Our first inclination can be to think that if God were truly loving, he would not send people to hell, let alone have created it in the first place. But, in order to be a God of love, he must also be a God of justice. What if hell is actually a manifestation of God's love for people, reflected in his perfect justice? In this episode of Church Unplugged, our leadership team discusses what hell really is and why Jesus taught about it more than anyone else in the Bible.
Jun 22, 2020•16 min•Ep. 38
Did you know it wasn’t until the Protestant Reformation when the public could freely access the Bible that various denominations and sects began within Christianity? The benefits of getting God’s Word into people’s hands were endless, but consequently it led to the formation of many interpretations and opinions of what the Bible was really saying. In this episode of Church Unplugged, our leadership team discusses what really matters when it comes to denominational differences, and how at the end...
Jun 08, 2020•22 min•Ep. 36
As we grieve the recent killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, we know that some of our white brothers and sisters might not know how to think or talk about racism. We believe that as Christians, God calls us to be a voice to the voiceless and carry each other’s burdens. So how can we, as white Christians, be there for the black community? Tune in for an honest conversation between Richard White and Paul Turner on how they’ve been processing recent events, what it’s like to...
Jun 04, 2020•46 min•Ep. 37
Have you thought about how you’ll be spending your time in eternity? Do images of sitting on clouds, playing harps, and wearing white robes cross your mind? In this episode of Church Unplugged, our leadership team chats about common misconceptions and focuses on the reality that heaven will be much less about being in some distant picture-perfect place and more about being present with God enjoying his original and wonderful design for our world. The Bible may not give us all the details of our ...
May 18, 2020•18 min•Ep. 35
God didn’t give you a whole bunch of rules in the Bible to keep you away from anything good. Rather, every command God declares stems from his infinite love and great design for you – including his command for you to not have sex outside of marriage. But sometimes rules can be hard to understand or accept when the they seem to be keeping you from something so seemingly great like pleasure or fun, right? In this episode of Church Unplugged, our pastors are digging into this topic to help us refle...
May 04, 2020•18 min•Ep. 34
There’s only so much our pastors can cover during 30 minutes in a weekend message, so we’ve created this special 2-part episode to give Pastor Joe, Pastor Zach, and Pastor Todd more time to dive deeper into each of the 10 Commandments you learned about in our recent message series. Tune in to hear them expound upon each commandment and address some of the questions they received during the message series.
Apr 20, 2020•25 min•Ep. 33
There’s only so much our pastors can cover during 30 minutes in a weekend message, so we’ve created this special 2-part episode to give Pastor Joe, Pastor Zach, and Pastor Todd more time to dive deeper into each of the 10 Commandments you’ve been learning about in our current message series. Tune in to hear them expound upon each commandment and address some of the questions they received during the message series.
Apr 06, 2020•24 min•Ep. 32
COVID-19. It’s overturning life as we know it. But even if the world seems to be spiraling out of control, as Christians, we must remember that God did not give us a spirit of fear. It’s in times like these that we should focus our hearts and minds on following Jesus well and loving our neighbors in powerful ways. Tune into this episode of Church Unplugged to hear our leadership discuss how this coronavirus crisis actually presents an opportunity for us as Christians to be used by God to ministe...
Mar 30, 2020•18 min•Ep. 31
In Christianity, it’s common to hear that our faith is all about a personal relationship with Jesus. But if that’s all we believe to be true, then why does the Bible make such a big deal about church, too? God’s word contains entire books written to churches, commandments for how to gather as a church, serve each other in the church, and grow the church. Clearly, God loves his church and wants you to love it, too. Tune into this episode of Church Unplugged where we discuss how your faith shouldn...
Mar 16, 2020•18 min•Ep. 30
How does the Bible define what it means to be a man? In a world that has a million opposing opinions on how men should behave, it’s important to have a clear understanding of how God determines what it truly means to be a man. Tune into this episode of Church Unplugged to learn how Jesus is our perfect example of masculinity through the ways he demonstrated strength, sensitivity, compassion, and vulnerability. It’s only through a relationship with the one who lived a perfect life can a man learn...
Mar 02, 2020•19 min•Ep. 29
Have you ever considered that God designed dating as a way to sanctify you? This notion is quite at odds with our cultural ideas of dating that are self-centered and focused on finding someone who makes you happy. Instead, take a look at what the Bible says about romantic relationships and you'll discover the primary purpose of being with someone is to help them follow Jesus. Are you ready and equipped for that task? Tune into this episode of Church Unplugged to hear our leadership team discuss ...
Feb 17, 2020•22 min•Ep. 28
Women in ministry, gender roles, and purity culture. We know these hot topic issues are ones that cause tension and have not always been handled well by the church. The reality is that a lot of confusion is caused by a misunderstanding of what the Bible actually says, and in the end, a misunderstanding of God’s true character. Tune in to hear CCC staff share what God’s Word actually says about women, the vital role they play in the church, and how you can have well rounded conversations over tou...
Feb 03, 2020•29 min•Ep. 27
What do Kanye West and Tim Keller have in common? They are both celebrities that have publicly proclaimed faith in Jesus Christ. Does seeing their names in the same sentence make you uncomfortable? Then tune into this week’s episode of Church Unplugged as CCC staff discuss how to think about and respond to Christians in the spotlight.
