Cascade Church Portland

Dreams that are Dying:: Relationships without Conflict

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 19:58:45 +0000

Harriet Congdon shares about outgrowing shells for a life in the ocean, relational conflicts around religion, and finding new ways to belong.

Dreams that are Dying:: Fixed for Expansive Roles

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 17:50:22 +0000

Kurt Kroon talks about Mary & Martha and the ways that we can demonstrate hospitality and let the roles we accepted by choice or force pass away for more expansive roles.

Dreams that are Dying :: Value of Interdependence

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 19:04:08 +0000

Kurt Kroon shares about Marlboro Man Richard Hammer, Cheryl Strayed and the ways that we can let the independent dream die for a new dream of interdependence.

Love & Grief

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 22:50:23 +0000

Kurt Kroon talks about the relationship of love and grief and how one informs the other. Take a listen to ask new questions of the things you're rightly grieving these days.

Why Engage the Scriptures? :: Asking New Questions

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:48:11 +0000

Kurt Kroon shares about romenesco broccoli, the woman at the well to the feeding of the 15,000 (take a listen if this sounds wrong!), and how asking new questions of the scriptures can help us break out of a bad relationship with them.

Why Engage the Scriptures? :: Transformation

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 20:23:56 +0000

Sarah Swartzendruber shares about the power transformation that the scriptures can initiate if we're willing to process where we've come from and the ways we've been given permissions externally and internally to change.

Why Engage the Scriptures?:: The Culture

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 22:56:31 +0000

Kurt Kroon shares about the way that Lord of the Rings, the high five emoji (prayer hands) and the Jesus/Superman/Luke Skywalker stories and the way the scriptures influence the world around us.

Why Engage the Scriptures? :: The Power of Storytelling

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 02:39:44 +0000

Harriet Congdon explores how storytelling impacts us utilizing a clip from Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man and a new song led by Sam Hedrick.

Why Engage the Scriptures? :: Destroy or Restore

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 19:44:18 +0000

Scott Erickson leads us through a conversation about ayahausca trips, a magical monastery, and the ways the scriptures have been used as a tool to destroy or restore. Scott also failed at his task of never being asked to preach again.

Why Engage the Scriptures?:: The Intro

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 22:34:56 +0000

Kurt Kroon starts off our new message series exploring the scriptures and if they are still worth engaging today. Come for the statistical analysis of Bible sales in 2024 and 2025 and stay for another look at the Ethiopian Eunuch.

Home:: Keeping Watch by Night

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 19:38:27 +0000

Kurt Kroon shares about the nomadic home of the shepherds and ways we can keep that home with us, even when we're in the wilderness.

Home:: Mary was Perplexed

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 18:41:27 +0000

Kurt Kroon explores the nature of home, how Jesus shows up to call this world his home and how we leave home to adventure and return to tell the stories of our successes and failures.

Esther 8 & 9

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 08:35:00 +0000

Kurt kroon concludes the series on Esther by looking at the tradition of Purim and how we remember what we repeat.

Esther 7

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 06:57:00 +0000

Kurt Kroon covers the culminating action of the story of Esther and we communally wonder about the role of violence in the ancient world and our world today.

Esther 5 & 6

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 09:10:00 +0000

Kurt Kroon continues our exploration of the book of Esther with a focus on Haman and the ways that power corrupts him.

In the Low:: An Interview with Scott Erickson

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 22:13:53 +0000

Scott Erickson is interviewed by Kurt Kroon about his new book "In the Low". They talk about depression, the avoidance that can exist within some Christian circles and helpful tools when we need to not feel all alone.

Brian Recker:: Hell on Earth

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 18:41:40 +0000

Brian Recker visits and talks about how Hell has been utilized culturally today and the disconnects from the source material in the scriptures. This is part of his newly released book "Hell Bent", which you can purchase here.

Esther 3 & 4

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 19:35:35 +0000

Kurt Kroon talks through the rising tension in the story of Esther culminating in the big "for such a time as this" line. We take a look at what that looked like for Mordecai to deliver, Esther to receive and what that could mean for us today.

