Publish Date: September 26, 2023

As America transitions into a post-Christian era, the church increasingly finds itself on the outside looking in. Younger generations who will lead our culture in the future have made it quite clear how they feel about current American Christianity. How should Christians respond when culture moves away from traditional Christian norms? Many Christians have elected to fight culture wars to win back lost ground. Maybe there is another way.

Publish Date: September 19, 2023

Public perceptions of Christianity were trending in the wrong direction well before COVID-19, but there was something about the pandemic years that caused a rapid decline. What was it? Did COVID change Christianity in America, or did it reveal unattractive qualities that were already there, but hidden?

Publish Date: September 12, 2023

As we have discussed already in the Rebranding Christianity podcast, brands provide a short-hand understanding of what a product or person or movement is all about. When we think of a certain brand what we are actually thinking about are the products, promises, and values that we associate with that brand. So, when a brand violates its promises or becomes to be known for negative things (bad products, poor customer service, etc) the brand loses public trust and begins to diminish. We have also discussed that Jesus made clear what the brand is supposed to be 2,000 years ago. In today’s episode we are going to combine these thoughts and talk about the disheartening truth that when people outside of the church are asked to describe Christianity, they don’t describe what Jesus told Christians to be known for.

Publish Date: September 5, 2023

When we think about what the “brand” of Christianity is supposed to be, the good news is, we don’t have to guess. Jesus gave us the brand. He was quite clear about it too. He said, I want for your reputation to be.. this. When people think of you, he said, they should think of.. this. We will talk about what “this” is and why it is so critical that the American church make a concerted effort to prioritize it.

Publish Date: August 29, 2023

Is it okay to call Christianity a brand? Is that helpful or disrespectful? Are concepts such as “brand promise” and “net promoter score” useful as we seek to understand the perceptions people have toward Christianity in America? We interact with brands every day. The more we can understand the psychology behind our relationship with brands the more we can understand the falling perceptions of Christianity in America.

Publish Date: August 22, 2023

In this episode we hear from Mike Hogan, co-author of Rebranding Christianity. As a Christian, Mike is concerned about the state of Christianity in America. As a branding and marketing expert, Mike is able to see how so much of the decline of American Christianity is due to our own mishandling of the Christian brand. We will hear Mike’s backstory and his reasons for excitement around the Rebranding Christianity project.

Publish Date: August 15, 2023

What is a pastor supposed to do when he comes to the conviction that much of American Christianity is not representing Jesus well? How should a pastor respond? How should they lead their church through such a confusing cultural moment? We begin our podcast journey by talking to Jeff Jones and Mike Hogan, authors of Rebranding Christianity. In this first episode we hear from Jeff Jones. We learn about Jeff’s backstory and his continuing work of trying to lead a church well even during a time when American Christianity is in dire need of a rebrand.