Church Disrupted

In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran, Shawn Reece, and Corey Laster talk about how unlearning cultural Christianity can actually lead us closer to Jesus. But its definitely not easy!!! Unlearning the traditions and systems we have known comes with painful cognitive dissonance. This unlearning is painful but worth it. So, if you are brave enough to check your preconceived notions at the door, press play, and let's dive into this conversation together. Want to support SAI financially? https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaign THANK YOU to our podcast partner, the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/. Join the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6Z Please Subscribe and Share! Chapters 00:00 Unlearning Cultural Christianity 05:56 Cognitive Dissonance in Faith 12:03 The Nature of Church and Community 18:03 The Impact of Financial Structures on Ministry 24:14 The Evolution of Pastoral Roles 29:52 Redefining Church and Community Engagement 54:32 Understanding God's Love and Acceptance 58:34 Navigating Church Dynamics and Questions 01:00:02 The Role of Pastors and Church Staff 01:01:27 The Complexity of Theological Teachings 01:02:25 The Fear of Being Wrong in Teaching 01:04:49 The Misconception of Defending the Gospel 01:06:13 The Nuance of Paul's Teachings 01:08:05 The Prophetic Nature of Deconstruction 01:10:00 Rethinking Salvation and Baptism 01:12:48 The Importance of Discipleship 01:14:17 The Church's Response to Deconstruction 01:16:41 Creating Safe Spaces for Questions 01:18:33 The Role of the Holy Spirit in Understanding 01:20:54 The Importance of Different Perspectives 01:22:22 God's Sovereignty in Our Mistakes 01:24:18 The Fear of Man vs. Fear of God 01:26:35 The Foundation of Our Faith 01:28:27 Encouragement for Questioning Faith 01:30:18 The Journey of Faith and Certainty 01:32:11 The Importance of Solidifying Beliefs 01:34:37 The Need for Empathy in Faith Discussions 01:36:28 The Simplicity of Faith 01:38:49 Building on the Foundation of Christ 01:40:18 The Importance of Care in Building Faith 01:42:17 Remodeling Faith vs. Deconstructing 01:44:07 Encouragement for Big Questions in Faith

In this episode of the Church Disrupted podcast, host Jeff Cochran talks with pastor Melody Winderweedle about rethinking church structures and practices. They explore the early church's simplicity, the role of pastors, the importance of discipleship, and the impact of consumerism on modern church dynamics. Melody shares insights on creating gatherings that look more like the early church and emphasizes the need for community involvement in decision-making. The discussion encourages listeners to reflect on their own church experiences and consider the potential for change within their communities. Want to support SAI financially? https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaign THANK YOU to our podcast partner, the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/. Join the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6Z Please Subscribe and Share! Chapters 00:00 Rethinking Church Structures 09:25 Exploring Early Church Practices 17:10 The Role of Pastors and Leadership 25:17 Discipleship: A Slow and Organic Process 33:21 Navigating Church Growth and Community 41:51 The Impact of Consumerism on Church 49:46 Creating Inclusive Gatherings 58:15 Final Thoughts and Encouragements

In this episode of the Church Disrupted podcast, Jeff Cochran, Abby Fleming, and Buck Fleming delve into a controversial church system that is extremely popular today but can also be extremely damaging. They dive deep into the Growth Track model, discussing its implications for discipleship and community involvement, and emphasize the need for reform in church practices to prioritize genuine discipleship over assimilation into church systems. The conversation also explores the historical context of early church practices and the balance between the business side of church and its spiritual mission.Want to support SAI financially?https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaignTHANK YOU to our podcast partner, the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners.Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/.Join the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6ZPlease Subscribe and Share!Chapters00:00 Introduction to Controversial Church Systems03:06 Narcissistic Church Systems and Their Impact06:10 Historical Context of Early Church Practices09:00 Critique of Growth Track Systems11:51 The Dangers of Assimilation in Church15:13 The Role of Systems in Church Growth18:02 The Balance Between Business and Ministry20:53 The Need for Reform in Church Systems24:06 Understanding Membership and Purpose26:52 The Factory Model of Church Involvement30:07 The Call to Discipleship vs. Assimilation32:48 The Importance of Individual Purpose36:05 The Role of Community in Church38:56 The Dangers of Manipulation in Church Systems41:51 Conclusion: The Future of Church Systems01:04:00 Being the Church in Everyday Life01:07:51 Discovering Purpose and Design01:10:42 The Limitations of Personality Assessments01:13:31 The Role of Spiritual Gifts01:16:10 Scriptural Integrity and Context01:19:24 The Danger of Self-Righteousness01:22:43 Simplifying the Spiritual Journey01:25:14 The Problem with Church Systems01:28:03 The Call to Authentic Church Planting01:31:20 The Burden of Professional Christianity01:34:11 Reforming Church Systems01:37:34 The Messiness of Ministry01:40:52 The True Meaning of Leadership01:43:10 The Leadership Honor Code01:46:59 The Issue of Giving in the Church01:51:18 The Pursuit of Excellence vs. Anointing01:54:10 The Need for Reform in the Church

In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran and Rebecca Davis (Author of the Untwisting Scripture book series) discuss the misuse and abuse of scriptures in spiritual contexts. They highlight the importance of understanding the true meaning of scriptures and the dangers of twisting them to manipulate and control people. They talk about topics like loyalty, sin leveling, the misuse of the terms 'root of bitterness' and 'spirit of offense', and the idea of tearing down the body of Christ. Rebecca emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing abuse, as well as the need for biblical literacy and listening to the experiences of abuse survivors. The conversation concludes with hope for survivors and a call for church leaders to listen and learn. Want to support SAI financially? https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaign Get Rebecca's books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001K8GE7O?ingress=0&visitId=281658ae-f8e0-4b2a-8ef4-1c0dc64fbd0c&ref_=ap_rdr THANK YOU to our podcast partner, the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/. Join the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6Z Please Subscribe and Share! Chapters 00:00 Introduction: The Misuse of Scriptures and Control 24:41 Loyalty vs. Faithfulness 32:44 The Dynamics of Bullying in the Church 41:12 Silence is Complicity 43:43 Restoration and Accountability 45:08 Recognizing Wickedness and Righteousness 46:05 The Spiritual Abuser's Playbook: Loyalty 47:31 The Misuse of 'Root of Bitterness' and 'Spirit of Offense' 52:30 Understanding the Root of Bitterness 56:18 The Danger of Misinterpreting Hebrews 01:07:02 Exposing Sin vs. Tearing Down the Body of Christ 01:13:50 Rejecting the Notion of Victim Mentality 01:21:15 Words of Hope and Listening

In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran, Leann Reece, and Vicki May discuss the impact of celebrity culture in the church, specifically the green room mentality in a lot of churches. They highlight the contradiction between the call to be servants and the pursuit of celebrity status in modern Christianity. This conversation explores the negative side of the church green room, particularly in relation to volunteer exploitation and the pressures of celebrity culture, as well as what we can do about it to build healthier environments in our churches. Want to support SAI financially? https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaign THANK YOU to our podcast partner, the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/. Join the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6Z Please Subscribe and Share! Chapters 00:00 Introduction: The Contradiction of Celebrity Culture 02:18 The Impact of Green Room Mentality 10:33 Finding Balance: Serving and Resting 19:30 The Benefits and Challenges of Green Rooms 25:12 Addressing the Root Issue: Volunteer Shortage 35:12 Conclusion: Prioritizing Volunteer Well-being 36:10 The Negative Side of the Green Room: Volunteer Exploitation and Disconnect 39:59 Unpaid Professionals: The Disparity in Treatment 43:39 Staff Members: Balancing Responsibilities and Burnout 50:32 Setting Boundaries and Treating Volunteers with Respect 01:12:33 The Negative Effects of the Green Room Mentality 01:14:18 Separation and Unapproachability in the Green Room 01:17:42 Exploitation of Volunteers and the Importance of Boundaries 01:20:02 Transparency and Open Communication about the Green Room 01:33:33 Leading by Example to Create a Healthy Environment