Esther 2

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 18:32:00 +0000

Kurt Kroon teaches about the "ewww gross" beauty pageant of King Ahasuerus, Portland protesters in inflatable costumes and confuses Benny Hill and Benny Hinn

Esther 1

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 19:24:05 +0000

Kurt Kroon starts off a brand new series on the book of Esther and what creative protest can look like. The invitation is to rebel well and stand with the marginalized and oppressed as a pathway to our collective healing.

What is Faith For? Fantasy to Reality

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 06:45:00 +0000

Scott Erickson leads us through a conversation about Zacchaeus, NPC's, Death and UAP's. This all helps us move our framework of faith from seeing the world as a simple fantasy to a complex reality.

What is Faith For? A Crutch to A Healing

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 16:29:34 +0000

Kurt Kroon shares about the ways that religion can be a crutch and how it can be a healing. A Karl Marx quote and a Jesus healing story frame this exploration.

What is Faith For? From Instructions to Wisdom

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 19:36:10 +0000

Kurt Kroon continues the What is Faith For? by discussing our relationship to the Christian scriptures and the ways we've tried to pull out a few verses to follow instead of letting the whole of the scriptures shape us into people of wisdom.

What is Faith For? From Control to Liberation

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 19:52:00 +0000

Kurt Kroon kicks off a new series looking at the containers that are holding our reimagined theologies and how they need the same reimagining. This week looks at how we can use faith as a mechanism of control in the world and how that will ultimately let us down.

The Core Values:: Intentionality

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 19:05:00 +0000

Sarah Swartzendruber finishes up our message series on the core values of Cascade with a discussion around intentionality, which we define as engaging in relationships a step beyond what is known or comfortable.

Cascade Turns 10!!

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 18:29:00 +0000

A party celebrating 10 years of Cascade Church existing. Kicked off by a prayer and check-in from Scott Erickson and a co-taught message from co-pastors Sarah Swartzendruber and Kurt Kroon. Come for the memories, stay for the places yet to go!

The Core Values:: Advocacy

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 18:23:55 +0000

Kurt Kroon continues the series on Cascade's core values by looking at Advocacy, which is defined as fighting injustices by partnering with those treated insignificantly by individuals, systems or indifference.

The Core Values:: Diversity

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 21:32:11 +0000

Kurt Kroon shares about the Cascade Core Value of diversity by looking at our definition and reflecting on Paul's metaphor of the body of Christ as an instructive model for how diversity can function.

The Core Values:: Prayer

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 19:11:56 +0000

Kurt Kroon talks through our 5 core values starting with prayer. This unusual look through the lens of the Genesis story of Jacob (mistakenly identified as 27 instead of 28) exposes the ways in which prayer can help us commune with the unknown parts of ourselves and God.

What is the Kingdom of God?

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 22:49:18 +0000

Kurt Kroon shares about a dominant theme in the life of Jesus. This thread from Genesis to Revelation ties together a picture of God's invitation to co-creation and mutual participation that is the Kingdom of God.

Disability Pride :: An Interview with Rob Schellert

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 19:21:54 +0000

July is Disability Pride month, where we look to celebrate and recognize the contributions of folks with disabilities to our world while also acknowledging the ways our society disables folks with poor access and design. This interview with Rob Schellert reflects on the unique ways the Christian Church intersects with the disabled community.

Resilience:: Hagar and Gratitude

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 01:36:00 +0000

Harriet Congdon finishes up our series on Resilience with a keen insight from the story of Abraham, Hagar & Sarah while tying together all the previous messages on resilience.

Resilience:: What is Failure?

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 18:43:15 +0000

Ian Durias shares this week as we continue our series on Resilience by talking about the ways we love ourselves and how we categorize our shortcomings as screw-ups, weaknesses or growth opportunities.

Resilience:: Show up with Curiosity & Enjoy the Ride

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 19:02:55 +0000

Chelsea Gerlach shares about a resilience that uses curiosity to better inform itself in addition to finding enjoyment in the midst of difficult journeys.

