MINI-SERIES: Theology-Strategy-Practice for ministry teams, kicking things off by diving deep into the theology behind church ministry teams.

Drawing from Ephesians 4 and Acts 6, Joel, Tim and Stu explore the Biblical foundation that shapes our understanding of ministry teams and the essential role of pastors as leaders who raise up others — both paid and unpaid — to serve and love the church community.

They also tackle some pressing challenges facing modern churches: the decline of volunteerism, the professionalisation of ministry, and the misconception that paying someone to "do the job" will solve the problem. In many ways, churches have become so concerned with appearing professional and successful that there is a fear of appearing amateur.

This episode raises critical questions: Is the decline in serving due to church structure or a symptom of cultural shifts? Why do we expect pastors to be experts at everything, and how does this align with the vision of the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12? We discuss the pressures on pastors, the tension between generalist and specialist roles, and the emerging dynamic where churchgoers act more like consumers than active participants.

Tim wraps things up with a powerful metaphor, likening ministry teams to dragon boating: everyone pulling together in rhythm, with the pastor beating the drum to keep the pace.

MINI-SERIES: Young People in the Church [PRACTICE]

In this episode, Joel and Tim dive into the critical importance of practice in youth and children’s ministry, exploring its role within Soul Revival's Theology-Strategy-Practice framework. They discuss how churches can be an essential pillar of stability for young people, providing relationships and networks that foster genuine community.

They unpack the ways Christians have uncritically adopted industrialised models of faith formation and psycho-social development within church. They challenge the notion that children's faith is "incomplete" and argue that we’re not waiting for kids to become Christians — they are fully part of the Kingdom and have a faith of their own.

They also explore three of Soul Revival's key practices in youth and children's ministry as examples, youth leadership, leadership training and Kids Chill. These practices illustrate how fostering relational stability and a village-like community can help form faith more effectively. Ultimately, they emphasise that it takes a village not just to raise children, but to raise all of us, highlighting the need to reclaim community and relational stability within the church through Shock Absorber principles.

00:00 Intro
02:40 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Primary school concerts
07:57 Institutionalised transition points created by schooling
16:58 Faith formation has been uncritically mapped onto our industrialised society
35:03 Breaking down some of Soul Revival youth and children's Practices
58:30 Recapturing "It takes a village to raise a child"

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

It Takes a Church to Raise a Parent, by Rachel Turner

CONTACT US:

Shock Absorber Email: [email protected]
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

MINI-SERIES: Young People in the Church [STRATEGY]

In this episode of The Shock Absorber Podcast, Joel, Stu, and Tim explore the critical importance of strategy in youth and children’s ministry as part of our Theology-Strategy-Practice framework. Strategy isn’t optional—it’s essential for creating meaningful, lasting ministry impact. Without it, churches risk creating transient, hollow experiences for young people, with disastrous consequences.

After briefly reflecting on the movie Hidden Figures, the team delves into why having a clear strategy is often overlooked and why its absence can have a devastating effect on both young people's faith and the wider church community. A major issue is the transience often modeled to young people, which can destabilize their sense of commitment and support during transitional periods of life.

The episode concludes with a discussion on how an intergenerational approach, including age-specific and family ministry, can bring stability. They explore how the Shock Absorber model of top-down and bottom-up ministry empowers young people to contribute to the church while drawing on the Biblical wisdom of older generations.

00:00 Intro
04:08 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Hidden Figures
08:00 Strategy matters, it's not incidental
18:47 No youth strategy can result in disastrous consequences
27:22 Modelled transience is the problem
32:48 Avoid a transient, hollowed out expression of church
44:51 Age specific and family ministry belongs within church strategy
51:19 Ministry that's top down and bottom up [The Shock Absorber]

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Rest is History, America in '68
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Hidden Figures
Steve John video on youth pastors

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: [email protected]
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

MINI-SERIES: Young People in the Church

Tim, Stu, and Joel are back with a brand-new mini-series, exploring Soul Revival’s framework of Theology, Strategy, and Practice.

