When you think of aliens, maybe you think of Extra-Terrestrial beings that invade earth and try to take over the world (or try to figure out how to repair their ship and get back to their home planet), or crazy old farmers in Iowa that swear they saw a UFO land in their cornfield. Maybe you even think of the immigration issues. But you probably don't think of the Bible. Maybe you should.

The Bible is actually filled with stories about aliens...men and women who found themselves on foreign soil, living in a place where they didn't belong. And many of these men and women learned to do more than just survive - they learned to influence the foreign (and often pagan) cultures they were surrounded by.

Aliens is a  7-week sermon and small group series that explores the lives of seven Biblical aliens (people like Joseph, Esther, and Daniel) and teach us how to live as people who are - as Jesus said - "not of this world."

Listen to some of the worship songs that we sing on Sundays from our Spotify playlist. It's a great way to engage in worship while you drive, do chores, or exercise, and it's also a way to fill your home with truth and peace and joy.

If you don't have a Spotify account, sign up for Spotify HERE.

Check out these video resources from our friends at the Bible Project and the subject of Exile, as well as the bilical aliens, Jeremiah and Daniel.

Below are some additional scholarly resources on the subject of Exile and its impact on the formation of the Hebrew Bible, and on the messianic role of Jesus. Also below is a book on the subject of culture.

Exile - A Conversation with N.T. Wright, edited by James M. Scott
The Religion of the Landless, by Daniel L. Smith-Christopher
A Biblical Theology of Exile, by Daniel L. Smith-Christopher
Christ and Culture, by H. Richard Niebuhr

Check out this interactive timeline is useful for understanding the historical storyline of the Bible events and characters:  The Bible Timeline.

RightNow Media is a digital video library you have free access to through Ventura Missionary. We encourage you to use this library for your own discipleship, and to share content with anyone in your life who is looking for hope, truth, and help in topics such as marriage, parenting, and other common life experiences. Do a search on our weekly topics and find some great supplemental material. There is also great content for kids!

*PLEASE NOTE: Ventura Missionary Church, and our leadership (including Pastor Doug) does not endorse every idea or theological perspective in these resources; however, we have found them to be helpful resources in developing a well-rounded understanding  about our teaching series.