The UnSunday Show

Welcome to episode 13 of The UnSunday Show. I finally bought a book that I first saw in 2008. It's called A Church Building Every 1/2 Mile by Jon Zens. It's subtitled, What Makes American Christianity Tick? I think the title says it all. It's an excellent book that I really enjoyed reading so I thought I would share it with you by way of interacting with short excerpts from it. This will be the first of several episodes interacting with this book. I'm looking forward to seeing where this takes us. My first exposure to Jon Zens was in 1995 and I had the opportunity to meet him later that same century (I've been waiting for a chance to use that "century" phrase!). If you're not familiar with his writings, I think you'll find them informative and encouraging. You can find Jon Zens on-line at Searching Together. Here's a link to the book:A Church Building Every 1/2 Mile: What Makes American Christianity Tick?Enjoy!Other Places You’ll Find MeThe Grace Cafe Podcast: https://www.gracecafepodcast.com TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@unsunday.mikeInstagram https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshowYouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/TheUnSundayShowLeave Me a Rating/Review

Rocky Glenn and Jim Gordon share their journeys out of the institutional church, finding a new community void of religious influence. They discuss the authenticity of their experiences, the importance of community apart from religious obligation, and the value of finding a more genuine expression of the body of Christ.

Welcome to episode 11 of The UnSunday Show. Let's talk about community and accountability. Most of us think community and accountability are two sides of the same coin, or that one (accountability) is necessary for the other (community) to function. Community is the agreed upon goal and we think accountability is the bus that will take us there. But it’s not. That bus is traveling in the opposite direction.  Accountability encourages people to pretend. Community invites us into the Father’s affection where we can feel safe and accepted, fully known and fully loved without any pretense. In an accountability structure, we learn to hide the stuff that’s the real us or that we think will disappoint others and God. We learn how to fake it and which masks to wear to fake people out in every circumstance. In accountability structures, we are focused on getting people to do what they don’t really want to do by way of manipulation and behavior management with corresponding rewards and punishments.  Enjoy!Other Places You’ll Find MeThe Grace Cafe Podcast: https://www.gracecafepodcast.com TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@unsunday.mikeInstagram https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshowYouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/TheUnSundayShowLeave Me a Rating/Review

Welcome to episode 10 of The UnSunday Show. We've reached double-digits! In this episode I talk about two phrases in scripture that religion has successfully convinced us are spiritual disciplines: dying daily and bearing our cross. Religion has turned these into closely related spiritual disciplines where I need to be killing myself off every day and learning to hold up under the weight of life's circumstances, or bearing my cross.  But is that what these phrases mean? Are bearing my cross and dying daily spiritual disciplines indicative of spiritual maturity? Let's talk about it.Other Places You’ll Find MeThe Grace Cafe Podcast: https://www.gracecafepodcast.com TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@unsunday.mikeInstagram https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshowYouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/TheUnSundayShowLeave Me a Rating/Review

Welcome to episode 9 of The UnSunday Show. Let's talk about 1 John 1:9 and the confession of sins. This passage says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." The question I address in this episode is does John mean believers need to repeatedly confess sins in order to experience forgiveness up to that point in time? If so, how do we reconcile 1 John 1:9 with other New Testament passages that teach the once-for-all forgiveness of sins secured on the cross? Let's talk about it.  My paper referenced in this episode:If We Confess Our Sins: 1 John 1:9 and Religious ParanoiaEnjoy!Other Places You’ll Find MeThe Grace Cafe Podcast: https://www.gracecafepodcast.com TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@unsunday.mikeInstagram https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshowYouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/TheUnSundayShowLeave Me a Rating/Review

Welcome to episode 8 of The UnSunday Show. My wife joins me in this episode from our old Ekklesia Podcast as we talk about our journey out of the institutional church and the events and circumstances surrounding it. We both hit a wall of performance about 10 years ago within the institutional church environment that resulted in a crash and burn for each of us from performance-based Christianity. We tried to stay within other modern church settings for a few years but became increasingly uncomfortable in that setting as time went on and our eyes were opened wider to a different reality, increasing our inability to stay there. We finally left that environment about 4 years ago and have discovered a more genuine and authentic experience of ekklesia outside those walls.  If you find yourself on a similar journey of leaving the modern church setting, we hope you find encouragement in this episode.  -MikeOther Places You’ll Find MeThe Grace Cafe Podcast: https://www.gracecafepodcast.com TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@unsunday.mikeInstagram https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshowYouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/TheUnSundayShowLeave Me a Rating/Review

Unpacks the concept of preaching and preachers in the church, challenging the traditional pastor-driven model. Explores Paul's guidance to Timothy and reevaluates the role of pastors based on New Testament teachings. Emphasizes the essence of preaching the gospel and the transformative power of the gospel message. Discusses the authority and importance of Scriptures in early Christian writings, revealing the true meaning of preaching in the New Testament.

A discussion on formal church membership as an accountability contract designed to keep conformity, touching on areas like money, power, and excommunication. The podcast challenges traditional views by exploring the church as a body of believers, redefining leadership roles in the context of the Book of Hebrews, and emphasizing faith, accountability, and biblical community over institutional requirements.

Exploring the negative impact of pulpits and pastors in modern Christianity, focusing on the top-down hierarchal structure and its hindrance to the priesthood of every believer. Critiquing the role of pastors in driving church dynamics and encouraging listeners to rethink the centrality of the pulpit in spiritual growth.

Exploring the conflicts between top-down leadership in modern church settings and the New Testament model. Discussing servant leadership versus traditional authority structures. Reevaluating leadership passages in Hebrews 13 and challenging hierarchical systems. Reflecting on embracing the gospel and abandoning traditional structures. Highlighting the role of leaders in sharing the gospel amidst adversity.