Podcasts about american church

When South Korean Pastor Son Hyun-bo was mocked and beaten repeatedly for attending church, he said, "It was a privilege to be persecuted for God." Now, he's under threat of arrest for leading with his faith in an increasingly communist nation. In this message, Pastors Rob McCoy and Son Hyun-bo share about the ongoing struggle for religious freedom currently underway in South Korea. They share Pastor Son's testimony and the political parallels between his nation and ours. "Freedom can slip away suddenly," Pastor Son reminds us, so let's heed his warning and fight while we can for true freedom—freedom that comes from God alone.

Are repeating numbers like 111, 222, 333, 444, or 11:11 just coincidences—or could God be trying to get your attention? Pastor Troy Brewer, author of Numbers That Preach and Numbers That Prophesy, joins Stacy Whited TONIGHT on the Flyover Conservatives Show to unpack the prophetic significance of numbers throughout Scripture, what repeating numbers may mean, and why biblical numbers should always point us back to Jesus—not superstition or New Age practices.Troy also shares incredible stories of supernatural multiplication, long-awaited prophetic promises, and why he believes God speaks through patterns, timing, and numbers. Plus, he delivers a powerful challenge to the American Church to stop playing it safe, get connected, and become people of action.Tonight at 8:30pm CST, on the Flyover Conservatives show we are tackling the most important things going on RIGHT NOW from a Conservative Christian perspective! TO WATCH ALL FLYOVER CONTENT: www.theflyoverapp.com Follow and Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFlyoverConservativesShow To Schedule A Time To Talk To Dr. Dr. Kirk Elliott Go To ▶ https://flyovergold.comOr Call 720-605-3900 ► Receive your FREE 52 Date Night Ideas Playbook to make date night more exciting, go to www.prosperousmarriage.comTO WATCH THE PROPHETIC REPORT: www.thepropheticreport.com Troy BrewerWEBSITE: www.TroyBrewer.comODX TV: https://odx.tv/CHURCH: https://opendoorexperience.com/ BOOKS: https://shop.troybrewer.com/ DONATE: https://aidforgood.com/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/@pstroybrewer Instagram: www.instagram.com/pstroybrewer X: www.x.com/pstroybrewer YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pstroybrewer Troy Brewer is the Senior Pastor of OpenDoor Church in Burleson, Texas, a bestselling author, speaker, and passionate abolitionist known for his teachings on biblical numbers and prophetic patterns. His books include Numbers That Preach, Numbers That Prophesy, Redeeming Your Timeline, and Looking Up. Through Troy Brewer Ministries, his ministry reports having rescued and raised more than 12,000 children worldwide and working with or helping establish more than 51 safe homes around the globe. Troy also reaches audiences through ODX.tv, The OpenDoor Experience, The PULSE 24 podcast, and teachings focused on helping believers recognize God's voice and understand Kingdom principles. Alongside his wife, Leanna, Troy continues to focus his ministry on preaching the Gospel, equipping believers, and rescuing children from exploitation and trafficking.-------------------------------------------

What can the American church learn from the global church?And just as importantly, what can the global church learn from us?In Episode 217 of Fly on the Wall, I sat down with Pastor Norman Gray, who helps lead a network of 1,100 churches across India, for one of my favorite conversations we've had on the podcast.Norman brought a perspective we don't often get to hear. He's preached in 45 countries and has watched churches grow rapidly in some parts of the world while others struggle to break through.We talked about what both sides of the global Church can learn from each other.The American church has incredible strategy, systems, and resources. But in many parts of the world, there's a level of loyalty, dependence on God, and spiritual hunger that we could learn from.The goal isn't one or the other.Spirit and strategy have to coexist.We also unpacked why some churches plateau, what separates simply getting bigger from actually becoming healthier, and why numbers can tell us more about the condition of our church than we sometimes want to admit.Here's some of what we unpack:What the American church can learn from churches around the worldWhy loyalty and reliance on God matter more than everWhy spirit without strategy and strategy without spirit both fall shortThe three stages of growth: personality, programs, and processThe difference between being a fan of Jesus and truly following HimWhy people everywhere want to feel loved, valued, and like they belongThe metrics that can reveal whether your church is actually healthyWhy pastors have to stop putting a positive spin on negative dataHow systems and processes can help a plateaued church grow againNo matter where you lead, the culture may change, but many of the principles don't.Healthy churches need the Spirit of God AND the wisdom to steward what He's entrusted to them.Listen to Episode 217 of Fly on the Wall today.

After 40 years of pastoral ministry, Pastor Rick Richie thought he understood prayer—until an invitation to America Pray Now changed his life. In this conversation with Josiah Alway, he shares what he discovered about intercession, unity across denominations, and why he believes the American church is facing an “Esther moment” and must rise “for such a time as this.”--------------------America Pray Now publishes a magazine on prayer that is free of charge and can be delivered directly to your home. You can sign up for this magazine on our website at americapraynow.comIn addition to our weekly podcast, we meet in 18 different cities every month to pray in person. Most of our in-person prayer meetings are in Virginia, and we also have meetings in Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware, North Carolina and South Carolina. See our website for times and dates at americapraynow.comYou can now hear the America Pray Now Podcast on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AmericaPrayNow/videosEnjoy the Podcast? Let us know! Email us at podcast@americapraynow.com________________

In this episode, Darren Tyler sits down with Pastor Son and Rob McCoy to discuss the jailing of Pastor Son, the growing pressure facing churches in Korea, and why American Christians should pay attention. They also discuss Charlie Kirk, religious freedom, and a sobering warning for the American Church: if it can happen there, it can happen here.

The American Church wasn't always afraid to speak into the governance of our nation. So what happened? I'm joined by Troy Miller, President and CEO of National Religious Broadcasters, to talk about how Christians were pushed out of the public square, why pastors need to rediscover courage, and what's at stake if believers continue to disengage. We don't need a quieter Church. We need a courageous one—and November is coming.Sentry H2O – Get cleaner, healthier water with a filtration system matched to your home's specific needs. Visit http://sentryh2o.com/heidi for a free consultation.Shop MyFreedomCart for trusted, American-made products that support your values.http://myfreedomcart.com/heidiShow mentions: http://heidistjohn.com/mentionsWebsite | http://heidistjohn.comSupport the show! | http://donorbox.org/donation-827Rumble | rumble.com/user/HeidiStJohnYoutube |    / @‌heidistjohnpodcast  Instagram | @‌heidistjohnFacebook | Heidi St. JohnX | @‌heidistjohnFaith That Speaks Online CommunitySubmit your questions for Fan Mail Friday | http://heidistjohn.com/fanmailfriday