Resilience:: The Learning Space

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 18:50:54 +0000

Sarah Swartzendruber shares about resilience as a learning space that is difficult to stay in and nobody would choose that has a way of working something out in us. Listen as we talk about how to stay in that learning space even when we don't want to as we look at the disciples' journey of resilience.

Resilience:: Presence to Power

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 18:43:00 +0000

Kurt Kroon looks at Daniel 3 and how resistance can look in the face of fear-based and oppressive kingdoms.

Resilience:: Integrating vs. Avoiding

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 18:17:13 +0000

Kurt Kroon takes a look at the dividing path moments in our lives that invite us into a practice of resilience.

Resilience:: A Cascade Teaching Team Panel

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 17:42:43 +0000

Scott Erickson, Sarah Swartzendruber, Ian Durias and Kurt Kroon chat about the summer '25 message series on Resilience and how the Teaching Team works and collaborates on series just like this one!

Mental Health & Us:: Dr. Greg Peterson

Thu, 29 May 2025 17:22:12 +0000

Dr. Greg Peterson talks about mental health and some ways that our brains get in the way of our mental health and ways that we can find greater mental well being in the world.

Mental Health, Identity, Healing in AAPI Communities: Malia Vasquez

Tue, 20 May 2025 14:53:43 +0000

This Sunday Ian Durias interviews therapist Malia Vasquez about how mental health and AAPI identities impact healing journeys.

Supporting Migrant Workers:: An Interview by Ian Durias with Daphne Auza and Jillian Mariano

Mon, 12 May 2025 23:36:56 +0000

Ian Durias interviews Daphne Auza and Jillian Mariano regarding their work with Malaya and organizing on behalf of Filipino workers around the globe.

Unquestionable Belonging

Tue, 06 May 2025 20:49:00 +0000

Cara Meredith, author of "Church Camp: Bad Skits, Cry Night, and How White Evangelicalism Betrayed a Generation", shares with us about what belonging looks and feels like with a fresh look at the Philip & The Ethiopian Eunuch story from the scriptures.

Adult Friendship

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 02:58:00 +0000

Kurt Kroon and Scott Erickson share about adult friendships. The struggles, the joys and ways we can get curious about better way of engaging ourselves and others.

Easter Sunday at Cascade

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 19:13:41 +0000

Kurt Kroon shares a message about the largest cross in the world and what that can tell us about how this symbol of Christianity has been and could still be used in our world.

James 5 :: Harriet Congdon

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 21:32:58 +0000

In this sermon Harriet looks at the themes of prayer and perserverance on either side of some wisdom about integrity. Enjoy!

Mysticism:: History & Practice:: Chelsea Gerlach

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 23:20:57 +0000

Pre-K Story Time with Sarah:: Episode 5 - Wisemen

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:58:00 +0000

This is age appropriate theology specifically written for Pre-K kids that is fun and engaging while learning about Jesus. At the end, you will hear Sarah ask a line that is intentionally said at the end of every kids lesson at Cascade, "using your skill of curiosity, what are some questions you have from the story?" We hope this invites you to curiosity and wonder with your kiddo around the Christmas story.

Pre-K Story Time with Sarah:: Episode 4 - Jesus is Born

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 17:58:53 +0000

Pre-K Story Time with Sarah:: Episode 3 - Shepherds

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 17:56:34 +0000

Pre-K Story Time with Sarah::Episode 2 - Joseph

Sun, 08 Dec 2024 07:30:00 +0000

Pre-K Story Time with Sarah:: Episode 1 - Mary

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 01:00:00 +0000

Nehemiah 2:: Insight or Insult?

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 18:44:03 +0000

Kurt Kroon talks through Nehemiah 2 and what we do with criticism. Do we internalize or reject it? What tools do you use to discern your areas of growth?

Nehemiah::What to do with Power & Privilege

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 15:27:31 +0000

Kurt Kroon introduces the book of Nehemiah and talks about rebuilding in deconstructed spaces and what we do with power and privilege.