In this episode of the Church Disrupted podcast, Jeff Cochran, Shawn Reece, and Vicki May discuss the formula for spiritual abuse and how to recognize it before damage is done in churches. Spiritual abuse and church scandals can be prevented if the formula is identified early and addressed. They also introduce the Safe Church Pledge as a step towards preventing spiritual abuse. Want to support SAI financially? https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaign THANK YOU to our podcast partner, the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Join the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6Z Please Subscribe and Share! Chapters 00:00 Introduction: The Formula for Spiritual Abuse 02:14 The Formula: Power Plus Deception 09:27 Recognizing Concentrated and Unchecked Power 23:25 The Importance of Balanced Power and Stewardship 32:13 The Danger of Over-Spiritualizing Power 39:23 Questioning Leaders: A Sign of Accountability, Not Dishonor 40:22 The Role of Deception in Spiritual Abuse 53:13 Power Plus Deception: The Formula for Spiritual Abuse 56:02 Manipulating Narratives: Deception in Church Announcements 01:05:41 The Ego Factor: How Deception Arises from a Desire to Look Good 01:19:05 Using Individuals for Appearance: Deception in Diversity 01:20:51 The Connection Between Power and Deception in Spiritual Abuse 01:21:20 Manipulative Practices in Churches: Spontaneous Baptisms and Altar Calls 01:24:12 Deception in Altar Calls and Salvation Numbers 01:27:03 Deception and Self-Deception in Spiritual Abuse 01:47:27 Protecting Yourself: Asking Questions and Recognizing Signs of Power Abuse and Deception 01:49:23 Pastors: Surrounding Yourself with Accountability and Committing to Being Above Reproach 01:57:23 Introducing the Safe Church Pledge: Preventing Spiritual Abuse

In this episode of the Church Disrupted podcast, Jeff Cochran and Natalie Runion have an honest conversation about nepotism in the Church. They explore what nepotism really is and where it came from, as well as the tension between passing on ministries within families and the potential for unhealthy dynamics and control. The conversation delves into the importance of distinguishing between calling and nepotism, and the need for churches to have clear succession plans and fair processes in place. Overall, the episode aims to shed light on the issue of nepotism in the church and encourage healthy dialogue and reflection. Natalie and Jeff explore the challenges and implications of nepotism in church leadership, particularly in the context of pastors' children taking over their parents' churches. They also examine biblical examples and principles related to succession and leadership in the church, and how churches and pastors can stay above reproach when it comes to even the appearance of nepotism. Want to support SAI financially? https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaign Find out more about Natalie's work here: - https://www.instagram.com/raisedtostay/?hl=en - https://natalierunion.com/ - https://tinyurl.com/526vaaj2 - https://www.amazon.com/Raised-Stay-Persevering-Ministry-Million/dp/0830784608 THANK YOU to our podcast partner, the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Join the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6Z Please Subscribe and Share! Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Special Episode 05:28 Collaborative Episode with Natalie Runion 08:13 Discussion Sparked by Previous Conversation 13:20 Defining Nepotism and Personal Experiences 18:47 Importance of Clear Succession Plans 21:19 Different Perspectives on Nepotism 28:22 Exploring the Definitions and Origins of Nepotism 31:14 The Role of Influence and Unfair Advantages 32:35 The Challenges Faced by Pastors' Kids 37:20 Examining Biblical Principles of Succession 53:41 The Importance of Being Above Reproach 55:39 Moving Away from the CEO Model of Leadership 58:30 Encouragement for Pastors' Kids 01:00:46 The Dangers of Promoting Nepotism 01:04:04 Expanding Perspectives through Church Engagement

In a recent conversation with a critical pastor on the Church Disrupted Podcast, things went sideways quick! From the beginning, today's guest exhibited narcissistic responses and behaviors that can be super triggering for those who have experienced church hurt or spiritual abuse. Talk about the opposite of trauma-informed church leadership!Sadly, too many church leaders exhibit behaviors like this in conversations without even realizing the damage they can cause to parishioners. So, in today's episode, Jeff Cochran leans into the skid, breaks down the subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) red flags of narcissistic responses, and shows you how to respond to them (and how not to) in a spiritual setting. There has never been a time more important than now for church leaders and staff to become trauma-informed. Narcissism and narcissistic behaviors have no place in the church, and with a little training and intentionality, we can eliminate these behaviors and learn to protect the most vulnerable people in our congregations. We can learn to listen to and love people like Jesus. Want to support SAI financially?https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaignTHANK YOU to our podcast partner, the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners.Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/.Join the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6ZPlease Subscribe and Share!Chapters00:00 Introduction and Trigger Warning03:16 Recognizing Conversational Red Flags in Churches06:28 The Most Triggering Interview08:52 Using Red Flag Review Editing10:42 Identifying Wrong and Potentially Dangerous Views of the Church25:28 The Importance of Words and How They Are Said28:25 Addressing the Impact of Comments on Small Churches34:50 Identifying Red Flags and Patterns of Behavior37:16 From Small Church to Mega Church: A Personal Journey41:29 The Distinction Between Mega Churches and Giga Churches45:16 Addressing Systemic Issues in All Churches51:53 The Importance of Open Conversations About Small Church Failures01:09:21 Calling Out Narcissistic Behavior01:13:28 Red Flags and Tactics of Narcissistic Leaders01:19:04 The Issue of Plagiarism in the Church01:21:48 The Importance of Transparency in Church Finances01:35:11 The Power of Words and Definitions01:43:40 Understanding the Lack of Transparency in Churches01:45:27 Overcoming Shame and Becoming Financially Transparent01:48:48 The Use of NDAs in Churches01:51:18 The Benefits of Multi-Site Churches02:08:16 Finding Healing and Connection After Church Hurt

On this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran is joined by local church pastor Cody Farris. From a disagreement on social media, they started a conversation that eventually led to this podcast about church leadership, accountability, and how churches should respond to scandals and allegations of spiritual abuse. They also talk about important factors to consider when looking for a healthy church after church hurt. Other topics discussed include NDAs in churches, plagiarism in sermons, handling abuse allegations, and church finances. This one is a can't miss. It's honest, authentic, and incredibly refreshing. Want to support SAI financially? https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaign THANK YOU to our podcast partner, the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Join the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6Z Please Subscribe and Share! Chapters 00:00 Introduction: Disagreement and Growth 04:37 Building a Healthy Church 08:53 The Importance of Adhering to a Statement of Faith 18:11 Understanding the Essentials of Eschatology 29:50 Preventing Spiritual Abuse: The Role of Elders and Congregational Involvement 32:38 Evaluating a Church: History, Elders, and Congregation Involvement 34:03 Prioritizing Spiritual Growth over Church Growth 35:28 The Importance of Accountability in Preventing Spiritual Abuse 36:27 The Role of Overseers and Checks and Balances in Church Governance 37:54 Excommunication: Maintaining the Holiness of the Congregation 40:11 Finding a Healthy and Mature Congregation 01:05:19 Finding a Healthy Church: Faithful Preaching, Sacraments, and Church Discipline 01:09:59 Accountability and Testing Leaders in the Church 01:13:21 Handling Abuse Allegations: Taking Them Seriously and Involving External Parties if Necessary 01:17:47 Transparency in Church Finances: Building Trust and Dispelling Misconceptions 01:23:01 Addressing Plagiarism in Sermons: Quoting and Referencing with Permission 01:30:37 Navigating Church Hurt: Holding onto Christ as the Head of the Imperfect Church 01:33:01 Taking Theology and Church Structure Seriously as Church Leaders

