Podcast appearances and mentions of brett mccracken

Where do we go for wise information? Many people will say social media or the internet, but what is the true source of Wisdom and how do we access it? Brett McCracken joins Chris Brooks to walk us through a healthy diet of biblical wisdom from some surprising sources! Learn to become discerning about how you consume information to develop a heart of wisdom when you join us for Equipped. Featured resource:The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World by Brett McCracken April thank you gift:Equipped for Life: A 30-Day Devotional for Living with Courage and Compassion by Chris Brooks Equipped with Chris Brooks is made possible through your support. To donate now, click here. To become 1 in 100 who supports at $1,000 (annually or $83/month), click here.

Christina Hello, everyone, I'm Christina Darnell, the managing editor of MinistryWatch. Welcome to the MinistryWatch podcast.  In today's extra episode, I talk with Warren Smith about some news items that are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.”  So, Warren, what's up first? Warren Military chaplains will no longer indicate their rank on their uniforms, according to a new order from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegspeth. People I've talked with tell me they generally think that's a good thing. Enlisted personnel might be intimidated to talk with chaplains about deeply personal issues if they know that chaplain is a senior officer. Progressive groups opposing the move include Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. Christina Up next, a new study by Pew found that nearly 98 percent of U.S. adults live within range of at least one religious radio station. Warren And that about 25 percent of all AM/FM stations are dedicated to religious programming.  The U.S. has about 4,000 religious stations and about half of American adults spend at least some time each week listening to religious audio content, including radio, podcasts, and streaming, and – this is one of the most interesting findings – about 39 percent of listeners are non-Christians. Christina I guess it's a good thing that non-Christians are listening to Christian programming. Warren It is good, but there is also another side to that coin. A lot of Christian radio stations have started programing for that non-Christian audience. You'll hear branding like “Safe for the Entire Family” rather than distinctly Christian branding and programming. Some people think this trend has watered down Christian radio. Christian writer David Murrow says “Safe for the Entire Family” has made Christian radio boring and risk-free. He advocates for edgier music on music stations, and more teaching and talk.  Christina While we're on the subject of media, a new movie out now is getting a lot of buzz from Christian commentators – and it's not a Christian movie. Warren I haven't seen the new Ryan Gosling movie Project Hail Mary, but people I respect are giving it great reviews.  Aaron Renn says, “In an era of male loneliness and confusing messages about manhood, Project Hail Mary models problem-solving, purpose, and fatherly strength without apology.” Brett McCracken, writing for The Gospel Coalition, says it offers the “good, clean fun moviegoers have missed.” McCracken concludes, “Project Hail Mary doesn't preach the gospel. But it makes virtue look good. It makes selflessness, sacrifice, and duty attractive. If the movie is a huge hit—and I expect it will be—perhaps Hollywood will take the hint. We're not in postmodernism anymore. Goodness, truth, and beauty are attributes we want in art again. Really, they're what we've always wanted.” Christina Is the movie a hit? Warren It is. The movie opened at number 1 in the U.S. and held that position through its second week. So far, worldwide box office is around $300 million. That's a huge hit by any reasonable standard. Christina Warren, you read an article this week that caught your attention. Warren I commend to you an article by my friends John Stonestreet and Tim Padgett of The Colson Center. I'll link to it in the show notes. They share the hard truth that neither political party has a right to the pro-life label these days. Of the Democrats they say, abortion is not merely a plank in the progressive party's platform. It is the chief commitment of the worldview that dominates America. It is, for many, a sacrament to recognize, enshrine, and honor autonomy. Abortion is not merely a legal right of a decadent society. It is a rite of worship, specifically a way to worship the idols of self, state, and sex.”  Christina But they don't let the Republicans off the hook, either.  Warren They write, “The GOP was once a prolife party, but now openly endorses chemical abortion and unregulated IVF, the two most common ways to kill preborn children in America.” They conclude, “There is no such thing as a Christian not called, to some degree, to oppose abortion and defend preborn lives. We need not attend every march or express every outrage. We must, however, protect every vulnerable life, support every vulnerable mother and father, and advance the Christian understanding of human dignity every chance we are given.” Christina Our final story today is about the ministry rating systems. An organization called Charity Watch wrote an article that found fault with Charity Navigator's rating system. Warren Charity Watch found fault with the 4-Star rating that Charity Navigator gave to OUR Rescue, formerly Operation Underground Railroad. I won't get into the weeds of their analysis here except to say that Charity Watch is right. OUR Rescue should not have a 4-Star rating.  Christina That's why MinistryWatch gives OUR Rescue a 1-Star rating, our lowest score for financial efficiency.  Warren That's right. I've written about the pros and cons of rating systems, and explained why – despite the cons – we think rating ministries is important. But how you do it matters. I'll have a link to an article explaining our rating system in today's show notes. Christina Any final notes before we go? Warren I have some travel coming up in the next couple of months, and I would love to see you. I will be in Los Angeles in April. I'll be speaking at the annual convention of the Evangelical Press Association in Nashville in June. I'll also be in Dallas and Knoxville in May. I will be speaking at Summit Ministries in Manitou Springs in June, so I'll be doing reader lunches in Denver and Colorado Springs during that trip. Let me know if you would like to join us. My email is wsmith@ministrywatch.com. Christina The producer for today's program is Jeff McIntosh. I'm Christina Darnell, along with Warren Smith. You've been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast.  Until next time, may God bless you.

