The Madison Church Podcast

What if the quiet crisis in modern Christianity isn’t doubt, but distraction—a version of faith that sounds right and changes little? We go straight at the subtle Gnosticism that still haunts church culture today: the lure of secret knowledge, the shrug toward the physical world, and the fantasy of escape. Then we lay it beside Paul’s charge in Romans 12 to offer our bodies as living worship and J...

Have you ever felt at war with your own body? Perhaps you've tried to escape it through overwork, screen time, or numbing behaviors. Maybe you've obsessed over perfecting it, measuring your worth by fitness levels or appearance. Either way, the message is clear: your body, as it exists right now, isn't enough. This powerful message challenges that harmful narrative by exploring how...

Have you ever heard someone say "I'm spiritual but not religious" or "everything happens for a reason"? These well-meaning phrases attempt to bring comfort and order to life's chaos, but they often represent a blurred vision of Christianity—one that promises easy answers instead of genuine transformation. Pastor Stephen challenges us to consider whether we've red...

What if your personality is secretly sabotaging your generosity? This eye-opening exploration of the "shadow sides" of our giving profiles reveals why some of us hesitate when opportunities to give arise—and it's not always about money. Through a fascinating examination of the DISC personality assessment and six distinct generosity profiles, we discover that our weaknesses are actua...

What does it mean to be faithful when your plans fall apart? Eleven years ago, Madison Church launched with meticulously researched strategies, countless prayers, and 200 empty chairs. Only 20 people showed up that first Sunday—half of them family members visiting from out of town. The humiliation was crushing, but looking back now reveals how God was writing a better story than anyone could have...

What remains when we remove Christ from Christianity? A powerful exploration of how modern Christianity often betrays its namesake by replacing love with judgment, inclusion with exclusion, and grace with condemnation. Through vulnerable personal stories and penetrating cultural analysis, we confront the uncomfortable reality that Gandhi articulated: "I like your Christ, but not your Christia...

Do you ever feel like you're on a spiritual treadmill with God? Running faster, praying more, serving more—yet somehow not moving forward in your relationship with him? You're not alone. Pastor Stephen Feith tackles this universal struggle head-on, revealing how our performance-driven culture shapes our approach to faith. When we treat God like a boss to impress or a coach deciding if we...

What if the beautiful flowers we showcase on social media were just the perfect frame hiding a garden overrun with weeds? That carefully curated image represents how many of us approach not just our online presence, but our spiritual lives as well. In this deeply introspective exploration, we examine the concept of spiritual authenticity through the lens of Jesus's teachings in Matthew 6. Lik...

Have you ever felt like you're doing all the "right" spiritual things but still missing something? This profound question opens our exploration of how we can unintentionally trade relationship with God for routines centered around God. The Pharisees were devoted, serious about Scripture, and committed to living how they thought God wanted. Yet when confronted with God in the flesh,...

The gap between knowing and living, between religious performance and authentic faith—this is where many of us find ourselves today. In this challenging and heartfelt message, Stephen Feith opens a new six-week series with a question that hits close to home: "Have you ever done the right thing for the wrong reasons?" Drawing from Matthew 23, Stephen examines why the Pharisees—people who...

Have you ever been terrified by end-times prophecies based on Revelation? You're not alone. Randy Knie vividly recalls sitting on his parents' bed at 13, trembling as he read a newsletter predicting imminent apocalypse—supposedly decoded straight from Revelation's pages. This traumatic experience mirrors countless others who've either become obsessed with this mysterious biblic...

What happens when following Jesus puts you at odds with everyone around you? When doing the right thing costs you something meaningful—comfort, relationships, or future plans? This transformative episode explores the courage of the early church in Acts 5, where ordinary believers faced extraordinary opposition yet remained steadfast in their mission. The apostles, once hiding in fear after Jesus&a...