Easter Sunday:: Tombs & New Life

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 13:04:14 +0000

Kurt Kroon shares about pep rallies, Shamrock Runs and the ever present cycle of death and resurrection pulling us into the present.

Panel on Polarization

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 18:11:09 +0000

This Sunday we hear from Harriet Congdon, Andrew Chang and Kendra Wenzel on their experiences with polarization and what has been helpful and harmful in that process.

Theological Polarization

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 22:03:17 +0000

Sarah Swartzendruber shares about a recent social media experience dealing with theology on her Parenting After Deconstruction Instagram page and how she processed it.

Conversations Across Polarization

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 22:07:10 +0000

Chelsea Gerlach shares some incredibly practical next steps for engaging in polarizing conversations.

In this conversation Chelsea references Loretta Ross, and you can find her work here

Overcoming Polarization:: Annihilation vs Reconciliation

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 23:13:42 +0000

Kurt Kroon shares on the story of Jonah about the tendencies we have to idealize and demonize folks as a means of feeling safe and God's movement to reconcile all people.

The End of Gatekeeping

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 16:04:16 +0000

Kurt Kroon shares about Paul, Colossians 2 and how Christ moves us to end gatekeeping.

Reparations & The Church

Sat, 24 Feb 2024 16:52:51 +0000

Leroy Barber joins us to share about the US's history of reparations and how the scriptures talk about making repairs.

Jesus & Civil Rights

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 20:07:50 +0000

This Sunday Kurt Kroon interviews Alvin Hayes about the link he sees in the Civil Rights movement and Jesus Christ.

Jesus & Parables

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 18:37:17 +0000

Kurt Kroon looks at Luke 8 and the parable of the sower within the context of how we interpret parables today and some of the context around what Jesus in his context.

Wisdom is Known By Her Children

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 18:32:05 +0000

Kurt Kroon discusses wisdom and how Jesus and John the Baptist are bringing this to us via radical inclusion through very different methods.

Jesus' Flow of Gifts

Sun, 21 Jan 2024 14:35:00 +0000

On this Sunday Kurt Kroon shared about how Jesus negotiates the sacredness of who each person is and the potential of who we can become. This comes with a look at Luke 13:11-17 and the healing of a woman in the synagogue on the sabbath.

Unfamiliar:: Judith &Susanna

Sun, 05 Mar 2023 17:00:00 +0000

Shelby Hanson leads us in a new message series that can give us fresh eyes on the parable structure and make unfamiliar what we've made familiar.

Naturally Beautiful Project with Regina Morgan

Sun, 19 Feb 2023 23:18:00 +0000

Between Worlds:: Sandra Noble & Kennedy Coopwood

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 15:58:00 +0000

Dominant vs Non-Dominant Lense on Scripture

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 21:23:09 +0000

On Sunday January 29th Kurt Kroon talked about different lenses for viewing the Scriptures and how taking experiences from non-dominant folks and interpreting them through a dominant worldview can fundamentally change the message.

Heal the Land, Heal Ourselves

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 00:00:06 +0000

Chelsea Gerlach shares a message about the planet, our relationship with it and how we hear the voice of God to move towards the healing of the land and ourselves.

Christmas Comparison

Wed, 22 Dec 2021 23:06:22 +0000

Kurt Kroon takes a look at comparisons between the story of Jesus birth and the origin stories of Horus, Romulus and Remus, Alexander the Great, and Augustus Caesar. We 'll see what the similarities and differences tell us.

Mary‘s Advent::Grief

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 19:18:52 +0000

Sarah Swartzendruber talks through the role of grief in Mary's song both as a look forward to the life of Jesus and a reflection after the death of Jesus.

Mary‘s Advent::Power

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 20:12:23 +0000

Kurt Kroon talks through Luke 1:46-55 and the impact of Power Dynamics.

Liberation or Oppression?::Armor of God

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 18:14:10 +0000

Kurt Kroon talks about how our interpretation of Ephesians 6:10-17 is impacted by living in the world's largest military country and how that compares to the military factors in Paul's day.