This month's Project Hail Mary film is being praised as a fresh, thrilling sci-fi take that is wholesome and sincere. As expected, we're seeing more fantastical fans cry out for stories that celebrate the human spirit. Why do we love these stories? And how do different fan trends, even across whole generations, keep swerving between positive portrayals and other stories that may be called “cynical”? Episode sponsors The Star-Blessed by Angie Dickinson Realm Makers 2026 Conference & Expo The Hole-Man by Dan Daetz Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett Mission update New at Lorehaven: new boosted Library search Subscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild 1. Optimistic stories celebrate common grace Stephen read the book back soon after its May 4, 2021, release. Don't miss the audiobook read by narrator Ray “Darkseid” Porter. Right from the title, Project Hail Mary honors human will and spirit. Weir publicly eschewed inserting “the message” (leftist politics). It's a deeply humanist story (and not necessarily in a bad way). Brett McCracken from TGC wrote that the film honors biblical virtues and “celebrates friendship, sacrifice, and self-giving love.” Some vote blue. Some red. But everyone loves Grace and Rocky. 2. Cynical stories show sin—and to a fault In response, many fans are freshly condemning cynical stories. These make a show of hopelessness, grimdark, nihilism, despair. But there are fewer of these obvious cynical stories in pop culture. Their problem isn't “show sin at all.” Their problem is lack of virtue. Do note that some popular “optimistic” stories are just posers. They're just as cynical about virtue, yet may offer false “syncerity.” One can almost see the memos. They're trying to have/eat cake. 3. Many great stories rightly reflect both “Realistic” stories aren't always cynical, and “colorful” stories aren't always optimistic; this is defined more by ideas than appearance. Earnest and optimistic stories can be noblebright and nobledark. In fact, Project Hail Mary (book and film) mixes both of these. Even God gets a friendly shoutout—a hint at the morality's origin. Spoiler: Ryland is no hero. He's effectively assaulted. That's dark. But desperate times call for Grace. He becomes a hero. That's light. These stories defeat both forced “syncerity” and cynical tales. Com station Top question for listeners What do you love about Project Hail Mary and optimistic stories? Next on Fantastical Truth Uh-oh. That big new trailer from that big studio just hit for that big fantasy franchise remake/reboot/sequel. It's too big to fail! And then fail it does. They got the cast way wrong. They hired a bad writer. And they're going to ruin everything we loved about the original. What's worse? These big studios don't seem to care. Do they? Or do some big studios have big secret reasons for “improving” fantasy franchises?

Send us Fan MailIn today's episode, Mike and Ryan explore how religious leaders—from Muhammad in 7th-century Medina to modern figures like Ravi Zacharias—have sometimes received "convenient" divine revelations that suspiciously align with their personal desires. They examine Islamic abrogation, hadith sources, and the troubling pattern of extraordinary claims made without supporting evidence.But here's where it gets uncomfortably relevant: How easily do we accept claims in our AI-saturated world without demanding rigorous proof?The conversation takes a sharp turn toward epistemology, examining how deepfakes and social media have fundamentally undermined our ability to verify truth. The hosts reference Brett McCracken's "The Wisdom Pyramid," noting that we've inverted wisdom sources—placing smartphones at the foundation rather than God's word. They emphasize limiting trusted information sources, demanding multiple independent verifications, and prioritizing analog relationships over digital ones.With Christianity fragmenting and technology accelerating divisiveness, this episode challenges listeners to rebuild their evidentiary standards from the ground up.Listen to discover why your screen might be lying to you—and what ancient theological debates reveal about modern misinformation.Support the show

Part 2 of this session from TGC25 is a panel discussion led by Brett McCracken on practical responses to the challenges facing the church that were raised in Part 1. Brad Edwards, Gavin Ortlund, and Jared C. Wilson speak candidly about their own experiences in church leadership, the crucial need for personal devotion to Christ, and what personal devotional practices look like in their own lives.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.  Don't Have it Your Way, Against Consumer Spirituality How should someone formulate his (or her) view of the world?  In an article by Brett McCracken for The Gospel Coalition, he documents the emergence of what he calls “metamodern” Christianity.  This is not “modern”, meaning dedicated to an abstract idea of truth and pointed toward “progress”.  It is also not “post-modern”, dedicated to feelings and dismissing notions of truth in favor of viewing the world as only consisting of power dynamics.  It's somewhere between the two.  In contrast, christians should be a people dedicated to God almighty, to loving Him first and others second and seeking to live lives of sacrifice and love after our Savior Christ who gave himself for us.  https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/challenge-opportunity-metamodern-christianity/ "The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill 

