Beyond Sunday School

Daniel Rose

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Christianity
Biweekly

Many of us grew up hearing the good old stories. Noah's Ark, David and Goliath, and the like. But how do we go beyond those? How do we engage the Bible as adults beyond the Sunday School lessons?

Oct 23

Ragamuffin Gospel - Paste Jewelry and a New Law

The Ragamuffin Gospel, Chapters 7 and 8 Manning puts a sentence in chapter 7 that stopped me cold. Many of us pretend to believe we are sinners, so all we can do is pretend to believe we have been forgiven. The result is pseudo repentance and pseudo bliss. In this session, we talked about counterfeit grace. Chapter 7, “Paste Jewelry and Sawdust Hot Dogs,” asks whether our faith is the real thing or a polished appearance. We considered Manning’s warning that the dangerous choice is not between Jesus and Barabbas, but between Jesus and Caiaphas, the respectable religious man who can fool us. We also wrestled with doing the right thing for the wrong reason, reverence for life when the life belongs to an enemy, and why the way we treat ordinary people on an ordinary day is the truest test of our faith. I closed the chapter with a memory of attending an open AA meeting with my brother and thinking that the church could learn a great deal from that room’s honesty. Chapter 8, “Freedom from Fear,” asks why we keep asking God for a new law. We want rules because we are afraid. We fear disappointing God, losing our place, and finding ourselves outside looking in. Against that fear, Manning sets Brother Roger’s assurance of salvation by the unique grace of Jesus Christ, the old Karl Barth answer “A.D. 33,” and the freedom of giving up our attempts to look and sound like saints. We finished with self gentleness, because the gentleness we offer others grows out of the compassion of Christ that we have first received for ourselves. We are off next week for our community lunch. In two weeks, we return for chapters 9 and 10. After we finish The Ragamuffin Gospel, we will move to Michael Horton’s Putting Amazing Back into Grace. It is a step toward a more theological discussion of grace, but Horton wrote it for normal folk, and it will give us plenty to talk about. Counterfeit grace and the difference between reality and appearancesJesus, Barabbas, and the respectable danger of CaiaphasDoing the right thing for the wrong reasonReverence for life, enemies, and ordinary peopleCorrie ten Boom and the practice of forgivenessWhat an AA meeting can teach the church about honestyWhy fear makes us ask for a new lawKarl Barth, Martin Luther, and preaching grace until we believe itHome as a safe place in the middle of our anxious woundsWhy gentleness with ourselves is the core of gentleness with othersBrennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel, chapter 7, “Paste Jewelry and Sawdust Hot Dogs”Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel, chapter 8, “Freedom from Fear”Dietrich Bonhoeffer and cheap graceJames and authentic faithCorrie ten BoomFyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers KaramazovDerek Webb, “New Law”Brother Roger of TaizéKarl Barth and the answer “A.D. 33”Martin Luther and preaching the gospel every weekMichael Horton, Putting Amazing Back into Grace Beyond Sunday School is a year of grace. We meet on Tuesdays at 12:30 PM at Peace Presbyterian Church in Flint. In this episodeMentioned
Oct 16

Ragamuffin Gospel - Wonder and Grace

The Ragamuffin Gospel, Chapters 5 & 6 I asked for wonder. He gave it to me. In this session, we worked through chapters 5 and 6 of The Ragamuffin Gospel together — and they turned out to be two halves of one movement: wonder, and then what wonder produces. Chapter 5, "Cormorants and Kittiwakes," is about the role of wonder in the life of grace. My thesis going in: wonder is a result of a depth of knowledge of grace. We have to keep rediscovering grace if we want to keep moving through the world with awe. We talked about the geese and the red trees and the light beams, about dandelions that become bouquets, about science edging God out of his own creation — and about how the church has sometimes done the same thing to grace, turning it into a math problem when it was meant to be a mystery. Featuring the Rabbi Heschel story, Fiorello La Guardia's courtroom grace, and a man they called Science Mike who found his way back to faith through the waves of the Pacific. Chapter 6, "Grazie, Signore," is about what gratitude does with that grace. It doesn't freeze you — it frees you. We dug into the parable of the dishonest steward (the point is apathy, not morality), why God's will is a football field and not a shoe size, the difference between healthy and unhealthy guilt, and why the master wanted his servants to take risks with his money. Manning closes the chapter with one of his best lines: "Only love empowers the leap in trust." Next time: Chapter 7. When was the last time something ordinary stopped you?Wonder is what grace looks like when you're paying attentionChildren don't blow through itThe gospel of grace in the world of graceWhen science loses its sense of mysteryWe made grace a math problemTroubadours, not theologians"Get busy living or get busy dying"Grazie, Signore: gratitude as freedomGod's will is a football field, not a shoe sizeHealthy vs. unhealthy guiltThe leap in trustBrennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel, chapters 5 ("Cormorants and Kittiwakes") and 6 ("Grazie, Signore")Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel — "I asked for wonder"Fiorello La Guardia and the $47 courtroom collectionMike McHarg, Finding God in the WavesC.S. Lewis on fairy stories and dragonsThe dishonest steward (Luke 16) — "the point does not concern morality, but apathy"The talents (Matthew 25) — "the master wanted his servants to take risks"Charles de Foucauld's prayer of abandonmentJob — "if we take happiness from God's hand, should we not take sorrow too?"Beyond Sunday School is a year of grace — working slowly through The Ragamuffin Gospel together. New sessions posted as we go. ChaptersMentioned
Oct 6