Liberation or Oppression?:: The Household Codes

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 19:40:05 +0000

Harriet Congdon discusses the history and harm created by Ephesians 5:21-6:9, while suggesting various lenses for liberative interpretation.

Liberation or Oppression?::Ephesians 5:1-20

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 20:38:57 +0000

Kurt Kroon talks through sexuality, language and greed and the ways those topics can be shared for shame/oppression or freedom/liberation.

Liberation or Oppression?:: Ephesians 4:17-32

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 18:48:58 +0000

Kurt Kroon talks through the Paul's problematic "othering" language and how we can call one another forward to growth and liberation.

Reclaim:: Unity

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 19:11:35 +0000

Leroy Barber, Sarah Swartzendruber and Kurt Kroon discuss the inherent problems with Christian calls for unity in a post-election climate.

Acts:: Between Worlds

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 23:05:02 +0000

Insil Kang closes our Acts series with an intersectional look at Paul and how that informs the good news of Jesus.

Acts:: Mo Money, Mo Theology

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 16:25:27 +0000

A message from Pastor Sarah Swartzendruber on Acts 19 and the way money and the church interact.

Acts::Expansive Faith

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 16:15:32 +0000

A message from Michelle Lang Raymond on Acts 17.

Acts:: The Church's Table

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 16:00:45 +0000

A message from Leroy Barber on Lydia's table and the foundations of the church from Acts 16.

Acts::Reclaiming the Plot

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 16:13:12 +0000

Jason Fileta is with us to talk about Acts 13 and how people seeking after God can be led astray by letting their fear grab after power.

Acts::Inclusion or Assimilation?

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 16:26:49 +0000

Pastor Sunia Gibbs shares with us a look at Acts 10 and what we can learn about human tendency to call assimilation inclusion and its consequences.

Acts::I Learned By Watching You

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 18:10:04 +0000

This week we take a look at Acts 3 and how history can connect us to ourselves and those around us.

Acts:: From Me to We

Sun, 13 Sep 2020 18:36:00 +0000

We take a look at Acts 2 and how American individualism shapes our view of church community.

Acts:: Intro

Sun, 06 Sep 2020 18:22:00 +0000

Here's an introduction to the book of Acts and why we're taking a look at it in this particular moment in history.

Spiral Dynamics:: A Chat with Mike McHargue

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 17:27:00 +0000

Kurt has a chat with Mike McHargue about how Spiral Dynamics functions in our world today.

Spiral Dynamics:: Health Throughout the Stages

Sun, 30 Aug 2020 17:21:00 +0000

This week we take the Spiral Dynamics model and look at what healthy and unhealthy relationships to all of the stages can look like.

Spiral Dynamics:: The Intro

Sun, 23 Aug 2020 17:14:00 +0000

This week we go into Spiral Dynamics, which is an emergent cyclical theory of adult human development (I know!). Take a listen as we hope to add this system to our collective tool bags in the hopes of growing in compassion, empathy and communication with people around us.

Dr. James Hawkins:: EFT and Racism

Sun, 19 Jul 2020 21:20:37 +0000

Dr. James Hawkins brings a fascinating perspective at the intersection of emotionally focused therapy and racism.

Brandi Miller:: Reclaiming My Theology

Sun, 14 Jun 2020 19:22:22 +0000

One of the best sermons I have ever heard. Effortless weaving together of the Biblical narrative and what is happening in our world right now. Give it multiple listens to let it all soak in.

Different Together:: Racial Diversity

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 19:56:29 +0000

Different Together:: Joy & Difficulty

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 01:29:58 +0000

Grief

Tue, 18 Feb 2020 01:22:39 +0000

Attachment Theory & God:: Evaluation & Communion

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 19:17:52 +0000

in the previous message Krispin Mayfield shared on attachment theory and phew(!!) it was good.

Getting curious about the tactics we employ to feel connected to the people closest to us and how they are doing the same thing can be a game changer. We can start making choices instead of just reacting when we tune in to the frequency of connecting to others.

And how this relates to the narratives we've been handed about connecting to God? Shoot dang.

