The Shock Absorber

Jesus is the synthesiser

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +1000

Tony Abbott wrote a history of Australia called, wait for it, Australia. Tim has been reading it, which sent him down a rabbit hole about celebratory versus critical history, cognitive dissonance, steel-manning both sides, and why we're so terrified of changing our minds.

Joel and Tim work through black armband versus three cheers versions of Australian identity, and what Christian Smith's critical realist personalism has to do with welcoming newcomers at church. Then they land somewhere that ties it all together: Jesus is the synthesiser. Not a middle ground between two political tribes, not a careful hedge, but the total truth above and beyond all of it, which is exactly what a generation exhausted by polarisation is starving for.

Plus: two Michael Jensen articles on how not to be weird to newcomers, the difference between a hobby and a practice, and Tim's takeaway on being genuinely curious about other people.

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome — adventures, new creation and Tim's AI-generated book cover
05:00 Tony Abbott's history of Australia and the history wars
09:30 Black armband vs celebratory history, why we can't hold both at once
16:30 Steel-manning both sides with Claude and the danger of always complexifying
22:00 Christian Smith's critical realist personalism: objective truth, subjective engagement
28:00 Michael Jensen on how not to be weird to newcomers at church
34:00 The regulars and irregulars problem: when community becomes a closed circle
43:00 Hobby vs practice: Brad Stulberg on getting 1% better at welcoming
51:00 God's sovereignty and our practice: the both/and of sanctification
56:30 Tim's takeaway: be genuinely curious about others

Discussed on this episode

Tony Abbott - Australia: A History
Christian Smith - What is a Person?
Sean Nolan - The Way He Walked
Michael Jensen - How Not to Be Weird to Newcomers at Church
Michael Jensen - How to Be Normal to Newcomers at Church
Brad Stulberg
Cal Newport - How To Build Discipline in a Distracted World
The Antilibrary: The Hidden Value of Unread Books

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School, church and the home: Who's actually responsible for your kids' faith?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 06:00:00 +1000

Every Christian parent has felt the tension. Do you send your kids to a Christian school? They're plugged into kids church right? The faith formation is happening right? But is it? And whose job is it really?

Joel, Stu and Tim are joined by David Stonestreet — Principal of Shire Christian School and Soul Revival member number 009, to work through the history of Christian schooling in Australia, what sets a covenantal Christian school apart, why church attendance in the Sutherland Shire has dropped from 11% to around 1% in a generation, and why the school-church-home partnership is more urgent now than it's ever been.

They also end up somewhere unexpected: a conversation about transcendence, immanence, why young people are flocking to ancient liturgical churches, and what the seeker-sensitive movement got wrong about a generation that hates its own life.

Timestamps
00:00 Welcoming Dave and some old Soul Revival stories
06:30 Francis Schaeffer, L'Abri and why Christianity doesn't require intellectual suicide
13:30 What sets a Christian school apart, David unpacks the covenantal model
20:30 Tim's school choice story, pro and con lists, a billboard and vanilla Christianity
28:30 The offload problem: why sending kids to Christian school isn't enough
34:00 Church decline in the Sutherland Shire: the statistics that should concern every church leader
44:00 Schools and churches working together: the partnership model
54:00 Has state school become more hostile to Christianity?
1:07:30 Transcendence and immanence: why young people are flocking to ancient churches

Discussed on this episode
Shire Christian School

Abraham Kuyper's sphere of sovereignty
Francis Schaeffer and L'Abri
Francis Schaeffer's The Great Evangelical Disaster
NCLS Research: How Religious Are Australians?
NCLS Research: What draws newcomers to church?
Kendra Creasy Dean's Practicing Passion

Join the Shock Absorber Network: shockabsorber.com.au

Soul Revival Church: soulrevivalchurch.com

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Is it all a laugh?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +1000

Is banter just harmless fun — or is something deeper going on beneath the surface?

Joel, Stu and Tim open with Easter reflections, including JoelChristian humour, banter and friendship, male friendship theology, tall poppy syndrome Australia, hegemony church, belonging and identity, Andrew Huberman friendship, banter church community, shock absorber podcast, soul revival church, church leadership podcast, intergenerational ministry, Christian culture Australia, microaggression, theology of joy, fruit of the spirit joy, church and culture, adolescent belonging, Easter baptism, Christian banter baptising his own son at the river service, before diving into a clip from Andrew Huberman's podcast about male friendship and the role of humour in building trust and loyalty.

What starts as a straightforward conversation quickly gets complicated: tall poppy syndrome, hegemony, the Cronulla riots, a bucks party gone wrong, a proverb about flaming arrows, and the question of whether Jesus ever actually made a joke.

This is one of the most honest and wide-ranging conversations the Shock Absorber has had. If you've ever wondered how to think Christianly about humour, banter and belonging, especially with young people, this is worth your time.

Timestamps
00:00 Welcome and Easter reflections
09:30 Andrew Huberman on male friendship — does banter build trust and loyalty?
13:00 Tim's cautions: power imbalances, adolescent vulnerability and passive aggression
17:00 Stu's story: family of origin, words of affirmation and learning banter as a foreign language
20:30 NT Feather, tall poppy syndrome and the Australian pressure to cut people down
27:00 The bucks party: stocks, a hacksaw and being expelled from the group
40:00 Hegemony, racism and the Cronulla riots — the darker thread in Australian banter culture
48:00 Does Jesus ever make a joke? What does God's laughter mean?
54:00 Tim's takeaway — joyfulness, the fruit of the Spirit and what redeemed humour looks like

Discussed on this episode
Cultivating Awe & Emotional Connection in Daily Life | Dr. Dacher Keltner and Andrew Huberman

NT Feather on tall poppy syndrome
Miroslav Volf's Exclusion and Embrace
Chester Pierce on microaggressions
Gramsci's concept of hegemony

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Stop making church more like the world. Build this instead...

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +1100

Most churches have spent the last sixty years trying to lower the cultural barriers to Christianity. Clean car parks. Professional music. Seeker-sensitive services. The logic made sense at the time. But has making church more like the world actually worked and is it still the right strategy?

Joel and Stu work through the tension between institutional and organic church structures, unpack the history of the attractional church model from Donald McGavran to Willow Creek, and explain why Soul Revival has deliberately gone the other direction — building a countercultural, intergenerational Yellow Submarine that goes beneath the surface of daily life.

They also answer two great listener questions from Julie about Bonhoeffer's friendship circles: whether they include non-Christians, and how kids and youth factor into church numbers.

Timestamps
00:00 Sharks gear, Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley and tribal fan culture
05:30 The AGM and the juxtaposition of formal polity in a time of crisis
08:30 Organic vs institutional structures: what's the difference and why it matters
15:00 The attractional church model — McGavran, Willow Creek and the homogeneous unit principle
22:00 The Yellow Submarine: Soul Revival's countercultural intergenerational alternative
29:00 How Soul Revival's governance actually works
43:30 Listener questions from Julie: Bonhoeffer's friendship circles and non-Christians
51:30 At what stage do kids and youth count in your numbers?
54:00 The Blitz, the fuel crisis and the Christian response to economic pressure

Discussed on this episode
Stu Crawshaw - The Yellow Submarine
Skip Bell — What is Wrong with the Homogeneous Unit Principle?
Karina Koremsky — The Fallacy of the Homogeneous Unit Principle
Bill Hybels — Becoming a Contagious Christian
Mark Senter — The Four Views of Youth Ministry
Kendra Creasy Dean — Practicing Passion
Donald McGavran — homogeneous unit principle overview

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Is boring people with the Bible a sin?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +1100

Jim Rayburn, the father of modern youth ministry, said it was a sin to bore a kid with the gospel.

Joel, Tim and Stu work through a sharp distinction from a new book on kids theology: distilling versus simplifying. Distillation keeps the essentials and removes the unnecessary. Simplification removes the complexity, and sometimes the truth along with it. The difference matters enormously for anyone trying to pass on a faith that lasts.

They also talk about Lee Strobel's adolescent drift into atheism, why apologetics isn't landing the way it used to, e-bikes and teenage rebellion, and what it actually looks like to be a non-anxious adult presence (a wall of a swimming pool, for a generation that's pushing hard against everything)

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Don't let them hate Jesus because of you

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +1100

Half of kids surveyed say their parents should be worried about their screen time. Jonathan Haidt thinks he missed something big in his own book. And Meta allegedly knew about the damage it was doing to children for years — and said nothing.

Joel and Tim work through a raft of confronting data about childhood today, wrestle honestly with the collective action problem of smartphone culture, and then land somewhere unexpected: a conversation about preaching John 15 that produces one of the sharpest applications you'll hear.

Don't let people hate Jesus because of you. Let them hate you because of Jesus. That's the order. And getting the order right changes everything about how you show up as a disciple.

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
02:20 Wes Huff on Diary of a CEO — communicating the gospel to a curious generation
12:00 After Babel — 30 facts about childhood today
15:30 No siblings, no cousins — and what the church can offer instead
28:00 Screen time, double standards and the collective action problem of smartphones
44:00 Preaching John 15 — preparation process and the difference between teaching and preaching
1:03:30 Don't make them hate Jesus because of you — the sharpest application of the episode

Wes Huff on Diary of a CEO
Wes Huff on Joe Rogan
30 Facts About Childhood Today
Unsealed court docs allege Meta knew for years about harms to young users, even as they fueled its growth
The Great Cousin Decline
Coming of Age in a Fully Connected World
Your Marriage Has a Third

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Website: shockabsorber.com.au

A new movement: Re-launching The Shock Absorber network

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +1100

Joel, Stu and Tim are relaunching the Shock Absorber Network, and this episode explains what it is, why it matters and how you can be part of it.

Ministry was never meant to be done alone. But for a lot of church leaders, that's exactly what it feels like, isolated in your local context, carrying the weight of cultural change without anyone to process it with.

Stu traces the thinking all the way back to his first PhD at UNSW, where he was studying Christian youth ministry as a social movement using new social movement theory. That research, and thirty-plus years of doing exactly this kind of relational networking through Soul Revival, is the foundation of what the Shock Absorber Network is trying to build. Not an institution, not a franchise, not a brand. A relational, non-competitive, theologically grounded space where ministry leaders can pray together, share ideas and learn from each other across churches and denominations.

Tim unpacks Archie Poulos' research on why networking is actually essential to long-term ministry health, not a nice-to-have when you've got spare time, but a genuine factor in whether you and your ministry survive and flourish over the long haul. The alternative, as Archie points out, is that isolation tips into competition, and competition is the opposite of what Jesus prays for in John 17.

Practically, it starts simply: a new website at shockabsorber.com.au, a mailing list, and a Zoom prayer meeting once a term. No money, no compulsion, no franchise. Just friends in ministry, gathered around Jesus.

Timestamps

01:45 Relaunching the Shock Absorber Network — what it is and where the idea came from
05:20 Memories of the Treehouse — what church networking has looked like at Soul Revival
09:30 Archie Poulos on why networking is essential to ministry health
17:45 Are movements dangerous? New social movement theory explained
28:00 The biblical foundation — loving your neighbour, John 15 and Matthew 22
36:00 What the network looks like practically — website, Zoom prayer meetings and how to join

Discussed on this episode

The High-Level Skill of Ministry Networking and Collaboration, by Mikey Lynch
We need to get better at networking - Archie Poulos on The Pastors' Heart
New Social Movement Theory
Collective Identity
Collective Identity and Social Movements

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With or against the grain of God's design

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 09:12:19 +1100

Everyone's chasing the algorithm. More clicks, better thumbnails, optimised titles, short-form funnels. So what does a Christian do with all of that?

Joel and Tim start with football, Real Madrid vs Barcelona, identity, rivalry and what success actually means, and end up somewhere and end up with a biblical framework for thinking about metrics of success in a world that rewards inflammatory, clickbaity and often dishonest content.

Along the way they work through the cultural mandate in Genesis 1 and 2, the trifecta of good, true and beautiful, Proverbs' wisdom about living with the grain of God's design, and whether Christians should be on these platforms at all — or whether the algorithm has simply evangelised us instead.

If you're wrestling with digital content, social media, and what faithful presence online actually looks like, enjoy!

Timestamps
00:00 Intro: trains, voyages and retractable stadium pitches
05:40 Fear and Loathing in La Liga: Real Madrid, Barcelona and what success actually means
17:55 Chasing the algorithm: what ChatGPT says about podcast success
24:45 The cultural mandate: why content creation starts in Genesis
32:00 Good, true and beautiful: a biblical filter for everything you make
42:30 Should Christians be on these platforms at all? McLuhan, Haidt and the pub analogy
51:30 The quiet revival and Tim's takeaway

Discussed on this episode
Real Madrid's retractable pitch
Tottenham Hotspur's retractable pitch
Fear and Loathing in La Liga, by Sid Lowe
The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt
Indistractable, by Nir Eyal
The Sirens' Call, by Chris Hayes
Amusing Ourselves to Death, Neil Postman
The Medium is the Message, by Marshall McLuhan
Cross Formed Kidmin Podcast

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Life and loyalty with Jesus

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 06:00:00 +1100

Richard Dawkins likes Christmas carols. Tom Holland calls himself a Christian. Robert Greene thinks religion is great for transcending the banality of social media.

Joel and Tim trace a thread from Bluey, through the culture war trap of coding everything left or right, into Skye Jethani's four distorted postures toward God, and land on the one thing that separates Christianity from every other self-improvement and philosophical framework: Jesus himself.

Timestamps
05:47 Bluey is not a normal kids show
25:44 We can progress and conserve
39:51 Life with God
58:56 Tim's Takeaway - Seek the kingdom above all else

Discussed on this episode
‘Bluey’ Is the Most Conservative Show on TV, by Louise Perry
Bluey Takeaway
Bud Light Boycott
Robert Greene, Religion's True Purpose
Tom Holland on UnHerd
With, by Skye Jethani
Parenting in God's Family - Volume 2

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Have we forgotten about friendship?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 06:00:00 +1100

Most churches have got the small group and the Sunday service figured out. But there's a whole layer of community that's gone missing, and it might be why people keep saying "I don't feel like I belong here."

Joel, Stu and Tim dig into Dietrich Bonhoeffer's theology of friendship as an ecclesial category, and why his concentric circles of relationship, drawn straight from Jesus' own relational model, give churches a practical framework for building community that's expansive instead of cliquey.

They also pull in Robin Dunbar's research on the cognitive limits of human relationship, and land somewhere surprising: biology and theology are telling the same story.

Plus: e-bikes, convicts, the Industrial Revolution, and why teenagers might actually be ahead of the church on this one.

Timestamps
05:11 Friendship as an ecclesial category
13:14 The 3, the 12, the 72, the 120
19:24 Jesus saves us into community
24:03 Cultural differences and individualism influencing friendship
34:09 The Dunbar number and what friendship brings
43:17 Tim's takeaway - How would your relationships at church change if you saw them as friends?

Discussed on this episode
The Lesser of Two Weevils - Master and Commander
When Church Was a Family, by Joesph Hellerman
Dunbar's Number

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He has the right to tell me how to live

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 06:00:00 +1100

Tim and Joel are back for 2026 with a conversation about authority, hierarchy, and authentic relationship with Jesus.

It starts with parenting, authoritarian (high control, low love) versus authoritative (high control, high love). But the real question: how does the parent-child relationship mirror our relationship with God? For those with great fathers, God being the perfect Father is comforting. For those with absent or abusive fathers, it's healing.

This opens a bigger conversation about hierarchy and power. Postmodernism wants to deconstruct all hierarchies as inherently corrupt. But because there's an inherent power imbalance between Creator and creation, they argue there must be such a thing as good hierarchy. The difference isn't whether power exists, but how it's used, to serve others or serve yourself.

Tim shares about joining the Crossformed Kids podcast, leading into intergenerational ministry and reciprocity. A five-year-old is no more or less saved than a senior minister. Equal in God's kingdom, even while maintaining appropriate roles. They discuss Tom Holland's "Dominion", how even secular progressive concern for the vulnerable is borrowed from Christian moral tradition. Marx's vision could only emerge from a Christian worldview.

The conversation turns to math with Joel reading John Lennox and his son to discover how mathematics reveals God's beauty and order. The elegance of math points to a rational universe created by a rational God.

Finally, parasocial relationships, Cambridge Dictionary's 2025 Word of the Year. People are forming one-way relationships with celebrities and AI chatbots. Tim contrasts this with his word for the year: abiding. "I don't want a parasocial relationship with Jesus. I want to genuinely abide in Him."

The takeaway? God has the right to tell us how to live. And because He's the perfect Father, that's not oppressive, it's beautiful and relational.
https://online.hillsdale.edu/
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Intro and welcome back for the new year
09:33 - Parenting, hierarchies, and power and our true Father
25:32 - Tim's hosting another podcast, the reciprocity of intergenerational relationships and ceding power to God's good hierarchy
36:20 - God is a God who cares for vulnerable people
43:20 - Science and maths explaining God's created world
54:52 - Parasocial versus abiding
1:13:06 - Tim's Takeaway: authentic relationship with Jesus

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE:
Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI, by Yuval Noah Harari
Rivers of London series, by Ben Aaronovitch
Unruly: The Ridiculous History of England's Kings and Queens, by David Mitchell
Crossformed Kidmin Podcast
The Child in God's Church, by Tim Beilharz
Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind, by Tom Holland
Anglicare Australia
The Air We Breathe: How We All Came to Believe in Freedom, Kindness, Progress, and Equality, by Glen Scrivener
Hillsdale College online courses
Can Science Explain Everything?, by John Lennox
Why This Oxford Mathematician is Confident God Exists | John Lennox
The 2025 Cambridge Dictionary Word of the Year
Death of Rob Hirst

Peace guards our hearts

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +1100

Recorded five days after the Bondi terrorist attack, Tim reflects on the strange providence of preaching about peace the morning before the attack.

His sermon from Philippians 4 explored why we struggle to find peace in a world online world where research shows rising depression, anxiety, and suicidality across all generations. But the biblical vision of peace (shalom) is both gift and obedience: the Spirit gives us peace, and the Spirit empowers us to pursue peace. Prayer, that act of relationship, trust, and faith is what guards our hearts and minds. Not the outcome, but the praying.

Joel and Tim then dive into a fascinating cultural analysis: "Why Didn't Your Grandparents Deconstruct?" which argues that church hurt, moral failure, bad theology, and unanswered questions have always so why is deconstruction so prevalent among millennials?

The answer is postmodernism's cultural programming. Previous generations lived in a hegemonic meta-narrative. Even when they experienced church pain, there was nowhere else to go. But millennials came of age in the '90s when postmodernism went mainstream. The new cultural catechism taught: truth is socially constructed, institutions are corrupt, every story masks a power play (especially religion), and authenticity comes through deconstruction. If something feels constraining, the answer isn't reform—it's exit. Walk away or burn it down.

As Christmas approaches, Tim and Joel discuss Soul Revival's four yearly high points: Christmas, Easter, Week Away, and Planning Days. They unpack why gathering on Christmas Day matters, the strategy behind the Kids Christmas Eve service, and why telling the Christmas story every year matters for forming young disciples.

The episode ends on the question of traditions: which ones do we hold, which do we discard, and why does the gospel tradition at Christmas still matter in a world that tells us all traditions deserve deconstruction?

Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro, Bondi attack and Tim's sermon on peace
15:51 - Deconstruction: The answer isn't reform, it's exit
31:06 - The traditions we hold and the traditions we discard

Discussed on this episode:
Tim’s sermon on God, Why Can’t I Find Peace?
On Bondi Beach, by Louise Perry
Why Didn’t Your Grandparents Deconstruct?, by Paul Anleitner

About the Shock Absorber:
A podcast for church leaders and ministry pioneers who want to do church differently. Hosted by Stu Crawshaw, Tim Beilharz, and Joel McMaster from Soul Revival Church.

Connect with us at joel@shockabsorber.com

Soul Revival Church meet across the Sutherland Shire & in Ryde: soulrevivalchurch.com

Movements always happen and Christians are always in the middle of them

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +1100

With Stu traveling and Tim unwell, Joel brings in the super-subs, Ethan and Brayden, to tackle the 6-7 meme and what it tells us about internet culture, and how Christians should respond.

They start with a primer on the 6-7 meme, following a breakdown by aidanetcetera on Instagram that claims it's evidence that "postmodernists won the culture war" and what it means to meme something into relevance.

The guys discuss whether this holds up. Is 6-7 actually abstract art, or is it just teenagers doing what they've always done, creating subculture that adults don't understand? They discuss the lifecycle of memes (why they die when younger kids adopt them), the difference between little memes and big movements like grunge, and whether capital-M Movements can even happen anymore when everyone's algorithm shows them different realities.

But this isn't just internet anthropology. Joel shares his research on getting his 11-year-old son a phone, Australia's social media ban for under-16s, the rise of sextortion, why helicopter parenting offline paired with complete digital freedom is naive, and what Christian wisdom looks like in practice.

If older Christians are going to say the internet is bad for development and then we sit around on our phones, what are we modelling? Despite cultural shifts toward declining literacy and shorter attention spans, God is still moving, people are becoming Christians through social media, mini-revivals are happening in the UK, and young believers are figuring out how to be Christian in digital spaces.

The episode lands on a hopeful note: movements still happen, they just look different now. And Christians are always in the middle of them. From women transforming the Roman Empire through radical hospitality to hippies doubling down on to Gen Z finding Jesus through TikTok, God works through every cultural shift. The question isn't whether to fear the movement, but how to partner with young people as they generatively figure out what it means to follow Jesus online and offline.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro and laying out the generations
04:16 - Is this 6-7 meme a work of art?
12:55 - When are memes cool and not cool?
20:38 - A movement of understanding how to be online
28:21 - Leaning into what people see as freedoms without knowing the consequences
34:19 - What do we model as the digital world becomes increasingly more prevalent?
43:44 - Movements still happen, and Christians are still in them

Discussed on this episode:
aidanetcetera on Instagram
Doot Doot, by Skrilla
Lamelo Ball basketball edits
Social media ban
Lewis’s Chip Lunch episode on the internet
Richard Dawkins a cultural Christian

About the Shock Absorber:
A podcast for church leaders and ministry pioneers who want to do church differently. Hosted by Stu Crawshaw, Tim Beilharz, and Joel McMaster from Soul Revival Church.

Soul Revival Church meet across the Sutherland Shire & in Ryde: soulrevivalchurch.com

God is not a God of efficiency

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 06:32:09 +1100

Joel reclaims the hosting chair from Tim (who did a great job, but still...). They start off by debating favourite movies, why Tim can't finish The Godfather, and the comfort of rewatching The Bourne Identity, but quickly pivot into questions of efficiency, productivity and whether we should be as efficient as the world demands us to be.

Tim has been reading extensively about digital culture, AI, and what it means to be embodied Christians in an increasingly disembodied world. He introduces two key books: Christine Rosen's secular "The Extinction of Experience" and Samuel D. James's Christian "Digital Liturgies." Both argue, from different angles, that we're losing something fundamentally human as we trade physical experiences for digital ones.

The theological anchor is incarnation. God created us as embodied beings. Jesus took on flesh and was resurrected into a physical body. This matters profoundly for how we think about technology, productivity, and formation as disciples. When Mark Andreessen coins the term "reality privilege" to argue that most people's physical experiences are worse than what digital worlds can offer, he's essentially making the argument of The Matrix's Cypher: the fake world is better than the real one.

Tim and Joel push back hard. They discuss why God is not efficient (it took 1800 years from Abraham to Jesus), why the Bible is intentionally slow and story-shaped rather than a bullet-point list, why handwriting matters, why reading actual books matters, why face-to-face conversations are "3D" while text messages are "2D," and why the church must be a place of refuge from culture's aggressive push toward endless efficiency and productivity.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro, favourite movies
11:47 - We are created incarnate
26:22 - Does every moment have to be productive?
33:52 - The devious trick of efficiency
44:42 - How we are formed matters
1:06:30 - Tim's Takeaway

Discussed on this episode:
Anchorman
Step Brothers
The Mummy I
The Mummy Returns
Alien
Young Frankenstein
The Bourne Identity
The Fast and the Furious
The Godfather
The Social Network
A Few Good Men
Die Hard
Lethal Weapon
Tunnel 29, by Helena Merriman
The Escape Artist, by Jonathan Freedland
Cloverfield
The Extinction of Experience, by Christine Rosen:
Digital Liturgies, by Samuel D. James
Marc Andreesen
The Jungle Village Hooked on Phones

About the Shock Absorber:
A podcast for church leaders and ministry pioneers who want to do church differently. Hosted by Stu Crawshaw, Tim Beilharz, and Joel McMaster from Soul Revival Church.

Soul Revival Church meet across the Sutherland Shire & in Ryde: soulrevivalchurch.com

What we want to be

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 06:43:20 +1100

In this Joel-free episode (don't worry, he's just away), Tim, Stu, and Ethan dive deep into what makes Soul Revival's approach to church distinctive—and why it matters.

The conversation starts with preaching in hostile environments (including the story of Stu getting hit with an orange at a school), then moves into a fascinating discussion about why church kitchens are vanishing across America. A recent Christianity Today article reveals that newly built churches are scrapping full kitchens in favor of "co-working spaces" and other community-facing facilities. But Soul Revival has doubled down on meals as central to church life.

Stu explains how Soul Revival's meal practice didn't come from American church growth models but from Aboriginal Christian communities in Brewarrina, NSW, where church naturally extended into shared meals. This wasn't a missional strategy, it was friendship. The episode explores how this connects to pre-industrial church culture, fellowship teas, and why modern churches separated discipleship from mission.

The joy and frivolity section is pure gold: from the legendary Black Stump pool table incident to Soul Revival's recent viral moment welcoming strangers at Sydney Airport. Ethan shares what happened when an influencer captured their spontaneous celebration of arriving passengers. The hosts unpack why this kind of joyful, confident Christian witness works, not as an incarnational strategy to earn the right to be heard, but as an authentic expression of who they are.

Throughout, the conversation wrestles with hegemony, the grunge movement, the Black Panthers, why Pentecostals are surprised at Soul Revival, and what it means to bring "the action" back into the church instead of exporting it to pubs and events.

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro and tough times speaking in front of people
11:20 Church kitchens and the generational divide
38:00 Joy, frivolity and virality

Discussed on this episode:
John Laws funeral
Michael Jensen sermon at funeral
Christianity Today: Church Kitchens Getting Chopped
No Guts, No Glory, by Ken Moser, Al Vaughan, Ed Stewart
Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry, by Andrew Root
Soul Revival at the airport
Black Panther Party
Seraph Music

Jesus frees us to experiment in ministry

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +1100

If you woke up in a third-world jail cell with one phone call, who would you ring to get you out? That person has high agency—the ability to get things done even in impossible situations.

Stu, Tim, and Joel explore what high agency means for Christian leadership and ministry, building on last week's conversation about Blue Ocean Strategy and Stu's PhD research. They dive into an essay by George Mack on high agency and unpack five low agency traps that hold us back: the vague trap (being captured by problems instead of solutions), the midwit trap (overcomplicating things), the attachment trap (being stuck on ideas without knowing why), the rumination trap (frozen by "what if" loops), and the overwhelm trap (paralyzed by too many options).

It ends with a theological reflection: does the Holy Spirit help us change our agency? Tim emphasizes faithfulness in small things and not equating high agency with cultural success. Stu argues that to be in Christ is agency itself—being active Christians, not sedentary ones, expressing the newness Jesus gives us in our generation.

Timestamps
00:00 - Intro: Who would you call from a third-world jail cell?
03:50 - Why Christians tend to be conservative and what holds us back
14:48 - The Vague Trap: Being captured by problems instead of solutions
20:55 - The Midwit Trap: Overcomplicating agency and seeking validation
25:26 - The Attachment Trap: Being stuck on ideas without knowing why
38:25 - The Rumination Trap: Frozen by "what if" loops
46:04 - The Overwhelm Trap: Starting with the smallest first step
53:18 - Does the Holy Spirit help us change our agency?

Discussed on this episode
High Agency essay
Chesterton’s Fence
The Wright Brothers

Are churches giving tacit approval to be exclusive?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +1100

Are our churches unintentionally approving exclusivity?

Stu, Tim and Joel dive deep into the research behind Stu's PhD on the Shock Absorber, youth ministry and generative intergenerational ministry—and why most churches experience cultural lag that makes them irrelevant.

Motivated to understand why young people leave the church, Stu shares why he started (and restarted) his PhD, using what he has learned from 20 years in youth ministry and 13 years planting Soul Revival.

The conversation explores the meditative benefits of writing and walking, the imposter syndrome Stu feels in academia, and the "clown suit" metaphor—how Christians became irrelevant trying to be cool instead of just being confident in Jesus. They discuss Blue Ocean Strategy and why Soul Revival looks to be a pioneer in ministry instead of competing for the same young people.

Stu explains how the PhD work has moved from "moderate intergenerational ministry" to "generative intergenerational ministry" by combining Kendra Creasy Dean's and Erik Erikson's work. This reveals the gap in youth ministry literature and highlights how the homogeneous unit principle creates a gravitational pull toward exclusivity.

The Shock Absorber model flips the script: young people can experiment on how to be a Christian in new cultural contexts, while adults provide theological grounding and wisdom. It's about having both segregated youth spaces AND accessible intergenerational spaces—the fifth way of doing ministry.

As Tim notes towards the end: this only works because we're co-adopted by the same Saviour, which makes humility between the generations possible.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro: the meditative benefits of writing and walking
12:50 - The motivating factors behind Stu's PhD
31:49 - Soul Revival helped people be confident and Christian
1:00:37 - Generative intergenerational model
1:25:50 - Tim's Takeaway

Discussed on this episode:
Guy Goma: The Wrong Guy
Jenn's Interview - The IT Crowd
Moving beyond the shock absorber: The place of youth ministry—past, present and future, by Stu Crawshaw
The Child in God's Church, by Tim Beilharz
Glenn Maxwell produces one of the greatest ODI knocks of all-time
High Agency, by George Mack
Kenda Creasy Dean
Erik Erikson
The Generative Church, by Corey Seibel
Soul Revival Late Night at Sydney Airport

Infringing on our individuality is good for us

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +1100

Our culture tells us that independence is everything — but what if true flourishing happens when we give some of it up?

Joel and Tim explore how commitment to a local church is not just a spiritual act, but something deeply human. They unpack how technology, hyper-individualism, and cultural values can isolate us, while the church pulls us back into the kind of community God designed for our good.

From the sociology of connection to the theology of commitment, this conversation challenges us to see that infringing on our individuality might actually be the healthiest thing for us — because we are made to be together.

Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: Isolation vs. community
22:47 – Commitment vs. loneliness
35:40 – How community shapes identity
41:12 – Inviting others into connected community
59:09 – Tim’s takeaway: Spend more time at church

Discussed on this episode
Friedrich Nietzsche
Casey Neistat
Why We Need the Church Now More Than Ever, by Carmen Joy Imes
Nijay Gupta Substack
Dominion, by Tom Holland
Glow Kids: How Screen Addiction Is Hijacking Our Kids-and How to Break the Trance by Nicholas Kardaras
Jonathan Haidt
After Babel
Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory

We’re not struggling with over-commitment to church

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +1100

Joel and Tim explore what it means to live and raise children as elect exiles in a world with different values. They reflect on social media, culture, and the ways Christians can tell the alternate story of Jesus — distinctive, thoughtful, and rooted in grace.

The discussion covers family and intergenerational ministry, schools, and creating spaces for children to engage meaningfully with the church. They highlight the importance of modelling commitment through consistent presence and participation.

Over-commitment to church isn’t the problem — intentionality, faithfulness, and living in deep community are. By prioritising time together, parents and churches equip the next generation to confidently live as elect exiles in Christ.

🕓 Timestamps
00:00 Mass deletion in NYC + Freya India
18:32 The Christian story as the alternate story
31:59 How do we raise children as aliens in a foreign world?
40:34 The role of schools in raising children as exiles
54:17 Committing to the alternate story
1:07:40 Tim’s Takeaway

📌 Discussed on this episode
Time To Refuse
Gen Z held an anti-social media event. Here's how they heard about it
Italian Brain Rot
We Are The Slop, by Freya India
Is Sora the Beginning of the End for OpenAI?
Parenting Beyond Your Capacity: Connect Your Family to a Wider Community, by Reggie Joiner and Carey Nieuwenhof
Raising Boys, by Steve Biddulph

Preparing for God to grow us, and be ready if He does

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 06:00:00 +1100

Joel and Tim explore Soul Revival Church’s 2025 Planning Day — and how the church can prepare for God to grow them, being ready if He chooses to do that.

They begin by talking about writing, storytelling, and collective memory — how churches pass down faith through shared stories that shape who they are. Tim reflects on his recent work about how intergenerational communities strengthen faith by remembering together.

The conversation then turns to independent media and creativity, drawing lessons from writers like Ryan Holiday and Jonathan Wilson. Joel and Tim reflect on how Christians can balance curiosity with focus — doing a few things well, recognising that God made people finite so they can’t chase every idea.

At the heart of the episode is Soul Revival’s collaborative Planning Day, where the whole church community — not just leaders — comes together to reflect, celebrate, and plan for the year ahead. It’s a unique approach that embodies their belief in the church as a family, where every generation contributes.

Finally, they look forward to the 2025 Planning Day and the church’s 2030 Double Up Vision, discussing what it means to grow deeply in discipleship and mission, not just in numbers. The episode closes with a reminder to keep telling the stories of God’s faithfulness — because those stories shape who the church is and who it will become.

🕓 Timestamps
00:00 Writing, independent media & being finite beings
20:00 Why have a Planning Day?
27:38 Benefits of collaboration & community input
40:01 Preparing for growth and God’s work
45:45 What’s happening at the 2025 Planning Day
1:06:05 Keep telling your church’s story

Discussed on this episode
Ryan Holiday Reading Recommendation Email
The Painted Porch bookstore
Brass Check
Daily Stoic podcast
Bookmarked
It Was What It Was podcast
Wilson's World (of football)
The Blizzard
Libero podcast
Breaking Points
Tim's Substack
So Good They Can't Ignore You, by Cal Newport
Mensch: Beyond the Cones, by Jonathan Harding
Good to Great, by Jim Collins
Brady Shearer

Are we still exiles?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 06:00:00 +1100

Joel and Tim return from a short break to wrestle with a timeless question — are Christians today still exiles? Drawing from 1 Peter, they explore what it means to live faithfully in a world that doesn’t always share our values.

With both Joel and Tim preaching on 1 Peter they delve into the different ways they have approached the sermon preparation process. Joel focuses on identity, inheritance, and how God’s power sustains us through trials. Tim looks at the cultural lens — what it means to live as “God’s elect exiles” in a post-Christendom world. Together, they reflect on how Scripture calls us to faithfulness, hope, and distinctiveness as followers of Jesus.

Their discussion expands to cultural engagement too — especially around the banning of books and the idea of reading behind enemy lines. Why should Christians engage with opposing ideas rather than fear them? How do we hold convictions without closing our minds? They argue that wrestling with uncomfortable ideas, when rooted in truth, helps us understand God’s world better and strengthens our witness in it.

They also touch on Tim’s new book chapter Why Your Family Needs the Intergenerational Church, the discipline of walking as a form of reflection, and the process of preparing sermons that let Scripture lead.

🎙️ Timestamps
00:00 – Intro & catching up
15:51 – On the banning of books and reading behind enemy lines
30:37 – Preaching on 1 Peter
1:03:24 – What we hope for after the sermon

📌 Discussed on this episode
Why Most Smart People Become Stupid - Ryan Holiday on Modern Wisdom
Joel's sermon on 1 Peter
Govett's Leap
Soren Kirkegaard
Dominion, by Tom Holland

If you’ve got good news, you want to share it

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +1000

MINI-SERIES: World — Mission Is for Everyone

Mission doesn’t just belong to a few — it’s everyone’s call.

Joel, Tim, and Jai continue the service team mini-series on World, unpacking why God’s plan has always been for His salvation to reach all nations and how that shapes the life of the church today.

They trace the theology of mission through Matthew 28, Psalm 67, and Isaiah 49, showing how Israel was blessed to be a blessing, and how Jesus’ death and resurrection brings salvation that explodes out to the whole world. Mission isn’t an optional extra for “professionals” overseas — it’s the daily call of every believer. If you’ve got good news, you want to share it.

They explore how Soul Revival approaches mission: intergenerational ministry that naturally creates missional opportunities, long-term partnerships with CMS and Indigenous leaders in North West NSW, and supporting global mission through financial and prayer support. They discuss how prayer unites us across cultures and continents, reminding us that God is the one who grows His kingdom and graciously includes us in His work.

Along the way they reflect on evangelism as simply sharing what you love, the challenge of awkwardness when talking about faith, and how kindness, gentleness, and genuine relationships open doors to gospel witness.

📌 Episode Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: Dua Lipa memes, Banksy, and the speed of culture
10:04 – The World Team: mission is for everyone
20:12 – Theology of World: God’s salvation for all nations
42:01 – Strategy of World: local, regional, and overseas mission
58:30 – Practice of World: prayer, partnerships, and living it out

Discussed:
Dua Lipa t-shirt meme goes viral
Life of Brian "You're all individuals"
Shock Absorber episode with Michael Duckett

Don't expect people to know the culture of your church

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 06:36:46 +1000

MINI-SERIES: Welcoming — Don’t Expect Them to Know

Welcoming doesn't just happen on accident.

----------------

Joel, Tim, and Jai continue our mini-series on Welcoming, unpacking why we can’t assume newcomers will automatically understand the culture of our church. First impressions give people dignity, remove the unknowns, and either open the door to belonging or make someone turn away. That’s why intentional welcoming matters.

They trace the theology behind hospitality—drawing on Hebrews 13, Romans 12, and 1 Peter—and wrestle with the difference between a polite greeting and a genuine welcome that leads to belonging. Are we hosts who take ownership of our community, or guests who hope someone else will do the work of welcoming? The way we answer that question shapes discipleship and the life of the body.

Practically, they explore Soul Revival’s approach: Come – Stay – Grow, meals that move people past small talk, “New-ish” conversations with the Senior Pastor, intergenerational ministry, and the importance of follow-up that builds trust rather than treating people like data points. Small, consistent practices—recognisable faces, invitations to dinner or community groups, and thoughtful training—compound over time to pull newcomers into long-term belonging.

📌 Episode Timestamps
00:00 – Intro and examples of welcoming
21:28 – Theology of Welcoming
44:55 – What is hospitality?
51:22 – The Strategy of Welcoming
1:12:09 – Practice of Welcoming

Discussed on this episode:
The Adventures of Tintin
Asterix
The Adventures of Tintin movie
My Father the Hero
Steve Jobs, by Walter Isaacson
Gary Vee's Jay Cutler jersey story

The missing piece in your digital ministry | Joel's talk at VCA Conference

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +1000

The Missing Piece in Digital Ministry: Churches Skip Strategy Between Theology and Practice

In the final episode of our mini-series on Communications, Joel, Digital Pastor at Soul Revival Church, shares at the inaugural Virtual Church Assist Conference how Soul Revival’s digital ministry has grown over the last five years—and the key factor behind it: a consistent and solid ministry framework.

He talks about how Soul Revival's Theology → Strategy → Practice framework that has allowed he and the team to produce podcasts, coordinate content, and engage communities online in a meaningful way. The piece many churches and ministries miss is a well thought out, well articulated strategy—most skip straight from Theology to Practice, which can limit impact and effectiveness.

Joel walks through how to connect digital efforts with core biblical convictions, build intergenerational relationships, and create authentic, engaging content—all guided by a clear strategy. Whether you’re looking to strengthen your church’s online presence or rethink how ministry fits together from Theology to Practice, this talk provides practical insights and ideas to implement immediately.

Let us know: “How does your ministry framework connect your theology to the practice of serving your community?”

0:00 – Welcome & Introduction
1:20 – Thanks to Sam & VCA, first-time speaking, intention of the talk

3:10 – About Joel & Soul Revival Church
4:30 – Background in youth ministry, joining staff in 2020
5:50 – Family & personal context

7:00 – Digital Ministry: Early Years & COVID
7:40 – Pre-recording podcasts & early content
9:10 – Streaming all six gatherings during first lockdown
10:50 – Adapting to podcast-style format in second lockdown
12:30 – Week Away Online: experimenting with virtual ministry
14:20 – Key lessons learned from early experimentation

16:00 – Iterative Approach to Branding & Digital Content
16:40 – Chip Lunch Podcast evolution & rebrand
18:20 – Apparel lines & website relaunch as part of ministry practice

20:00 – Ministry Framework Overview
20:30 – Theology → Strategy → Practice explained
22:10 – Why Strategy is often missing
23:30 – Concrete example: Soul Revival Church strategy

25:00 – Relational Distinctives & Intergenerational Ministry
25:40 – Friendship, low-key long-term relational focus
27:20 – Intergenerational gatherings & inclusivity

29:00 – Ministry Teams, Meals & Third Space Community
29:40 – Teams prevent burnout & encourage collaboration
31:10 – Meals as relational practice
32:30 – Third space community & welcoming new people

34:00 – Practice of Digital Ministry
34:30 – External-to-internal continuum
35:40 – Providing value: authentic, insightful, entertaining content
37:10 – Example: Chip Lunch Podcast storytelling & engagement

39:00 – Questions to Guide Your Ministry
39:30 – Theology: How Jesus changes ministry
40:20 – Strategy: Aligning practice with convictions
41:10 – Practice: Flexibility & experimentation

42:00 – Practical Tips & Closing Thoughts
42:30 – “What rockets could you blow up?” – experimentation
43:20 – Encouragement to work on ministry, not just in it
44:00 – Thanks & conclusion

Tech is a tool drawing people into community

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +1000

Incarnate church is the main thing — digital ministry is second, and it should always intentionally draw people into gathering together.

In this episode of our service teams mini-series, Tim, Joel and Brayden explore the practice of Communications. Starting with a trip back to 90s culture and the optimism of the Britpop era, they draw out how the internet has reshaped culture, attention, and community. From there, they reflect on what Soul Revival has learnt since COVID, when church was forced online and new opportunities — and challenges — emerged.

The team walks through Soul Revival’s approach to communications: discipleship and mission as the goal, not metrics; using the website as a newcomer’s shopfront; creating podcasts like The Shock Absorber and Chip Lunch; and using newsletters, technology, and content as tools that always point back to the physical church gathering.

Ultimately, communications is about creating touchpoints for people to grow in loving God and loving others, while never replacing the joy of gathered community around Jesus.

It's not a mistake: God made us to be incarnate beings

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 05:00:00 +1000

MINI-SERIES: Communications Service Team — Strategy

Stu, Tim, and Joel discuss why church communications need strategy. Drawing on Andy Crouch and Jay Kim, they explore how technology, online community, and AI affect formation—and why embodied relationships remain central.

Christians have always used tools to communicate, from Paul’s letters to AI, but digital spaces can’t replace real-life discipleship. At Soul Revival, that’s meant pursuing an 80/20 balance: online tools supplementing, not replacing, physical community.

They also contrast God’s truth-telling with AI’s flattery, reflect on formation in the mess of real life, and ask what kind of discipleship our content is shaping.

00:00 – Technology and Christian formation
10:06 – Online vs physical presence
21:05 – What clear strategy looks like
27:24 – AI vs God’s communication
33:45 – Content for formation, not just consumption
40:33 – Why discomfort grows us

Discussed on this episode:

Practicing the Way podcast
AI discussion guide
New Social Movement Theory
Third Place Theory
Why Grok Fell in Love With Hitler
Bowling Alone, by Robert Putnam
Think Biblically podcast
Chip Lunch podcast

If we were meant to fully grasp God, we wouldn't need Him

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 05:00:00 +1000

“If we were meant to fully grasp God, we wouldn’t need Him—exploring faith, wonder, and dependence.”

With Stu out sick, Tim and Joel take a break from their mini-series on the Communications Service Team to chat about what’s caught their eyes and minds this week.

They explore Tim’s German heritage, wrestling with the tension between beauty and atrocity in culture, the challenge of engaging with complex heroes, and what it means for Christians to hold a non-anxious presence in a fallen world.

They also dive into Joel’s reflections on Augustine’s Enchiridion, helping us understand the dual nature of Jesus, the process of sanctification, and the grace of never fully grasping God.

Finally, they discuss the impact of technology on our lives—additive vs. extractive—and how our relationship with God shapes how we consume, create, and live in the world.

📌 Episode Timestamps:
00:00 – Tim on German culture, Wagner & wrestling with flawed heroes
25:09 – Augustine, the Apostles’ Creed & why we can’t fully grasp God
38:32 – Additive vs extractive technology, AI, and discipleship

Discussed on this episode:
Puff the Magic Dragon
Katya Hoyer's Zeitgeist Substack
Blood and Iron: The Rise and Fall of the German Empire 1871–1918, Katya Hoyer
Richard Wagner
Martyr Made podcast
LutheranSatire's St. Patrick's Bad Analogies
Spiritual formation and AI: A deep dive with Andy Crouch and Jay Kim
On Additive and Extractive Technologies, by Cal Newport
Are Podcasts Destroying Our Brains?
The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance
How We Work by Basecamp
Feel Good Productivity, by Ali Abdaal
Libero podcast
Motorsport Magazine podcast

The Gospel is controversial in a media saturated world

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 15:55:01 +1000

Stu, Tim, and Joel explore the theology of communication, from the Sydney Sweeney ad controversy to how Christians can share the gospel wisely in a media-driven world.

MINI-SERIES: Theology of Communications

------------------------

The Shock Absorber continues it's mini-series on Soul Revival’s service teams — this time focusing on the Communications Team and the theology that underpins everything we say and share.

We break down the recent Sydney Sweeney ad controversy, explore the impact of the attention economy, and reflect on how God communicates through creation, scripture, and ultimately, His Son.

The conversation also tackles the dangers of church consumerism, the opportunities and pitfalls of online Christian content, and how believers can reclaim their missional voice in a media-saturated world.

American Apparel ad archive
Trust Me I'm Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator, by Ryan Holiday
Monty Python's The Life of Brian
The War on Attention is a Spiritual War, by Ben Crosby
What Jaguar's controversial rebrand can teach us
Lessons from the Bud Light Boycott, One Year Later
Culture Making with Andy Crouch
The Quiet Revival: Gen Z leads rise in church attendance
Light Church, Swindon
Jon Crist
Blackboard Jungle

Making lasting memories together

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 05:00:00 +1000

Why Soul Revival go away for a whole week as a church.

Joel, Ethan and Jai share why Soul Revival Church spends five whole days away together each year at Week Away—our annual church camp. We talk about how extended time and proximity help deepen existing relationships and spark new ones, all while growing together in God’s word.

We explore the beauty and challenge of having so much free time, the impact of late-night conversations, and why we love designing keepsake apparel each year. It’s about forming lasting memories, building unity in Jesus, and living out the Christian life together—one week at a time.

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Socks on Bones
If I Were You podcast
Living with the Underworld, by Peter Bolt
Soul Revival Apparel
Liberti Church
U2's Songs of Innocence

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Shock Absorber Podcast is a project of Soul Revival Church, where we explore how theology, strategy and practice intersect to help churches thrive in a changing world.

God's word simplifies things

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 05:00:00 +1000

MINI-SERIES: Part 5 on the Practice of Arts: Word ministry

In this episode, Stu, Joel and Brayden why God's word remains central to everything Soul Revival does as a church. They reflect on their earliest (and often awkward!). We’re talking theology, history, practical training, and how God’s Word really does simplify church life when we keep it central.

They trace the influence of the Reformation and Anglican Prayer Book on how Soul Revival structures church services, unpack the role of the service leader, and talk through the value of liturgy, creeds, and communal prayer. Whether it’s Bible reading, leading from up front, or preaching itself, Word ministry reminds us that we’re not crafting vision—we’re responding to God’s vision.

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Crisis of Confidence, by Carl Trueman
BMX Bandits
Dr Bonamy
"Simpson eh?"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Shock Absorber Podcast is a project of Soul Revival Church, where we explore how theology, strategy and practice intersect to help churches thrive in a changing world.

CONTACT US:

📧 Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
🌐 Website: https://www.shockabsorber.com.au
🛍️ Soul Revival Shop: https://www.soulrevivalchurch.com/shop
🔗 Linktree (everything else): https://linktr.ee/JesusChangesEverything

BONUS: Tim's trip to Intergenerational Ministry Conference

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 05:00:00 +1000

In a short break from our Arts service team series, we hear about Tim's trip to Kentucky to present and be part of the Intergenerational Ministry Conference. This is a crossover episode from our Chip Lunch podcast.

Servant minded tech ministry

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 17:45:44 +1000

Brayden and Joel are joined by Jamie who makes his first appearance on the podcast as they continue our mini-series on the Arts Service Team at Soul Revival Church—this time focusing on the often-unseen but essential work of tech ministry, including sound, slide presentations, and livestreaming.

They begin by reminiscing about the early days of church tech—think overhead projectors and the high-stakes task of getting the lyrics right. It’s a lighthearted entry into a deeper conversation about serving in a ministry that’s usually only noticed when something goes wrong. Together, they reflect on how a focus on excellence, teamwork, and humility helps keep the goal clear: to point people to God’s word.

They explore how tech ministry can sometimes walk a tightrope—striving to do things well without falling into the trap of performance or perfectionism. They speak about the relational challenges that can arise between teams (like music and tech), and how grounding everything in a servant-hearted attitude—because we follow a servant Saviour—helps the church grow in unity.

They also outline the structure of Soul Revival’s tech teams across different gatherings, share how tech can be a gateway into ministry for youth and new volunteers, and encourage those serving to remember that even behind-the-scenes roles are vital in leading others to Jesus.

They finish on a helpful reminder: we don’t have to be perfect to lead. In fact, our imperfections often reveal the grace and goodness of God more clearly those new or old to church.

Timestamps
00:00 – First encounters with church tech & OHP nostalgia
04:57 – Tech ministry: only noticed when a mistake is made
18:26 – Excellence vs relationships, avoiding burnout
26:44 – Tech team structure & entry points into ministry
33:39 – Serving imperfectly but faithfully, centred on God’s word

CONTACT US:
📧 Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
🌐 Website: https://www.shockabsorber.com.au
🛍️ Soul Revival Shop: https://www.soulrevivalchurch.com/shop
🔗 Linktree (everything else): https://linktr.ee/JesusChangesEverything

Pointing to God's word

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 05:00:00 +1000

SERVICE TEAM MINI-SERIES: Practice of Arts (Music)

Brayden and Joel continue our mini-series on the Arts Service Team by diving into the practice of music ministry—particularly how preparation and intentionality help music serve the church community.

They begin by sharing memories of their favourite live music performances, reflecting on the joy, spontaneity, and relational nature of playing music in real time. Whether it's the energy between bandmates or the connection with a crowd, they explore how God has designed music to be not just emotional and expressive but deeply spiritual and communal.

From there, the conversation shifts into the practical rhythms of music ministry at Soul Revival. Brayden shares how intentional preparation—from reading the Bible passage ahead of the service to carefully choosing songs that support the flow of the gathering—helps keep the ministry Word-based and congregational. They explore the delicate balance between excellence and authenticity, affirming that it’s okay to make mistakes when the goal is to serve God and others, not perform.

The discussion also touches on recruiting team members using the "3 Cs" (Conviction, Character, Competency) and creating low-pressure environments for young people to grow in ministry. They highlight how Soul Revival’s Shock Absorber approach allows for leadership development without the heavy burden of perfectionism. The episode finishes with a hopeful look at the future of the Arts team and a celebration of those who give their time and talent to build a culture of service and friendship in the church.

00:00 Live music energy, starting bands, God's gift of music
17:24 Preparation and song selection, intentionality not performance
42:02 Recruiting musicians, the 3 Cs, Shock Absorber approach to training
58:31 Gratitude and hope for the future of the Arts ministry

DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:

VH1 Behind The Music
Led Zeppelin - Dazed And Confused Live
Get Yer Ya Ya's Out, The Rolling Stones
Let There Be Rock, AC/DC
Brayden's Chip Lunch
Arctic Monkeys
U2
Paul McCartney
Neil Young
Roger Waters
Jack White
The White Stripes, Under Blackpool Lights
Audioslave
Rage Against The Machine
Limp Bizkit
The Darkness
Justin Hawkins
The Hives

CONTACT US:

📧 Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
🌐 Website: shockabsorber.com.au
🛍️ Soul Revival Shop
🔗 Linktree (everything else)

How we serve together in Arts

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 05:00:00 +1000

SERVICE TEAM MINI-SERIES: Strategy of Arts

Joel, Stu and Brayden begin with a light-hearted yet thoughtful conversation about how music listening has changed over the decades—from records and tapes to CDs and streaming. They share memories of burning CDs and crafting the perfect mixtape, reflecting on how streaming has opened up access to a wider range of music than ever before.

But the discussion quickly turns to a deeper question: What does it mean to serve from the front of church—especially in music? The hosts unpack the difference between producing a polished product and building authentic Christian community. Drawing parallels to hospitality teams, they explore why churches rely on volunteers, not professionals, and how serving together in music and other arts is an act of friendship and worship—not performance.

They consider how Christian ministry can be counter-cultural in a world that prizes individualism and professionalism. Instead of treating music as a product, the Shock Absorber team frames it as a way of serving others and participating in the shared life of the church.

The second half dives into Soul Revival’s intergenerational approach to Arts ministry, where tradition meets cultural context under the authority of God’s word. They talk about how liturgical elements like the Book of Common Prayer provide a theological grounding that allows people of all ages to express their faith together in reverent, meaningful ways.

Brayden shares insights from his role leading Arts at Soul Revival—how involving young people in roles like handing out communion or leading youth bands deepens cross-generational discipleship. They explore how a team-based ministry structure, built around relationships and scalability, allows every arts-related role (from music to tech to preaching) to be integrated and sustainable.

Finally, they reflect on the freedom Soul Revival’s strategy offers gatherings like Yarrawarrah, where the absence of a music team doesn’t limit the ministry but creates visibility and missional engagement in a new way—offering a fresh model of what church can look like.

00:00 What have you been listening to?
04:18 From tapes to streaming: music access over time
15:34 Why we don't pay musicians at church
24:54 Intergenerational Arts ministry & liturgy
44:25 Youth bands and bottom-up leadership
52:48 Building and scaling team structures
1:03:46 Music-less gatherings & redefining church viability

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE:

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Website: https://www.shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: https://www.soulrevivalchurch.com/shop
Explore more: https://linktr.ee/JesusChangesEverything

Arts is about serving

Soul Revival Church — Fri, 30 May 2025 17:30:15 +1000

SERVICE TEAM MINI-SERIES: Theology of Arts

Stu, Joel, and guest co-host Brayden (Soul Revival’s Arts pastor) explore the significance of the Arts service the context of church ministry and how it moves beyond music to a broader theological vision. They open with reflections on why communal singing has declined in modern culture, despite its historical and emotional power. Drawing from history, village life, and the COVID-era sea shanty revival, the hosts highlight the rich tradition of singing as a bonding and memory-shaping activity.

They link this to the church’s continued practice of communal singing, reflecting on how music has evolved from communal to individualised consumption and how this shift impacts church gatherings. The conversation critiques the reduction of “worship” to just music, asserting that worship encompasses all of life.

From there, they unpack the theological and cultural reasons behind Soul Revival’s use of the term “Arts” rather than just “music team.” This encompasses up-front roles like preaching and prayer, as well as behind-the-scenes elements like sound and tech—all contributing to church.

They concludeswith a discussion of how songs can shape doctrine and memory, the growing trend of writing more scripturally faithful songs, and the value of including elements like confession and liturgy. The team reaffirms their aim to build a culture of worship rooted in community, theology, and creativity—not just a roster of roles.

00:00 Intro
07:40 Why we don’t sing in groups anymore (outside church)
17:00 Singing in historical and cultural context—UK, wars, villages
30:15 How technology changed music from communal to individual
43:00 Church music as counter-cultural, creating community
52:10 What the “arts team” includes—beyond just music
1:00:00 Why worship is more than just singing
1:13:00 The importance of Bible reading, prayer, and preaching as worship
1:24:30 Corporate experience vs. individualism in worship
1:35:00 Singing psalms, not just poetic lyrics—scripture in song
1:47:00 Emotional vs. theological focus in music
1:56:00 Ending on the richness of gathering together and sober joy

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard's publishing live performances
Nugs.net live concert platform
Michael W. Smith – “Our God is an Awesome God”
Rich Mullins
Anglican Liturgy and Prayer Book
Sea shanty revival during COVID

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevivalchurch.com/shop
Explore more here

Cultural memory in a forgetful age

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 14 May 2025 05:00:00 +1000

Starting with a quick take on “Italian brain rot” (yes, it’s a real AI meme phenomenon), Joel and Tim quickly shift into a deeper critique of internet culture, generational shifts, and the loss of long-term creative effort in favor of instant gratification. What does the rise of AI-generated content, TikTok trends, and nostalgia-fueled memes say about our society’s priorities?

From there, the conversation takes a turn into why memory matters—not just as nostalgia, but as a cornerstone of identity, faith, and flourishing communities. Tim unpacks key ideas from sociology and anthropology, weaving in concepts like vicarious memory, collaborative remembering, and mutual participation to explain why intergenerational ministry works and how churches can preserve meaning across generations, stories—sacred and silly—shape who we are.

00:00 Intro
01:18 – Italian brain rot and the decline of creative effort
21:00 – Memory, ministry, church
34:10 – The role of collective and vicarious memory
49:10 – Mutual participation: Becoming part of the story
55:10 – What shapes church culture
1:01:35 – Inclusive memory: How storytelling welcomes everyone

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Learning Fast and Slow: Why AI Won’t Revolutionize Education
Remembering to Believe: How Collective Remembering Shapes Faith Formation
Perennial Seller, by Ryan Holiday
The Life and Death of Australian Soccer, by Joe Gorman
A Season with Verona, by Tim Parks

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Christianity is a movement, not a machine

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 07 May 2025 05:00:00 +1000

Stu, Tim and Joel hosts dive into a discussion sparked by Stu's recent visit to Texas, where he observed the strong sense of identity, friendliness, and open expression of faith that characterises much of Texan culture. They compare this with Australian cultural values like egalitarianism and mateship, examining how national myths shape the way communities live and relate to one another.

From there, the conversation explores how Christianity functions as a movement rather than a rigid institution—one that adapts to cultural contexts while maintaining universal principles such as love for neighbour, kindness, and human dignity. The hosts discuss how these principles have historically contributed to the flourishing of societies and continue to do so today, often through everyday people rather than powerful institutions.

They touch on how Christians can thoughtfully engage in politics without being co-opted by partisan agendas, referencing thinkers like Christopher Watkin and historical figures like Dietrich Bonhoeffer to illustrate a balanced, gospel-centred approach. They finish with an encouragement from Stu to "get on the bus".

00:00 "God, family, and state"
10:28 Christianity and tolerance
19:31 The influence of Christianity on Western Civilisation
34:49 Christianity as a movement vs. institution
46:56 Political engagement, Bonhoeffer, diagonalisation
1:00:00 Get on the bus

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Years of Lyndon Johnson, by Robert Caro
We Are Repaganizing, by Louise Perry
Dominion, Tom Holland
The Book that Made Your World: How the Bible Created the Soul of Western Civilization, by Vishal Mangalwadi:
Preston Sprinkle
Michael Bird
Richard Dawkins says he's a cultural Christian
Jan Hus
The Quiet Revival: Gen Z leads rise in church attendance
Biblical Critical Theory, by Christopher Watkin

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

The gap between practice and identity

Soul Revival Church — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 05:00:00 +1000

Is Christianity really in decline — or is something deeper happening beneath the surface?

In this episode, the guys take a break from their recent mini-series' on Soul Reviaval's service teams to unpack a fascinating new report from Christian research group McCrindle on the state of Christianity in Australia. While headlines often focus on the drop in people identifying as Christian — from 61% in 2011 to 44% in 2021 — the data reveals a surprising undercurrent: over 784,000 Australians have moved from having no religion to identifying as Christian.

They explore what might be behind this shift, especially among older Australians where crisis moments like divorce or bereavement can lead to renewed spiritual searching. Meanwhile, Gen Z is showing a greater openness to spiritual conversations than any other generation — and a stronger link between belief and practice, with more regular church attendance than their parents or grandparents.

The episode also dives into the gap between cultural identity and active faith, why church attendance as a percentage of population is actually rising, and the growing need for intergenerational ministry. They reflect on how young people are searching for meaning, and why many are walking away from Christianity — often because the vision presented to them isn’t compelling or connected to real life.

With regional areas shifting faster than the cities, and the population dividing into categories like prodigals, nomads, and resilient disciples, the team considers what this means for mission, discipleship, and the future of the church in Australia.

How to "Small Groups"

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 05:00:00 +1000

MINI-SERIES: The Practice of Community Groups

The episode opens with a quick sidestep into Fantastic Four before diving into Joel’s latest read, The Death and Life of Australian Soccer by Joe Gorman. The book prompts a rich conversation about the origins and development of soccer in Australia, highlighting the deep roots migrant communities have in shaping the game. The guys explore the longstanding tension between preserving those ethnic identities and the commercial push to "de-ethnicise" the sport. This sparks a deeper reflection on how communities—whether around sport or faith—are shaped by identity. For Christians, that identity is grounded in Jesus. Just as football clubs became expressions of cultural belonging, our church gatherings and community groups become expressions of who we are in Christ. Every time we meet together, we reinforce that identity and remind one another of what Jesus has done for us.

The discussion then turns to the practical outworking of community groups: how they each approach it, what elements they include (meals, kids, Bible study, prayer), and how different life stages and leaders bring richness to groups. These variations are made possible by being anchored in a strong theology and strategy that gives flexibility to the form.

Returning to Colossians 2, they discuss the connection between spiritual growth and mission. When the gospel remains central, it naturally overflows into everyday life—equipping us to live as lights in the world and ambassadors for Christ. Small groups become places where people can share their joys and struggles, pray for friends who don’t yet know Jesus, and encourage each other to keep living out their faith in practical ways.

They also tackle an important question: can mission happen within groups? While most groups are designed to help believers go deeper, what’s the best way to love and welcome those who are still exploring faith?

Finally, they explore the idea of missional communities—groups with a more outward-facing focus, designed to create neutral spaces where non-Christians can spend time with believers, build trust, and explore faith in a relational way. They share the story of how Grace's missional efforts with friends eventually led to the Ryde church plant—an example of how mission and community can go hand-in-hand.

The episode wraps up with a key insight: when you’re clear on the why (theology) and the how (strategy), the what (practice) can be both adaptable and impactful, shaped to fit the people and the moment while remaining grounded in gospel truth.

00:00 Fantastic 4 education
04:01 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: The Death and Life of Australian Soccer
25:32 How you do community group?
38:26 The more we grow, the better we are at mission
47:44 Can mission happen with groups?
59:59 Missional communities

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Death and Life of Australian Soccer, by Joe Gorman

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

The power and purpose of small groups

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 05:00:00 +1100

MINI-SERIES: The Strategy of Community Groups

Joel, Tim, and Joey take a deep dive into the strategy of community groups, exploring how different churches structure them and why they are a vital part of discipleship. They begin with a cultural artefact from Freya India’s appearance on Modern Wisdom, discussing Gen Z’s shifting views on faith, the gender divide in religious engagement, and the loneliness crisis—especially among men. With more people searching for meaning and connection, they consider how the church can offer genuine community and firm foundations through small groups.

From there, they examine various approaches to small groups, including Saddleback Church’s 5Cs model from the church growth movement and Soul Revival’s intergenerational approach. Does going smaller always mean going deeper? How do different age groups enrich or challenge group dynamics? They explore the value of moderate intergenerationality, where both mixed-age and demographic-specific groups play a role in spiritual growth.

Finally, they unpack the process of planting and leading community groups, emphasising that leadership carries weighty responsibilities in teaching, pastoral care, and discipleship. What makes a good community group leader? How do character, conviction, and competency shape leadership? By fostering strong, intentional communities, small groups become more than just midweek meetings—they become vital spaces for people to grow in faith and serve together as the body of Christ.

00:00 Intro and discussion of the Beilharz name
02:03 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Freya India on the Modern Wisdom podcast
24:14: Different churches have different strategies with small groups
35:59 Making small groups intergenerational
51:38 A process of group leadership

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Why Modern Women Feel More Lost Than Ever - Freya India
GIRLS (Freya India Substack)
The Atlantic's Editor Jeffrey Goldberg on How He Was Texted Secret War Plans on Signal
The Need for Adults, by Freya India

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Better at growing when we're with others

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 05:00:00 +1100

MINI-SERIES: The Theology of Community Groups. While Stu is away, Joey joins Joel and Tim to chat about the Theology-Strategy-Practice of Community Groups...

They kick things off with a discussion on Cantopop and Mandopop, as Joey shares his experience attending Eason Chan’s Fear & Dreams concert. From there, they shift gears to explore small groups—how they have developed in churches and what their names reveal about their purpose. They consider the influence of the seeker-sensitive movement from churches like Willow Creek and Saddleback, as well as missional communities from the UK. The key question emerges: What are small groups actually forming? Is it about the activity itself, or something deeper?

They then dive into the theology of community groups, questioning whether small groups are truly the only way for Christians to grow deeper in their faith. Joey draws from Colossians 2:6 to highlight the role of God’s Word in spiritual growth, while Tim challenges the assumption that weekend church and midweek groups are the only effective pattern. If the gospel is inherently corporate, then mission and discipleship should go hand in hand.

This leads into a discussion on Soul Revival’s core values and how they influence small groups, starting with The Bible is the Word of God (Hebrews 4:12). Rather than treating Bible study like a book club, they emphasise that the same Spirit who inspired Scripture is alive in the hearts and minds of believers today. They also explore Prayer & Evangelism (Colossians 4:2) and Discipleship to Maturity (Matthew 28:19), emphasising how the smaller group setting creates space for deeper conversations that help people grow in Christ.

Finally, they ask: Why might Christians hesitate to go deeper? Small groups act as a holy interruption to our weeks, encouraging accountability and fellowship. When people prioritse the time, they not only grow as disciples but also as friends. They conclude with another of Soul Revival's values—Worship as All of Life (Romans 12:1-2, Luke 9:23-24), reflecting on how meeting together regularly helps believers resist the patterns of the world and live out their faith more fully.

00:00 Intro
03:15 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Eason Chan's Fear & Dreams tour
08:45 Small groups and their name
17:20 The theology of small groups
28:10 Meeting together means something
37:26 Growing deeper with others
48:25 Worship as all of life

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Eason Chan
Mary's Chip Lunch:

Seeker sensitive movement
Soul Revival Church's values

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

What is your go to authority? - Live Berea tutorial (Part 2)

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 05:00:00 +1100

MINI-SERIES: Part 2 of our sneak peek of Berea as Stu continues the first tutorial from the Berea Internship.

Churches may share the same faith, but their theology, strategy, and practice often differ. They begin by using the Wesleyan Quadrilateral (Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Experience) as a diagnostic tool to assess how churches develop their ministry frameworks. What does it truly mean to build a ministry that is based on the Bible? And when tough decisions arise, what do churches and individuals default to—what is their ultimate authority?

They then explore the different strategies of churches by looking at how different churches raise up young people using Mark Senter III’s Four Views of Youth Ministry. From there, they examine how churches move from theology to practice. Stu draws on Little Country Church by Lovesong to illustrate how churches can come together around Jesus through the Word of God, rather than rigid institutional programs. They discuss how some churches institutionalise practice, while others, with a theological authority and a strong strategy can have a flexible practice.

Finally, Tim challenges listeners to assess their own ministry framework—send in your responses!!

00:00 Recognising churches are different
11:10 What authority do you default to?
18:23 Thinking through strategic differences among churches
25:09 Examining different practices of churches
37:25 Tim's challenge to our listeners

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Wesleyan Quadrilateral
The Four Views of Youth Ministry, by Mark Senter III

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Developing a ministry framework - Live Berea tutorial (Part 1)

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 05:00:00 +1100

MINI-SERIES: Get a taster for what Berea is like as Stu runs the first tutorial from the Berea Internship.

As Saturday Night Live celebrates its 50th anniversary, the guys explore how institutions evolve, questioning how ideas can be institutionalised while still remaining relevant over time.

Stu then starts up the Berea tutorial with a deep dive into ministry frameworks, beginning with Berea’s spiral method of learning—where content is introduced in layers, revisited, and explored more deeply over time. The key question: What does it look like to develop a ministry framework? Rather than prescribing what to think, he emphasises how to think about ministry, recognising that every church—whether intentionally or not—operates within a particular framework.

The question is what is Jesus’ Theology-Strategy-Practice. Looking at Matthew 22:37-40 and the parable of the Good Samaritan, we get an insight into how the Soul Revival ministry began. Instead of running a culturally relevant program, they shifted to a countercultural model—prioritising deep, relationships that have been won for us by Christ. It led to an important realisation: rather than institutionalising programs and ideas, their ministry should institutionalise friendships. Drawing from Bonhoeffer’s vision of expanding friendships, they explore how discipleship flourishes when relationships are at the core of Christian community.

Looking at history, they discuss how discipleship and mission thrived in multi-generational settings and critique the Homogeneous Unit Principle, which often led to generational gaps and people leaving the church. Instead, they advocate for a ministry framework rooted in inclusivity, relational discipleship, and a mission that extends across all ages and life stages.

00:00 Intro
01:21 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Saturday Night Live turns 50
11:20 Berea begins: What is your ministry framework?
19:15 What is Jesus's Theology-Strategy-Practice?
34:56 Challenging the paradigm of friendship
40:53 Generation gaps and losing people from church

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

“SNL50” Brought the Stars, Nostalgia, and More Questions About the Future
More Cowbell Sketch
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Black Jeopardy with Tom Hanks - SNL

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Building a comprehensive church training system

Soul Revival Church — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 05:00:00 +1100

MINI-SERIES: The PRACTICE of in-house ministry training with Joel, Tim and Stu.

As the next Federal election approaches, political leaders in Australia have started appearing on podcasts to connect with voters in a more direct and unfiltered way. But how does this approach compare to political campaigning in the United States? They explore the differences between the Australian and US election strategies, looking at how media engagement, party structures, and voter outreach shape the way campaigns unfold in each country.

Shifting gears, they take a deep dive into the Practice of Berea, Soul Revival Church’s internal training ministry that has recently undergone a re-structure. Designed to help people grow in faith, theological understanding, and leadership capacity, the re-tooling of Berea has been developed through collaboration while building on the strong foundations of previous training efforts. The new structure consists of three delivery elements—Essentials, Next Steps, and Deep Dives—which function as a kind of catechism for Soul Revival Church. The goal is to create a clear and accessible pathway for people to deepen their faith, understand the church’s theological distinctions as an Anglican community, and find meaningful ways to serve.

They also break down what the Next Steps stage looks like in practice, which is focused on training for service teams and developing practical skills that enhance leadership and ministry involvement. By creating a structured system that supports people at all levels, Berea aims to help individuals know where they are in their faith journey and providing an accessible point of entry.

Looking to the future, they discuss how this new approach will strengthen relationships, grow the church community, grow a cohesive leadership culture and expand leadership teams

00:00 Intro
01:21 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Australian political leaders on podcasts
15:49 Breaking down the new Berea structure
28:39 Building a training system for all service teams
34:24 Growing a cohesive leadership culture

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

'If you think it's biased, it is biased': Albanese and Dutton turn to podcasts ahead of election
Straight Talk - Anthony Albanese
Straight Talk - Peter Dutton
1960 U.S. Presidential Debate (JFK v Nixon)
John Howard & Mark Latham handshake
Jeremy's Chip Lunch episode

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

An engine room of ministry thought

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +1100

MINI-SERIES: Tim, Joel and Stu use Berea as a way of investigating the strategy of in-house ministry training.

This episode begins with the launch of Tim’s book, The Child in God's Church, which explores theologically integrating children into the life of the church. Rather than seeing young people as a future project or a problem to solve, the discussion emphasises that they are already part of the church today. This shift in perspective shapes how discipleship and involvement of children and young people in the body of Christ take place.

A key aspect of the discussion is Berea, Soul Revival's internal ministry training hub, which was designed as an affordable and flexible model to supplement further theological study, disciple people publicly, and foster a collaborative approach to ministry. Berea was where the idea of the Shock Absorber originated, and embraces a teaching model that de-emphasises the expert and allows both top-down and bottom-up contributions. It creates a space where younger people can actively shape ministry while also learning alongside their leaders. By prioritising relationships over rigid institutional structures, Berea ensures that Soul Revival’s culture is passed through generations while remaining firmly rooted in biblical truths and traditional church expressions.

The discussion explores the importance of the third place strategy and engaging in training content within the context of community. Ministry is not only about imparting knowledge but also about creating spaces where people can wrestle with and apply theological ideas together.

This approach has shaped Soul Revival from its early days, where the permission to explore new ideas became foundational. Berea now functions as the Shock Absorber of the church, balancing tradition with innovation. Drawing inspiration from movements like L'Abri, the 1960s social revolutions at Berkeley, and the Jesus Movement, it fosters an environment where young people's desire and ability to enact change can be harnessed within a biblical framework.

Through an emphasis on Christian conviction, character, and competency, Berea unites generations in an ongoing conversation about what it means to be faithful Christians in today’s world and acts as a safeguard for the church’s teaching. Rather than simply replacing thought leadership over time, this model sustains it—preserving the gospel while allowing each generation to engage with it in meaningful ways.

00:00 Intro and Tim's recently launched book: The Child in God's Church
14:29 A strategy of in-house ministry training
27:40 Embracing third place community in training
32:53 The designer of holistic church strategy
43:01 Continuing thought leadership rather than replacing it

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Get The Child in God's Church

The Coming Revolution in Youth Ministry, by Mark Senter III
Berkeley in the Sixties

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Not what to think, but HOW to think

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 05:00:00 +1100

MINI-SERIES: Tim, Joel and Stu chat Theology-Strategy-Practice for internal ministry training, based off Soul Revival's which is called Berea. They explore why teaching how to think—rather than what to think—is essential for Christian discipleship.

They begin by unpacking Apple’s controversial Crush ad for the iPad Pro, which sparked backlash for its destruction of cultural artefacts. The discussion moves beyond the ad itself to the broader issue of cultural erasure—how progressive movements often attempt to reset culture by dismissing the past. Historically, new ideas were met with skepticism, but in today’s world, rapid cultural shifts are often embraced without question. Has Apple, once the disruptor, now become just another institution enforcing its own version of progress? And how do we prevent against the institutionalisation of ideas in the church?

From there, the conversation shifts to the importance of internal training ministries within churches. Why should churches invest in spaces where people can wrestle with ideas rather than simply be told what to believe? This leads to the story of Berea, a ministry that began in Stu’s house over 20 years ago. Inspired by the Jesus Movement of the 1960s, social movements out of Berkeley, and the intellectual community of L'Abri in Switzerland, Berea was built on the idea of setting aside time to ask, What does it look like to be a Christian today? and How should that shape ministry?

The hosts then explore the core idea of Berea—focusing on how to think biblically while remaining grounded in Christian convictions. They discuss how bureaucracies often spread ideas while losing sight of founding principles, a problem that applies just as much to ministry as it does to government. Instead of institutionalising church practices, what if discipleship was built around relationships with God and each other? What if, rather than relying on structured courses and programs, churches created spaces where Christians could sit, read, and think deeply about Scripture? By reclaiming the pre-industrial revolution model of learning through apprenticeship, Berea has helped many rethink their theological convictions—sometimes even leading them to leave Soul Revival in love.

Finally, they reflect on the ongoing nature of spiritual growth. Christians are called to continually expand their thoughts, affections, and feelings toward God. Learning doesn’t stop—it’s a lifelong pursuit.

00:00 Intro and CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Apple's iPad Pro ad: Crushed
18:47 Why even have an internal training ministry?
20:42 The genesis of Berea
43:06 How to think, not what to think
01:28:00 We are called to never stop growing

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Crush! | iPad Pro | Apple
Social media minimum age legislation passed
The Coming Revolution in Youth Ministry, by Mark Senter III
The Great Evangelical Disaster, by Francis Schaeffer

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Ministry as mates

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 05:00:00 +1100

MINI-SERIES: Theology-Strategy-Practice for ministry teams. Stu, Tim and Joel look at the practice element of ministry teams. They explore how friendship fuels the heart of ministry.

They kick things off by reflecting on Wes Huff’s appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience and the cultural shift toward appreciating Christianity’s influence on the West. Is this a Bob Dylan or a Jesus Christ Superstar moment?

From there, they dive into the often-quoted observation that 20% of the people in church do 80% of the work. Why is it critical to talk about who is serving in the body of Christ, and how can churches value people beyond just their contributions?

They share how Soul Revival Church has intentionally moved away from a professionalised or approach to ministry teams and instead embraced the idea of “ministry as mates”—where friendship is foundational to serving together. When inviting someone to join a ministry, the question isn’t “Can you fill this role?” but “Do you want to be friends with us?”

They discuss how Soul Revival’s 10 service teams operate across seven gatherings, balancing a hybrid model of generalist and specialist pastor ministry models. They explain how this structure—organised by the Soul Revival Council—creates a space for volunteers to serve well without turning church into another workplace. At Soul Revival, friendship is the cultural engine that powers everything from preventing burnout to building a vision of Christian community that loves and serves together.

Finally, they take a deep dive into the logistics: how the coordinator model and ministry pairs allow service teams to grow organically, scaling from small beginnings to larger expressions of ministry. They also highlight how the Soul Revival Council ensures all ministries, big and small, have a voice.

00:00 Intro and CULTURAL ARTEFACTS: Wes Huff on Joe Rogan
20:33 Who is serving the body of Christ?
28:58 Friendship, service over professionalism
34:52 Love being sincere. Creating something bigger than ourselves
49:39 "Don't ask me to be friends with people"
55:48 People don't want to turn up to work again
1:08:20 Reducing frustration in churches

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Joe Rogan Experience #2252 - Wesley Huff
Alex O'Connor on Wes Huff's episode
Gavin Ortlund Wes Huff's episode
Joe Rogan Experience #2219 - Donald Trump
Joe Rogan Experience #2221 - JD Vance
Bob Dylan Recalls Moment He Met Jesus
Amy Grant Reflects on Christian Music Beginnings, Mainstream Breakout
The Rest is History: Christmas
Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind, by Tom Holland
The Purpose Driven Church, by Rick Warren

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Is efficiency a good metric for ministry?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 05:00:00 +1100

MINI-SERIES: Theology-Strategy-Practice for ministry teams - this time it's strategy behind church ministry teams.

The guys delve into Soul Revival's Strategy of ministry teams. Starting with cultural artefacts, debating the depiction of AI in fiction versus reality and sharing stories about our favorite libraries, setting the stage for a discussion on deeper societal reflections.

Next, they explore insights from a chapter of Stu's PhD, focusing on how the church can influence each other's social life by allowing Jesus to guide our friendships and placing the Bible at the forefront. This leads them to reflect on the explicitly Christian approach of partnering with Jesus as He grows the church, emphasising spiritual growth over mere social or organisational efficiency.

The discussion then shifts to church strategy. Are churches open to reevaluating their methods and finding their 'light bulb moment'? They explore the idea of embracing 'otherness'—building friendships across differences rather than settling in being pleasant strangers. By leaning into the concept of church as a 'third place' community, they consider how such inclusivity can bring glory to God. Instead, they propose a relational approach to ministry—doing it as friends—which, in today's culture, might seem counter-cultural to even Christians.

Finally, they look at whether efficiency should be the core metric in measuring Christian ministry. and offer an alternative that has served Soul Revival well, where 70-80% of the congregation actively serves in it's 10 ministry teams: serving together as friends. They conclude with practical thoughts on fostering relational ministry, emphasising spending time together and building something greater than ourselves beyond just having efficient rosters at church.

00:00 Intro and CULTURAL ARTEFACTS: AI fact or fiction? Your favourite library
09:44 Allowing church to influence social life
18:35 Are churches open to considering their strategy?
28:17 Ministry as friends is counter-cultural
40:14 Is efficiency a good metric for Christian ministry?
52:52 Something bigger than ourselves over efficient rosters

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE:

Joel's episode on the Aspire podcast
Aaron Smith on The Shock Absorber
Donald Robinson Library at Moore College
State Library Victoria
National Library of Australia
The Great Good Place, by Ray Oldenburg
L'Abri

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Ministry teams are like dragon boating — But is your church just watching?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 05:30:00 +1100

MINI-SERIES: Theology-Strategy-Practice for ministry teams, kicking things off by diving deep into the theology behind church ministry teams.

Drawing from Ephesians 4 and Acts 6, Joel, Tim and Stu explore the Biblical foundation that shapes our understanding of ministry teams and the essential role of pastors as leaders who raise up others — both paid and unpaid — to serve and love the church community.

They also tackle some pressing challenges facing modern churches: the decline of volunteerism, the professionalisation of ministry, and the misconception that paying someone to "do the job" will solve the problem. In many ways, churches have become so concerned with appearing professional and successful that there is a fear of appearing amateur.

This episode raises critical questions: Is the decline in serving due to church structure or a symptom of cultural shifts? Why do we expect pastors to be experts at everything, and how does this align with the vision of the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12? We discuss the pressures on pastors, the tension between generalist and specialist roles, and the emerging dynamic where churchgoers act more like consumers than active participants.

Tim wraps things up with a powerful metaphor, likening ministry teams to dragon boating: everyone pulling together in rhythm, with the pastor beating the drum to keep the pace.

It takes a village — and we need it back

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 05:00:00 +1100

MINI-SERIES: Young People in the Church [PRACTICE]

In this episode, Joel and Tim dive into the critical importance of practice in youth and children’s ministry, exploring its role within Soul Revival's Theology-Strategy-Practice framework. They discuss how churches can be an essential pillar of stability for young people, providing relationships and networks that foster genuine community.

They unpack the ways Christians have uncritically adopted industrialised models of faith formation and psycho-social development within church. They challenge the notion that children's faith is "incomplete" and argue that we’re not waiting for kids to become Christians — they are fully part of the Kingdom and have a faith of their own.

They also explore three of Soul Revival's key practices in youth and children's ministry as examples, youth leadership, leadership training and Kids Chill. These practices illustrate how fostering relational stability and a village-like community can help form faith more effectively. Ultimately, they emphasise that it takes a village not just to raise children, but to raise all of us, highlighting the need to reclaim community and relational stability within the church through Shock Absorber principles.

00:00 Intro
02:40 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Primary school concerts
07:57 Institutionalised transition points created by schooling
16:58 Faith formation has been uncritically mapped onto our industrialised society
35:03 Breaking down some of Soul Revival youth and children's Practices
58:30 Recapturing "It takes a village to raise a child"

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

It Takes a Church to Raise a Parent, by Rachel Turner

CONTACT US:

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
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Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Without a youth strategy, it’s disastrous

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 15:22:22 +1100

MINI-SERIES: Young People in the Church [STRATEGY]

In this episode of The Shock Absorber Podcast, Joel, Stu, and Tim explore the critical importance of strategy in youth and children’s ministry as part of our Theology-Strategy-Practice framework. Strategy isn’t optional—it’s essential for creating meaningful, lasting ministry impact. Without it, churches risk creating transient, hollow experiences for young people, with disastrous consequences.

After briefly reflecting on the movie Hidden Figures, the team delves into why having a clear strategy is often overlooked and why its absence can have a devastating effect on both young people's faith and the wider church community. A major issue is the transience often modeled to young people, which can destabilize their sense of commitment and support during transitional periods of life.

The episode concludes with a discussion on how an intergenerational approach, including age-specific and family ministry, can bring stability. They explore how the Shock Absorber model of top-down and bottom-up ministry empowers young people to contribute to the church while drawing on the Biblical wisdom of older generations.

00:00 Intro
04:08 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Hidden Figures
08:00 Strategy matters, it's not incidental
18:47 No youth strategy can result in disastrous consequences
27:22 Modelled transience is the problem
32:48 Avoid a transient, hollowed out expression of church
44:51 Age specific and family ministry belongs within church strategy
51:19 Ministry that's top down and bottom up [The Shock Absorber]

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Rest is History, America in '68
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Hidden Figures
Steve John video on youth pastors

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

The theological consequences of living out what we learn

Soul Revival Church — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 15:11:36 +1100

MINI-SERIES: Young People in the Church

Tim, Stu, and Joel are back with a brand-new mini-series, exploring Soul Revival’s framework of Theology, Strategy, and Practice.

This series kicks off with a sneak peek into Tim’s upcoming book, The Child in God’s Church. Using it as a launchpad, the team dives into the theology of children and young people, reflecting on why God designed our growth and development the way He did. Could it be that He wants us to learn from young people? And why has He chosen for us to mature differently at each stage of life?

Next, they delve into the concept of play and its integral role in discipleship. They explore the theological implications of embodying what we learn from God and His people through playful interactions and relational growth.

Finally, the episode wraps up with personal anecdotes and a teaser for next week’s discussion, which will focus on the Strategy of engaging young people in the church.

00:00 Intro
03:13 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: The Child in God's Church (Tim's upcoming book)
10:05 Childness is not a deficit
21:46 Does God want us to learn from young people?
32:31 Theological consequences of living out what we learn
47:38 Children are the church of today, not just tomorrow

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Spanish Armada
Dr. Jean Twenge books
Jeremy Frisch

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email
Shock Absorber Website
Soul Revival Shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

The world is changing (U.S. election recap)

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 06:30:00 +1100

What began as a quick dive into a cultural artefact evolved into a full episode exploration. Stu, Tim, and Joel examine the result of the 2024 U.S. election and the shifting dynamics of political ideas and class across the globe. They discuss how new media is poised to play an even more significant role in shaping election outcomes and public opinion. Together, they reflect on a Christian perspective that transcends political upheavals: no matter the power shifts on Earth, nothing can remove God from His throne.

00:29 Class, ideas or identity politics?
09:35 New media rules
22:06 The ideas v class split has flipped
33:07 How could you vote for...?
46:57 There is nothing that can take God from His throne

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Trump's America: His Comeback Victory Signals a Different Kind of Country
Joe Rogan Experience #2219 - Donald Trump
Joe Rogan Experience #2221 - JD Vance
Joe Rogan Experience #2223 - Elon Musk

Kamala Harris Should Have Gone on Joe Rogan’s Show

WTF with Marc Maron: President Barack Obama:
May 68 Riots in Paris
John Hewson - The GST Interview

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Use meals to slow down life

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 07:02:20 +1100

In the final episode of their mini-series on meals, Joel, Tim and Jai discuss the implementation of meals at each Soul Revival gathering.

Firstly, they explore the industrialisation of food production and increase in the number of scientifically backed meal replacements and productivity drinks. Drawing from their experience in church ministry, they discuss how a strong strategy with a flexible practice is required is the key to serving meals to over 500 people each week at church.

This includes building teams to serve together, how meals are about sharing in the abundance of the Christian life together and how meals help Soul Revival members better live out the prescriptive elements of the Bible.

00:40 CULTURAL ARTEFACTS: 2024 World Series, meal replacement drinks and food production
15:01 Practice of meals in Jai and Tim’s ministry (flexibility)
19:27 Strong theology and strategy creates flexibility in practice
24:43 The answer to feeding 500+ people a week at church
34:51 How do you build teams to serve?
49:25 Meals help us live out the prescriptive elements of the Bible

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

2024 World Series Game 5 highlights
Huel
The Man Shake
Neutonic
AG1
Ultra-Processed People, by Chris van Tulleken
In the shadow of the fence
Slow Food Movement
Spotify playlist: White Girl Music For The Boys

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

The truth and love of sharing meals at church

Soul Revival Church — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 09:00:42 +1100

Tim, Stu and Joel get together to discuss Soul Revival's strategy behind having meals at every Soul Revival gathering.

After reminiscing on some food memories, namely finger food and meals at Soul Revival when it was a youth community, they get into the "how" of meals. They explore what it means to spend meaningful time together—by preparing and sharing meals, which feels counter-cultural in today’s fast-paced world and most churches. The theology of serving in response to the Gospel is the heart of the strategy, where preparing and serving a meal is an example of being a living sacrifice, putting into practice the command of “love in action” from Romans 12.

As church attendances in Australia continue to decrease and interactions become event-focused and short-lived, they examine how meals are an expression of church where non-Christians can be invited to rather than exporting discipleship off the main gathering through Bible studies and mission via courses.

They wrap up the discussion with some thoughts on the joy of serving together as friends under Jesus.

03:11 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: 70's finger food and fellowship teas
12:32 Memories of sharing meals together
20:34 Preparing meals requires costly discipleship
34:07 Meals an expression of church to invite non-Christians to (Acts 2)
46:45 Mix of regulars and irregulars form a community
55:27 The joy in service under Jesus

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Stop Googling, Let's Talk (7 minute conversations)
Oldenburg's Third Place Theory
Australian Evangelical Perspectives on Youth Ministry [Tim on Oldenburg's Third Place Theory]

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

We are made to eat together

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 22:12:51 +1100

In this episode of the Shock Absorber, Stu, Tim, and Joel delve into the theology behind incorporating meals into all Soul Revival gatherings. They explore the practical and spiritual significance of sharing meals, grounded in the spiritual calling that we are called to be living sacrifices, expressing unity in Christ and serving one another.

What begins with a discussion on the Hindenburg (05:23) turns into the question of whether the theology of meals is prescriptive or descriptive in Scripture (15:15). This leads to an examination of Paul's exhortation in Romans 12 to offer ourselves as living sacrifices and the role of meals in expressing that calling (21:45). This includes how sharing meals is not about satisfying hunger, rather about fostering unity and carrying each other’s burdens (31:49). Finally, they close with a call to transform our thinking to be living sacrifices, prioritising serving others over being served at church (46:51).

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Hidden Hindenburg: The Untold Story of the Tragedy, the Nazi Secrets, and the Quest to Rule the Skies, by Michael McCarthy
V-1 flying bomb
V-2 rocket
Hindenburg Disaster
The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt
Patch Adams

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Love in action vs. division

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 05:00:00 +1100

Stu and Joel are back to discuss where the Shock Absorber will be heading in the next few months (00:00).

As the 2024 Presidential Race heats up (02:46), they take a look at the candidates embracing new media in the lead up to the vote. Then, Stu shares insights from his recent overseas trip, offering a fresh perspective on global issues (30:38).

They shift gears to explore what’s next for the Shock Absorber (33:37), including exciting plans for future episodes followed by a theological underpinning of Soul Revival's approach to church, drawing from Romans 12 to connect theology, strategy, and practice (35:12).

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Lex Fridman
Musk Is Going All In to Elect Trump
The Reputation of Roger Ailes
Ground News
The Bill Simmons Podcast
WTF Pod with Marc Maron
Joe Rogan Experience #1330 with Bernie Sanders
Joe Rogan Experience #1999 with Robert F. Kennedy
History of podcasting
Mamamia
Call Her Daddy podcast
Call Her Daddy with Kamala Harris
Eric Weinstein on kayfabe
WWE Battle of the Billionaires: Trump v Mr McMahon
Paul Keating's best moments
Recollections Of A Bleeding Heart, by Don Watson
Seinfeld Trump on wind turbines
Breaking Points
Matt Taibbi Substack
Glenn Greenwald Substack
Breaking out of the legacy media's death spiral, by Joel McMaster
Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City, by Tim Keller

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Enjoy the church planting rollercoaster

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 05:00:00 +1000

In this episode of the Shock Absorber, the guys dive into a range of topics that related to church planting given Joey (Ryde gathering) and Jai (Yarrawarrah and Cronulla gatherings) were on the episode.

They start with a number of cultural artefacts—including a discussion on the new Extremely Large Telescope in Chile, a documentary on WWE’s Mr. McMahon, and the biography of John Paton (01:04).

The guys then focus on iterative church planting and its role in shaping long-term growth (19:28), then highlight the struggles church planters face, particularly when reaching out to diverse demographics and adapting to varying contexts (32:49).

As the conversation progresses, they share thoughts on what lies ahead for the church plants they are responsible for in 2025 (43:23). They episode concludes with practical advice aimed at current and aspiring church planters, emphasising the importance of perseverance and flexibility (48:23).

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Replacements
The Extremely Large Telescope
The Ringer
Andre the Giant documentary
Mr McMahon documentary
Logan Paul's Best WWE Moments
John G Paton: Autobiography of the Pioneer Missionary to the New Hebrides
Empire podcast
Silk Roads: A New History of the World, by Peter Frankopan

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Curiosity + conviction is what shapes us

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 05:00:00 +1000

In this episode of the Shock Absorber podcast, Tim and Joel they explore key cultural and spiritual issues affecting the modern world. We begin by discussing how sub-cultures that used to be characterised by rebelliousness and aggressiveness are becoming less tribal (01:28). Next, inspired by Jonathan Haidt's post, they delve into the hypocrisy of tech CEOs changes how we are thinking about technology and smart phone use (06:53). Such use can turn into another form of addiction, which is counter-formative to a life in the Spirit (21:20). They also return to two books (Crisis of Confidence and Scandal of the Evangelical Mind) and one new book (The Real Scandal of the Evangelical Mind) to tackle hyper-individualised self-expression and its impact on community (35:14), followed by a discussion on how a lack of an agreed-upon evangel is stymying evangelical thought leadership (51:45). Finally, they close with the critical need for curiosity and conviction as Christians navigate the world (1:02:08)

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

After Babel: The Worst Argument That Social-Media Companies Use to Defend Themselves
Tristan Harris on the need to change the incentives of social media companies
2021 Common Sense Census
Crisis of Confidence, by Carl Trueman
Rise & Triumph of the Modern Self, by Carl Trueman
The Hives' Howlin' Pelle Almqvist and Nicholaus Arson in Studio Q
The Real Scandal of the Evangelical Mind, by Carl Trueman

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Are Christians more scandalous or more nuanced?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 05:00:00 +1000

Tim and Joel dive into the world of football, ministry, and evangelical thought!

They start with wide-ranging discussion on football, from the history of Adidas and Puma, World Cup Finals, the Danubian effect on football's development as well as the unique ownership structures of German clubs.

They then chat about Tim’s Book Club, where they are exploring Children’s Ministry and the Spiritual Child. We talk about moving from children’s ministry controlling behaviour to fostering relational discipleship. The importance of “holy curiosity” and how to create a ministry environment where kids develop a lasting love for Jesus.

Finally, they dive into Mark Noll’s classic work, The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind, and its exploration of evangelical thought leadership. They discuss how the evangelical community has excelled in certain areas but has often lacked intellectual engagement in fields like business, biology, and economics, and how fundamentalism and Enlightenment thinking have shaped this.

00:00 Intro
01:42 Tim's running app, Adidas/Puma split, football chat
21:37 A relational model becomes more attractive to children in the long term
44:14 The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind and integrating evangelical thinking
54:34 Have Christians become more nuanced?

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

1954 World Cup Final
1974 World Cup Final
SC Freiburg
2001 FA Cup Final
St. Pauli sausage train
Explaining the Bundesliga's 50+1 rule
Why RB Leipzig is the most hated soccer team in the Bundesliga
The issues with multi-club ownership
Thomas Piketty and the decline of football
Children’s Ministry and the Spiritual Child, by Robin Turner & Trevecca Okholm
The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind, by Mark A. Noll
William Lane Craig
Biblical Critical Theory, by Christopher Watkin
Christopher Watkin

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Traditions reveal a vanilla Christian

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 05:00:00 +1000

In this episode of the Shock Absorber podcast, Tim, Joel and Fi explore the role of church traditions in clarifying what we believe, particularly through the lens of confirmation and youth camp experiences.

They dive into how these traditions help young people, especially those in Years 9 and 10, as they navigate a time of self-determination and begin to count the cost of their faith journey. As we reflect on these formative moments, they finish with some thoughts, courtesy of listener Greg, on the rise of artificial intelligence and how, in some ways, it seems to be eating itself.

00:00 Intro
01:57 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Soul Revival's Youth Camp: Origin
16:28 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Julia
19:29 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Crisis of Confidence
26:03 Anglican Confirmation and John Dickson's retort
38:45 Traditions clarify what we do believe
57:25 Baptism
1:00:36 A.I. could be eating itself

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Devil Wears Prada blue sweater scene
Julia
Crisis of Confidence, by Carl R. Trueman

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

The future is slow and ad-hoc

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 05:00:00 +1000

In the latest episode of the Shock Absorber podcast, Tim shares exciting news as he joins the Soul Revival staff full-time! He opens up about his new role and what he's most looking forward to as he embarks on this new chapter.

Tim also reflects on his departure from Youthworks by discussing his "9 Points on the Future of Youth and Children's Ministry." He shares his insights on how the future of ministry is evolving to be more slow, pagan, and intergenerational. He emphasises the importance of acknowledging that child faith is real, holistic, and often ad-hoc. Finally, he highlights the church's role as a communal, essential, and participatory space for spiritual growth.

00:00 Intro
02:29 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Thrasher | My War
12:25 Tim joins Soul Revival full time and what he's looking forward to
24:50 Tim's 9 Points: The future is ad-hoc
36:55 Tim's 9 Points: The church is participatory
40:13 Tim's 9 Points: The future is slow

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Youthworks House Conference
Thrasher | My War
The Loop ft. Tony Hawk & Mat Hoffman (2001) | Jackass
The Effective Ministry Podcast
Quin's Chip Lunch episode

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Scaling Up: Ministry capacity for all sizes

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 15:59:13 +1000

In a shorter episode of the Shock Absorber podcast, Stu and Joel dive into a range of insightful questions about how Soul Revival approaches ministry. They explore the dynamics of different congregation sizes, discuss the language used to describe them, and the importance of targeting your base effectively before expanding.

They also chat about Stu's 13 years of church planting experience, reflecting on the pitfalls they've encountered, including the challenges of balancing tradition with modern cultural adaptation. The conversation touches on the use of the Bible as a grounding reference point and the lessons learned from trying to launch multiple gatherings simultaneously. They also emphasise the value of iterative design, where setbacks are seen as learning opportunities rather than failures, and the difficulty in knowing when to persist or pivot.

00:00 Intro
00:58 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: U.S. National Conventions
06:23 Sizes of congregations
11:00 The pitfalls of church planting over the last 13 years

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The West Wing

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Building a church from youth ministry

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 05:00:00 +1000

Join Stu, Tim, and Joel as they dive into the Christian moments that stood out at the 2024 Olympic Games. They also tackle some intriguing questions Stu has about Soul Revival's approach to church planting, youth ministry and growth. Hear about the rationale behind Soul Revival's decision to start a Friday night gathering and how they're crafting a natural path for young people at church.

Plus, they explore the concept of 'moderate intergenerationality' and its crucial role in Soul Revival's strategic vision. Don't miss this insightful discussion!

00:00 Intro
01:17 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Christians at the Paris 2024 Olympics
11:20 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Christian marketing appropriation
16:02 Building a church from a youth ministry
24:49 Structuring church for youth to grow up into
38:08 The Bible is key to youth transitions
50:41 Moderate intergenerational means accommodation amongst the generations

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

‘Conditions were perfect’: how the breathtaking image of Olympic surfer Gabriel Medina was taken
The Top Christian Highlights of the Paris Olympics
How photographers captured the Trump assassination attempt
Tim Tebow Has No Regrets About How His Faith May Have Impacted His NFL Career
Cordano Russell's "Jesus is King!"
ENC Ministries
Kenda Creasy Dean

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Just a Christian version of everybody else

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 05:00:00 +1000

In Part 5 of our Resilient Disciples series, Stu, Tim and Joel dive into the Last Supper death work showcased at the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony and explore how Christians can respond with both sorrow and love in the face of God being mocked.

They also unpack how being a resilient disciple involves living counter-culturally and partnering with God in His mission to make more disciples. As the world grows increasingly secular and Christians become a minority, it's crucial to resist the temptation to conform church practices and ourselves to societal norms. Instead, we’re called to return to the example of the early Christians, embracing the counter-cultural nature of our faith and supporting one another in our shared mission with God.

00:00 Intro
01:33 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: The Olympics Last Supper
17:02 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Blues Brothers
21:58 Individualism has lead to entitlement in the church
29:39 Transformed to counter-intuitively work together
43:25 A lack of surprise that Christians are mocked
51:40 Just a Christian version of everybody else
1:00:33 The shift of Christians not being in the minority
1:05:52 Going to church is the counter-cultural distinctive

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Alexamenos Graffito
Paris 2024 Last Supper
Blues Brothers
Jean Twenge
Does Money Make You Mean? by Paul Piff
Piss Christ
Moonbah Festival

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Work for Jesus, get paid by...

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 05:00:00 +1000

Tim and Joel look at the fourth practice of Resilient Faith from Faith for Exiles which leads them on a discussion of how we can encourage Christians to be disciples in all aspects of their life, including their vocation. Have we handled the discussion well? Are we helping people bridge the divide between the sacred and the secular?

Younger generations are becoming more ambitious because of the culture, but how can we help them pursue goodness, truth and beauty when they are at school and work?

"I work for Jesus and get paid by Toyota"
- Jack Hollis, Executive Vice President of Toyota Motor North America

00:00 Intro
01:17 Week Away 2024
09:00 CULTURAL ARTEFACTS: Holiday Round-Up
33:00 Bridging the sacred and secular divide
47:00 The ambitions of younger generations
54:55 Calling is about the goodness, truth and beauty

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Cal Newport
Ultra-Processed People, by Chris Van Tulleken
Liquid Death
Sporting Intelligence Substack
The Rest is History
Faith for Exiles, by Dave Kinnaman & Mark Matlock
Think Biblically podcast
City Bible Forum

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Are we only pleasant strangers at church?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 05:00:00 +1000

Resiliency in discipleship is the name of the game as Stu, Tim and Joel chat about how intergenerational relationships can improve it, based on the research in Faith for Exiles.

Are rosters and a highly specialised church environment lead us to only be pleasant strangers? The Bible calls us to be more than that where the church community can be transformed by the Spirit's sanctification. The problem is, we get lonelier and lonelier as a society. Intentional, meaningful relationships can be the antidote.

00:00 Intro
02:46 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Biblical Critical Theory
26:20 The choice we get, the lonelier we get
30:15 Meaningful relationships and outward looking friendships
36:27 Intentionality and presence in forming relationships
45:49 Intergenerational relationships produce greater resilience
52:41 Community transformation through the Spirit
1:02:07 Problems with a specialised church environment
1:15:12 Dave educates us on early commercial airlines

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Coddling of the American Mind, by Jonathan Haidt
The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt
Faith for Exiles, by Dave Kinnaman and Mark Matlock
Young Catholics defy Pope, choose Latin as rift grows in Australia's biggest church
Pan AM Clipper Magic with Boeing 707 1958

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

How do you best serve God?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 05:00:00 +1000

Tim and Joel as sit down with Anthony, who, along with his wife Trudi, is preparing to move to Ethiopia. Partnering with CMS and Kale Heywet Church, their attention is to equip and develop future leaders in the country.

In this episode, Anthony shares the story behind their call to Africa, highlighting the incredible work God has already done and continues to do in Ethiopia. He gives us an insight into country's life, traditions, cultural practices and religious heritage but also real-life stories of how the gospel in changing people's lives in the region.

00:00 Intro
02:46 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Biblical Critical Theory
11:16 How do you best serve God?
16:19 Culture shocks and being in new places
29:30 Theological training and wholistic faith
38:19 The Ethiopian Orthodox Church
45:21 The impact of the gospel on Ethiopian society
58:11 Civil unrest and partnering alongside Christians in Ethiopia
1:02:05 What has changed in Ethiopia
1:10:52 Supporting Anthony & Trudi

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Anthony & Trudi's CMS page
Biblical Critical Theory, by Christopher Watkin

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

The value of wisdom in cultural discernment

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 05:00:00 +1000

Joel and Stu chat about why cultural discernment is an essential skill of a resilient disciple and what kind of posture we can adopt towards it and be equipped to engage with it?

Key to this is applying Biblical wisdom, but in a world where we are educated by search engine, what place does wisdom have and will it even be listened to? How do we build the muscles of cultural discernment - slow down and make room for conversation.

00:00 Intro
07:08 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Come Fly With Me
16:58 Cultural discernment in digital Babylon
26:36 A creative posture towards the world
33:59 Does wisdom still have value?
39:50 Equipped to engage - avoiding being frenetic or fraught

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Australia Come Fly With Me
Justine Clarke
SpaceX SuperHeavy Landing
Motorsport Magazine podcast

CONTACT US:

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

God doesn't owe you an easy life

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 05:00:00 +1000

Tim, Joel and Fi talk about what it takes to be a resilient disciple because God doesn't owe us an easy life.

Resiliency reveals itself through a certain form of resistance, which as a Christian, can only come from an intimate relationship with Jesus. The book Faith for Exiles helps the discussion on what gets in the way of that relationship - religious clutter, individualism, layering Jesus over the top of what's cultural acceptable.

00:00 Intro
01:15 The Second Best Rescue + Silo + Bonhoeffer
19:56 Resiliency is...
33:15 The intimacy loop with Jesus
40:17 Clearing religious clutter
46:13 Brand Me, Brand Jesus
54:58 Does our life reflect our commitment to Jesus?

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Square One Camp
Awesome God, by Rich Mullins
Silo
Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas
Faith for Exiles by David Kinnaman & Mark Matlock
Deeper, by Dane C. Ortlund

CONTACT US:

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Church audience reach = resilient disciples?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 05:00:00 +1000

Tim and Joel continue the discussion on the intersection of technology and discipleship. Topics range from applying Vygotsky's theories to faith formation, a Christian response to the creator economy, and whether we exist in a digital Babylon in Australia as posited by Mark Matlock and Dave Kinnaman in their book Faith For Exiles.

00:00 Intro
01:15 Tim's expedition to Chicago
14:36 Applying Vygotsky's theories in faith formation
26:06 Dangers of the creator economy and a Christian response
49:24 Discipling in a digital Babylon when gospel inoculation is common

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Children's Spirituality Summit
Lev Vygotsky
Jean Piaget
How I Became A Full-Time Youtuber From a Garden Shed
Matt D'Avella
Ali Abdaal
Alex Hormozi
Joel's Substack
David Kinnaman
Faith for Exiles, by Mark Matlock and Dave Kinnaman

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Bringing order to chaos

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 22 May 2024 09:15:35 +1000

Tim, Fi and Joel are here to discuss video games and what the difference is between escapism and rest. Where do video games and other forms of escapism fit into the ordered, disordered and unordered parts of the world? And are we bypassing God's intended order for our productivity and contribution to the world?

00:00 - Intro
01:04 - CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Twitch Jesus and streamers
13:43 - If we need to escape, something is wrong
27:10 - "The definition of failure is to succeed at something that doesn't matter"
39:03 - Order, disorder and unordered
52:28 - Bypassing God's order

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Twitch Jesus
Twitch.tv
Jimmy Broadbent
iRacing
The Artful Dodger

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Are people looking for A.I. church?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 15 May 2024 05:00:00 +1000

Stu, Tim and Joel are back together to discuss individualism, progress for progress' sake and how it affects mission and discipleship.

Why do we shy away from costly discipleship? Why are we reticent to do hard things when we know it's the only way to grow? Are we becoming less reliant on each other as we become more reliant on technology?

Some of the answers lie in a willingness to open our lives and serve each other. Some answers lie in a possibly diminished the scope of discipleship and mission at church, and how can we do more about it.

00:00 - Intro
01:56 - Progress for the sake of progress
17:48 - Discipleship assumptions around age
25:13 - Has church become like the movies?
40:36 - What does costly discipleship mean?
55:17 - The scope of discipleship and mission at church
1:02:00 How do we encourage people to open their lives more?

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Catholic Group Defrocks AI Priest After It Gave Strange Answers
Boston Dynamics Unveils Fully Electric Atlas Humanoid Robot
Using Apple Vision Pro: What It’s Actually Like!
Tesla’s Optimus - Gen 2

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Do we even need each other?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 08 May 2024 05:00:00 +1000

Stu is back from writing leave and joins Fi and in continuing the discussion on discipleship. They re-iterate that the most important thing is a personal relationship with God, but then move on to discuss how that relationship can be expressed individually and corporately.

There are formal and informal ways of doing it, and perhaps some have been lost because either mission and discipleship can be found missing at church these days. They go on to discuss the practicalities of that and how we can encourage Christians to be outward looking rather than inward looking.

00:00 - Intro
01:15 - CULTURAL ARTEFACTS: Radio Birdman & Imola 1994
17:33 - Express individually then corporately
33:01 - Formal and informal as we await heaven
44:40 - Missing discipleship AND mission
50:11 - Inward looking vs. outward looking

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Radio Birdman
And Colossally That's History
1994 San Marino Grand Prix
Sussanna Wesley's Prayer Apron
Chip Lunch feat. Courtney

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Is discipleship only for the individual?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 01 May 2024 05:00:00 +1000

Tim and Joel continue the discussion on discipleship and how our approach has been clouded by the rise of individualism and how personal habits more often than not trump corporate habits. Such a current worldview leads to an assumption that discipleship is only an individual pursuit , but conversely, we are also designed by God to be corporate Christians.

00:00 - Intro
01:26 - The Third Space Studio
14:07 - CULTURAL ARTEFACTS
25:22 - Literacy lost or the rise of individualism?
43:57 - Corporate discipleship is as important as individual
56:58 - Discipleship must be hard
1:04:41 - Individual and corporate discipleship together

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Cal Newport
Modern Wisdom
Kung Fu Panda 4
The Secret Race, by Tyler Hamilton
Biblical Literacy in a Postliterate Age, by Brad East
Double Literacy Loss, by Brad East
Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, by Carl Trueman
Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind, by Tom Holland

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Lack of growth is sub-normal

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 05:00:00 +1000

Fi drops into the Shock Absorber to continue the discussion with Joel and Tim on discipleship and growth. They talk about how there is something wrong if we aren't growing as Christians and that is healthy to have the expectation of continual growth. They also discuss that it is essential to be in community to grow because we are made for and need each other.

00:00 - Intro and CULTURAL ARTEFACTS
18:54 - There's something wrong if you're not growing
29:37 - There must be an expectation of growth
35:54 - How do you know if you are growing?
47:34- Commitment is key to growth
59:42 - Being in community is required, not optional

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Alex Rider series
Alex Rider on Amazon Prime
Johan Cruyff
Pep Guardiola
Rinus Michels
Positionism
Relationism
Bayern's Loss is Germany's Game, by Katja Hoyer
Don Bradman's batting technique
Germany revamp youth football with 2vs2, four goals, no keepers - and no counting score

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

What even is discipleship?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 05:00:00 +1000

Tim and Joel re-convene to discuss the much talked about topic in Christian circles: discipleship. What is it? Do we grow beyond the initial growth? Has the post-industrial world mechanised and intellectualised it so much that we are allowing it to be what God intends it to be?

They talk about how discipleship can be spiritual growth in community and know that in his complexity God shows us the way...

00:00 - Intro and CULTURAL ARTEFACTS
19:23 - What even is discipleship?
32:57 - How do you know you're discipling?
39:44 - Pushing beyond the initial stages of Christian growth
1:06:25 - Individual spiritual growth in community
1:18:10 - God is BOTH

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Skillet
A World Without Email, by Cal Newport
Slow Productivity, by Cal Newport
Calendly
Basecamp
Hey
Crisis in Discipleship with Carey Nieuwhof and John Mark Comer
Ryan Holiday
John Mark Comer
Mastery, by Robert Greene
The Critical Journey, by Janet Hagberg & Robert Guelich
Robert Goulet

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Chip Lunch Crossover: What can He do?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 09:13:17 +1000

This week we bring you an episode from Soul Revival Church's other podcast - Chip Lunch. Our most recent guest was Craig Pring, who is part of the leadership team at Miranda Congregational Church.

Hear about how God has worked through Craig's life and also his perspective on why Miranda Congregational Church looked to establish a relationship with Soul Revival and what ultimately lead to MCC voting to become part of Soul Revival.

Actions flow from identity

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 05:00:00 +1100

Following the book launch of Australian Evangelical Perspectives on Youth Ministry, Joel, Tim and Joey discuss a more wholistic approach to teaching young people about sin. We don't do good actions to please God, but because our identity is in Christ and how children can gain solidarity as Christians in secular environment.

They then re-visit a previous episode on sleep and ministry thanks to a great email from Erich and discuss sleep chronotypes and further strategies of taking care of the body.

00:00 - Intro and CULTURAL ARTEFACTS
15:44 - Australian Evangelical Perspectives on Youth Ministry + Children's Ministry
24:40 - How do we teach young people about sin?
39:47 - Re-visiting sleep, busyness and ministry
52:53 - Question from Erich and helpful strategies

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, by Matthew Perry
The Nineties: A Book, by Chuck Klosterman
Who Shot Mr. Burns?
From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life, by Arthur Brooks
The Gentlemen
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Snatch
Layer Cake
The Pastor's Heart: Theologically rethinking youth ministry
Australian Evangelical Perspectives on Youth Ministry: Identity, Church, Culture, and Discipleship
Youthworks House Conference
THE SHOCK ABSORBER: Are You Sleepwalking Through Ministry
Sleep Chronotypes

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Social contagion transformed by Jesus

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 05:00:00 +1100

Tim returns to the podcast to initially chat about his upcoming trip to Chicago but also to discuss how art and even entertainment has been subsumed by a distracted and addicted culture. Which leads to the question: Do Christians first need to critique culture in order to create it? And how have changes in culture impacted children and decisions we now make as parents...

00:00 - Intro & Tim's impending trip to Chicago
15:45 - CULTURAL ARTEFACT: The State of Culture in 2024
38:00 - Philosophy-Art-Music-Culture-Theology
41:03 - Do we first need to critique culture to create it?
49:03 - Not all technological change is progress
59:12 - Kids, Safety-ism & social contagion

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Children's Spirituality Summit
TEDS
State of the Culture, 2024, by Ted Gioia
Nerdrotic
The Critical Drinker
Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Greg Laurie
The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt
Jonathan Haidt Substack
Snow White and the Evil Queen
The Super Mario Bros. Movie

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Are you sleepwalking through your ministry?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 05:00:00 +1100

Sleep or lack of, can often be over-spiritualised but if we don't sleep are we actually trusting God?

Brayden joins Joel and Stu to discuss rest for those working in ministry, and in particular sleep. They talk about different ways culture has disrupted sleep but also what changes you can implement to get a good night's rest despite the variables ministry throws up.

00:00 Intro
03:28 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: ExxonValdez oil spill
09:16 Disruptions to sleep
24:55 How ministry can affect sleep
32:17 A lifetime of sustainable ministry
51:55 Be willing to experiment

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Zoolander
Chip Lunch podcast playlist
ExxonValdez oil spill
Deepwater Horizon explosion
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Pastoral Ministry and the Struggle to Sleep, by Christopher Ash
Andrew Huberman's morning routine

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Pulling a Swiftie... Are the generations re-uniting?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 12:50:18 +1100

Long time Soul Revivalist Fiona makes her debut on the podcast as they discuss whether Taylor Swift may be re-uniting the generations with her music and culture. Is it because she is viewed as being safe by parents? Or because parents are fearful of losing the relationship with their kids?

They also talk about friendships and how they are formed and the impact they can, doing ministry together as a family builds intimacy and how it's not about forcing children to come to church but about being church.

00:00 Intro
03:00 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: The Breakfast Club "Why are you being so nice to me?"
05:48 Being friends and power dynamics
20:55 Is Taylor Swift re-uniting the generations?
36:55 Parents fear losing their kids
45:16 Ministry together breeds family intimacy

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Breakfast Club makeover scene
Chuck Klosterman
Let There Be Rock, by AC/DC
Why Americans Stopped Hanging Out, by Derek Thompson

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Unintended consequences (w/Jon Dunbier)

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 05:00:00 +1100

Jon Dunbier from Grace Anglican Church joins the podcast to discuss IGM and unintended consequences of a variety of church and cultural changes and the Frankenstein type church communities they often create.

They again delve into creating Christian cultural goods whether that means teaching Christians to be resilient, making church exciting with those who are committed to be there or moving forward together under Christ instead romanticising about days gone by.

They round up the episode with some quickfire practical advice thoughts around intergenerational ministry.

00:00 Intro
01:20 Soul Revival Church and Grace Church
04:36 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Faith, Hope and Carnage
13:06 Causes and prevention of ministry drop off points
37:51 Unintended consequences of church, culture
1:03:03 Frankenstein church communities
1:19:44 Sin is sin
1:31:37 Quickfire practical advice

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Grace Anglican Church
Faith, Hope and Carnage, by Nick Cave and Sean O'Hagan
Bit of a Blur, by Alex James
Radio Birdman

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Does Jesus GET us?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 05:00:00 +1100

Joel accidentally introduces the podcast as Chip Lunch. That's our other podcast which you can listen to here.

Following the He Gets Us Campaign during the Super Bowl, Stu, Tim, and Joel look at what it means to have both truth and love when presenting the gospel - when does it turn into a caricature? And when is one or other missing when Jesus is both?

The discussion then takes a turn into the differences between copying culture and creating culture. How will the gospel message be received and is it enough on it's own?

00:00 Intro
01:38 He Gets Us Super Bowl Commercial
17:31 Do people know the meaning behind washing feet?
31:58 Speaking the truth in love
38:15 The difference between creating and copying culture
47:09 How is the message received?
1:02:02 What commercial would you make?

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

He Gets Us Super Bowl Commercial
State Farm Super Bowl Commercial
BMW Super Bowl Commercial
Dunkin' Donuts Super Bowl Commercial
Tooth & Nail Records
Mac v PC commercials
Black Panther Party
Antonio Gramsci
Hegemony

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Pastors spend a huge amount of time convincing Christians to come to church

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 06:22:08 +1100

After a quick chat about Gladiators, Stu, Tim and Joel dive into a X thread by Dave Adamson. What follows is a wide-ranging discussion on church, culture and their impact on church leaders.

Is Australian society antagonistic towards Christianity with it obviously being in the minority now? Does the reduction of the original sacred canopy to an umbrella and continued secularisation mean that pastors are becoming burnt out having to spend an inordinate amount of time convincing Christians to come to church?

The response falls amongst Andy Crouch's work which says that Christians can condemn, critique, copy or consume culture. Which one do we choose at which particular moment?

00:00 Intro and CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Gladiators
14:10 Christians can condemn, critique, consume or create culture
23:38 The church is now a minority
32:22 Is society antagonistic towards Christianity?
46:10 Jesus-shaped will be seen communities as delightful
56:31 Church competition at the detriment to the gospel

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Gladiators
Andy Crouch: Four Postures Toward Culture
Dave Adamson's X thread
Death of Azaria Chamberlain

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

JESUS sets the vision

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 05:00:00 +1100

Stu, Tim and Joel return to the Shock Absorber for 2024 to talk about Soul Revival's Vision Weekend. They discuss starting from the foundation that Jesus Changes Everything, that He is more interested in our salvation than we are and so we only need to partner with Him as He sanctifies us throughout the year.

They further discuss how we can be prepared for God to grow us and what that means for Soul Revival's long term Double Up strategy. This includes setting goals to increase the church's discipleship and mission and then the resources required to make that happen.

Joel and Stu wrap up the conversation with a discussion around bringing people along for the ride which means doing something that we should be doing, but doing something we love, because of Jesus.

00:00 Intro and looking forward to 2024
14:21 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: All The Light We Cannot See
19:28 Soul Revival's 2024 Vision
32:03 Does doubling up just mean double the effort?
45:50 Bringing people along for the ride
49:00 To the ends of the Earth?

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Surfebruary
Ali Abdaal
Wheel of Life
Atomic Habits
All The Light We Cannot See

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email
Shock Absorber Website
Soul Revival Shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Flexing spiritual muscle memory

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 05:00:00 +1100

Tim and Joel get together to record the last Shock Absorber of 2023. Christmas is the inspiration, and so they discuss what a successful Christmas Eve children's service looks like and Soul Revival's recent carols event. This leads to a wider discussion on what appeals to outsiders and why making church as attractional as possible may not be the ideal approach. The finish up with a quick chat about their own family's Christmas traditions.

00:00 Intro and CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Dark
09:17 What makes a good children's service
22:47 The pitfalls of making church attractional
42:40 Light Up The World Christmas Carols
53:50 Tim and Joel's Christmas traditions

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Dark
The Takeover Chip Lunch episode
The Butterfly Club book series
What is a MacGuffin?

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Friendship at church through the lens of Christ

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 05:00:00 +1100

Stu comes back on the podcast with Joel to chat about what's been taking up most of his time lately. It includes a trip to Christmas carols in Brewarrina and what is starting to emerge from his PhD since drafting the first chapter. They discuss grassroots church, what posture does the church have towards culture, a theology and ecclesiology of friendship and how it might help the church work together better.

00:00 Intro and CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Slow Horses, Season 3
7:00 Carols in Brewarrina
17:36 Where are the spaces for young people to experiment?
29:25 Theology and ecclesiology of friendship

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Slow Horses
Magnum P.I.
Battlestar Galactica
Kenda Creasey Dean
Bonhoeffer as Youth Worker, by Andrew Root
Andy Crouch

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

The world is hurtling towards hope

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 05:00:00 +1100

Tim and Joel jump on for a shorter episode but jam packed with some tasty content. They talk Bonhoeffer, Tim's article on youth ministry being more than just future fruit and why he titled his last sermon "The World Is Hurtling Towards Hope".

Also let us know where you're from!

00:00 Intro
02:00 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy
11:52 The world is hurtling towards hope
21:36 Youth ministry is more than just future fruit

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, by Eric Metaxas
The Path to Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson (Part 1), by Robert Caro
Alexander Hamilton, by Ron Chernow
Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr., Ron Chernow
Stuff You Missed in History Class podcast
The Rest is History podcast
Fear & Loathing in the New Jerusalem podcast
Youth Ministry Is More Than Friday Night
Youth Ministry is More Than Future Fruit, by Tim Beilharz

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Straight outta college into church planting

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 08:08:52 +1100

SORRY ABOUT THE POOR AUDIO QUALITY! It gets better as the episode goes on.

Joey and Joel sit down to talk about Joey's journey after finishing college. His is not the most normal experience of a Bible college graduate, with his first role being the pastor of a church plant within a church that has only been established for 10 years.

They talk about developing as a preacher and the importance of faithfulness under God in the face of the ambiguities that come with a church plant. They wrap up the episode with a discussion on Ryde as the first gathering at Soul Revival that isn't in the Sutherland Shire.

00:00 Intro
00:59 Jack Reacher and a sermon illustration
10:46 Finishing college and preaching
16:49 Sticking to the process and avoiding imposter syndrome
24:37 From college straight into church planting
30:46 Faithfulness within the ambiguity of a church plant
42:12 Adapting to Soul Revival and Ryde being outside the Sutherland Shire

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE:

Jack Reacher
Breaking Bad
Last Stop Larrimah
Sergio and Rhoda

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Action in the church comes at a cost

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 05:00:00 +1100

After a short absence from the pod, Tim rejoins Joel to rejoice in young people learning about Jesus and how different music scenes have impacted culture. It leads to the question, could numerous grassroots Christian scenes have an effect on culture? For the action to be in the church, we cannot just copy culture, but it must costly to us.

00:00 Intro
01:05 Where's Tim been?
17:11 Music scenes
29:00 Pop culture has become an oligopoly
40:47 Hardship is what brings value
57:55 Copying culture = less effort
1:08:33 Committing to the action being in the church

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Ben Pakula's music
Youthworks Square One
Tooth & Nail Records
MxPx
The O.C. Supertones
Limp Bizkit
Slipknot
The Darkness
Led Zeppelin
Pop Culture Has Become an Oligopoly
Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business, by Neil Postman
Metallica's latest tour
Rage Against the Machine

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Does copying culture negate church growth?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 05:00:00 +1100

Joel and Stu sit down to break down some statistics from the NCLS and McCrindle. What results is a discussion around church growth, church planting, trust in institutions and why copying culture may not be the ideal church growth strategy.

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Hunt for Red October
Sean Connery
Infernal Affairs
The Departed
Reach Australia/Geneva Push
Acts 29
Menai Anglican Church
Growth, decline, and planting by Australian churches (report by NCLS)
Where Australians place their trust (report by McCrindle)

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Creating Christian cultural goods at the grassroots level

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 05:00:00 +1100

Both Stu and Joey return to the podcast to discuss Soul Revival's partnership with Miranda Congregational Church before talking about discipleship differences and how it can be harnessed to create something new together, especially in church planting. They round off the episode with a chat about how it's important as Christians to create cultural goods that have impact on the world.

00:00 Intro
00:56 Content we're into
06:12 Partnership with Miranda Congregational Church
11:48 Working out new ideas in church planting
20:57 Differing discipleship styles
33:14 Creating something new together
38:21 Bonhoeffer's costly discipleship and our current culture
49:39 Create Christian culture at grassroots level

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

FIDE Grand Swiss Championship
Isle of Man TT
The Heart is the Target: Preaching Practical Application From Every Text, by Murray Capill
Last Stop Larrimah
Miranda Congregational Church
Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles
Lou Crawshaw's Chip Lunch podcast
Life Together, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The Cost of Discipleship, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Culture Making, by Andy Crouch

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

If your church is growing, it's because of God

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 13:36:31 +1100

Tim and Joel are joined by college student and expert on Japan - Lewis, to chat about Soul Revival's Planning Day and including young people in church strategy. Later, a discussion about church growth turns into a dialogue on measuring the success of a church leader.

00:00 Intro and Japan
12:40 Why Lewis went to Bible college so soon after becoming a Christian
15:30 After Soul Revival Church's 2023 Planning Day
29:08 Church strategy that includes young people
36:55 What does success look like as a minister of God?

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Boss Coffee
The Fugitive
Tommy Lee Jones in Boss Coffee Commercials
Lewis on Chip Lunch (1st time)
Lewis on Chip Lunch (2nd time)
Are Churches Growing Or Are Christians Just Shifting? by Dr. Steven McCready

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email
Shock Absorber Website
Soul Revival Shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here: https://linktr.ee/JesusChangesEverything

From daggy to dangerous to desirable to delightful

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 05:00:00 +1100

Stu, Tim and Joel re-visit a previous episode to get Stu's thoughts on the importance of church. They discuss the impact of Descartes' "I think therefore I am" on indvidulism, society and the church at large as well as the tension we must hold between individual faith and collective worship. Church is about both/and rather than either/or and could it go from daggy to dangerous to desirable to delightful?

00:00 Intro and Cultural Artefact
07:05 I think therefore I am and it's correctives
17:42 Holding individual faith and collective worship in tension
23:48 The individual v the collective
45:14 Church is (both/and) not (either/or)
53:44 What is church for?

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Let There Be Rock
The Hives Live at AB
Limp Bizkit - Break Stuff, live at Woodstock '99 (language warning)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Fire, live at Woodstock '99
Metallica - Live in Moscow (Tushino Airfield)
When the Church was a Family, by Joesph Hellerman
Rene Descartes
Church Is Life Together or Not at All, by Myles Werntz
Life Together, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
We Are Re-Paganizing, by Louise Perry

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here: https://linktr.ee/JesusChangesEverything

Preparing for Soul Revival Church's 2023 Planning Day

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 05:00:00 +1100

In the first ever episode outdoor AND not recorded in the Third Space Studio, the guys discuss plans for Soul Revival Church's upcoming 2023 Planning Day. Last year was about 2030 goals, this year will be about implementing them.

They look at a number of frameworks that will structure the day and the big picture ideas they created including: communicating ideas clearly, empowering church members to serve and what they're hoping to see come out of the planning day.

01:36 Why planning for the planning day?
08:28 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Movie montages on team building
11:20 Framework 1: Theology, Strategy, Practice
21:47 Growth in Membership to Growth in God's Kingdom
32:02 Framework 2 & 3: Service Teams & Gathering Teams
36:18 Communicating ideas clearly at a planning day
47:45 Empowering church members to serve
59:26 What Tim would love to see at the planning day

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Replacements
Ocean's Eleven
Ocean's Twelve
The Italian Job
Mighty Ducks
Memphis Belle
Saving Private Ryan
Rogue Heroes
Peaky Blinders

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here: https://linktr.ee/JesusChangesEverything

Why is it important to go to church?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 05:00:00 +1000

Brayden and Tim are on the podcast this week to discuss a question that Brayden was posed at Bible college - Why is it important to go to church? In Australia, a churchgoer is considered regular when they attend once every four weeks.

When we are able to attend church regularly and work together in a community, everyone benefits. It may also be an attractive proposition to those who don't go church. As the guys discuss, if we understand what is for, then we are much more likely to be there.

Do we miss church when we can't make it? Does it cost us? How embedded into the community are you, and what stops us from being amongst the community?

00:00 Intro
02:05 Cultural Artefacts
07:03 We don't want to be alone. We seek community
14:45 Are we ok with the increase in loneliness?
23:41 Sub-cultures and pseudo-communities
31:37 Why we need to be in community
39:07 Characteristics of a true community
46:41 Community as an attractive alternative
56:48 How to know if you're in a community

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Angel
Breaking Bad
Better Call Saul
The Incredibles
Fantastic 4
The Godfather
The Sopranos
Donnie Brasco
Goodfellas

The Friendship Recession
Third Place Theory
“Third places” as community builders
Dr. Diana R. Garland
Does Sydney have ‘third places’? Probably more than you think
McDonald's: you can sneer, but it's the glue that holds communities together
Church and U2 concerts: exploring what ‘family’ means for the local church, by Tim Beilharz

CONTACT US:

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here: https://linktr.ee/JesusChangesEverything

Re-invent church a little to forge ageless friendships

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 05:00:00 +1000

After talking through cultural instances of old and young working together, Stu, Tim and Joel get into why it would be great to recapture the intergenerational elements of pre-Industrial Revolution village life and how generations since have experienced various forms of dislocation. They discuss its impact on the church and then how ageless friendships amongst the generations can be forged and bring glory to God.

00:00 Intro and Cultural Artefact: Old People's Home for 4 Year Olds
08:38 Recapturing a healthy village
16:55 Dislocation of generations
26:43 Forging ageless friendships
40:26 STU'S IDEA: Creating friendships with other churches
43:11 Younger age groups in ageless friendships
51:55 Older age groups in ageless friendships
1:00:18 Aiming to bring glory to God

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Old People's Home for 4 Year Olds
Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones
Jean Piaget
Jan Gehl
Generation Gap, by Hoodoo Gurus
Rebel Without a Cause

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here: https://linktr.ee/JesusChangesEverything

Who's building the church? Who's influencing culture?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 05:00:00 +1000

After a quick dip into Night Bombers and Culture Making, Stu and Joel talk about how Christians impact culture by expressing their identity in Christ. They touch on church networking, youth ministry, leadership structure, band night and creating action within the church and how it all brings glory to God.

00:00 Intro and Night Bombers
07:26 Christians influencing culture
21:51 Networking amongst churches
36:24 Fast track towards building a friendship group
51:22 Do you need to copy culture?

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Night Bombers
Praxis
Culture Making, by Andy Crouch
George Marsden (author)
House Conference
Jesus Revolution movie

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here: https://linktr.ee/JesusChangesEverything

The Kingdom habitually undermines expectations and when good reasons go wrong

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 05:00:00 +1000

Tim and Joel engage in a wide-ranging and thoughtful chat on a wide variety of topics that includes, the Reformation, how we can make more space in our lives for God to make himself known, to discipling emotions, good reasons gone wrong and Tim's research paper.

Some questions to think about:
• God is gratuitous in his love and we must be attentive to it
• Which of how habits are helping us grow closer to God, or push him further away?
• How can we helpfully disciple the strong emotions of children?
• Does the way we do children's ministry show that we think they aren't ready to be Christians yet?
• How can our children imbibe the beliefs, patterns and practices of a Christian community?

00:00 Intro
06:09 The Reformation and it's impact
23:40 Our Christian habits
54:40 Discipling emotions
01:12:43 Tim's published paper

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Chick-fil-a
Deeper, by Dane C. Ortlund
Rescuing the Gospel, by Erwin Lutzer
Atomic Habits
The Gulag Archipelago, by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Barbara Rogoff
School is Not Enough, by Simon Sarrin

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Grow some weeds to plant some churches

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 05:00:00 +1000

Joey, pastor of Ryde gathering joins Stu and Joel on the pod this week to chat church planting, especially in the context of Soul Revival Church in Ryde. Using the ideas from syntropic farming, the guys discuss what it would look like to grow some weeds in certain areas in order to grow something out of nothing.

They also discuss ambiguity in ministry, why strategy is vital regardless of the context where church planting is happening and not doing anything can be more dangerous than doing something.

00:00 Intro
02:15 Syntropic farming
06:40 Joey and Soul Revival: Ryde
21:05 Ambiguity in ministry
30:32 What grows in different areas? STRATEGY MATTERS.
46:47 Experiential learning while church planting
52:22 Not doing anything is more dangerous than doing something

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Chip Lunch podcast
Joey's Chip Lunch
Syntropic farming in Lightning Ridge
Syntropic farming

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here: https://linktr.ee/JesusChangesEverything

Fast track future leaders with a youth camp

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 05:00:00 +1000

Brayden (Student Pastor, Arts Pastor, Youth Coordinator) and Ethan (Youth Mission Pastor) join the podcast to chat about Soul Revival Church's first ever youth camp - Origin. They run through how it was organised, what was hard, what was re-run from the old day and what wasn't. The discussion leads on to how holding a youth camp help grow the young crew in their faith and also their leadership capabilities.

00:00 Intro
02:11 The Origin of Origin
06:40 Planning and holding the youth camp
12:28 Why even hold a youth camp?
19:06 How it happened
33:06 The impact of camp and building leadership from youth

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here: https://linktr.ee/JesusChangesEverything

What are we being distracted from at church?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 05:00:00 +1000

Tim and Joel use a question from Tim's Effective Ministry podcast as a springboard into a discussion on why we come to church and what our expectations are for church. Certain factors have possibly lead to a strong focus on cognitive engagement with the preached word of God. While essential for Christian formation, it perhaps has lead to a diminished focus on the other reasons we meet at church.

00:00 Intro and podcasts
07:38 What are we actually being distracted from at church?
17:13 How should problems be fixed?
22:19 The Reformation has shaped what we value at church
31:38 Both leaders and children shape the body of Christ
42:26 Children intuitively know if they are welcome
57:01 The yearning for community and contributing to the family

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Cal Newport
Deeper, by Dane C. Ortlund
House Conference by Youthworks
The Effective Ministry podcast
Cultivating an Intergenerational Heart, by Tim Beilharz
When the Church was a Family, by Joseph Hellerman

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here: https://linktr.ee/JesusChangesEverything

Costly discipleship combats culture's gospel veneer

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 05:00:00 +1000

The guys sit down to have a chat and make some Jesus beads while attempting to explain the gospel in five sentences. Later on, they discuss Stu's idea of reversing how the leadership should think about youth ministry (any young crew coming along is a bonus) and finish with a deep dive on what costly discipleship looks like in a world that actively teaches against it.

00:00 Intro and Jesus beads
03:14 Explaining the gospel in five sentences
15:30 Non-anxious presence in youth ministry
38:41 Costly discipleship in today's world

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Family systems theory
The Cost of Discipleship, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Atomic Habits
You Can't Hurt Me, David Goggins
David Goggins' Smoke Jumping

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here: https://linktr.ee/JesusChangesEverything

Avoiding tunnel vision with discipleship and mission

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 05:00:00 +1000

This week on the Shock Absorber, the guys chat about ensuring tunnel vision does not develop when it comes to discipleship and mission. They chat about two clear examples of discipleship and mission at Soul Revival Church and what that entails for the church and also individuals as it pursues it's 2030 goals.

Quote of the episode: "Not everyone has to do evangelism, but everyone CAN do evangelism" - Stu

00:00 Intro
03:02 Ayrton's Senna tunnel vision
07:17 Discipleship and mission
21:54 Discipleship - Week Away
34:34 Mission - Colours of Life
51:44 Stu's Phd update

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Ayrton Senna
Wyatt Earp
White Fox Boutique
The Pastoral Cycle

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here: https://linktr.ee/JesusChangesEverything

Has the suburban identity colonised the church?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 05:00:00 +1000

Stu and Tim return to continue their intellectual stoush around Stu's Phd work. It leads to a discussion around the impact of suburbia from the 1950s onwards and the loss of community due to the subsequent individualism and materialism.

That also leads to questions about the church. Have Christians been lead to conflate the values of the gospel with the values of a middle class suburban identity? While the Bible affirms some aspects of culture but also critiques other aspects, what is the value of Christians living a counter-cultural lifestyle in a world that tells them not to?

00:00 Intro
01:14 Stu's trip to Collarenebri River Convention
06:59 The intellectual stoush between Stu and Tim continues
21:09 The impact of suburbia
32:39 Suburban happiness is challenged by the gospel
44:52 Is the Shock Absorber a new model of ministry or strategic?

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Rest is History podcast
The Tree of Man, by Patrick White
Bowling Alone, Robert Putnam
Ray Oldenburg
Hey, Nietzsche! Leave Them Kids Alone!, by Craig Schuftan

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

Is Bible college the only pathway into paid ministry?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 05:00:00 +1000

Tim and Joel have the pleasure of having Aaron Smith, of the Aspire podcast, second year SMBC student and Student Pastor at Anchor Church Northern Beaches to talk ministry opportunities and pathways and how churches can continue to look for the next generation of pastors and ministry staff.

00:00 Intro and magic jackets
01:17 Welcome Aaron
07:49 Tim's trip to Nashville
12:12 Alone
15:30 Journeys to ministry can be quite different
46:00 The changing nature of ministry and it's pathways
1:02:08 Do you need to go to Bible college first?
1:12:43 How do churches look for ministers?

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Aspire podcast
Anchor Church, Northern Beaches
Shock Absorber with Dave Lovell from Christian Surfers
The Effective Ministry podcast
National Church Life Survey
Strengthfinders

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

WE WANT YOUR QUESTIONS!

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 15:30:10 +1000

Sorry we don't have an episode for you this week, but WE WANT YOUR QUESTIONS!

Send them to joel@shockabsorber.com.au!

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

False hope or real promise? Can church generations accommodate one another?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 05:00:00 +1000

Stu, Tim and Joel continue to debate ideas around Stu's phD and the Four Views of Youth Ministry. Just like the book, Tim has his rebuttal ready and waiting for Stu's announcement last episode of leaning more towards the Strategic approach than before. Stu gets to respond, while also reflecting that it's too hard to get feisty when he agrees with someone as much as he does with Tim!

The discussion though leads to questions about models of youth ministry and it's impacts. Mark Senter says that no one in the church listens to anybody in the congregation under 30. Should a church simply plant a new service location with a younger generation, or can the generations accommodate one another?

Is the Shock Absorber a new model or just an extension of the Strategic approach? How does it affect church planting? The differences between para-church ministry v local church ministry and what changes in ministry when it is approached holistically.

00:00 Intro
03:06 Beyond the Wall: East Germany
13:14 Different approaches affect the whole
22:55 Tim's rebuttal to Stu
29:53 Stu responds
36:23 Local church matters
48:33 Will the generations accommodate one another?
53:35 The Shock Absorber: A new approach? Or an extension of the Strategic approach?
1:00:45 Question from Aaron on the Strategic approach and the Anglican Church

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Beyond the Wall: East Germany, 1949-1990 by Katja Hoyer
Four Views of Youth Ministry and the Church
Aspire podcast

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to: https://linktr.ee/JesusChangesEverything

Downright feisty? Creating a church that wants to keep changing

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 05:00:00 +1000

Stu and Joel look at how youth ministry shapes can shape churches now and in the future. Using Stu's recent revelations after re-visiting Mark Senter's downright feisty Four Views of Youth Ministry, they discuss what a church that wants to keep changing looks like.

Could youth leaders be trained up to eventually plant churches? Could relationships be institutionalised in a way so the young are prepared to take over the church - making the accountability and Biblical wisdom of the older generations even more important.

Know the Four Views of Youth Ministry? Email joel@shockabsorber.com.au and come on the podcast to chat about:
• Inclusive congregational (Malan Nel)
• Preparatory (Wesley Black)
• Missional (Chap Clark)
• Strategic (Mark Senter)

Chat on our Discord server: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE

00:00 Intro
01:08 The Four Views of Youth Ministry
12:30 BREAKING NEWS: Stu changes his mind
22:28 What church leadership could look like in the future
28:26 Experimenting to address declining youth ministries
33:46 Strategically intergenerational

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Four Views of Youth Ministry and the Church: https://www.koorong.com/product/four-views-of-youth-ministry-and-the-church_0310234050?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.koorong.com%2F

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here: https://linktr.ee/JesusChangesEverything

Drop the cringe factor, authentically

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 31 May 2023 05:00:00 +1000

Joel and Stu chat coming up with ideas and getting people onboard with those ideas. They use Everett Rogers' diffusion of ideas theory as a lens to look at how ideas start, spread and build momentum. The encouragement is that Christianity by its very nature is perpetually new, so we are afforded a great freedom to explore new ideas as we partner with Jesus while He builds His church.

00:00 Intro
01:45 Air
08:11 Permission to come up with new ideas
18:00 Changing the idea of rationing church
23:39 Building momentum around an idea
35:12 Most people get involved when they see it working
45:00 Late majority / critical mass
47:25 Christianity is perpetually new

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE:

Good Will Hunting
Air
Air Jordan brand
Mastery, by Robert Greene
Diffusion of innovations
Jesus Revolution

CONTACT US:

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here: https://linktr.ee/JesusChangesEverything

Children are the church of today: Articulating strategy of children's ministry

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 24 May 2023 05:00:00 +1000

Tim and Joel chat the strategy children's ministry. They look at a myriad of different approaches and discuss why Soul Revival practice intergenerational ministry as well as also age-specific ministries.

00:00 Intro & High Ground
05:23 Tim's passion for children's ministry and ministry barriers
15:26 Ministry shaping metaphors
33:47 Children within intergenerational ministry
50:50 The benefits of age-specific ministry

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

High Ground
Children Matter: Celebrating Their Place in the Church, Family, and Community

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Churches started competing…

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 17 May 2023 05:00:00 +1000

The guys continue the discussion on the Shock Absorber about the effect the pursuit of professionalism has had on churches. From the 1980s churches have felt the need to create an appealing 'product' to those who don't know Jesus. In some respects, that approach lead to churches competing against one another and caused an increase in transience, affecting discipleship and mission. Under God, Christians can be okay with not being fully accepted by the world, we are called to be counter-cultural.

00:00 Intro
01:09 Rogue Heroes
06:00 How churches began competing with each other
16:20 How transience became in built amongst churches
26:51 Where did the impulse for professionalism come from?
37:34 A counter-cultural response over a professional response

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Rogue Heroes
Rule of Life podcast
Antonio Gramsci's hegemony

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Experimentation over professionalism

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 10 May 2023 05:00:00 +1000

Stu, Tim and Joel are back in the saddle for another episode. They get Stu's reaction to the Jesus Revolution movie and some of the lessons from it to discuss church planting, gospel opportunities and welcoming failures. They round out the episode with a discussion about the importance of carving out intentional time to spend with each other in the name of Jesus.

00:00 Intro
01:16 Jesus Revolution
10:50 Partnership Evangelism as local mission strategy
21:17 Welcoming failure at the expense of professionalism
31:30 Leading as friends
34:50 Intentional time in the name of Jesus

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Jesus Revolution
Margaret and David review 'Dancer in the Dark'

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Blow up some rockets in the midst of gospel opportunities

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 03 May 2023 05:00:00 +1000

Jai (Planting Pastor) and Brayden, (Arts and Student Pastor) join Joel for a peek behind the curtain at Soul Revival Church by bringing ideas discussed as a staff team straight onto the podcast. They explore some the gospel opportunities that have emerged at the church amidst the background of the church's goal of Doubling Up by 2030. They discuss what makes any Soul Revival gathering the same, how gatherings are categorised and how the church aims to partner with Jesus to make the most of gospel opportunities

00:00 Intro
01:10 Movie: Jesus Revolution
06:19 This is Jesus' gospel opportunity
15:55 Mistakes we've made, rockets we've blown up
22:37 How we categorise gatherings
27:16 Making friendships a priority
34:09 Meals facilitate friendships
39:00 How the Anglican Prayer Book dictates our gatherings
47:15 Location, location, location
54:09 Freedom to experiment with friends

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Jesus Revolution
Greg Laurie
Latest Space X Launch

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

The Friendship Recession?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 05:00:00 +1000

The friendship recession appears to be a real thing, but what are the causes of it? Joel, Tim and Ethan chat about the implications of the internet and the digital realm, what can be done about it and how being a Christian changes how we approach it.

00:00 Intro and Ethan's Disney jumper
02:32 Lego Masters
08:24 More connected, but more lonely
22:44 Time and task, proximity matters
26:10 Is there a friendship recession amongst younger people?
36:36 Separating the digital from the actual
48:52 Your phone cannot help you be a disciple of Jesus
55:31 Leaders or friends in children's and youth ministry?
1:03:00 A commitment to doing it together

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Lego Masters
Project Runway
Making the Cut
The friendship recession | Richard Reeves
The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure, by Jonathan Haidt & Greg Lukianoff
Freedom
Pomodoro Technique
Andrew Huberman
Leader or Friend?, by Tim Beilharz
When the Church Was a Family, by Joseph Hellerman

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here: https://linktr.ee/JesusChangesEverything

Reconciliation, a friendship recession, capitalism, communism and the battle of ideas

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 05:00:00 +1000

From discussions around Easter to reconciliation, friendship recession, capitalism, communism and the battle of ideas, the guys discuss how in a world of so much change, there aren't ministry problems, but a plethora of gospel opportunities...

00:00 Intro
01:00 Easter 2023
18:52 Ministry problems, or gospel opportunities?
35:29 Secularism embracing the benefits of religion
47:16 God has created us to be in friendship with each other

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Biblical Critical Theory, by Christopher Watkin
Hospital Creek Massacre
David Perell's 28 Pieces of Life Advice
Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind, by Tom Holland
The Rest is History podcast
Men have fewer friends than ever, and it’s harming their health

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

There's nothing stopping us being friends, Jesus died for us

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 05:30:00 +1000

Ethan comes onto the Shock Absorber with Joel as a guest host. They talk about Slow Horses, dive deep into the impact Jesus has on friendships and church. They finish up with some quick fire reactions to one person's life advice...

00:00 Intro
00:48 Slow Horses is great TV
05:50 Ethan's thoughts on friendship
15:30 Different but we can be friends
21:11 Jesus helps us skip to the friend part
27:33 If we are friends at church, we will be friends everywhere else
31:41 There is nothing stopping us being friends, Jesus died for us
39:49 Flying, hotel bathrooms, religion, hanging out with those older than you

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Slow Horses
The Seven and a Half Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, by Stuart Turton
Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis
David Perell's 28 Pieces of Life Advice

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Do we still want to be friends?

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 07:00:00 +1100

The Shock Absorber is back as Joel, Stu and Tim chat about different things going on in the world, including the what impact ChatGPT and AI will have, Stu challenging the Soul Revival staff team on the church's value of being friends and Vans shoes.

00:00 Intro
01:00 ChatGPT and it's implications
13:47 New technologies bring new ways of living
27:05 Vans culture
30:33 Why challenge the Soul Revival staff?
38:37 Do we still want to be friends?
50:49 What Vans teaches us about the intangibles

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

ChatGPT
A brief history of Vans
Paul van Doren
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Microsoft Encarta
Wikipedia
The Count of Monte Cristo
Ray Kurzweil
This Is the Speed at Which We Are Approaching Singularity in AI
Fake Trump arrest photos: How to spot an AI-generated image
1984, by George Orwell

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Delight in relationships before implementing new systems

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 07:00:00 +1100

We reach the final episode of our Momentum in Ministry series and Joel, Tim and Karen reflect on the many learnings of the season. They look at what engaging in the book Breakout Churches has taught us but also look at their own church and ministry contexts as well as what might prevent momentum taking hold.

The trio's conversation comes down to a few key points: vision is important, as is the strategy, and often churches do not engage in such work because it is hard. But what can emerge from that hard work is something inspiring given by God. Momentum ideally comes from a healthy church and a key way of doing that is to focus on building relationships before establishing new systems and ideas, because Jesus calls us love one another.

01:48 Square One Camp
06:50 A slightly different background
10:20 Why was it important to look at momentum?
15:44 What did Breakout Churches teach us? (Vision, strategy, humble leadership)
26:02 Responding to change and freedom to make a difference
32:49 What could be holding back momentum?
55:55 Institutionalising relationships
1:10:09 Momentum comes from health

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Breakout Churches, by Thom Rainier
Youthworks Square One camp
The Chip Lunch podcast
David Allen's Getting Things Done
Leaked Amazon memo warns the company is running out of people to hire

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email
Shock Absorber Discord
Shock Absorber Website
Soul Revival Shop

Is 'the Big Mo' achievable whilst avoiding the creep of blind erosion and resistance?

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 07:00:00 +1100

Tim, Stu and Joel take time to look at the Big Mo (not moustaches). They chat about the common factors for momentum - being evangelical, leader longevity and prayer, and also what can jeopardise momentum. The conversation then leads to other momentum makers such as making church more than one hour per week, leader vitality and church planting.

"God loves to act through our dependance..."

01:00 Westerns and iconic moustaches
05:55 Ups and downs in decline and/or growth
10:58 What does momentum look like for a leader?
15:37 Factors influencing momentum: longevity
30:03 Factors influencing momentum: being evangelical
36:37 Factors influencing momentum: prayer
44:19 Increased awareness can negate decline
52:21 Make church culture more than one hour a week
1:04:06 Leader vitality
1:09:30 Church planting to re-create momentum

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Breakout Churches, by Thom Rainier
Tombstone
Open Doors

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email
Shock Absorber Discord
Shock Absorber Website
Soul Revival Shop

Innovation requires straddling the line between resistance and non-stop change

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 07:00:00 +1100

Innovation and change is a key part of the church continuing to move forward and grow, just as the Christian life is one of sanctification and growth. From getting congregations on board for change, bringing in change too fast and the impact of facilities and location, the key for churches is to ride the line between resistance and innovation. Ultimately, it must come down to the vision, strategy and practice of the church.

The guys finish up the pod with some encouragement for leaders on how not to get sucked into the innovation trap of trying every new idea and how to develop their ideas for their own particular church context.

"Church isn't sedentary, it's dynamic in it's very nature"

00:00 Intro
01:35 What is innovation?
08:45 Is innovation at church a trap, or a triumph?
13:28 Meat tray presentation
14:47 The innovation spectrum and scenarios
32:00 Innovation in children's ministry
40:31 Innovation in location and architecture
52:29 Discovering God's will amongst change
59:16 Avoiding the innovation trap

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Breakout Churches, by Thom Rainier
Talking Heads
Ramones
BeReal app
Purpose Driven

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email
Shock Absorber Discord
Shock Absorber Website
Soul Revival Shop

Creating a culture of excellence that's theologically and Biblically driven

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 07:00:00 +1100

Stu, Tim and Joel chat about how a culture of excellence differs from a church context to a business or corporate setting as it is Biblically and theologically driven. Jesus' model of leadership provides a framework to determine the expectations and freedom that ministry staff and lay leaders operate within with. This also helps leadership say yes or no to certain ideas so that the church stays true to its vision.

01:35 CULTURAL ARTEFACT: Admiral Nelson
10:16 Why a culture of excellence is attractive
22:04 What is a culture of excellence at church?
30:05 The gospel is what produces excellence
34:15 Freedom v expectations bingo
1:01:14 The not to-do list
1:12:54 Stand well as a leader

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Admiral Nelson
Battle of Trafalgar
Nelson's last diary entry
The Rest is History podcast
Richard Baxter
Dallas Willard
Eugene Peterson
The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill Church
Woodstock '99 documentary
Limp Bizkit
Breakout Churches, by Thom Rainier

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email
Shock Absorber Discord
Shock Absorber Website
Soul Revival Shop

Vision requires passionate leadership, mission and discipleship

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 07:00:00 +1100

The Third Space Studio is opened up again to discuss the importance of vision in ministry. Through the lens of the Vision Intersection Profile from Breakout Churches, the guys discuss how vision comes from working together with what God has given and what he calls people to, which is then backed by a passionate leadership team committed to the people they want to raise up. The guys also touch some reasons that church leaders may feel a lack of passion in their work.

03:40 Footloose and the voice of the youth
14:47 Vision first requires partnership with Jesus
20:07 Vision discovery
27:11 Deciding on ministries to pursue (or not)
35:22 Leadership passion
46:23 How the congregation and community impacts vision
55:25 When it feels like the passion is lost

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Breakout Churches, by Thom Rainier
The Chicago Cubs
Wrigley Field
Footloose
Winston Churchill

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email
Shock Absorber Discord
Shock Absorber Website
Soul Revival Shop

Is ministry a choice between friendship and efficiency?

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 07:00:00 +1000

Stu, Tim and Joel take a look at the structures and the people within the church that can contribute to momentum in ministry. While theological alignment is of utmost importance, another key contributor to momentum is strategy, which is often not discussed and even less articulated amongst churches. When aligned on these values, the leadership and church can be more flexible and ready to change in how they live that out.

After discussing the other key area or people, they then hit upon a key idea: to build momentum in ministry, look first to build momentum in relationships.

01:25 STORY - Soul Revival Church's recent Planning Day
06:53 "Compatibility is as important as competency in leadership"
15:45 Alignment and Theology, Strategy, Practice
21:21 Strategy is difficult but vital
36:24 Doing ministry as friends and small groups
44:51 Defining leadership roles and inviting people to serve
58:42 Build momentum through relationships

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Breakout Churches, by Thom Rainier
Ministry in the Middle Space, by Tim Keller
Shock Absorber Episode with Ian Hussey
Shock Absorber Episode including Third Place Theory
Oldenburg's Third Place Theory
The Trellis and the Vine, by Col Marshall and Tony Payne

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email
Shock Absorber Discord
Shock Absorber Website
Soul Revival Shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to

Is it time for a ministry wake-up call?

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 07:00:00 +1000

Change is hard. And making changes in churches can be hard. Stu, Tim and Joel sit down for another chat around momentum in ministry and look at how static models can lead to crisis moments, upheaval and change. Alternatively, a model that institutionalises change creates an environment for experiments to be had and leads to less of a need for such a crisis moment.

00:52 Cultural Artefact or story: Stu went to a Hoodoo Gurus concert
04:40 Moments of awareness and institutionalising change
21:09 The role of spiritual maturity and growth in change
37:23 Humility it's role in scaling structure
40:21 Building a bridge to a new reality

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Hoodoo Gurus
Miss Freelove '69, by Hoodoo Gurus
Breakout Churches, by Thom Rainier
Good to Great, by Jim Collins
A Bridge Too Far
Operation Market Garden

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email
Shock Absorber Discord
Shock Absorber Website
Soul Revival Shop

Legacy leaders are evangelical, long term, passionate and show unconditional love

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 07:00:00 +1000

In the shadow of the Queen of England's passing, Joel, Tim and Stu discuss her legacy of long term stability as a leader and what we can learn from such a legacy. As Thom Rainier explains in Breakout Churches, legacy leaders among the church are evangelical, long term, passionate and show unconditional love to the people they serve. Stu and Tim's varied experiences of ministry leadership become a great insight into how those gifts and skills develop over time, and the distinct benefits of leading from a position that is long term and relational.

00:00 Intro
01:15 What The Queen's stability teaches us
11:42 Longevity of leadership and stability
16:47 Legacy leaders
21:25 Maintaining longevity in church leadership and developing passion for ministry
32:27 Self-reflection in leadership
36:41 The characteristics of legacy leadership

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

10 Surprising Things the Queen Said About Jesus
Queen Elizabeth II
September 11 attacks
Breakout Churches, by Thom Rainier
Thom Rainier's six levels of leadership
John Piper
Steve Jobs
Tim Hawkins
Craig Bellamy
New England Patriots

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email
Shock Absorber Discord
Shock Absorber Website
Soul Revival Shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here: https://linktr.ee/JesusChangesEverything

What types of growth are actually healthy for a church?

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 05 Sep 2022 07:00:00 +1000

Karen and Tim are in the Third Space Studio with Joel to continue discussing Momentum in Ministry. The term growth is inevitably linked to momentum. They look at the different types of growth and the key markers associated with it, including long term leadership and self-reflection.

They also work through the danger of only applying business principles when determining how to grow, which can sometimes lead to the squandering of the talents and gifts God has blessed us with. All in all, it is vital to focus on partnering with Jesus as he builds his church.

01:55 A brief recap of the growth at Soul Revival Church
07:07 Church planting is a great teacher
11:14 Why even talk about momentum and growth? Is it just about numbers?
22:26 What does unhealthy growth look like?
25:35 Breakout Churches by Thom Rainier
32:56 Longevity in leadership but also self-reflection
44:08 The danger of only applying business principles in churches
54:00 Mistaking efficiency for servant-heartedness

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

2021 Census shows changes in Australia’s religious diversity
Pastor Rick Warren's final Saddleback Church sermon is a lot like his first one in 1980
Breakout Churches: Discover How to Make the Leap, by Thom Rainier
Good to Great, by Jim Collins

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here: https://linktr.ee/JesusChangesEverything

Is ministry on the decline?

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 07:00:00 +1000

Stu, Joel and special guest Ethan are here to kick off the latest season of the Shock Absorber - Momentum in Ministry. They discuss how to identify if a ministry has plateaued or is even in decline, what to we can do to encourage fresh ideas, and ways to look out for institutionalisation. Also is Huckleberry Finn an accurate picture of what church is like these days?

01:29 Cultural Artefact: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
06:10 Are statistics showing Christianity is in decline or just reflecting reality?
11:05 What can ministry plateau look like?
20:03 Examples of institutionalisation and plateauing
33:59 How to prevent institutionalisation and promote fresh ideas
39:40 Kick-starting momentum in ministry

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

2021 Census shows changes in Australia’s religious diversity
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
What is a puncheon floor?
The Coming Revolution in Youth Ministry, by Mark Senter III
Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens
Industrial Revolution
Robert Raikes
First Sunday School in Australia
Max Weber
Discord
Century Egg
The Salvation Army
The Innovator's Dilemma, by Clayton Christensen
Space X

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here

250 people go away for a whole week?

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 07:00:00 +1000

The Shock Absorber is back with a bonus episode on a Soul Revival institution - Week Away. What started as a holiday amongst Christian friends grew into slightly edgy, counter-cultural move against church being watered down to just one hour a week. 25 years on, Soul Revival Church's Week Away sees 250+ people go away to spend five days in God's word and with each other. Stu and Joel chat about memories of Week Away, it's meaning and why it's such a pivotal moment in Soul Revival's yearly calendar.

01:53 Memories of Week Away
04:52 Week Away 2022 and village life
12:51 How do you get so many people to go away together?
16:51 The beginnings of Week Away and it's influence
28:41 Difference between Week Away as a church and as a youth community
31:29 How Week Away fits within the Shock Absorber

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Youthworks Conference Centres

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here: https://linktr.ee/JesusChangesEverything

Season 6 Update

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 08:00:00 +1000

Joel gives a quick update on where the Shock Absorber is headed next.

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to here: https://linktr.ee/JesusChangesEverything

So what did happen to evangelism?

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 07:00:00 +1000

Tim and Joel close out the final episode of our season Whatever Happened to Evangelism? From Jesus' command in Mark 1:15 and touring through history, we gained an understanding of what has shaped evangelism up until today. Christianity is always going to be questioned but we can allow God to help us express a genuine faith and research reveals that people are more open to a conversation about Jesus than we may initially think. Tim and Joel then finish with what they've been encouraged by this season.

00:00 Intro
02:38 Cultural Artefact: Tim's experience of confident Christianity
13:55 Did we find out what happened to evangelism?
23:44 Christianity is seen by some as dangerous
34:29 Are people actually more open to a conversation than we think?
58:10 Genuine faith is attractive
1:10:08 What we've learnt this season

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Paddington Bear joins the Queen for afternoon tea at Buckingham Palace
The Bebbington quadrilateral
Does Religion Cause All Wars? episode
Bullies and Saints, by John Dickson
Tom Holland
Faith and Belief in Australia report, by McCrindle
Episode with Timothy Paul Jones
Where Did All the Evangelism Conferences Go?, by Ed Stetzer
Evangelism Explosion

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Check out what else Soul Revival is up to

Confident Christians

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 07:00:00 +1000

This year, 2022, marks the 30-year anniversary since the inception of Soul Revival. The guys take a look over what's been learnt over the years to help Christians be humbly confident and as a result, continue to evangelise. This includes semiotics, giving your best night to God and spending time with one another, building relationships around Jesus.

01:29 Cultural Artefact: Soul Revival Semiotics
19:15 Using different tools to evangelise
29:16 Our distinctiveness as Christians
41:45 What are we making important?
57:07 Discipleship and mission starts the local church
1:15:11 Building relationship with other churches

Watch this episode on YouTube

Soul Revival Shop

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Studio Q interview with The Hives
Hard Quiz
Point Break
The Black Panther Party
Hegemony
Chip Lunch Crossover episode
Cronulla Riots

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email
Shock Absorber Discord
Shock Absorber Website
Soul Revival Shop

Does religion cause all wars?

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 07:00:00 +1000

A trope that's often thrown at Christians since 9/11 is that religion causes all wars. Stu, Tim and Joel are in the Third Space Studio to examine the oft-raised comment and contend that a deeper dive into statistics and world history paints a different picture. They delve into where such arguments come from, how Christians can approach it and how to hold onto the evangelical line when doing so.

2:05 Cultural Artefact: Hacksaw Ridge
9:50 War is not glorious but intriguing
14:28 New atheism, 9/11 and post-Christianity
25:03 Adopting the right posture
33:53 Where does the argument come from?
52:27 Holding the evangelical line within the discussion
1:00:55 Final thoughts

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Henry V speech Stu was showing before the episode
Hacksaw Ridge
World War Two channel
The End of History and the Last Man, by Francis Fukayama
Is Religion the Cause of Most Wars?, by Rabbi Alan Lurie
Encyclopedia of Wars, by Charles Phillips and Alan Axelrod
God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, by Christopher Hitchens
Richard Dawkins loses ‘humanist of the year’ title over trans comments
Thirty Years War
Rene Descartes
Did Descartes Sleep in an Oven?
The French Revolution
Does Religion Cause Violence?, by John Dickson
The Myth of Religious Violence, by Karen Armstrong
US switching from biblical American Revolution values to secular French Revolution ones, by Os Guinness
The Magna Carta of Humanity: Sinai's Revolutionary Faith and the Future of Freedom, by Os Guinness

CONTACT US

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

No wonder people don't want to share their faith...

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 07:00:00 +1000

The Shock Absorber takes it's tour of history all the way up to the present as we continue to discuss evangelism. Some Christians are perplexed on how to evangelise among a culture that continues to look as if we disagree more than ever. After looking at culture wars, the battle of ideas and Donald Trump; Stu, Tim and Joel settle on one thing: Let's preach the gospel and have a conversation centred around faith based on Jesus, then we can all have different opinions and still gather together regardless.

Apologies for the bad audio for Tim at the end of the podcast. We had a problem with a microphone lead!

01:35 Cultural Artefact - George Floyd Protests
10:05 Culture wars or a battle of ideas?
26:30 Donald Trump: Christians for or against?
46:06 Seeing things the way God does
58:32 When we aren't afraid of dying, we aren't afraid of living

Watch this episode on YouTube

JUMP ON THE DISCORD CHAT ON FRIDAY 10 JUNE, 1.00 PM AEST: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

George Floyd protests
Winston Churchill
Robert Baden-Powell
Robert Baden-Powell statue: Scouts founder monument given 24-hour protection as temporary removal is delayed
The Sacred Canopy, by Peter Berger
Alain Touraine
The 'teal bath' of independents heading to Parliament
Donald Trump
Donald Trump in Home Alone 2
Ryan Burge
Bebbington Quadrilateral
Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Ben Uniquely Stupid, by Jonathan Haidt
Mark Sayers
Breaking Points
The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution, by Carl R. Trueman
Episode with Timothy Paul Jones
The Sermon on the Mount

-----------------------------------------------------------

Shock Absorber Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Shock Absorber Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE
Shock Absorber Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

The changing nature of apologetics (with Timothy Paul Jones)

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 23 May 2022 07:00:00 +1000

The Shock Absorber welcomes Timothy Paul Jones onto the podcast! TPJ's presence inspires a wide-ranging discussion about the evangelical lines, the current state of evangelism, family ministry, apologetics and how it's often more about the morals rather than the miracles when discussing Jesus with non-believers.

01:47 Meet TPJ and Cultural Artefact - Skillet
11:38 The lines of evangelicalism and the current moment
28:34 TPJ's Fundamentalist church experience and the difficulty of bundling
34:43 The state of evangelism, challenging others and creating conversations
50:55 Embracing difference + family ministry
1:05:03 Navigating different cultural contexts while preaching

Watch this episode on YouTube

You can listen to the Apologetics Podcast here

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Timothy Paul Jones
The Apologetics Podcast
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Sojourn Church - Midtown
Skillet
Wage War
Rose Tattoo
Carl F. H. Henry
On Christian Doctrine: De Doctrina Christiana, by Augustine
Backmasking
Roe v Wade
Research on evangelism by Barna:
Almost Half of Practicing Christians Milennials Say Evangelism is Wrong
Sharing Faith is Increasingly Optional to Christians
Is Evangelism Going Out of Style?
Most Open to Spiritual Conversations, Few Christians Speaking
Charles Taylor
Juneteenth

CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE
Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Wrestling to keep the evangelical line

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 16 May 2022 07:00:00 +1000

Tim returns to the studio as the Shock Absorber discusses the 2010s and it's impact on evangelism. Following on from the three lines of Christian evangelicalism that emerged following the Scopes Trial in the 1920s, the 2010s saw the further splintering of both the fundamentalist and modernist/liberal strands. This leads to a discussion about how to hold on to the evangelical line, wrestling with what God wants us to do and testing new ideas against Scripture.

01:15 Cultural Artefact - Party in the U.S.A. by Miley Cyrus
11:24 The paths of Christian evangelicalism
20:03 Progressive Christianity and bundling
40:11 Wrestling for the evangelical line
1:09:08 The Tea Party

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Party in the U.S.A., by Miley Cyrus
Roe v Wade
Scopes Trial
Anglicans Bishops block marriage statement at Synod
Alain Touraine
Deconstruction
John Stott
J.I. Packer
Gun buy back program
Australian Christian Lobby
New Atheism
Rob Bell
Bullhorn Guy
N.T. Wright
Stephen Fry's "How Dare You"
The Tea Party Movement
CNBC's Rick Santelli's Chicago Tea Party

iPhone evangelism

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 09 May 2022 07:00:00 +1000

Stu and Joel continue to tour through the 2000s and look at how Christians evangelise. The 9/11 attacks signalled the beginning of a new era as the internet came into prominence. As a result, culture changes continued to accelerate and further pluralise an already pluralistic culture. This brought debate about religious extremism, atheism and inevitable changes (and responses) among Christians and the church.

01:42 Cultural Artefact - The internet's impact, especially football
06:30 The iPhone
10:44 The church responds to culture shifts post-9/11
24:06 Pluralism results in a pluralistic approach
28:11 The results of the new expressions of church
35:00 The New Atheists

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Liverpool F.C.
UEFA Champions League
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
The iPhone
Apple Newton
The Dark Knight
Heath Ledger
Alan Hirsch
Mars Hill Church
This Cultural Moment podcast
Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry, by Andrew Root
Liberation theology
Universalism
Mark Sayers
The Coming Revolution in Youth Ministry, by Mark Senter III
Sam Harris
Richard Dawkins
The God Delusion, by Richard Dawkins
Christopher Hitchens
God is Not Great, by Christopher Hitchens
Daniel Dennett
MySpace
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Snapchat
TikTok
Islamic extremism
9/11 attacks
Lindt cafe seige
2005 London Underground bombings
Flying Spaghetti Monster and Pastafarians

CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE
Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Is this the death of evangelism?

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 02 May 2022 07:00:00 +1000

Tim returns with Joel and Stu to examine the late nineties and early-2000s. The speed of change within culture continued to speed up and the challenge, as always was for the church to keep up. They look at different reactions to those changes including the immersive evangelical counter-culture, Christian schools, the ministries of Rick Warren and Bill Hybels and the shift towards a different version of political engagement.

02:07 Cultural Artefact - Veggie Tales, DC Talk & Newsboys
07:33 Tim's experience and the events of 1990s
16:29 The Christian Right
18:36 Culture changes accelerating & reacting to youth
31:56 Influence of Rick Warren & Bill Hybels
46:15 The Evangelical Subculture

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Jesus Freak, by DC Talk
Breakfast, by Newsboys
Veggie Tales
Columbine High School Massacre
Marilyn Manson
9/11 attacks
Concept of the End of History
The Nineties: A Book, by Chuck Klosterman
Port Arthur Massacre
George W. Bush
D. James Kennedy
Netscape Navigator
Tool
Pantera
Blink-182
Green Day
Living End
MxPx
Moshing
The Purpose Drive Life, by Rick Warren
Rick Warren
Saddleback Church
Bill Hybels
Willow Creek Community Church
Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency
5Ms model of ministry
Watergate scandal
How America’s youth lost its religion in 1990s
The Spirit of Generation Y: Young People's Spirituality in a Changing Australia

CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE
Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Gen X and the surprising evangelical awakening

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 07:00:00 +1000

It's time to delve into one of Stu's favourite eras: the nineties! Joel and Stu walk through experiences of the time and how many people found hope and meaning when you were supposed to not care and never sell out. They also continue to trace the evangelical line and how it lead to fresh ministry ideas such as the incarnational approach and the youth ministry discussions. While skateboarding and grunge music defined a generation, the priority was still to never sell out the gospel.

01:17 Cultural Artefact - Skateboards
05:25 The 1990s
17:36 Tracing the evangelical line
30:43 Ministry ideas of 1990s and inviting a response
44:44 Are fresh ideas a marker of an evangelical?
54:40 Youth Ministry discussions in 1990s and not selling out the gospel

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Episode with Andy Stephenson
Dogtown and Z-Boys
Time's Preceding with Caution article
Kurt Cobain
Penny Loafer
The Nineties: A Book, by Chuck Klosterman
Seinfeld
Friends
Tall Poppy Syndrome
Generation X
Grunge music
Christian Coalition of America
Clinton–Lewinsky scandal
Scopes Monkey Trial
Losing My Religion, by R.E.M.
Spice Girls
The Coming Revolution in Youth Ministry, by Mark Senter
Pantera

CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE
Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Can I still call myself an evangelical?

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 07:00:00 +1000

Tim, Stu and Joel are finally back in the Third Space Studio, from the Moral Majority, to Monty Python, from John Chapman to John Wimber, they continue to discuss history, culture and it's influence on how we evangelise today. They further delve into the difference between an evangelical and fundamentalist and why it may be unhelpful to hold so strongly to such labels. We also answer a thought provoking question from Andrew around such labels.

02:08 Cultural Artefact - The Great Evangelical Disaster, by Francis Schaeffer
08:06 Defining evangelical/fundamentalist and the end of the Moral Majority
24:38 Unbundling Christian morality from political agendas
28:50 Christians coming to terms with changes in culture
31:05 Australian evangelicals and music
50:01 QUESTION from Andrew

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Affogato
Francis Schaeffer
The Great Evangelical Disaster, by Francis Schaeffer
L'Abri
Jerry Falwell
Life of Brian
Fred Nile
The Book of Mormon (musical)
Monty Python
John Chapman
Phillip Jensen
Two Ways to Live
Ministry Training Strategy
Peter Jensen
John Wimber

CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE
Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Chip Lunch Crossover: Evangelising to Gen Z

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 07:00:00 +1000

We're still being affected by some of our hosts being stuck in COVID isolation, but we didn't want to leave you hanging! We're merging the Shock Absorber and the Chip Lunch podcasts for one time only! Join an intergenerational cast of Tim, Ethan and Hudson as they discuss evangelism and Generation Z.

04:18 Why the crossover?
08:34 Chatting evangelism with Hudson
23:40 Generation Z statistics
53:04 Inviting a response
1:02:14 Which generation is which?

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Zebra Hotel in Masaka, Uganda
Chip Lunch with Jabish
Australia's Generation Z Study
The Religious Life of Gen Z

CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE
Website: shockabsorber.com.au
Soul Revival Shop: soulrevival.shop

Season 5 Update

Soul Revival Church — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 07:00:00 +1000

SORRY GUYS! No Shock Absorber episode this week. Joel fills you in on why...

CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE
Website: shockabsorber.com.au

Are all evangelicals Fundamentalists?

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 06:00:00 +1100

Tim, Stu and Joel were able to reconvene in the Third Space Studio and continue the discussion on the evangelical line through history, in particular the rise of Christian fundamentalism from the 1960s to the 1980s and how it set the stage for how we evangelise today.

That's not bad audio you can hear either, just the heavy rain on the roof of Soul Revival Church!

01:20 We're Not Gonna Take It, by Twisted Sister
14:36 How the '60s set the stage
26:34 Where the Jesus Movement fit within American culture and the Homogeneous Unit Principle
32:48 Christians being politically active
34:12 The leftovers from Christendom within America
39:13 1970s and Christian countries
45:30 Evangelism and fundamentalism
49:09 Prioritising Jesus over political engagement
56:55 Francis Schaeffer

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Rock Censorship: Big Brother Meets Twisted Sister
Parents Music Resource Center
MTV
PMRC’s ‘Filthy 15’: Where Are They Now?
Twisted Sister
Dee Snider
Dee Snider's PMRC Senate Hearing Speech
Unit, by Regurgitator
TIME's Is God Dead? at 50
The Great American Novel, by Larry Norman
Roe v Wade
Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson speaks about faith
Jerry Falwell
Rage Against The Machine Protest “PMRC” Naked On Stage
Roman Exposure of Infants

CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE
Website: shockabsorber.com.au

The evangelical line throughout history

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 06:00:00 +1100

Joel and Stu continue their tour throughout history and evangelism, with a particular focus on the 1950s. By looking at the legacy of famous evangelicals of time such as Billy Graham, John Stott, J.I. Packer and others bolster the argument that evangelicals, who make Jesus and the gospel their main focus, hold a continuous line throughout history from Christendom onwards.

We also answer a question from Leonie, sent in via our Discord server.

01:31 Story/Cultural Artefact - Stu went to the Billy Graham Crusade at Randwick Racecourse
10:06 The through line of evangelicalism
24:58 When the fundamentalists became more politically active
31:15 Billy Graham's legacy
44:15 John Stott's legacy
49:52 Jim Rayburn, Josh McDowell, J.I. Packer
56:40 QUESTION from Leonie

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The day Billy Graham transfixed a massive MCG crowd
Billy Graham crusade in Sydney
Navigators
The Crusader Union of Australia
George Marsden (historian)
Moving beyond the shock absorber: The place of youth ministry—past, present and future, by Stuart Crawshaw
Billy Graham
Amsterdam 2000 Called the Most Multinational Event Ever
John Stott
The 2005 TIME 100
Jim Rayburn
Josh McDowell
J.I. Packer
Knowing God, by J.I. Packer

CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE
Website: shockabsorber.com.au

Evangelism in Children’s Ministry (w/Jenn Phillips)

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 06:00:00 +1100

We continue to take a break from looking at evangelism throughout church history for Joel and Tim to speak to another one of our friends! Jenn Phillips is Children's Minister at Jannali Anglican Church and joins the discussion around evangelising to children - why it's important and why it should be a priority for all churches.

04:07 Cultural Artefact - EzyDVD website
12:34 Are we uncomfortable with evangelism?
19:31 Talking to children about evangelism
28:48 What are children noticing?
34:42 The family is formative and making children's ministry a priority
48:14 Practical steps and intergenerational ministry
1:05:33 Standing before Christ at the end

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Jannali Anglican Church
Youthworks
EzyDVD website
Compact Discs
DVDs
Teaching My Children to Hate Me, by Tim Beilharz
How To Talk About Jesus, by Sam Chan
Episode on Evangelism in Youth Ministry w/Andy Stevenson

CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE
Website: shockabsorber.com.au

Evangelism in Youth Ministry (w/Andy Stevenson)

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 09:08:07 +1100

We're taking a break from looking at evangelism throughout church history for Joel and Tim to have chat to Andy Stevenson, Head of Ministry Support Team at Youthworks. With Andy's vast experience in youth ministry, that's what we focus on. We hear about why how the youth ministry thinkers shaped how Andy does ministry, why he feels it's currently a lot harder to evangelise, but also why what is offered in Jesus is appealing to young people.

08:26 Cultural Artefact - Andy's youth ministry story of late night rock climbing
13:08 The state of evangelism in youth ministry
28:34 Listening to young people
34:10 Andy's ministry and the impact of the youth ministry thinkers
49:51 Principles of youth ministry
55:06 Youth ministry has become harder
1:04:48 There are cultural issues, but no need to be fearful
1:15:32 Looking to the future

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Research on evangelism by Barna:
Almost Half of Practicing Christian Millennials Say Evangelism Is Wrong
Sharing Faith Is Increasingly Optional to Christians
Is Evangelism Going Out of Style?
The Stats behind “Re-thinking Evangelism”

Episode with Dave Lovell from Christian Surfers

Youthworks
The Effective Ministry Podcast

CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE
Website: shockabsorber.com.au

Evangelism in the Industrial Age

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 06:00:00 +1100

Stu, Tim and Joel are back in the Third Space Studio to continue their tour through church history. Looking at the time from the Industrial Revolution, to Darwinism and the emergence of Communism, up to the Scopes Monkey Trial, where the battle between modernism vs fundamentalism emerged, there are some key lessons to learn from evangelicals and revivalists who lived through that time.

01:20 Cultural Artefact - The Scopes Monkey Trial
12:34 The impact of the Industrial Revolution
26:30 The importance of prayer
39:21 The path to Modernism and it's impact on the church
48:45 Fundamentalism, modernism and evangelicalism
56:30 How do the evangelicals inspire us?

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Scopes Monkey Trial
Industrial Revolution
Robert Raikes
Sunday School movement
Barnardos
William Gladstone
Salvation Army
Temperance movement
William Wilberforce
John Newtown
Abolition movement
Karl Marx
Friedrich Engels
Adam Smith
The Laymen's Revival
Jeremiah Lanphier
The Ulster Revival
The Communist Manifesto
Max Weber
Charles Darwin
On the Origin of Species
Sigmund Freud

CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE
Website: shockabsorber.com.au

Revival in the Age of Reason

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 06:00:00 +1100

We're back in the Third Space Studio to continue our trip through history and how evangelism has developed. This time we're concentrating on the 1600s to the 1700s, as the Western world departs from Christendom following the Reformation into the new Age of Reason.

The events of that time impact on how we evangelise today. Science and technology became far more influential on people's thoughts as the authority of the church and the Bible are called into question. But as Christianity is put on trial, obedience to God and His Holy Spirit, leads to a number of revivals and a return to the importance of personal faith.

01:21 Cultural Artefact - Benjamin Franklin in Church History in Plain Language, by Bruce Shelley
13:36 The rise of reason and de-mythologising the natural world
21:15 Christianity on trial and from sectarianism to denominationalism
30:09 The Great Awakening and individual conversion
56:59 Trial brings revival
1:00:14 Evangelism is a spiritual endeavour

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Church History in Plain Language, by Bruce Shelley

Research on evangelism by Barna:
Millennials Oppose Evangelism
Sharing Faith Increasingly Optional to Christians
Is Evangelism Going Out of Style?
The Stats Behind Re-thinking Evangelism

Nicolaus Copernicus
Johannes Kepler
Galileo Galilei
Isaac Newton
The Thunderstorm that Changed Martin Luther's Life

The Great Awakening
Jonathan Edwards
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, Jonathan Edwards
John Wesley
George Whitefield

Bebbington's Quadrilateral
The Spirit of Gen Y

CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE
Website: https://www.shockabsorber.com.au

Evangelism throughout history

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 06:00:00 +1100

Stu, Tim and Joel return to the Third Space Studio to look over the history of evangelism since Jesus' command in Acts to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth.

01:38 Some books and the Cultural Artefact: Acts 1:8
09:38 Individual conversions have lead to social change
15:20 Recognising our sinfulness in evangelism
18:41 Christendom
21:48 The Crusades
24:41 The Reformation
32:55 The Enlightenment's impact on evangelism
40:48 Self-conscious evangelism

Watch this episode on YouTube

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. - Acts 1:8

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Bullies and Saints, by John Dickson
Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind, by Tom Holland
Protestant Christianity is booming in China

CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE
Website: https://www.shockabsorber.com.au

Why don’t you look into Jesus?

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +1100

Stu rejoins Tim and Joel in the Third Space Studio to continue the discussion on evangelism. We get Stu's perspective on evangelism but also that evangelism isn't just telling someone about Jesus, it's about asking for a response to Him. That leads to a further question: are we willing to lose friends for Jesus?

02:42 Cultural Artefact: Why Don't You Look Into Jesus by Larry Norman
08:08 What is the good news? Defining evangelism again
12:30 The gift of bold evangelism
22:11 Losing friends for Jesus
24:47 How has evangelism changed over the years?
35:51 The evangelistic archetype
40:52 Letting love lead our evangelism
50:12 Unlearning stereotypes. It's part of who you are as a Christian
55:28 QUESTION from Leonie on expectations and loving each other

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Why Don't You Look Into Jesus?, by Larry Norman
The day Billy Graham transfixed a massive MCG crowd
Richard Dawkins

CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE
Website: https://www.shockabsorber.com.au

Whatever happened to evangelism?

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 06:00:00 +1100

The new season begins! Tim and Joel begin to explore why evangelism may be on the wane. Is it cultural, is it Christians, is it us? We are ready to dive in...

02:02 Cultural Artefact: Jesus Beads
13:34 Defining evangelism and its transformative effect
20:36 The age we define our identity is ripe for evangelism
23:56 Who is an evangelist?
37:53 The problem with evangelism
50:19 The time to have real discussions and build relationships
55:46 Encouraging churches to be evangelistic

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Research on evangelism by Barna:
https://www.barna.com/research/millennials-oppose-evangelism/
https://www.barna.com/research/sharing-faith-increasingly-optional-christians/
https://www.barna.com/research/is-evangelism-going-out-of-style/
https://tellingthegospel.com/2021/05/21/the-stats-behind-re-thinking-evangelism/

Joe Rogan's influence on media
Taylor Swift, Egalitarianism and Anti-Institutionalism

CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE
Website: shockabsorber.com.au

Season 5 Trailer | Whatever happened to evangelism?

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 09:26:27 +1100

Joel jumps on to let you know what's in store for 2022 and the latest season on the Shock Absorber!

2021 Shock Absorber Conference | Implementing the Shock Absorber

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 06:00:00 +1100

Across the Christmas break we'll be bringing you content from the Shock Absorber Conference held on 30 October 2021. In the third session Planting Pastor at Soul Revival Church Jai rejoins Joel and Stu to discuss implementing the Shock Absorber principles in various contexts. The conference is capped off with a final Q&A section.

2021 Shock Absorber Conference | Service Team Spotlight: Hospitality

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 06:00:00 +1100

Across the Christmas break we'll be bringing you content from the Shock Absorber Conference held on 30 October 2021. In this second session Paul, Stu and Joel discuss our Hospitality service team and implementing meal across all our gatherings, followed by a Q&A section.

2021 Shock Absorber Conference | Keynote Address by Stuart Crawshaw

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 06:00:00 +1100

Across the Christmas break we'll be bringing you content from the Shock Absorber Conference held on 30 October 2021. The first session is the keynote address from Stuart Crawshaw as he introduces the day and the main concepts of the Shock Absorber approach, followed by a Q&A section with Joel, Jai and Stu.

Are The Chats saying everything has to be laugh?

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 07:30:00 +1100

Joel, Stu and Tim take a look at The Chats, a "shed rock" band that reveal recall quintessential elements of Australian culture such as drinking, gambling, mullets and pub music. The guys talk about how we can remain quintessentially and confidently Christian
while also engaging in the culture with fun and frivolity.

01:10 Who are The Chats?
02:36 Cultural Artefact: Pub Feed, by The Chats
06:19 The uniqueness of Australian culture
12:15 Australian culture and recalling tradition
18:21 The impact of punk music
30:49 How does the church respond to what The Chats highlight?
56:38 How our church gatherings can be more missional
1:03:32 Confident Christians

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Castle
Kath & Kim
AC/DC in America
INXS in America
The Angels
Friday on My Mind, by The Easybeats
Vanda and Young
Smoko, by The Chats
Paul Hogan
Radio Birdman
Know Your Product, by The Saints
The Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols on the River Thames
The Clash
CBGB (New York music club)
American Idiot, by Green Day
Pretty Fly for a White Guy, The Offspring
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life), by Green Day
Teenage Politics, by MXPX
I Hope Scott's House Burns Down, by Eamon Sandwith
Keep The Grubs Out, by The Chats
The Spirit of Generation Y, by Mason, Singleton & Webber
Brown Cardigan
The Inspired Unemployed
Gambling in Australia
The Shock Absorber with Michael Duckett
Democracy manifest and eating a succulent Chinese meal

CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE
Website: https://www.shockabsorber.com.au

Tame Impala and the issue of loneliness

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 10:35:43 +1100

Brayden and Ethan join Joel in a shift to discussing Australian artists and their reflections on our culture. Tame Impala brings up the loneliness epidemic facing Australia today. How can the church respond to this issue?

02:29 Who is Tame Impala and their impact on Australian music
12:44 Loneliness and isolation
22:01 The solutions to loneliness
27:04 God has the solution and the hope He provides
31:11 The practicality of listening and God's control
37:27 Apathy and how Jesus can enact change

Watch this episode on YouTube

--------------------------------

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Ian Hussey
Who is Daniel Johns podcast
Silverchair
AIHW study on loneliness
Chip Lunch episode with Brad
Jonathan Haidt and self harm statistics
The Coddling of the American Mind, by Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff
On Death, by Timothy Keller
Shock Absorber episode with Michael Duckett
Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis

CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE
Website: shockabsorber.com.au

Ian Hussey from Malyon Theological College

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 13 Dec 2021 11:55:32 +1100

This season we've discussed Ian Hussey's work through some of the most influential artists of the 2010s. In this episode, we're delighted to have the man himself on the podcast to discuss his work, Australian culture and how to embrace or critique culture.

01:35 Introducing Ian Hussey
06:12 Contextualising the Bible and the reason for Describing Australians
09:26 Environment: mastery or nurture?
16:48 Social organisation: individualist or collectivist?
22:57 Power distribution: hierarchal or egalitarian?
31:31 Rule orientation: rules or relationships?
37:18 Time orientation: monochronic or polychronic?
47:04 How Christians can embrace or critique culture
1:02:24 What Australian culture can learn from others
1:07:22 Discussion around the Homogenous Unit Principle
1:15:47 What can't be learnt within intergenerational ministry
1:24:10 Wealth and consumerism and discussing such issues
1:31:48 The duality of culture and the influence of the internet
1:36:14 What is our stance towards culture?

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Ian Hussey
The Blitz
Chaser's War on Everything breaches APEC security
Rebuilders podcast with Mark Sayers
Stephen McAlpine

CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/sxStMqnp
Website: shockabsorber.com.au

Kanye West, materialism, wealth and mental health

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 10:45:00 +1100

Joel, Stu and Tim continue to review the culture of 2010s and 2020s, this time through the lens of Kanye West (now known as Ye). They explore if Christians should embrace or critique the ideas Kanye raises through his music of power, consumerism, wealth, materialism and mental health while also being wary of syncretising culture. There is always though, the unchanging nature of God and how He helps us to have conversations around such prevalent issues.

03:24 Cultural Artefact: Kanye's Sunday Service Choir
06:16 Background on Kanye West
15:07 Displays of power and anti-institutionalism
19:42 Being wary of syncretising culture
23:48 Kanye's shifts with culture and mental health
29:15 Kanye's Christianity
36:25 How consumerism plays out in Australian society
41:39 How do we have conversations about such issues?
1:00:03 God remains the same

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Polyphonic channel
How Kanye West Shaped the 2010s, by Polyphonic
What is Kanye West's Sunday Service?
Kanye interrupts Taylor Swift at 2009 MTV VMAs
The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill
Ian Hussey
Don't Waste Your Life, by John Piper
Australia II wins America's Cup
Psalm 73
John D. Rockefeller

CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/pv5bQgbs
Website: shockabsorber.com.au

Michael Duckett from Macarthur Indigenous Church

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 10:54:17 +1100

Joel and Stu sit down for a deep and challenging discussion with Michael Duckett, Pastor of Macarthur Indigenous Church. Michael's wisdom, faith and leadership around Indigenous issues is invaluable. We learn that words are cheap when not backed up by action, what churches can be doing and that only true reconciliation can happen through the redemptive cross of Christ.

01:29 Michael's ministry
05:30 Michael's testimony
08:54 How Soul Revival and Macarthur Indigenous Ministry connected
14:05 Michael's painting
19:15 What Indigenous people have experienced
23:59 What progress looks like
29:58 Recognising the past and what the church can do
39:00 The Stolen Generation and its impact
43:50 The differences in cultural mindset and community
54:21 Getting our answers from Jesus
1:05:55 How can we move forward together

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Michael's message about Australia Day
The killing times: the massacres of Aboriginal people Australia must confront

CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/FP2cbBSr
Website: shockabsorber.com.au

Kendrick Lamar & speaking the Gospel to multicultural Australia

Soul Revival Church — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 09:31:18 +1100

Kendrick Lamar is a highly influential artist in recent times, capturing significant parts of culture and expressing them via his musical talent. Tim, Stu and Joel look at Kendrick's observations and talk about how we the church can respond to issues such as race relations and speak the gospel to multicultural Australia.

01:17 The world continues to change
09:20 Cultural Artefact - To Pimp A Butterfly
25:24 Kendrick's background
27:20 Multiculturalism in Australia
36:08 The church's response to issues around race
47:01 Response to is The Bible Racist? article
53:19 Kendrick's faith, an environment of listening and catechisms of the world
1:03:50 QUESTION from Michael

Watch this episode on YouTube

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

David Bowie episode
Taylor Swift episode
Beyonce episode
How Kendrick Lamar Shaped the 2010s, by Polyphonic
To Pimp A Butterfly album cover
Control ft. Kendrick Lamar & Jay Electronica, by Big Sean
Ian Hussey
DNA, by Kendrick Lamar
Is the Bible racist? from The Bible Society
Alright, by Kendrick Lamar

CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/FP2cbBSr
Website: shockabsorber.com.au

Beyonce, empowerment and post-modern pluralism

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 12:00:00 +1100

Teaching Pastor at Soul Revival Church, Karen, joins Joel and Stu to continue looking at ministering in 2010s and 2020s. Seminal artist Beyonce provides the frame of reference in discussing certain social issues that she aligns with. For Christians, the challenge is to provide a space where cultural issues can be discussed and whether we should embrace or critique them. In answering a question from Callan, we see that the Shock Absorber provides an ongoing, long-term, low key and relational approach to developing a higher level of discipleship.

02:06 Cultural Artefact - Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It), by Beyonce
05:35 Beyonce background and discography
10:21 The three stages of Beyonce's career and her self-discovery
18:22 Beyonce's influence on 2010s
25:39 Control of the narrative and the BeyHive
35:29 Beyonce's identity and her alignment with social movements
51:47 Critiquing and embracing culture - post-modernism and pluralism
59:42 Providing a space to discuss cultural issues and bringing the Bible to bear
1:08:13 Question from Callan about discussing culture
1:17:55 Christianity isn't cultural, it's counter-cultural

Watch this episode on YouTube

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DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It), by Beyonce
Polyphonic channel
How Beyoncé Shaped the 2010s, by Polyphonic
Crazy in Love ft. JAY Z, by Beyonce
03' Bonnie & Clyde ft. Beyonce, by JAY Z
Run the World (Girls), by Beyonce
Don't Hurt Yourself ft. Jack White, by Beyonce
Homecoming on Netflix
Diana: The Musical on Netflix
Inside the BeyHive
Beyonce performance at Super Bowl L
If I Were A Boy, by Beyonce
I Have A Dream, by Dr Martin Luther King Jr
Malcolm X speech on police brutality
The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense
The Top 100 Beyoncé Songs, Ranked
Ian Hussey
Love on Top, by Beyonce
Party ft. J. Cole, by Beyonce
Royal Commission in Aboriginal Deaths in Custody

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CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/Vb6g4JzD
Website: shockabsorber.com.au

Taylor Swift, egalitarianism and anti-institutionalism

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 07:30:00 +1100

Stu, Tim and Joel continue to look at ministering in the world that we live in through the lens of the most influential artists of the time, in particular, Taylor Swift.

Taylor's actions, impact and influence throughout the 2010s and 2020s give further credence to the idea of how social movements have caused ideas to replace economics in the structure of society. The church's response to these shifts, such as the myth of egalitarianism, the place of consumerism and wealth in society and anti-institutionalism depends on how we engage and/or embrace culture.

03:48 Cultural Artefact - Look What You Made Me Do, by Taylor Swift
08:40 Taylor's background and her cultural presence
12:07 Ian Hussey's framework for cultural analysis
20:19 Taylor's egalitarianism and anti-institutional stance
29:02 How the Bible helps us understand egalitarian and hierarchical structures
33:03 Social movements. Ideas replace economics
45:00 The church's response and the role of the Shock Absorber
55:55 The Bible's picture of the egalitarian-hierarchal dynamic

Watch this episode on YouTube

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DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Polyphonic's take on Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift
Look What You Made Me Do, by Taylor Swift
Ian Hussey
Every Single Album: Taylor Swift, by The Ringer
Taylor Swift's letter to Apple
Taylor Swift, Scooter Braun, her back catalogue
The Billionaire Space Race
Jeff Bezos
Amazon workers' rights
Jeff Bezos & Tom Hanks going to space?
Exclusion and Embrace, by Miroslav Volf
Chrissy Teigen's social media
May '68 Paris Riots
Miss Americana
Taylor Swift sexual assault court case
Kesha court case
Me Too Movement
Philippians 2

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CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/Vb6g4JzD

David Bowie, the last rock god and the rise of individualism

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 07:30:00 +1100

Season 4 begins as The Shock Absorber analyses the 2010s and 2020s through the lens of musical artist that shaped the time.

Joel, Stu and Tim begin take a deep dive into David Bowie and his impact on the broader culture. They look into the rise of individualism and Bowie's role within it and how Jesus changes our individuality to be more collectivist.

01:54 Season 4 Intro
08:25 Cultural Artefact - Blackstar by David Bowie
11:27 David Bowie
17:07 Bowie, youth culture and the Homogeneous Unit Principle
22:32 Individualism and culture
27:20 Ian Hussey's 5 Cultural Dimensions
37:18 Collectivism vs individualism
39:29 Jesus determines our identity
46:34 Do we need to kill off our versions of church?
51:07 We can live out an individualism and a collectivism at the same time

Watch this episode on YouTube

---------------------------------

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Ian Hussey
Polyphonic channel
David Bowie
David Bowie on Polyphonic: How Cohen and Bowie Faced Mortality, How David Bowie Said Farewell (Twice), How David Bowie Shaped the 2010s
David Bowie's characters/personas
1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything
Albums of 1971
The 27 Club
Understanding Church Growth, by Donald McGavran
Alice Cooper
Exclusion and Embrace, by Miroslav Volf

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CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/Vb6g4JzD

To critique culture or engage in it?

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 19:03:47 +1100

Tim rejoins Stu and Joel on the Shock Absorber to wrap up season 3. A season that started with the question: Does the church have an image problem? By looking over multiple ministry approaches since the youth quake of the 1960s up until the present day, they delved into that problem. In this episode, the guys share their reflections and thoughts from the season, investigate how Christians should engage in culture and look forward into the future.

01:08 The Shock Absorber Conference (REGISTER NOW!)
03:53 Cultural Artefact - Squid Game
18:19 Courage to sometimes say 'no'
24:01 The metric is faithfulness
26:49 Reflections on children's ministry
38:12 Reflections on youth ministry
58:06 Reflections on adult ministry
1:07:29 Our highlights from Season 3

Watch this episode on YouTube

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DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Squid Game
Ian Hussey
Game of Thrones
John Wick
300 (movie)
Final Destination
The Sopranos
Oldenburg's Third Place
Third Place on The Shock Absorber
Eliminator, by ZZ Top
Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes, by Paul Simon
Growing Young, by Fuller Youth Institute
Eshay culture

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CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord

Latest directions in Aboriginal Youth Ministry

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 07:30:00 +1100

Jai McMordie, another Soul Revival pastor joins Joel and Stu to discuss Aboriginal youth ministry. They cover Soul Revival's partnerships with those ministries over many years and how it has influenced the Shock Absorber and Soul Revival's intergenerational approach.

00:00 Intro
03:01 Cultural Artefact - Rabbit Proof Fence
05:30 How Soul Revival met Isaac & Eileen Gordon
11:22 Nan Peters
14:29 The River Conventions & Friendship Visits
21:03 Relational stories
29:50 Aboriginal Youth Ministry in 2010s
34:20 More yarns
39:46 Fingal Head youth ministry
41:12 Being intergenerational

Watch on YouTube

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DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Rabbit Proof Fence
Ted Lasso
Juraki Surf & Culture
Budjerah Slabb
Inside Out (documentary with Isaac Gordon)

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CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/Vb6g4JzD

Para-church and local church mission

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 07:30:00 +1100

Joel and Stu are joined by one of the wardens of Soul Revival Church, Leonie Stanfield, to discuss her experiences in para-church ministry, in particular university and sports chaplaincy ministries. The biggest learning is that the para-church and local church ministries don't work in opposition to each other, but improve discipleship and mission in both spaces.

01:51 Defining what a para-church ministry is
02:36 Who is Leonie?
05:05 Cultural Artefact - The Blues Brothers
07:52 University ministry
12:43 The missional approach and it's links with para-church ministry
14:50 Sports chaplaincy
20:52 Sports chaplaincy at the Cronulla Sharks
29:42 Sports chaplaincy & getting involved
34:12 Para-church organisations offer ministry experiences outside of church
36:22 Para-church ministry and intergenerational ministry
44:32 Being a parent in local sporting community

Watch this episode on YouTube

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DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE:

The Blues Brothers - Rawhide scene, Nun scene
University of Melbourne
The Four Views of Youth Ministry, by Mark Senter III
Our chat with Dave Lovell
Sports Chaplaincy Australia
2016 NRL Grand Final
Chip lunch podcast

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Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/Vb6g4JzD

BONUS: Celebrating Christian Surfers with Dave Lovell

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 07:30:00 +1100

We are stoked to bring you this very special and very enjoyable bonus episode of The Shock Absorber with Dave Lovell from Christian Surfers. Stu and Tim chat with Dave about the prominent ministry that adopted the missional approach from the 1970s in the Sutherland Shire, and has continued to grow across the world.

01:07 Who is Dave Lovell and his role at Christian Surfers
03:20 Cultural Artefact - The Ramones at Brighton Hotel Pier
06:08 Dave's background and becoming a Christian
17:13 Christian Surfers
19:32 God's song for us
26:15 Relational passion and purpose
28:53 Surfing culture + Australian culture
36:38 Christian Surfers + relational ministry
48:07 Final words

Watch on YouTube

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DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE:

Christian Surfers Australia
Christian Surfers International
Groundswell by Brett Davis
The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Story of the Tune, by Larry Norman
Tommy, by The Who
Get Back, by The Beatles
Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?, by Gregory A Thornbury
Puberty Blues, by Gabrielle Carey & Kathy Lette
Puberty Blues film (1981)
Puberty Blues TV show (2012-2014)
Tim Keller
Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry, by Andrew Root

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Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/Vb6g4JzD

The revisitation of Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 07:30:00 +1000

Continuing the discussion of engaging youth culture in the church, Stu, Tim and Joel sit down to review Andrew Root's seminal book Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry and it's implications within the Incarnational model of ministry and beyond.

Hear about how Stu's studies of Italian Communist Gramsci, the Black Panthers, the Chicago Seven and a segment on Triple J lead to the clarification that trying to be cool wasn't an ideal ministry approach because it was buying into the hegemony. Instead, being overtly Christian, clothed in Christ and seeking to institutionalise relationships centred on Christ was the way forward.

01:04 The green Kombi + Shock Absorber Conference (30 Oct, 2021)
08:06 Cultural Artefact: The 2000s Golden Age of Television + The Rise of the Anti-Hero + the iPhone
10:36 Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry
14:31 The importance of historical perspective
17:24 Root investigates the history of culture + Incarnational theology
26:34 How high schools affect youth culture
32:38 Being relational in ministry
35:30 Gramsci, The Black Panther, Triple J and hegemonies
42:27 Let's be Christians
46:32 Targets or people? Cool or overtly Christian?
1:01:34 Institutionalising relationships centred on the cross
1:06:21 Being Christian first

Watch on YouTube

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DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Rise of TV
Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry by Andrew Root
Antonio Gramsci
The Black Panthers
Panther (movie)
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Triple J
Donald McGavran
1 Thessalonians 1
Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/Vb6g4JzD

The benefits of Family Ministry in an Intergenerational church

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 07:28:52 +1000

Having finished discussing the 1990s with the Four Views of Youth Ministry, Stu, Tim and Joel now move onto approaches to ministry that emerged in the 2000s. On this episode, they look at Family Ministry; how it was presented as a solution to the cultural context of the time, how it focuses on Christian adults being the most appropriate spiritual mentors to children and how it influences discipleship and mission.

01:16 Cultural Artefact: Malcolm in the Middle (CORRECTION: Bryan Cranston is the dad)
03:33 Pre-industrial revolution way of life and how technology changes family
09:19 What is the Family Ministry approach?
15:13 Homogeneous Unit Principle, industrialised relationships, outsourcing humanness and teaching of children
21:17 Is the core issue being addressed?
25:35 Christian parents pass on their faith to their children
27:33 Thinking Orange
30:34 Partnering with parents
38:30 Possible limitations of the Family Ministry approach - discipleship
44:08 Possible limitations of the Family Ministry approach - mission
51:49 The importance of listening to youth and children (again)
56:14 How the younger generations can experiment and communicate those ideas
1:00:40 Final thoughts

Watch this episode on Youtube

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DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Malcolm in the Middle
The Four Views of Youth Ministry, by Mark Senter III
Think Orange, by Reggie Joiner
Timothy Paul Jones
Jay Strother

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CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/Vb6g4JzD

The value of specialised ministry in an Intergenerational church

Soul Revival Church — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 07:30:00 +1000

Stu, Tim and Joel get together once more to go through the fourth and final approach detailed in Mark Senter's Four Views of Youth Ministry - the Inclusive Congregational approach. There are some similarities between the Shock Absorber and the approach. Two key differences emerge:

1. The importance of listening to young people
2. How that is facilitated by providing a space for them to experiment with their own expression of church and a space for the whole church to communicate and discuss those experiments.

01:22 Cultural Artefact - Blended movie
03:58 What is the Inclusive Congregational approach?
09:07 Should children and youth be part of everything, all the time?
15:01 Young people need the space to experiment and a place for us to communicate together
18:32 Inclusive Congregational reacts to the Homogeneous Unit Principle but misses the cultural context
19:34 Contrasting between the Strategic approach and the Inclusive Congregational model
21:57 Allowing children to be children
37:12 The perceived need to fit everything into a one hour service, and opening up to create more opportunities for discipleship and mission
48:14 Allowing teenagers to be teenagers
53:32 Embracing difference and being one big family

Watch on YouTube

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DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Four Views of Youth Ministry, by Mark Senter III
Blended
The Coming Revolution of Youth Ministry, by Mark Senter III
Erik Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development

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CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/Vb6g4JzD

Resolving conflict between the generations

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 07:30:00 +1000

The Shock Absorber reconvenes with Joel, Stu and Tim to continue looking at different strategies of engaging youth by diving into the next of The Four Views of Youth Ministry - the Strategic approach.

Starting with 90s skate punk and band breakups, they investigate the roots of the strategic approach and it's pros and cons. Unsurprisingly for the Shock Absorber, the intergenerational approach is offered as an alternative. Some have believed Soul Revival to be aligned with the strategic approach, and Stu explains why that doesn't match up. They finish up with some practical examples and how an intergenerational approach can gain some traction within a homogeneous unit principle mindset.

00:58 Cultural Artefact - 90s punk music, The Living End, band breakups
06:24 What is the strategic approach to ministry?
12:32 Why young people aren't listened to and the cultural shifts that affect that
22:43 What the strategic approach misses - cultural expressions are not the gospel
29:17 Institutionalising and has Soul Revival followed the strategic approach?
40:30 The importance of Soul Revival's theology of atonement
42:32 Tips for moving towards Intergenerational ministry

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DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Four Views of Youth Ministry book
Prisoner of Society, by The Living End
The night The Eagles imploded
The Darkness
Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End) by The Darkness
The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast

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CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/Vb6g4JzD

Discipleship and mission can happen together

Soul Revival Church — Sat, 28 Aug 2021 17:30:00 +1000

Stu, Tim and Joel are back again breaking down the Four Views of Youth Ministry, tackling the Missional approach in this episode and comparing it to the intergenerational approach.

From Jamie Oliver to the Jesus Movement, Incarnational approach to No Guts, No Glory, the boys take a journey to discover what lead to the missional approach and why we are tempted to separate discipleship and mission.

01:19 Jamie and The Nonnas
04:15 What is the missional approach?
12:05 Examples of the missional approach
13:36 Missional vs Intergenerational
16:56 Discipleship and/or mission? Together or separate?
30:49 The counterintuitive impulse to the fracturing of discipleship and mission - intergenerational ministry
39:57 Examples of intergenerational ministry strategies

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DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Four Views of Youth Ministry
Jamie and The Nonnas
Chip Lunch podcast

CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/Vb6g4JzD

Young people are the church of today

Soul Revival Church — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 07:30:00 +1000

Joel, Stu and Tim get back together to continue discussing strategies that have been used by the church to engage youth.

They dig into the first of Mark Senter's Four Views of Youth Ministry: The Prepatory Approach and compare it to the intergenerational approach.

02:39 Woodstock '99, the 90's and the end of the hippie movement
15:15 Youth ministry strategies in the 70's and 80's
17:58 Senter's Four Views of Youth Ministry + divisions in the youth culture
23:41 Soul Revival emerged in the 90's
27:30 The Preparatory Approach
34:35 Why children are part of the church today, not just tomorrow
37:12 The drawbacks of the Preparatory Approach
43:00 Making connections between groups
46:46 Listening to young people
50:27 An intergenerational approach embraces difference
59:15 No Guts, No Glory/Bead method
1:02:02 Real life experiences of intergenerational ministry

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DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Four Views of Youth Ministry, by Mark Senter III
Woodstock '99: Peace, Love and Rage

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CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/Vb6g4JzD

Youth ministry strategies during the Youth Quake

Soul Revival Church — Sat, 14 Aug 2021 17:34:48 +1000

Stu and Joel are rejoined by Tim as they chat about the Youth Quake in the 1960s and how it shaped youth ministry in the subsequent decades. They look at the Jesus Movement that created Christian communes and coffees house, their return to the established church and how they changed worship music. To the Brass Tacks/Funnel method, No Guts, No Glory and the institutionalisation of those ideas and how it all lead to what we now call the Shock Absorber.

01:06 Mosaic chat
02:13 Moving forward on the Shock Absorber
03:48 Cultural Artefact - The 70s, AC/DC and The Jesus Movement
07:38 The 60s Youth Quake saw the rise of The Jesus Movement
16:36 How the Jesus Movement became part of the established church
22:19 Brass Tacks/Funnel Method
26:54 Every form of youth ministry institutionalises
29:23 No Guts, No Glory
33:00 How the Shock Absorber is the third way
50:42 How to prevent institutionalisation

Watch this episode on YouTube

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DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Coming Revolution of Youth Ministry, by Mark Senter III
The Four Views of Youth Ministry, by Mark Senter III
Double or Bust: The Church needs radical change to engage young people again
Overdose by AC/DC

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CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/Vb6g4JzD

Theology of Intergenerational Ministry

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 13:46:58 +1000

We introduce Soul Revival Church's Children's Pastor, Tim Beilharz and he helps us paint a theological picture of Intergenerational ministry, a mosaic using his words.

Being the Shock Absorber, there's the inevitable comparisons between Intergenerational ministry with other ministry approaches. The key though, is that as part of God's family, Jesus's sacrifice calls us to be living sacrifices ourselves and hence be countercultural to the rest of the world.

01:34 Introducing Tim
06:06 Tim answers: Does the church have an image problem?
07:59 When Stu and Tim saw being intergenerational as key to ministry
15:30 Intergenerational theology in the Old Testament
22:20 Intergenerational theology in the New Testament
37:42 Drop off points within the Homogeneous Unit Principle and spending time with those different to ourselves
42:51 Culture has become more individualistic and the emergence of Incarnational theology
53:05 The importance of sacrificial love and Atonement theology
1:00:03 An intergenerational response to Double or Bust article
1:05:50 Why is family more credible than institution?

Watch on YouTube

---------------------------------

DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

The Four Views of Youth Ministry book
Youthworks
Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry, by Andrew Root
Double or Bust: The Church needs radical change to engage young people again

---------------------------------

CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/Vb6g4JzD

Does the church have an image problem?

Soul Revival Church — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 11:00:04 +1000

Stu and Joel are back into it with Season 3, kicking off a discussion about engaging young people in the church by asking the question: Does the Church Have an Image Problem?

02:18 The Chats - Pub Feed
06:45 Does the church have an image problem?
11:06 Where does the problem originate from?
28:46 Cultural changes in 1990s and 2000s
39:04 Avoid creating an echo chamber of adults
41:58 What the reinvention looks like

Watch this episode on YouTube

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DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE

Pub Feed by The Chats
Mark Sayers
1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything
Double or Bust: The Church needs radical change to engage young people again
Chip Lunch podcast

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CONTACT US

Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au
Discord: https://discord.gg/Vb6g4JzD

The cultural shock of COVID-19

Soul Revival Church — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 06:00:00 +1000

Stu and Joel are joined by Soul Revival Church's Youth Pastor, Ethan Crawshaw, to discuss how the Shock Absorber helped the church adapt to the lockdowns imposed by COVID-19 through the creation of digital gatherings and what was learnt from it.

The COVID-19 pandemic that struck the world also affected many churches. In Sydney and New South Wales, churches were forced to adapt even further when a statewide lockdown was imposed in 2020. The Shock Absorber allowed the younger generations of the church to come to the fore in order to still make church as normal as possible.

GOT QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Email joel@shockabsorber.com.au

Training the next generation...

Soul Revival Church — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 15:02:25 +1000

SEASON 2, EPISODE 10: Stu is back! He and Joel dive deep into Berea, Soul Revival Church's training program. They talk about how it's developed from the beginnings to the wide range of offerings that it is today.

Since the youth ministry days, ministry training has been an important focus for Soul Revival Church. From what started as discussions in Stu's lounge room around theology and ministry has now grown into a widespread training program that caters for late primary schoolers to adults. Stu breaks down the importance of doing discipleship and mission together and how a robust training program facilitates that in an intergenerational context.

Got questions and thoughts? Email joel@shockabsorber.com.au

More experiments in church planting. Two gatherings in one year!

Soul Revival Church — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 06:00:00 +1000

SEASON 2, EPISODE 9: In an unexpected twist, Stu is temporarily replaced as co-host by two other pastors from Soul Revival Church - Jai McMordie and Paul Tait. The guys join Joel to talk through the learnings from Soul Revival Church's next experiment in church planting and what went right and what went wrong.

Following the planting of it's first off-site gathering, Soul Revival Church wanted to do it again with an ambitious plan to plant two new gatherings under the hub-and-spoke model. Pastors Jai McMordie and Paul Tait were at the forefront of that next foray in church planting and share their experiences and learnings of that time.

The first off-site plant. Did we fail to use the Shock Absorber?

Soul Revival Church — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 06:00:00 +1000

By 2017, the Bishop of Wollongong suggested Soul Revival Church should think about becoming a multi-site church. That lead to the planting of a fourth gathering, the first off-site, in Woolooware. Joel and Stu chat through the finer details and what was learnt from the experiment.

With Jai McMordie on board and a new gathering to plant, developments continued apace at Soul Revival Church. But with planting it's first gathering off-site, the church faced a number of challenges it had never experienced before. The lesson of planting with the 10 established service teams was learned, especially highlighted by the lack of Arts, Youth and Communications teams at the new gathering.

04:06 - Where Soul Revival Church was in 2017
05:31 - Why off-site?
06:48 - Working with other churches while church planting
09:16 - Making the first steps
10:31 - Jai McMordie
12:11 - Putting the launch team together & greenhousing
14:40 - Hub-and-spoke model
16:43 - Using the 5Ls
18:00 - Spread too thin?
20:00 - The 4 most important service teams and what was missed
24:25 - Woolooware gathering run through
26:12 - Learnings from planting off-site
36:08 - The future of Woolooware

Scaling ministry teams for growth and planting a Sunday gathering

Soul Revival Church — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 06:00:00 +1000

SEASON 2, EPISODE 7: By 2016, Soul Revival Church had reached a point of being able to plant another gathering, this time on Sunday morning. Joel and Stu sit down again to discuss the finer details and dive deep into how two particular service teams (Hospitality and Life Support) facilitated the new gathering.

After planting it's first new gathering on a Friday, Soul Revival Church looked to plant it's third gathering on a Sunday morning. The key to being able to do this was the structure of the service teams that under the Soul Revival Council, were able to facilitate three gatherings - the model of generalist pastor, gathering pastor, central coordinator and gathering coordinator was how this was achieved.

GOT QUESTIONS? Email them to joel@shockabsorber.com.au

An all-age, all-stage gathering on Friday with youth and kids

Soul Revival Church — Fri, 28 May 2021 06:00:00 +1000

SEASON 2, EPISODE 6: Joel and Stu get back together in the brown chairs at Soul Revival @ Kirrawee to discuss the main learnings of Soul Revival Church's planting story. In 2015, it was time to start another gathering!

In 2015 it was time to plant another gathering at Soul Revival Church's Kirrawee factory. It was the second all-age, all-stage gathering on the same night as the church's senior primary and youth community gatherings. What started as an ambitious idea to plant another service developed into an integration of children , youth and adults as they served Jesus together.

01:41 - Soul Revival Church in 2015
03:00 - The decision on a second gathering
04:25 - Why Friday?
(10:58) - The vision of Friday night
(12:20) - How did it start?
(13:52) - All-age, all-stage or Homogeneous Unit Principle?
(15:11) - Building a bridge to a new reality
(15:58) - The Commitments
(17:05) - Integrating a youth community
(22:45) - Friday night needed a green housing process
(25:35) - The structure of Friday night
(30:25) - Leadership as a peer group
(37:55) - Youth serving in ministry
(40:00) - Commitments Week + other initiatives
(42:42) - Childrens' Ministry
(47:05) - How to start planting and involve youth community
(48:00) - Multiplying service teams

GOT QUESTIONS? Email them to joel@shockabsorber.com.au

Factory architecture and the third place

Soul Revival Church — Fri, 21 May 2021 16:50:02 +1000

Joel and Stu sit down again to discuss the next stage of the planting journey for Soul Revival Church 2014. They re-visit the move to a new venue and the importance of Oldenburg's Third Place Theory in fitting out the venue. They rewind to 2014 and delved into the planting history of Soul Revival Church and how it moved to a larger venue.

They discuss the thinking that went into the new venue and expand on Oldenberg's Third Place Theory and how it influenced the design and architecture. The Shock Absorber and lounge room learnings from 20 years of youth ministry heavily influenced the choices that the church made.

2013 and welcoming new people...

Soul Revival Church — Fri, 14 May 2021 06:00:00 +1000

Joel and Stu reconvene to discuss the development and growth of Soul Revival Church in 2013. They look at the two service teams that were integral to that time - Welcoming and World.

After establishing in 2012, 2013 was a new dawn for Soul Revival Church as new people started to come along. This brought the spotlight onto two particular service teams as the church figured out how to be an all-age, all-stage gathering in the Sutherland Shire aiming to share the love of Jesus person-to-person, generation-to-generation, culture-to-culture and place-to-place.

On a Saturday night...

Soul Revival Church — Fri, 07 May 2021 06:00:00 +1000

Joel and Stu are back in the Shock Absorber saddle, and continuing the Season 2 church planting story of Soul Revival. In this episode, they go over why Saturday night was chosen for the first gathering. There's also a run through of how the gathering actually ended up operating.

The decision to plant Soul Revival Church's first gathering on Saturday night was borne from the lessons from the 20 years of youth ministry at Gymea Anglican Church. Just as in youth ministry, the choice acted as a counter-culture to the individualism, consumerism and transience had emerged due to the Homogeneous Unit Principle's ideas of segmenting church by demographics. Stu and Joel then take a tour through what a Saturday night looked like and how it operated.

GOT QUESTIONS???
Email them to joel@shockabsorber.com.au

The Shock Absorber podcast is brought to you by Soul Revival Church in Sydney, Australia.

Preparing to launch...

Soul Revival Church — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 12:39:21 +1100

Joel and Stu get back together to discuss what happened as Soul Revival Church was preparing to launch and how the Shock Absorber principles influenced that stage of the church planting process. Also we answer questions from Steve and Riley!

Stu chats about The Life of Pi in relation to church planting.

The Shock Absorber podcast, on church and culture, is brought to you by Soul Revival Church in Sydney, Australia.

How do you start a church plant?

Soul Revival Church — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 16:32:48 +1100

We are back with Season 2 of The Shock Absorber podcast! Joel and Stu kick it off by discussing the very beginnings of Soul Revival Church and how the learnings of 20 years of youth ministry were used in deciding how to do it.

We're also bringing listener questions to this season, so keep an ear out for that at the end.

Check out the book Stu and Joel discuss: The Trellis and the Vine

The Shock Absorber podcast, on church and culture, is brought to you by Soul Revival Church in Sydney, Australia.

Season 2 Trailer

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 16:40:31 +1100

We are coming back with the second season of The Shock Absorber podcast! Get ready to hear how Soul Revival Church was planted in 2012 and all the challenges we've experienced up until the present!

Subscribe to get the latest episodes as soon as they drop...

An unexpected ending...

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 27 May 2020 17:00:00 +1000

In the last episode of season 1, Stu and Joel discuss the principles of the Shock Absorber that been developed over first 20 years of Soul Revival at Gymea Anglican Church.

Generational change, institutionalisation and a new approach

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 22:00:00 +1000

The generational shift from the 1990s to the 2000s brought a real test for what Soul Revival had been originally built on. This period inspired the three main tenets for the Shock Absorber as a framework for intergenerational ministry.

Stu touches on a few pivotal events that occurred in the early 2000s which signalled that the youth culture was changing. While it was tough era, it genuinely tested Soul Revival's strategy and helped the ministry adapt to change. It lead to the realisation that rather than institutionalising ideas and becoming rigid, it was far more important to fight transience and institutionalise relationships between generations.

What transpired was the next era of Soul Revival as it re-articulated it's approach around three main principles:

Theology
Strategy
Practice

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The Shock Absorber is brought to you by Soul Revival Church

Movements and training

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 22:50:00 +1000

After establishing a theological foundation, Soul Revival felt it was important to express Jesus' community not just within a local church context but also amongst other churches and ministries. That lead to a number of relationships and movements during the 1990s and 2000s which further developed and honed the Shock Absorber principles.

The Shock Absorber is a podcast brought to you by Soul Revival Church from Sydney, Australia. It discusses how the church can adapt to culture and maintain a strong Biblical presence.

BONUS: Talk from Stu on Matthew 22:37-40

Soul Revival Church — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 22:20:00 +1000

We felt bad that we haven't been able to bring much content lately due to focusing on changing how Soul Revival Church does its gatherings! But check out this talk from Stu on Matthew 22:37-40 and the Shock Absorber.

On 27 March, Stu preached at Soul Revival Church's Friday night gathering on Matthew 22:37-40, a passage that has, and continues to have a huge impact on the Soul Revival model of ministry. In this short talk, he explores the idea of the Shock Absorber and how important we feel it is to have an all-age, all-stage approach.

Toward a theology of Youth Ministry

Soul Revival Church — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 07:30:27 +1100

After growing and establishing itself as an effective ministry, it was time for Soul Revival to develop more structure and solidity, and most importantly, a theological perspective.

Fast growth and conflict

Soul Revival Church — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 06:57:30 +1100

The introduction of The Commitments helped create a regular and committed culture across youth ministry and church services. What resulted was a huge growth in the ministry as new Christians joined the community and energised the Christians that were already part of it. But with that fast growth came conflicts and controversies! The Commitments model became a weekly Shock Absorber to deal with the real issues young people (and even concerned parents) were bringing to the table.

The Commitments

Soul Revival Church — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 22:46:49 +1100

Following the Jesus Movement, the church had moved to the Homogeneous Unit Principle, where churches had unintentionally widened the generation gap even further. Soul Revival came up with a corporate response to the transcient, individualistic, consumeristic church culture that resulted. Inspired by the 1991 movie The Commitments and Oldenburg's Third Place theory the leaders hit upon the need for a more regular and committed culture that would foster a fun and inclusive community in Jesus' name.

The Jesus Movement & Homogeneous Unit Principle

Soul Revival Church — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 21:33:10 +1100

In episode 3, hear how after realising a paradigm shift in how they could do ministry, Stu was able to use his studies of the 1960s to create a new form of youth ministry that focused on living out a Jesus-led community rather than attempting to be relevant to multiple generations across the church.

In the beginning...

Soul Revival Church — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 04:44:15 +1100

Episode 2 sees Joel and Stu discuss how the Soul Revival ministry began.

Triggered by a desire for an adventure and a paradigm shift in their thinking, four people in a dumpy garage created a new way of doing youth ministry and laid the groundwork for the Shock Absorber.

From now on, the ministry wouldn’t be based around a certain interest but around Jesus and being friends because of Him.

What is the Shock Absorber?

Soul Revival Church — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 07:45:54 +1100

In the debut episode of the podcast, Joel and Stu dive straight into the Shock Absorber and how it can be a framework for churches to biblically adapt to the changes in society.

Examples of such cultural shocks are discussed before delving into how it all began for Stu back when he was a young adult.

Stu's favourite movie - The Breakfast Club

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The Shock Absorber podcast is brought to you by Soul Revival Church