This is part one of two on the subject of pulpits and institutional religion's requirement of keeping the pulpit at the center of its Sunday events. I have a lot to say about this but my laptop battery ran down as I was recording this and I wasn't near my charger, so I stopped where I was, making this part one of two. Part Two will drop next week. Other Places You’ll Find Me The Grace Cafe Podcast: https://www.gracecafepodcast.com TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@unsunday.mike Instagram https://ww...
Jul 18, 2021•10 min•Ep. 53
Let's talk about some of the pitfalls of professionalizing Christianity and relegating our time together to the professionals we've hired in our institutions and relying on them to do what all of us should be doing. The body of Christ suffers in this scenario because it's impossible for every member to function and exercise their spiritual gifts. It also assumes one person in the assembly is more qualified to participate than the others and it creates a false level of separation in the body of C...
Jul 10, 2021•24 min•Ep. 52
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 t...
Jul 04, 2021•18 min•Ep. 51
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 Disc...
Jun 27, 2021•30 min•Ep. 50
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 ho...
Jun 20, 2021•22 min•Ep. 49
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 ...
Jun 07, 2021•20 min•Ep. 48
Let's talk about Hebrews 10:25. I don't know about you but in my experience, this verse has been used over and over again as a proof text to convince me that leaving institutional religion was more than just a bad idea. Leaving institutional religion, so the argument goes, is forbidden in the Bible and Hebrews 10:25 is proof of that. This verse clearly tells us, so the argument goes, that leaving institutional religion amounts to "forsaking the assembling of ourselves together" and is clearly fo...
May 29, 2021•25 min•Ep. 47
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 fo...
May 23, 2021•35 min•Ep. 46
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...
May 16, 2021•21 min•Ep. 45
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 i...
Apr 30, 2021•3 min•Ep. 44
In this episode, I explore the question, Is the system of institutional church a help or a hindrance to the body of Christ and the exercising of spiritual gifts? This episode is also available in video format on the UnSunday Show YouTube Channel. The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel The UnSunday Show Website -Mike Other Places You’ll Find Me The Grace Cafe Podcast: https://www.gracecafepodcast.com TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@unsunday.mike Instagram https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow YouTube ...
Oct 17, 2020•22 min•Ep. 43
Welcome to another edition of Morning Coffee on The UnSunday Show. Today, let's talk about some important distinctions between the system we call church and Christ's ekklesia . Jesus never said the system we call church would never be overcome or ultimately defeated. But he did say that about the ekklesia . That difference is monumental. Let's talk about the implications of that difference in this episode. This episode of The UnSunday Show is also available in video format. The video version is ...
Oct 11, 2020•14 min•Ep. 42
Welcome to our second Morning Coffee together. Let's start a discussion about pastors and ask the question, what is a pastor? This is going to ultimately open up a plethora of related subjects on the topic which can serve as future editions of Morning Coffee . But this episode will serve to start us down that path as we talk about how we've institutionalized the pastor and made him or her the central figure in most of our institutional settings. If this episode tweaks you, you might like my arti...
Sep 24, 2020•16 min•Ep. 41
This episode marks the beginning of what I'm calling Morning Coffee . Morning Coffee is an informal conversation with yours truly over coffee about different subjects pertinent to The UnSunday Show. In addition to the normal audio podcast format, this and future episodes of Morning Coffee are and will be available in video format on YouTube, Facebook, and the UnSunday Show website. The video links to this episode of Morning Coffee are below. YouTube Video Version -Enjoy! Other Places You’ll Find...
Sep 21, 2020•15 min•Ep. 40
This episode is a continuation of the topic of church discipline that I started in the last episode. I continue my look at Matthew 18:15-20, which is used as a proof text by church leaders for the practice of modern church discipline. I wrap up a couple of loose ends in this episode that I think need to be added to this discussion because I believe we've brought an Old Covenant practice into the New Covenant assembly. Here are the links I mentioned: Podcast: Rethinking Formal Church Membership -...
Aug 23, 2020•20 min•Ep. 39
The topic of what we call church discipline has been on my mind the last couple of years. I've tried writing down my thoughts about it but writing just isn't my thing any more. At least not right now. It's easier to talk about it than to write about it. Here are some of my initial thoughts on church discipline in light of my understanding of the New Covenant. Matthew 18:15-20 is the go to passage most often used as a proof text for the validity of church discipline. It's the one that I was train...
Aug 16, 2020•25 min•Ep. 38
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" These words of Jesus on the cross have led many to the conclusion that God left Jesus while he was dying on the cross. That because Jesus had become sin for us, the Father turned away from him because he can't look on sin. But is that what was happening? Let's talk about it. Other Places You’ll Find Me The Grace Cafe Podcast: https://www.gracecafepodcast.com TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@unsunday.mike Instagram https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow Y...
May 28, 2020•5 min•Ep. 37
Let's tease out the idea of the tithe in the New Covenant. Does God require a tithe? Am I in disobedience if I'm not tithing? We're quick to take isolated passages out of context to attempt impose a tithe on people but under the Old Covenant there were many tithes and the tithes were never money. Under the New Covenant, the tithe has disappeared. Let's talk... Other Places You’ll Find Me The Grace Cafe Podcast: https://www.gracecafepodcast.com TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@unsunday.mike Instagr...
