Aaaaaaand…. we’re back!
Stuart Crawshaw, Joel McMaster and I have had a lovely month off—hanging out with our church at Week Away, taking some annual leave, and for Stu, working on his PhD.
Feeling rested (and weirdly tired all at the same time), we hit record so we can continue the journey through the themes of Stu’s project and find out—in real time!—what he is discovering about the Soul Revival story and what makes the Shock Absorber model of church tick.
This week is all about social movements and the impact that large global and cultural forces can have on smaller communities caught up in disruption. Joel kicks us off (pun intended) with the story of how mid-century political upheavals in the Netherlands led to the development of Total Football (a particular approach to playing the world game).
Jumping off this theme, Stu gives us the history of the West, from pre-industrialised Christendom to post-modern Cronulla, explaining that when Christianity is conceived of as a movement, it can expand beyond institutionalised forms and find creative ways to adapt to a changing culture.
How have you seen Christianity adapt to cultural changes?
What was gained? What was lost?
Catch the full conversation in the links below or on your favourite podcast app.