The Everyday Pastor is a new podcast from TGC on the nuts and bolts of ministry. Hosted by Ligon Duncan, with nearly 20 years of pastoral experience, and Matt Smethurst, who planted a church three years ago, it seeks to model how ministers of different generations, levels of experience, and even denominations can apply God’s never-changing Word in a fast-changing world. It’s not an easy time to be a pastor, but it’s an exciting one—because the Lord is on his throne and his Word is enough to help...
Oct 16, 2024•1 min
Join Collin Hansen and Melissa Kruger for their annual recap discussion on the biggest stories affecting the church around the world in the last year. This conversation was originally featured on TGC's Gospelbound podcast.
Dec 22, 2023•1 hr 31 min
In this final season episode of As in Heaven, Jim Davis and Michael Graham are joined by Trevin Wax to discuss what it looks like to help individuals reconstruct their faith and for evangelicals—as a movement—to rebuild their witness. This episode is part of As in Heaven ’s third season, devoted to The Great Dechurching—the largest and fastest religious shift in U.S. history. To learn more about this phenomenon on which the episodes of this season are based, order The Great Dechurching by Michae...
Oct 11, 2023•45 min•Season 3Ep. 19
In this final episode of season three of As in Heaven, hosts Jim Davis and Mike Aitcheson welcome Irwyn Ince to discuss the value of churches that seek to be both missional and confessional. When churches seek to hold both of these things in harmony, they become places that people won't want to leave. Episode time stamps: Episode and guest introduction (0:00) Confessional versus missional theology (3:43) Why is the language of mission so important? (9:53) The ground level of orthodoxy (18:00) An...
Aug 30, 2023•56 min•Season 3Ep. 18
In this episode of As in Heaven , hosts Jim Davis and Michael Graham welcome Jake Meador to discuss the merits of having a posture of a "church in exile." They explore how this exilic posture could help us close the back door of the church and regain our prophetic voice. Episode time stamps: Episode and guest introduction (0:00) Moving from empire to exile (4:37) Centrality of patience (11:38) Role of attention in a digital age (16:53) Advantages of living in a state of exile (23:08) Learning fr...
Aug 22, 2023•54 min•Season 3Ep. 17
In this episode of As In Heaven, hosts Jim Davis and Michael Graham welcome Andrew Wilson and Glen Scrivener to discuss European perspectives on dechurching in America, drawing from insights in the UK, Australia, and Italy to compare and contrast the dechurching movement. Episode time stamps: Episode and topic introduction (0:00) Losing cultural prestige and normativity in the states (7:02) The benefits of standing up to the cultural tide (12:25) The difference between secular traditional and se...
Aug 16, 2023•47 min•Season 3Ep. 16
In this episode of As In Heaven , hosts Jim Davis and Mike Aitcheson welcome Robert Cunningham to discuss the complexities of our ever-shifting culture. They share insights into pastoring through election cycles, polarizing cultural moments, and how not to grow weary. Episode time stamps: Episode and topic introduction (0:00) The impact of cultural issues on the dechurching phenomenon (7:31) How can we bring people back to the church? (14:46) Pastoring through cultural changes (19:06) What does ...
Aug 09, 2023•50 min•Season 3Ep. 15
In this episode of As in Heaven , Jim Davis and Mike Aitcheson welcome Sam Allberry and Michael Keller to discuss preaching in light of the dechurched phenomenon. The guests share insights from their own preaching preparation, cultural insights from their context, and how they question cultural assumptions. Episode time stamps: Episode and topic introduction (0:00) The role of preaching in worship (3:15) How do you break the ice with new members? (8:55) The process of preparing for a sermon (13:...
Aug 02, 2023•53 min•Season 3Ep. 14
In this episode of As In Heaven , Jim Davis and Mike Aitcheson welcome Jen Wilkin to discuss the importance of seeing and honoring women's gifts and abilities in the church as it pertains to dechurching in America. When understanding God's design for the roles of women in the church, it is important that we seek to honor and value women in the midst of seeking biblical fidelity and clarity. Jen Wilkin shares several personal stories from both positive and negative experiences as well as stories ...
Jul 26, 2023•40 min•Season 3Ep. 13
In this episode of As in Heaven, hosts Jim Davis and Mike Aitcheson welcome guest David Platt to discuss the role of political syncretism (taking political positions of neutrality) in dechurching in America. In their conversation, they unpack the ways political syncretism has diminished trust among many in their local church and the broader evangelical church. Episode time stamps: What does it mean to leave the church by politics? (0:55) Idolatry in the church (6:52) Praying for the president (1...
