Zao MKE Church

Guest sermon by Josh Scott, Lead Pastor at Gracepointe Church in Nashville   One thing progressives and conservatives undeniably share is this: we all cherry-pick the Bible. It's an unavoidable reality that we gravitate toward certain passages and stories while overlooking or even rejecting others. If that's the case, then the question isn't whether we cherry-pick — but how we do it. Can we acknowledge this fact and still approach Scripture in ways that are rooted in integrity? And could there be a way in which “cherry-picking” becomes not a flaw, but something thoughtful — even sacred?

Guest sermon by Chris Chapman We live in a world that simultaneously gives us reason for immense sorrow and tells us to constantly stay positive and look on the bright side. It can be hard to look at the state of the world and have hope, but is that the whole point? What if our faith found room for both honest grief and reason to hope in the goodness of God? We will explore this through the lens of Lamentations, a book all about acknowledging the reality of the world and finding reason to hope for better.

God speaks through all of creation. In this special sermon, hear the voice of God as told by community members Bryan, Kian, and Liz: how God is showing up in their lives, how God invites them into transformation, and how God's love changes everything.

Many of us have become disillusioned with more conservative, fundamentalist expressions of the Christian faith. After we deconstruct, it can be challenging to find new practices and expressions that suit what our faith looks like now. What theologies and beliefs are you still holding on to that are keeping your faith from thriving? What practices can you return to and trust that God will still meet you in? We'll explore this through the lens of Paul's description in Philippians 3 and Chris' own story. Guest sermon by Chris Chapman

This Sunday we reflect on Jeremiah's image of God as the potter and we as the clay, discovering how God reshapes us with intention to live as vessels of justice, mercy, and hope. Guest sermon by Rev. R. Ellen Rasmussen

An exploration of Jesus' work with his followers to build a rich, relational, liberatory movement. Guest sermon by Mark Fraley

God speaks through all of creation. In this special sermon, hear the voice of God as told by community members Krissie, Cat, and Galen: how God is showing up in their lives, how God invites them into transformation, and how God's love changes everything.

Have you ever felt like you are alone is this life, or that God was far from you? Let's explore El Roi or the God that sees us.   Guest sermon by Tamra Schneider

Every human being is divine. Each of us is born with inherent worth, in the image of God. Join us for this service where we explore birth as divinity incarnate.   Guest preacher: Rev. Jennifer Nordstrom

History is written by the powerful, but God invites those at the margins to be prophetic interpreters and storytellers. How does the story change depending on who tells it?

We spend our lives fighting for justice - but the point of the fight is that all may live whole, beautiful, connected lives of creativity and joy. So while we fight, why wait? We are called to come fully alive right here, right now - even as we work towards a better world.

Rage can be righteous, but if we don't process and transform it, it will consume us. This week, Sweeney Todd offers a portrait of a man on the wrong path. How can we do better?

Defy gravity and quit playing by the rules of someone else's game! This week, we build the courage to resist systems that script us as villains or “wicked” for being different, powerful, or noncompliant.

In a world that punishes the poor and rewards betrayal, Les Misérables shows us that love, grace, and solidarity are revolutionary acts. This week, we'll explore the daily choices that shape us—will we join the people singing for liberation, or cling to systems that cannot save us?

Guest sermon by Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis. The Reverend Dr. Liz Theoharis is a theologian, author, pastor, and anti-poverty organizer. She is Founder and Executive Director of the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice. Rev. Dr. Theoharis is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), co-pastor of the Freedom Church of the Poor, and teaches at Union Theological Seminary in New York City.

This week, we take a closer look at Miriam, a prophet, strategist, and teacher who led her people into freedom alongside her brother, Moses.

This week, we hear the story of Shiphrah and Puah, midwives who defied Pharaoh's orders and protected their people, reminding us that liberation often begins with quiet, courageous resistance.

Queer, chosen family isn't outside the Bible—it's right at the heart of it, in the lineage of Jesus. This Pride, come celebrate and participate in queer kinship and connection at Zao and beyond.

When the urgency of the world overwhelms us, James reminds us we are called to be patient with the same dedication that others rush to violence.

James teaches us that friendship with the world (empire) will always give us a frenemy at best. No matter how loud and seductive the logic of scarcity and empire is, we can turn up the volume on resurrection truth through community discernment and prayer.

Resurrection faith transforms our speech, calling us to align our words with wisdom, integrity, and action. How we speak reveals the truth: has the word of God truly taken root in us?

This week at Zao: a sharp word from James on favoritism, wealth, and God's economy of mercy. No more playing favorites - resurrection communities don't hoard, they provide.

Faith that lives doesn't just talk - it acts. James reminds us that belief without embodiment is dead, but resurrection faith shows up in mercy, justice, and love made real.

