"Christianity's Surprise" with Kavin Rowe Artwork

The Weight

Let’s be honest. There are some topics that are too heavy for a 20 minute sermon. There are issues that need conversation, not just explanation. That’s why we have created The Weight Podcast. Launching on March 5th, this is a podcast that creates a space for honestly discussing some of the heavy topics we face in our culture today. We believe that the church is called to engage in a way that honors the weightiness and importance that these topics have for how we live faithfully today. We’ll cover everything from art to mental health, social injustice, and the future of the church. If it’s something the culture talks about, we need to be talking about it, too.

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The Weight

"Christianity's Surprise" with Kavin Rowe

March 28, 2024 • Oxford University United Methodist Church • Season 5 • Episode 9

Shownotes:

In this Holy Week episode, Chris and Eddie are joined by Kavin Rowe, author of Christianity’s Surprise: A Sure and Certain Hope. After 20 years of scriptural immersion as the George Washington Ivey Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Duke Divinity School, Rowe began to discern the growing significance of Christianity’s groundbreaking impact when it first entered the world. His book evokes the lost sense of the explosive power at the heart of Christian story, detailing the new hope and fresh vision that brushes up against the familiarity of scripture. Christianity’s Surprise draws readers closer to an understanding of Christianity as a gift from God, a never-ending mystery filled with a robust, joyful sense of surprise.

Rowe discusses the missing sense of imagination in American Christianity, how God’s promises for the future reach into the present, the interconnectedness of humanity, and how Christian institutions have evolved over time. Rowe’s insight in this conversation offers encouragement to all who need hope and who are longing to rediscover the heart of Christianity. It ushers in a refreshing perspective on the life-giving power of hope.

Check out Kavin Rowe’s book Christianity’s Surprise here:

https://www.abingdonpress.com/product/9781791008208/

Learn more about Kavin Rowe here:

https://divinity.duke.edu/faculty/c-kavin-rowe