The Shock Absorber

Are our churches unintentionally approving exclusivity? Stu, Tim and Joel dive deep into the research behind Stu's PhD on the Shock Absorber, youth ministry and generative intergenerational ministry—and why most churches experience cultural lag that makes them irrelevant. Motivated to understand why young people leave the church, Stu shares why he started (and restarted) his PhD, using what he has...

Our culture tells us that independence is everything — but what if true flourishing happens when we give some of it up? Joel and Tim explore how commitment to a local church is not just a spiritual act, but something deeply human. They unpack how technology, hyper-individualism, and cultural values can isolate us, while the church pulls us back into the kind of community God designed for our good....

Joel and Tim explore what it means to live and raise children as elect exiles in a world with different values. They reflect on social media, culture, and the ways Christians can tell the alternate story of Jesus — distinctive, thoughtful, and rooted in grace. The discussion covers family and intergenerational ministry, schools, and creating spaces for children to engage meaningfully with the chur...

Joel and Tim explore Soul Revival Church’s 2025 Planning Day — and how the church can prepare for God to grow them, being ready if He chooses to do that. They begin by talking about writing, storytelling, and collective memory — how churches pass down faith through shared stories that shape who they are. Tim reflects on his recent work about how intergenerational communities strengthen faith by re...

Joel and Tim return from a short break to wrestle with a timeless question — are Christians today still exiles? Drawing from 1 Peter, they explore what it means to live faithfully in a world that doesn’t always share our values. With both Joel and Tim preaching on 1 Peter they delve into the different ways they have approached the sermon preparation process. Joel focuses on identity, inheritance,...

MINI-SERIES: World — Mission Is for Everyone Mission doesn’t just belong to a few — it’s everyone’s call. Joel, Tim, and Jai continue the service team mini-series on World , unpacking why God’s plan has always been for His salvation to reach all nations and how that shapes the life of the church today. They trace the theology of mission through Matthew 28, Psalm 67, and Isaiah 49, showing how Isra...

MINI-SERIES: Welcoming — Don’t Expect Them to Know Welcoming doesn't just happen on accident. ---------------- Joel, Tim, and Jai continue our mini-series on Welcoming , unpacking why we can’t assume newcomers will automatically understand the culture of our church. First impressions give people dignity, remove the unknowns, and either open the door to belonging or make someone turn away. That’s w...

The Missing Piece in Digital Ministry: Churches Skip Strategy Between Theology and Practice In the final episode of our mini-series on Communications, Joel, Digital Pastor at Soul Revival Church, shares at the inaugural Virtual Church Assist Conference how Soul Revival’s digital ministry has grown over the last five years—and the key factor behind it: a consistent and solid ministry framework. He...

Incarnate church is the main thing — digital ministry is second, and it should always intentionally draw people into gathering together. In this episode of our service teams mini-series, Tim, Joel and Brayden explore the practice of Communications . Starting with a trip back to 90s culture and the optimism of the Britpop era, they draw out how the internet has reshaped culture, attention, and comm...

MINI-SERIES: Communications Service Team — Strategy Stu, Tim, and Joel discuss why church communications need strategy. Drawing on Andy Crouch and Jay Kim, they explore how technology, online community, and AI affect formation—and why embodied relationships remain central. Christians have always used tools to communicate, from Paul’s letters to AI, but digital spaces can’t replace real-life discip...

“If we were meant to fully grasp God, we wouldn’t need Him—exploring faith, wonder, and dependence.” With Stu out sick, Tim and Joel take a break from their mini-series on the Communications Service Team to chat about what’s caught their eyes and minds this week. They explore Tim’s German heritage, wrestling with the tension between beauty and atrocity in culture, the challenge of engaging with co...

Stu, Tim, and Joel explore the theology of communication, from the Sydney Sweeney ad controversy to how Christians can share the gospel wisely in a media-driven world. MINI-SERIES: Theology of Communications ------------------------ The Shock Absorber continues it's mini-series on Soul Revival’s service teams — this time focusing on the Communications Team and the theology that underpins everythin...