We're kicking off a new series on the book of James: Agents of Heaven on Earth. This week, we'll explore how James calls us to reject the world's false wisdom and live whole, rooted in God's abundance, even in a collapsing world.

On Easter Sunday, we proclaim the impossible: that death is not the final word, that empire doesn't get to decide the ending, and that love—foolish, fierce, faithful love—cannot be buried. This is not a return to normal. It's a rupture. It's resurrection. And we are a part of it.

At Zao, instead of Palm Sunday, we call this day Protest Sunday—a celebration of fierce, faithful resistance to systems of violence and domination. In a world where empire demands silence and individualism breeds despair, we remember: we are not alone. Love shows up. Love tells the truth. Love organizes. And yes—love protests.

To love like Jesus is to surrender what we thought would save us. The cost is real—but what we receive is true love that lasts.

Guest sermon by Colby Martin.

When words fall short, love shows up in music, in awe, in presence. Come vibe with us as we explore the mystery of God and the love that moves us beyond words.

We're continuing our Love Songs sermon series for Lent. This week, our inspiration is "Adore You," by Harry Styles. Listen to the full series playlist here!

This Sunday, we kick off our new Lent series: Love Songs!   If you were into last year's Breakup Album (or missed it), get ready for its perfect match. We're diving into the love songs that keep coming back to the same themes—longing, devotion, heartbreak, and hope. Week one is all about Longing, and we've got a playlist ready for you to belt along with us.   Listen to the full series playlist here!   Our apologies for the audio issues in the first few minutes of this week's sermon! The microphone was restored around the 5:30 mark.

How can we follow the example of the Desert Mothers and Fathers by finding inner stillness in the face of chaos and violence?

A final reflection on what we can learn from the Hush Harbors about how to live in the solidarity and interdependence of the Kingdom of God.

The Christians of the Hush Harbors knew to look back and back to the wisdom of those whose faith had come before. Do we?

Under the brutality from white "Christian" slavers, enslaved Black folks cultivated, protected, and passed on a profoundly different faith in God, Jesus, and the scriptures. In this moment, when white nationalists have claimed the church again and again, we look to the Hush Harbors for lessons on how to faithfully follow Jesus and find Joy Unspeakable even in terrifying times.

Guest sermon by Mark Fraley

This season promises to be an intense one in the USA. But despite recent escalations, this era is not unprecendented. Come learn how Christian communities all over the world have been pockets of prophetic resistance to evil and violence throughout history, and how you can resource your heart and faith for modern times.

After all the loudness of the season, can you find God's presence in the quiet?

What makes joy so essential to Advent? And what keeps us from being truly joyful people?

God commands us to love Them. Jesus explains that to love God means to love neighbor and self. What if love is not just intended for the recipient? What if the act of loving is what transforms us all?

In a violent world, the first move towards peace is always a risky one. Who will put their sword down first?

How can we take the risk of hope this Advent?

Thanksgiving can be complicated. What if our gratitude could be an act of resistance? By centering Indigenous wisdom, the teachings of Jesus, and practices of reciprocity, we can move from shallow tradition to a deeper, more honest celebration of life, connection, and care for creation.

It is better to be a warrior than a garden than a gardener in a war - or so the saying goes. But the Scriptures have something else in mind. In times of horrific political violence, God tells the people to plant gardens. To fall in love. Settle down. Have children.   If the world is feeling like a war zone right now, are you called to plant a seed of hope?

It's a big week, y'all. And whether this Tuesday has you biting your nails, planning a victory party, or throwing your hands up in despair, we see you. But the hope we have in God - and God's people - is firmer than any promise we can receive from earthly power brokers. Let's ground ourselves in the hope of the Gospel and prepare our hearts for whatever comes next.

The gifts God gives to us are meant for the benefit of all, and we are blessed when others are blessed. In a world of competition and scarcity, it feels counterintuitive - but in God's Kingdom, no one is free until we're all free.

God makes some big promises: life abundant, resurrection, liberation... when it's hard to believe in big promises, sometimes we try and make it on our own - to our detriment. Can we lose God's promise or will God find a way regardless?

It can be so hard to reach understanding among people with different identities, perspectives, languages and cultures. But what if that's part of God's design? Difference is a gift, and it can bring us closer to holiness - if we learn to trust each other and God.

Just a few short chapters after the creation story, The Flood comes crashing down to wipe away most of humanity. How do we make sense of this? Did God really just etch-a-sketch creation?

So the first big plot point after humanity's expulsion from the garden is... fratricide. This story is coming in hot with drama, but what does it say about the nature of people? Are we doomed to be violent from the start?

We think we know the story of The Fall, right? Adam, Eve, Snake, Apple, Bummer Town. But how many different ways are there to interpret this story?