Jul 19, 2023•48 min•Season 3Ep. 12
In this episode of As In Heaven , Jim Davis is joined by his wife, Angela Davis, a mental health counselor, and Benjamin Kandt to discuss the role mental health plays in dechurching, the relation between worship and mental health, and how mental health intersects with the church's ministry to the dechurched. They offer insight into the painful reality of loneliness and despair that marks many who have left the church. You'll learn how we can engage the hurts of this group of people and how we ca...
Jul 12, 2023•59 min•Season 3Ep. 11
In this episode of As In Heaven , Jim Davis and Skyler Flowers welcome Derek Rishmawy to discuss engaging upcoming generations, especially college students. They continue the conversation around the missed generational handoff and share practical steps that parents and church leaders can take to disciple and instill a love of the local church and an affection for the gospel among college students. Episode time stamps: Episode and guest introduction (0:00) College ministry and the pressure to suc...
Jul 05, 2023•43 min•Season 3Ep. 10
In this episode of As In Heaven , hosts Jim Davis and Skyler Flowers welcome Cameron Cole to discuss the importance of ministering to upcoming generations, primarily middle and high school students. They discuss the idea of "missed generational handoff," where the value of being churched experiences a dramatic decline in teens (ages 13-17) and young adults (ages 18-25.) Cole shares practical steps parents and church leaders can take toward disciplining and instilling a love of the local church a...
Jun 28, 2023•53 min•Season 3Ep. 9
In this episode of As In Heaven , Jim Davis and Michael Graham are joined by David and Meg Robbins to explore the impact of gospel-centered parenting in the dechurching movement. Parents play a valuable role in reducing the probability of dechurching in their children's future, and this episode offers several practical tips to help parents foster healthier connections with their children and encourage a love for the church. Episode time stamps: Introduction David and Meg Robbins (0:00) How to as...
Jun 21, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 3Ep. 8
In this episode of As In Heaven, hosts Jim Davis and Michael Graham welcome Sam Chan to discuss the importance of relational wisdom when it comes to dechurching. They explore the idea that we can prevent people from leaving the church by improving our individual and institutional levels of relational wisdom. They also outline six key awarenesses that collectively yield relational wisdom: God-awareness Self-awareness Others-awareness Awareness of how others experience you Emotional awareness Cult...
Jun 14, 2023•52 min•Season 3Ep. 7
In this episode of As in Heaven , Jim Davis and Mike Aitcheson welcome back Justin Holcomb to discuss how pastoral pitfalls and failures can ultimately lead to "dechurched casualties." They'll delve deeper into the topics of malpractice, narcissism, and guarding our kids from sexual abuse. Episode time stamps: Episode and topic introduction (0:00) What is narcissism? (1:16) The dangers of narcissism in the church (3:52) Wisdom in leaving a dangerous environment (5:39) Characteristics of a narcis...
Jun 07, 2023•27 min•Season 3Ep. 6
In this episode of As In Heaven , hosts Jim Davis and Mike Aitcheson welcome Justin Holcomb to discuss the meaning of "dechurched casualties" and how abuse in a church environment contributes to people leaving the church. They discuss how to better engage those who have experienced abuse, especially spiritual and church abuse, and how the gospel is the ultimate source of healing. Episode time stamps: Episode and Justin Holcomb introduction (0:00) Definitions for spiritual and emotional abuse (4:...
May 31, 2023•50 min•Season 3Ep. 5
In this episode of As in Heaven , Jim Davis and Michael Graham welcome Patrick Miller to discuss the meaning of casual dechurching. They address the idea of casual dechurching and provide insights into why roughly three-quarters of those who have dechurched fit this category. You'll learn how we can better engage this group of people and why there is tremendous hope that many of them will return to church. Episode time stamps: Episode topic and guest introduction (0:00) Dechurching and a mission...
May 24, 2023•48 min•Season 3Ep. 4
In this episode of As In Heaven , hosts Jim Davis and Michael Aitcheson welcome Collin Hansen to discuss the historical roots of dechurching. Hansen delves into events like the Enlightenment and the First Great Awakening, biblical criticism, the rise of the internet and technology, and more. You'll learn how these historical moments can inform how we navigate and understand dechurching in America today. Episode time stamps: Episode and topic intro (0:00) Historical factors behind dechurching (1:...
May 17, 2023•49 min•Season 3Ep. 3
In this episode of As In Heaven , host Jim Davis welcomes guests Ryan Burge and Michael Graham to discuss the dechurched in America—who are they and why did they leave? They discuss detailed insights about the 40 million adult Americans who have dechurched in the last 30 years and talk in-depth about the four different profiles of dechurched evangelicals. Episode time stamps: Episode and guest introduction (0:00) Defining "dechurching" and why it matters (2:36) The research and how to understand...