What does it truly mean to live a Spirit-guided life beyond Sunday mornings and worship experiences? Through the lens of a profound contrast in the early church, we discover that authenticity matters more than appearance when building genuine spiritual community. The story of Acts 4-5 presents us with two portraits: a radically generous community characterized by trust, and a couple whose deceptio...

What does courage look like when following Jesus means facing resistance? Pastor Stephen Feith takes us through Acts 3-4, where we discover that spiritual boldness isn't reserved for the naturally confident or specially trained—it's available to every believer who depends on the Holy Spirit. The journey begins with Peter and John noticing a disabled man whom everyone else had learned to...

The space between Jesus' ascension and Pentecost represents one of the most unique transitional periods in church history. What do you do when your leader has physically departed, but the promised Holy Spirit hasn't yet arrived? This message explores this fascinating moment captured in Acts 1:12-26, revealing how the early disciples navigated uncertainty while preparing for God's ne...

Have you ever found yourself caught in life's waiting room? That space between where you were and where you're headed, but with no clear roadmap for how to get there? In this powerful message on waiting, Pastor Stephen Feith gets refreshingly honest about his own struggles with patience and the tendency to either rush ahead or delay too long. Drawing from Acts 1, we witness the disciples...

Between resurrection and Pentecost lies a crucial season that transformed ordinary followers into world-changers. This waiting period wasn't wasted—it was precisely where God prepared His people for an unprecedented mission. The disciples found themselves in limbo. Their Rabbi had conquered death, yet confusion lingered. What comes next? When would Israel be restored? Rather than offering cle...

Jesus is alive, and that changes everything. The resurrection stands as the ultimate pivot point of history—not just as a miracle to analyze but as a living reality that transforms how we understand ourselves and our world. What does it mean that Jesus rose from the dead? It means that death isn't the final word. It means that suffering doesn't have the last say. Most radically, it means...

Hope doesn't come after pain—it rises within our pain. As we continue our journey through Luke's gospel in week two of our "Hope Rising" series, we encounter Jesus preparing his followers for difficult times ahead. While they admired the magnificent temple in Jerusalem—its stunning white limestone and gold accents symbolizing permanence and divine presence—Jesus delivers a shoc...

What makes the Prince of Peace flip tables and chase people out of the temple? In this powerful exploration of Jesus' temple cleansing, we discover a Savior passionate about protecting sacred space and genuine relationship with God. The temple courts had become a marketplace where vendors exploited worshippers - particularly Gentile seekers who could only access the outer court. Money changer...

Lead Pastor Stephen Feith concludes the powerful 12-week "A Life That Matters" series with a profound exploration of surrender as the gateway to significance. As Jesus approaches Jerusalem in Luke 18-19, we witness both the anticipation of Palm Sunday and the heartbreak of misunderstanding that follows. Through encounters with a blind beggar who sees with spiritual clarity and a wealthy...

What defines your worth? Is it achievements, wealth, status, influence, or how you compare to others? In this piercing exploration of Luke 18, we confront the universal human tendency to measure ourselves against others and trust in worldly securities rather than God's grace. Through three powerful encounters, Jesus systematically dismantles conventional wisdom about success and righteousness...

Pastor Stephen Feith takes us on a profound journey through three powerful narratives from Luke's gospel that reveal what authentic faith looks like in daily life. Beginning with the story of ten lepers healed by Jesus, we discover that while all ten received physical transformation, only one—a Samaritan—returned to express gratitude. This singular act transformed his experience from mere phy...

As life often overwhelms us with responsibilities, we must ask ourselves: what are we clinging to? This episode explores our tendency to overcommit and carry too many burdens and challenges us to reflect on what truly matters, especially as we enter the season of Lent. Our pastor shares a personal story that resonates with many, highlighting the struggle between fulfilling our obligations and maki...

Prepare to embark on a transformative journey in our latest episode, where we unravel the profound teachings found in Luke 16. Starting with a pressing question—what would you do if you had only 24 hours left to live?—the discussion leads us to a greater understanding of how time constraints can reveal our true priorities. This episode offers rich insights into the relationship between wealth and...