In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran is joined by Chris and Tori Custer, who share their experience of spiritual abuse and cultish behavior. They break down common red flags and warning signs of toxic church environments, emphasize the need for humility and self-reflection in church leadership, and discuss what biblical forgiveness really looks like. They also take a hard look at the dangers of spiritual fathers and other often weaponized spiritual language. Want to support SAI financially? https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaign Learn more about Flame Keepers: - YT CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMFhmr401NHxTyqM2JBbGfQ - INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/flame_keepers_podcast/ THANK YOU to our podcast partner, the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Join the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6Z Please Subscribe and Share! Chapters 00:00 Recognizing Red Flags and Warning Signs 09:09 The Paradox of Christianity: Humility and Self-Reflection 32:59 The Power of Prophetic Words and Intimacy with God 37:48 The Awakening: Recognizing Abuse and Manipulation 40:38 Seeking Outside Perspective and Finding Freedom 41:37 Seeking Outside Counsel and Therapy 43:57 Red Flags of an Unsafe Church 46:12 The Dangers of Idolizing Spiritual Fathers and Mothers 50:30 Power Dynamics in Spiritual Relationships 01:23:21 The Role of Spiritual Fathers and Mothers 01:31:51 The Warped View of Discipleship 01:44:00 The Daily Practice of Forgiveness 01:48:46 Navigating Forgiveness After Abuse 01:59:21 Flamekeepers: Purifying and Reforming the Church

In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran, Leann Reece, and Corey Laster explore the question of when it's time to leave a church environment, especially when there are signs of spiritual abuse or toxicity. The hosts discuss their personal experiences and offer insights on recognizing red flags and setting boundaries. They emphasize the importance of healing and finding safe people to talk to. In this conversation, Jeff and the crew discuss the process of deciding whether it's time to leave a church. They provide guidance on how to navigate this decision, emphasizing the importance of self-reflection, seeking counsel, and setting boundaries. They also discuss the different scenarios that may arise, such as staying too long, needing to leave immediately, or trying to make a change within the church. Want to support SAI financially? https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaign THANK YOU to our podcast partner, the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Join the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6Z Please Subscribe and Share! Chapters 00:00 Introduction: When is it time to leave a church? 02:18 Recognizing Red Flags and Setting Boundaries 11:55 Leaving a Church without Villainizing 16:30 Healing and Verbalizing the Truth 31:09 Seeking Input and Making the Decision 34:58 Importance of Healing in the Decision 35:26 Trusting Your Gut: Knowing When to Leave a Church 37:50 Having Civil, Helpful, and Loving Conversations 41:01 Assessing Your Feelings: A Key Indicator for Leaving 46:46 Leaving in a Healthy and Honoring Way 57:33 Acknowledging Hurt and Finding a Safe Place to Land 01:10:29 Deciding to Leave for a New Season 01:11:57 Setting a Firm End Date 01:13:23 Having the Conversation and Leaving 01:14:20 Setting a Date and Making Arrangements 01:17:43 Protecting the Most Vulnerable Person 01:19:38 Empathy and Healing in the Body 01:21:02 Empathy and Healing in Relationships 01:27:14 Healing Faster and Helping Others 01:30:36 Empathy as a Sign of Healing 01:34:02 Prioritizing Safety and Leaving

In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran interviews Casanova Green, a local church pastor, about his observations on the church and the importance of having critical conversations with church leaders to promote growth and transparency. They also highlight the issue of churches moving away from the core principles of community, support, and relational ministry; and the rise of narcissistic leaders and performance-based preaching. The conversation also touches on the recent scandals involving church leaders and the need for accountability and justice in the church. Jeff and Cas discuss the importance of transparency, checks and balances, and the role of overseers in ensuring accountability. They emphasize the need for pastors to be present, sacrificial, and focused on loving and serving people. Whether you are a parishioner, church staff, or someone dealing with fresh church hurt, this conversation should both encourage and challenge you in a positive way! Want to support SAI financially? https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaign THANK YOU to our podcast partner, the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Join the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6Z Please Subscribe and Share! Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage 05:37 Similar Concerns and the Impact of Consumerism and Narcissism in the Church 13:30 Addressing Spiritual Abuse and Misconduct in the Church 25:01 Staying True to the Core Principles of the Church 32:58 The Importance of Accountability 35:09 The Role of Pastors, Elders, and Overseers 38:07 The Responsibility of the Congregation 40:13 Serving the Congregation 44:30 The Track Record of Pastoring 01:04:32 Being Present and Available in Ministry 01:12:23 Should Pastors be Paid During Set Down? 01:19:50 What is a Real Pastor? 01:27:39 Aligning Actions and Preaching with the Heart of God 01:32:40 Prioritizing Healing, Hope, and Restoration in Ministry

In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran interviews Natalie Runion, the author of 'Raised to Stay' and the upcoming book 'The House that Jesus Built.' They discuss staying in a relationship with Jesus in the face of things like church hurt and spiritual abuse, and the importance of balance in addressing hard church issues. Natalie shares her personal experience of church hurt and how it led her to create a safe space for others to wrestle with their faith. They also touch on the topic of forgiveness and how it can be weaponized, the process of healing from church hurt, and the need for churches to create safe environments and address unhealthy systems. They offer advice for individuals who are hesitant to re-engage with the church and encourage pastors and church leaders to be a safe haven for those who have been hurt. Want to support SAI financially? https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaign Find out more about Natali e'swork here: - https://www.instagram.com/raisedtostay/?hl=en - https://natalierunion.com/ - https://tinyurl.com/526vaaj2 - https://www.amazon.com/Raised-Stay-Persevering-Ministry-Million/dp/0830784608 THANK YOU to our podcast partner, the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Join the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6Z Please Subscribe and Share! Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Natalie Runion and the Topic of Church Hurt 03:04 Healing from Church Hurt and Spiritual Abuse 07:41 Creating Safe Environments in Churches 13:41 Staying Connected to Jesus in Difficult Seasons 28:28 Navigating Church Relationships with Discernment 40:41 Supporting Church Staff Members in Abusive Situations 43:07 The Importance of Forgiveness and Healing 45:01 The Power of Empathy 49:39 Revival: A Heart Transformation 54:16 Addressing Issues in Church Systems

What happens when a mega church pastor gets honest about spiritual abuse in the church? We're about to find out. In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran is joined by a current pastor on a mega church staff. They discuss how spiritual abuse can happen in smaller churches as well as the systems that contribute to it. This pastor shares his personal experience of spiritual abuse in small churches, where narcissism, arrogance, and nepotism were prevalent. They also discuss the importance of accountability in church leadership and the need for external oversight to prevent abuse, as well as how churches can decide upfront how they will honestly and openly investigate any and all spiritual abuse allegations. Want to support SAI financially? https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaign THANK YOU to our podcast partner, the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Join the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6Z Please Subscribe and Share! Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Overview 06:09 Loren's Experience of Spiritual Abuse in Small Churches 13:47 The Presence of Narcissism, Arrogance, and Nepotism in Church Systems 28:26 The Need for External Oversight to Prevent Spiritual Abuse 33:12 The Risk of Standing Up Against Spiritual Abuse 37:32 Creating Safe Spaces for Staff 46:15 Prioritizing Family Care as a Pastor 50:08 The Importance of Independent Investigations 57:47 Listening and Caring for Those Who Have Experienced Hurt

