Madison Church

Why do bad things happen to good people, and what does this mean for our understanding of God? We tackle this eternal question in a thought-provoking discussion, centered around powerful examples such as Francis Collins and his family's experience with injustice. Don't miss this exploration of pain, suffering, and how they can actually lead many to a stronger faith and a deeper understanding of their need for God.Together, we examine the concept of justice and its relationship to the idea of God, discussing how natural selection – a neutral process – cannot lead to justice and how this plays into our comprehension of God as love. Join us as we contemplate the role of injustice in our world, the necessity for judgment to achieve true justice, and the ultimate hope found in the good news of God's mercy. Gain a fresh perspective on the age-old question of why bad things happen to good people and fortify your faith in the process.Support the showIf you enjoyed this episode, consider subscribing to

What if the gods we grew up believing in don't hold up as adults? This week, we continue our Who Needs God series, diving into the growing trend of "nones" – those who check "none" for religious affiliation on surveys – and discussing the difference between "nones" and atheists. We also explore the idea that disbelief isn't always the greener pasture, examining the "gods of the no testament" and how our Sunday school gods may fail us in adulthood.Through a close look at Jesus and the Samaritan woman from John's Gospel, we investigate the nature of God and how the Jews have been contemplating a big bang for thousands of years. We also consider Jesus' description of God as a father, and how understanding God as the perfection of a father can shift the way we read the Bible. Time, space, and matter reveal a timeless, immaterial being – one deeply involved and caring, despite our imperfections.Lastly, we delve into the apostle John's profound words:

Have you ever found yourself struggling with faith, feeling stuck between God and something else? In this thought-provoking episode, we explore the challenges believers face when confronting doubts and questions about the Bible, and how this can lead to feeling trapped between doubt and despair. We acknowledge the unsettling aspects of Christianity, but also discuss how living in a world without God can be just as unsettling.We delve into the historical context of the New Testament, examining the evidence surrounding Jesus' existence, his crucifixion, and the early distribution of the New Testament documents throughout the Roman Empire. We also investigate the early church and how Christianity spread quickly despite being illegal at the time, ultimately becoming the official religion of the Roman Empire under Emperor Constantine. This fascinating discussion reveals that the early Christians were drawn to Jesus and his message, rather than the Bible itself.As we wrap up our exploration, we focus on the lo

Ever wondered why modern Christianity often seems unattractive and leaves you feeling stuck between doubt and atheism? We're diving into the concept of false gods in Christianity and exploring the reasons behind this dilemma. Listen in as we reflect on how various gods throughout history have been given up and how early Christians were considered atheists by their culture.In today's episode, we discuss the version of Christianity many of us grew up with and the two common characteristics that underpin it. We identify the false gods often presented to us, such as the bodyguard God and the God of judgment, and examine Karen Armstrong's view that many of us are left with an incoherent concept of God. Learn how our experiences and understanding of reality may have led us to reject the wrong God.Finally, we investigate the false gods of the 'No Testament' and the dangers of relying on a God who only explains the unexplainable. Discover how science should not be seen as opposed to faith, bu

Who among us hasn't struggled with the concept of God and faith at some point in our lives? It's a question as old as humanity itself, and on today's episode, we explore the challenges of believing in God and why so many people, particularly former Christians, find themselves disconnected from religion. We examine the phenomenon of the 'nones' – those who don't necessarily identify as atheists, but simply have no interest in faith or religion.Diving into the complexities of atheism, we discuss thought-provoking questions like, where did something come from nothing, and how did that something evolve into us? We also explore atheist Christopher Hitchens' intriguing idea of the 'illusion of the mind' and the notion that a world governed by physics leaves no room for free will. Join us for this enlightening conversation and stay engaged with the series as we attempt to uncover who truly needs God.Support the showIf you enjoyed this episode, consider subscribing to Madi

We grow as we stretch ourselves beyond our genetic generosity. We are all wired for generosity, but we experience this wiring in different ways. Understanding our profiles can help us leverage our natural inclinations and also challenge us to recognize areas in which we can grow.Support the showIf you enjoyed this episode, consider subscribing to Madison Church on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback means the world to us, so please take a moment to leave a review and share the podcast with your friends and family.For inquiries, suggestions, or collaboration opportunities, please reach out to us at help@madisonchurch.com. For the latest updates and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on social media: Facebook Instagram YouTube New episodes are released every Monday, so mark your calendars and join us weekly! If you'd like to support the show, you can make a donation here. Your generosity helps us continue to bring you meaningful content. This podcast is intended for general informational purp

When we join together as one church, our generosity changes the world. We are all wired for generosity, but we experience this wiring in different ways. Understanding our profiles can help us leverage our natural inclinations and also challenge us to recognize areas in which we can grow.Support the showIf you enjoyed this episode, consider subscribing to Madison Church on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback means the world to us, so please take a moment to leave a review and share the podcast with your friends and family.For inquiries, suggestions, or collaboration opportunities, please reach out to us at help@madisonchurch.com. For the latest updates and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on social media: Facebook Instagram YouTube New episodes are released every Monday, so mark your calendars and join us weekly! If you'd like to support the show, you can make a donation here. Your generosity helps us continue to bring you meaningful content. This podcast is intended for general informatio

