The Rebranding Christianity Podcast

Are you listening on your phone right now? Same here. Tech and screens are everywhere, and we all know that they have impacted our ability to connect with the people right in front of us. In this episode, we talk with Joey Odom about how to detox from tech in a way that actually makes our lives more fun and fulfilling, the spiritual side of screens, and his own story of missing key moments because he was too busy scrolling. 

Why do so many churches share the same mission—to make disciples—but approach it in ways that often fail to connect with those outside their walls? In this episode, we talk with Justin Elam, Director of the Irresistible Church Network, about what it means to design churches with outsiders in mind. He shares how the Network equips churches to create environments that are welcoming, engaging, and built to reach people who might not already be part of the club.

The core of Christianity is surprisingly simple. Or is it? Glenn Packiam helps us thinkabout what is core to the faith by exploring ancient creeds. On this episode, we talk about howdisorienting faith in this culture can feel, and the ancient tools that can help us get orientedtowards Jesus again.

Deconstruction has increased in recent years. But what does that actually mean? Scot McKnight and Tommy Preston Phillips help us think about deconstruction and how to navigate it in our own lives, circles, and communities.

Awkward. What do we do with the taboo questions and situations that surround us? Ignore them and hope they go away, right? Okay, maybe not. We’re talking to Mike Novotny about the most taboo topics Christians need to think about and wrestle with to love people well. Today, we’re talking about gender dysphoria, the gay community and church, and our posture towards the taboo.

Ahhh. Post election peace. Just kidding! Today, we're talking to Abby McCloskey, a writer and thinker about American politics. We talk about before and after the election, double listening, and how politics isn't like Vegas (but how Christians often treat it like it is).

Christianity is inherently relational. So it's important we get this part of life right. We're talking to Dr. Bryan Loritts about deep friendship, why your calendaring habits matter so much, and the bigget friendship killers we all face.For more information visit: https://bryanloritts.com/ 

It seemed like there was a new headline every week about the latest high-profile church leaders' moral failings. A lot of these were centered in DFW, which happens to be the same area where the Rebranding Christianity team lives and works. In this podcast, we talk about what we can learn from pastoral failings and abuse, celebrity church culture, and the bigger-than-you-might-think pockets of hope in church leadership.

Ep.29 Politics and Christians Behaving Badly Publish Date: October 8, 2024Rebranding Christianity was in part written because of the Evangelical Christian response to the 2020 election. Fast forward 4 years and in a new election season, what's changed and what's still the same? How can we all reflect the heart of Jesus a little better in a contentious election? And how do identity politics affect Christians for good and for bad? 

Ep.28 Safe Churches, Grace, and the End TimesGuest: Max LucadoPublish Date: September 17, 2024https://maxlucado.com/Max Lucado knows a thing or two about Jesus-style love. In this episode of Rebranding Christianity, we sit down with Max Lucado to talk about risky messages in safe churches, the Christian brand of grace, and how thinking about the end times can color our perspective to live more like Jesus in the here and now.

Ep.27 Who Are the 40 Million Dechurched?Guest: Michael GrahamPublish Date: August 20, 2024https://dechurching.com/You may have heard the stats. 40 million have "dechurched" in the last few decades. This isn't a small problem, and it's not abstract- many of those 40 million are our own friends and family. Today, we're hearing from Michael Graham on the suprising data around the 40 million, what we can learn from their reasons for dechurching, and how we can build compelling communities that make people curious about what they're missing.

Ep.26 Cultivating Welcoming Churches - with Shane StanfordGuest: Shane StanfordPublish Date: August 20, 2024https://shanestanford.com/When Shane Stanford was told he had HIV due to a contaminated blood tranfusion, his mom told him the last people he could share that with were his friends at church. We're learning from his journey of church planting as an HIV-positive man, getting to know Jesus when you thought you knew him all along, and how to cultivate churches that lead with love.

