Church Disrupted

In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran and Rebecca Davis (Author of the Untwisting Scripture book series) discuss the misuse and abuse of scriptures in spiritual contexts. They highlight the importance of understanding the true meaning of scriptures and the dangers of twisting them to manipulate and control people. They talk about topics like loyalty, sin leveling, the misuse of the terms 'root of bitterness' and 'spirit of offense', and the idea of tearing down the body of Christ.

In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran, Leann Reece, and Vicki May discuss the impact of celebrity culture in the church, specifically the green room mentality in a lot of churches. They highlight the contradiction between the call to be servants and the pursuit of celebrity status in modern Christianity. This conversation explores the negative side of the church green room, particularly in relation to volunteer exploitation and the pressures of celebrity culture, as well as what we can do about it to build healthier environments in our churches.

In this episode of the Church Disrupted podcast, Jeff Cochran, Shawn Reece, and Vicki May discuss the formula for spiritual abuse and how to recognize it before damage is done in churches. Spiritual abuse and church scandals can be prevented if the formula is identified early and addressed. They also introduce the Safe Church Pledge as a step towards preventing spiritual abuse.

In this episode of the Church Disrupted podcast, Jeff Cochran and Natalie Runion have an honest conversation about nepotism in the Church. They explore what nepotism really is and where it came from, as well as the tension between passing on ministries within families and the potential for unhealthy dynamics and control.

In a recent conversation with a critical pastor on the Church Disrupted Podcast, things went sideways quick! From the beginning, today's guest exhibited narcissistic responses and behaviors that can be super triggering for those who have experienced church hurt or spiritual abuse. Talk about the opposite of trauma-informed church leadership!Sadly, too many church leaders exhibit behaviors like this in conversations without even realizing the damage they can cause to parishioners. So, in today's episode, Jeff Cochran leans into the skid, breaks down the subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) red flags of narcissistic responses, and shows you how to respond to them (and how not to) in a spiritual setting. There has never been a time more important than now for church leaders and staff to become trauma-informed. Narcissism and narcissistic behaviors have no place in the church, and with a little training and intentionality, we can eliminate these behaviors and learn to protect the most vulnerable people in our congregations. We can learn to listen to and love people like Jesus. Want to support SAI financially?https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaignTHANK YOU to our podcast partner, the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners.Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/.Join the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6ZPlease Subscribe and Share!Chapters00:00 Introduction and Trigger Warning03:16 Recognizing Conversational Red Flags in Churches06:28 The Most Triggering Interview08:52 Using Red Flag Review Editing10:42 Identifying Wrong and Potentially Dangerous Views of the Church25:28 The Importance of Words and How They Are Said28:25 Addressing the Impact of Comments on Small Churches34:50 Identifying Red Flags and Patterns of Behavior37:16 From Small Church to Mega Church: A Personal Journey41:29 The Distinction Between Mega Churches and Giga Churches45:16 Addressing Systemic Issues in All Churches51:53 The Importance of Open Conversations About Small Church Failures01:09:21 Calling Out Narcissistic Behavior01:13:28 Red Flags and Tactics of Narcissistic Leaders01:19:04 The Issue of Plagiarism in the Church01:21:48 The Importance of Transparency in Church Finances01:35:11 The Power of Words and Definitions01:43:40 Understanding the Lack of Transparency in Churches01:45:27 Overcoming Shame and Becoming Financially Transparent01:48:48 The Use of NDAs in Churches01:51:18 The Benefits of Multi-Site Churches02:08:16 Finding Healing and Connection After Church Hurt

On this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran is joined by local church pastor Cody Farris. From a disagreement on social media, they started a conversation that eventually led to this podcast about church leadership, accountability, and how churches should respond to scandals and allegations of spiritual abuse. They also talk about important factors to consider when looking for a healthy church after church hurt. Other topics discussed include NDAs in churches, plagiarism in sermons, handling abuse allegations, and church finances. This one is a can't miss. It's honest, authentic, and incredibly refreshing.

In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran is joined by Chris and Tori Custer, who share their experience of spiritual abuse and cultish behavior. They break down common red flags and warning signs of toxic church environments, emphasize the need for humility and self-reflection in church leadership, and discuss what biblical forgiveness really looks like. They also take a hard look at the dangers of spiritual fathers and other often weaponized spiritual language.

In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran, Leann Reece, and Corey Laster explore the question of when it's time to leave a church environment, especially when there are signs of spiritual abuse or toxicity. The hosts discuss their personal experiences and offer insights on recognizing red flags and setting boundaries. They emphasize the importance of healing and finding safe people to talk to.

In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran interviews Casanova Green, a local church pastor, about his observations on the church and the importance of having critical conversations with church leaders to promote growth and transparency. They also highlight the issue of churches moving away from the core principles of community, support, and relational ministry; and the rise of narcissistic leaders and performance-based preaching.

In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran interviews Natalie Runion, the author of 'Raised to Stay' and the upcoming book 'The House that Jesus Built.' They discuss staying in a relationship with Jesus in the face of things like church hurt and spiritual abuse, and the importance of balance in addressing hard church issues. Natalie shares her personal experience of church hurt and how it led her to create a safe space for others to wrestle with their faith.