Patrick Miller, a pastor and co-author of 'Joyful Outsiders,' discusses the shifting role of Christianity in America. He tackles the challenge of being an outsider in faith, emphasizing the balance between resistance and engagement with culture. Patrick introduces six roles—Trainer, Advisor, Protester, Ambassador, Artist, Builder—that Christians can adopt to navigate cultural tensions. His hopeful vision encourages collaboration and authenticity, showcasing how embracing diversity can help the church build a meaningful legacy for future generations.

This is a conversation about discernment - about how we listen for and respond to the quiet, persistent voice of God in our lives. Our guest today is Trevor Hudson, a pastor and spiritual director who has spent decades wrestling with this question. As Trevor puts it, when we open our lives to Christ, he brings his whole family with him. Our faith is never just a private, individual thing - it's deeply communal. But at the same time, God has a unique calling for each of our lives. The challenge is figuring out how to hold that tension, to discern both the general will of God and his specific purpose for us. Trevor shares that for him, the foundation of discernment has been surrender - a daily yielding of his life to God, an opening of his hands to receive God's leading. It's about learning to recognize the movements of the Spirit, the subtle stirrings towards greater faith, hope and love. And it's about doing that work in community, with friends and mentors who can help us see what we might be missing. This is not always an easy path. Trevor acknowledges that God's will often involves a kind of dying and rising, a willingness to walk into difficult circumstances. But he insists that there is a deep peace that accompanies it, even amidst the struggle. So how do we tune our ears to hear that still, small voice? How do we learn to live into the unique purpose God has for our lives, while also staying rooted in community? Trevor offers wisdom hard-won over decades of faithful following. It's a conversation that just might change the way you approach the big questions of your life.Trevor Hudson is an ordained minister in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. After spending forty years doing pastoral ministry in a local congregation, he now gives his time to lecturing, teaching, and writing in the areas of spiritual formation and spiritual direction. Throughout his life as a pastor and teacher, he has sought to prioritize the discipleship ministry of local congregations, build bridges across different "streams" within the Christian community, and relate spiritual formation to daily life within the context of our suffering world.He is married to Debbie and is the father of two children, Joni married to James, and Mark married to Marike.Trevor's Book:In Search of God's WillTrevor's Recommendation:Fully AliveJoin Our Patreon for Early Access and More: PatreonConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Threads at www.facebook.com/shiftingculturepodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/shiftingculturepodcast/https://twitter.com/shiftingcultur2https://www.threads.net/@shiftingculturepodcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@shiftingculturepodcastConsider Giving to the podcast and to the mini"Ask Me Anything": Christmas Aftermath Welcome to Ask Me Anything, the podcast where we give you biblical answers to...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

This is a conversation about certainty, mystery, and the divine. Our guest today is Liz Charlotte Grant, author of the book "Knock at the Sky." Liz takes us on a journey through her own life, from growing up in the certainty of white American evangelicalism, to encountering the mystery and presence of God in powerful experiences. As Liz dives into the book of Genesis, she shows us how reading the scriptures through a literary lens can breathe new life into these ancient stories. We explore the idea of God as a generous host, setting the table for humanity, and the importance of encountering the divine, even when it challenges our preconceptions. Liz encourages us to approach these texts with curiosity and humility, allowing our questions to guide us rather than clinging to rigid certainty. She reminds us that God is not afraid of our questions - in fact, engaging with the mystery may be the path to a deeper, more vibrant faith. This is a conversation that invites us to expand our imaginations, to see God in new ways, and to welcome others as fellow image-bearers. So join us as we knock at the sky, seeking to encounter the divine in fresh and surprising ways.Liz Charlotte Grant is an award-winning essayist from the suburbs of Denver, Colorado, who writes the newsletter The Empathy List. Her first book releases this January, and it's called Knock at the Sky: Seeking God in Genesis After Losing Faith in the Bible.Liz's Book:Knock at the SkyJoin Our Patreon for Early Access and More: PatreonConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Threads at www.facebook.com/shiftingculturepodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/shiftingculturepodcast/https://twitter.com/shiftingcultur2https://www.threads.net/@shiftingculturepodcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@shiftingculturepodcastConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below"Ask Me Anything": Christmas Aftermath Welcome to Ask Me Anything, the podcast where we give you biblical answers to...