Loneliness isn't just about being alone, it's about being unseen, unwoven, unplaced. This week we name the deep human ache to belong to something larger than ourselves, and ask what it would take to become a community that tends that fire in each other.   LINKS: Keepers of the Fire |  Connect  |  YouTube  |  Coming Up TRANSCRIPT: The Ache This Week I want to describe a feeling and see if you know what I'm talking about: You're surrounded by people— at work, online, maybe even in a room full of friends— and you still feel somehow... unplaced. Like you're present but not quite part of something. Like everyone else knows how to belong and you missed the orientation. Literally happened to me.  That's not just loneliness in the ordinary sense. It's something deeper. The ache to be woven in. To matter to a specific group of people who also matter to you. To not just be known, but needed. Do you know this feeling? Yeah! Today, on this final week of Keepers of the Fire, I want to name that ache directly. Because I think it might be the one underneath all the others we've explored this summer. One thing; this is actually an ache, a yearning that has gotten a lot of attention.  The Epidemic Three years ago, in 2023, the United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy did something unusual; he issued a formal public health advisory declaring loneliness an epidemic. A crisis. The statistic he cited was that about one in two American adults reported experiencing loneliness— and social isolation increases the risk of premature death by 29 PERCENT. That's comparable to the health impact of smoking fifteen cigarettes a day. We have entire cultural infrastructures built around discouraging smoking. We have almost nothing built around discouraging isolation. And then to make it worse, the money-grabbing internet “manosphere” has very carefully and intentionally targeted young boys and young adult men to believe that they have no agency, and that their feelings of loneliness are the fault of others, like women or the feminist movement! I want to say outright: that's a lie. Loneliness isn't just an issue for boys and men, they've just been most successfully convinced they're especially isolated, and then that false premise has been weaponized against others.  To be clear: loneliness is a problem, but it isn't isolated to a particular group of American adults. Some demographic groups seem to have more access to emotional and relational skills than others… catch my drift? In an interview with Kate Bowler, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said loneliness is like HUNGER or THIRST— a signal the body sends when something we need for survival is missing. This is biology. We were created— literally, neurologically— for each other. Matthew Lieberman, a neuroscientist at UCLA, found that the brain processes social pain— rejection, exclusion, being cut off— in the same regions it processes physical pain. Being unplaced from community doesn't just hurt emotionally. It hurts, the way a broken bone hurts. So when you feel the ache for belonging— that persistent, restless sense that you're APART FROM something you were made to be A PART OF— your nervous system is telling you the truth. Pay attention to it. Belonging vs. fitting in Just a quick tangent here to say that belonging is not the same as fitting in. Fitting in is when you adjust yourself to be ACCEPTABLE. You figure out what the group rewards, what gets you included, and you perform accordingly. It's exhausting. And it doesn't actually satisfy the ache— because the version of you that got accepted isn't really you. Belonging is different. Belonging is when you show up as you ACTUALLY ARE — complicated, unfinished, uncertain — and find that there's a place for that person anyway. That you don't have to earn your way in or maintain a performance to stay. Loneliness isn't just about being alone. It's about being unseen. Unwoven. You can be lonely in a crowd, in a marriage, even in a congregation— if the version of you that's present isn't the real one. The ache for belonging is the ache to stop PERFORMING and start BEING YOURSELF. Bring your weird into the room. Let that freak flag fly, baby. What the early community attempted There's a description in the book of Acts of the earliest Jesus community that has always struck me as both beautiful and worth taking seriously: 'All those who trusted in Jesus were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.' Now, I'm not going to tell you to sell everything and move into a commune (this isn't actually a cult!). But I want to linger here for a moment. In the ancient Greco-Roman world, your identity was determined by your bloodline, your ethnicity, your class, your gender. In Greco-Roman culture, people claimed ethnic identity from ancestors— you were literally born into your customs and beliefs. Religion was in the blood. The idea that people from different ethnic backgrounds, different economic classes, enslaved people alongside free people, women alongside men, could gather at the same table as equals— that was radical. Historically disruptive. The earliest Jesus communities articulated a vision— particularly in Paul's letter to the Galatians: 'neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female'— that cut directly against the social order of their world. Now— did they always live up to it? No. The historical record is honest about that. The vision outran the practice, as it usually does. Early Christianity quickly developed its own in-group dynamics, its own hierarchies, its own failures. This is not a fairy tale. But here's what matters: they attempted something the world around them said was impossible. They tried to build a community where the usual sorting mechanisms— wealth, status, ethnicity, gender— didn't get to have the final word. Where the table was wider than the culture thought was reasonable. That attempt— that stubborn, imperfect attempt— became one of the most transformative ongoing social experiments in human history. Not because they got it perfectly right. But because they kept reaching toward a vision that the world kept calling naive.  Sound familiar? We get to be a part of that legacy. I want that for us. What we're up against Cynicism, though, is alive and well. When someone talks about building systems that actually take care of people — a real safety net, genuine healthcare, communities where everyone has enough — they hear: too expensive. naive. Unrealistic. Even the christian-adjacent politicized wing of the American Church has mostly taken that vision and turned it into an afterlife destination called “Heaven” that has little to do with the here and now, and is only attained through perfect behavior and putting up with unjust systems without reacting to it. When someone talks about the kind of belonging where you don't have to earn your place, where you're welcomed as you are regardless of what you produce or contribute— they hear: that's not how the world works. grow up. When someone talks about the vision Jesus articulated… a world where the hungry are fed, the lonely are placed, the marginalized are centered… they hear: nice idea. impractical. The cynics have always tried to be louder than the dreamers. And the dreamers have always been the ones who got anything done. Here's what I've been thinking about all summer, across these six weeks: the barriers to our yearning are real. The barriers to belonging are real. Some of them are structural; the way adult life is organized makes deep community hard to build. The built-in consistent access we had in school doesn't recreate itself automatically. The institutions that used to create connection have weakened. Many only experience anything resembling that kind of connection as a “perk” of staying employed in the same job long enough. But some of the barriers are internal. I think we can say that, without shame.  We wait. We wait for someone else to organize it. We wait for the perfect moment, the house clean enough to host in, the enough energy, the right invitation. We treat belonging as something that should come find us rather than something we actively, courageously seek out... Priya Parker, who has spent her career studying how and why humans gather (The Art of Gathering), makes this point: when the focus of a gathering is on the 'stuff' of the event, we shrink a human challenge down to a logistical one. The mess isn't what keeps people away. The story we tell ourselves about why now isn't the right time— that's what keeps people away. VIDEO: Priya Parker x Ezra Klein on The Art of Gathering Connection takes courage. Belonging takes risk. Showing up and saying I want to be part of something, and I want you to be part of it with me— that's vulnerable in ways our culture doesn't reward. But it is, I believe, exactly what we were made for.  The barrier practice and the vision As I wrap up here— one question. What gets in the way of your own belonging? What keeps you from reaching toward the connection you actually ache for? Maybe it's a wound— a time you tried and got hurt. Maybe it's the pace of your life. Maybe it's the belief that you're too much, or not enough, or that it's too late to start. Maybe it's the persistent, inculturated voice that says: just be content with what you have. stop wanting more. Whatever it is — write it down. Or draw it. Don't overthink it. Just name it. In a few minutes we're going to take those outside to the fire. And we're going to offer them to it as a symbolic act of saying: I don't want this to have as much power over me as it has. I want to keep reaching. Because here's the vision I want to leave you with— the one that has anchored this whole series for me. Ever heard of the book of Revelation? It's at the tail-end of the Bible, and when read literally, it admittedly sounds insane. But it's not a history book, it's a vision, a poem, a love-letter to a Church positioned against empire dominance— and at the end of it, there's an image of the world finally, fully healed. And here's how it's described: 'God's dwelling place is now among the people.' Among the people. The ache for belonging, finally answered— not by escape from community, but by the deepest possible immersion in it. That's the direction the whole story has been pointing. A world where the hungry are fed and the lonely are placed and the fearful are made safe and the weary finally rest and everyone gets to play and purpose gets to flourish— not someday in a far-off future, but here, practiced imperfectly, begun now, by us. The cynics will always call it naive. You know by now I think that's a compliment. The fire in your belly— The Ache— is not a problem. It's a compass. And the world needs more people willing to follow it together, rather than carrying it alone. Tend the fire. For yourself. For each other. For the world that could be. May it be so.

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How did Roman Catholics shift from being perceived as un-American to emerging as the standard-bearers for political liberty and economic prosperity? We look at the rise of the American Church during the Cold War with D.G. Hart.

