In 2014, after more than a decade of tremendous growth and ministry, Mars Hill Church imploded with the resignation of its lead pastor, Mark Driscoll. Once a hub for those disenfranchised with cultural Christianity, Mars Hill’s characteristic “punk rock spirit” became its downfall as power, fame and spiritual trauma invaded the ministry. But how did things f ... Show More
Jun 2021
Boomers, The Big Sort, and Really, Really Big Churches
In the mid-1950s, Rev. Robert Schuller began preaching in a drive-in movie theater in Southern California. He melded traditions like vestments with a theology of post-war optimism and self-esteem. As his ministry grew, guest preaching in his pulpit became a mark of celebrity achi ... Show More
55m 59s
Jul 2021
"You Read the Bible, Ringo?"
Church planting, even under the best of circumstances, always requires grit and determination. Planting in one of the most progressive cities in the US at the turn of the millennium required even more. But if Mark Driscoll struggled with anything in his ministry, it wasn’t a lack ... Show More
52m 11s
Jun 2024
#370: Toxic Pastor Humiliates Wife In Sermon, She Leaves Him, Then Found Mysteriously Dead In River
<p>A church in South Carolina has gone viral recently--even making national headlines. A young pastor by the name of JP is caught on a recorded sermon saying:</p><p>“One day I’m going to preach about getting rich, strong, healthy, and finding a hot wife that loves Jesus!” </p><p> ... Show More
2h 12m
Mar 2024
Classic Reply: Spiritual deconstruction among Millennials with Michael Gungor and Evan Wickham (Replay)
Michael Gungor and his wife Lisa were pioneers in the Christian music scene, building a loyal fan base through Gungor's music and podcasts such as The Liturgists. However, Michael's recent turn towards an increasingly progressive, mystical and deconstructed interpretation of fait ... Show More
1h 12m
Aug 2021
The Cult of Celebrity Megachurches
One of our favorite topics to date: In this can’t-miss episode, we’re unpacking the wave of trendy evangelical church groups (like Hillsong, Mosaic, and Churchome), which use Silicon Valley-savvy marketing, celebrity endorsements, charismatic pastors, and a slew of doubtlessly cu ... Show More
35m 43s