The Shock Absorber

We're still being affected by some of our hosts being stuck in COVID isolation, but we didn't want to leave you hanging! We're merging the Shock Absorber and the Chip Lunch podcasts for one time only! Join an intergenerational cast of Tim, Ethan and Hudson as they discuss evangelism and Generation Z. 04:18 Why the crossover? 08:34 Chatting evangelism with Hudson 23:40 Generation Z statistics 53:04...

SORRY GUYS! No Shock Absorber episode this week. Joel fills you in on why... CONTACT US Email: joel@shockabsorber.com.au Discord: https://discord.gg/jTD5KNAYVE Website: shockabsorber.com.au

Tim, Stu and Joel were able to reconvene in the Third Space Studio and continue the discussion on the evangelical line through history, in particular the rise of Christian fundamentalism from the 1960s to the 1980s and how it set the stage for how we evangelise today. That's not bad audio you can hear either, just the heavy rain on the roof of Soul Revival Church! 01:20 We're Not Gonna Take It, by...

Joel and Stu continue their tour throughout history and evangelism, with a particular focus on the 1950s. By looking at the legacy of famous evangelicals of time such as Billy Graham, John Stott, J.I. Packer and others bolster the argument that evangelicals, who make Jesus and the gospel their main focus, hold a continuous line throughout history from Christendom onwards. We also answer a question...

We continue to take a break from looking at evangelism throughout church history for Joel and Tim to speak to another one of our friends! Jenn Phillips is Children's Minister at Jannali Anglican Church and joins the discussion around evangelising to children - why it's important and why it should be a priority for all churches. 04:07 Cultural Artefact - EzyDVD website 12:34 Are we uncomfortable wi...

We're taking a break from looking at evangelism throughout church history for Joel and Tim to have chat to Andy Stevenson, Head of Ministry Support Team at Youthworks. With Andy's vast experience in youth ministry, that's what we focus on. We hear about why how the youth ministry thinkers shaped how Andy does ministry, why he feels it's currently a lot harder to evangelise, but also why what is of...

Stu, Tim and Joel are back in the Third Space Studio to continue their tour through church history. Looking at the time from the Industrial Revolution, to Darwinism and the emergence of Communism, up to the Scopes Monkey Trial, where the battle between modernism vs fundamentalism emerged, there are some key lessons to learn from evangelicals and revivalists who lived through that time. 01:20 Cultu...

We're back in the Third Space Studio to continue our trip through history and how evangelism has developed. This time we're concentrating on the 1600s to the 1700s, as the Western world departs from Christendom following the Reformation into the new Age of Reason. The events of that time impact on how we evangelise today. Science and technology became far more influential on people's thoughts as t...

Stu, Tim and Joel return to the Third Space Studio to look over the history of evangelism since Jesus' command in Acts to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. 01:38 Some books and the Cultural Artefact: Acts 1:8 09:38 Individual conversions have lead to social change 15:20 Recognising our sinfulness in evangelism 18:41 Christendom 21:48 The Crusades 24:41 The Reformation 32:55 The Enlighten...

Stu rejoins Tim and Joel in the Third Space Studio to continue the discussion on evangelism. We get Stu's perspective on evangelism but also that evangelism isn't just telling someone about Jesus, it's about asking for a response to Him. That leads to a further question: are we willing to lose friends for Jesus? 02:42 Cultural Artefact: Why Don't You Look Into Jesus by Larry Norman 08:08 What is t...

The new season begins! Tim and Joel begin to explore why evangelism may be on the wane. Is it cultural, is it Christians, is it us? We are ready to dive in... 02:02 Cultural Artefact: Jesus Beads 13:34 Defining evangelism and its transformative effect 20:36 The age we define our identity is ripe for evangelism 23:56 Who is an evangelist? 37:53 The problem with evangelism 50:19 The time to have rea...

Joel jumps on to let you know what's in store for 2022 and the latest season on the Shock Absorber!

Across the Christmas break we'll be bringing you content from the Shock Absorber Conference held on 30 October 2021. In the third session Planting Pastor at Soul Revival Church Jai rejoins Joel and Stu to discuss implementing the Shock Absorber principles in various contexts. The conference is capped off with a final Q&A section.