In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran and Lori Morrison (host of the Unlovely Truth Podcast & Author) discuss the importance of addressing spiritual abuse and safety within the church. They explore the need for holistic care, the role of independent investigations, and the significance of effective communication in handling abuse allegations. The conversation also delves into the impact of spiritual abuse on people and the church's responsibility in addressing and preventing it. The conversation covers a wide range of topics related to church communication, transparency, accountability, spiritual abuse, and the importance of justice. We also discuss red flags and the need for safe and healthy church environments. Want to support SAI financially? https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaign Find out more about Lori's work here: - https://theunlovelytruth.com/ THANK YOU to our podcast partner, the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Join the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6Z Please Subscribe and Share! Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 03:00 The Importance of Holistic Care and Safety in the Church 10:04 The Role of Independent Investigations in Addressing Spiritual Abuse 34:14 Establishing a Church Safe Process and External Support 44:17 The Importance of Truth and Transparency in Church Communication 49:33 Prioritizing Character Over Titles in Church Staff Evaluation 01:21:26 Creating a Safe and Welcoming Church Environment 01:25:47 Addressing Issues of Spiritual and Emotional Abuse in the Church

In this episode of the Church Disrupted podcast, Jeff Cochran interviews Scott McKnight, a theologian and advocate for spiritual abuse victims. They discuss the complexities of spiritual abuse, the power dynamics involved, and the impact on individuals and communities. Scott shares his journey of advocating for spiritual abuse victims and teaching churches to build a Tove culture. They also explore the challenges of recognizing and responding to spiritual abuse within the church. The conversation covers various aspects of spiritual abuse, including realistic expectations, time limits, and the impact of church systems. It also delves into the evolution of pastoral roles, the impact of mega-churches, and the modern-day church playbook for addressing the scandal. Additionally, it explores the trauma experienced by pastors and the need for a trauma-informed approach in the church. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about Scot's work here: - https://x.com/scotmcknight - https://scotmcknight.substack.com/ - https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001IQZDNO THANK YOU to our podcast partner, the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share! Chapters 00:00 Understanding Spiritual Abuse: A Complex Journey 09:30 The Definition and Impact of Spiritual Abuse 24:00 Navigating Power Dynamics and Healing 27:43 Navigating Spiritual Abuse: Realistic Expectations and Time Limits 31:33 Evolution of Pastoral Roles and the Impact of Mega Churches 48:59 The Modern-Day Church Playbook for Addressing Scandal 52:19 Trauma-Informed Approach in the Church

This episode of the Church Disrupted podcast explores the topic of volunteer exploitation in churches. Host Jeff Cochran, joined by Nick Flores, discusses the damaging effects of volunteering gone wrong and how churches can better protect their volunteers. They share personal experiences of volunteer exploitation and highlight the importance of setting boundaries and providing support for volunteers. The conversation emphasizes the need for churches to slow down and prioritize the well-being of their volunteers. They also discuss the power of meaningful conversations and the impact they can have on volunteers' lives. In this conversation, Jeff and Nick also discuss the concept of spiritual bypassing, where faith is used as an excuse to avoid taking action or addressing real issues. They emphasize the need for open dialogue, asking deeper questions, and creating safe spaces within the church community. They also touch on the impact of language and labels, such as the 'dream team,' and how it can create an in-crowd versus out-crowd mentality. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about Nic's work with the Collision podcast here: https://www.instagram.com/collisionpodcast/ THANK YOU to our podcast partner, the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share! Chapters 00:00 Introduction: Exploring Volunteer Exploitation in Churches 02:35 The Damaging Effects of Volunteer Exploitation 08:07 Personal Experiences of Volunteer Exploitation 14:38 The Power of Meaningful Conversations with Volunteers 31:38 The Importance of Slowing Down and Being Inclusive in Volunteer Culture 38:26 The Impact of Boundaries and Support on Volunteer Engagement 43:47 The Need for Resources and Conversations on Volunteer Well-being 45:01 Income Disparity and Exploitation 50:46 Addressing Spiritual Bypassing 57:36 Taking Care of Pastors 01:10:33 The Impact of Language and Labels

In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jef Cochran is joined by Tim Whitaker of The New Evangelicals to talk about the state of the church, why people are leaving the evangelical church and deconstructing, how political entanglement has played a role, and ways we can stop spiritual abuse in churches. This was a fantastic conversation between Tim and Jeff, and while everyone won't agree with everything said, we can and should all learn something. Want to support Church Disrupted financially?https://www.disrupted.church/giveFind out more about Tim's work with TNE here: https://www.thenewevangelicals.com/ THANK YOU to our podcast partner, the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners.Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors.Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/.Please Subscribe and Share!

With the recent launch of the Spiritual Abuse Institute (SAI,) Jeff Cochran takes this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast to answer listener questions about SAI, discuss how we'll help people heal from spiritual abuse and church hurt, and our plan to build healthier churches. If you have ever experienced spiritual abuse, church hurt, or religious trauma, then this episode (and SAI) is for you. Will you become a disruptor and help us fight to end spiritual abuse and the toxic systems that cause it? Want to support Church Disrupted and SAI financially? https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaign THANK YOU to our podcast partner, the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Find out more about SAI at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/. Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share!

What happens when you invite a vocal critic onto onto the podcast?! Well, we’re about to find out! In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, we invited a vocal social media critic to join the conversation and discuss how to build healthy churches. And not only is this guest a critic, he's a pastor! Yet, once we invited him to join the podcast, things took a really positive turn. When I checked this pastor and his church out online, what I found was a surprisingly healthy looking church! They are doing a lot of things right, and they seem to be the kind of church we wish there was more of. So, by the time we got to the actual podcast conversation, I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. But I was pleasantly surprised! In this episode, we are joined by Pastor and leader TJ Mauldin. We discuss everything from our disagreements online and the need to address spiritual abuse in the church, to creating healthy church environments and radical financial transparency. This was an honest, transparent, and extremely helpful conversation. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did! THANK YOU to our podcast partner, the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share! TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 08:46 The Tension Between Critiquing the Church and Loving the Church 36:07 Low Control, High Accountability 47:26 Building People Up and Adding Value 56:36 Controversy and Conversation: Teleprompters and Sermon Scripts 01:14:29 Growing People for the Kingdom 01:26:37 Approaching Nepotism and Hiring Staff 01:37:18 Congregational Leadership 01:49:15 Addressing the Cycle of Abuse 01:58:30 Cultivating Intentional Relational Environments

