Teresa and Chris consider the sacredness of questions -- and invite us into a story full of them (John 21).

We look at the question of why many American Christians unilaterally support the state of Israel. The question has little to do with politics and a lot about how we read the Bible.

*the last couple of minutes of the sermon were not recorded, but we trust you'll still get the idea :)

Over the summer, we invited folks to share some of the things they've always wondered about. We're taking a look at some of them at summer winds down. Today, Chris looks at these two wonderings:

"Did God intentionally make the Bible such that we can interpret it in different ways? How can we know what is true and shalom?"

"Why do so many American Christians unilaterally support the nation of Israel even to the point of funding the military?"

Over the summer, we invited folks to share some of the things they've always wondered about. We're taking a look at some of them at summer winds down.

Today, Teresa looks at these two wonderings:

"Did God intentionally make the Bible such that we can interpret it in different ways? How can we know what is true and shalom?"

"Many of us have moved from a literal or traditional understanding of God, theology, faith, etc. to a more open and progressive view. How do we avoid falling into the sin of certainty we find so distasteful in the communities we've left behind?"

We continue considering the interplay between disorientation and reorientation.

Psalm 34

Speaker: Chris DeBlaay

We consider a lament Psalm that does not contain Israel's complaints, directed at God. But the reverse.

God speaks a psalm of lament to Israel.

Psalm 81

Speaker: Teresa Kinnear

We look at a second psalm of disorientation - this time a song of communal lament.

We know what it is like to feel communal loss -- and in these psalms the psalmist is willing to say just about anything to get God's attention. Perhaps we can be encouraged by this brutal honesty and see it as an act of bold faith.

We consider a psalm of disorientation -- a song that speaks of those times when the world is turned upside down.

Psalm 74

Speaker: Chris DeBlaay

We take our first look at a Psalm of Disorientation - a song for those times in our life when everything seems to be falling apart.

In these ancient lyrics we find an encouragement to be honest and to bring whatever it is we are feeling or thinking to God.

Our third "orientation" psalm this week is Psalm 37. This longer song offers a hope for a world that is ordered and just, even though wickedness succeeds.

Speaker: Chris DeBlaay