Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root

In the Medieval imaginary angels were everywhere, hidden among us.  The same is true for stories in Scripture.  Why don't we think like this now?  And what does it all mean for ministry in the secular age? 

Andy and Derek discuss what it means when human-created AI goes out of control.  From Noah’s flood to Silicon Valley’s dreams of immortality, are we facing something new?  Or are we retelling the oldest story in the book?

Andy walks Derek through James Loder's The Logic of the Spirit — the roadside accident that shaped his whole project, and the two questions Loder thinks press on us from our first breath to our last: what is a lifetime, and why do I live it? This, surprisingly, also has a lot to do with modern children's ministry and the existential humans of every age face.

Andy and Derek discuss passage from Jim Loder on ministers who callus over after getting hurt in ministry. Derek and Andy dig into whether pastoral care is really a "helping profession" at all, turning to Bonhoeffer's idea of the pastor as permanent place-sharer — more parent than therapist — and why the office, not the personality, is what holds a pastor through disappointment.

Andy sends Derek a screenshot of a Jim Loder passage he's frantically highlighted and it sparks a conversation about "convictional neurosis," the tendency in mainline churches to bury real encounters with God.      

Andy and Derek discuss the complexities of ministering in communities, transparency, and whether the minister's personal life is the business of the congregation

Most churches talk about how they "want more young people".  Andy and Derek dive into why age has become the metric for whether a church has a future and how this isn't really what holds churches together.

Andy answers a listener e-mail about "being as becoming", the difference it makes for those in ministry, and how it shapes and transforms our understanding about how God moves and acts in the secular age.

What does a private baptism request have to do with your podcast feed? More than you'd think. Derek and Andy unpack what happens when we try to optimize faith, remove friction and obligation, and whether what's left can still be called community at all. Andy's new book "Baal and the Gods of More" is out now!

Andy and Derek explore “post-human” ministry, AI, the future of vocation, and the meaning of life.  Derek also shares his strategy for the coming robot apocalypse.

Andy and Derek discuss Andy's new book "Baal and the Gods of More".  They discuss the trappings of resources and wanting more, and how the God of the Israelites calls us to grow into relationship rather than resources.

Derek texts Andy in the middle of the ICE raids in Minneapolis asking how the he's supposed to pastor through this. Andy thinks the answer has everything to do with Bonhoeffer — and nothing to do with heroism.

Andy saw Hamnet and wept in the theater. When he told other people, they called it "grief porn." Andy now thinks our culture has engineered away the spaces where feeling too much is the whole point. Andy and Derek dig into Byung-Chul Han, Shakespeare, and the ancient human need to mourn together in community. Meanwhile, Derek watched Hamnet alone and cried on his couch.  

Andy has thoughts about thoughts and prayers. This is our season finale.   We'll be back in April of 2026 with episodes twice a week until November 2026.  Stay tuned for more and thanks for listening!

Andy thinks ideas from Charles Taylor's recent works about resonance, poetry, and beauty can be found in the zombie show "The Last of Us".   And it says a lot about what ministry looks like in a Secular Age.

Andy has returned from traveling abroad with news of a Quiet Revival happening in European churches.  Andy and Derek discuss reasons for this and what it could mean for ministries in this secular age.

Andy discusses Charlie Kirk's death and how interpreting it is tied deeply to Charles Taylor's Triangle.  Andy thinks this is not only helpful for those of us in ministry, but for society at large to break the cycle of ressentiment that perpetuates these sorts of violent acts. Our call-in line is open!  Call us at ‪(612) 405-8071‬ to leave a question for a future episode!

All churches need money to run.  But sometimes Derek feels more like a small business owner than a pastor sometimes.  Andy explains how money actually has more power than God in the Secular Age, but this gives churches an opportunity to talk about money, stewardship, budgets, and promises in a new way. Our call-in line is open!  Call us at ‪(612) 405-8071‬ to leave a question for a future episode!

Andy has a brand new book out called "A Pilgrimage into Letting Go".  He talks about the book and why it's important for pastors, parents, and all people to practice the art of letting go. Our call-in line is open!  Call us at ‪(612) 405-8071‬ to leave a question for a future episode!  

Derek wonders about what the Gospel is when Christianity is formed in an Empire.  Andy dusts off the works of an obscure scholar who saw history as separate times of First, Second, and Third Culture.  And Fourth Culture is on the way whether we like it or not. Our call-in line is open!  Call us at ‪(612) 405-8071‬ to leave a question for a future episode!  

Derek's friend doesn't believe in the moon landing. Andy explains that modern-day conspiracy theories rooted in the Three Horsemen of the Hermeneutics of Suspicion: Nietzsche, Freud, and Marx.  It surprisingly has a lot to do with ministry in a Secular Age. Our call-in line is open!  Call us at ‪(612) 405-8071‬ to leave a question for a future episode!

This week we dive into a listener question (thanks, Leanne!) about marriage, kids, and family life in the Age of Authenticity and how it's different now in this secular age. We unpack this along with what it means for the church. Andy's brand new book "Evangelism in an Age of Despair" is out now!  You can grab it here or wherever else you get your books: bit.ly/41zuNIN  

Andy just released his new book, "Evangelism in an Age of Despair".  In it, he makes a compelling case that evangelism isn’t wellness or therapy—it’s a radical, counter-cultural act. In this episode, Andy unpacks what that means and how it could transform your church’s approach to ministry. Andy's brand new book "Evangelism in an Age of Despair" is out now!  You can grab it here or wherever else y...

Andy just published a brand new book, "Evangelism in an Age of Despair".  It reminded Derek of his church's Google reviews and a woman who rated a funeral 5 stars.  Andy thinks this is what evangelism is all about.   Andy's brand new book is out now!  You can grab it here or wherever else you get your books: bit.ly/41zuNIN  

Andy thinks this recent election marked the end of the 20th century.   Andy and Derek are joined by special guest Rev. David J. Wood to discuss what the election means for faith communities and how our rich tradition of faith & theology can shape our imaginations to lead congregations during these historic times.