Ragamuffin Gospel - Tilted Halos

The Ragamuffin Gospel, Chapters 3 & 4 Jesus is, like, totally intense about ragamuffins. That's how Brennan Manning first heard it — from a couple of valley girls — and I haven't been able to get it out of my head since. Because it's funny, and it's also exactly right. In this session, we worked through chapters 3 and 4 of *The Ragamuffin Gospel* together. Chapter 3 asks who the gospel is actually for. Manning's answer starts with that long, beautiful list: the poor, the blind, the lame, the lepers, the hungry, sinners, prostitutes, tax collectors, the persecuted, the downtrodden, the captives, the little ones, the least, the last, the lost. In short: Jesus hung out with rabble. With us. But his love for failures and nobodies isn't an *exclusive* love. He ate with Pharisees too. And that changes everything about how we think about the table — then, and now. We spent a lot of time with Manning's line that whatever we've done in the past, good or evil, great or small, is irrelevant to our stance before God today. It is only *now* that we are in the presence of God. That took us straight into the faith-and-works conversation — the scorecard we all secretly keep, the thief on the cross, and why the real issue underneath it all is trust: what are we trusting in to be forgiven? Our deeds, or Christ's righteousness? Then, in chapter 4, we loosened our halos a bit. Manning says the disciple who lives by grace rather than law has been converted from mistrust to trust, lives with genuine gratitude, and practices rigorous honesty. We talked about being afraid of being found out, about telling the truth on the terrible days the way my friend John did through his cancer, and about gratitude as the only possible response when we finally believe we can't earn this. We closed with Manning's litany from Romans 8: Who shall separate you from the love of Christ? Your weakness? It can't. Your inadequacies? They can't. A difficult marriage, loneliness, economic hardship, mistakes, fears, uncertainties? They can't. Nothing can. **Next time:** Chapters 5 and 6. --- ### Chapters - Who is the ragamuffin gospel for? - Poor in spirit — even with a good life - "It is only now that we are in the presence of God" - Faith, works, and the scorecard - The scandal of Jesus' table - Tilted halos: trust, gratitude, honesty - Nothing can separate you ### Mentioned - Brennan Manning, *The Ragamuffin Gospel*, chapters 3 ("The Ragamuffin Gospel") and 4 ("Tilted Halos") - Ephesians 2:8–10 - James 2 — faith shown by works - 1 Corinthians 3:15 — saved as through fire - The wheat and the weeds (Matthew 13) - Erma Bombeck: "I have nothing left. I used all the gifts you gave me." - Alistair Begg on the thief on the cross *Beyond Sunday School is a year of grace — working slowly through The Ragamuffin Gospel together. New sessions posted as we go.*
Oct 1

Ragamuffin Gospel - Grace, Drunk Straight

This week in Beyond Sunday School we dove into the first two chapters of Brennan Manning's The Ragamuffin Gospel — "Something Is Radically Wrong" and "The Magnificent Monotony." (And yes, I deeply appreciate a preacher who can nail the alliteration.) I opened the session with a question, and I want to ask it of you too: When you hear the word grace, what do you know is true — and what is still hard to trust? Here's where we went: Why "dead means dead" changes everything about how you hear grace (Ephesians 2)Manning's diagnosis: the church as a Wall Street exchange of works, and too many Christians living in the house of fear instead of the house of loveWhy we'd rather post the Ten Commandments in classrooms than the Beatitudes — and what that fear says about usThe vineyard workers and the unforgiving debtor: we get millions forgiven and go beat up people who owe us penniesRobert Farrar Capon's line I can't stop quoting: "Grace has to be drunk straight — no water, no ice, and certainly no ginger ale"Why it's okay to be an ordinary Christian who received a radical graceThe difference between believing to avoid hell and living in relationship — you're not sinning, you're just missing outManning's own story of alcoholism after conversion, and his line that justification by grace means God set us in relationship with him, not turned us into "a patient etherized on a table"The sinner at the church door, and God's answer: "What are you complaining about? They won't let me in either."Quotes from the episode: "Love is stifled, freedom shackled, self-righteousness fastened. The institutional church has become a wounder of the healers rather than a healer of the wounded." — Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel, ch. 1 "We grow squeamish and skittish before God's love." — Manning, ch. 2 "Never confuse your perception of yourself with the mystery that you really are." — Manning "God's butt is always a good one." — me, apparently, to a room that needed a half-second to get it The reading — Ephesians 2:8–10 (NIV): For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Go deeper: The book: Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel (originally published 1990)Companion blog post: "Grace, Drunk Straight" at danielmrose.comSession 1 of this series: "What's So Amazing About Grace?"Beyond Sunday School is my year-long series on grace for the 2026–27 school year. New sessions drop weekly. If this one met you where you are, share it with a fellow glorious mess.
Sep 16

