The Shock Absorber

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

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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

In this episode of the Shock Absorber podcast, Tim and Joel they explore key cultural and spiritual issues affecting the modern world. We begin by discussing how sub-cultures that used to be characterised by rebelliousness and aggressiveness are becoming less tribal (01:28). Next, inspired by Jonathan Haidt's post, they delve into the hypocrisy of tech CEOs changes how we are thinking about technology and smart phone use (06:53). Such use can turn into another form of addiction, which is counter-formative to a life in the Spirit (21:20). They also return to two books (Crisis of Confidence and Scandal of the Evangelical Mind) and one new book (The Real Scandal of the Evangelical Mind) to tackle hyper-individualised self-expression and its impact on community (35:14), followed by a discussion on how a lack of an agreed-upon evangel is stymying evangelical thought leadership (51:45). Finally, they close with the critical need for curiosity and conviction as Christians navigate the world (1:02:08)

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

After Babel: The Worst Argument That Social-Media Companies Use to Defend Themselves
Tristan Harris on the need to change the incentives of social media companies
2021 Common Sense Census
Crisis of Confidence, by Carl Trueman
Rise & Triumph of the Modern Self, by Carl Trueman
The Hives' Howlin' Pelle Almqvist and Nicholaus Arson in Studio Q
The Real Scandal of the Evangelical Mind, by Carl Trueman

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 and Joel dive into the world of football, ministry, and evangelical thought!

They start with wide-ranging discussion on football, from the history of Adidas and Puma, World Cup Finals, the Danubian effect on football's development as well as the unique ownership structures of German clubs.

They then chat about Tim’s Book Club, where they are exploring Children’s Ministry and the Spiritual Child. We talk about moving from children’s ministry controlling behaviour to fostering relational discipleship. The importance of “holy curiosity” and how to create a ministry environment where kids develop a lasting love for Jesus.

Finally, they dive into Mark Noll’s classic work, The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind, and its exploration of evangelical thought leadership. They discuss how the evangelical community has excelled in certain areas but has often lacked intellectual engagement in fields like business, biology, and economics, and how fundamentalism and Enlightenment thinking have shaped this.

00:00 Intro
01:42 Tim's running app, Adidas/Puma split, football chat
21:37 A relational model becomes more attractive to children in the long term
44:14 The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind and integrating evangelical thinking
54:34 Have Christians become more nuanced?

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

1954 World Cup Final
1974 World Cup Final
SC Freiburg
2001 FA Cup Final
St. Pauli sausage train
Explaining the Bundesliga's 50+1 rule
Why RB Leipzig is the most hated soccer team in the Bundesliga
The issues with multi-club ownership
Thomas Piketty and the decline of football
Children’s Ministry and the Spiritual Child, by Robin Turner & Trevecca Okholm
The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind, by Mark A. Noll
William Lane Craig
Biblical Critical Theory, by Christopher Watkin
Christopher Watkin

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 podcast, Tim, Joel and Fi explore the role of church traditions in clarifying what we believe, particularly through the lens of confirmation and youth camp experiences.

They dive into how these traditions help young people, especially those in Years 9 and 10, as they navigate a time of self-determination and begin to count the cost of their faith journey. As we reflect on these formative moments, they finish with some thoughts, courtesy of listener Greg, on the rise of artificial intelligence and how, in some ways, it seems to be eating itself.

00:00 Intro
01:57 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Soul Revival's Youth Camp: Origin
16:28 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Julia
19:29 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Crisis of Confidence
26:03 Anglican Confirmation and John Dickson's retort
38:45 Traditions clarify what we do believe
57:25 Baptism
1:00:36 A.I. could be eating itself

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Devil Wears Prada blue sweater scene
Julia
Crisis of Confidence, by Carl R. Trueman

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