12 episodes
Believing Better with Kenny Bishop Kenny Bishop
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- Religion & Spirituality
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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As a recovering fundamentalist Evangelical preacher, I've discovered that I spent a lot of time in my early faith missing the best parts of who God is and shunning some of God's favorite people. This podcast is an effort to share some of my faith evolution through some of my sermons and some of the talks and speeches that I've given. The hope is that together, we're going to rediscover who God really is, find out who God really loves, and learn how to believe better so we can be better.
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"One" by Kenny Bishop
A lot of people claim Christianity as their religion. But claiming it and being it are not always the same thing. To be a Christian is to mimic Jesus, and that often means we must follow his lead in taking positions against the things that demean humanity. Racism is one of the big ones, and sadly, many self-identified Christians have traded what Jesus says about it for what their favorite politician has to say. Jesus calls it a sin, so I believe racism is a sin.
*My sermon on May 14, 2023 at Bluegrass United Church of Christ in Lexington, Kentucky.
MESSAGE: "One" by Kenny Bishop
SCRIPTURE: Romans 10: 12 & Psalm 82: 3-4
Learn more about us at believingbetter.com and at kennybishop.com
Facebook: facebook.com/kennybishop.page
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Substack: kennybishop.substack.com -
"Us" by Kenny Bishop
It means something to "be the church." We can say we are the church, but actually being the church is something else altogether. It means we must do more than claim our position as followers of Christ, it means we must mimic his ways of compassion and embracing humanity. Embracing the diversity of God's humanity is vital to our witness. Discrimination of any sort defeats our witness, and more importantly, works against God's intentions for our world.
*My sermon on April, 2023 at Bluegrass United Church of Christ in Lexington, Kentucky.
MESSAGE: "Us" by Kenny Bishop
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 1: 27a
Learn more about us at believingbetter.com and at kennybishop.com
Facebook: facebook.com/kennybishop.page
Twitter: twitter.com/kennybishop
Instagram: instagram.com/kenny.s.bishop
Substack: kennybishop.substack.com -
"The Lord's Earth" by Kenny Bishop
NOTE: Much of today's message is brought by the beautifully inspiring Robin Wall Kimmerer. You can learn more about Robin and find her books on her website at robinwallkimmerer.com
It means something to "be the church." We can say we are the church, but actually being the church is something else altogether. It means we must do more than claim our position as followers of Christ, it means we must mimic his ways of compassion and embracing humanity. Today, the day after Earth Day, we continue our spring series "Be the Church" focusing on protecting the environment. The psalmist says the earth is the Lord's, which means it is intended to belong to all of creation, which means it is not ours to abuse and consume.
*My sermon on April 23, 2023 at Bluegrass United Church of Christ in Lexington, Kentucky.
MESSAGE: "The Lord's Earth" by Kenny Bishop
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 24: 1-2
Learn more about us at believingbetter.com and at kennybishop.com
Facebook: facebook.com/kennybishop.page
Twitter: twitter.com/kennybishop
Instagram: instagram.com/kenny.s.bishop
Substack: kennybishop.substack.com -
How They'll Know
It takes a lot of humility to step down from your place of power and position to serve in a task that most would consider an insult. It's one of those lessons Jesus taught by example when he left the supper table, girded himself with a towel, and started washing his servants' feet. When they protested, he told them that it was necessary for the world to know that everyone is a servant to their neighbor. Lately, we have seen power on display at the state capital in Tennessee where powerful white men shut down and expelled young, Black legislators who've been muzzled and were desperate to be heard as voices standing up for the victims of a recent mass shooting there. What if Jesus was one of those legislators?
*My sermon on April 7, 2023 at Bluegrass United Church of Christ in Lexington, Kentucky on Good Friday.
MESSAGE: "How They'll Know" by Kenny Bishop
SCRIPTURE: John 13: 1, 3-5, 12b -14, 34-35 (NRSV)
Learn more about us at believingbetter.com and at kennybishop.com
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Twitter: twitter.com/kennybishop
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Substack: kennybishop.substack.com -
Palms of Change
We tend to think of Jesus' entry and ride into Jerusalem on a donkey as the beginning of the end for his earthy work and ministry. The events of that day will lead to his last meal with his followers, his betrayal, his execution, his burial, and his resurrection. But it seems we've forgotten the reason the people were most excited to see this peasant leader. It was because he was supposed to bring change. They believed he was coming to change the way the government and those in power were ruling over them. Today in the U.S., thousands of our children and citizens are dying senselessly because of guns. Just like those first-century citizens needed someone to step up and lead the charge, we need someone to come and make some change.
*My sermon on April 2, 2023 at Bluegrass United Church of Christ in Lexington, Kentucky on Palm Sunday.
MESSAGE: "Palms of Change" by Kenny Bishop
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 21: 1-11
Learn more about us at believingbetter.com and at kennybishop.com
Facebook: facebook.com/kennybishop.page
Twitter: twitter.com/kennybishop
Instagram: instagram.com/kenny.s.bishop
Substack: kennybishop.substack.com -
Wanted: intentional, radical, revolutionary, law-breaking, badass shepherds
Recently, several state governments across the country, including here in Kentucky, have passed legislation targeting the LGBTQ community. Bills that limit public school teachers to only discussing heterosexual relationships around students, bills that place strict limitations and heavy restrictions on trans individuals, their parents and caretakers, and their doctors, bills that remove multicultural and LGBTQ history from school libraries and curriculums, and bills that make drag performers criminals for appearing in public have all either recently become law, or are in the process. The LGBTQ+ community is feeling the anxiety and the pressure of being attacked by their government. Thankfully, there is one, a Shepherd, who knows and cares and walks with them every step of the way.
*My sermon on March 19, 2023 at Bluegrass United Church of Christ in Lexington, Kentucky.
MESSAGE: "The Intentional, Radical, Revolutionary, Law-Breaking Shepherd" by Kenny Bishop
SCRIPTURE: John 9: 1-41
Learn more about us at believingbetter.com and at kennybishop.com
Facebook: facebook.com/kennybishop.page
Twitter: twitter.com/kennybishop
Instagram: instagram.com/kenny.s.bishop
Substack: kennybishop.substack.com