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 achievement. Three decades after his drive-in movie days, Schuller would welcome a young Mark Driscoll to the microphone to speak.To understand the Mars Hill phenomenon, you have to understand how big churches developed in the boomer and Gen X years, how the franchising of churches led to homogenized congregational culture, and how pastors became spokesmen and CEOs. When Mark Driscoll arrived to preach at the Crystal Cathedral, he had already walked a ministry path paved by the likes of Schuller, Bill Hybels, and Rick Warren—leaders who dedicated significant time to demographic research as well as expository study.In this episode of The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, host Mike Cosper flips the tapestry of the Mars Hill story to expose the weaving of threads beneath. He explores how the identity of a church can become wrapped around one man and why a host of leaders might fall in step to protect him in order to save the institution.Here, you can read an interview with David Di Sabatino, director of Frisbee: The Life and Death of a Hippie Preacher.“The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill” is a production of Christianity TodayExecutive Producer: Erik PetrikProducer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Mike CosperAssociate Producer: Joy Beth SmithMusic, Sound Design, and Mix Engineer: Kate SiefkerGraphic Design: Bryan ToddSocial Media: Nicole ShanksEditorial Consultant: Andrea Palpant DilleyEditor in Chief: Timothy DalrympleTheme song: “Sticks and Stones” by Kings KaleidoscopeClosing song: “Crush” by The Violet Burning Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Five days after resigning as lead pastor of Mars Hill Church, Mark Driscoll was once again in front of a crowd—this time, a packed conference of pastors who offered him a standing ovation in support. It only took 474 days for him to announce he was planting a new church in Scottsdale, Arizona.But while Driscoll wielded his own force of personality to get as much distance from Mars Hill as possible, life in Seattle was a different story. A confused and hurting church was displaced, hundreds of people were out of their jobs, and the fiercest critics of the church practically threw a party.In our series finale, we follow a few of those threads, which led some people to new ministries, others to new careers, and still others out of the church altogether. We’ll revisit the legacy of Driscoll’s teaching on gender, and we’ll ask whether or not he really preached good news and freedom.We’ll also look for the presence of Christ, working in surprising and unseen ways to bring beauty out of the ashes of what was once Mars Hill Church.As we end 2021, we’d love to invite you to join us as we continue to try to tell stories like this. Subscriptions are a great way to do that, and we’d love if you considered us with your end-of-year giving.“The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill” is a production of Christianity TodayExecutive produced by Erik PetrikProduced, written, and edited by Mike CosperJoy Beth Smith is our associate producer.Music and sound design by Kate Siefker and Mike CosperOur theme song for this finale is “Resplendent” by Bill Mallonee and the Vigilantes of Love.The closing song this week is “All My Favorite People” by Over the Rhine.Special thanks to Ben VandermeerGraphic design by Bryan ToddSocial media by Kara Bettis and Morgan LeeEditorial consulting by Andrea Palpant DilleyCT’s Editor in Chief is Timothy Dalrymple. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark Driscoll rose to prominence in the early days of the Internet. Unlike his megapastor predecessors like Robert Schuller and Bill Hybels, Driscoll harnessed technology to build his brand and bypass cultural gatekeepers who might hinder or influence his success. He formed a talented media team that would expand his reach and, inadvertently, reinforce his ego through an online presence. Quickly though, his star rose too far, keeping him at arm’s length from the collaboration and counsel of those who could lend wisdom to his youthful, combustive pastoral ministry.In this episode of The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, host Mike Cosper breaks down how technology shaped the messaging and marketing of Mark Driscoll and how personal brand can isolate a leader even as it fuels a ministry’s growth. Cosper interviews broadly, from Mars Hill media team members to Collin Hansen of The Gospel Coalition, to investigate how narcissism grows, how theological movements birth new leaders, and why the church’s love affair with charisma and certainty demands we develop a better moral imagination. Rethink your admiration for celebrity pastors. Reevaluate your attraction to religious trends. And, reflect on your own willingness to stand “sola” when church becomes about something other than the Gospel.“The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill” is a production of Christianity TodayExecutive Producer: Erik PetrikProducer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Mike CosperAssociate Producer: Joy Beth SmithMusic, Sound Design, and Mix Engineer: Kate SiefkerGraphic Design: Bryan ToddSocial Media: Nicole ShanksEditorial Consultant: Andrea Palpant DilleyEditor in Chief: Timothy DalrympleTheme song: “Sticks and Stones” by Kings KaleidoscopeClosing song: “Bang” by Moda Spira Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark Driscoll, a controversial pastor, joins a diverse group including scholar Karen Swallow Prior and media producer Phil Cooke, to tackle the scandals plaguing evangelical churches. They discuss the dangers of charismatic leadership that leads to abuse and the urgent need for accountability. The conversation dives into the intersection of faith and politics, addressing the fallout of Christian nationalism. Together, they explore the resilience of faith within marginalized communities and the hope for a transformative rebirth in church culture.