In this episode of the Church Disrupted podcast, Jeff Cochran and Author Laura McKnight Barringer discuss spiritual abuse and toxic church cultures. She shares the moment that woke her up to the reality of spiritual abuse. They also explore the concept of 'tov' (goodness) in the church, the features of narcissistic pastors, and the characteristics of toxic Christian workplaces. They address the reasons people stay silent in the face of abuse, the response of churches to accusations against pastors, and the danger of internal investigations. All of these issues and more should massively concern us, but could the answer to them be as simple as creating TOV cultures? Join us for this conversation to find out the answer. Connect with Laura here: https://www.laurabarringer.net/ THANK YOU to our podcast partner, the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share! TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction 07:10 Recognizing Spiritual Abuse 13:18 Understanding Tov and a Culture of Tov 16:25 Features of Narcissistic Pastors 24:45 Early Warning Signs of a Toxic Culture 28:15 Reasons for Silence and Fear of Speaking Out 34:45 Responses to Accusations Against Pastors 39:37 Internal Investigations and Lack of Independence 40:23 The Need for External Investigation 41:30 The Role of Retainers in Perpetuating Abuse 43:29 The Unawareness of Spiritual Abusers 44:59 The Result of Abuse Regardless of Intent 48:37 The Sanitization of Truth in Church Systems 49:04 Forming a Truth-Telling Culture 53:57 The Attraction of Narcissistic Leaders to the Modern Church 58:56 The Lack of Accountability in Church Systems 01:02:48 Transforming Church Culture through Power 01:03:06 Creating Pockets of Tove 01:09:29 Advice for Senior Leaders in Creating a Tove Culture 01:14:34 Advice for General Church Staff in Creating Pockets of Tove 01:16:24 Advice for Parishioners in Creating a Healthy Church 01:18:10 Advice for Victims of Spiritual Abuse in Healing and Creating Safe Spaces

What does Narcissism look like when it puts on church clothes?! Narcissism and its effects are common in churches today, but the church is often the last place we would expect to find narcissistic people and behaviors.

Unfortunately, many modern church systems actually attract narcissistic leaders. But what does narcissism look like when it's in a church? How can we recognize spiritual narcissists and narcissistic systems? And when you recognize it, what should you do? We are joined in this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast by Chelsey Brooke Cole, best-selling author of the book "If I'd Only Known" and narcissism expert. She and Jeff tackle these questions and more as they take a deep look at narcissism in churches and the devastating effects it can have on people. Connect with Chelsey and learn more about her work here! - https://www.instagram.com/chelseybrookecole/?hl=en - https://www.chelseybrookecole.com/ Get Chelsey's book here: https://rb.gy/4bhk89 Check Out the Recent USA TODAY article Chelsey Contributed to here: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2024/03/21/spiritual-narcissism-narcissists-at-church-yoga-class/73047346007/ THANK YOU to our podcast partner, the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share! TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:24 Defining Narcissism and NPD 11:24 Narcissism in Spiritual Environments 16:28 Can Systems be Narcissistic? 25:36 Blame Shifting and Villainizing 28:49 Reframing the Problem 30:01 Narcissistic Systems in Church 32:20 Twisting Scripture 33:13 Exploiting Tithing 34:12 Disagreement in Narcissistic Systems 35:03 Understanding Healthy Relationships 37:11 Making Church Trauma-Informed 38:13 Accountability in Narcissistic Systems 39:12 Moving On Without Accountability 40:08 Making Church Safe for Victims 41:08 Supporting the Abuser vs. the Victim 43:10 Restoring Pastors and Accountability 45:07 Expecting Reality, Not Assuming the Worst 46:17 Narcissists' Manipulation Tactics 48:16 Restoration and Accountability 49:05 Manipulating the Perception of Change 50:15 Expecting Accountability, Not Assuming the Worst 53:17 Toxic People and Healthy Boundaries 59:23 Narcissists' Reaction to Boundaries 01:00:37 Importance of Boundaries and Self-Care 01:01:06 The Importance of Setting Boundaries 01:02:03 The Charismatic Nature of Narcissists 01:03:00 Gaslighting and the Desire for Control 01:04:20 The Manipulation of Loyalty 01:06:46 Protecting Yourself Against Narcissism 01:07:18 Overcoming Guilt and Shame 01:08:30 The Importance of Documentation 01:14:39 Feeling and Processing Pain 01:24:30 Untangling the Narcissist's Voice

Spiritual abuse is always heartbreaking, but what happens when you experience it at home and church? In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Joyce Hindle joins the conversation to share her story of overcoming spiritual abuse. Joyce was a pastor's wife and experienced both sides of religious trauma. From her story, we can learn a lot about how to recognize spiritual abuse, how to heal from it, and how to overcome it and thrive. If you have experienced religious trauma, we believe this conversation will be helpful and an encouraging reminder that you can heal over time. Connect with Joyce and learn more about her work here! - https://www.joycehindlecoaching.com/ THANK YOU to our podcast partner, The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share!

In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran interviews Chris Ayoub and Nathan Apffel, the creators of the documentary 'The Religion Business.' They discuss the purpose of the documentary, which explores the business side of religion, particularly Christianity. The conversation delves into the financial numbers of nonprofits, including the staggering $890 billion that comes into the Christian Church annually. They also highlight the misalignment and growth of nonprofits, as well as the challenges of transparency and accountability. The episode concludes with a discussion on the 6% of funds that actually leave churches to make an impact in the world. This conversation discusses the lack of accountability and transparency in churches, the use of non-profits to avoid financial reporting, and the issue of ecclesiastical theft. Overall, it calls for a change in church systems to prioritize accountability and the true mission of the church. We also address the decline of denominations and the opportunity for the church to redirect its focus back to its purpose. Accountability, transparency, and individual action will be needed to bring about positive change! Learn more about The Religion Business here! - https://www.thereligionbusiness.com/ - https://www.instagram.com/religionbusiness/ THANK YOU to our podcast partner, The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share!

We get A LOT of flack from Christians and church leaders for talking about spiritual abuse. People would often rather us talk about good things going on in the church. They want us to stick to the gospel. Why? Because talking about church hurt and spiritual abuse is uncomfortable! But if we don't have these important conversations in the Church, then the abuse, scandals, and cover-ups will continue. If we don't talk about these things, people will continue getting hurt. And if we stay silent about the spiritual abuse we see, then we become complicit in it. We don't talk about spiritual abuse and toxic church systems because we WANT to, we do it because we HAVE TO!!! In this special holy week episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran, Vicki May, and Abby Flemming discuss what's really at stake with these conversations. THANK YOU to our podcast partner, The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share!

It seems we hear of another millenial or Gen Z pastor leaving the mega church or leaving ministry in general every day. But WHY are they walking away? Often, it's because they have become disenfranchised and disillusioned after being in the system and seeing how the sausage gets made. Simply put, a lot of Christians are looking for something more, something better, something different than what the modern mega-church system offers. They know something is wrong, but they aren't sure what right looks like. And it leaves people loving Jesus, yet feeling a bit lost. In this episode of the Church Disrupted podcast, Dave Scribani joins Jeff Cochran to talk about why he left the mega church system, his struggle to re-engage with the church, and the beauty he has found on the other side. Full of hope and love for Jesus, Dave leaves listeners with new thoughts about what the Church could be if we anchored the future in a more ancient way of community and pursuing God. This conversation is a MUST See! THANK YOU to our podcast partner, The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share!

Did you know that churches can be narcissistic?! Narcissistic churches are a foreign concept to most people, but sadly, they have become all too common. In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran, Abby, and Buck talk about narcissistic churches, the systems that cause narcissism in churches, and how to recognize narcissism in churches. THANK YOU to our podcast partner, The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share!