Jan 21, 2020•21 min•Ep. 26
What do you think about when the offering plate passes you during a weekend service? Do you feel compelled to give? Or maybe you feel like the church has enough, and there's no need for you to give? In the New Testament, Jesus makes it clear that Christians are called to live a life marked by generosity. Join CCC pastors as they talk about what that looks like.
Jan 06, 2020•19 min•Ep. 25
You’ve heard conversations about environmentalism in the news, politics, and most likely your Facebook feed— but how are Christians called to think about it? In a political climate where both sides of the argument seem too extreme, where should the church stand? Join us for Church Unplugged as CCC pastors think through this topic in light of Scripture and the Gospel.
Dec 16, 2019•15 min•Ep. 24
Pornography is not just an “out there” problem— it is an issue that plagues the men and women of the church. And in a day and age where the porn industry takes in more money than all major sports leagues combined, we have to talk about it. Join us as we discuss the difference between lust and love, the danger of consumerism, and the importance of aligning every aspect of our sexuality with God’s character.
Dec 02, 2019•22 min•Ep. 23
Living in America, capitalism is our reality and there’s not much we can do about it. As Christians, we have to figure out which parts of it line up with the gospel and which points do not. Tune in as we talk about the good and bad of capitalism alongside what it means to love both God and our neighbors, even when it does not make economic sense.
Nov 18, 2019•18 min•Ep. 22
We know that because of sin, brokenness can manifest itself in every aspect of our spiritual and physical health. But why does it seem hard for Christians to address the very real struggles of mental health, too? Listen in to this week’s Church Unplugged episode as our pastors discuss how the church should respond to those battling mental health struggles, why some people should seek medical help, and what Scripture has to say about our brokenness.
Nov 04, 2019•20 min•Ep. 21
This week's podcast is a little different than the rest! Tune in as we discuss listener questions on topics such as tattoos and the existence of aliens. As always, these questions aren't as simple to answer as we may want, but listen as our pastors discuss how to appropriately apply the Gospel and Scripture to issues we face today.
Oct 21, 2019•18 min•Ep. 20
Obviously we both play a part, but who initiates the process by which we are saved? It has to start somewhere! The theological terms often used for this conversation are "predestination" and "election." Join our CCC pastors as they breakdown this debate in terms of free will, human nature, God's grace, and Scripture.
Oct 07, 2019•23 min•Ep. 19
The death penalty has long been debated in the West, with some asserting it's clear sense of justice and others questioning how it could line up with a pro-life stance. So what is the appropriate way to think about just punishment while still remembering that criminals are made in the image of God and therefore have undeniable value? Listen in as our pastors discuss as we consider how race, socio-economic class, and the Gospel can inform our thinking.
Sep 16, 2019•21 min•Ep. 18
Everybody's sexuality is broken, whether straight, bisexual, gay, or any other orientation. So the next question becomes, as disciples of Christ how do we allow Scripture to shape our sexuality? Join CCC pastors as they discuss identity, truth, and how the church should respond to both.
Sep 02, 2019•28 min•Ep. 17
Or in other words, why should we talk to God? In a culture that is constantly encouraging us to hustle until we get what we want, prayer allows us to slow down and get to know God. Join us for this episode of Church Unplugged as our pastors discuss how prayer changes us, how to react when God seems silent, and more.
Aug 19, 2019•25 min•Ep. 16
Every new life in Christ is a miracle. The Browns winning a championship would also be a miracle. So how do we define a miracle? And how do we make sense of the miraculous acts seen in Scripture that aren't seen as much today? Tune in to find out!
Aug 05, 2019•20 min•Ep. 15
Short answer? It's a more complicated, nuanced topic than we want it to be. But before you jump to any conclusions, listen in on the conversation as we discuss medical vs. recreational marijuana use, being sober-minded, gateway drugs, and even how this topic has been understood and experienced differently in the African American community. Join us!
Jul 15, 2019•23 min•Ep. 14
Join us on this weeks installment of Church Unplugged as CCC pastors discuss what it means to support politicians without defending them and how we can remember our identity in Christ before we identify with a political party.
Jul 01, 2019•23 min•Ep. 13
Whether it is deciding who to date or finding a new job, how are we supposed to know God's plan for us? How important are our seemingly big decisions in the grand scheme of things? Check out this episode of Church Unplugged as pastors discuss how God's grace and our freedom interact as we face all of life's choices.
Jun 17, 2019•23 min•Ep. 12
Game of Thrones, The Bachelor, HGTV. Pick your poison! Whatever you choose to watch, is it realistic to think our entertainment has no effect on us? Do the shows we watch glorify sin or show the consequences? Tune in the Church Unplugged as we talk about how our love for God influences what we watch.
Jun 03, 2019•26 min•Ep. 11
Almost all historians, whether Christian, Atheist, or Jewish, can agree that Jesus of Nazareth was crucified. Yet it's what happened after that is often debated. Did Jesus rise from the dead and walk out of the tomb or not? Tune into this installment of Church Unplugged as CCC pastors share how we can have confidence that Jesus defeated death, and why that is so important to our faith.
May 20, 2019•19 min•Ep. 10
What's so special about the Bible? Or better yet, how do we know that the Bible we have today hasn't been changed or edited over time? Can it still be trustworthy and culturally applicable in 2019? Well... those are a lot of great questions that a short podcast description will fail to answer. Instead, listen to CCC pastors discuss how we can honestly answer these questions and then continue to faithfully follow God's Word.
May 13, 2019•21 min•Ep. 9
