Misunderstanding church & spiritual growth, you are a priest, people knowing you're Christian
In this conversation, Graeme and Joey clarify and elaborate on their conversation with Andrew Root. The conversation delves into the role of Christians in society, emphasizing the importance of identifying oneself as a Christian in various settings. Joey and Graeme discuss the concept of being a "royal priesthood," traversing two worlds, and the need for Christians to be visible and present in their communities. They explore the idea of evangelism as consolation, particularly in moments of despair, and the relational ministry philosophy of Andrew Root. The discussion also touches on the stabilizing factors in faith communities, suggesting that faithfulness and presence in the now are more important than growth.00:00 Teaser01:21 Introduction4:13 Surprised by despair - hopeful evangelism11:52 We're all priests17:17 What to offer a dying man?22:12 Stop functionalising people27:07 Most alive in relational ministry35:15 I invited people to Alpha38:15 People need to know you're a Christian42:27 More on issues with growth as stabiliser48:02 In Christ as stabiliserLunch on The Way is a podcast that deeply discusses Christianity, Church, Culture, and Jesus.Available on ALL podcast platforms https://lunchontheway.buzzsprout.com/sharePodcast hosts are Greame Flett, Jonathan Hoskin, and Joey Millington.The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individuals expressing and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of any affiliated organisations or ministries.
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57:46
Andrew Root | Stabilising Discipleship and Churches, Prayer as Key Competency, Despair & Evangelism
In this episode, Graeme and Joey have a brilliant conversation with Dr Andrew Root as they discuss a humanising approach to evangelism, the digital space and discipleship, what the key competency of a pastor should be, growth as modernity's stabiliser, and much more!Andrew Root, PhD (Princeton Theological Seminary) is the Carrie Olson Baalson Professor of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary. He is most recently the author of Evangelism in an Age of Despair and the six volume Ministry in a Secular Age series (including Churches and the Crisis of Decline, The Congregation in a Secular Age, The Pastor in a Secular Age, The Church After Innovation, The Church in a Age of Secular Mysticism and Faith Formation in a Secular Age). He is also the author of The End of Youth Ministry? and more than dozen other books. Andy also serves as theologian in residence at Youthfront. He has worked in congregations, parachurch ministries, and social service programs. He lives in St. Paul with his wife Kara, two children, Owen and Maisy, and their dog. When not reading, writing, or teaching, Andy spends far too much time watching TV and movies.PODCAST ..."When Church Stops Workings Featuring Andrew Root" https://www.andrewroot.org/podcast/PUBLICATIONS ... https://www.andrewroot.org/books/"Evangelism is an Age of Despair""The Church in an Age of Secular Mysticism""When the Church Stops Working""The Church After Innovation""Churches and the Crisis of Decline""The Congregation in a Secular Age"AND MANY MORE ... https://www.andrewroot.org/books/Podcast hosts are Greame Flett, Jonathan Hoskin, and Joey Millington.The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individuals expressing and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of any affiliated organisations or ministries.
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1:17:06
Rev. Frank Ritchie | People Want Irrelevant Churches, Rediscovering Tradition, Culture and Media
In this episode of Lunch on The Way, Rev. Frank Ritchie discusses how places and spaces of worship hold our spirituality when we can't muster it up, his various experiences with different religions and expressions of the Christian faith, how and why Holy Communion is so important for the church, why wearing a clerical collar matters for pastors, how the media are open to Christianity, and why irrelevant churches are paradoxically relevant.Frank is an ordained minister in the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Aoteroa-New Zealand, a media chaplain, and national Christian voice in New Zealand.00:00 Teaser01:28 Introduction06:37 Cathedrals hold our faith13:00 Frank's journey with faith over the decades20:00 Holy Communion holds our spirituality26:32 Why wear a clerical collar?40:01 The Media are not anti-Christian50:32 Challenges in the Media Industry54:20 Irrelevant Churches are attractiveCheck out Frank's Substack for theological, cultural, and formational reflections and insights https://frankritchie.substack.com/Podcast hosts are Greame Flett, Jonathan Hoskin, and Joey Millington.The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individuals expressing and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of any affiliated organisations or ministries.
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1:00:33
Ministry and its Irresistible Call, People Matter More Than ... with Louise Wernich
Graeme and Joey welcome Louise to the podcast and discuss Louise's journey into ministry and her families immigration to New Zealand from South Africa, the impact of COVID on the South African church and her family, how a call to ministry can't be ignored, Graeme's call into ministry, reflections on pastoring more than 20 decades, how business-church forgets about the people (ironically), and much more.00:00 Teaser1:00 Introduction03:39 Louise's Journey into Ministry, and Family17:33 COVID in South Africa and the church23:13 Louise moving to New Zealand26:58 Ministry is a calling that can't be ignored30:00 Graeme's call into ministry34:40 Louise's reflections on pastoring36:55 The most important part of church is people41:35 Undoing Business-church46:10 What an MBA has can teach pastors55:49 NZ & South African Cultural Observations1:02:40 Adjusting after ImmigrationLunch on The Way is a podcast that deeply discusses Christianity, Church, Culture, and Jesus.Available on ALL podcast platforms https://lunchontheway.buzzsprout.com/sharePodcast hosts are Greame Flett, Jonathan Hoskin, and Joey Millington.The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individuals expressing and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of any affiliated organisations or ministries.
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1:04:46
Visited a NEW Mormon Temple, Architecture is Theology, Reflecting on Mark Sayers Convo
In this conversation, Graeme and Joey discuss Joey's experience at Auckland's new Mormon Temple, how architecture reveals a church's/religion's theology, the craziness of the world, how Canada and US relations is a microcosm of the disruption the world will feel, and much more.Podcast hosts are Greame Flett, Jonathan Hoskin, and Joey Millington.The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individuals expressing and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of any affiliated organisations or ministries.
Kia Ora Koutou, and welcome to Lunch on The Way! We're three guys doing theology over lunch, and sometimes we'll do that with others. We talk about church, culture, theology, philosophy, and more, always wanting to be as practical as possible. This is a thinking podcast more than a teaching podcast. We want to warn you, that what's said here is not yet complete, because, like any good conversation, you never want it to end.
New Zealand