We are all wired for generosity, but we experience this wiring in different ways. Understanding our profiles can help us leverage our natural inclinations and also challenge us to recognize areas in which we can grow.Support the showIf you enjoyed this episode, consider subscribing to Madison Church on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback means the world to us, so please take a moment to leave a review and share the podcast with your friends and family.For inquiries, suggestions, or collaboration opportunities, please reach out to us at help@madisonchurch.com. For the latest updates and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on social media: Facebook Instagram YouTube New episodes are released every Monday, so mark your calendars and join us weekly! If you'd like to support the show, you can make a donation here. Your generosity helps us continue to bring you meaningful content. This podcast is intended for general informational purposes only. The views expressed by the hosts or guests are their

The concept behind this series is that we all have a “generosity profile.” We are all wired for generosity, but we experience this wiring in different ways. Understanding our profiles can help us leverage our natural inclinations and also challenge us to recognize areas in which we can grow.Support the showIf you enjoyed this episode, consider subscribing to Madison Church on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback means the world to us, so please take a moment to leave a review and share the podcast with your friends and family.For inquiries, suggestions, or collaboration opportunities, please reach out to us at help@madisonchurch.com. For the latest updates and behind-the-scenes content, follow us on social media: Facebook Instagram YouTube New episodes are released every Monday, so mark your calendars and join us weekly! If you'd like to support the show, you can make a donation here. Your generosity helps us continue to bring you meaningful content. This podcast is intended for general inform

Does the abundance of fast food chains in America remind you of anything? Interestingly, their omnipresence is akin to the number of churches spread across the United States. However, while the former might be serving up your favorite footlongs and frappes, the latter has a higher calling - to distribute hope to all. As we conclude our 'Hope for Everyone' series, we tackle this unexpected comparison, exploring the potential of churches as hope distributors. We delve into the biblical characters like Abram and symbols of hope, such as the wise men and shepherds in the Christmas story, to shed light on the importance of sharing God's hope. Aren't churches supposed to be epicenters of hope, rather than judgment and anger? It's an uncomfortable question that we confront head-on in our discussions. We explore the universality of hope and challenge the idea that hope is exclusive, reminding ourselves of God's inclusive plan for universal hopeful access. We examine the role of churches

Remember the childlike wonder of waking up on Christmas morning, full of anticipation for the treasures that await you beneath the tree? From a Mickey Mouse V-Tech Choo-Choo train to the Power Rangers' mythical dragon's or, we're taking a trip down memory lane to relive the magic of holiday gifts. But our journey doesn't stop at nostalgia. We also explore the business savvy of Disney and how they've mastered the art of capitalizing on our favorite characters.However, the holiday season is also a time for reflection and spiritual introspection. Picture the Israelites, waiting 400 years for a word from God, and the feelings of fear, doubt, and disappointment that surely arose. We discuss this biblical history and how it mirrors our own experiences of feeling distant from God. Yet, just as the shepherds found unexpected joy in moments of despair, we too can find hope in the most unexpected places. We end the episode by encouraging everyone to approach Christmas differently this year, to

Ever tried to imagine what Joseph must have felt upon learning of Mary's pregnancy in the Bible? We did. Let's journey together as we delve into the cultural context of Joseph and Mary's engagement, shedding light on the sheer fear and humiliation Joseph must have encountered. We discuss the hard choices he had to make, and how his journey provides a compelling backdrop to our exploration of the universal human emotion - fear. In the same breath, however, we reassure you - just as Joseph found hope, so can you. Hear us out as we explore why it's better to be rejected or humiliated with God than walk alone, stumbling over life's many fears. Let's examine the importance of obedience to God in choosing faith over fear and how baptism, small groups, and giving can be pathways to this faith. We wrap up with Jesus’s nurturing words, reminding us he is always with us, lighting our path out of fear. This isn't just about facing the fears - it's about finding the flicker of hope

What if the microwave oven, originally developed to spot enemy warplanes, could teach us a life lesson? What if we told you that Mary, Joseph, and Moses had to shelve their Plan A's for something far more extraordinary? Just like bubble wrap, which was initially intended as wallpaper, and the Frisbee, first created as a pie-serving dish, we too can find unexpected possibilities when our original plans don’t pan out.Imagine being Mary, a young woman whose life was upended when the angel Gabriel paid her a visit. Her life, neatly planned out, suddenly became fraught with cultural implications and potential shame. Yet, her unwavering faith in God, despite the drastic changes to her Plan A, is a testament to her strength and trust. Her story is filled with hope and courage, reminding us all of our potential to rise above the unexpected and embrace a Plan B that may be even better than what we originally had in mind.As we buckle up for this fascinating journey, we also reflect on our personal experiences, sha

What if the most magical part of the Christmas season is not the twinkling lights or the perfectly wrapped presents, but the moments of hope and reflection it stirs within us? As we navigate the beauty and the chaos of the festive season, we set off on a journey, exploring the Christmas story and its poignant reminder that sometimes, hope means waiting. In our new series, "Hope for Everyone," we walk alongside Zechariah and Elizabeth, a couple whose long-held dreams were met with an unexpected blessing. Their encounter with the angel Gabriel reveals the transformative power of hope even amidst life’s darkest moments. Drawing from their story, we discover how Jesus, the beacon of hope, arrived to offer life and the promise of a better future. So join us in this episode, it's not just about comforting carols and twinkling fairy lights, but a profound exploration of hope, faith, and the true meaning of Christmas.Support the showIf you enjoyed this episode, consider subscribing to Madison Church on

In life, we need to hear the negative every now and then so that we might be warned about possible dangers and how to avoid them. Jude makes it clear, he was hoping to write an positive letter, but the need of his time forced him to write a very different kind of letter. He uses all his energy to plead with readers to stick to the truth and to reject falsehood - knowing that the decision we make will be the difference between heaven and hell.This doxology is frequently used by pastors as a liturgical form of dismissal, primarily because it is one of the longest and most beautiful doxologies in the New Testament. Jude expands the usual doxology “form”. Some of his additions may have simply been picked up from traditional phraseology, but others relate back to some important themes from the letter.Support the showIf you enjoyed this episode, consider subscribing to Madison Church on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback means the world to us, so please take a moment to leave a review and share the podca

In life, we need to hear the negative every now and then so that we might be warned about possible dangers and how to avoid them. Jude makes it clear, he was hoping to write an positive letter, but the need of his time forced him to write a very different kind of letter. He uses all his energy to plead with readers to stick to the truth and to reject falsehood - knowing that the decision we make will be the difference between heaven and hell.We should not forget that Jude’s letter was not written to the false teachers; it was written to faithful Christians. These believers, face with an onslaught of false teaching in their churches, needed reassurance and instruction. This Jude provides in his letter.Support the showIf you enjoyed this episode, consider subscribing to Madison Church on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback means the world to us, so please take a moment to leave a review and share the podcast with your friends and family.For inquiries, suggestions, or collaboration opportunities, pleas

In life, we need to hear the negative every now and then so that we might be warned about possible dangers and how to avoid them. Jude makes it clear, he was hoping to write an positive letter, but the need of his time forced him to write a very different kind of letter. He uses all his energy to plead with readers to stick to the truth and to reject falsehood - knowing that the decision we make will be the difference between heaven and hell.Jude caps his denunciation of the false teachers with a prophecy. This in itself is nothing unusual, New Testament writers often apply ancient prophecies to their own situations. But what is unusual about this prophecy is its source...Support the showIf you enjoyed this episode, consider subscribing to Madison Church on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback means the world to us, so please take a moment to leave a review and share the podcast with your friends and family.For inquiries, suggestions, or collaboration opportunities, please reach out to us at help@mad

In life, we need to hear the negative every now and then so that we might be warned about possible dangers and how to avoid them. Jude makes it clear, he was hoping to write an positive letter, but the need of his time forced him to write a very different kind of letter. He uses all his energy to plead with readers to stick to the truth and to reject falsehood - knowing that the decision we make will be the difference between heaven and hell.Jude is not yet finished with the false teachers. So concerned is he about their potential to harm his readers’ walk with the Lord that he is not satisfied his strong polemic against them in verses 5-10 has done the job. He thus launches on more attack against them.Support the showIf you enjoyed this episode, consider subscribing to Madison Church on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback means the world to us, so please take a moment to leave a review and share the podcast with your friends and family.For inquiries, suggestions, or collaboration opportunities, ple

In life, we need to hear the negative every now and then so that we might be warned about possible dangers and how to avoid them. Jude makes it clear, he was hoping to write an positive letter, but the need of his time forced him to write a very different kind of letter. He uses all his energy to plead with readers to stick to the truth and to reject falsehood - knowing that the decision we make will be the difference between heaven and hell.In verses 5-10, Jude elaborates verse 4, describing and condemning the false teachers. These verses fall into three major sections, in each of which Jude cites Old Testament or Jewish traditional material and then applies it to the false teachers.Support the showIf you enjoyed this episode, consider subscribing to Madison Church on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback means the world to us, so please take a moment to leave a review and share the podcast with your friends and family.For inquiries, suggestions, or collaboration opportunities, please reach out to us

In life, we need to hear the negative every now and then so that we might be warned about possible dangers and how to avoid them. Jude makes it clear, he was hoping to write an positive letter, but the need of his time forced him to write a very different kind of letter. He uses all his energy to plead with readers to stick to the truth and to reject falsehood - knowing that the decision we make will be the difference between heaven and hellMost New Testament letters move into a thanksgiving and prayer after the initial salutation and greetings. But Jude skips these points, getting right to the heart of what his letter is about. In these two verses, he explains the occasion and theme of this letter.Support the showIf you enjoyed this episode, consider subscribing to Madison Church on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback means the world to us, so please take a moment to leave a review and share the podcast with your friends and family.For inquiries, suggestions, or collaboration opportunities, please