May 10, 2023•53 min•Season 3Ep. 2
In this episode of As In Heaven , Jim Davis, Mike Aitcheson, Michael Graham, and Skyler Flowers give a preview of the third season of the podcast, which focuses on dechurching in America. The hosts define key terms used throughout the season and discuss who the decurched are, how we can help, and where we're headed as the church in America. The bad news is bad—roughly 40 million people have left the church over 30 years. But the good news is good—there's something we can do as the body of Christ...
May 03, 2023•12 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Jim Davis and Mike Aitcheson talk live at TGC's 2021 national conference with Dr. Tim Keller and Dr. Irwyn Ince about a biblical theology of race and justice. The panel explores the similarities of the course 1940s Carl Henry charted between fundamentalism and liberalism, and how maintaining a prophetic witness will be important as we observe the phenomena of dechurching and deconversion. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: How does Tim Keller define mishpat ? How does Irwyn Ince define shalom ? What inferenc...
May 20, 2021•48 min
In this episode of As In Heaven, hosts Jim Davis and Mike Aitcheson welcome Soong Chan-Rah to discuss reclaiming the church from cultural captivity and the specific ways that Western attitudes of individualism have crept into our modern ministry philosophies. Rah shares insights regarding the ethics of the kingdom and paints a picture of hopes and dreams for the future. Rah focuses on the positive gospel opportunities in addressing race and justice with kingdom ethics. An introduction to Soong C...
Dec 21, 2020•53 min•Season 2Ep. 23
In this episode of As In Heaven, hosts Jim Davis and Mike Aitcheson welcome Denine Blevins to the podcast to discuss the importance of cultural competency, both at the individual and the organizational level. Blevins also shares how cultural competency within Christian organizations must be different and distinct from the boiler plate secular diversity training in other workplaces. Blevins draws out some best practices in leading your organization into greater cultural competency so that you don...
Dec 17, 2020•43 min•Season 2Ep. 22
In this episode of As In Heaven, hosts Jim Davis and Mike Aitcheson welcome Mark Vroegop to discuss the role of lament in the conversation on race and justice. Mark shares his own experience with exploring lament in the Bible and the Christian life, including empathy and sympathy and how they serve the conversation on race. Mark shares a helpful framework on how he thinks about racial reconciliation—love, listen, learn, lament, and leverage. Together, they address: An introduction to Mark Vroego...
Dec 14, 2020•40 min•Season 2Ep. 21
In this episode of As In Heaven, hosts Jim Davis and Michael Aitcheson welcome Irwyn Ince to discuss biblical strategies for affecting lasting change on both an individual and a church level when it comes to race and justice. Ince offers ways to strive toward gospel centered unity and diversity that he argues goes all the way back to the Trinity. Ince shares practical insights for churches that want to grow in their impact and reach their communities. The three address: An introduction to Irwyn ...
Dec 10, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 20
This episode has been marked as explicit due to sensitive language related to racial slurs. Please listen with discretion. In this episode of As In Heaven, host Jim Davis revisits some of the conversations with previous guests of the podcast to explore their personal experiences with law enforcement. This is, of course, a touchy subject, and we address it here not in order to malign police officers, but because we believe this season would be incomplete without these very important stories. Not ...
Dec 07, 2020•50 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Jim Davis and Michael Graham welcome Jasmine Holmes to talk through the complexities of parenting in this cultural moment. They discuss the fears and hopes of parents raising black children and what it looks like to help majority culture children process this period of American history. The group addresses: An introduction to Jasmine Holmes (1:28) The story behind Mother to Son (2:52) Current greatest fears in this cultural moment (5:23) Divisiveness and echo chambers and fear (7:16) The Black “...
Dec 03, 2020•42 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Jim Davis and Justin Holcomb welcome Trillia Newbell to talk about some of the unique relational dynamics facing black women. Newbell covers being racially profiled as well as many false stereotypes and the exhaustion that black women face as they navigate others’ expectations and perceptions. Newbell shares that the painful or awkward moments in the world also exist in the church, yet there is hope that springs out of lament, having faith in a good God. The three discuss: An introduction to Tri...
Nov 30, 2020•56 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Disclaimer: This episode has been marked as explicit due to sensitive language related to racial slurs. Please listen with discretion. Jim Davis and Mike Aitcheson welcome Jason Cook to share some of the unique relational dynamics of navigating white evangelical spaces as a black pastor. Between super awkward questions, cringeworthy moments, and just downright painful interactions, Jason offers a glimpse into his own experience and encourages believers to grow in hospitality toward those outside...
Nov 28, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 16
