Dodson Lecture

Dodson Lecture. Free and Open to the Public. St. John's Episcopal Church Roanoke, Parish Hall, Thursday, November 20, 2025, 6 p.m.

David Zahl presents his latest book, The Big Relief: The Urgency of Grace for a Worn-Out World, at this year’s Dodson Lecture, followed by time for Q&A. In The Big Relief, Zahl unpacks the concept of God’s grace and its liberating implications for modern life. He moves seamlessly between retelling episodes of Seinfeld and Better Call Saul, summarizing theologian John Barclay’s book on the apostle Paul, citing baseball player Darryl Strawberry’s story, and reflecting on Jesus’s parable of the prodigal son. He grounds abstract theological concepts by making connections to podcasts, movies, magazine articles, books, tv shows, childhood stories, and his own daily experiences. His strong grasp of both pop culture and theology, his insight into today’s societal pressures that run counter to God’s message of grace, and his relatability as a working father will make for a compelling discussion. He will leave you wondering how your life can be transformed by embracing the Big Relief.

“Dave Zahl is the founder and director of Mockingbird Ministries, editor in chief of the Mockingbird blog, and cohost of the Mockingcast and Brothers Zahl podcasts. He is the author of Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What to Do about It and Low Anthropology: The Unlikely Key to a Gracious View of Others (and Yourself). He has also written for Christianity Today and the Washington Post. Zahl and his family live in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he serves on the staff of Christ Episcopal Church.“ – The Big Relief

Author Image Credit: mbird.com