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Today, I'm excited to bring you a conversation that gets to the core of what it means to be human - to grapple with pain, trauma, and the longing to be truly seen and loved. My guest is Michael John Cusick, author of the new book "Sacred Attachment," and he's here to share his deeply personal journey of moving from a place of fear and shame into an embodied experience of God's love and security. Michael reframes the concept of sin, not as moral failure, but as the mishandling of our pain. This shift opens up a whole new avenue for understanding the human condition and the path to healing. He unpacks the five "W's" of brokenness - wretchedness, weakness, woundedness, warfare, and wiring - illuminating the complex, multi-layered nature of the struggles we all face. But this isn't just an intellectual exercise. Michael grounds his insights in his own life story. His life became a journey, as he wrestled with the fear that God was displeased with him, only to be met with an unexpected embrace of love and acceptance. Michael's exploration of Jesus' own secure attachment to the Father, and how that provides a model for us to follow, even in the midst of our own pain and trauma was particularly insightful. He emphasizes the importance of relational encounter, of being seen, soothed and held, in order to move from intellectual belief to embodied experience of God's love. This is a rich, nuanced conversation that challenges us to confront the deepest parts of ourselves, to acknowledge our brokenness, and to open ourselves up to the transformative power of love. There is profound wisdom here for anyone seeking to live a more whole, integrated life. Get ready to receive the love of God. Michael John Cusick is the CEO and founder of Restoring the Soul, an intensive counseling ministry in Denver. He is a licensed professional counselor, spiritual director, and former assistant professor of counseling at Colorado Christian University. Michael is the author of Surfing for God, and his articles have appeared in such places as Relevant, Huffington Post, and Red Letter Christians. He and his wife, Julianne, have two grown children and live in Littleton, Colorado.Michael's Book:Sacred AttachmentMichael's Recommendations:The Beatitudes CloisteredJoin Our Patreon for Early Access and More: PatreonConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Threads at www.facebook.com/shiftingculturepodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/shiftingculturepodcast/https://twitter.com/shiftingcultur2https://www.threads.net/@shiftingculturepodcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@shiftingculturepodcastConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my w"Ask Me Anything": Christmas Aftermath Welcome to Ask Me Anything, the podcast where we give you biblical answers to...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

In this episode, we are counting down our ten most listened to episodes of the year. You will hear clips from:10. Ep. 160 Emily P. Freeman - Discerning When to Stay and When to Go9. Ep. 187 Elizabeth Oldfield - Becoming More Fully Alive8. Ep. 212 Brady Boyd - Pursuing Unity in a Divided World7. Ep. 243 Mike Cosper - The Church in Dark Times: Resisting the Lure of Ideology6. Ep. 218 Natalie Runion - Reconstruction After Deconstruction: Going Back to the Original Blueprint5. Ep. 148 Meghan Larissa Good - Are We in the Middle of a New Reformation?4. Ep. 235 Scot McKnight - Is the Deconstruction Movement a Prophetic Work of the Spirit?3. Ep. 159 Sarah Bessey - Practices for an Evolving Faith2. Ep. 224 Aundi Kolber - Embodied Resilience: Finding Safety and Moving Towards Risk1. Ep. 211 Jamie Winship Returns - Receiving Your True IdentityJoin Our Patreon for Early Access and More: PatreonConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Threads at www.facebook.com/shiftingculturepodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/shiftingculturepodcast/https://twitter.com/shiftingcultur2https://www.threads.net/@shiftingculturepodcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@shiftingculturepodcastConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below"Ask Me Anything": Christmas Aftermath Welcome to Ask Me Anything, the podcast where we give you biblical answers to...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

In this episode we are counting down our ten favorite movies of 2024 with guests Elijah Davidson and Craig Detweiler.Elijah's List:10. The Piano Lesson9. Between the Temples8. Conclave7. Dune: Part Two6. Fly5. Megalopolis4. Me3. Anora2. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga1. ChallengersCraig's List:10. Rebel Ridge9. A Real Pain8. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga7. Conclave6. I Saw the TV Glow5. Daughters4. Dune: Part Two3. Sing Sing2. La Chimera1. AnoraJoshua's List:10. Small Things Like These9. The Wild Robot8. We Live in Time7. A Real Pain6. Wicked5. Civil War4. Conclave3. Dune: Part Two2. Sing Sing1. GhostlightJoin Our Patreon for Early Access and More: PatreonConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Threads at www.facebook.com/shiftingculturepodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/shiftingculturepodcast/https://twitter.com/shiftingcultur2https://www.threads.net/@shiftingculturepodcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@shiftingculturepodcastConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below"Ask Me Anything": Christmas Aftermath Welcome to Ask Me Anything, the podcast where we give you biblical answers to...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