Introduction - What's So Amazing About Grace?

Welcome back to Beyond Sunday School! This season, we are shifting gears from our deep dive into Revelation to focus an entire year on a single, transformative topic: Grace. To kick off our journey, Dan introduces the book that will guide our initial conversations—Brennan Manning’s classic, The Ragamuffin Gospel. Before opening Manning’s book, we start in the Scriptures with Ephesians 2:1–10 to lay a foundation for what grace actually is, why we desperately need it, and how it transforms the way we live in the world. Key Takeaways & Discussion Points Not by Works: Why human culture leans toward performance and rules (and why Christianity presents a radical, unearned reversal). The Reality of Spiritual Death: Understanding Paul’s stark description in Ephesians 2:1–3—why facing our spiritual "deadness" is essential to keeping grace amazing. Mechanics vs. The Master: Moving past getting stuck on the exact formulas or "how-to" mechanics of faith and focusing on Who saves us. Saved FOR Good Works: Verse 10 reminds us that grace isn't passive; good works are the natural, grateful response of a heart transformed by undeserved love. Who Is a Ragamuffin? A reading of Brennan Manning’s "A Word Before"—reminding us that grace is meant for the weary, broken, wobbly, and beat-up, not the spiritually polished. Key Scripture "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast." — Ephesians 2:8–9 Resources Mentioned Book: The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning Scripture Focus: Ephesians 2:1–10 Next Week's Reading: Read Chapters 1 & 2 of The Ragamuffin Gospel as we begin working through the text together!
Jul 2

Revelation 15 - Home at Last

We close out our journey through Revelation with chapters 20, 21, and 22 — the final judgment, the new heaven and new earth, and the garden-city of Revelation 22. Along the way: why our hope isn't heaven but the new creation, what the "thousand years" actually means (and doesn't), the already-but-not-yet nature of Christ's victory over Satan, what really happens when we die, and why trying to read the end of Revelation literally is exactly how people get it wrong. Why the hope of Revelation is the new heavens and new earth — not "going to heaven" — and how that reshapes the whole bookThe "thousand years" of Revelation 20 as symbol, not a literal countdownAlready-but-not-yet: Christ's decisive victory at the cross vs. the ongoing fight, illustrated with V-E Day, V-J Day, and (yes) Michael Scott declaring bankruptcyThe final collapse of evil in Revelation 20:7–15 — and why there's no actual battleWhat "Hades" really means in Scripture, and why it's not a synonym for hellWhat happens the moment we die: stepping out of time into eternityWhy the parable of Lazarus and the rich man can't carry the theological weight we usually put on itTrusting God's justice instead of trying to determine it ourselvesRevelation 21: God comes down to dwell with us — the reversal of the fall and the bookend to John 1The city as a cube: Holy of Holies imagery and what it means that there's no temple in the new JerusalemRevelation 22: Eden upgraded — the garden and the city woven togetherThe open gates, the closing charge to "let the holy still be holy," and what that means for how we live nowRevelation 20:1–15; 21:1–22:21; referenced: John 1:14; 1 Corinthians 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14; Luke 16:19–31; Hebrews 11; 1 Peter 3:18–20 N.T. Wright on the symbolic meaning of the thousand yearsPlowing in Hope - David Bruce HegemanHow does picturing our hope as "new heavens and new earth" instead of "going to heaven when we die" change the way you think about the Christian life right now?Where in your own life do you feel the tension of already-but-not-yet — victory that's real but not yet fully realized?Revelation 22 pictures gates that never close because there's nothing left to fear. What would it look like for you to live with that kind of settled peace today?John tells the churches to focus on their own holiness rather than trying to control the culture around them. Where are you tempted to do the opposite?Beyond Sunday School is a theological teaching podcast. Find more episodes on Spotify. Episode SummaryWhat We CoverScriptureMentioned in This EpisodeDiscussion Questions
Jun 11