Ep. 25 Know The Truth, Make It Beautiful - with Carmen LabergeGuest: Carmen LabergePublish Date: August 6, 2024https://carmenlaberge.com/The love and truth of Jesus continues to surprise us, 2000 years later. What can we learn from that suprising, refreshing reality and how does that change the way we interact with culture? Today, we're talking about beauty pagents, defensiveness, and the ways we all can take a step closer to representing the true heart of God to a world who craves him. 

Ep. 25 Faith in Silicon Valley - with Rusty RueffGuest: Rusty RueffPublish Date: July 16Hosts: Mike Hogan, Jeff Jones, Eric Torrence, Darby DeBusk  https://thefaithcode.com/  What does it look like to have vibrant faith in a tech-forward environment? It might be different than what you think. Rusty Rueff, the host of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast, has some thoughts on communicating biblical principles for a unique context and living them out in refreshing ways. In this episode, we talk about his book The Faith Code, the surprising results of being like Jesus in the work place, and how we can all think creatively about modeling Jesus in our own contexts. 

Ep. 23 Neighborliness, Bias, and Disparity – With David DocusenGuest: David DocusenPublish date: July 2Hosts: Jeff Jones, Mike Hogan, Eric Torrence, Darby DeBusk https://daviddocusen.com/ Bias, reconciliation, and inclusion may be trigger words for some, but they are key gospel concepts that are important to getting back to the heart of Jesus’ mission for the church. David Docusen, author of Neighborliness, has spent much of his life creating conversation around hot topics and helping Christians navigate them with nuance and thoughtfulness.At Rebranding Christianity, we think a lot of Christians struggle with thinking and engaging with tricky topics with nuance and grace, which leads to misrepresenting God’s heart for people. In this episode, we talk about getting out of the bubble, creating a Kingdom culture together, and why courage and curiousity are the most valuable tools in our toolbelt.

Ep. 23 Jesus Doesn’t Need a Lawyer – With Bob GoffGuest: Bob GoffPublish date: June 19, 2024Hosts: Jeff Jones, Eric Torrence, Darby DeBusk https://www.bobgoff.comIs the American church distracted? We think yes. If you’ve listened to Rebranding Christianity before, you know that we think the church is distracted towards a brand of faith that is marked more by greed and hypocrisy than the radical love of Jesus. Bob Goff is an author, speaker, and “recovering lawyer” who writes about how distraction in our own lives can lead us places we don’t want to be. In this episode, we talk about how Bob’s principles relate to the church, why Jesus is looking for ushers, not bouncers, and how to recapture the focused love of Jesus that a watching world desperately craves. 

Ep. 21 The Peace of God in the World We Live In – with Brant HansenPublish date: May 21, 2024Host: Greg HolmesGuest: Brant HansenMaybe the reason Evangelical Christians appear angry is because we ARE angry. Maybe The reason we come across as controlling or combative culture warriors is because we are anxious and fearful of what we see happening in our world. Jesus had a lot to say about our own anger, fear, and anxiety.Is it possible to be engaged in what is going on the world while also maintaining a prevailing sense of peace that comes only from God?  In this episode we talk with author and radio host Brant Hansen, about his new book “Life is Hard, God is Good, Let’s Dance: Living in Peace in a World Gone Mad”. We discuss whether real peace and joy is possible in the world we actually live in.

Ep. 20: Restore the Table – with Ryan RushPublish date: May 7, 2024Host: Greg HolmesGuest: Ryan Rush  What if way to strengthen bonds and bridge divides is something we are already doing every day?Today, we’re talking with Ryan Rush, author of “Restore the Table: Discover the Powerful Connections of Meaningful Mealtimes” about the power of a shared meal. In this episode, we talk about the dinner parties Jesus went to, why a simple sloppy joe recipe can stick with us for years, and how the table at mealtimes can impact faith and culture in extraordinary ways.https://www.restorethetable.org (https://www.restorethetable.org/)

Ep. 19: Thinking Deeply About the Cross With Brian ZahndPublish date: April 16, 2024Host: Greg HolmesGuest: Brian Zahndhttps://brianzahnd.com Theology can be dry and academic, but it can also be mysterious and deeply moving. The way we as Christians think about the cross can affect how we interact with the world and love the people around us. In this episode, we talk with Brian Zahnd about how when we understand the cross, it changes everything.  