We are counting down our ten favorite books of 2024. Joshua, Lore, and Liam will each share their list of ten. To see my full list go to www.shiftingculturepodcast.comLore’s List:10. The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl9. How to Walk Into a Room by Emily P. Freeman8. Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr7. The Salt Path by Raynor Winn6. The Book of Belonging by Mariko Clark5. The Quickening by Elizabeth Rush4. Field Notes for the Wilderness by Sarah Bessey3. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese2. All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker1. North Woods by Daniel MasonLiam's List:10. The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt9. Low Anthropology by David Zahl8. James by Percival Everett7. The Year of Our Lord 1943 by Alan Jacobs6. Why the Gospel? by Matthew Bates5. Unclean by Richard Beck4. Biblical Critical Theory by Christopher Watkin3. Introducing Radical Orthodoxy by James K.A. Smith2. The Imago Dei by Lucy Peppiatt1. Beholding by Strahan ColemanJoshua's List:10. How to Walk Into a Room by Emily P. Freeman9. The Journey to Eloheh by Randy & Edith Woodley8. I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger7. The Gift of Thorns by AJ Swoboda6. The Understory by Lore Ferguson Wilbert5. Fully Alive by Elizabeth Oldfield4. Life After Doom by Brian McLaren3. The Church in Dark Times by Mike Cosper2. Circle of Hope by Eliza Griswold1. Field Notes for the Wilderness by Sarah BesseyJoin Our Patreon for Early Access and More: PatreonConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Threads at www.facebook.com/shiftingculturepodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/shiftingculturepodcast/"Ask Me Anything": Christmas Aftermath Welcome to Ask Me Anything, the podcast where we give you biblical answers to...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Today, our guest is Munther Isaac, Academic Dean of Bethlehem Bible College and pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem. Munther’s family have been shepherds in the same hills as the shepherds who heard from the angel of God that first Christmas. And although the world is fighting to dehumanize the Palestinian people and the people in Gaza, the words of the angel are still true. Jesus is good news for all people. Every human is made in the image of God and is worthy of love, dignity, and life. You know, when you are at a distance, it is easy to get caught up in the headlines and the latest violence. But we need to go deeper to see what is happening. And that’s what we are doing today. Reverend Munther takes us back through the history, showing how this conflict has roots going back decades. It didn’t just start with October 7th. Munther calls us to see the humanity in all the people caught up in this. He shares a haunting poem by a Palestinian professor killed in the violence - a man who wanted his death to bring hope, not vengeance. It's a powerful reminder that behind the headlines, there are real people, with dreams and fears just like our own. This is a conversation that won't let you look away. But it also opens up a new way of seeing - one rooted in the radical compassion of Jesus, who calls us to love even our enemies. This Advent, Christ is still in the rubble. He sees the children, the women, the men of Gaza and Palestine with love and compassion. Will we? Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac is a Palestinian Christian pastor, theologian, and writer, known for his role as the pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem and as the academic dean at Bethlehem Bible College. He is also the director of the Christ at the Checkpoint conferences and has been a vocal advocate for peace and reconciliation in the region. His work often intertwines faith with the political realities of life in Palestine.Munther's Book:Christ in the RubbleJoin Our Patreon for Early Access and More: PatreonConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Threads at www.facebook.com/shiftingculturepodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/shiftingculturepodcast/https://twitter.com/shiftingcultur2https://www.threads.net/@shiftingculturepodcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@shiftingculturepodcastConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below"Ask Me Anything": Christmas Aftermath Welcome to Ask Me Anything, the podcast where we give you biblical answers to...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