Jesus was clear about the fount or root or heart of the Kingdom of God, but today's churches are not. In this episode I explain what Jesus taught and contrast that with so many confusions at work in our contemporary setting. In both halves of the show—culture and theology—I work through the epistemology of Neo-Marxism. I compare and contrast that epistemology with what Jesus, speaking to Pilate, said was his own epistemological frame. (Epistemology: the construction of knowledge; how we know; the tools we use to know.) What happens to nations when one tweaks the foundation? What happens to souls and families when the commitments of knowledge get warped? I work through those answers. Importantly, I also help my listeners understand why the American Church, including far too many Evangelical churches, have been captured by Neo-Marxist ways of being and evalutating. Come think and laugh with me!

Bradlee Dean, author of a new book “Children of the Apostate,” discusses the state of the American Church, biblical truth, spiritual compromise, and the urgent need for repentance and faithful Christian living. bradlee@sonsoflibertyradio.com

SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCombatChristian⁠As the Lord had me prophesy, violence and shedding of blood are rapidly increasing in America. However, the American Church is largely ineffective. Why is this, and what do we do?PROPHECY | America's 250th Marks Its End | Episode 83 https://youtube.com/live/RuxjAGdA9HEWhy America Has NEVER Been a Christian Nation | Ep 75 https://youtube.com/live/ut8h5Wyvk7wSUPPORT THE MINISTRY AND YOURSELVES WITH TRIVITA:Use my TRIVITA link to get started on your wellness journey: ⁠https://bit.ly/HealthyChristian⁠  ✅Other ways for you to support the ministry:

SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHANNEL: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@TheCombatChristian⁠Recently, false prophet Johnny Enlow defended restoring scumbags like Mike Bickle and Shawn Bolz, along with defending Brian Simmons' heretical The Passion Translation. This shows why the American Church gave way to Islam. Current Events, NAR, and TPT (Johnny & Elizabeth Enlow) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru749wHCLasWhy ALL The Major Charismatic Leaders Are False | Ep 80 https://youtube.com/live/Y1bQo7DiO4wWhy America Has NEVER Been a Christian Nation | Ep 75 https://youtube.com/live/ut8h5Wyvk7wSUPPORT THE MINISTRY AND YOURSELVES WITH TRIVITA:Use my TRIVITA link to get started on your wellness journey: ⁠https://bit.ly/HealthyChristian⁠  ✅Other ways for you to support the ministry:

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.comCan America tell its religious history honestly without confronting race? Jemar Tisby, historian, public scholar, author, and founder of Tisby Media, joins Will Wright for Church and State 250 to explain why race does not “enter” the American story later. It has been there from the beginning. Tisby connects the Declaration of Independence, the Three-Fifths Compromise, slavery, voting rights, segregation, the Black Church, and white Christian nationalism to show how Christianity has been used both to defend racial hierarchy and resist it. He explains how churches labeled slavery and race “political” when doing so protected money and power, while still speaking freely on other moral issues. The conversation also highlights how enslaved people heard a liberating gospel despite distorted biblical teaching, and why America's 250th should be a moment to reclaim patriotism, defend democracy, and work toward a more perfect union.Guest BioJemar Tisby, PhD, is a historian, New York Times bestselling author, public scholar, and founder and creative director of Tisby Media. His work focuses on race, religion, American history, democracy, and justice. He is the author of The Color of Compromise, How to Fight Racism, and The Spirit of Justice, along with several books for younger readers. He is also the executive producer of Jesus Was a Migrant, a documentary from Tisby Studios. In this conversation, Tisby helps explain how race and religion have been intertwined from America's founding through slavery, segregation, voting rights, the Black Church, white Christian nationalism, and the ongoing fight for democracy.Book MentionedThe Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church's Complicity in Racism by Jemar TisbyBookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9780310113607How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and the Journey Toward Racial Justice by Jemar TisbyBookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9780310154358The Spirit of Justice: True Stories of Faith, Race, and Resistance by Jemar TisbyBookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9780310144854Relevant Links & ResourcesJemar Tisby Official WebsiteURL: https://jemartisby.com/Jesus Was a MigrantURL: https://jesuswasamigrant.com/ Support Sarah Stankorb's work and preorder Damned If She Does: Why Women Quit Church and What It Means for the Future of Religion, Releases September 15, 2026.  Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9798889837091Website: https://www.sarahstankorb.com/Support the showKeep the conversation going.Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, suggest a future guest, or connect with us directly?Visit our website:faithfulpoliticspodcast.comBrowse our bookstore, featuring books from many of our guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstoreSupport the show and help us keep these conversations going:patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPoliticsSubscribe for behind-the-scenes content, reflections, and updates:faithfulpolitics.substack.comContact the hosts:Josh Burtram, Faithful Host: Josh@faithfulpolitics.comWill Wright, Political Host: Will@faithfulpolitics.comFollow Faithful Politics:Instagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast

A Critical Review of 'Letter to the American Church' Movie Visit: Renew.org for a written in depth review. John Whitaker provides an in-depth review of 'Letter to the American Church,' a movie by Eric Metaxas that parallels issues faced by the American church today with the German church during Hitler's rise and the Chinese church under Mao. The film, a follow-up to Metaxas's bestselling book, aims to rally the American church against what it perceives as a critical juncture resembling past authoritarian takeovers, citing concerns like abortion, gender ideology, BLM, and pandemic-related mandates. Whitaker expresses discomfort with the movie's hard-selling approach, its fear-based, alarmist tone, and the unbalanced comparisons it draws. He acknowledges some positive aspects, such as the call to justice and awareness of political harm, but criticizes the film's militancy, lack of nuanced discourse, and its potential to deepen divisions within the American church. Whitaker suggests a more helpful focus on discipleship and engagement with foundational issues of the church's role in society, recommending David Young's book 'Resilient' as a more balanced resource.   Download the free RENEW.org App - https://renew.org/renew-app/  Visit RENEW: https://renew.org/   Check out the following from RENEW.org: Events: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Videos: https://renew.org/media/videos/ Podcasts: https://renew.org/media/podcasts/ Articles: https://renew.org/articles/ Free eBooks: https://renew.org/resources/free-ebooks/ Books: https://renew.org/resources/books/ Audiobooks: https://renew.org/resources/audiobooks/ Sermon Tools: https://renew.org/resources/sermon-tools/ Job Board: https://jobs.renew.org/ Renew University: https://renewuniversity.org/ Real Life Theology Conversations: https://renew.org/rltc/ Sign up for our newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/

Host Jonathan Morrow, author and Director of Cultural Engagement at Impact 360 Institute, examines the state of discipleship in the American church and offers a clear, biblical framework for what it means to follow Jesus.Topics Discussed Why "disciple" is used often in Scripture but rarely clearly defined or practiced Recent Lifeway Research findings: only 11% of U.S. Protestant pastors strongly agree discipleship is their church's strongest function The need for both clarity and a plan in disciple-making (Colossians 4 — gospel clarity + wisdom toward outsiders) Impact 360's definition of a disciple — a faithful follower of Jesus who: Thinks like Jesus (Romans 12:2, Colossians 2:3 — biblical worldview) Is transformed by Jesus (spiritual transformation, fruit of the Spirit) Shares Jesus (verbally sharing the gospel, not just "living it out") Lives out their calling with Jesus (everyday influence, starting where you are) Multiplies disciples like Jesus (the Great Commission, generational faithfulness) Why "attendance-only" faith and a Sunday-morning-only Christianity fail to form true disciples The Ministry Leader Collective — a 9-month cohort through Impact 360's Center for Student Discipleship, helping pastors and youth leaders build a clear, confident disciple-making plan for Gen Z and Gen Alpha (new cohort launching early fall; space limited) A summer challenge to listeners: pick one of the five discipleship marks and ask God where to grow Mention of the Realign Conference (September 10, Atlanta area) featuring Jonathan Morrow, Rosaria Butterfield, Alisa Childers, and Jeff Myers Episode Notes & Links Learn more / apply for the Ministry Leader Collective: impact360.org → Coaching, or impact360institute.org/collective Realign Conference (Sept 10, Atlanta area): impact360.org → Realign Conference Online courses (Explore Truth, Explore the Resurrection) and on-campus programs: impact360.org Connect with Impact 360 Institute Website: impact360.org

Secularism has gained a strong foothold in our society and the church is often seen as irrelevant. Christian journalist, researcher, and ministry leader Rick Lawrence believes this is because the contemporary church has edited Jesus to fit a self-centered culture. Chris Brooks and Rick discuss how to return the whole, unedited Jesus to the church, and satisfy the spiritual cravings of a hungry world. Don't miss Equipped. Featured resource:Editing Jesus: Confronting the Distorted Faith of the American Church by Rick LawrenceWebsite: Celebrating 100 Years of Moody Radio July thank you gift:Resolve Conflict and Find Peace and Hope with Adult Children by Kathy Koch Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here.

