Shows / Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root. A ministry podcast for the Secular Age.
Episodes
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Angels Among Us
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…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
The Image of Claude: When AI Goes Out of Control
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…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Your Church Nursery Is a Monastery
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…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Hurt by Church: Ministry and Helping Professions
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…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
We Are Not Drunk! — Mainline Churches and Convictional Neurosis
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…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
The Personal Lives of Pastors: None of Your Business... But Also Kind Of
Andy and Derek discuss the complexities of ministering in communities, transparency, and whether the minister's personal life is the business of the…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
The Fountain of Youthfulness
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…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Being as Becoming
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…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Sorry For Your Convenience
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…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Can I Get an A.I.men? - Ministry in the Post-Human Age
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…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Baal and the Gods of More
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…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
How Do You Pastor Through This???
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…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Much Ado About Grieving
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…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Thoughts and Prayers
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…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Zombies, Poetry, and Resonance
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…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Quiet Revival Brewing?
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…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Charlie Kirk, Taylor's Triangle, and Breaking Ressentiment
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…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
In God We Trust (But Also Money!)
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…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
A Pilgrimage into Letting Go
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…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Empire State of Mind
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…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Nietzsche Made Us Doubt the Moon Landing
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…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Marriage, Kids, and Family in the Age of Authenticity
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…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Evangelism Isn't Wellness - Evangelism in an Age of Despair
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…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Five Star Funerals - Evangelism in an Age of Despair
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…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
The Election that Ended the Century
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…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Are We In a Bonhoeffer Moment?
With the election in America approaching there has been much talk of churches and pastors being in a "Bonhoeffer moment". Andy looks at Bonhoeffer's time vs…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Preachers vs. Peloton
Derek's peloton has started preaching to him and he feels weird about it. Andy thinks this is because we live in an age of secular mysticism, and it has a lot…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
The Theological Turn in Children's Ministry
It's an interesting time for congregations and Children's Ministry. Andy talks about why a theological turn for Children's Ministry is sorely needed for…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Wagering Can't Win Happiness
If you watch a sports event in the US, gambling ads are everywhere. Andy thinks this is a sign that our society is turning to a bunch of pagans. Instead of…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
F*** Isn't F*** Anymore
Swear words don't seem to pack the same punch anymore, and Andy thinks it all has to do with the decline of protestantism and the "polite society". It turns…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Existential Problems in YouTube Kids
Derek's children are addicted to YouTube Kids and Andy thinks it's all connected to the work of Byung-Chul Han and Martin Heidegger. YouTube along with other…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Papering Over God
We're back from a hiatus with more new episodes to come! Andy attends a graduation ceremony held in a church where the school papered over God's name on the…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
If Aliens Are Real
Aliens have been in the news a bit, and Derek wants to know what Andy thinks would happen to the Church if aliens are real. Andy's **brand new** book "WHEN…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Mission Statements or Watch Words
Churches are obsessed with mission statements, but Andy thinks that watch words are even more important. Andy's **brand new** book "WHEN CHURCH STOPS WORKING"…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Take Your Bucket List Off Your Bucket List
Andy thinks there's something deeply wrong with having "bucket lists". Andy's **brand new** book "WHEN CHURCH STOPS WORKING" is out now. Grab it on Amazon or…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Looking Forward or Backward
Andy sent Derek a text at 1:00am about our modern desire to look backward at life. It led them to talk about the Holy Land, cathedrals, whiskey, and the…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
What Would Jesus Watch?
Andy likes a streaming TV show about Jesus and says it's good. Derek is skeptical. This leads to a conversation about art, faith, beauty, truth, and the…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Chat GPT
The robots are coming for us all. Andy is worried it has the potential to take away the meaning from artistic expression and end the Age of Authenticity…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
The Times They Ain’t A Changin’
Everyone talks about how "different" these times are for culture and for the Church. Andy doesn't think so. In fact, Andy doesn't think much has changed since…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Proud of Yourself
Andy doesn't think that you should say you're "proud of yourself". It's a throwaway phrase that we use all the time, but Andy thinks there's something more…
Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew RootThe Art of Uncontrol
It's cold outside which makes it a perfect time for Andy's TV recommendations. This time Andy discusses a new show on HBO which leads to a larger conversation…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
There’s No Fun in Fundamentalism
We're excited for another listener question episode - this time from Matthew Codd. Fundamentalism is rampant on both sides of modern politics, social media…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
You’re Fine Isn’t Fine
Andy has a big problem with saying "you're fine" after someone apologizes. And it all has to do with our culture's desire for singular uniqueness and the…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Why Story is Better than Smoke Machines
This week Pastor Andrew Esqueda has a great question for the pod about the tension church leaders feel balancing relevance & resonance. Andy also has a *brand…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Stumbling Through the Polarized World
Ministry is hard in a world of black-and-white divisive issues, political polarization, and different opinions. How can leaders make sense of it all? Andy…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
When Church Stops Working
We're back with a new name, a new schedule, and a new sponsor! This week we're digging into the new name question with Andy. What does it mean when the Church…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Churches and the Crisis of Decline
Andy's brand new book - Churches and the Crisis of Decline - is out now! Derek took some time to sit down with Andy to talk about the book, the real "crisis"…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Too Much Positivity, Smoothness, and Ted Lasso
Everyone loves Ted Lasso. But Andy thinks that this points to a bigger issue in our culture & church. When we're always trying to be positive and smooth, life…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
What Does Resonance Look Like?
We've talked about "resonance" a lot on the podcast, but what does it look like in the real world? This week Andy shares a personal story from a family trip to…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
What a Year It Has Been
We're back from summer break with a new batch of episodes and it's....been....quite the year. There's a lot going on with the global COVID pandemic, political…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Andy's Movie Club: Brad's Status
It's the middle of summer and who knows if we'll ever watch movies in the theater again. But...we DO have another episode of Andy's Movie Club featuring a…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Andy's Movie Club: WeWork
We're excited to introduce Andy's Movie Club - a new type of episode that gives you the chance to stay inside on a screen. Because who hasn't been doing that…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Sin in the Age of Authenticity
How does sin work in the Age of Authenticity? And why are both grace and sin eclipsed in a secular age? We dig into the listener mailbag this week to explore…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
The Congregation in a Secular Age
The trilogy is complete. Andy's *brand new* book - the Congregation in a Secular Age - is out now. It's book #3 in his Secular Age trilogy and, unlike other…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Soul, Meaning, and Ministry
Andy saw Pixar's Soul over Christmas break and can't wait to talk about it. It's a beautiful film with wonderful reflections on life, love, and ministry…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
Cobra Kai & Taylor's Triangle
It's a karate episode for Christmas! Dr. Andrew Root has been watching Cobra Kai lately and sees a big connection between the evil dojo & Charles Taylor's…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
What Do Pastors Do All Week?
What do pastors do all week? In the world of the Immanent Frame - where the only thing that matters is what you can touch and see - this question doesn't have…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
The Church Has Left the Building
We dig into the mailbag again for a great question on the Church and buildings. Do we need them? And do we do when the local church closes down and becomes a…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
The Gift of Doing Less
We've opened up the listener mailbag to answer a question about how to actually "do" the stuff Andy writes about in his books. This leads Andy to reflect on…
- Ministry in a Secular Age featuring Dr. Andrew Root
COVID in the Age of Authenticity
We've been living in this pandemic for a while now and Andy thinks our culture's response to it is a product of the Age of Authenticity. Andy's new book "The…