My guest today is Phil Moore, author of the book "The Forgotten Manifesto of Jesus." Phil is a former megachurch pastor in London who went through a major shift during the pandemic. See, Phil was leading this thriving church, doing all the things we're told to do to grow a big, successful congregation. But then COVID hit, and everything changed. Why? Because Phil started asking some hard questions - is what we're doing really working? Is this the way Jesus wants us to make disciples? What Phil discovered by connecting with disciple-making movements in places like Iran and India completely upended his approach. He realized the key to mature disciples of Jesus isn't about gathering big crowds, but about empowering everyday believers to make disciples who make disciples. It's a radically decentralized, reproducible model. As Phil will share, when we rediscover the simple, revolutionary teachings of Jesus in Matthew 10 and Luke 10, it has the power to transform not just our churches, but the very way we think about the Great Commission. This is a conversation that could be a real game-changer for how discipleship works in the body of Christ. So join us as we learn how to make disciples that make disciples. Phil is an author, speaker and teacher based in London, UK. Phil came to faith as a student at Cambridge University and was trained within the Newfrontiers family of churches. He serves as a teacher, speaker, DMM leader and encourager of churches, both in the UK and beyond. He is the author of "The Bible in 100 Pages", "The Forgotten Manifesto of Jesus" and the "Straight to the Heart" series of devotional commentaries.In his latest book, "The Forgotten Manifesto of Jesus", Phil has the privilege of telling the story of underground house church movements across India, Iran, Afghanistan and the Middle East. The leaders of these movements are skilled at hiding their identities, but they were able to communicate securely with Phil so that he could pass on their amazing story of God's faithfulness to the world.Phil is married to Ruth and they have four young children. Together, they love eating strange and exotic food, as well as anything to do with campervans. They also love Roald Dahl, which makes Phil's children complain that his own books do not contain enough pictures, talking animals or chocolate factories.Phil's Book:The Forgotten Manifesto of JesusPhil's Recommendation:Spirit WalkJoin Our Patreon for Early Access and More: PatreonConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Threads at www.facebook.com/shiftingculturepodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/shiftingculturepodcast/https://twitter.com/shiftingcultur2https://www.threads.net/@shiftingculturepodcasthttps://www.yo"Ask Me Anything": Christmas Aftermath Welcome to Ask Me Anything, the podcast where we give you biblical answers to...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Today, I’m excited to welcome Anna Morgan to the show to talk about growing women in ministry. Anna is a pastor, academic, and author who has done incredible research on the unique challenges and opportunities that women face in leadership roles within the church. Anna has an amazing personal story that really sets the stage for this discussion. She experienced tremendous tragedy early in her marriage when her first husband was killed in a car accident. But through that, God opened up this unexpected leadership path for Anna, and she found herself stepping into roles and responsibilities that she never could have imagined. As Anna started to mentor other young women in ministry, she realized there was a real gap in the resources and support available to help women navigate their leadership journeys. That led her to pursue doctoral research on this topic, and the insights she's uncovered are just so valuable. We're going to dive into what Anna has learned about the internal and external factors that shape women as leaders - things like the importance of seeing potential, the confidence gaps that often hold women back, and the critical role of mentorship and sponsorship. And we'll talk about how churches and ministry teams can be more intentional about creating environments where women can thrive. This is a conversation that I believe has huge implications, not just for women, but for the whole body of Christ. When we empower female leaders, we unlock so much potential for the kingdom. So I'm really excited for you to hear Anna's perspective on all of this. So join us. Anna Morgan has been in local church ministry since 1999 as a youth pastor, worship pastor, executive pastor, lead pastor, and church consultant. Dr. Morgan co-pastors Word of Life Church, an international, Assemblies of God church in metropolitan Washington, D.C. Morgan is vice president of academics at Ascent College. Morgan’s dissertation examined female leadership development in theologically egalitarian local churches. She is an affiliate associate professor of leadership at Fuller Theological Seminary. She has trained leaders and teams at Pentecostal and charismatic churches throughout the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Morgan is an ordained minister through the Australian Christian Churches.Anna's Book:Growing Women in MinistryJoin Our Patreon for Early Access and More: PatreonConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Threads at www.facebook.com/shiftingculturepodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/shiftingculturepodcast/https://twitter.com/shiftingcultur2https://www.threads.net/@shiftingculturepodcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@shiftingculturepodcastConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Jus"Ask Me Anything": Christmas Aftermath Welcome to Ask Me Anything, the podcast where we give you biblical answers to...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show