May 19, 2020•6 min•Ep. 36
Let's talk about the Good Samaritan. In response to Jesus' reminder that he was obligated to love God with all his being and to love his neighbor as himself, a lawyer, in an attempt to justify himself, asked Jesus who his neighbor was. This conversation took place in Luke chapter 10. Because the lawyer was living at the time of the Old Covenant, he was under obligation to obey these commands perfectly. But he couldn't. Jesus' answer revealed the failure of the Law to empower anyone to obey it wh...
Mar 29, 2020•37 min•Ep. 35
Welcome to episode 34 of The UnSunday Show with Mike & Mac. This episode is a continuation in many ways of last week's episode. We recorded this one immediately after last week's with the intention of making it its own episode, and here it is! Jesus is better. That's one of the themes of the New Testament letter to the Hebrews. Jesus is better. He's better than the angels, he's better than Moses, he's better than the Levitical priests of the Old Covenant, he's better than the Old Covenant. A...
Mar 22, 2020•34 min•Ep. 34
Welcome to episode 33 of The UnSunday Show. Why are there so many burdensome rules in organized Christian religion when Jesus promised rest and relief from those same heavy burdens? When we read the Bible as though all of it applies to us, the lines blur between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, resulting in a fatal mixology of confusion and harm. This fatal mixology is the springboard of our conversation in this episode. Push Play and join the discussion. Other Places You’ll Find Me The Gr...
Mar 15, 2020•43 min•Ep. 33
Welcome to episode 32 of The UnSunday Show. Let's talk about the clutter that gets in between us and Jesus that ends up giving us a smaller version of Jesus. Institutional religion works hard at convincing us that Jesus alone really isn't enough. It puts obstacles between us and Jesus that we're told need to be there in order to be complete and remain acceptable to God. Sometimes it's sub-mediators as we're told we need Jesus and the pastor, priest, or leader to guide and direct us. At other tim...
Mar 03, 2020•41 min•Ep. 32
Welcome to episode 31 of The UnSunday Show. Mike received an invitation in the mail to spend a weekend listening to someone do expository preaching. Needless to say, this set off a few triggers in light of Mike's background. Add to that the fact that the picture on the invitation reminded both Mike & Mac of someone power posturing over others in the church. Mike & Mac talk about it in this episode. of The UnSunday Show. Grab your favorite beverage and listen in. Other Places You’ll Find ...
Feb 16, 2020•41 min•Ep. 31
The wisdom of man and the wisdom of God, putting our confidence in people, organizations, and institutions instead of in God, and remembering what is already ours in Jesus, apart from religion or knowledge are a few of the topics Mike and Mac tackle in this episode. Along the way, you'll gain some valuable insight on coconut cake and Jesus' favorite color. Push Play and listen in. Be sure to subscribe and share The UnSunday Show with your friends. Other Places You’ll Find Me The Grace Cafe Podca...
Feb 06, 2020•36 min•Ep. 30
Welcome to episode 29 of The UnSunday Show. Today's episode is a relaunch of sorts for The UnSunday Show. It's the debut of my friend Greg McInturff as co-host of the show. Yay! Mac and I will be hosting the show together for as long as we're able. He and I always have energized conversations and we're looking forward to sharing them with you. Greg introduces himself in this episode as we interact with his story. We've also re-branded the podcast with a new logo and the website with new graphics...
Jan 27, 2020•31 min•Ep. 29
Welcome to episode 28 of The UnSunday Show. At its core, The UnSunday Show is a podcast about the system we call church. To a very large extent, this system has come to us via church history, religious tradition, and theological distinction, not from the New Testament. Mike talks about that system we've inherited in this episode. He also makes an exciting announcement about the future of The UnSunday Show. Push Play and join the conversation. Other Places You’ll Find Me The Grace Cafe Podcast: h...
Jan 20, 2020•22 min•Ep. 28
Welcome to episode 27 of The UnSunday Show podcast. Way back in episode 9 we talked about 1 John 1:9 and what John meant when he said if we confess our sins [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We concluded that John was targeting unbelievers within the group - those who were sin deniers and outside of the family of faith. But what about those of us who believer? What if we sin? Have we lost fellowship with God? John addressed that in chap...
Jan 13, 2020•11 min•Ep. 27
Welcome to episode 26 of The UnSunday Show. Today's episode is a look at William Tyndale and his authoring of the New Testament in the English language. He wanted the people of his day to have a New Testament in their own language so they could read and interpret it for themselves instead of having to rely solely on the church hierarchy of the day to tell them what it meant. In his desire to remain true to the Greek text, he translated a handful of words according to their true meaning as oppose...
Jan 07, 2020•26 min•Ep. 26
Welcome to episode 25 of the UnSunday Show. Let's talk about your options when living in a Christian sacral society where conformity to the church's rules is required on the threat of punishment and death for non-compliance. Such was the environment the Anabaptists found themselves in as the Reformation progressed. Like their Roman Catholic counterparts, the church the Reformers created had the power of the State behind it, along with the full weight of the military to enforce the church's top-d...
Dec 28, 2019•18 min•Ep. 25
Welcome to episode 24 of The UnSunday Show. Since I've been absent for a while, I thought it would be a good idea to have a short refresher on some of the topics I've talked about in the past before moving on. In this episode I ask the question, "Who put pastors in charge?" How did we get so pastor-centric and pastor-dependent? Let's talk about it... Other Places You’ll Find Me The Grace Cafe Podcast: https://www.gracecafepodcast.com TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@unsunday.mike Instagram https:/...
Dec 16, 2019•18 min•Ep. 24
