The UnSunday Show

Exploring the significance of pulpits, clergy authority, and the impact on institutional churches. Discussing the role of the pulpit in traditional church gatherings and the limitations it imposes on congregants.

Exploring the pitfalls of professionalizing Christianity, challenges of individual expression in modern church settings, deconstructing professional Christianity, and reevaluating the pastor title to focus on spiritual giftedness over mere professionalism.

Let's talk about how institutional religion often uses the small group setting as another way to promote itself by making the group agenda-driven and insisting that the agenda remains at the heart of the group. Whether it's to review Sunday's sermon, have an institutionally-sanctioned Bible study or book study, or to discuss the institution's doctrinal statement, institutionally-imposed rules governing our time together are at the heart of the group meeting. Getting to that agenda each week is the real reason we're allowed to meet and everything else that happens during our time together is an add-on. The simplicity of just living life together and enjoying it, gets lost in this kind of environment. Let's talk...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

Let's talk about spiritual disciplines. Spiritual disciplines are a group of activities that vary from group to group or church to church, that we're told we need to be doing to ensure spiritual maturity. It's an activity list of things like reading your Bible, prayer, giving, sharing your faith, etc. that institutional environments use as a vehicle for tracking accountability and compliance to preset standards of behavior.In this episode I interact a little with this article:12 Spiritual Disciplines That Will Make Your Faith StrongLet's talk...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

Let's talk about faith. In the letter to the Hebrews we're told that without faith it's impossible to please [God]. That sounds a little daunting. Does that mean I'm responsible to fabricate a certain amount of faith every day to make sure God is happy with me? What if I fail in my attempts at faith? Is God displeased with me? How do I know when I've succeeded? How much faith is enough faith? How do I know when I've done enough? In the letter to the Ephesians we read that faith is a gift. But how can it be both a requirement and a gift? That seems like a contradiction.This episode centers around Galatians 2:20 where Paul said:"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."Let's talk... 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

Let's take a few minutes to talk about institutional religion's shady past. This is in response to a comment someone left back in episode 46 (Who Has Bewitched You?) that deserves some attention. The comment was actually in two parts. The first part was more of an observation when this person said, "Communities used to be built around the church, literally." I agree with that. Entire communities existed around the centrality of the institutional church, but not always by choice.This individual went to to ask, "Wasn't that a good thing that bonded communities?" I think this is a really good question that can't be answered with a simple yes or no. So let's take a closer look at it in light of a couple of snippets in church history and let's see if the way institutional Christianity bonded communities was a good thing that created genuine community.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

Exploring the misinterpretation of Hebrews 10:25, the podcast challenges the idea that leaving institutional religion is forbidden. It emphasizes the importance of genuine connection within the community of believers and staying firm in the new covenant with Jesus as the superior figure. The discussion urges listeners to navigate conversations about departure from institutional religion with grace and understanding.

In Galatians 3:1 Paul asked the Galatian believers, "Who has bewitched you?" This bewitching was a result of the Galatian's mixing of New Covenant grace with Old Covenant law. Or as Paul put it, "Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh?" He described this thinking as "foolishness" with the result of having "fallen from grace."We're no different today because we blur the lines between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant and we think everything in the Bible is meant for us so we mix law and grace together all the time. Look around. It's everywhere. Yes, we began in the Spirit, but it's up to us to finish strong in order to keep God happy with us. In other words, grace alone isn't enough. What's needed is a mixture of grace and rule-keeping. Having begun in the Spirit, we need to be made perfect by our own efforts and determination.Add to that 2,000+ years of religious tradition that tells us we can never do enough and we have a recipe for disaster. That's the topic in this episode of the UnSunday Show. 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

This is part one of a two-part relaunch of the show. In this episode I talk about religion's failure to deliver and how our systems of religion diminish who we are in Jesus. Add to that, a misunderstanding of how the Old Covenant and the New Covenant relate to us today and how the Bible fits together. Thinking that Bible passages all apply to me, coupled with religion's message that I'm never doing enough, is a dangerous mix. Let's talk about that and some of the related topics I hope to address in The UnSunday Show.You can find me online and reach out to me at The UnSunday Show.-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

I'm checking in with you on this episode to let you know I'm still here and that the UnSunday Show is going to get a facelift soon. These last few months have kept me busy with things like launching a new business, developing a new podcast editor's course, and life in general. But all the while, I've had some ideas floating around in my brain for retooling the UnSunday Show ever so slightly. So look for that in a couple of weeks.I recorded this episode on the front porch of our friend's cabin in the tall pines of Arizona, using the memo app on my phone. I wasn't sure how it would turn out but it's not bad. I was able to edit out most of the wind the annoying raven that wanted in on the action. We'll talk again soon.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