FOR NO KINGS DAY No kings but Jesus, no crown but the cross, for every throne of pride will crumble to dust. While mansions of gold pretend to be grand, the Carpenter’s kingdom is built by His hand.

The gospel is not a partisan slogan. It is the public announcement that Jesus is Lord and that no empire or autocrat gets the last word. How the gospel redefines power and renews our political imagination: jrwoodward.substack.com/p/prophetic-...

This immersion is worth checking out!

llusions shape our politics, our desires, and even our faith. But the Way of Jesus gives us eyes to see and courage to stand. The deepest insight emerges at the end. jrwoodward.substack.com/p/prophetic-...

To rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War is to confess allegiance to violence. The Powers that be stand exposed, proclaiming their liturgy of death without shame. Will we follow their liturgy, or the way of Christ?

This week begins a 16-part journey into Prophetic Discipleship - how we follow Jesus when love itself is on trial. I'd love for you to walk with me: bit.ly/47xN3XB

“Wherever the church fails as a prophet, it also fails as an evangelist.” - René Padilla How can we evangelize in Jesus’ name when we have nothing to say about the world that crucified him? In this series, I will explore prophetic discipleship when love is on trial: bit.ly/47xN3XB

The future of the church is not in personalities or programs, but in a people rooted in place, embodying the good news together in everyday life. Movements begin when ordinary people realize they are already sent.

After ministry in Australia, NZ, and Korea, I’m shocked at what’s happened here in just one month. From free press to state propaganda, truth is twisted, camps grow, files buried, voices silenced. May courage rise, and the Spirit lead us into all truth. jrwoodward.substack.com/p/from-free-...

"These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here...they are all defying Caesar's decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus." Acts 17:6b-7 Make some good trouble tomorrow: jrwoodward.substack.com/publish/post...

My case for why every person of conscience who’s able should show up to a NO KINGS protest near you on Saturday, June 14th. It’s time to take a stand. Read why here: jrwoodward.substack.com/p/the-power-...

Jesus never built an empire. He unmasked one. This post is about ICE raids, nonviolent resistance, and why even a mustard seed can shake the powers. Read + share: jrwoodward.substack.com/p/the-power-...

What if Romans 13 and Revelation 13 aren’t contradictions, but companions, showing us how to live faithfully within, and sometimes against, the prevailing order? In an age of politicized faith, faithful witness may be the church’s sacred vocation. Read more: jrwoodward.substack.com/p/faithful-w...

Romans 13 or Revelation 13? When power protects the vulnerable, it reflects God’s will. When it serves itself and sacrifices the weak, it becomes the Beast. Using Scripture to silence dissent isn’t faithfulness, it’s fear. Read more: jrwoodward.substack.com/p/faithful-w...

“Jesus was a refugee.” In his final letter to U.S. bishops, Pope Francis called us to put human dignity above fear. We face a spiritual crisis, not just a political one. This is a call to faithful resistance. Read more: jrwoodward.substack.com/p/hope-that-...

Help me understand why a nation is not equivalent to a private home.” A friend asked after my post on unlawful treatment of immigrants. Theology + law collide in my latest reflection, framed by God’s love “four” the poor, foreigner, orphan & widow. jrwoodward.substack.com/p/the-sermon...

He named the Powers. He refused to stay silent. Óscar Romero’s witness calls us to a deeper, bolder faith in these unraveling times. Check out post. jrwoodward.substack.com/p/the-witnes...

The Way of Jesus offers a different road: Not domination, but love. Not control, but courage. Not empire, but the cross. Resurrection, not algorithm, is our hope. jrwoodward.substack.com/p/the-engine...

Trump's first 100 Days has been a complete disaster for the United States of America. The ‘Recklessness Itself Sends a Message’: 35 Legal Experts Assess Trump’s Return www.nytimes.com/2025/04/28/o...