Mark Driscoll’s vision of manhood indelibly shaped Mars Hill culture. Drawing from his own difficult childhood story, Mark created an ideal for those searching for meaning and direction. Men responded enthusiastically. From “dad talks” about issues about sex, career and family to “holy anger” over a feminized church culture, he invited men into a stirring narrative where manning up meant passionately loving God and their families. In this episode of The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, host Mike Cosper digs deep into the mythic origin story that shaped Mark Driscoll’s ministry to men. He reveals Mark as far more than just an agent of chaos but a man deeply concerned for the health and spirituality of other men, intent on pastoring them toward flourishing. And as Driscoll’s particular brand of masculinity grew toxic, Cosper asks the poignant question, “Why do you stay when things get bad?” How do you reckon with the movement of the Spirit in your midst when your community begins to shatter? “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill” is a production of Christianity TodayExecutive Producer: Erik PetrikProducer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Mike CosperAssociate Producer: Joy Beth SmithMusic, Sound Design, and Mix Engineer: Kate SiefkerGraphic Design: Bryan ToddSocial Media: Nicole ShanksEditorial Consultant: Andrea Palpant DilleyEditor in Chief: Timothy DalrympleTheme song: “Sticks and Stones” by Kings KaleidoscopeClosing song: "Dynamite" by Sandra McCracken Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 of will. The earliest days of Mars Hill were a whirlwind of activity – launching new campuses, preaching as many as seven times a Sunday, assimilating new people, and developing new ministries all at once. The church quickly proved to be a magnet for spiritual seekers of all kinds – eager Christians looking to build, apathetic Christians needing renewal, and non-Christians hearing the gospel in a new context. On this episode of The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, we take you inside that hive of activity to examine up close the ways God was at work. You’ll see Mark Driscoll not only as a preacher and a movement leader, but as a caring pastor. You’ll also see signs of volatility in Mark’s ministry. Tensions in the Young Leaders Network start to build and a pivot in Mark’s own convictions pushes them to their limits. Meanwhile, inside Mars Hill, a throwaway remark at a friendly dinner becomes the catalyst for intense, life-altering conflict.“The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill” is a production of Christianity TodayExecutive Producer: Erik PetrikProducer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Mike CosperAssociate Producer: Joy Beth SmithMusic, Sound Design, and Mix Engineer: Kate SiefkerGraphic Design: Bryan ToddSocial Media: Nicole ShanksEditorial Consultant: Andrea Palpant DilleyEditor in Chief: Timothy DalrympleTheme song: “Sticks and Stones” by Kings KaleidoscopeClosing song: “Did I Tell You the Bullet’s Still There” by Bill Mallonee Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 fall apart? Where did Mark Driscoll take a wrong turn? Who could be held responsible for the hurt and disillusionment that resulted?In this inaugural episode of “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill,” host Mike Cosper begins at the end, investigating the rubble of Mars Hill’s fall for answers. Meet Mark, the firebrand “cussing pastor” whose ministry of breaking conventions called men and women to transformation and whose rebellion touched a nerve with those inside and outside the church. Meet a church culture that considered relational fallout as simply part of the job. And, take a look in the mirror to ask why we keep doing this -- elevating leaders whose charisma outpaces their character.Loaded with piercing and poignant interviews, this episode invites you to release preconceived notions about this familiar story and listen afresh to a narrative that feels painfully relevant more than a decade later.Wonder why Christianity Today features stories like these? Stick around at the end of the episode as Kate Shellnut and Daniel Silliman discuss why talking about church culture and leadership matters. Read more at “If You See Something, Say Something” and Why We Report Bad News About Leaders.Here is the letter presenting formal charges against Mark Driscoll from 21 former Mars Hill pastors.Here is the letter from nine pastors who were serving in August of 2014, asking Mark Driscoll to step down from ministry and enter a restoration process.