This series kicks off with a sneak peek into Tim’s upcoming book, The Child in God’s Church. Using it as a launchpad, the team dives into the theology of children and young people, reflecting on why God designed our growth and development the way He did. Could it be that He wants us to learn from young people? And why has He chosen for us to mature differently at each stage of life?

Next, they delve into the concept of play and its integral role in discipleship. They explore the theological implications of embodying what we learn from God and His people through playful interactions and relational growth.

Finally, the episode wraps up with personal anecdotes and a teaser for next week’s discussion, which will focus on the Strategy of engaging young people in the church.

00:00 Intro
03:13 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: The Child in God's Church (Tim's upcoming book)
10:05 Childness is not a deficit
21:46 Does God want us to learn from young people?
32:31 Theological consequences of living out what we learn
47:38 Children are the church of today, not just tomorrow

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Spanish Armada
Dr. Jean Twenge books
Jeremy Frisch

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email
Shock Absorber Website
Soul Revival Shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

What began as a quick dive into a cultural artefact evolved into a full episode exploration. Stu, Tim, and Joel examine the result of the 2024 U.S. election and the shifting dynamics of political ideas and class across the globe. They discuss how new media is poised to play an even more significant role in shaping election outcomes and public opinion. Together, they reflect on a Christian perspective that transcends political upheavals: no matter the power shifts on Earth, nothing can remove God from His throne.

00:29 Class, ideas or identity politics?
09:35 New media rules
22:06 The ideas v class split has flipped
33:07 How could you vote for...?
46:57 There is nothing that can take God from His throne

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Trump's America: His Comeback Victory Signals a Different Kind of Country
Joe Rogan Experience #2219 - Donald Trump
Joe Rogan Experience #2221 - JD Vance
Joe Rogan Experience #2223 - Elon Musk

Kamala Harris Should Have Gone on Joe Rogan’s Show

WTF with Marc Maron: President Barack Obama:
May 68 Riots in Paris
John Hewson - The GST Interview

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: [email protected]
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

In the final episode of their mini-series on meals, Joel, Tim and Jai discuss the implementation of meals at each Soul Revival gathering.

Firstly, they explore the industrialisation of food production and increase in the number of scientifically backed meal replacements and productivity drinks. Drawing from their experience in church ministry, they discuss how a strong strategy with a flexible practice is required is the key to serving meals to over 500 people each week at church.

This includes building teams to serve together, how meals are about sharing in the abundance of the Christian life together and how meals help Soul Revival members better live out the prescriptive elements of the Bible.

00:40 CULTURAL ARTEFACTS: 2024 World Series, meal replacement drinks and food production
15:01 Practice of meals in Jai and Tim’s ministry (flexibility)
19:27 Strong theology and strategy creates flexibility in practice
24:43 The answer to feeding 500+ people a week at church
34:51 How do you build teams to serve?
49:25 Meals help us live out the prescriptive elements of the Bible

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

2024 World Series Game 5 highlights
Huel
The Man Shake
Neutonic
AG1
Ultra-Processed People, by Chris van Tulleken
In the shadow of the fence
Slow Food Movement
Spotify playlist: White Girl Music For The Boys

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: [email protected]
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Tim, Stu and Joel get together to discuss Soul Revival's strategy behind having meals at every Soul Revival gathering.

After reminiscing on some food memories, namely finger food and meals at Soul Revival when it was a youth community, they get into the "how" of meals. They explore what it means to spend meaningful time together—by preparing and sharing meals, which feels counter-cultural in today’s fast-paced world and most churches. The theology of serving in response to the Gospel is the heart of the strategy, where preparing and serving a meal is an example of being a living sacrifice, putting into practice the command of “love in action” from Romans 12.

As church attendances in Australia continue to decrease and interactions become event-focused and short-lived, they examine how meals are an expression of church where non-Christians can be invited to rather than exporting discipleship off the main gathering through Bible studies and mission via courses.

They wrap up the discussion with some thoughts on the joy of serving together as friends under Jesus.