On July 4th, Chinese President Xi Jinping released Pastor Ezra Jin, leader of an underground church with 10,000 members, from a Chinese prison. It wasn't a coincidence. President Trump brought Jin's case directly to Xi at the Beijing summit, and Xi agreed. Eight other church leaders from the same congregation remain imprisoned. Was this a miracle hidden inside a diplomatic meeting? Lance Wallnau breaks down the full story of Pastor Jin's release, what it cost to get him free, and what it reveals about Trump's role in protecting persecuted Christians around the world. Lance also shares a stunning supernatural testimony from a North Korean Christian woman who experienced the impossible while imprisoned in freezing conditions, and explains what it means for the Church when someone in power actually stands up. In this episode: * How Trump personally raised Pastor Ezra Jin's case to Xi Jinping at the Beijing summit * Why Jin's Zion Church was banned and driven underground, and how it grew to 10,000 members anyway * The 8 church leaders still imprisoned after Jin's release * A North Korean Christian's testimony of supernatural warmth in a freezing prison cell * Why 3,500 of the world's 4,800 Christian martyrs this year died in a single country * What the persecuted Church is showing the American Church about faith under pressure Podcast Episode 2176: President Xi Released a Pastor From Prison. Here's How Trump Did It | don't miss this! Listen to more episodes of the Lance Wallnau Show at lancewallnau.com/podcast

Headlines: The American Church Must Wake Up | Dr. Taylor McKneely | Sunday, July 5, 2026 | Harvest Point Church | Locust Grove, GA

Here are two concise paragraphs suitable for podcast show notes: As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, Brad Onishi and Dan Miller examine how Donald Trump has transformed the semiquincentennial celebration into a showcase for political patronage, executive power, and Christian nationalism. They unpack the controversy surrounding the America250 festivities on the National Mall, including allegations of corruption, the role of PragerU and Hillsdale College in shaping historical narratives, and what the celebration reveals about competing visions of American identity and democracy. The conversation then turns to the Vatican's dramatic excommunication of clergy and members associated with the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), exploring what the schism says about the growing influence of traditionalist Catholicism in American politics and its connections to the broader Christian nationalist movement. Brad and Dan close by discussing the rise of democratic socialists in Congress, what these electoral victories reveal about generational shifts in American politics, and why the future of democracy may depend on who gets to define the nation's story. As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, the nation's semiquincentennial should be a moment for civic reflection, shared history, and democratic renewal. Instead, Donald Trump is transforming the celebration into a political spectacle centered on himself, military power, patronage, and Christian nationalism. In this episode, Brad Onishi and co-host Dan Miller examine how the National Mall and America's founding story are being repurposed to advance a vision of the country rooted in executive power, religious nationalism, and loyalty to one political movement. From corporate influence and political corruption to the growing role of Christian nationalist organizations in shaping the celebration, they ask what happens when a national commemoration becomes a vehicle for ideological power. Brad and Dan also discuss a major story from the world of American Catholicism: the excommunication of a priest associated with the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX). The case offers a window into ongoing tensions over authority, tradition, Catholic identity, and the growing influence of far-right and traditionalist movements within the American Church. The conversation explores how these conflicts intersect with broader political currents, including Christian nationalism and the reshaping of conservative religious activism in the United States. As America approaches its 250th birthday, the stakes are larger than a single event. They concern who gets to tell the nation's story—and what kind of democracy that story will sustain. Subscribe for weekly analysis of Christian nationalism, authoritarianism, religion, democracy, and American politics from the hosts of Straight White American Jesus. Support independent religion and politics journalism:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://axismundinetwork.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Donate today: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.axismundi.us/fundraise?hsCtaAttrib=215444059319 Listen to the Axis Daily Brief: Axis Daily Brief on Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/axis-daily-brief/id1896931494⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief on Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/033zp4MbwXJvxp6MoDkmtj?si=a758e87169e74ede⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Axis Daily Brief RSS Feed: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/1145852/s/400220.rss⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Donate today: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.axismundi.us/fundraise?hsCtaAttrib=215444059319

The modern Christian is more than likely led more by what he/she feels than what he/she thinks. In the American Church great emphasis is placed upon how we feel about God, how we feel about others, and how we feel about ourselves. While our emotions are gifts from God, we are not to be primarily led by them. We are to be led by our beliefs and convictions, and these are more a matter of what we think than what we feel. In this Truth Shot, we center in on the Apostle Paul's call for us to change our minds and own our thoughts. If our thought-life is properly cultivated, the pathway for our lives will be healthy, holy, and much happier. This teaching is crucial for the modern Christian to recapture so that he or she can escape deception, depression, and degradation and, instead, embrace the life of victory that comes via a mind that is changed and renewed by the Spirit and His truth.

The modern Christian is more than likely led more by what he/she feels than what he/she thinks. In the American Church great emphasis is placed upon how we feel about God, how we feel about others, and how we feel about ourselves. While our emotions are gifts from God, we are not to be primarily led by them. We are to be led by our beliefs and convictions, and these are more a matter of what we think than what we feel. In this Truth Shot, we center in on the Apostle Paul's call for us to change our minds and own our thoughts. If our thought-life is properly cultivated, the pathway for our lives will be healthy, holy, and much happier. This teaching is crucial for the modern Christian to recapture so that he or she can escape deception, depression, and degradation and, instead, embrace the life of victory that comes via a mind that is changed and renewed by the Spirit and His truth.

Send us Fan MailPastor Curry Pikkaard is a man of deep faith who has spent over four decades in pastoral ministry since his ordination in the Reformed Church of America in 1974. Curry shares the story of his unexpected calling to ministry, his 2023 transition to the Kingdom Network following theological differences, and the broader crisis of churches expelling members whose understanding of faith has evolved. Drawing on his book A Nation Under God: Reflections from Jeremiah, he explores the parallels between ancient Israel and today's political landscape, the war between good and evil playing out both within individuals and across nations, his view of the Book of Revelation as a roadmap for increasingly turbulent times, and even his openness to sitting down with an extraterrestrial visitor should one ever arrive.Support the show

