Believing Better with 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 agains...

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 com...

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...

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 w...

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 l...

Oftentimes we believe that we must “deserve” the love we receive. We work, work, work to get approval and to feel like our life is justified — pulling our own weight, thinking that whatever life we create, and love we get, is only what we ourselves can conjure up. But the scriptures today offer the image of God as our “keeper” — always helping, always present. Nicodemus has followed all the rules and done everything HE can do, and ...

Everyone is dealing with things. Health issues, family issues, finances, pressures at work and school, there are so many things to make our lives stressful and hard. Then things get more intense when we add a supercharged political environment that seems more interested in stoking anger than fixing problems. People are feeling weary, used, and unheard, especially marginalized people They are feeling defeated and alone. They need so...

Friends are important. Friends make sure we are not facing our issues alone. They provide support, encouragement, correction, and companionship. Jesus knew how important it was to have friends. When he called those who would be his disciples, he watched as they relied on each other and became fast friends. At the end of his life, it was the message that Jesus wanted them to know - they were his friends.

*My sermon on January 22, 20...

Twelve years ago this week, Marsha J. Moors-Charles started a new work in Lexington, Kentucky that continues today. She envisioned a place where questions could be asked, doubts would be welcomed, and healing could take place - especially for those who'd been injured by past church experiences. We are proud of the work we are able to do, and the healing that has taken place for so many. Today, as we celebrate our anniversary, w...

New years bring new opportunities. We can choose to look back, or we can choose to look ahead. With those opportunities, we can resolve to use our gifts, our time, and our resources to make our world better, or at least easier, for those who are in need. If we count our opportunities as we count our days, we have a chance to make our world better 365 times this year.

My sermon on January 1, 2023 at Bluegrass United Church of Christ...

Hi there. I'm Kenny and I'm a recovering fundamentalist, Evangelical preacher. I've discovered lately that God loves a whole lot more than I was ever taught or told. This podcast is a collection of some of the sermons I've preached, talks that I've given, speeches I've made, and interviews I've been a part of. Together, we're going to rediscover who God really is and find out who God really loves. (T...