In this special episode of YMU, Danny hosts the 7th annual Rooted Book Awards. These Book Awards serve our listeners who might not have the time or budget to read every book out there. It includes categories of books for Youth Ministers, Parents, Bible Teaching, and Teenagers. Happy reading! Accessible Church: A Gospel-Centered Vision for Including People with Disabilities and Their Families by Sarah Peoples (Crossway)Don't Despise Our Youth: Renewing Hope for Urban Youth by David Washington (InterVarsity Press)Managing Your Households Well by Chap Bettis (P&R Publishing) Mothering Against Futility Balancing Meaning and Mundanity in the Fear of the Lord By Simona Gorton (Christian Focus)Beyond the Back Row: Rediscovering the Beauty of the Local Church for Your Family by Katie Polski (Christian Focus)Scrolling Ourselves to Death: Reclaiming Life in a Digital Age Edited by Brett McCracken and Ivan Mesa (Crossway) The Gospel After Christendom: An Introduction to Cultural Apologetics eds. Collin Hansen, Skyler R. Flowers, and Ivan Mesa (Zondervan)From Eden to Egypt: A Guided Tour of Genesis (9Marks) by Alex Duke (Zondervan)Gospel Stories: How The Greatest Story Is Richer, Deeper, and More Wonderful Than We Think by Andrew Wilson (10 Publishing)Understanding Biblical Law: Thinking With And Through Torah by Dru Johnson (Baker Academic) 12 Truths Every Teen Can Trust: Core Beliefs of the Christian That Will Change Your Life by Paul David Tripp (Crossway)Make It Your Ambition by Jeremy Writebol (The Gospel Coalition)Iconic: Being God's Image in Your World by Mike McGarry (New Growth Press)Worth It: Following Jesus When Life Feels Complicated by Chris Morphew (The Good Book Company) Follow @therootedministry on Instagram for more updates andSubscribe to Youth Ministry Unscripted wherever you listen to podcasts

Today's episode with Brett McCracken explores the positives and negatives of technology and the Christian's spiritual formation. We pray this conversation helps you to think critically about this topic in your own life and points you to the God who is sovereign over all the technology that has ever existed in our world. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FULL SHOW NOTES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ journeywomen.org/episode/gospel-hope-digital-age DISCUSSION QUESTIONS What does your relationship with technology look like? Is it simply a tool in your life, or has it become something larger? If you are on social media, take a serious look at how you present yourself. Does this “version” of you align with the way you act and treat others in your own home and in your own local church? What is one way you can champion embodied community over virtual community? What are the main vehicles for feeding your soul lately? Evaluate your waking hours. How are you spending them? What is shaping you? What might you do or implement based on what you learned in this week's episode? FOR MORE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to Journeywomen Ministries: Journeywomen.org/give  Listen on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Android⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Us:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a rating & review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Interviews do not imply Journeywomen's endorsement of all writings and positions of the interviewee or any other resources mentioned.  On the Journeywomen podcast, we'll help you know and love God through his Word, find your hope in the gospel, and invest deeply in your local church as you go out on mission for the glory of God.

Lee Strobel reveals the results of his investigation in to the supernatural mysteries of the unseen world! He joins Kirk Cameron to share his findings from his book, "Seeing the Supernatural," as he discusses deathbed visions, the existence of angels and demons, and what the Bible says about miracles. Don't miss this riveting conversation on Takeaways with Kirk Cameron on TBN! Missed the last episode? Listen in⁠ Brett McCracken shares how Christians can keep their focus on God in a culture of doom scrolling.⁠ ⁠⁠WATCH Takeaways with Kirk Cameron episodes for free on TBN+⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Each episode of Takeaways with Kirk Cameron features knowledgeable guests having a respectful and thoughtful conversation surrounding topics that are impacting our society every day. Kirk's hope is that you will walk away from this show with practical steps on how to better your family, your community, and your nation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kirk Cameron is joined by Holley Gerth for a discussion about how scripture is best used to calm our anxious thoughts. Don't miss this insightful interview on Takeaways with Kirk Cameron on TBN! Missed the last episode? Listen in Brett McCracken shares how Christians can keep their focus on God in a culture of doom scrolling. ⁠WATCH Takeaways with Kirk Cameron episodes for free on TBN+⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Each episode of Takeaways with Kirk Cameron features knowledgeable guests having a respectful and thoughtful conversation surrounding topics that are impacting our society every day. Kirk's hope is that you will walk away from this show with practical steps on how to better your family, your community, and your nation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is your phone making you weaker? Are you being discipled by your screen instead of by Christ? In this week's expert interview, Jim Ramos is joined by author Brett McCracken who exposes how our scrolling culture is robbing men of strength, focus, and spiritual health. They unpack the dangers of digital addiction, why constant information leaves us powerless, and what it really means to lead and protect your home in a tech-driven world. You'll walk away with practical advice on how to break free from phone addiction and model strength for your kids and simple daily habits to reclaim focus, prayer, and presence. Check out Brett's book 'Scrolling Ourselves to Death' This episode is sponsored by MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab, a Christian-owned fitness app. Get 6 weeks free with the code ARENA30 at MTNTOUGH.com. Every man needs a locker room. Join a brotherhood of like-minded men in The Locker Room, our bi-monthly live Zoom Q&A call! We meet in the Locker Room twice a month for community, fellowship, laughter, and to help each other find biblical answers to life's difficult questions. Sharing community with these amazing men is one of the most enjoyable things I do. - Jim Ramos https://patreon.com/themeninthearena Get Jim Ramos' USA TODAY Bestselling book, Dialed In: Reaching Your Full Capacity as a Man of God (https://tinyurl.com/dialedinbook)

What if the habits shaping your daily scroll are quietly shaping your soul, and your church, for the next generation? In Part 2 of our conversation with Brett McCracken and Ivan Mesa, editors of Scrolling Ourselves to Death: Reclaiming Life in a Digital Age, we take a deeper look into the ways digital technology forms our hearts, relationships, and communities. From "main character syndrome" to the epidemic of information overload, the conversation unpacks how every generation, Gen Z to Boomers, is being discipled by screens, and how the Church can resist digital shallowness by reclaiming real, embodied community.Listen to practical encouragement for churches hungry to nurture countercultural connection and for individuals eager to recover timeless Christian practices in a sea of distraction. Discover why hopeful, Gospel-rooted engagement, not fear, must anchor our response to a rapidly shifting technological world. Whether leading, parenting, or just wondering how faith fits in a digital age, this episode delivers challenge and hope for the journey ahead.CANDID LISTENER SURVEYWe love bringing you honest, hope-filled conversations about the Christian faith, and we'd love your feedback. We've compiled a short listener survey to help us plan future episodes you'll love. Will you take a couple of minutes to complete it today? Your voice will help shape what's next! Take the Survey NowFollow Candid Conversations on social media:Instagram: @candidpodTikTok: @officiallycandidpodYouTube: @CandidPodSubscribe & Share:If this episode inspired you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others.

Welcome to the Pinkleton Pull-Aside Podcast. On this podcast, let's step aside from our busy lives to have fun, fascinating life giving conversation with inspiring authors, pastors, sports personalities and other influencers, leaders and followers. Sit back, grab some coffee, or head down the road and let's get the good and the gold from today's guest. Our host is Jeff Pinkleton, Executive Director of the Gathering of the Miami Valley, where their mission is to connect men to men, and men to God. You can reach Jeff at GatheringMV.org or find him on Facebook at The Gathering of the Miami Valley.Brett McCracken is a senior editor and director of communications for The Gospel Coalition. He is the author of The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World, Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community, Hipster Christianity: When Church & Cool Collide, and Gray Matters: Navigating the Space Between Legalism & Liberty, as well as the co-editor of Scrolling Ourselves to Death: Reclaiming Life in a Digital Age. He has written for The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Huffington Post, CNN.com, Christianity Today, and many other publications. A graduate of Wheaton College and UCLA (M.A. in Cinema & Media Studies), Brett lives in Santa Ana, California with his wife Kira and three children. He attends church at Southlands Church Santa Ana. 

The rapid advance of digital technology is reshaping our world and warping our minds. The onslaught of social media and smartphones has brought an appetite for distraction, an epidemic of loneliness, and increased rates of mental unhealth. For Christians, the digital revolution has profound implications for spiritual formation and mission. How should believers respond to the theological and discipleship challenges of scrolling life?  Listen in as Dr. Jeff chats with Brett McCracken, who is a senior editor for the Gospel Coalition and the author of The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World, Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community, and co-editor of Scrolling Ourselves to Death: Reclaiming Life in a Digital Age. He lives with his family in Southern California. To register for Summit Student Conferences, visit: Summit.org/students/ For additional free resources from Summit, go to: Summit.org/resources

Are we scrolling ourselves numb while our souls quietly starve? On this episode of Candid Conversations, Jonathan Youssef talks with Brett McCracken and Ivan Mesa, editors of Scrolling Ourselves to Death: Reclaiming Life in a Digital Age, about how digital overload is quietly shaping who we are—often more deeply than we realize. Dive in as they reveal why technology's grip is so persistent, how endless scrolling subtly reshapes our hearts and habits, and why reclaiming our attention is more than a productivity hack. It's a spiritual battle for deeper living and true community.With candid insight and practical wisdom, Brett and Ivan explore the challenges of our dopamine-fueled media culture and the hope Christians can find in refocusing their lives on embodied relationships and intentional spiritual rhythms. If you feel the tug between digital distraction and life-giving presence, this conversation will equip and encourage you.CANDID LISTENER SURVEYWe love bringing you honest, hope-filled conversations about the Christian faith, and we'd love your feedback. We've compiled a short listener survey to help us plan future episodes you'll love. Will you take a couple of minutes to complete it today? Your voice will help shape what's next! Take the Survey NowFollow Candid Conversations on social media:Instagram: @candidpodTikTok: @officiallycandidpodYouTube: @CandidPodSubscribe & Share:If this episode inspired you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others.

Screens and social media have reshaped the world and our minds, bringing an appetite for distraction, loneliness, and increased rates of mental health challenges. It is time for Christians to rethink their relationship with screens and to consider what it means to live faithfully in our screen-dominated world. Our guest today, Brett McCracken, is the co-editor of a helpful and insightful new book Scrolling Ourselves to Death. Brett McCracken is a senior editor and director of communications for The Gospel Coalition. He is the author of multiple books including The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World (Crossway, 2021), as well as the co-editor of Scrolling Ourselves to Death: Reclaiming Life in a Digital Age (Crossway, 2025). He has written for The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Huffington Post, CNN.com, Christianity Today, and many other publications. ==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California. Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically. Watch video episodes at: https://bit.ly/think-biblically-video. To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.

Summary: In this thought-provoking follow-up conversation, Dr. Michael Easley welcomes back Brett McCracken, senior editor at The Gospel Coalition and co-editor of Scrolling Ourselves to Death. Together, they explore the cognitive and spiritual costs of living in a hyper-digital world—highlighting a recent MIT study showing a 47% drop in neural connectivity among heavy AI users. Brett echoes these concerns, drawing parallels between the atrophy of our cognitive muscles and the slow erosion of deep thinking and spiritual formation.  The two unpack the historical role of technology, likening today's AI revolution to the disruptive power of the printing press, urging Christians to approach emerging tools with discernment, not blind adoption. They delve into the "information-action ratio," a term coined by Neil Postman, explaining how modern digital overload floods us with global crises we cannot act on—fostering anxiety and detachment from our local communities. Brett emphasizes the need to reconnect to embodied, local ministry and to resist the curated echo chambers of social media. For both pastors and congregants, the call is clear: return to real relationships, physical Bibles, and rooted discipleship. This episode is a timely challenge to think deeply, live locally, and be formed more by truth than by trends. Takeaways: MIT found a 47% drop in neural connectivity in AI users—proving our brains are thinking less. Technology is not neutral; it forms us and often distorts how we read, think, and relate. The "information-action ratio" explains why we're more anxious than ever—we're informed but powerless to act. Christians must focus on embodied, local ministry rather than digital distractions and global noise. The church should reclaim sacred spaces—encouraging physical Bibles and device-free worship. Social media forms us into echo chambers, but the church should form us into Christlikeness through challenge and community. Links Mentioned: Scrolling Ourselves to Death by Brett McCracken The Wisdom Pyramid by Brett McCracken Uncomfortable by Brett McCracken Watch the highlights and full version of this interview on our Youtube channel. For more inContext interviews, click here.

Chart-topping bands, musicians and rappers are increasingly singing about God. Why? In this documentary episode Justin Brierley revisits the religious awakening of music stars such as Bob Dylan, Alice Cooper, Cliff Richard and U2 as veteran music journalist Steve Turner explains how faith influenced their music. Justin also speaks to TGC editor Brett McCracken about the current religious revival in rock and rap from musicians such as Stormzy, Mumford & Sons, Nick Cave and Coldplay. But there are pitfalls to being a celebrity music convert. Jon McCray (Whaddo You Meme), KD Ruslan and Nick Brewer share thoughts on the case of Kanye and the conflicted world of rap stars singing about faith. X-Factor contestant Talia Dean also shares her story of recently leaving the secular music industry after discovering something much bigger... God. 'Responding To The Rebirth' Conference: http://rebirthconference.net/ More info, book & newsletter: https://justinbrierley.com/surprisingrebirth/ Support via Patreon for early access to new episodes and bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/justinbrierley/membership Support via Tax-deductible (USA) and get the same perks: https://defendersmedia.com/portfolio/justin-brierley/ Give a one-off gift via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/brierleyjustin Buy the book or get a signed copy: https://justinbrierley.com/the-surprising-rebirth-of-belief-in-god/ Got feedback? Share it with us by emailing: feedback@think.faith Ep 16 show notes: https://justinbrierley.com/surprisingrebirth/season-2-episode-16-music The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God is a production of Think Faith in partnership with Genexis, and support from The Jerusalem Trust. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, we are pleased to share an audio essay written and read by Brett McCracken entitled "Unpacking 'You Do You'." Brett McCracken is a senior editor for the Gospel Coalition and the author of 'The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World' from Crossway. ⁠⁠⁠Read the essay here.⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Complete this survey for a free audiobook by Kevin DeYoung!⁠⁠⁠ If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show!

In this episode, Brett McCracken joins me to talk about his new book Scrolling Ourselves to Death and the spiritual toll of living in a world of endless scrolling, constant noise, and digital distraction. Brett offers insight into Neil Postman's prophetic warnings, the dangers of dopamine-driven media, and how the church can resist the tide with a vision of embodied, thoughtful discipleship in the digital age. Brett McCracken is a senior editor and director of communications at The Gospel Coalition. He is the coeditor of Scrolling Ourselves to Death: Reclaiming Life in a Digital Age and the author of The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World, Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community and several other books. Brett and his wife, Kira, live in Santa Ana, California, with their three children. They belong to Southlands Santa Ana. https://www.ryleyheppner.com https://apologeticscanada.com/ryley-heppner/

In 1985, Neil Postman published Amusing Ourselves to Death. That means this year is the 40th birthday of this landmark book. And in that 40 years, Postman's troubling prophesies have mostly come true. Screens have reshaped our minds, our relationships, and our culture. Ivan Mesa and Brett McCracken say that “social media and smartphones have brought an appetite for distraction, an epidemic of loneliness, and increased rates of mental health challenges. Their new book, Scrolling Ourselves to Death, is a collection of essays by them and many others who have studied not only Neil Postman's book, but also the culture – examining both through a Christian worldview lens. Both Postman's original book, and this new book celebrating Postman, have much to offer Christians today, and I'm delighted to have both Brett and Ivan on the podcast. Brett McCracken is a senior editor for The Gospel Coalition and the author of many excellent books, including one of my recent favorites, The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World. Ivan Mesa ha a PhD from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is the editorial director for The Gospel Coalition. He is the author of Before You Lose Your Faith: Deconstructing Doubt in the Church. The producer for today's program is Jeff McIntosh. I'm your host Warren Smith. Until next time, may God bless you.