Ep. 18: Gracious Orthodoxy With Bruce MillerPublish Date: April 3, 2024Hosts: Jeff Jones, Greg Holmes, and Mike HoganGuest: Bruce Millerhttps://www.brucebmiller.com/“But what about TRUTH?” Is it true that when we focus on the radical love of Jesus, truth goes by the wayside? Join us as we hear from Bruce Miller, a theologian and pastor who has thought a lot about the intersection of grace and truth. In this conversation, we talk about proximity to sin, partying with the mafia, and the irony of becoming more “religious” while actually moving away from the heart of Jesus.

Ep. 17: Is the word “Evangelical” even helpful anymore? – with Brad SmithPublish date: March 19, 2024Hosts: Jeff Jones, Greg Holmes, Cindy Park, Mike HoganGuest: Brad Smith https://bgu.edu/people/brad-smith  What does the word “Evangelical” mean? That is a difficult question to answer. Officially, “Evangelical” has a rich and profound theological meaning for Evangelical Christians all over the world. Here in a America, however, it has come to describe a political voting bloc. Is it worth the effort to try and reclaim this word’s theological significance? Is this word worth fighting for? Or would it be better for Evangelicals who don’t align with its popular American meaning to just start using a different word to describe themselves? We pose this question to Brad Smith, Chancellor of Bakke Graduate University and director of the Global Institute of Leadership of the World Evangelical Alliance.

Ep. 16: A New Testament Scholar Considers the Future – with Dr. Darrel BockPublish Date: March 5, 2024Hosts: Jeff Jones, Greg Holmes, Cindy Park, Mike HoganGuest: Dr. Darrel Bockhttps://www.dts.edu/employee/darrell-bock/ What does the Bible have to say about current attempts by Christians to change culture through legislation? If the church has gone off track, what does the Bible prescribe as a way forward? As a New Testament scholar considers the future of the American church, what does he see? Join us for this “Part 2” of a fascinating conversation with Dr Darrel Bock

Ep. 15: A New Testament Scholar Weighs In With Dr. Darrel BockPublish Date: February 20, 2024Hosts: Jeff Jones and Greg HolmesGuest: Dr. Darrel Bock https://www.dts.edu/employee/darrell-bock/ How does a New Testament scholar feel about the current state of Christianity in America? Join us as hear from Dr. Darrel Bock, one of the most well-respected New Testament scholars in the world. In this “part 1” of a two-part discussion, Dr Bock brings a refreshing and challenging take on the Kingdom of God and Jesus’ important teaching to “love your enemies”.

Ep. 14 How Are They Right? With Dwight JewsonPublish Date: February 6, 2024Host: Jeff JonesGuest: Dwight Jewsonhttps://www.act3holdings.com/dwight-jewsonThis is the second half of a conversation with branding and marketing expert, Dwight Jewson. Along with helping some of the largest brands in the world, Dwight has also worked on numerous high-profile political campaigns. His experiences have taught him a thing or two about the benefits (and challenges) of drawing people together from opposing sides. In this conversation, Dwight shares some important steps toward finding common ground so that we can all move forward together.

Ep 13: The Secret Sauce With Dwight JewsonPublish Date: January 16, 2024Host: Jeff JonesCo-Host: Greg Holmes, Cindy Park, and Mike HoganGuest: Dwight Jewsonhttps://www.act3holdings.com/dwight-jewsonThis is part one of a two-part conversation with Dwight Jewson. As one of the top branding and marketing experts in the country the list of companies that Dwight Jewson has helped is a who’s who of corporate America. Dwight is a self-described “none” with no religious affiliation. But as someone who is deeply spiritual who has also received theological training, Dwight is able to clearly see the church’s “secret sauce” in the midst of a world that is hurting and in desperate need.

Publish Date: December 12, 2023A lot happened in 2023 and there are some exciting things to come with Rebranding Christianity. But as we approach Christmas and a brand new year, lets pause and consider how a fresh perspective on who Jesus is, what he came to bring, and who he calls us to be might affect how we celebrate the holiday season.

