Staircase to Nowhere: A Ministry and Culture Podcast

Why is Christian art usually so bad? Hundreds of years ago, the Church commissioned some of the greatest artistic works in history. But today, media with the “Christian” label on it is known for being trite, preachy, derivative, and very cheesy. We talk about music, film, and the Chosen–and why believers should create beautiful art.

Who sounds like who? (chart)

Book recommendations:
For the Beauty of the Church 
Art and Faith: A Theology of Making

Why is everyone lonely now and it feels so hard to make friends? Why isn’t church the place where real friendships flourish? And why is ministry so lonely? In this episode, we share some stories of memories we have as friends and ask ourselves the question– how can we live this life as better friends? 

Talk back with us: share your feedback, questions, or topic suggestions at [email protected]

Harvard Study

CityNerd

How is the way we use the internet today with iPhones in our pockets different  than when Millennials logged onto the computer growing up? And how has this shaped our culture to be more individualistic than ever before? We explore media fragmentation, expressive individualism, and gender ideologies in this Staircase to Nowhere about the most ubiquitous and least understood concept of our time–the internet.

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MiniClip

Addicting Games

Cartoon Network Games

Book: The Shallows

Podcast: The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling

Book: Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

Ever wondered what’s the difference between Baptists and Pentecostals, Methodists and Presbyterians? Does your downtown have an intersection with Lutheran, Anglican, Orthodox, and Catholic churches on each corner? We give a brief overview of Christian denominations with Noah’s seminary roommate Michael from Germany.

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The Story of Christianity: Justo L. Gonzalez

What would a church look like that doesn’t rely on full-time paid staff? Ephesians 4 tells us God gave the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip all believers for the work of ministry. Why then do our churches only have pastors? And could these lost missional, outward-facing gifts be the reason our churches are so inward focused?

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Fivefold Spiritual Gifts Test

We’ve all been paid ministers before and we’re thankful! But church as a corporation with full-time staff members doesn’t look like the Bible, and isn’t reaping as much fruit as more nimble movements around the world where every believer is engaged in discipleship and mission. We talk pros and cons of church structures that rely on leaders with full-time salaries.

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We saw Jesus Revolution and got thinking, who are our people? What are the Millennials and Gen Z like? And why are so many who grew up in church walking away from the faith?

Here’s the Barna research study we talked about: Doubt & Faith: Top Reasons People Question Christianity 

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Is Lent just Mark Wahlberg’s 40 Day Challenge? Why didn’t my church observe Lent growing up? And why are so many churches getting back to it now? Evangelical churches for years didn’t celebrate Lent–but it’s making a comeback in churches reclaiming some of these ancient practices that bind us as the new family of God.

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Should we be able to livestream a work of God? How does revival spread in a social media age? Why do all the armchair theologians need to chime in about Asbury? And how do we not be them… Where do we go from here, now that Asbury’s campus is closed to the public?

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We prayed for it! But do we believe in revival when we see it? David shared his experience at the Asbury Outpouring before it blew up on social media—and Noah is confronted with his own unbelief.

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