others, and most of all, forgive ourselves. 

Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

How does nonviolence shape our faith? This week on Beyond the Sermon, Mat Hotho and Pastor Sally Campbell-Evans discuss how her experiences—from mission work to peaceful protests—shaped her understanding of Jesus and justice, and what it means to live out a nonviolent faith today.

Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

What if redemption didn’t require sacrifice or violence? Through the cross, the cycle of bloodshed ends, and we are invited into a new way of living—one where peace, not violence, shapes our world. 

Reflection Questions:
1. How do you typically respond when you witness violence in your daily life?
2. Thinking of Jesus’ command to love God and love neighbor, what is one non-violent thing you could do today to make this world a little more peaceful? 
3. Could you imagine a time when you might be involved in non-violent direct action? What might that look like?

Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

When we read the Bible, we’re encountering something ancient—written by people trying to make sense of their world and their experiences with God. So why do we sometimes expect it to be immediately clear to us today? This week, Mat and Decker explore how interpreting scripture is more like unpacking a halftime show performance—full of layers, context, and perspectives beyond our own.

Join us as we discuss how history, language, and community shape our understanding of faith, and why wrestling with the text can deepen, rather than weaken, our relationship with God.

Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

How can reading the Bible transform your life and deepen your relationship with God? Scripture has the power to illuminate our hearts and guide us in loving God and others. But to experience its full impact, we must make it a regular part of our lives—and even better, read it in community. Discover how reading Scripture together can bring its truth to life in profound ways. 

Reflection questions:
1. Which parts of the Bible tend to bring you fear or frustration, and how might a sense of curiosity transform your approach to those passages?
2. When you hear the metaphor of the Bible as a ‘gem,’ how does that shift the way you think about Scripture compared to seeing it as something rigid or unchanging?
3. In what ways can you engage Scripture in community—through small groups or study partners—so it might ‘bear and become the Word of God’ for you?

Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

How can we ensure the Bible is a source of liberation rather than harm? Throughout history, Scripture has been misused to justify misogyny, racism, homophobia, and other systemic sins. In this episode, we explore how to read the Bible faithfully, uncovering its message of good news and freedom for all. 

Reflection Questions:
1. What childhood story has brought you deeper meaning as you have gotten older?
2. What passages in the Bible have been most troublesome for you to interpret?
3. How will you approach the Bible through the lens of love, for God and others?

Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

This week, Mat and Magrey discuss how reading deeply—whether it’s scripture, poetry, music, or film—helps us see the bigger picture of God’s plan in our lives. By engaging with different perspectives and holding multiple interpretations in tension, we grow in understanding, not just of the Bible, but of the world around us.

Join us as we explore how faith isn’t about rigid answers, but about an ongoing, dynamic conversation that shapes us into more thoughtful, compassionate people.

Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

This week, Matt and Magrey discuss the evolving ways God is depicted in the Bible. They reflect on how personal experiences and challenges reshape our faith, inviting us to expand our perspective rather than leave it behind. Whether through theology, life events, or moments of transformation, growth means embracing new ways of seeing God while holding on to what still resonates.

Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

What do we do with troubling images of God in the Bible that seem inconsistent with his love and faithfulness? Stories of God’s unpredictable actions can feel more like ancient mythology than the God we know. Explore how to read Scripture faithfully, uncovering its timeless truths beyond antiquated imagery. 

Reflection Questions
1. What images for God in the Bible are among your favorites? What are most troubling to you?
2. How has your relationship with God changed over time? What role did external circumstances play in those changes?
3. What new way might you explore envisioning and relating to God in your life?

Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

Violence in the Bible is one of the most challenging topics to wrestle with, yet it's a necessary conversation for understanding scripture in context. This week, Mat and Magrey explore the tension between taking violent passages too literally or dismissing them entirely. They discuss how ancient texts reflect the worldview of their time, the dangers of misinterpretation, and the responsibility we have to read scripture through the lens of love and justice. How do we navigate these difficult passages in a way that deepens faith rather than distorts it? Join the discussion.

Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps