How should followers of Jesus navigate boundaries in relationships across gender lines, especially in leadership and workplace settings? Mike Erre and Andy discuss the ethics and implications of the "Billy Graham Rule" after a listener question sparks thoughtful reflection on Vice President Mike Pence's commitment never to dine alone with a woman other than his wife. Drawing from biblical principles, personal experience, and cultural critique, they unpack the tension between honoring marital fid...
Apr 07, 2017•20 min
How adopting a biblical view of aging reshapes our identity, deepens community, and reveals the unexpected vitality of growing older. Mike Erre and Andy unpack the difference between two Greek words for "new" — neos and kainos — to explore how scripture invites us to reimagine aging not as a decline, but as a spiritual renewal. From pop culture's idolization of youth to the church's neglect of its elders, they challenge our assumptions and offer a fresh, hopeful perspective on what it means to a...
Apr 03, 2017•50 min
How can Christians wrestle faithfully with some of the toughest and most personal questions of faith? In this deeply vulnerable and wide-ranging episode, Mike and Andy tackle real questions from listeners, offering theological insight and pastoral care on topics often avoided in church discussions. From suicide and salvation to masturbation, from hearing God's voice to discerning deception, the conversation is raw, compassionate, and refreshingly honest. If you've ever carried questions you were...
Mar 30, 2017•20 min
How do we reconcile the compassionate nature of Jesus with the seemingly angry and wrathful God of the Old Testament? In this deep-dive conversation, Mike Erre sits down with pastor and author John Mark Comer to unpack the complexities of God's character as revealed in Exodus 34:6–7—an often overlooked but deeply foundational passage in Scripture. As Comer's book "God Has a Name" launches, the two friends explore how God's mercy, justice, jealousy, and slowness to anger paint a fuller picture of...
Mar 27, 2017•51 min
How can someone become a wise, compelling teaching pastor without going to seminary? What does it really mean to follow Jesus—and are you truly a disciple if you're not living out his teachings? In this special Facebook Live Q+A episode, Mike Erre and Andy tackle raw, honest questions from the Voxology community. This is the first part of an ongoing series responding to listener-submitted spiritual, theological, and cultural questions. Mike and Andy reflect on church leadership development, bibl...
Mar 27, 2017•20 min
How proximity, storytelling, community, and embracing complexity help transform cultural narratives about disability and reshape the Church's witness to those the world often overlooks. Mike and Andy welcome back Heather Avis—author, mother, advocate, and founder of the Lucky Few—for a powerful conversation in recognition of World Down Syndrome Day. Through candid storytelling, laughter, and raw honesty, Heather, Mike, and Andy reflect on their shared journeys as parents of children with Down sy...
Mar 20, 2017•1 hr 7 min
How power dynamics shape the church, politics, and our personal witness sits at the heart of this thought-provoking live podcast episode in our Way of Resistance series. Recorded at the Monkey Business Café in Fullerton, California, Mike and Andy take a deep dive into the teachings of Jesus on power—contrasting "power over" (coercion, control, and dominance) versus "power under" (self-sacrificial love, service, and nonviolent resistance). Through Scripture, cultural analysis, audience interactio...
Mar 12, 2017•1 hr 41 min
How reframing hell through the lens of heaven and earth can lead us to a more restorative understanding of God's judgment and radical love. In a deeply personal and theologically rich episode, Mike Erre and Andy dive into the ongoing "Exile Series" with an intense focus on how hell is misrepresented in Christian thought, why judgment is essential to the biblical story, and how eternal consequences don't have to mean eternal torment. Blending pastoral vulnerability with scriptural insight, Mike s...
Mar 06, 2017•1 hr 8 min
How a biblical vision of sex—rooted in wholeness, beauty, and fundamental human goodness—offers hope for those struggling with pornography in a world of shame, silence, and secondhand smoke. Mike Erre and Andy unpack a deeply personal, raw, and candid discussion on pornography addiction within modern Christian culture. This is not your typical "don't do it" sermon. Instead, the episode seeks to unmask the complex emotional, neurological, relational, and spiritual realities of living in what Mike...
Feb 27, 2017•1 hr 18 min
How unpretending can open the door to real healing, radical grace, and renewed purpose for the misfits among us. Mike and Andy sit down with speaker and founder of Freedom Movement, Carrie Garcia, for a raw and powerful conversation about faith, addiction, ministry, mental health, and the cost of pretending in church culture. Carrie shares her heart-wrenching and hope-filled journey—from growing up as a pastor's kid in dysfunction, surviving years of drug use, trauma, and church shame, to redisc...
Feb 20, 2017•48 min
How the church can redefine its role in a divided political climate by reclaiming allegiance to Jesus and resisting partisan captivity. Mike Erre and Andy reflect on what it means to be ambassadors of God's kingdom in an age of polarization, tribal politics, and cultural confusion. Drawing from early church history, scriptural insights, and challenging contemporary examples, this episode is an urgent call back to courage, clarity, and compassion. Key Takeaways: • Support, Challenge, and Create –...
Feb 13, 2017•1 hr 3 min
How does prayer work in a world marked by injustice, trauma, and unanswered cries? Mike Erre and Andy tackle one of the hardest and most personal questions the Voxology community has ever wrestled with: Why do some prayers seem to be answered while others—especially those for safety and healing—go unanswered? Using an honest question from a listener as the foundation, this episode takes a deep dive into the complexities of prayer, God's sovereignty, the problem of evil, and what "answered prayer...
Feb 06, 2017•53 min
How the raw honesty of the Psalms offers a roadmap for navigating spiritual maturity, emotional turmoil, and the disruptive journey of faith. Mike Erre and Andy dive into Walter Brueggemann's framework for categorizing Psalms—orientation, disorientation, and reorientation—and explore how this mirrors the spiritual stages articulated by M. Scott Peck. This episode is a heartfelt journey through belief, suffering, and the surprising grace found in facing doubt and darkness head-on. Key Takeaways: ...
Jan 30, 2017•56 min
How the Four Stages of Faith, as outlined by M. Scott Peck, can help you better understand your own spiritual journey and engage more graciously with people at all stages of Christian development. Mike and Andy take a deep dive into Peck's psychological and spiritual framework—introducing the stages of Chaotic/Antisocial, Formal/Institutional, Skeptic/Individual, and Mystic/Communal—and reflect on how these stages intersect with church life, leadership, and what it means to follow Jesus. Key Tak...
Jan 23, 2017•49 min
Gain theological insight into one of Christianity's most complex and debated doctrines as Mike Erre and Tim Stafford are joined by theologian, author, and scholar Dr. Preston Sprinkle for an honest, in-depth conversation about the biblical views of hell. Drawing from his extensive study and his role as editor of the book "Four Views on Hell," Preston breaks down how Scripture has been interpreted through church history, discusses the implications of eternal conscious torment, annihilation, and u...
Jan 16, 2017•1 hr 4 min
What happens when church culture rewards appearance over transformation and silence over honesty? In this brutally honest and deeply reflective episode, Mike Erre and Andy Bear tackle a listener's request to unpack the issue of infidelity among church leaders and why it may be more common—or at least more hidden—than we'd like to admit. Reflecting on personal experience, witness to spiritual leaders who have fallen publicly, and a dysfunctional worship team dress code, the conversation explores ...
Jan 07, 2017•1 hr 5 min
A heartfelt wrap-up to a remarkable year of the Voxology Podcast, as Mike Erre shares gratitude for the incredible support, growing community, and the conversations that have shaped the last twelve months. On this special solo episode, Mike records an intimate update on what's ahead for Voxology in 2023, including new series exploring tough questions about prayer, suffering, and being "embarrassed by the Bible." And as a bonus, he offers a humorous and moving original year-end Christmas poem, re...
Dec 26, 2016•8 min
How specific feedback, honest critique, and cultural engagement can help reimagine the Church's role in a changing world. In this open and deeply introspective episode, Mike Erre and Andy unbox some recent listener feedback with striking vulnerability—addressing head-on the accusations of church-bashing, ambiguity around biblical truth, and the challenge of speaking tough topics in a way that honors both grace and truth. Using a listener email as a springboard, the conversation unfolds around to...
Dec 19, 2016•46 min
What if the path to knowing God is wider, richer, and more mysterious than we've assumed? This episode of Voxology takes a deep dive into the controversial question: is Jesus really the only way to God? Prompted by a listener email and a candid conversation between two brothers, Mike Erre and Andy dismantle simplistic formulas of salvation and exclusivism—offering a vision of God's redemptive work that is bigger than Christian categories. Drawing from Scripture, theology, and real-life stories, ...
Dec 12, 2016•1 hr 8 min
How can the church navigate LGBTQ conversations without reducing them to binary stances? Mike and Andy break down one of Voxology's most foundational and pressing topics—what it means to be a faith community that is welcoming, inclusive, and mutually transformative. Drawing from years of wrestling in both the podcast and the local Vox community, they respond to a prominent article that challenges the idea of "agreeing to disagree" on homosexuality within the church. Mike shares personal insights...