Why Soul Revival go away for a whole week as a church. Joel, Ethan and Jai share why Soul Revival Church spends five whole days away together each year at Week Away—our annual church camp. We talk about how extended time and proximity help deepen existing relationships and spark new ones, all while growing together in God’s word. We explore the beauty and challenge of having so much free time, the...

MINI-SERIES: Part 5 on the Practice of Arts: Word ministry In this episode, Stu, Joel and Brayden why God's word remains central to everything Soul Revival does as a church.  They reflect on their earliest (and often awkward!). We’re talking theology, history, practical training, and how God’s Word really does simplify church life when we keep it central. They trace the influence of the Reformatio...

In a short break from our Arts service team series, we hear about Tim's trip to Kentucky to present and be part of the Intergenerational Ministry Conference. This is a crossover episode from our Chip Lunch podcast.

Brayden and Joel are joined by Jamie who makes his first appearance on the podcast as they continue our mini-series on the Arts Service Team at Soul Revival Church—this time focusing on the often-unseen but essential work of tech ministry, including sound, slide presentations, and livestreaming. They begin by reminiscing about the early days of church tech—think overhead projectors and the high-st...

SERVICE TEAM MINI-SERIES: Practice of Arts (Music) Brayden and Joel continue our mini-series on the Arts Service Team by diving into the practice of music ministry—particularly how preparation and intentionality help music serve the church community. They begin by sharing memories of their favourite live music performances, reflecting on the joy, spontaneity, and relational nature of playing music...

SERVICE TEAM MINI-SERIES: Strategy of Arts Joel, Stu and Brayden begin with a light-hearted yet thoughtful conversation about how music listening has changed over the decades—from records and tapes to CDs and streaming. They share memories of burning CDs and crafting the perfect mixtape, reflecting on how streaming has opened up access to a wider range of music than ever before. But the discussion...

SERVICE TEAM MINI-SERIES: Theology of Arts Stu, Joel, and guest co-host Brayden (Soul Revival’s Arts pastor) explore the significance of the Arts service the context of church ministry  and how it moves beyond music to a broader theological vision. They open with reflections on why communal singing has declined in modern culture, despite its historical and emotional power. Drawing from history, vi...

Starting with a quick take on “Italian brain rot” (yes, it’s a real AI meme phenomenon), Joel and Tim quickly shift into a deeper critique of internet culture, generational shifts, and the loss of long-term creative effort in favor of instant gratification. What does the rise of AI-generated content, TikTok trends, and nostalgia-fueled memes say about our society’s priorities? From there, the conv...

Stu, Tim and Joel hosts dive into a discussion sparked by Stu's recent visit to Texas, where he observed the strong sense of identity, friendliness, and open expression of faith that characterises much of Texan culture. They compare this with Australian cultural values like egalitarianism and mateship, examining how national myths shape the way communities live and relate to one another. From ther...

Is Christianity really in decline — or is something deeper happening beneath the surface? In this episode, the guys take a break from their recent mini-series' on Soul Reviaval's service teams to unpack a fascinating new report from Christian research group McCrindle on the state of Christianity in Australia. While headlines often focus on the drop in people identifying as Christian — from 61% in...

MINI-SERIES: The Practice of Community Groups The episode opens with a quick sidestep into Fantastic Four before diving into Joel’s latest read, The Death and Life of Australian Soccer by Joe Gorman. The book prompts a rich conversation about the origins and development of soccer in Australia, highlighting the deep roots migrant communities have in shaping the game. The guys explore the longstandi...

MINI-SERIES: The Strategy of Community Groups Joel, Tim, and Joey take a deep dive into the strategy of community groups, exploring how different churches structure them and why they are a vital part of discipleship. They begin with a cultural artefact from Freya India’s appearance on Modern Wisdom, discussing Gen Z’s shifting views on faith, the gender divide in religious engagement, and the lone...

MINI-SERIES: The Theology of Community Groups. While Stu is away, Joey joins Joel and Tim to chat about the Theology-Strategy-Practice of Community Groups... They kick things off with a discussion on Cantopop and Mandopop, as Joey shares his experience attending Eason Chan’s Fear & Dreams concert. From there, they shift gears to explore small groups—how they have developed in churches and what...