
The Widening of God's Mercy
Sexuality Within the Biblical Story
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Narrated by:
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Simon Kerr
About this listen
A fresh, deeply biblical account of God’s expanding grace and mercy, tracing how the Bible’s narrative points to the full inclusion of LGBTQ people in Christian communities
Discussions of the Bible and human sexuality often focus on a scattered handful of specific passages. But arguments about this same set of verses have reached an impasse, two leading biblical scholars believe; these debates are missing the forest for the trees.
In this learned and beautifully written book, Richard and Christopher Hays explore a more expansive way of listening to the overarching story that scripture tells. They remind us of a dynamic and gracious God who is willing to change his mind, consistently broadening his grace to include more and more people. Those who were once outsiders find themselves surprisingly embraced within the people of God, while those who sought to enforce exclusive boundaries are challenged to rethink their understanding of God’s ways.
The authors—a father and son—point out ongoing conversations within the Bible in which traditional rules, customs, and theologies are rethought. They argue that God has already gone on ahead of our debates and expanded his grace to people of different sexualities. If the Bible shows us a God who changes his mind, they say, perhaps today’s Christians should do the same. The book begins with the authors’ personal experiences of controversies over sexuality and closes with Richard Hays’s epilogue reflecting on his own change of heart and mind.
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Excellent
- By James on 04-29-08
By: N. T. Wright
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Tell Her Story
- How Women Led, Taught, and Ministered in the Early Church
- By: Nijay K. Gupta, Beth Allison Barr - foreword
- Narrated by: Nijay K. Gupta
- Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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Women were there. For centuries, discussions of early Christianity have focused on male leaders in the church. But there is ample evidence right in the New Testament that women were actively involved in ministry, at the frontier of the gospel mission, and as respected leaders. Nijay Gupta calls us to bring these women out of the shadows by shining light on their many inspiring contributions to the planting, growth, and health of the first Christian churches.
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Biblical exploration of women’s role in the Bible
- By Adam Shields on 08-18-23
By: Nijay K. Gupta, and others
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Disarming Leviathan
- Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor
- By: Caleb E. Campbell
- Narrated by: Caleb E. Campbell
- Length: 7 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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In Disarming Leviathan, Campbell equips Christians to minister to their Christian nationalist neighbors. He introduces the basics of Christian nationalism and explores the reasons so many people are attracted to it. He also addresses a variety of American Christian nationalist talking points and offers questions and responses that humbly subvert these claims and cultivate deeper, heart-level conversations.
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Thought provoking
- By Ben on 09-24-24
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Does the Bible Affirm Same-Sex Relationships?
- Examining 10 Claims about Scripture and Sexuality
- By: Rebecca McLaughlin
- Narrated by: Rebecca McLaughlin
- Length: 2 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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In this concise book, Rebecca McLaughlin looks at ten of the most common arguments used to claim that the Bible affirms same-sex sexual relationships. She analyses the arguments and associated Bible passages one by one to uncover what the Bible really says. For Rebecca, as someone with a lifelong history of same-sex attraction, this is not just an academic question.
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Perfect amount of detail
- By Scott Grafton on 04-09-25
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All Things Are Full of Gods
- The Mysteries of Mind and Life
- By: David Bentley Hart
- Narrated by: Rachael Beresford
- Length: 22 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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In a blossoming garden located far outside all worlds, a group of aging Greek gods have gathered to discuss the nature of existence, the mystery of mind, and whether there is a transcendent God from whom all things come. Turning to Eros, Psyche asks, "Do you see this flower, my love?"
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It's all in the mind
- By Owen Kelly on 08-30-24
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UnClobber (Expanded Edition with Study Guide)
- Rethinking Our Misuse of the Bible on Homosexuality
- By: Colby Martin
- Narrated by: Colby Martin
- Length: 7 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Armed with only six passages in the Bible—often known as the "Clobber Passages"—the conservative Christian position has been one that stands against the full inclusion of our LGBTQ siblings. UnClobber reexamines each of those frequently quoted passages of Scripture, alternating with author Colby Martin's own story of being fired from an evangelical megachurch when they discovered his stance on sexuality.
By: Colby Martin
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Strange Religion
- How the First Christians Were Weird, Dangerous, and Compelling
- By: Nijay K. Gupta
- Narrated by: Nijay K. Gupta
- Length: 6 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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The first Christians were weird. Just how weird is often lost on today's believers. Within Roman society, the earliest Christians stood out for the oddness of their beliefs and practices. They believed unusual things, worshiped God in strange ways, and lived a unique lifestyle. They practiced a whole new way of thinking about and doing religion that would have been seen as bizarre and dangerous when compared to Roman religion and most other religions of the ancient world.
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misleading title
- By Travis M. Stockwell on 03-24-24
By: Nijay K. Gupta
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Into the Heart of Romans
- A Deep Dive into Paul's Greatest Letter
- By: N. T. Wright
- Narrated by: John Sackville
- Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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N. T. Wright—widely regarded as the most influential commentator and interpreter of Paul—deftly unpacks this dense and sometimes elusive letter, detailing Paul's arguments and showing how it illuminates the Gospel from the promises to Abraham through the visions of Revelation. Wright takes a deep dive into Romans 8, showing how it illuminates so much else that God reveals in Scripture: God the Father, Christology, and the Spirit; Jesus' Messiahship, cross, resurrection, and ascension; salvation, redemption, and adoption; suffering and glory; holiness and hope.
