Each of us is the owner of a random collection of theologies, doctrines, and superstitions. It’s a junk drawer of religious ideas and influences. It’s the witticisms your grandmother tossed around with ease that sounded like they came from a religious text. It’s an insight gleaned about God from a half-heard sermon at a friend’s church. It’s the mental screenshot of a meme shared on social media. It’s the empowering idea you underlined in a book and wrote on a Post-it Note now forever affixed to your laptop.

These are the things stuffed in our spiritual junk drawers. And as with that stash of old phone chargers, empty pens, and half-used batteries sitting in your kitchen drawer, something in us says, “I might need this.”

And so we hold on. But should we?

For many this junk drawer spirituality has become burdensome. We are worn down by the religious experience it creates and frustrated by a collection of traditions and “truths” that fail to deliver on their many promises.

Find out more about St. Matthew Lutheran Church at www.stmatts.net

Junk Drawer Jesus by Matt Popovits

Amazon: https://a.co/d/3jaaveE

1517.org https://shop.1517.org/collections/coming-soon/products/9781956658491-junk-drawer-jesus

Tough Call by Matt Popovits

https://a.co/d/0VENNEi

Seculosity by David Zahl

https://a.co/d/j6I9L6x

What Matters Most Podcast with Matt Popovits

https://open.spotify.com/show/42pQWZS0UirWPNDA8XNfYx?si=6d3fc013a340440c

Make It Simple Podcast with Matt Popovits and Rachel Ryder

https://open.spotify.com/show/5DgcGJkqIGLLsFKO2bcIWH?si=56604b27c81149e4

Hesham Shehab grew up in Beirut, a world of bitter animosity between Muslims and Christians, which he experienced personally in a physical attack when 7 years old. By age 13 he was recruited by the Muslim Brotherhood (Lebanese Chapter) and later fought against Christians in the 1975 war in Lebanon.

His brother was killed by a Christian militia and his response was to study by day, and by night seek to take revenge in attacks on Christian members if the militia that killed his brother.

However, hearing the Sermon on the Mount in a course of cultural studies (at American college in Beruit), the Holy Spirit brought him to faith. He heard the words “love our enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Today, he's the founder of Salam Christian Fellowship in Chicago and reaches out to refugees and new immigrants from eight Middle Eastern countries, and shares the Gospel with Muslims in three languages.

This is Hesham's story! ---- To find out more about St. Matthew Lutheran Church www.stmatts.net

Salam Christian Fellowship

https://salamchristianfellowship.org

To contact Hesham Shehab

hicham@salamchristianfellowship.org

Guidelines for Sharing the Faith with Your Muslim Friends: The Dos and the Don’ts – Bernie Lutz

http://pubsearch.lhfmissions.org

Christian Witness Among Muslims – Earnest Hahn

https://www.ffmna.org/product-page/christian-witness-among-muslims-a-guide-to-understanding-the-muslim-religion

Between Allah & Jesus – Peter Kreeft

https://a.co/d/hISrWcu

The Bible is not some dusty textbook, but a veritable circus of humanity, with high-soaring saints, back-talking donkeys, left-handed kingslayers, and all the glory and gore you can fit inside the big top of this biblical tent.

And everywhere in this story is God who, in his wild and passionate love for humanity, is shepherding history toward the birth and ministry of Jesus the Messiah.

Chad Bird talks about his latest book and also reads an excerpt!

-----

Find out more about St. Matthew Lutheran Church www.stmatts.net

Explore the 1517.org website

https://www.1517.org

Hitchhiking with Prophets by Chad Bird

https://shop.1517.org/collections/paperback/products/9781956658866-hitchhiking-with-prophets

The Christ Key – Unlocking the Centrality of Christ in the Old Testament by Chad Bird

https://shop.1517.org/collections/paperback/products/9781962654876-the-christ-key

40 Minutes in the Old Testament podcast

https://www.1517.org/podcasts/40-minutes-in-the-old-testament

Hidden Streams podcast

https://www.1517.org/podcasts/hidden-streams

Jesus Died and Rose For You with Chad Bird – audio podcast

https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/8O7HxUeQTLb

Jesus Died and Rose For You with Chad Bird – video podcast

https://youtu.be/V4RmaDlry7c

Connection between Passover & The Lord’s Supper with Chad Bird – audio podcast

https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/80aa6TeQTLb

Connection between Passover & The Lord’s Supper with Chad Bird – video podcast

https://youtu.be/AE1x89HUQJ8