UN-CHURCHING Nelson, NZ
Welcome, fellow follower of Christ! We invite you to join our discussion group over a latte or cappuccino.
At each session, Ray Salisbury will present the week's topic for about 20-minutes.
You are invited to share your own faith journey and ask questions, etc.
REGISTER BELOW! (We need to know numbers of those attending.)
Here's the details on our formative pilot group meet-up in Nelson...
Venue: Dining Room, The Honest Lawyer pub, 1 Point Road, Monaco, Nelson, NZ
Time: 10am Sundays :-)
Dates: 5 July to 9 August 2026
Cost: Free! ...but buy a drink to support the Honest Lawyer!
Direct questions via email to: ray@hotpixels.co.nz
Topics for Discussion:
01
Exodus of believers from the Institutional Churches.
Why are millions of Christians leaving the Sunday morning 'box churches?' Is 'de-construction' dangerous?
Are the countless stories of spiritual abuse true? Are these church refugees back-sliding, or are they searching for a deeper and more authentic expression of faith? And finally, what IS the church?
02
What is the Bible?
How was the Bible written and put together? Are we supposed to read the Bible every day? Is the Bible the inspired 'Word of God?' Have we confused the Old and New Covenants? What is proof-texting, and why context matters. Can Bible reading be dangerous to our mental health? (Like, are our hearts really deceitful and desperately wicked? If so, how can we trust our hearts?) What about Law & Grace?
03
Priesthood of all Believers
How did the early church meet and where? How did Constantine, Augustine & Luther influence Christian gatherings? Is our current leadership hierarchy with honorific titles and salaries actually Biblical? What about Tithing and Sermons?
04
Pagan Christianity
How did our rituals like Communion, Sermons & Altar Calls develop? What about the Clergy-Laity split? Find out how the simple Christian faith became hijacked by pagan religion. Learn about the Atonement Theories of why Christ died - was Jesus punished by God's wrath, or did he lay down his life in a rescue mission to defeat death and sin forever?
05
The real Gospel of Grace
Jesus promised that his yoke would be easy, and his burden would be light, right? Why are we pressured into jumping through religious hoops in an attempt to please God? We are told to 'try harder', read the Bible more, attend more meetings, and pray more. Does God really want to 'break us', or 'use us for His glory?' Is Christianity really about our commitment to God, or rather, is it about His commitment to us? Are we dirty wretched Sinners, or are we precious Saints in union with Christ?
06
The Heart of God, & the True You
The best news you've ever heard. God wants to share His glory with us! Our loving Father runs toward His prodigal children to embrace us, with no judgement. Unconditional love is what transforms us, not religious obligation or duty, not sermons or service.