Deconstruction is a buzzword these days and is a hot topic of conversation with everyone from evangelicals to exvangelicals. Some swear by it, others villainize it. In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Caleb Nelson joins the conversation to talk about escaping a cult, deconstructing Christianity, the pain of his journey, and how to re-engage with faith. If you have been through church hurt, spiritual abuse, or religious trauma, then this episode will be helpful. If you are a pastor or church leader who wants to lead and care for people better, then there is something to learn from this episode. Whether you are questioning your faith, mourning your faith, or want to re-engage with the church, there is something for everyone in the candid conversation with Jeff Cochran and Caleb Nelson. Connect with Caleb here: - https://nakedsundaystudios.com/ - https://www.instagram.com/lebinreallife/ - Listen to the Naked Sunday Podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/4PocASK5RaqDRT2IMs53GB THANK YOU to our podcast partner, The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share!

The He Gets Us Ad that aired during the 2024 Super Bowl has caused an uproar and has a lot of people angry, especially Christians. But why?! What did the ad get right, and what did it get wrong? Should we be angry about it? If so, what parts should bother us? What should bother Christians even MORE than this commercial by the He Gets Us campaign? In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Shawn and Corey join Jeff Cochran to break down this controversial super bowl ad and to answer these questions and more. Buckle up because this episode is a doozy! THANK YOU to our podcast partner, The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share!

In February 2023, a revival broke out at Asbury University and took the world by storm. But just a few weeks later, the revival ended just as abruptly as it began. Why? What happened? Why did the Asbury Revival stop so suddenly? The answer may surprise you. In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, we answer these questions and more as we break down who killed the Asbury Revival and what the Evangelical Church and the church that business built had to do with it. THANK YOU to our podcast partner, The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share!

People throw the term "cult" around a lot these days, but what does that really mean? What is a cult or high-control environment? What are the markers to look out for? What is the difference between churches and cults? And how do you know if a church is starting to act like a cult? In today's episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran is joined by Jacob and Sarai to discuss high-control environments, their dangers, and how to spot the red flags of a cult-like organization. THANK YOU to our podcast partner, The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share!

Modern Christians get a lot about tithing wrong. We believe what we've been taught about tithing by church leaders, but very few people know what the Bible actually says about it. In this two-part series of the church disrupted podcast, Jeff, Buck, and Vicki tackle tough questions like: should new testament Christians tithe, is it okay to give outside of your church, what is the tithe for, and in what ways do we misunderstand tithing today? Regardless of what you believe about tithing, you will be surprised as we look at tithing and what the Bible says about it with fresh eyes and fresh hearts.Should New Testament THANK YOU to our podcast partner, The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share!

Modern Christians get a lot about tithing wrong. We believe what we've been taught about tithing by church leaders, but very few people know what the Bible actually says about it. In this two-part series of the church disrupted podcast, Jeff, Buck, and Vicki tackle tough questions like: should new testament Christians tithe, is it okay to give outside of your church, what is the tithe for, and in what ways do we misunderstand tithing today? Regardless of what you believe about tithing, you will be surprised as we look at tithing and what the Bible says about it with fresh eyes and fresh hearts.Should New Testament THANK YOU to our podcast partner, The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share!

In this final installment of the Church Disrupted Docuseries on NDAs in church, we spill all the tea! We’ll look at how Hillsong Church used NDAs to keep people quiet. We’ll also break down how pastors spin the narrative about NDAs by looking at a recent town hall meeting with embattled pastor Albert Tate. And finally, we’ll actually SHOW you REAL NDAs that churches have used to hide impropriety and silence people. We don’t hold anything back as we shine a bright light on the dark practice of NDA use in churches! THANK YOU to our podcast partner, The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share! TIME STAMPS: 00:00 - Intro 05:09 - NDAs at Hillsong Church 34:26 - Famous pastor spins NDAs 01:21:15 - Sham elder boards with NO authority 01:42:20 - SEE real NDAs 02:22:17 - How to do your part to end NDAs 02:24:25 - Outro

Should churches use NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements)? Is there ever a good use for NDAs in a church? Why do churches use NDAs in the first place? We answer these questions and MORE in the second part of our docu-series "The Secrets Churches Keep!"

We break down the most common reasons churches use NDAs, as well as share the most popular arguments both FOR and AGAINST their use. We also hear the consensus opinions about NDAs in the Church from leading secular voices, the Christian community, and the Bible.

So, should a church EVER ask you to sign an NDA? Find out in this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast!

THANK YOU to our podcast partner, The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity

ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners.

Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors.

Want to support Church Disrupted financially?https://www.disrupted.church/give

Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/.

Please Subscribe and Share!

TIME STAMPS:

00:00 - Intro

01:38 - Recapping Last Episode & Looking Ahead

04:59 - Reasons Churches Use NDAs

20:47 - Arguments FOR using NDAs in Churches

39:57 - Arguments AGAINST using NDAs in Churches

01:14:28 - The Secular Consensus on NDAs in Churches

01:16:52 - The Christian Opinion on NDAs in Churches

01:41:27 - The BIBLE on NDAs

01:55:24 - Who Says YES?!

01:56:43 - Previewing Part 3: Real NDAs, Pastors Caught Lying, and Elders Doing the Anti-Accountability Dance!

NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements) have no place in the Church. Yet, they have somehow become mainstays in the evangelical world that are used to cover up sin, abuse, scandals, and the mistreatment of people. For hush money payments ranging from a few weeks salary to hundreds of thousands of dollars, Christians in these flocks are forced into lifelong silence. And since these bad leaders get by with moral and ethical failures, the vicious cycle just continues.

In this Docuseries, we shine a light on these dark secrets and sinful tools in the church. We break down what NDAs are, how they are used in churches, and even show you real-life NDAs that churches have used. In part 1 of this three-part series, we do a deep dive into NDAs, churches that use them, and their hidden dangers. We also hear from secular and Christian attorneys about the problems these agreements cause!
THANK YOU to our podcast partner, The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share!

Are churches really just businesses that want my money? Well, the answer depends on the church! Healthy churches are far from businesses. They are full of love and grace and love people like Jesus. These churches are part of the Church that Jesus built! But in the West, there are also churches that celebrity built, churches that religion built, and perhaps most dangerous of all, there are churches that business built! When a church becomes a business, everything becomes about numbers, like attendance, money, and the brand. A church that's become a business cares primarily about geting bigger and better at all costs. And unfortunately, the cost is often the people these churches chew up, spit out, and discard in their systems. In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran is joined by Ken Arrington to talk about the church that business built, how to recognize when a church has become a business, and what Christians can do about it. MANY churches are incredible!!! And we want to help you recognize them and find them!

Support Ken and their work in Puerto Rico here! : https://www.awaketodream.com/puerto-rico/ Find out more about Ken Here: - https://taplink.cc/ken.arrington - https://www.tiktok.com/@ken.arrington?lang=en THANK YOU to our podcast partner, The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share!

Nobody likes a bully. But the worst kind of bullies are the bullies we find inside the walls of the church! These bullies go by the titles of pastor, brother, sister, and friend. The church is supposed to be the safest place on the planet. The church is supposed to be a place where we experience the unconditional love of Jesus, community, and family with brothers and sisters in Christ. But what happens when we experience spiritual bullies instead? The damage it causes can be severe and lasting. It can cause irreparable harm. In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, we break from the series we've been in (the church that business built,) and we're going to talk about what it looks like when the bullies are in the church and how we can protect people not only from other bullies, but how we can make sure that we don't accidentally become the bullies ourselves. THANK YOU to our podcast partner, The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share!