03:11 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: 70's finger food and fellowship teas
12:32 Memories of sharing meals together
20:34 Preparing meals requires costly discipleship
34:07 Meals an expression of church to invite non-Christians to (Acts 2)
46:45 Mix of regulars and irregulars form a community
55:27 The joy in service under Jesus

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Stop Googling, Let's Talk (7 minute conversations)
Oldenburg's Third Place Theory
Australian Evangelical Perspectives on Youth Ministry [Tim on Oldenburg's Third Place Theory]

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: [email protected]
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

In this episode of the Shock Absorber, Stu, Tim, and Joel delve into the theology behind incorporating meals into all Soul Revival gatherings. They explore the practical and spiritual significance of sharing meals, grounded in the spiritual calling that we are called to be living sacrifices, expressing unity in Christ and serving one another.

What begins with a discussion on the Hindenburg (05:23) turns into the question of whether the theology of meals is prescriptive or descriptive in Scripture (15:15). This leads to an examination of Paul's exhortation in Romans 12 to offer ourselves as living sacrifices and the role of meals in expressing that calling (21:45). This includes how sharing meals is not about satisfying hunger, rather about fostering unity and carrying each other’s burdens (31:49). Finally, they close with a call to transform our thinking to be living sacrifices, prioritising serving others over being served at church (46:51).

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Hidden Hindenburg: The Untold Story of the Tragedy, the Nazi Secrets, and the Quest to Rule the Skies, by Michael McCarthy
V-1 flying bomb
V-2 rocket
Hindenburg Disaster
The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt
Patch Adams

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: [email protected]
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Stu and Joel are back to discuss where the Shock Absorber will be heading in the next few months (00:00).

As the 2024 Presidential Race heats up (02:46), they take a look at the candidates embracing new media in the lead up to the vote. Then, Stu shares insights from his recent overseas trip, offering a fresh perspective on global issues (30:38).

They shift gears to explore what’s next for the Shock Absorber (33:37), including exciting plans for future episodes followed by a theological underpinning of Soul Revival's approach to church, drawing from Romans 12 to connect theology, strategy, and practice (35:12).

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Lex Fridman
Musk Is Going All In to Elect Trump
The Reputation of Roger Ailes
Ground News
The Bill Simmons Podcast
WTF Pod with Marc Maron
Joe Rogan Experience #1330 with Bernie Sanders
Joe Rogan Experience #1999 with Robert F. Kennedy
History of podcasting
Mamamia
Call Her Daddy podcast
Call Her Daddy with Kamala Harris
Eric Weinstein on kayfabe
WWE Battle of the Billionaires: Trump v Mr McMahon
Paul Keating's best moments
Recollections Of A Bleeding Heart, by Don Watson
Seinfeld Trump on wind turbines
Breaking Points
Matt Taibbi Substack
Glenn Greenwald Substack
Breaking out of the legacy media's death spiral, by Joel McMaster
Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City, by Tim Keller

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: [email protected]
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

In this episode of the Shock Absorber, the guys dive into a range of topics that related to church planting given Joey (Ryde gathering) and Jai (Yarrawarrah and Cronulla gatherings) were on the episode.

They start with a number of cultural artefacts—including a discussion on the new Extremely Large Telescope in Chile, a documentary on WWE’s Mr. McMahon, and the biography of John Paton (01:04).

The guys then focus on iterative church planting and its role in shaping long-term growth (19:28), then highlight the struggles church planters face, particularly when reaching out to diverse demographics and adapting to varying contexts (32:49).

As the conversation progresses, they share thoughts on what lies ahead for the church plants they are responsible for in 2025 (43:23). They episode concludes with practical advice aimed at current and aspiring church planters, emphasising the importance of perseverance and flexibility (48:23).

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Replacements
The Extremely Large Telescope
The Ringer
Andre the Giant documentary
Mr McMahon documentary
Logan Paul's Best WWE Moments
John G Paton: Autobiography of the Pioneer Missionary to the New Hebrides
Empire podcast
Silk Roads: A New History of the World, by Peter Frankopan

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: [email protected]
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here