05/30/2025 - Brett McCracken -on how modern technology shapes our lives

It's been 40 years since Neil Postman wrote his prophetic book, Amusing Ourselves To Death. From the Gospel Coalition, Brett McCracken and Dr. Ivan Mesa will show how the rapid advance of digital technology is reshaping our world and warping our minds. Are we scrolling ourselves to death? Don't miss a timely conversation on Chris Fabry Live. Featured resource:Scrolling Ourselves to Death For more information about the work of Care Net, click here. Chris Fabry Live is listener-supported. To support the program, click here.Become a Back Fence Partner: https://moodyradio.org/donateto/chrisfabrylive/partnersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summary: In this compelling conversation, Michael Easley and Brett McCracken examine the far-reaching impact of digital technology on spiritual life, mental health, and Christian community. They delve into the addictive nature of social media and gaming, drawing on the insights of Neil Postman and George Orwell to frame today's digital challenges. The discussion contrasts passive digital consumption with the richness of active, embodied living, emphasizing how an abundance of dopamine-driven experiences can dull the soul and contribute to a growing mental health crisis. They call Christians to navigate technology with wisdom—using it to serve their mission, not sabotage it—and to prioritize real human connection, spiritual growth through discomfort, and intentional community engagement in an increasingly digital world. Takeaways: Dystopian futures may stem from pleasure, not pain. Dopamine hits from technology can desensitize us. Digital gaming can be a form of mental gambling. The unpredictability of social media is addictive. Pain and discomfort can lead to growth. The stakes of digital engagement are high for Christians. LINKS MENTIONED: Scrolling Ourselves to Death by Brett McCracken The Wisdom Pyramid by Brett McCracken Uncomfortable by Brett McCracken Watch the highlights and full version of this interview on our Youtube channel. For more inContext interviews, click here.

In this episode, Brett McCracken and Ivan Mesa discuss how our phone addictions impact our spiritual lives. Brett McCracken is a senior editor, and Ivan Mesa is the editorial director at the Gospel Coalition. Together they edited 'Scrolling Ourselves to Death: Reclaiming Life in a Digital Age' from Crossway. Read the full transcript of this episode. ❖ Listen to “Why You Can't Stop Looking at Your Phone” with Samuel James: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show!

Episode Notes What could a book written about television forty years ago possibly have to teach us about living well and wisely in our world of smartphones, social media, and high-speed connectivity? According to the editors of Scrolling Ourselves to Death: Reclaiming Life in a Digital Age, a lot! In this episode, Brett McCracken and Dr. Ivan Mesa join Dr. Keith Plummer to discuss why Neil Postman's classic volume Amusing Ourselves to Death is still amazingly relevant and how they hope their project will help the body of Christ.

Isn't it fascinating how melody, harmony, and even chord progressions in music can stir our hearts to worship God and remind us of the beauty of his character? In this episode of TGC Podcast, Brett McCracken talks with musicians Caroline Cobb, Cody Curtis, and Eric Owyoung about the unique power of Advent and Christmas music.They explore how music captures the longing, joy, and tension of the season—reflecting the celebration of Christ's first coming and the anticipation of his return. The artists share insights on creating music for these themes, highlighting how Advent and Christmas music can deepen our worship and reflection.Mentioned on this episode:Unto Us: 25 Advent Devotions About the Messiah, Advent devotional by TGC“The Weary World Rejoices: A TGC Advent Concert”“Advent Longing / Christmas Joy” by Brett McCracken: article and Spotify playlistCaroline Cobb:Advent for Exiles: 25 Devotions to Awaken Gospel Hope in Every Longing Heart by Caroline CobbA Seed, A Sunrise album by Caroline CobbCody Curtis: Advent Songs and Christmas Songs albums by PsallosFuture of Forestry:“O Come O Come Emmanuel” and “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”“Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring”“The Advent Song”“The Earth Stood Still”“What Beauty”Help The Gospel Coalition build up a renewed church for tomorrow. Let's Build Together: Donate Today at tgc.org/together

“Our world has more and more information, but less and less wisdom. More data; less clarity. More stimulation; less synthesis. More distraction; less stillness. More pontificating; less pondering. More opinion; less research. More speaking; less listening. More to look at; less to see. More amusements; less joy. There is more, but we are less. And we all feel it.” - Brett McCracken, The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World In an era of unlimited access to information we need uncommon wisdom from the Lord.

Brett McCracken is a senior editor and director of communications at The Gospel Coalition. He is the author of several books, including The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World and Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community. brettmccracken.com In this conversation, Paul Anleitner and Brett McCracken explore the concept of metamodernism as a response to postmodernism, discussing its implications in storytelling, culture, and spirituality. They delve into the characteristics of modernism and postmodernism, the cultural shifts observed in cinema, and the search for authenticity and resonance in a world saturated with superficial content. The discussion also touches on the challenges faced by Christianity in a post-Christian culture, emphasizing the need for the church to engage meaningfully with contemporary cultural longings while maintaining its core beliefs. Deep Talks is a listener-supported podcast. Become a member on Patreon today: https://www.patreon.com/deeptalkstheologypodcast   For the lecture series on Metamodernism: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2EZScsHowQFM32YIYXZ3ch?si=2CCbm5mMT_arZBSAtzsn7w

¡Hola a todos!

Feedback is terrifying. It's vulnerable to have your writing scrutinized, especially when you've poured so much of your time, heart, and energy into it. It's tempting to avoid feedback altogether, but this ignores the overwhelming research on the benefits of coaching and mentorship. We grow faster and more profoundly under the tutelage of others. If you ignore this and go it alone, your craft will suffer.   Today's guest is a master of feedback, since he's a senior editor at The Gospel Coalition, as well as the author of four fantastic books. In this conversation, Brett McCracken shares with book editor Will Parker Anderson: How to ask for feedback without being a nuisance Common cliches and writing mistakes you should avoid How to spark ideas by reading topically Why you should anchor every piece in a central idea  How to find a writing rhythm that works for your season of life Brett's seasoned advice will embolden you to see feedback as a primary source of growth. It's only when we practice together, side by side, that our full potential is realized. In the end, the joy of community eclipses even the sweetest moments of solitary practice.        EPISODE LINKS   Subscribe to Will's weekly newsletter: willparker.me Please rate this podcast: Apple | Spotify Will's Instagram: @willparkeranderson Will's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willparkeranderson/ Brett's latest books: Uncomfortable, The Wisdom Pyramid