Authoritarianism is rising. Due process is eroding. What happens when opponents are treated as enemies. In this webinar we name the Powers, and explore faithful resistance rooted in the Way of Jesus. Last chance to register: bit.ly/4lHO0RT

Pope Francis didn’t just speak of mercy, he lived it. Here he is, kneeling to wash the feet of prisoners, reminding us that true leadership begins at the feet of others. bit.ly/4lH1v42

Pope Francis has died. He kept pointing us back to Jesus—welcoming all, lifting up the poor, and choosing mercy over judgment. In a divided world, he showed us a more just and loving way. May he rest in peace. 🕊️

“Jesus’s resurrection is the beginning of God’s new project—not to snatch people away from earth to heaven but to colonize earth with the life of heaven.” — N. T. Wright, Surprised by Hope

Faithful resistance lives in Holy Saturday. It’s the space between death and resurrection, between what’s broken and what’s promised. We mourn, we wait, we act in hope. Even in the silence, God is at work!

Many have asked for my thoughts on the Abrego Garcia case. On this Good Friday, I reflect on Jesus, scapegoating, and the crisis of belonging. You can read it here. No subscription required: jrwoodward.substack.com/p/the-cross-...

A shooter kills 2 at FSU with his mom’s old service weapon. Same day, a 20-year-old U.S. citizen is jailed in FL under an immigration law—even after showing ID + birth certificate. It’s easier to get a gun than to vote. Harder to walk free as a citizen than to kill. When will we wake up?

In an age of control and chaos, what does it mean to not be conformed to the spirit of this age? My latest Substack explores the Faustian spirit shaping our time—and how we might resist with wisdom, imagination, and faith. Check it out: bit.ly/42fnoQx

If you feel confused or helpless in our current political environment, take some time to register to this webinar next week. If you can’t make the time, you can get they replay if you register.

As Trump defies Supreme Court orders and the Powers tighten their grip, silence is not an option. Join us for Faithful Resistance, a webinar equipping Jesus-followers to pray with power, protest with courage, and build communities that resist domination with love. Register: bit.ly/V3faithfulre...

I don’t speak out lightly. But after years studying the Powers, I sense this is a moment that demands clarity. bit.ly/4ltfTNx

As authoritarianism rises, the most vulnerable bear the cost, from immigrant communities abandoned by defunded support systems to citizens manipulated by fear and false promises. How can followers of Jesus resist faithfully? Join us for a timely conversation: bit.ly/V3faithfulre...

I just subscribed to 5 Calls Newsletter. This is a helpful app to easily connect with people in congress that are representing you. They help you see all the issues at stake, so that you can make your voice heard: buttondown.com/5calls

Join me and others in Chicago this month. I will be doing a workshop on "Faithful Resistance in the Neighborhood: Naming the Powers, Embodying Hope." inhabit2025.eventbrite.com?utm-campaign...

Some moments demand more than silence. They call for costly allegiance. As a follower of Jesus, I believe this is such a moment. Our faith must be more than a private belief. It must shape where we stand when power distorts truth. bit.ly/4ltfTNx

I joined the Seattle protest today, along with hundreds of thousands across all 50 states, because I believe following Jesus means standing up for truth, dignity, and the common good. Our democracy is fragile. Lord, have mercy. Teach us to listen, to love, and to walk in your way.

Stand in solidarity with the vulnerable in a peaceful protest this Saturday, April 5th. Find one near you. Hope that costs nothing, changes nothing.

“The principalities don’t just tell lies—they construct entire worlds of untruth.” —W. Stringfellow In my latest post, I explore how authoritarianism acts as a spiritual power—and how we name, resist, and live in cruciform hope. Read it here: bit.ly/41Tnnl3

Cory Booker is giving a wake up call to all of us on what is happening. “This is not right or left, it is right or wrong. This is not a partisan moment, it is a moral moment. Where do you stand?”

Each blossom a gentle witness: what dies can bloom again.

Allegiance to Jesus forms a more humane society- one that billionaires, autocrats, and technocrats cannot own. Read + subscribe: jrwoodward.substack.com/p/faithful-r...