The Smith and Rowland Show

Why are so many Christians sitting on the sidelines instead of serving? Alan Smith and Jeff Rowland examine the falling away from church life and the call God places on every believer.

In this episode of The Smith and Rowland Show, Alan and Jeff discuss the decline in participation in mainline churches, the growth of independent congregations, and the need for biblical accountability in every kind of church. They consider how pastors, elders, and ministry leaders can equip believers without making the church a one-person show.

They also challenge the idea that ministry belongs only on a platform. Every believer has a role, and spiritual gifts are given to serve others, share the gospel, and disciple those who follow Christ. Much of that work happens beyond church walls, through practical acts of care, mercy, hospitality, teaching, and outreach.

The conversation looks at how churches can help people recognize their calling, name their ministry, and receive support from the congregation. Alan and Jeff also discuss peer guidance, healthy relationships, local church leadership, and the balance between individual ministry and accountability to the church.

Watch for a Bible-centered conversation about why believers become spectators, how congregations can equip people for service, and what it means to take responsibility for the ministry God has placed in your life.

This is Part 1 of a discussion that continues in the next episode.

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Why are younger people returning to traditional churches while many established denominations continue to lose members? This episode examines the Episcopal Church's decline, the aging of its congregations, and the theological choices shaping the future of American churches.

The hosts discuss reported figures showing Episcopal membership falling from about 3.4 million in 1960 to roughly 1.5 million, alongside a reported median member age of 69 and declining attendance. They consider how these trends may reinforce one another, especially when churches close more congregations than they open.

The conversation looks back at the cultural changes of the 1960s and asks whether churches changed their theology and practices to attract younger generations, only to lose the message that once brought people in. The hosts argue that repentance, biblical conviction, and the gospel must remain central to church life.

They also examine the growth of non-denominational churches, the appeal of liturgy and older worship traditions, and the risk of rebuilding the same rigid structures outside established denominations. Their discussion makes room for both historic hymns and contemporary worship, while challenging churches to value what is old without rejecting what is new.

Watch for a frank conversation about denominational decline, church attendance, spiritual truth, and what younger generations may be seeking. The episode closes with a preview of the next discussion on the Disciples of Christ and United Church of Christ.

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Why are church attendance and membership falling, even as churches change to attract a wider audience? Alan Smith and Jeff Rowland discuss the theological shifts they believe have weakened the church's biblical foundations.

In this episode of The Smith and Rowland Show, they examine declining membership in mainline denominations and consider changes around biblical authority, salvation, the uniqueness of Christ, and human sexuality. They also discuss the expectation that more culturally accommodating churches would bring younger people back, and why that approach has not stopped the decline.

The conversation looks at the call to repentance and a return to the church's first works, the role of tradition in passing faith between generations, and the importance of preaching the gospel with clarity. Alan and Jeff also reflect on their own ministry experience and explain why they feel compelled to speak plainly about the state of the church.

Watch for a Bible-centered discussion about church attendance, theological change, discipleship, and what it means to remain faithful when popular ideas conflict with Scripture.

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What happens when churches change their theology to fit the culture? In Episode 987, Alan Smith and Jeff Rowland examine the decline of mainline Protestant churches and question whether progressive theological changes achieved their intended purpose.

The discussion looks at the historic influence of denominations such as the United Methodist Church, the Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the United Church of Christ, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and the American Baptist Churches USA. The hosts then focus on changes that gained momentum in the 1960s, including debates over biblical authority, human sexuality, the uniqueness of Christ, and salvation.

Alan and Jeff argue that a church's view of Scripture shapes its teaching on every other doctrine. They also consider the role of worship music and hymns, explaining how traditional hymns taught biblical truth to congregations. Contemporary worship can have a place, they say, without discarding songs rooted in Scripture.

The episode connects these theological changes to declining church attendance and asks what churches lose when they prioritize cultural relevance over faithful preaching. The conversation also touches on Israel, biblical prophecy, and the need for churches to return to the authority of God's Word.

Watch for a candid discussion of progressive Christianity, church membership decline, biblical authority, worship, and the future of the American church.

Subscribe to The Smith and Rowland Show for more Bible teaching and conversation on the church, prophecy, and Christian life.

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A reported midair attack on a flight bound for Israel raises urgent questions about aviation security, terrorism, and spiritual discernment.

On this episode of The Smith and Rowland Show, Alan Smith and Jeff Rowland discuss reports that a co-pilot stabbed the captain and attempted to take control of a Boeing 737 carrying 174 passengers. Passengers and crew intervened, and an off-duty Russian pilot and Ukrainian pilot helped bring the plane to a safe landing.

The hosts consider the reported connection to the tactics of 9/11, the wider conflict involving Israel and Iran, and what this incident could mean for security alerts. They also reflect on the striking detail of Russian and Ukrainian pilots working together, and ask viewers to pray for wisdom about the event's spiritual significance.

The conversation turns to the hosts' concerns about spiritual warfare and the need for Christians to remain watchful, grounded in Christ, and committed to prayer. The episode closes with a prayer for those involved and for revelation and discernment.

Watch Episode 986 of The Smith and Rowland Show, recorded September 30, 2026.

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What happens when Christianity centers on feeling good and doing good, but leaves out the call to be born again? Alan Smith and Jeff Rowland continue their discussion of moralistic therapeutic deism and the state of the church.

In Episode 984 of The Smith and Rowland Show, the hosts examine how a faith shaped around personal comfort can lose sight of the cross, biblical truth, and sharing the gospel. They discuss survey findings about biblical worldviews among Christians and pastors, the influence of moralistic therapeutic deism, and why churches may struggle to pass on a living faith to the next generation.

The conversation also looks at the effects of deconstructing Christian doctrine, the cost of following Jesus, and the difference between building on a foundation and tearing it down. Smith and Rowland connect those concerns to the church's responsibility to speak truth, live out the teachings of Christ, and keep sowing the gospel.

Watch Part 4 of "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism: I Think We're in Trouble" for a direct conversation about discipleship, evangelism, repentance, and the need for a biblical worldview.

The Smith and Rowland Show, Episode 984

Monday, September 28, 2026

Find more from Kingdom Prophetic Society at kingdompropheticsociety.org

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Can Christian language and religious customs hide a heart that's far from God? Alan Smith and Jeff Rowland examine Moralistic Therapeutic Deism and the danger of letting personal opinion take the place of Scripture.

In Part 5 of this series, the hosts discuss how faith can become centered on being good, feeling good, and using God's name to defend human preferences. They consider how preaching shapes that understanding, why teaching Scripture in context matters, and how expository preaching can help believers understand the Bible beyond isolated verses and feel-good messages.

The conversation also looks at Isaiah 29:13 and Matthew 7:21, asking what it means to honor God with our words while keeping our hearts distant from Him. Alan and Jeff speak candidly about the need to preach both sin and the love of God, with repentance rooted in God's love and salvation grounded in Jesus Christ.

They close with practical reminders for believers: listen carefully to what their church teaches, pray for pastors, and read Scripture as the story of who God is and what He has done to redeem humanity. Christian vocabulary alone cannot replace knowing and obeying Christ.

Watch for a thoughtful conversation about biblical authority, sound preaching, spiritual discernment, and the call to trust Jesus.

The Smith and Rowland Show, "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism: I Think We're in Trouble - Part 5," Episode 985, September 29, 2026.

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What happens when churches make visitors comfortable by softening the message? In Part 3, Alan Smith and Jeff Rowland examine how Moralistic Therapeutic Deism can replace the gospel with the promise of feeling good and turning to God only in a crisis.

The conversation traces the seeker-sensitive movement's original concern: unfamiliar language and customs could make church hard for newcomers to follow. But as the hosts point out, removing barriers can also mean removing biblical teaching. They discuss what changes when churches avoid sin, repentance, hell, Christ's exclusive claims, and the cost of discipleship.

They also consider how generations learn faith through what churches teach and model. From the words used in sermons to the hymns sung in worship, the message matters. The hosts argue that new forms and styles can have a place, but they should never erase the cross, the blood of Christ, or the foundations laid by earlier believers.

This episode continues a candid discussion about biblical preaching, church culture, and the difference between the gospel and a message built around personal happiness. Watch as Alan and Jeff examine why repentance and the full counsel of Scripture must remain central to Christian faith.

Subscribe to The Smith and Rowland Show for more Bible-centered conversations on the church, discipleship, and the gospel.

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What happens when faith becomes a message about being good, feeling good, and calling on God only in a crisis? Alan Smith and Jeff Rowland examine why Moralistic Therapeutic Deism can replace the gospel in the church.

Building on their previous discussion, the hosts explain the five beliefs associated with Moralistic Therapeutic Deism, a term drawn from Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton's 2005 book Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers. They compare this belief system with the biblical call to repentance, holiness, daily devotion to God, and salvation through Jesus Christ.

The conversation covers why being "good, nice, and fair" cannot replace the gospel, how the pursuit of happiness can leave out the reality of suffering and cross-bearing, and what it means to treat God as an emergency contact rather than the center of everyday life. Allan and Jeff also discuss church attendance, the presence of God, and the difference between biblical joy and simply feeling happy.

Watch through the end, then test these claims against Scripture for yourself. The hosts encourage viewers to study the Bible and examine the ideas carefully.

The Smith and Rowland Show, Episode 982, September 24, 2026.

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Can people identify as Christian, attend church, and still miss the gospel? Alan Smith and Jeff Rowland examine the beliefs sociologist Christian Smith called Moralistic Therapeutic Deism, and why they believe these ideas deserve serious attention.

Drawing on Christian Smith's research into the religious lives of American teenagers, the hosts explain the five-belief pattern that shaped the term: religion centered on being good, feeling good, and treating God as distant until help is needed. They connect that pattern to a wider concern in churches today: people may know Christian language without understanding sin, repentance, the purpose of Jesus' death, or the need to be born again.

The conversation also considers how preaching that focuses only on encouragement can leave the gospel out, why church attendance and Bible knowledge don't automatically make someone a Christian, and what Scripture says about trusting Christ for salvation. This episode introduces the topic and sets up a closer look at the five beliefs that, according to the analysis, can replace the gospel.

Watch Episode 981 of The Smith and Rowland Show for a Bible-centered discussion of Christian identity, salvation, discipleship, and the beliefs shaping church life.

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