We want to take this moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of our supporters for your support of Renewed Heart Ministry’s work of love, justice, and compassion. At a time when ministries like ours are being asked to achieve more with fewer resources, your support is so deeply appreciated, and we want to simply say thank you. Whether in our larger society or within our local faith communities, Renewed Heart Ministries remains committed to advocating for change, working towards a world that is inclusive, just, and safe for everyone, and being a source of love.
From all of us here at Renewed Heart Ministries, thank you for your generous support. We deeply appreciate you.
If you’d like to join them in supporting our work, please go to renewedheartministries.com and click on “Donate.”
by Matthew Vines
2025 REVISED AND EXPANDED EDITION 
The landmark book exploring what the Bible actually says—and doesn’t say—about same-sex relationships.
As a young Christian man, Matthew Vines harbored the same basic hopes of many young people: to one day share his life with someone, to build a family of his own, to give and receive love. But when Vines realized he was gay, those hopes were called into question. The Bible, he’d been taught, condemned gay relationships.
Feeling the tension between his understanding of the Bible and the reality of his same-sex orientation, Vines devoted years to intensive research into what the Bible says about homosexuality. He asked questions such as:
• What was the real sin of Sodom?
• What did Paul have in mind when he wrote about same-sex relations?
• Is mandatory celibacy biblical?
• Can same-sex marriage fulfill Scripture’s vision for marriage?
Accessibly written and carefully argued, this expanded edition of God and the Gay Christian includes an updated introduction, two new chapters, and two new appendices. In the book, Vines engages with leading critiques of his work and shows readers how affirming same-sex relationships can go hand in hand with maintaining moral boundaries and upholding an orthodox Christian faith.
New Episode of “Just Talking” Now Online!
Lectionary Readings in the context of Love, Inclusion, & Social Justice
New Episodes Each Week!
Season 3, Episode 13: Luke 24.44-53. Lectionary C, Easter 7 (Ascension of the Lord)
Each week, we’ll discuss the gospel lectionary reading for the upcoming weekend in the context of love, inclusion, and justice. We hope that our talking will be “just” talking (as in justice) and that we’ll be inspired to do more than “just talking” during our brief conversations each week. If you teach from the lectionary each week, or if you’re just looking for some thoughts on the Jesus story from a more progressive perspective within the context of social justice, check it out.
Last Week’s Social Jesus Posts
Articles posted each week at https://www.patheos.com/blogs/socialjesus/
Varied Ascensions and One That Points to Justice
Part 1 of Carrying on the Work of Love and Justice
There are two distinct versions of the ascension story in the gospels. The one in our reading this week points to justice.
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/socialjesus/2025/05/varied-ascensions/
Repentance and Forgiveness as Political Not Personal
Part 2 of Carrying on the Work of Love and Justice
John’s repentance was not for personal, private, individual sins, but for community sins, social and political choices.
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/socialjesus/2025/05/repentance-forgiveness-political-personal/
A Gospel With Social Justice Implications
Part 3 of Carrying on the Work of Love and Justice
Faith without works of justice was worth nothing. A gospel without social implications was to be deeply questioned and rejected.
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/socialjesus/2025/05/gospel-social-implications/
The Social Jesus Podcast from RHM!
A podcast where we talk about the intersection of faith and social justice and what a first century, prophet of the poor from Galilee might have to offer us today in our work of love, compassion and justice.
Last week: Season 2 Episode 22: Carrying on the Work of Love and Justice
Luke 24:44-53
“Repentance for the forgiveness of sins that they taught had a quality that began with John the Baptist in Luke 3. John’s repentance was not for personal, private, individual sins. John called his listeners to a repentance for community sins, social and political choices, that were not only making the most marginalized vulnerable to harm, but also being the conduits of that harm as well. The elite, the powerful, propertied, and privileged, had become complicit with the Roman empire’s exploitation and extraction of the masses in Galilee, Samaria, and Judea. John then came, echoing the Hebrew prophets, calling for national repentance for national sins in the hopes that the people would experience national forgiveness. In the Hebrew scriptures, forgiveness did not mean being allowed to go to heaven when one dies. It meant liberation from oppression here on earth, violence being replaced with safety and peace, and injustice giving way to compassion and equity. It meant social healing, not private, personal, individual benefit that was separate from everyone else. That forgiveness isn’t connected to a post mortem destination later, but to healing of their land in this life. A more vernacular way of describing the “healing of the land” today would be to speak of societal healing for societal sins being committed right now.”
Available on all major podcast carriers and at:
https://the-social-jesus-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/carrying-on-the-work-of-love-and-justice
Upcoming Events
June 21, 2025
Good News Fellowship (via Zoom); Toronto, Ontario Canada
For info: 304.520.0030
Weekly Zoom HeartGroup on Wednesday Nights
Each Wednesday evening, Glendale City Church will be hosting a Zoom-HeartGroup led by Herb Montgomery. Our discussion each week will focus on the content in Renewed Heart Ministries’ weekly eSight articles, The Social Jesus podcast, and RHM’s Just Talking YouTube show. The time of each Zoom session will be on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. Pacific/10:00 p.m. Eastern.
For more information and for the link to participate each week, contact RHM here.
Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political & Economic Teachings of the Gospels
by Herb Montgomery
Available now on Amazon!
In Finding Jesus, author Herb Montgomery delves into the profound and often overlooked political dimensions of the gospels. Through meticulous analysis of biblical texts, historical context, and social discourse, this thought-provoking book unveils the gospels’ socio-political, economic teachings as rooted in a profound concern for justice, compassion, and the well-being of the marginalized. The book navigates the intersections between faith and societal justice, presenting a compelling argument for a more socially engaged and transformative Christianity.
Finding Jesus is not just a scholarly exploration; it is a call to action. It challenges readers to reevaluate their understanding of Christianity’s role in public life and to consider how the radical teachings of the gospels can inspire a renewed commitment to justice, equality, and compassion. This book is a must-read for those seeking a deeper understanding of the social implications of Christian faith and a blueprint for building a more just and inclusive society.
Are you receiving all of RHM’s free resources each week?
You can find Renewed Heart Ministries on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for our daily posts. Our JFE podcast can be subscribed to through the podcast platform you use. And you can even get messages from RHM delivered to you email inbox every day.
Sign up today so you don’t miss a thing!
Click “Sign Up!”
Donate to RHM online or by mail at
RHM, PO Box 1211, Lewisburg, WV 24901