What if one of the most important political symbols in American evangelicalism isn't a campaign slogan, a policy platform, or a charismatic preacher, but a worship song? In this episode of the Straight White American Jesus Sunday Interview, host Leah Payne speaks with Religion News Service journalist Bob Smietana about his reporting on the unexpected political life of Chris Tomlin's worship anthem "How Great Is Our God." Over the past several years, the song has appeared everywhere from the Capitol Riots to ReAwaken America rallies and Sean Feucht events, to the memorial service for Charlie Kirk. Yet unlike overtly political songs such as "God Bless the USA," "How Great Is Our God" contains no explicit political message at all. So why has it become such a powerful soundtrack for conservative Christian activism? Drawing on his reporting for NPR's All Things Considered, and Payne's God Gave Rock and Roll to You: a History of Contemporary Christian Music, Smietana and Payne discuss the rise of “Christian Nashville-ism," the fusion of the worship music industry, suburban evangelical culture, celebrity influence, and political identity. Nashville's Christian music machine has produced a soundtrack so ubiquitous that it now functions as a kind of sacred common language across American Christianity. In an era of political polarization, worship songs provide emotional resonance, spiritual legitimacy, and a sense of collective identity that can easily travel into political spaces. Together, Payne and Smietana explore how contemporary worship music became one of the most influential forms of religious formation in American life. They discuss the rise of Chris Tomlin and the Passion movement, the mainstreaming of charismatic worship practices, the growing overlap between worship culture and conservative politics, and the role of suburban megachurches in shaping modern evangelical identity. The conversation also examines how Christian nationalism often operates less through overt ideology than through atmosphere, familiarity, nostalgia, and music. Why do songs matter so much in political movements? What happens when worship becomes a form of cultural power? And why has a seemingly apolitical worship song become one of the defining sounds of conservative evangelical America? In this episode: Why "How Great Is Our God" has become a fixture at conservative political events The relationship between worship music and conservative activism Nashville's role as a center of evangelical cultural power Chris Tomlin, the Passion movement, and the mainstreaming of charismatic worship How worship music became the dominant language of American Protestantism Charlie Kirk, Sean Feucht, and the politics of sacred music The rise of suburban megachurch culture and its political influence Why contemporary worship songs often succeed where political slogans fail "Comfort food Christian nationalism" and the power of familiarity The overlap between MAGA politics, evangelical identity, and worship culture Links: Bob Smietana's NPR article: “Why an Apolitical Worship Song Has Become Popular With Conservative Activists” Adam Perez: ““It's Your Breath in Our Lungs”: Sean Feucht's Praise and Worship Music Protests and the Theological Problem of Pandemic Response in the U.S.” Worship Leader Research Leah Payne's God Gave Rock and Roll to You: a History of Contemporary Christian Music Bob Smietana Official Website Bob Smietana at Religion News Service Bob Smietana's book, Reorganized Religion: The Reshaping of the American Church and Why It Matters: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Holliday is a writer and editor with a passion for biblical truth. Formerly a reporter for the Family Research Council and The Washington Stand, Sarah authored articles and news scripts, hosted the daily news brief, and appeared on various podcasts and interviews. Sarah is a graduate of Boise State University with a degree in Creative Writing & Narrative Arts. She also has a certificate in Theological Studies from Reformation Bible College located in Sanford, FL.  Sarah continues to write on pro-life issues, religious liberty, bioethics, and the intersection of faith and culture — seeking to bring journalistic rigor and gospel-centered hope to every conversation. In this podcast, Sarah describes how, in college, God called her to learn more about why she should trust the truths of the Bible and to share these truths in love with those around her. That led to her attending Reformation Bible College and then beginning to work at Family Research Council. She totally loves communicating truth in a loving and persuasive manner. When asked what the American Church most desperately needs, Sarah shared how, compared to so many Christ-followers in other nations, we American Christians can tend to lose focus on what are God's top priorities for His followers. We can feel we are entitled to comfort and no pain, when the Bible makes it clear that trials and pain and even persecution are a normal part of our lives as Christ's followers. Sarah concluded the podcast by praying for us American Christians to be totally surrendered to our Lord who gave His all for us.

What do you expect from church—and what should your church biblically expect from you? In this episode, Shanda takes an honest look at consumerism within the American church and challenges believers to evaluate whether they approach church like a spiritual family or like a membership-based service built for personal convenience. From coffee shops and children's programs to worship preferences and polished productions, modern church culture can easily prioritize comfort over commitment. But is that what Scripture teaches? By comparing the Western church to persecuted churches around the world and examining biblical expectations for both church leadership and church members, this episode calls Christians back to active discipleship, service, and biblical community. Find Shanda www.shandafulbright.com Instagram & Facebook: @shandafulbright Email: hello@shandafulbright.com Free Resources: https://shandafulbright.com/links YouTube: http://bit.ly/ShandaYT2021 Store: www.Shandafulbright.com/shop  

Send us Fan MailMarkus Lloyd and Antwuan Malone return for a timely conversation on power, race, and democracy in the United States.What happens when the law says race can't be used to exclude people… but also can't be used to repair the damage caused by exclusion? Markus and Antwuan wrestle with the ongoing dismantling of voting protections, the myth of neutrality, the fear of losing power, and why these conversations matter for Christians navigating faith, justice, and culture today.As they unpack the recent Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais, they discuss what it means for the future, from redistricting and representation to “colorblind” policies and racial equity. The conversation explores the deeper tensions underneath the headlines.This episode continues the broader discussion on power from our last conversation, Fear, Power, & The American Church. _____________________________Podcast Subscription LinksApple Podcast:  coloredcommentary.com/appleSpotify:  coloredcommentary.com/spotifyGoogle Podcasts:  coloredcommentary.com/googleStitcher:  coloredcommentary.com/stitcherIHeart Radio:  coloredcommentary.com/iheartradio

For a handful of generations now, there has been a tremendous falling away in the American Church. Now, it's our watch. Will we impact the next generations in a way that blesses them and draws them closer to the Lord? In this sermon, Pastor Allen Jackson discusses the generational impacts of listening to and obeying God, and he shares some tangible things we can do to make a difference in the lives of those around us. Being in God's Word regularly tunes our ears to His voice, and understanding our roles as ambassadors to His Kingdom develops our faith. What we do is more impactful than what we say, so let's stop simply talking about the truth we know and start living it out.

Historian and New York Times bestselling author Jemar Tisby joins Mark Labberton to confront the Supreme Court's 6–3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, which has eviscerated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and reopened the door to racial gerrymandering across the South. Recorded in the immediate aftermath, the conversation traces the long arc from the Three-Fifths Clause and Dred Scott through Selma to this hour. "This has landed in the black community harder and heavier than a lot of what we've seen during the Trump administration." In this episode with Mark Labberton, Tisby reflects on the history of black disenfranchisement, the cynicism of colorblind jurisprudence, and what remains of multiracial democracy in America. Together they discuss how the legal architecture of Jim Crow reemerges under neutral language, John Roberts's decades-long campaign against the Voting Rights Act, Justice Kagan's umbrella analogy, the suspension of Louisiana's primary, the black church's response, and why this midterm may be the country's last political chance. Episode Highlights "This has landed in the black community harder and heavier than a lot of what we've seen during the Trump administration, and that's saying a lot." "It boggles the mind that folks sitting on the highest court in the land who have been to all these Ivy League schools, have literally decades of experience, can get it so wrong and stand so arrogantly on such faulty reasoning." "Colorblindness only works if you're starting from a level playing field." "These are not good-faith actors, not people wanting a representative democracy, but people wanting to consolidate power, which we call minority rule." "If you can't win on the merits of what you believe, then you have to rig the system so that no one can get you out of office." About Jemar Tisby Jemar Tisby is a New York Times bestselling author, historian, speaker, and professor of history at Simmons College of Kentucky, a historically black college in Louisville. He holds a BA from the University of Notre Dame, an MDiv from Reformed Theological Seminary, and a PhD in history from the University of Mississippi, where he studied race, religion, and social movements in the twentieth century. He is the founder of The Witness, Inc., a black Christian collective, and the author of The Color of Compromise, How to Fight Racism, and The Spirit of Justice: True Stories of Faith, Race, and Resistance. His commentary appears on CNN and in The Atlantic, the Washington Post, and the New York Times, and he writes Footnotes, a top-ranked history publication on Substack. Helpful Links and Resources Jemar Tisby's website: https://jemartisby.com Footnotes by Jemar Tisby (Substack): https://jemartisby.substack.com The Spirit of Justice: True Stories of Faith, Race, and Resistance (most recent book): https://jemartisby.com/the-spirit-of-justice/ The Color of Compromise: The Truth About the American Church's Complicity in Racism (bestseller): https://www.zondervan.com/9780310113607/the-color-of-compromise/ How to Fight Racism: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/how-to-fight-racism-jemar-tisby The Justice Briefing podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/footnotes-with-dr-jemar-tisby/id1460240056 Louisiana v. Callais, opinion of the Court (April 29, 2026): https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-109_21o3.pdf Elie Mystal, "The Supreme Court Has Completed Its Quest to Kill the Voting Rights Act," The Nation: https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/supreme-court-demolishes-voting-rights-act/ "Sing Out, March On"—Joshuah Campbell's tribute to John Lewis, Harvard 2018 Commencement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=mKNRXQemxWQ NAACP Legal Defense Fund—Louisiana v. Callais case page: https://www.naacpldf.org/case-issue/louisiana-v-callais/ Brennan Center for Justice—Louisiana v. Callais: https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/louisiana-v-callais Show Notes Why this conversation now: the SCOTUS ruling on the Voting Rights Act last week News breaking through a group text of lawyers, organizers, clergy, nonprofit leaders "This has landed in the black community harder and heavier than a lot of what we've seen during the Trump administration." John Lewis, SNCC, and the march from Selma to Montgomery A baton hard enough to crack the skull, the hardest bone in the body "It boggles the mind that folks sitting on the highest court in the land…can get it so wrong and stand so arrogantly on such faulty reasoning." Allen Temple Baptist in Oakland—watermelons, bubbles, and jelly beans on a Sunday morning The Three-Fifths Clause and the architecture of representation Dred Scott v. Sandford—"property can't sue" Reconstruction Amendments: 13th, 14th, 15th—birthright citizenship newly under threat Jim Crow's neutral codes: poll taxes, literacy tests, grandfather clauses Voting Rights Act of 1965 as the culmination of the civil rights movement Edmund Pettus Bridge—Bloody Sunday going viral in its day LBJ signs the bill with Rosa Parks and MLK in the room Elie Mystal in The Nation: gerrymandering with plausible deniability—https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/supreme-court-demolishes-voting-rights-act/ Shelby County v. Holder, 2013—preclearance gutted Roberts's tautology—stop discriminating to stop discrimination "Colorblindness only works if you're starting from a level playing field." Cast and umbrella analogies for premature dismantling of civil rights remedies Plaintiff Bert Callais's January 6 ties; Louisiana's roughly one-third black population Governor Jeff Landry's emergency order suspends Louisiana's May primary mid-election "These are not good faith actors…people wanting to consolidate power, which we call minority rule." "If you can't win on the merits of what you believe, then you have to rig the system so that no one can get you out of office." The activism horizon—courts, churches, voter registration, midterm turnout, NAACP, LDF, Brennan Center The last political chance before competitive authoritarianism #VotingRightsAct #JemarTisby #LouisianaVCallais #SCOTUS #CivilRights #BlackChurch #FaithAndJustice #SelmaToMontgomery #Democracy #MarkLabberton Production Credits Conversing is produced and distributed in partnership with Comment magazine and Fuller Seminary.

Send us Fan MailWhen Power Looks More Like Pharaoh Than Jesus, What Happens Next? In this episode of Colored Commentary, Markus and Antwuan dive into a discussion about power.What is power, really?Is it good… or inherently dangerous?And what does it mean for Christians living in the United States right now?From the story of Moses and Pharaoh to modern-day politics, the conversation explores how power is formed, who holds it, and how it's often driven by fear. Markus and Antwuan wrestle with how the Church has used power, sometimes to liberate and other times to control, and ask a deeper question:What does power look like through the lens of Jesus?This episode challenges the assumptions that we are meant to hold onto power at all costs… and invites us to imagine a different way—one shaped by the cross, not control. If power is the ability to act and create change… how should we use it?Learn more about Threaded-Instagram:   / weare_threaded  Facebook:   / wearethreaded  www.wearethreaded.org_____________________________Podcast Subscription LinksApple Podcast:  coloredcommentary.com/appleSpotify:  coloredcommentary.com/spotifyGoogle Podcasts:  coloredcommentary.com/googleStitcher:  coloredcommentary.com/stitcherIHeart Radio:  coloredcommentary.com/iheartradio

Jon Harris examines the state of the American church in 2026 — a time of spiritual interest among Gen Z, rising Bible sales, and public figures talking about Christianity, yet mixed with confusion, pastoral failures, and the risk of counterfeit revival. Drawing from statistics, personal reflections, and Scripture, Jon calls Christians to stand faithfully with the true church, prioritize the gospel, and focus on making disciples rather than platforms or politics. A sober yet hopeful message for believers navigating this cultural moment. 0:00 Introduction & Prayer1:40 Convictions: The Church Will Prevail4:20 Suspicions: Spiritual Awakening or Counterfeit?7:15 What Confuses Me – Loss of Key Leaders10:45 Statistics on Gen Z & Religious Interest13:50 Signs of True Revival – Church Growth, Pastors, Giving16:40 The Pastor Problem & Political Temptation22:30 Celebrity “Conversions” & Cultural Christianity27:15 Dangers of Theological Softening32:40 Real Hope – People Are Open to the Gospel37:50 Practical Pastoral Wisdom43:20 The Road to Emmaus – Walking by Faith49:30 Closing: Next Steps for the Church Our Sponsors:* Check out Mars Men: https://mengotomars.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conversations-that-matter8971/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Episode 280 – Counterfeit ChristianityIn a season where spiritual deception seems rampant and high-profile exposures shake the American Church, we desperately need biblical wisdom to navigate these troubling waters. This teaching brings us face-to-face with Jesus's parable of the wheat and tares from Matthew 13, a prophetic warning given two thousand years ago that speaks directly into our current moment. The parable reveals an uncomfortable truth: counterfeit Christians will grow alongside authentic believers until the end of the age, planted deliberately by the enemy while the church sleeps. What makes this deception so dangerous is its subtlety—these spiritual imposters look like us, sound like us, worship like us, and serve like us. They're indistinguishable in the early stages of growth. Yet here's the challenging wisdom: Jesus explicitly commands us not to become consumed with uprooting every weed we suspect. Why? Because in our zeal to expose the counterfeit, we risk damaging the authentic. Our calling remains clear: continue planting good seed, tend to the authentic wheat, guard our own hearts from bitterness and suspicion, and trust that God will handle the final accounting. The existence of counterfeits doesn't invalidate the authentic—it actually confirms its value.