Ian Simkins on the difficulty in waiting Steve Millar on X: "Dude ripped a reporter to shreds for asking him about the Texas job, gives a passionate speech about how he's never leaving A&M and then takes the Texas job less than hours later. Wild stuff." Brett McCracken on X: "When *seeing reality tangibly* becomes less compelling to us than *being seen virtually,* we lose perspective and purpose. Let's be hungrier to *truly see* the beauty of God's creation than to *have others see us seeing* the beauty. When My Sermon Riled Our City Eternal Real Estate? A Church in Mexico Is Selling Plots of Land in Heaven Daily DevotionsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Pastor Cody Cannon and Pastor Thomas Terry are joined by Brett McCracken, a senior editor and director of communications at the Gospel Coalition and the author of Wisdom Pyramid and Uncomfortable, to discuss what cancel culture is and how we can strive to maintain unity as a local church in a world that has a cancel culture.

Where do we go for wise information? Many people will say social media or the internet but what is the true source of wisdom and how do we access it?  Brett McCracken joins Chris Brooks to walk us through a healthy diet of biblical wisdom from some surprising sources! Learn to become discerning about how you consume information to develop a heart of wisdom!

Today's technologies flood us with an endless stream of information—and it's making our minds and hearts sick. How can we find health and seek wisdom in our digital age? Brett McCracken, author and senior editor at the Gospel Coalition website, shares the strategy from his book, The Wisdom Pyramid, in this friendly guide to Classical Christian Education.

Thanks to today's podcast sponsor, SimpleNexus, an nCino Company, developer of mortgage technology uniting the people, systems, and stages of the mortgage process into one seamless, end-to-end solution.Learn more at simplenexus.com. 

Author Brett McCracken joins LAB: The Podcast for a conversation on his latest book, The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World. Brett is a Senior Editor and Director of Communications at The Gospel Coalition and also author of The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community, Gray Matters: Navigating the Space Between Legalism and Liberty, and Hipster Christianity: When Church and Cool Collide. Brett and his wife, Kira, live in Santa Ana, California, with their three children. They belong to Southlands Church, and Brett serves as an elder. This Wisdom Pyramid is an important read in our moment. Pick up a copy and don't miss a great conversation with Brett. 

Brett McCracken joins the show to discuss great war movies you can watch to celebrate the Fourth of July. These movies are chosen for their quality of filmmaking, as well as for their themes of bravery, sacrifice, and more. We also discussed how Christians should think about movies and what it means to discern the worldviews embedded in the content.Brett McCracken is a senior editor and director of communications at The Gospel Coalition. He is the author of The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World, Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community, Gray Matters: Navigating the Space Between Legalism and Liberty, and Hipster Christianity: When Church and Cool Collide. Brett and his wife, Kira, live in Santa Ana, California, with their three children. They belong to Southlands Church, and Brett serves as an elder. You can follow him on Twitter.Check out the full show notes for this episode: https://www.aaronshamp.com/podcast/brett-mccrackenSUPPORT THIS PODCAST: https://www.aaronshamp.com/support ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––Track: Perseverance — Land of Fire [Audio Library Release]Music provided by Audio Library Plus​––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Happy Easter, everyone! We hope you have had a refreshing Lenten season and that your Easter celebrations today were encouraging and soul-stirring. On this episode we welcome back longtime friend of the show, Brett McCracken (who was our first guest), back for his fifth appearance on The Substance. Brett is a writer, a film critic of 15+ years, and he's currently a Senior Editor at The Gospel Coalition where he covers culture and the arts. Previously, we've looked at three other Malick films (links below) and one that was very much Malick adjacent (Minari, also below). This time, we're going back to the beginning. 50 years ago, Terrence Malick's Badlands debuted at the New York Film Festival where it was the star of the show, even overshadowing Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets in the eyes of many. Badlands is an impressionistic reimagining of the Charles Starkweather story. It's one forgotten to many now, or mainly known because of this film, but to the generation of filmgoers in the early 70s, this was a chilling and familiar story that was deeply tied into American culture. Badlands is not currently on any of the subscription streaming services but it's available to rent or purchase on several platforms. It is also available to purchase from The Criterion Collection and is likely at many of your local libraries! :) If you enjoy the show, consider leaving a rating & review on iTunes or Spotify and sharing with a friend! Links Tree of Life Ep. 8 A Hidden Life Ep. 19 Minari Ep. 49 The Thin Red Line Ep. 91 Criterion Article Brett's Review Shoutouts: Trevor: Death Below (August Burns Red) Philip: Columbus (Streaming free on Kanopy if your library supports the service) https://www.kanopy.com Follow Us: Website Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Share Your Questions/Suggestions/Feedback With Us: Email: thesubstancepod@gmail.com Phone: 913-703-3883 Support Us: Support the show with an individual donation on CashApp to $TheSubstancePod or become a monthly supporter at the Anchor link below! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thesubstancepod/support

Author and Senior Editor and Director of Communications at The Gospel Coalition, Brett McCracken,  processes with host, Ross Cochran, on […] The post Brett McCracken: Technology Wisdom appeared first on Child Discipleship.