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Deep dive into Romans 8
- By Adam Shields on 11-27-23
By: N. T. Wright
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The Bible Says So
- What We Get Right (and Wrong) About Scripture’s Most Controversial Issues
- By: Dan McClellan
- Narrated by: Dan McClellan
- Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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The Bible is the world’s most influential book, but do we really know what it says? Every day across social media and in homes, businesses, and public spaces, people try to cut debate short by claiming that "the Bible says so!" However, they commonly disagree about what it actually does and doesn't say, particularly when it comes to socially significant issues. For instance, does the Bible say we should be on the lookout for an antichrist associated with the number 666? Does it say women shouldn’t wear revealing clothing? Does it say it’s okay to hit your kids?
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Simply outstanding!
- By Amazon Customer on 05-08-25
By: Dan McClellan
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When Narcissism Comes to Church
- Healing Your Community from Emotional and Spiritual Abuse
- By: Chuck DeGroat, Richard J. Mouw - foreword
- Narrated by: Jim Denison
- Length: 6 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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We've seen the news stories and heard the rumors. Maybe we ourselves have been hurt by a narcissistic church leader. It's easy to throw the term around and diagnose others from afar. But what is narcissism, really? And how does it infiltrate the church?
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Excellent coverage of topic
- By Elisabeth on 05-28-20
By: Chuck DeGroat, and others
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The Tears of Things
- Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage
- By: Richard Rohr
- Narrated by: Drew Jackson
- Length: 6 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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In his first major work since The Universal Christ, one of our most prominent spiritual voices offers a wholehearted and hope-filled model for the world today, grounded in the timeless wisdom of the Hebrew prophets. How do we live compassionately in a time of violence and despair? What can we do with our private disappointments and the anger we feel in such an unjust world? In his most personal book yet, Richard Rohr turns to the writings of the Jewish prophets, revealing how some of the lesser-read books of the Bible offer us a crucial path forward today.
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Friar Rohr doing what he does best
- By D. Beahn on 03-13-25
By: Richard Rohr
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A Psalm for the Wild-Built
- Monk & Robot, Book 1
- By: Becky Chambers
- Narrated by: Em Grosland
- Length: 4 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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It's been centuries since the robots of Panga gained self-awareness and laid down their tools; centuries since they wandered, en masse, into the wilderness, never to be seen again; centuries since they faded into myth and urban legend. One day, the life of a tea monk is upended by the arrival of a robot, there to honor the old promise of checking in. The robot cannot go back until the question of "what do people need?" is answered. But the answer to that question depends on who you ask, and how.
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The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas
- By Daniel Cascaddan on 07-15-21
By: Becky Chambers
What listeners say about The Widening of God's Mercy
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Greg Impink
- 03-20-25
The Bible As a Whole
This book perfectly encapsulates what it’s like to read the Bible as a whole and bring all of the texts into conversation with each other.
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- Akin Ayi
- 12-23-24
Well researched, thoughtful and compassionate call to all Christians Effectively read/narrated. Highly recommended
The biblical references were sometimes hard to capture. I will be purchasing a hard copy of this book for further study.
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- Joseph McDonnell
- 11-05-24
Well thought out and eye-opening
A Thoughtful Exploration of this important topic through the Lens of Biblical Truth and Christ-like Love
This is a scholarly, deeply insightful work that upholds biblical authority while addressing the complex issues surrounding this topic of inclusion. The author’s commitment to staying true to Scripture is evident on every page, grounding their arguments in a profound respect for God’s Word. With a tone that reflects both compassion and integrity, they approach difficult questions with a level of care and sensitivity that mirrors Jesus’ teachings.
This book is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to engage thoughtfully and respectfully on this topic. The author does not shy away from challenging passages or difficult interpretations but instead invites readers into a journey of sincere reflection and understanding. Their ability to balance theological depth with accessible language makes this book not only informative but also inspiring.
A must-read for anyone who wants to approach this topic seriously, with a heart tuned toward love and a mind anchored in truth. It’s a remarkable resource that speaks to both the head and the heart, helping readers grow in both knowledge and Christ-like compassion.
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- Foxx4
- 01-30-25
Like sitting in Dr. Hays' lectures.
As Richard Hays' former student, this book is like sitting in his lectures and hearing how he interprets scripture. I'm still chewing on their views of the immutability of God, but I loved the book.
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- Bjørnar
- 02-09-25
Only mercies no sin
Is it nessecerly to repent for sin? In their vieuw you must not address sin, it can harm people, and no mention of repenting from sin. All with a easy explanation of a merciful God who change character though out the Bibel. This is not a book for a deep explanation on how liberalists can defend gay marriages, but a good demonstration of how defend «do as you please» as long as it is in love!
When will it be defendable with incest, that is many people practicing that today, even as it is prohibited today. How many years was it from gay was prohibited to legal marriage? This is the question, the Muslims are marrying down to 10-12 years old, why are we condemning them for this practice, Iran has a significant amount of people?
This book concludes with Gods mercie forgives everything, with no need of repentance! And also with a defenition of spiritual filled, without any explanation on how this is defind, but particularly by good deeds! This is absolutely not a spirit filled book. The Bibel is worth reading!
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