Publish Date: October 24, 2023Didn’t Jesus himself say that we would be hated and that we shouldn’t feel surprised when the world hates us? If so, then why should we care how we are perceived? Jesus himself dealt with this issue and so did the early church. We can learn a lot from their examples.

Publish Date: October 17, 2023What is a brand ambassador and what does it look like to be a good brand ambassador for a “Jesus brand” of Christianity? Sometimes it involves what we say. It always involves how we say it. Tone matter. A lot.

Publish Date: October 10, 2023As Christian communities work to move the needle back toward a more “Jesus brand” of loving and gracious Christianity, what are some practical steps we can take? A couple of obvious answers might be “do good in the community” and “be welcoming to all”. But these are not obvious answers, and they can be quite tricky to pursue in our culture. We will talk about how Christian communities can build a reputation of service and welcome.

Publish Date: October 23, 2023The work of Jesus breaks down the barriers between us and God and also between us and each other. These natural barriers of race, ethnicity, gender, and socio-economic factors work to keep us divided. One of the most compelling arguments for Christianity is the development of an inclusive and diverse community that defies natural explanation. Rebuilding the Christian brand involves a commitment toward increased diversity.

Publish Date: September 26, 2023As America transitions into a post-Christian era, the church increasingly finds itself on the outside looking in. Younger generations who will lead our culture in the future have made it quite clear how they feel about current American Christianity. How should Christians respond when culture moves away from traditional Christian norms? Many Christians have elected to fight culture wars to win back lost ground. Maybe there is another way.

Publish Date: September 19, 2023Public perceptions of Christianity were trending in the wrong direction well before COVID-19, but there was something about the pandemic years that caused a rapid decline. What was it? Did COVID change Christianity in America, or did it reveal unattractive qualities that were already there, but hidden?

Publish Date: September 12, 2023As we have discussed already in the Rebranding Christianity podcast, brands provide a short-hand understanding of what a product or person or movement is all about. When we think of a certain brand what we are actually thinking about are the products, promises, and values that we associate with that brand. So, when a brand violates its promises or becomes to be known for negative things (bad products, poor customer service, etc) the brand loses public trust and begins to diminish. We have also discussed that Jesus made clear what the brand is supposed to be 2,000 years ago. In today’s episode we are going to combine these thoughts and talk about the disheartening truth that when people outside of the church are asked to describe Christianity, they don’t describe what Jesus told Christians to be known for.

Publish Date: September 5, 2023When we think about what the “brand” of Christianity is supposed to be, the good news is, we don’t have to guess. Jesus gave us the brand. He was quite clear about it too. He said, I want for your reputation to be.. this. When people think of you, he said, they should think of.. this. We will talk about what “this” is and why it is so critical that the American church make a concerted effort to prioritize it.

Publish Date: August 29, 2023Is it okay to call Christianity a brand? Is that helpful or disrespectful? Are concepts such as “brand promise” and “net promoter score” useful as we seek to understand the perceptions people have toward Christianity in America? We interact with brands every day. The more we can understand the psychology behind our relationship with brands the more we can understand the falling perceptions of Christianity in America.

Publish Date: August 22, 2023In this episode we hear from Mike Hogan, co-author of Rebranding Christianity. As a Christian, Mike is concerned about the state of Christianity in America. As a branding and marketing expert, Mike is able to see how so much of the decline of American Christianity is due to our own mishandling of the Christian brand. We will hear Mike’s backstory and his reasons for excitement around the Rebranding Christianity project.

Publish Date: August 15, 2023What is a pastor supposed to do when he comes to the conviction that much of American Christianity is not representing Jesus well? How should a pastor respond? How should they lead their church through such a confusing cultural moment? We begin our podcast journey by talking to Jeff Jones and Mike Hogan, authors of Rebranding Christianity. In this first episode we hear from Jeff Jones. We learn about Jeff’s backstory and his continuing work of trying to lead a church well even during a time when American Christianity is in dire need of a rebrand.