What does it take to awaken the church in our generation? Dr. Jack Graham unpacks what it means to live with sincere devotion, stand firm in truth, and actively encourage one another in love and good works from Hebrews 10

Steven Crowder EXPOSES the Marxist-Islamic Coalition Targeting the American Church, MAGA, and Your Family The woke Left and the "woke Right" are running identical plays — and Crowder names every one of them. The coordinated 25th Amendment push. The horseshoe alliance dismantling Judeo-Christian values. The US Israel-Iran war and what AIPAC's influence on both parties? Then, is the "woke feminist" blueprint inadvertently replacing parents with the state? Full breakdown. No filter. CHAPTERS 00:00:00 INTRO 00:00:32 The Marxist Creep 00:04:46 - Trump's Record vs. Biden's Record 00:08:47 - Is Donald Trump a True Conservative? 00:12:00 - Down With The Rhinos 00:17:34 - US Policy on Israel &  Iran 00:20:08 - Calls for Trump's Impeachment 00:22:17 - Differences Between Islam and Christianity 00:28:43 - Hassan Piker - Left's Rabid Attack Dog 00:36:21 - Ignoring the Victims of Communism 00:40:21 - Anti-Israel Sentiment and Attacks on Christians 00:47:34 - The Pope, Islam, and the Woke Right 00:54:38 - Debunking the Marxist Narrative on Slavery 00:58:43 - Feminism and the Attack on the Nuclear Family 01:09:21 - How Do We Stop Advance of Wokism? 01:21:28 - Has the Left's Prescription Failed Women? 01:32:05 - Unique Roles of Fathers and Mothers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beth Moore on life after the SBC: and why she never could quit Jesus … GUEST Bob Smietana … national reporter for RNS based near Chicago, covering evangelicals, weird religion and the changing religious landscape … author of “Reorganized Religion: The Reshaping of the American Church and Why It Matters” The Quiet Absurdity of Modern Day Baby Showers … Katie Noble … author of the new book, “Motherhood and the Good Life: Building a Gospel Narrative for Early Motherhood in the Modern Age”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to reach out to us? Want to leave a comment or review? Want to give us a suggestion or berate Anthony? Send us a text by clicking this link!Pope Leo XIV has responded — and the battle lines between MAGA and faithful Catholics have never been clearer. In this episode, we break down Trump's escalating rhetoric, the coordinated effort to cast Catholics as enemies of America, and why the election of an American Pope may be the most providential event of our time.We discuss the rise of "kosher Catholicism" promoted through outlets like the Daily Wire, why figures like Eric Metaxas, James Lindsay, and Jeremy Boring are suddenly targeting Catholic integralism, and how Protestant Zionist voices are working to redefine what it means to be a faithful Catholic in America.We also dive into the deeper spiritual questions — Nostra Aetate, the failures of the American bishops on immigration, divine judgment, and whether real persecution is now at the doorstep of the American Church. Is Pope Leo the heel the Church needs to stand against the spirit of the age?

Joe Kohler Book: The Forgotten Officer: Restoring the Fullness of God's Design

The Placebo of the Entertainment Church | Why the American Church Is Spiritually Weak KWR0058 Kingdom War Room   Description In this powerful episode of the Kingdom War Room, Dr. Michael Lake, Dr. Mike Spaulding, and Dr. Corby Shuey expose the placebo of the entertainment church and why it has left much of the modern church spiritually weak, biblically shallow, and unprepared for the days ahead. The discussion addresses how seeker-sensitive models, business-driven ministry, false spirituality, and biblical illiteracy have created a dangerous vacuum in the Body of Christ. The team contrasts this man-made system with the true pattern of New Testament discipleship, spiritual maturity, pastoral care, and deep teaching from the Word of God. This episode is a serious call for pastors, leaders, and believers to return to Christ and Him crucified, to reopen the wells that have been stopped up by Babylonian compromise, and to pursue a faith that is holy, transformative, and grounded in Scripture. If you are hungry for substance rather than spectacle, for truth rather than performance, and for real kingdom life instead of religious entertainment, this War Room conversation is for you. In this episode: The spiritual danger of the entertainment church model Why biblical illiteracy has opened the door to deception How mega-church culture and business models distorted ministry The difference between true apostles, prophets, and celebrity religion Why many churches produce offerings, but not fruit The need to return to deep discipleship and real pastoral ministry Re-digging the wells of the apostles for the remnant in the last days Please like, share, and subscribe to help us get these Kingdom truths to more believers around the world. Timeline / Topics Discussed 00:00 Introduction to the Kingdom War Room 00:24 The placebo of the entertainment church 01:25 Why Dr. Lake stepped away from mainstream Christian television 02:03 God's judgment on modern church systems 02:52 Entertainment church, fake conversions, and spiritual vacuum 03:28 The weakening of America and the rise of Islam 04:25 Universalism, compromise, and refusal to confront error 05:24 Business models vs. biblical discipleship 08:35 Biblical illiteracy and the collapse of discernment 09:38 Branham, faith movement excesses, and false apostles 12:54 The church producing offerings instead of fruit 13:39 The roots of seeker-sensitive church growth models 16:01 Worship that convicts vs. worship that entertains 18:35 The church's lack of maturity for what is coming 20:31 Malachi 1 and bringing polluted offerings before the Lord 23:39 Worship as performance instead of sacrifice 26:05 Real worship, conviction, and the presence of God 28:15 The need for reverence, holiness, and heart examination 31:57 Personal testimony: weakness, warfare, and God's strength 35:09 Trusting God to build the church, not gimmicks 38:01 Returning to Christ, Scripture, and the faith once delivered 42:24 Why we must think biblically, not culturally 44:30 What is so new about the New Covenant? 47:44 Why the Old Testament cannot be discarded 52:41 Bad theology, wounded spirits, and spiritual conflict 56:48 Crowns, faithfulness, and eternal reward 58:29 Why pastors must stop copying celebrity ministry models 01:00:22 A true pastoral model: care, discipleship, and accountability 01:03:17 God is calling the church out of Babylonian structures 01:06:50 Every congregation has a unique calling from God 01:11:26 The remnant's hunger for real truth and real discipleship 01:16:22 Teaching deeply, discipling thoroughly, and feeding the flock 01:22:23 Re-digging the wells of the apostles 01:23:27 Final exhortation and prayer Hashtags #KingdomWarRoom, #DrMichaelLake, #BiblicalLifeTV, #EntertainmentChurch, #ChurchCompromise, #BiblicalDiscernment, #LastDaysChurch, #RemnantChurch, #BodyOfChrist, #ChristianDiscipleship, #BiblicalPreaching, #SpiritualDiscernment, #ChurchLeadership, #FalseChurch, #ReturnToTheWord

This week on Faith and Feminism, we're digging into the fractures of the American Church with Dr. Jared Stacy, author of Reality in Ruins. We explore the "Gospel of Paranoia"—a theological and social pipeline that has turned pews into echo chambers and replaced the pursuit of truth with a obsession for "hidden" knowledge. Jared breaks down why American Evangelicalism was the perfect breeding ground for modern conspiracy theories and how these "holy" suspicions are used to protect patriarchal power structures and nationalist identities.

The future of the American Church stands at a crossroads, and readiness for the Rapture is not automatic, it is built through obedience, spiritual awareness, and a deep relationship with God as prophetic events continue to unfold. The end times, the Rapture (harpazo), and the return of Jesus Christ are unfolding alongside rising global tension, especially surrounding Israel, Iran, and the Middle East. Scripture points to these regions as central to the prophetic timeline. At the same time, Jesus is coming back for a glorious, prepared Church, refined, strong, and rooted in truth as pressure increases across culture and society.A growing divide continues between biblical truth and worldly values, leading many to walk away from their faith while others rise with conviction and clarity. Standing firm is becoming more costly, yet it is producing a remnant that refuses to compromise.———————————————————————————————————————————————————————

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This is the short Pastoral Prayer time before the message "Three Dangers Facing the Church in 2026" where Pastor Rusty sets the stage for the message but also offers a warning about judgement that could befall the American Church if we do not get serious about contending for the faith. From Matthew 11:20-24.Please listen to the following podcast to get the full understanding of this message. Thank you for listening to our podcast and we would love for you to subscribe to our page and share with others. Join us for our weekly worship online at www.firstbaptistblowingrock.com or our Youtube page. Contact us at office@firstbaptistblowingrock.com or by phone @ 828-295-7715