In this message Krispin builds on previous themes of attachment strategies to talk about yield states, self-evaluation and what communion with God and others can look like.

Attachment Theory & God:: Secure & Insecure Attachment

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 22:22:09 +0000

Krispin Mayfield (LPC) leads us on a journey through attachment theory, which is the science of emotional bonding, and how this interacts with our relationship with God. Enjoy!

Cascade Story Sunday

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 18:59:24 +0000

For my first job at a church I worked at a nationally registered historical place.

I loved to joke that I was part-time youth director and part-time tour guide. People would stop by to check out a church building built in the 1860's and I would walk them through the building and share some of the stories that I had collected over the years.

Every building tells a story. It tells a story of when and how it was built. It tells a story about who labored to build it and who funded the building. It tells a story of design trends of the time and available resources for its construction.

We tell the stories of the past to remember where we came from and how it informs where we're heading. This Sunday we're going to be sharing the story of Cascade. The places we've come from and where we hope we'll be in the future. While we've held consistent values as a church, how we've demonstrated those values has evolved in really beautiful ways over the past 4 + years.

I hope you enjoy hearing from the folks on our board, from Sarah and me as co-pastors as we imagine what our future can be.

Mark:: Women at the Table

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 00:25:27 +0000

Have you ever partaken in a meal that felt like holy space?

Great conversations, a feeling of warmth and the abundance of options. For some, maybe that’s a family dinner, others that’s at fun restaurant in Portland. After my hip surgery, I was given a Sunday off and was determined to participate in Portland’s brunch scene after working most Sundays of my adult life.

Let me tell you, it did not disappoint. We waited in a long line that day at Jam with a big group of friends, drinking unlimited coffee which was necessary for those of us figuring out pain killers for the first time to stay awake, and attempting to navigate with my crutches. I found it thrilling being apart of what most people have a choice to do on a Sunday and declared it one of my favorite Sundays ever. The excitement, laughter and fun if that day are forever my scene of what the last supper thought it would be until pivotal statements Jesus makes about a betrayal and his presence no longer being possible. I’ve always wondered if anyone started stress eating or asked for more wine in the tension of the moment. Did anyone cry? Did anyone suddenly not feel hungry at all or desire to take a nap in their grief and confusion?

It’s this moment that we are talking abut this week as we look at Mark 14 and the first supper. No, it’s not lent, and it does feel a bit like we just got to the birth story as Christmas lights are still on our house as I write this (thanks Oregon rain). But the last supper is the story that much of our church history creates denominational decisions over who can or cannot take communion, when it’s the appropriate time and what to even do with the bread once you have taken it. For some, communion is a routine, a ritual, even a holy experience. For others, it’s just something we do.

Mark:: It's The End of the World As We Know It

Wed, 15 Jan 2020 00:13:39 +0000

Confession:: If I walk into a room where I just saw someone and they're no longer there, I will make a rapture joke. It's as involuntary as breathing or having my heart beat.

Growing up it wasn't uncommon to see "In Case of Rapture This Car Will be Unmanned" bumper stickers and to see copies of the Left Behind book series in homes. Images of piles of clothes on the ground from a rapture are locked in my brain from TV, movies or book illustrations (which begs some questions. Do we keep jewelry but not clothing? What about fillings? What's the policy on dental work staying or going?).

This obsession about the end of the world has created a complicated relationship with the Bible. We've been taught that when we read apocalyptic passages in the Bible (which is a literary form common to the ancient world) they are really clues for how the world is going to end. If we interpret the clues correctly than we will have a marked advantage over every other human being when the world really does come to the end. The Bible becomes less of a text about the heart of God and humanity, and more of a book of riddles to be solved (ie: Revelation)

In our series on Mark we reach chapter 13, which is very much apocalyptic literature. We're going to look at the cultural impact of interpreting these writings as a rapture event, walk through the history of rapture-esque readings of the Bible (hint:: not as ancient as you might expect) and what these passages could really be talking about.

Mark:: Riding Donkeys and Cursing Figs

Wed, 08 Jan 2020 17:53:49 +0000