Mega churches, money manipulation, and miracle offerings are just a few of the things we talk about in this episode. It's miracle offering season in the church world, and in this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran, Shawn Reece, and Buck Flemming discuss our Documentary on Miracle Offerings and share their insights and takeaways from the documentary. It's time to bring back transparency into the church, especially around finances! In this episode, we'll share questions you can ask about special offerings to find out if they are legit and what you can do if you encounter an offering or giving campaign that you are unsure about. THANK YOU to our podcast partner, The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share! Follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/church_disrupted Follow us on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeff.a.cochran TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Intro 03:04 - Partner Spotlight and Testimonial 08:02 - Our Experiences with Miracle Offerings 13:14 - The Cost of Discipleship? 17:40 - Wasting Tithing Dollars 19:35 -Trustworthy and Transparent? 21:59 - Generosity done right 23:24 - Masterful Manipulation 26:36 - What's at Stake if You Buck the System 29:03 - Big Money Pastors? 32:28 - Best Sellers List and Dusty Books 37:15 - It's Affecting Real People 39:26 - Tithing VS the New Testament? 46:05 - Good Questions to Ask

Miracle offering season in the mega-church ramps up every Fall as celebrity pastors and their churches manipulate people into giving millions of dollars in a single weekend. Under the guise of "missions" and "outreach," big churches scam people out of more money to expand their existing ministries, grow their revenue, and get even bigger. All of this is above and beyond the tithes that people are already giving faithfully. Worst of all, there is almost zero transparency and accountability about how churches spend this money when the offering is done. With millions of dollars in assets already, these rich mega-churches just keep getting bigger and richer while people in their communities struggle to make ends meet. All the while, their CEO celebrity pastors continue living luxury lifestyles that few in their communities can. In this documentary video, we expose the common money manipulation tactics of churches and the playbook churches use to pull off miracle offerings every year. We also discuss the selling of miracles and the strategies toxic churches use to get church members to give sacrificially beyond what they can afford. We also arm you with questions to ask to know whether your church can be trusted financially and to help you know whether an offering is legit or a scam. This video is NOT for the faint of heart. It IS for those who want the TRUTH and want to see the church be better. THANK YOU to our podcast partner, The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share! TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Intro 02:54 - Two Haunting Questions 04:20 - The C3 Miracle Offering SCAM 11:29 - Partner Spotlight and Thank You's 13:55 - Miracle Offering Audio Clips 36:51 - Evangelicalism Sells Miracles 41:03 - Miracle Offering SEASON 49:55 - Subtle Manipulation Tactics (Steven Furtick) 55:24 - Hidden Manipulation Language (Chris Hodges Sermon) 1:26:56 - Sowing Seed to Reap a Miracle 1:29:44 -The Prosperity Gospel 1:39:19 - Modern-Day Indulgences 1:45:20 - A Twisted Offering Theology 1:54:32 - The Hypocrisy of Church Debt 1:55:48 - The Miracle Offering Playbook 2:00:00 - Where the Money Really Goes 2:15:04 - Piles of Cash and Financial Statements 2:20:36 - Money Manipulation Systems 2:31:17 - Churches Doing it RIGHT!!! 2:32:52 - The Celebrity Preacher SCAM 2:39:30 - Blank Envelopes and Fake Offerings 2:41:22 - Good Questions to Ask

Church is supposed to be a place where we come to connect with God and other believers. But sometimes, church can be a scary place, especially if you've been through church hurt or spiritual abuse before. In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, we highlight what healthy pastors and healthy churches look like. We also talk about signs of a safe and healthy church that you can look for when re-engaging with the church after church hurt. If you've experienced religious trauma, know you are not alone. But also know that there are really good and healthy churches out there. Our prayer is this episode helps you find one. And for pastors, we hope this video helps you become a healthier leader and build safe churches. Also, happy pastor's appreciation month to the loving shepherds out there! THANK YOU to our podcast partner, The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share! Follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/church_disrupted Follow us on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeff.a.cochran TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Intro 02:00 - Why we are talking about this topic 03:55 - The GOOD We are seeing in the Church 05:31 - When the Pastor gets to know you 10:50 - Pastoring is About Being with People 13:10 - Authenticity and Vulnerability 14:43 - Highling Podcast Partners 17:12 - Pastors who apologize and call their own fouls 21:54 - When Pastors are REAL 23:06 - Dealing with Church Hurt Triggers 24:21 - True Pastoral Care 33:31 - Encouragements for Pastors who want to lead well 40:11 - When Churches get it right 43:29 - Volunteering and Money Issues 51:02 - The Power of Seeing People 54:19 - Final words for pastors and churches 01:01:33 - Conclusion and Outro

If you've ever struggled to make sense of the bible, understand certain scriptures, or have been confused about how to apply the Bible to modern cultural issues, this episode is for you! In today's episode of the Church Disrupted podcast, we're gonna take a look at a way that you can approach and study the Bible that will always allow you to understand it better, even when you're confused. More importantly, it will always allow you to look, live, and love like Jesus to the world around you. So, anytime you come to something that confuses you about scripture, or you run into something in the world, and you're not sure how to apply scripture, this approach is going to help. In episode 11 of the Church Disrupted podcast, Jeff Cochran, Buck Fleming, and Shawn Reece discuss a new hermeneutic that is powerful and transformative! THANK YOU to our podcast partner, The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share! Follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/church_disrupted Follow us on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeff.a.cochran TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Intro 02:14 - Recapping Last Episode & Setting the Table 05:42 - What Excites Us About This Episode 08:57 - Partner Spotlight! 11:51 - Hypocrites and Biblical Paradoxes 15:18 - A New Hermeneutic 31:34 - Before we can love others, we have to love ourselves 34:56 - The Log and the Speck Issue 41:03 - How you talk to yourself matters 44:38 -Continuing the New Hermeneutic 57:47 - Truth in love and close enough to correct 01:13:00 - Engaging the Great Commission 01:23:54 - The Fruit of the Spirit 01:32:37 - Final Thoughts 01:36:27 - Outro

Have you ever run into what seemed like a contradiction in the Bible? You know where you got one verse that feels like it says one thing and another verse that feels like it says something completely different? Or have you encountered anything in our current culture and had difficulty figuring out what the Bible had to say about it? If you've ever had either of those experiences, then this podcast is for you. On this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, we start a two-part conversation about how to live out a black-and-white Bible in a gray world. THANK YOU to our podcast partner, The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share! Follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/church_disrupted Follow us on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeff.a.cochran

Talk about the multisite Mega Church and you will get A LOT of STRONG opinions. Some think the multisite mega church is a scam. Others think it is great. Some think the mega church is evil, while others love it and believe it's the answer to growing the church in North America. A bevy of recent mega church scandals have only added to the confusion and frustration. In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran and Vicki May take a deep dive look into the good, bad, and ugly of the multi-site megachurch and discuss what they see happening with this movement in the future. THANK YOU to our podcast partner, The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share! Follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/church_disrupted Follow us on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeff.a.cochran TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Intro 01:56 - Thank You's! 03:10 - What is the Multisite Mega Church? 05:45 - How the Multisite Mega Church took root in North America 10:58 - Common Ways People think about the Mega Church 12:11 - Thanking Our Podcast Partners! 15:01 - Common Ways People think about the Mega Church (Continued) 20:25 - Pastoral Care and Volunteer Burnout Concerns 25:11 - The unintended consequence of the multisite mega church 36:44 - How MEGA is the Multisite Mega Church (discipleship concerns in big churches) 52:32 - A cookie cutter approach, performing over preaching, and ghostwritten sermons 01:04:57 - Good things we see in the Multisite Mega Church 01:10:04 - Our Big Concerns About the Multisite Mega Church Today 01:29:14 - Mean and Arrogant Christian Responses To church hurt, spiritual abuse, and sin in the church. 01:37:21 - Financial Concerns in the Multisite Mega Church 01:41:51 - Our BIGGEST CONCERN with the MultiSite Mega Church! 01:48:30 - The Political Entanglement Problem 01:50:24 - Diversity issues in the mega church 01:52:37 - Celebrity culture in the multisite mega church 01:56:18 - Thinking about the Future of the Church 02:02:44 - Leaving with both Hope an Trepidation... 02:05:02 - Is the Multisite Mega Church a Failed Experiment? (Our Answer)