Dec 05, 2016•58 min
Unpacking the theological and cultural roots of why many Christians have ignored or resisted environmental issues, Mike and Andy answer a listener's question from a post-Thanksgiving Facebook group that's diving into faith, science, and the planet. Drawing on the Genesis creation narrative and the biblical theme of heaven and earth, they explore why the church should lead the charge in caring for creation, and what's at stake when we don't. This episode takes a deep dive into the biblical framew...
Nov 28, 2016•48 min
How the church can resist political captivity and rediscover its core mission of peacemaking, reconciliation, and countercultural witness in a divided and fearful post-election landscape. In this cornerstone conversation between Mike Erre and Andy Bear, the spotlight turns to white evangelical support of Donald Trump, Christian identity in modern America, and how Jesus followers can truly live into their call as agents of peace—not partisanship. Taking a candid look at the tension between cultur...
Nov 21, 2016•59 min
How can Jesus followers respond meaningfully and compassionately in the wake of a deeply polarizing presidential election? Mike Erre and Andy reflect on the day after the 2016 U.S. election—just hours after Donald Trump was elected president—to offer a timely pastoral conversation about what it means to be peacemakers when the nation feels fractured. With powerful insights grounded in the teachings of Jesus, they discuss how grief, empathy, repentance, and prophetic witness must shape our respon...
Nov 10, 2016•45 min
A candid, wide-ranging conversation with Mike Erre and Andy as they tackle a grab bag of honest and often unspoken questions from listeners about sex, marriage, singleness, divorce, and gender identity. With humor, vulnerability, and a deep reverence for both Scripture and lived experience, this Q&A episode pulls back the curtain on real Christian struggles in today's complicated cultural landscape. Drawing from listener-submitted questions, Mike and Andy unpack how to talk to your kids abou...
Nov 07, 2016•58 min
How can Christians approach elections without compromising the way of Jesus? Live from Villain Studios, Mike Erre and Andy unpack how Jesus invites his followers to engage politically—not as loyalists to political platforms, but as citizens of a radically different kingdom. In this fifth installment of the "Jesus & Politics" series, they challenge the fusion of faith and nationalism, explore how kingdom allegiance transcends party lines, and ask the tough question: what if how we carry ourse...
Oct 31, 2016•1 hr 19 min
How honest is too honest when it comes to faith, mental illness, and ministry? In this revealing conversation, Mike Erre and Tim Stafford sit down with Joey Svenson—pastor, podcaster (Bad Christian, Pastor With No Answers), and author of the raw and unflinching memoir "Fundamentalist"—to explore how extreme fundamentalism and OCD collided in his early faith journey, how he found healing, and why he believes radical vulnerability is essential to authentic Christianity. Mike and Tim reflect on the...
Oct 24, 2016•1 hr 2 min
How forgiveness transforms, heals, and awakens us to the radical grace of Jesus—even when reconciliation seems impossible. In this milestone 50th episode, Mike and Andy reflect on the podcast's evolution, exciting upcoming changes, and dive into one of the most nuanced and powerful teachings of Jesus: forgiveness. Whether you've been wounded by the church, suffered spiritual trauma, or wrestled with resentment, this conversation offers a deeply honest look at what forgiveness is—and what it isn'...
Oct 14, 2016•58 min
How the church can still be a place of healing, transformation, and deep belonging—even when it's broken. Part three of the "Why We're Leaving the Church" series dives deep into personal stories across generations, offering a raw and hopeful conversation on why many still choose to stay, participate, and even lead within the church despite its failures and contradictions. Mike Erre, Andy, and Izzy reflect on the struggles, disappointments, and transformative beauty of church life. From hypocriti...
Oct 14, 2016•51 min
How the church has lost its witness by prioritizing culture wars, misrepresenting love, and failing to embody the radical, self-giving love of Jesus — and why it matters. In this honest and provocative conversation, Mike Erre, Andy, and Izzy Ray dive deep into the next two points from the widely shared blog post "Dear Church, Here's Why People Are Leaving You," exploring the disconnect between the Church's messaging and Jesus' own heart for people. This is Part 2 of the "Dear Church" series. Whe...
Oct 03, 2016•1 hr
How can the church reclaim its prophetic voice and connect deeply in a generation disillusioned by performance, image, and control? That's the question Mike Erre, Andy, and special guest Izzy Ray tackle in this candid and heartfelt conversation. Prompted by John Pavlovitz's article "Dear Church, Here's Why People Are Really Leaving You," the trio explores what it means to be authentic in ecclesial spaces, challenge the production model of church gatherings, and create communities that honor real...
Sep 20, 2016•1 hr 1 min
