As we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States, our attention is already filling with arguments about history, patriotism, politics, identity, and the meaning of America itself. Some voices will insist that the story of our nation is simple. Others will insist it is hopelessly broken. Most of us, meanwhile, are left trying to make sense of the noise and wondering whom to believe.
We begin our summer at Asbury with a new worship series called Truth.
Each week, we will explore questions that sit at the center of both faith and public life. Along the way, we’ll also look at what happens when truth becomes flexible. The reality is that when truth bends, trust breaks.
To accompany our series, our Book Club will be reading The Greatest Sentence Ever Written by Walter Isaacson.
Many readers know Isaacson through his bestselling biographies of figures such as Leonardo da Vinci, Steve Jobs, and Benjamin Franklin. In this recent work, however, Isaacson turns his attention to a single sentence from the Declaration of Independence:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…”
Rather than treating the sentence as untouchable mythology, Isaacson explores both its brilliance and its contradictions. He examines how those words emerged, why they mattered, and how generation after generation has struggled to live up to them. The book does not ask readers to worship the founders. It asks us to wrestle honestly with the ideals they claimed.
That is precisely why it makes such a meaningful companion for this series.
As Christians, we believe truth is more than a slogan, a political strategy, or a social media weapon. In Scripture, truth is connected to faithfulness, integrity, justice, mercy, and trustworthiness. Truth shapes relationships. Truth shapes communities. Truth shapes whether people can live together at all.
But when truth bends, trust breaks.
Over these six weeks, we will explore themes such as shared humanity, equality, dignity, liberty, and the common good. Along the way, we will ask difficult but important questions: What truths still hold us together? What happens when trust collapses? And what does it mean for followers of Jesus to live truthfully in a world filled with distortion, outrage, and fear?
You do not need to agree with every conclusion in the book to participate. In fact, thoughtful disagreement is part of the point. Our hope is not simply to revisit American history, but to reflect together on the moral and spiritual values necessary for any community to flourish.
We hope you’ll join us this summer for Truth.
Here is a suggested reading schedule:
| Sundays | Chapters |
|---|---|
| May 31 | We |
| June 7 | Self-Evident Truths |
| June 14 | All Men & Created Equal |
| June 21 | Endowed by Their Creator |
| June 28 | Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness |
| July 5 | Common Ground & Going Forward |
We’ll have a few books available for purchase at $11 each. Additional copies of the hardcover edition are available through Amazon for $11.64. It appears that this book isn’t available in paperback. It may be too new for this book to be available at the local library, but it’s worth asking.
Our Book Club does not meet as a group. However, our weekly messages reference that week’s chapters or themes. You can anticipate spoiler alerts unless you keep up with the pace. You can purchase your own copy or visit your local library.
You can contact our office with questions by phone or simply type your question or enter a prayer request on our website’s homepage — FlintAsburyChurch.org.
Pastor Tommy
Walter Isaacson. The Greatest Sentence Ever Written. NY: Simon & Schuster, 2025.