Tilly's husband Justin joins the podcast to talk about something he's been trying to train her in for the last ten years: intellectual virtue. How do we become God-honoring thinkers, who are honest, teachable, open to reason, lovers of truth, curious, attentive listeners, just, courageous, studious, and patient? How do we recognize intellectual virtue in other voices that we tune in to? Can we change our minds when the evidence demands that we do so? Can we also protect ourselves from becoming reeds blown by every wind of doctrine? How does this intellectual responsibility fit into the practical life of the mother at home? All questions answered in full by pastor Justin Dillehay and Abigail;) --- Epistemology, W.J. Wood (early chapters referenced in episode) The Wisdom Pyramid, Brett McCracken

On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast, we present an episode of the Hank Unplugged podcast. Hank's guest is Brett McCracken, senior editor for the Gospel Coalition and author of The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World. Hank and Brett discuss the paradox of lacking wisdom during the information age, the importance of contemplation, how to read, chronological snobbery—if innovation is always better, the danger of being a digital wanderer, and the problem of algorithm-driven, hyper-partisan echo chambers.

On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast (12/16/22), we pick up where we ended on our previous broadcast and present more of an episode of the Hank Unplugged podcast. Hank is talking with Brett McCracken, senior editor for the Gospel Coalition and author of The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World. Hank and Brett discuss the synergy between Christianity and science, the importance of being involved in your local community, our innate need for nature, the importance of developing the discipline of reading, and the synergy of beauty and silence.

On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast (12/15/22), we pick up where we ended on our previous broadcast and present more of an episode of the Hank Unplugged podcast. Hank is talking with Brett McCracken, senior editor for the Gospel Coalition and author of The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World. Hank and Brett discuss the biggest challenges for the church in the digital age, the connection between embodiment, the church, and wisdom; approaching the Bible with humility and learning to live with tension and paradox, the rhythms of the church calendar, and consumeristic Christianity.

On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast (12/14/22), we pick up where we ended on our previous broadcast and present more of an episode of the Hank Unplugged podcast. Hank is talking with Brett McCracken, senior editor for the Gospel Coalition and author of The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World. Hank and Brett discuss the democratization of information and the death of expertise, the tension between feelings, reality, and the self; if wisdom can exist apart from God, and the biggest challenges for the Church in the digital age.

On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast (12/13/22), we present an episode of the Hank Unplugged podcast. Hank's guest is Brett McCracken, senior editor for the Gospel Coalition and author of The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World. Hank and Brett discuss the paradox of lacking wisdom during the information age, the importance of contemplation, how to read, chronological snobbery—if innovation is always better, the danger of being a digital wanderer, and the problem of algorithm-driven, hyper-partisan echo chambers.

​Why aren't we wise? One of the greatest paradoxes of the information age—a historic period of unparalleled access to information and knowledge—is that we are woefully unwise. In the face of dizzying distractions we encounter on a daily basis, Christians are called to cultivate wisdom. But, what does wisdom look like? In an effort to help us consume a more balanced, healthy diet of information, our guest Brett McCracken has created the “Wisdom Pyramid.” Inspired by the food pyramid model, the Wisdom Pyramid challenges us to increase our intake of enduring, trustworthy sources (like the Bible) while moderating our consumption of less reliable sources (like the Internet and social media). At a time when so much of our daily media diet is toxic and making us spiritually sick, The Wisdom Pyramid suggests that we become healthy and wise when we reorient our lives around God―the foundation of truth and the eternal source of wisdom. For more information on The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World and how to receive for your partnering gift please click here. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-the-wisdom-pyramid-feeding-your-soul-in-a-post-truth-world/Topics discussed include: The paradox of lacking wisdom during the information age (2:30); the importance of contemplation (4:30); do you know how to read? (8:15); chronological snobbery—is innovation always better? (10:00); the danger of being a digital wanderer (12:45); the problem of algorithm driven, hyper-partisan echo chambers combined with the sorry state of journalism today (15:55); the democratization of information and the death of expertise (20:00); the tension between feelings, reality and the self (25:15); can wisdom exist apart from God? (32:10); what are the biggest challenges for the church in the digital age? (36:30); the connection between embodiment, the church and wisdom (43:00); approaching the Bible with humility and learning to live with tension and paradox (48:35); the rhythms of the church calendar (55:00); the synergy between Christianity and science (56:05); the importance of being involved in your local community (1:03:45); our innate need for nature (1:07:00); the importance of developing the discipline of reading (1:11:00); the synergy of silence and beauty and their relationship to the Sabbath (1:19:25); 5 habits to cultivate wisdom online (1:21:50); what does wisdom look like? (1:27:15). Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

“Go online for a purpose, go for a reason. Stay online only as long as you need to, and then go offline.” — Brett McCrackenIn his message at TGC21, Brett McCracken addresses an issue of today's generation of quick information—how to develop wisdom in the midst of all that is being thrown at us, online. He shares three things that are making us sick:We have too much informationWe receive it too quicklyThe information is too focused on the individual (self)As an antidote to these problems, McCracken forms a “wisdom pyramid” which is similar to the food pyramid. In each level of the pyramid, he describes how much time we should be spending in relation to the other levels. For example, most of our time should be spent in the Bible, which is the foundation of the pyramid, and the least amount of time should be spent on social media and the internet, which is the top of the pyramid. Like a healthy diet, The Wisdom Pyramid  is a guide to lead us into better spiritual and physical health.

Jon reviews an article from TGC called “Stop Throwing Pastors Under the Bus” by Brett McCracken.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conversations-that-matter8971/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy