Passing The Pulpit

Is the Church in America dying—or could something deeper be stirring beneath the surface? In this episode of Passing the Pulpit, Matt sits down with Jesse Jackson, Senior Content Editor at ChurchLeaders, for a wide-ranging conversation about what he’s seeing from his unique vantage point covering the Church, Christian culture, pastors, and ministry news every day. From packed pastor gatherings and college campus ministries to hundreds of baptisms happening at Christian concerts and events, Jes

In a world that has never been more connected digitally, why do so many people still feel isolated? In this episode of Passing the Pulpit, Matt sits down with author, CEO, and community builder Johnny Levy to talk about our growing hunger for genuine relationships—and what it actually takes to build communities that last. Johnny shares lessons from years of bringing people together, including the communities that flourished, the ones that failed, and why clarity of vision matters when asking peo

In this episode, we sit down with Jason Millsaps, worship pastor at Bell Shoals Church, to talk about a powerful ministry idea that is helping churches rethink discipleship, creativity, and the next generation. What began as a simple burden to better equip creative kids in the church eventually became Kids Worship Camp—a hands-on ministry experience where children learn worship, songwriting, production, filmmaking, photography, stage design, and more while actively serving the church. Jason sha

When Pentecost Sunday lands on Memorial Day weekend during graduation season, pastors face a unique challenge: what exactly are you supposed to preach on? Do you lean into the church calendar, address the cultural moment, honor life transitions, or try to somehow hold all of it together in one message? In this episode, Matt Redder shares five practical and pastoral ways to discern what to preach when multiple important moments converge at once. From theological priorities to congregational need

What happens when your career changes but your calling doesn’t? In this episode, we sit down with Luke Miller to explore his unique journey from pastoral ministry to the marketplace—and how his calling never changed, even when his job title did. From church planting in Dallas to spending over 15 years in church media, Luke shares honest insights on bi-vocational ministry, identity, and the tension between calling and compensation that many leaders quietly carry. We also dive deep into the evol

In this episode, we sit down with Jesse to unpack some of the most thought-provoking—and at times controversial—stories shaping the church today. From a provocative Easter marketing campaign that sparked major backlash, to a powerful conversation about engaging culture without compromising truth, this episode doesn’t shy away from the tension leaders are facing right now. We wrestle with questions like: Has the Church started to rely too much on shock value? Is the gospel enough on its own? And