He was born in Syria in 1860, in the waning years of the Ottoman Empire. In his childhood, his family took refuge in Lebanon after their parish priest, St Joseph of Damascus (July 10) was martyred; but they later returned to Damascus. In 1879 he was tonsured a monk and entered into the service of Patriarch Hierotheos of Antioch. The Balamand Seminary had been closed since 1840, but the young monk was offered a scholarship at the Constantinople Patriarchate's seminary at Halki. Returning to Syria with a theological degree, St Raphael became assistant to Gerasimos, the new Patriarch of Antioch, traveling and preaching on his behalf. After further studies in Kiev, he transferred to the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Moscow and for a time was professer of Arabic studies at the Theological Academy in Kazan. (At that time the downtrodden Orthodox of the Middle East received considerable aid and theological training from the Tsar and from the Church in Russia).   In 1895 he was sent to the United States to shepherd the Arab Orthodox Community in New York, which was without a church or a priest. He quickly consecrated a chapel and with great energy set about the work of shepherding his flock there; but he was concerned not only for them but for the Arab Christian immigrants scattered through North America, most of whom were without a pastor and in danger of falling into heterodoxy or abandoning religious life. He traveled widely throughout the continent, visiting, counseling and serving Arab Christians, preaching, celebrating marriages and baptisms, receiving confessions and celebrating the Divine Liturgy, usually in private houses. In 1898 he published the first Orthodox prayer book in Arabic to appear in the New World. In 1899, he made a seven-month journey through forty-three American cities, seeking out the "scattered sheep" of the Church in America. His services were attended not only by Arabs but by Russians and Greeks, all of whom at that time depended on the Russian mission to North America. During this entire period, he held the official rank of Archimandrite, though his work and duties exceeded those of most bishops.   In 1901, Patriarch Meletios was elected to the see of Antioch, the first Arab to occupy the patriarchal throne for 168 years. Several proposals were made to elect Archimandrite Raphael to a see in Syria; but he refused all such offers, pointing out the Orthodox people's great and little-met needs in North America. In 1904, the Moscow Patriarchate made him Bishop of Brooklyn, the first Orthodox bishop to be consecrated on American soil. He redoubled his already impressive pastoral work, ordaining priests to the many new parishes that he had founded, and assisting Saint Tikhon (then Bishop of North America) in the care of his huge diocese. In 1905 he laid the foundation of the Monastery of St Tikhon in Pennsylvania.   The bishop saw the importance of integrating the faithful into the life of their new homeland, and was an early advocate of the use of English in American Church services. When Isabel Hapgood's Service Book — the first useful English translation of the Church's services — was published in 1906, he advocated its use in all his parishes.   In 1912, St Raphael was found to be suffering from heart disease, but continued his exhausting pastoral work for two more years. In 1915 he was finally unable to continue, and reposed after two months' illness.   When his relics were transported in 1998 from Brooklyn to Antiochian Village in Ligonier, PA, they were found to be incorrupt, and in 2000 he became the most recently glorified Saint of North America.   In North America St Raphael is commemorated on the anniversary of his repose: February 27 on the Civil/New Calendar, February 14 on the Julian Calendar. He is also commemorated with the Synaxis of Saints of North America on the Second Sunday after Pentecost. The Patriarchate of Antioch also commemorates him, but on Saturday before the Synaxis of the Archangels (November 8).

My friend and mentor, Bob Ekblad, recently wrote an article on the Church in North America and its support of the agendas and actions being promoted by the present administration. Bob quotes Romans 2, where Paul writes that "the name of God is blasphemed among the nations because of you," and directs this prophetic critique toward the American Church and ties it to idolatry. Ready or not, here we go!

Episode Summary: The sexual revolution isn't progress. It's a regression into outright paganism. This is not an overstatement.Today, we trace a direct line from Malthus and Darwin to Galton, Havelock Ellis, and Margaret Sanger, exposing how eugenic ideas shaped the birth control movement and continue to influence law, medicine, education, and even the Church today. Seth Gruber joins us to unpack his documentary The 1916 Project, laying out the historical evidence and connecting the dots from American academic elites to the Holocaust in Nazi Germany and then back again as those same ideas fueled the sexual revolution in the United States!Hear us wrestle with a modern paradox of how current anti-racist rhetoric comfortably coexists with praise for Sanger and her evil movement that explicitly sought the “cultivation of the better racial elements in our society, and the gradual suppression, elimination and eventual extirpation of defective stocks.” Few realize the impact that the normalization of birth control and contraception laws had in reshaping sexual ethics, eventually requiring abortion as a backstop, and why the Church's silence helped clear the path.  We close with hope, through the story of the White Rose resistance during WWII and a call to form believers to stand up and resist cultural capture with truth, courage, and love.Who is Disciple Nations Alliance (DNA)? Since 1997, DNA's mission has been to equip followers of Jesus around the globe with a biblical worldview, empowering them to build flourishing families, communities, and nations.

Have questions or comments about this (or a previous) episode, give us a text!In this episode Dennis reflects on why discipleship is so poorly defined and practiced in the American Church. Many programs talk about discipleship and many Christian's affirm it should be part of their daily Christian walk. But what does it fall so woefully short of the picture we see in the New Testament?https://corechristianity.com/resources/articles/5-reasons-we-dont-discipleIf you want to support this podcast and ministry with InFaith you can go to Infaith.org/dennis-sutherby and donate there.If you want to ask more about the ministry, ask a question, or add a comment you can email Dennis as dennissutherby@infaith.org or follow his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DennisInFaith Support the show

LETTER TO THE AMERICAN CHURCH  Join us for Final part of our 3 Part series "Letter to the American Church".   Want to learn more about Sisterhood?? Click the link Below  https://www.lifechurchwilm.com/sisterhood

What does the Bible have to say about minimalism? Turns out - quite a bit, although it may not seem like it at first glance. Joshua Becker's new book Uncluttered Faith: Own Less, Love, More, and Make an Impact in Your World, is centered around a  bold claim. Minimalism - specifically what Jesus has to say about possessions and money - is God's design for our life.  The book dives into Scripture passages that point to numerous spiritual benefits that you can experience through minimalism, to allow you to reach your full potential and impact in the Kingdom of God. In this episode, Joshua and I talk about: - Why the American Church hasn't focused more on the message of minimalism, specifically when it comes to Jesus' clear teachings on our relationship with money and material possessions - How our fruitfulness has been choked out by consumerism and distraction - How minimalism helps us enjoy the benefits of God's spiritual kingdom Joshua is the founder and editor of Becoming Minimalist, a website dedicated to intentional living that was named by SUCCESS Magazine as one of the top ten personal development websites. He is also the USA Today and WSJ best-selling author of 6 books including The Minimalist Home, The More of Less, and Things That Matter. His new book, Uncluttered Faith, will be released on February 10, 2026.  He is also the Founder of The Hope Effect, a nonprofit organization changing how the world cares for orphans. Currently, he lives in Peoria, AZ with his wife and two teenage children.

What do Charles Finney, Ellen G. White, and Joseph Smith have in common? They come from the "Burned-Over District." From revival tents to utopian communes, Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Walter Strickland, and Bob Hiller explore how 19th-Century upstate New York became ground zero for America's religious experiments. PARTNER WITH US - https://solamedia.org/partner/?sc=AS2502V When you become a partner today, you'll receive two remarkable books as our thanks: Rediscovering the Holy Spirit by Dr. Michael Horton and Praying with Jesus by Pastor Adriel Sanchez. We believe these books can guide you into a clearer understanding of the Spirit's work and a richer prayer life. FOLLOW US YouTube | Instagram | X/Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter WHO WE ARE Sola is home to White Horse Inn, Core Christianity, Modern Reformation, and Theo Global. Our mission is to serve today's global church by producing resources for reformation grounded in the historic Christian faith. Our vision is to see reformation in hearts, homes, and churches around the world. Learn more: https://solamedia.org/