There's a reason you should not trust your pastor, and it's Biblical! Unfortunately, most Christians are unaware of this and believe they are supposed to trust their pastor implicitly. Many Christians today falsely believe it's dishonoring to ask your pastor questions. Unfortunately, that viewpoint couldn't be farther from Biblical truth! The truth is you can question on your pastor and show more honor by doing so! In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff Cochran, Shawn Reece, and Buck Flemming dive into this topic and show you why not trusting your pastor is actually a good and godly thing! When we learn this, church hurt, and spiritual abuse will decrease sharply in the church! So, if you're tired of church hurt, spiritual abuse, manipulative leaders, narcissism in the church, and moral scandals in the news from prominent Christian leaders, then this episode is for you. Give it a listen, and you will leave better and better equipped.

THANK YOU to our podcast partner, The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share! Follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/church_disrupted Follow us on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeff.a.cochran

People today have A LOT of opinions of the Church; unfortunately, most are not very good. WHY?! Culture has a negative view of the church because we are missing something vital! And what we are missing might surprise you. The good news is that what the church is missing is easy to find and put into practice. It just takes intentionality and commitment. Sadly, without it, we are in trouble. In this episode of the Church Disrupted podcast, Jeff Cochran and the crew discuss the one thing that the American Church needs most if we are going to reach this generation. You will laugh, you will be surprised, and you will be challenged to think differently. If that sounds good to you, then join us for episode 007 of the Church Disrupted Podcast! THANK YOU to our podcast partner The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share! Follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/church_disrupted Follow us on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeff.a.cochran TIMESTAMPS: 00:00- Intro 02:44 - Thank You's and Shout Outs 09:10 - Introducing the HOT Church Concept! 10:41 - Why HOT Matters 24:00 - Why Pastors and Church leaders struggle to stay HOT 41:09 - Where Pastors and Church leaders struggle with honesty, openness, and transparency 1:21:54 - Weaponizing Scripture 1:29:17 - Why the Church needs more HOT people in the the pews 1:37:27 - A HOT pastor example and Thanking Church leaders who fight for honesty 1:39:40 - A message to those out of church right now 1:40:22 - Modeling HOT Church leadership 1:42:44 - When Fear of being Cancelled keeps us from being HOT 1:47:43 - The Only Opinions that Matter 1:48:54 - Landing the plane and closing thoughts from the hosts

In Episode 006 of the Church Disrupted Podcast, we expose the common lies that people believe about church hurt and spiritual abuse. These lies keep us stuck in the cycle of abuse and unable to heal or move forward. The truth is we need to recognize these lies before we can begin moving toward healing. We also highlight the difference between church hurt and spiritual abuse, and how both can have a significant impact on individuals. We show you how to get support and also mention a couple of organizations that can provide assistance in your healing process. The episode aims to provide validation and support for those who have experienced church hurt and spiritual abuse, and we do our best to create awareness about the importance of addressing these often overlooked issues within the church community. THANK YOU to our podcast partner The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share! Follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/church_disrupted Follow us on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeff.a.cochran #church #bethechurch #lovelikejesus #godschurch #thebrideofjesus #churchhurt #SpiritualAbuse #HidingHurts #SpeakUp #BreakTheSilence #ProtectTheInnocent #HealingJourney #AuthenticConversations #CommunitySupport #FindYourVoice #ChurchDisrupted #Podcast #christian #christianity #religioustrauma #honestyheals #thebrideofchrist #brideofchrist #jesus #whenchurchworks

The Church is NOT a building. It's NOT an event. And it's DEFINITELY NOT an organization or business. The Church IS the people of God! And when the real Church shows up, there's no greater force for good in the world. Sadly, though, most people think of things like politics, judgment, big organizations, manipulation, and abuse when they think of the church. These bad actors are giving a bad name to Christians everywhere and harming the reputation of God's church and Christianity in culture. In episode 005 of the Church Disrupted Podcast, we share stories about the Real Church stepping up and loving like Jesus. We celebrate God's people and the difference the Church can make when we walk in love. The only question is, will you be part of the Real Church going forward? Our prayer is that you say YES! THANK YOU to our podcast partner The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/churchdisruptedcommunity ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU to the East TN Mentorship Association! Find out more information about what they do or connect with them at https://earnyoursanctuary.com/ . TELL THEM WE SENT YOU for a special rate that is ONLY for Church Disrupted Podcast listeners. Find out MORE about our podcast partners here: https://www.disrupted.church/sponsors. Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Find out more about the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share! Follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/church_disrupted Follow us on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeff.a.cochran #church #bethechurch #lovelikejesus #godschurch #thebrideofjesus #churchhurt #SpiritualAbuse #HidingHurts #SpeakUp #BreakTheSilence #ProtectTheInnocent #HealingJourney #AuthenticConversations #CommunitySupport #FindYourVoice #ChurchDisrupted #Podcast #christian #christianity #religioustrauma #honestyheals #thebrideofchrist #brideofchrist #jesus #whenchurchworks

It happens all too often. You leave a church, and when you do the community you had and the spiritual family you had around you acts like you no longer exist. Sometimes they're antagonistic, and at other times they are just apathetic. This is one of the hardest (and most painful) parts of leaving a church because it feels like you lose so much in the process. In episode 004 of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jacob and Sarai Miller share their story of leaving the Jehova's Witnesses and losing their community and family in the process. We also talk about high-control environments and what to do when you find it's time to leave. If you've ever felt the sting of losing a church family and feeling like a modern-day leper, then this episode will encourage you that better days are ahead. Our conversations are real and authentic, but we want to remind our sensitive audience members that some topics may be triggering. Join us for this thought-provoking discussion on the Church Disrupted Podcast! THANK YOU to our podcast partner The Forgiveness Link!!! Schedule your free consultation with Rob here and let him know we sent you to get a special Church Disrupted rate! https://theforgivenesslink.com/church... Want to support Church Disrupted financially? https://www.disrupted.church/give Show notes and more info about the Church Disrupted Podcast are available at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share! Follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/church_disr... Follow us on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeff.a.cochran

Welcome to Episode 3 of the Church Disrupted Podcast, where we discuss the topic of "When Hiding Hurts." In this episode, we delve into the difficult decision of whether to speak out about church hurt, religious trauma, or spiritual abuse, or to remain silent to protect individuals, ministries, and the peace. We explore the consequences of hiding and the harm it can cause, both to ourselves and to others. Our conversations are real and authentic, but we want to remind our sensitive audience members that some topics may be triggering. Join us for this thought-provoking discussion on the Church Disrupted Podcast! Show notes and more info about the Church Disrupted Podcast are available at https://www.disrupted.church/. Please Subscribe and Share! Follow us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/church_disr... Follow us on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeff.a.cochran #churchhurt #SpiritualAbuse #HidingHurts #SpeakUp #BreakTheSilence #ProtectTheInnocent #HealingJourney #AuthenticConversations #CommunitySupport #FindYourVoice #ChurchDisrupted #Podcast #christian #christianity #religioustrauma #honestyheals