Across the Christmas break we'll be bringing you content from the Shock Absorber Conference held on 30 October 2021. In this second session Paul, Stu and Joel discuss our Hospitality service team and implementing meal across all our gatherings, followed by a Q&A section.

Across the Christmas break we'll be bringing you content from the Shock Absorber Conference held on 30 October 2021. The first session is the keynote address from Stuart Crawshaw as he introduces the day and the main concepts of the Shock Absorber approach, followed by a Q&A section with Joel, Jai and Stu.

Joel, Stu and Tim take a look at The Chats, a "shed rock" band that reveal recall quintessential elements of Australian culture such as drinking, gambling, mullets and pub music. The guys talk about how we can remain quintessentially and confidently Christian while also engaging in the culture with fun and frivolity. 01:10 Who are The Chats? 02:36 Cultural Artefact: Pub Feed, by The Chats 06:19 Th...

Brayden and Ethan join Joel in a shift to discussing Australian artists and their reflections on our culture. Tame Impala brings up the loneliness epidemic facing Australia today. How can the church respond to this issue? 02:29 Who is Tame Impala and their impact on Australian music 12:44 Loneliness and isolation 22:01 The solutions to loneliness 27:04 God has the solution and the hope He provides...

This season we've discussed Ian Hussey's work through some of the most influential artists of the 2010s. In this episode, we're delighted to have the man himself on the podcast to discuss his work, Australian culture and how to embrace or critique culture. 01:35 Introducing Ian Hussey 06:12 Contextualising the Bible and the reason for Describing Australians 09:26 Environment: mastery or nurture? 1...

Joel, Stu and Tim continue to review the culture of 2010s and 2020s, this time through the lens of Kanye West (now known as Ye). They explore if Christians should embrace or critique the ideas Kanye raises through his music of power, consumerism, wealth, materialism and mental health while also being wary of syncretising culture. There is always though, the unchanging nature of God and how He help...

Joel and Stu sit down for a deep and challenging discussion with Michael Duckett, Pastor of Macarthur Indigenous Church. Michael's wisdom, faith and leadership around Indigenous issues is invaluable.  We learn that words are cheap when not backed up by action, what churches can be doing and that only true reconciliation can happen through the redemptive cross of Christ. 01:29 Michael's ministry 05...

Kendrick Lamar is a highly influential artist in recent times, capturing significant parts of culture and expressing them via his musical talent. Tim, Stu and Joel look at Kendrick's observations and talk about how we the church can respond to issues such as race relations and speak the gospel to multicultural Australia. 01:17 The world continues to change 09:20 Cultural Artefact - To Pimp A Butte...

Teaching Pastor at Soul Revival Church, Karen, joins Joel and Stu to continue looking at ministering in 2010s and 2020s. Seminal artist Beyonce provides the frame of reference in discussing certain social issues that she aligns with. For Christians, the challenge is to provide a space where cultural issues can be discussed and whether we should embrace or critique them. In answering a question fro...

Stu, Tim and Joel continue to look at ministering in the world that we live in through the lens of the most influential artists of the time, in particular, Taylor Swift. Taylor's actions, impact and influence throughout the 2010s and 2020s give further credence to the idea of how social movements have caused ideas to replace economics in the structure of society. The church's response to these shi...

Season 4 begins as The Shock Absorber analyses the 2010s and 2020s through the lens of musical artist that shaped the time. Joel, Stu and Tim begin take a deep dive into David Bowie and his impact on the broader culture. They look into the rise of individualism and Bowie's role within it and how Jesus changes our individuality to be more collectivist. 01:54 Season 4 Intro 08:25 Cultural Artefact -...

Tim rejoins Stu and Joel on the Shock Absorber to wrap up season 3. A season that started with the question: Does the church have an image problem? By looking over multiple ministry approaches since the youth quake of the 1960s up until the present day, they delved into that problem. In this episode, the guys share their reflections and thoughts from the season, investigate how Christians should e...