“The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill” is a production of Christianity TodayExecutive Producer: Erik PetrikProducer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Mike CosperAssociate Producer: Joy Beth SmithMusic, Sound Design, and Mix Engineer: Kate SiefkerGraphic Design: Bryan ToddSocial Media: Nicole ShanksEditorial Consultant: Andrea Palpant DilleyEditor in Chief: Timothy DalrympleTheme song: “Sticks and Stones” by Kings KaleidoscopeClosing song: "Slow and Steady Wins the Race" by Pedro the Lion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike Bickle, Robert Morris, Ravi Zacharias, Jerry Falwell Jr., and Mark Driscoll, all once-trusted Christian leaders, engage in a raw conversation about scandal fatigue within the faith community. They discuss the emotional toll of repeated moral failures, stressing the urgent need for accountability and genuine reform. The talk delves into how believers can heal from betrayal, rebuild trust, and navigate their faith amidst turmoil. They encourage finding hope and community support, emphasizing the importance of transparency and confronting hypocrisy in church leadership.

Contrary to Mars Hill lore, Mark Driscoll didn’t plant his church alone. Though he prized the image of a solo, entrepreneurial pastor, Driscoll found early success thanks to two co-planters, a sending church, and a network of support. And three thousand miles away in Boca Raton, Florida, the concept of the Acts 29 church network was already taking shape as an offshoot of the Spanish River Church Planting Network.Church planting requires a certain audacity, and in the early 1970’s nobody had more than David Nicholas. Founder of Spanish River Church, David’s burden for evangelism took shape in mentoring relationships with pastors starting congregations of their own. A planter himself, David empathized with those who felt lonely in that particular calling, and he sought to encourage and empower leaders by offering them community -- a network in which they could receive the care, training and accountability to do their jobs well. In this episode of The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, host Mike Cosper invites us into the room with David Nicholas and Mark Driscoll -- two church planters with widely divergent visions for what constituted successful church growth. Tracing the Acts 29 network from its beginnings, Cosper asks whether any leadership potential is worth overlooking red flags, and whether the broader church actually has what it takes to mentor young leaders with issues of character. “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill” is a production of Christianity TodayExecutive Producer: Erik PetrikProducer, Writer, Editor, and Host: Mike CosperAdditional Editing: Resonate Recordings and Matt LinderAssociate Producer: Joy Beth SmithMusic, Sound Design, and Mix Engineer: Kate SiefkerGraphic Design: Bryan ToddSocial Media: Nicole ShanksEditorial Consultant: Andrea Palpant DilleyEditor in Chief: Timothy DalrympleTheme song: “Sticks and Stones” by Kings KaleidoscopeClosing song: “Citizens” by Jon Guerra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark Driscoll, a pastor and author of 'Vote Like Jesus,' joins the conversation to dissect modern masculinity and its impact on society. He highlights the importance of positive male role models and critiques the cultural expectations surrounding masculinity. The discussion also touches on the intersection of faith and politics, urging a return to core values in civic engagement. Insights on fatherhood and the pressing need for accountability among men resonate throughout, encouraging proactive citizenship as they navigate today's complex environment.