Jesus Collective Podcast

Join us for a thought-provoking episode as we delve into the crucial topic of mental health within the church in the post-COVID era. In this enlightening conversation, we sit down with Carolyn Klassen, a counselor, public speaker, and leader within her church community. Together, we explore the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental well-being of the church community. Has the conversation around mental health evolved? What are the emerging mental health challenges faced by the church in this new era? We delve deep into these questions and uncover the shifts in understanding and approach that have taken place within the broader church since the pandemic began.

Adam Dyer, our brand new Jesus Collective Executive Director, sits down with Greg Boyd for a conversation about hope in a post-Christendom context. Adam and Greg explore how the rapid changing context of a post-Christendom culture is actually a good thing because it provides space for people to embrace an authentic faith, instead of simply acquiescing to the common shared trend of the larger culture. If the church is going to bring the gospel of Jesus, we must offer a life that stands in contrast because a polarized church has little to say to a polarized world. Adam shares some stories of hope from his own context as a pastor of Yeovil Community Church in England. And how he and his Church discovered that when Jesus is at the centre we find ourselves working against the polarization of our age by sharing life with others who see things in differing ways.

When we tell a reduced Gospel story, we get reduced results. In this podcast, we sit down with Matthew Bates as he shares his latest book, "Why the Gospel?". Matthew helps us see how the Gospel is a bigger story than personal salvation or forgiveness. The Gospel is a larger story based on Jesus the King who is the ultimate answer to our more profound questions about ourselves, God, and our world. If we are going speak to the deep longings of our secular post-modern culture, we need to tell a bigger story, a story with Jesus at the center.

Jesus Collective Partner, Jonny Morrison explores with us the dissatisfaction in our culture and why it's important for pastors and leaders to analyze culture more deeply. Morrison's book Light as Air: Practicing Authenticity, Depth, and Purpose in a World of Empty Promises may also offer some clues. We also delve into why some of us tend to individualize Jesus apart from his Kingdom political message and how we can become "wide awake Christians."

Jesus tells us to love our enemies. He doesn’t mean a hypothetical imagined enemy either. It is a love that goes beyond common sense. Jesus Collective Leadership Development Pastor Jon Hand reflects on learning to love your enemy from Matthew 5. Jon originally taught this sermon at The Meeting Place, a church in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, and we thought our wider Jesus Collective audience would enjoy it as well.

In this episode with J.W. Buck, we explore why it's important to reveal the radical Jesus: the Jesus who teaches on justice, relating to the poor, and what it means to be salt and light in the world. We'll get into Buck's book, "Everyday Activism" to answer some questions about creating social change, and dive briefly into the seven practices of justice he outlines in the book. J.W. Buck is a Christian faith leader and entrepreneur contending for a less violent world. He is the co-founder at Pax — which is an organization that desires to equip the next generation to pursue peace, justice, and wholeness in the world. And one of the ways they do that is through Jesus-centred content created by people of colour.

The book of Revelation has been used to justify religious violence, greed in regards to climate stewardship, and distractions from Jesus with apocalyptic doom scrolling. Pastor Jeremy Duncan shares helpful insights from his book to help leaders and thoughtful Christians have tools for how to approach this often misunderstood and misused book of the Bible. Jeremy's refreshing approach will illuminate a more hope-filled and prophetic expression of Jesus through this mysterious book.

Jesus Collective partner and pastor Keith Smith shares about launching a 24/7 prayer room at his Ohio-based church, and his recent experience of attending the outpouring at Asbury University. We chat about encountering God, doubts, skepticism, and the ability to recover a childlike sense of wonder and awe in the face of God's mystery. Keith invites us into his journey of being Spiritually re-awakened on the other side of loss and pain.

This podcast is the fourth part of an ongoing series that is exploring Five Markers for a Jesus-Centred Transformation. In this episode we are joined by Dr. Drew Hart (Messiah University) who helps us explore the statement, "evil is overcome through the power of suffering love." Dr. Hart draws on the wisdom of the BIPOC community as he reflects on taking the way of Jesus seriously in how we overcome evil.

Join guests Tania Harris and Adam Dyer as we explore the next Marker for a Jesus-Centred Transformation: The Holy Spirit empowers us to partner with God's work of reconciling all things. What does it mean for a Jesus-centred movement to welcome the Holy Spirit in this way? Tania and Adam also share insights into how we can be mindful of those in our communities who have experienced spiritual abuse, while also remaining open to the Spirit's power.