Slip 'n Slide: A Summer Series on Slipping from Truth

When I was a kid, summer wasn’t complete without a Slip ’n Slide in the backyard. A long stretch of plastic, a hose, and a good running start was all it took to send us laughing and sliding through the grass. It was a joyful, harmless thrill—until the inevitable wipeout.

But not all slips are harmless.

This summer, we’re starting a new series called Slip ’n Slide, where we’ll explore how easy it is—even for sincere followers of Jesus—to slowly slide away from core truths of the Good News. Not with a big dramatic fall, but through small, subtle shifts in how we think about God, ourselves, and the world around us.

The series begins with a deceptively simple idea: Jesus as an example. While He is indeed the perfect model of love, compassion, and integrity, He is first and foremost Lord. When we reduce Jesus to a role model or mascot, we lose the power of His identity and the authority of His call on our lives.

Week by week, we’ll examine ideas that sound good on the surface—“You are enough,” “Judge not,” “Keep the peace”—but that often pull us away from the truth Jesus actually taught. Each message will highlight a  “slip” and contrast it with the stable foundation of Jesus.

We’ll also talk about what it really means to give, to love, to judge with wisdom, and to engage our mission right where we are. From how we view freedom and responsibility, to how we understand grace and truth, we’ll discover how easy it is to drift from Jesus’ way while still claiming His name.

This summer, we’re not just cooling off—we’re diving deep. And it may get a little uncomfortable at times. But the goal isn’t to scare anyone; it’s to steady us. In a world where truth often feels slippery, we want to anchor our lives in the unchanging words of Christ.

So grab your towels—and your Bibles—and join us for Slip ’n Slide. Let’s learn together how to stand firm when the ground beneath us gets slick.

Looking Forward,

Blake Benge