Revelation 14 - The Ultimate Victory

We dive into Revelation 19, marking the end of a major teaching loop in the book. This chapter gives us a breathtaking glimpse of God’s ultimate victory through the cross and the second coming. From a roaring heavenly throne room to the stark contrast between a wedding feast and a battlefield scavenger hunt, we explore how the world is ultimately won not by violence, but by the true Word of God. Key Takeaways: Promises Kept: Returning to the heavenly throne room, the long-awaited cry of the martyrs from early in the book is finally answered. The scene reminded persecuted first-century Christians—and us today—that a righteous God will bring true justice in His perfect timing. The Gift of Good Works: We examine the metaphor of the Church as the Bride of Christ. Clothed in fine linen representing "the righteous deeds of God's holy people," we discuss the beautiful gospel paradox: our good deeds are actually gifts of grace prepared beforehand for us to walk in. The Idol Factory: Even John accidentally falls down to worship the angel delivering the message, prompting an immediate reminder to only worship God. We discuss how easily the human heart turns good things—like family, pastors, or even the physical pages of Scripture—into objects of worship. Victory by the Word: When Christ returns on a white horse, His weapon is a sharp sword coming out of His mouth. This imagery underscores that broken cultural systems and evil empires are not defeated by military dominance, but by the absolute truth of God's Word. Honor vs. Shame: We contrast the joyful Marriage Supper of the Lamb with the graphic "great feast of God" where birds scavenger the battlefield. In an ancient honor-shame culture, being left unburied was the ultimate public humiliation. Culture promises that chasing raw power leads to glory, but Revelation exposes it as the path to ultimate shame. What's Next: Our next episode releases after June 30th. It will be our final installment in the Beyond Sunday School series as we cover Chapters 20 through 22 and conclude our journey through Revelation. See you then!
Jun 2

Revelation 13 - Seduction, Symbols, and Self-Destruction

We are heading into the home stretch of our Revelation study! In this episode, we dive into the wild, graphic, and highly symbolic world of Revelation 17. From multi-headed monsters to the shocking imagery of "Babylon the Great," we move past the urge to treat this text like a literal decoding ring and instead uncover its deep historical and modern truths. How do we recognize the corrupt "empires" of our own day? And how can the church remain a faithful, alternative society without losing its call to be a peacemaker? Grab a cup of coffee and join us as we unpack one of the most challenging chapters in the New Testament. Beyond the Literal Timelines: Why we must stick to our intentional interpretive process of reading these texts as signs and symbols rather than literal chronological roadmaps. The Shock Factor of the Greek Text: A look at why the original Greek uses intentionally jarring language like "whore"—and why modern translations often sanitize it to make it more palatable. Why the Whore Imagery? Breaking down the four theological reasons for this imagery, highlighting its role as a parody of the Bride of Christ and its roots in Old Testament prophecy. Decoding Babylon: Exploring how Babylon represented Rome in the first century, while serving as a universal symbol for any dominating, oppressive imperial system across human history. The Danger of a "Little Bit" of Compromise: Why imperial systems are never satisfied with partial allegiance once you drink from their cup. The Monster Eats Its Own Tail: How institutional evil naturally turns inward and cannibalizes itself, illustrated by historical examples like the American Civil War. The Church as an Alternate Society: How followers of Jesus can publicly and respectfully push back against corrupt cultures without resorting to self-righteousness. "Once you take the golden cup offered by Babylon, you have to drink it down to its dregs. The world and its systems are never satisfied with just a little bit; they want it all. You cannot straddle the fence." We will be taking a short two-week break before diving into Chapters 18 and 19. Until then, hit subscribe, leave us a review, and remember to stand firm in the faith while extending grace and mercy to those around you!

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Many of us grew up hearing the good old stories. Noah's Ark, David and Goliath, and the like. But how do we go beyond those? How do we engage the Bible as adults beyond the Sunday School lessons?

Creator

Daniel Rose
Years Active

2021 - 2026
Episodes

56
Rating

Explicit
Show Website

Beyond Sunday School

Beyond Sunday School

Episodes

Ragamuffin Gospel - Paste Jewelry and a New Law

Ragamuffin Gospel - Wonder and Grace

Ragamuffin Gospel - Tilted Halos

Ragamuffin Gospel - Grace, Drunk Straight

Introduction - What's So Amazing About Grace?

Revelation 15 - Home at Last

Revelation 14 - The Ultimate Victory

Revelation 13 - Seduction, Symbols, and Self-Destruction

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