FRAMEWORK CATEGORY

Shift Ministry Models

Christian communities need to harness skills of agile leadership, stewardship, social entrepreneurism, and management to be nimble enough to respond to a changing cultural landscape.

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Episode 137 Why Smart People Make BAD Religious Decisions episode thumbnail

#137: Religious Decision Making: Dr. Angela Gorrell’s Guide to Faithful Discernment When You Don’t Know What to Do

Dr. Angela Williams-Gorrell shares her framework for religious decision making when facing difficult choices.
Pivot Podcast | Episode 135. Image description reads: Fresh Expressions Changes Everything Pt. 2 Feat. Shannon Kiser and Dwight Zscheile

#136: Fresh Expressions: From VBS Burnout to Vibrant Community Ministry (Part 2)

Shannon Kiser reveals how fresh expressions transformed her church from event-driven ministry to authentic neighborhood relationships.
Pivot Podcast | Episode 135. Image description reads: Fresh Expressions Changes Everything Pt. 1 Feat. Shannon Kiser and Dwight Zscheile

#135: Fresh Expressions: From VBS Burnout to Vibrant Community Ministry (Part 1)

Dwight Zscheile and Shannon Kiser explore how churches can grow vibrant fresh expressions to reach changing neighborhoods.
photo of a stack of old photos

God’s Spirit Transforms Nostalgia

Memory is strong, but hope is stronger
Pivot Podcast | Episode 134. Image description reads: Why Religion Went Obsolete (Pt. 2) Feat. Christian Smith, Terri Elton, and Dwight Zscheile

#134: Has Religion Become Obsolete? with Christian Smith (Part 2)

Has religion become obsolete in American culture? In this second part of our conversation with sociologist Dr. Christian Smith, we explore his groundbreaking research on why traditional religion has lost its cultural relevance for post-Boomer generations.

#133: Has Religion Become Obsolete? A Conversation with Christian Smith (Part 1)

Dr. Christian Smith explores why religion feels outdated in modern culture, citing shifts in family, institutions, and technology as key causes.
A Different Approach to Evangelism

A Different Approach to Evangelism

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Meeting Jesus in the midst of sorrow
Pivot Podcast | Episode 132. Image description reads: Reframing Evangelism (Pt. 2) Feat. Andy Root, Terri Elton, and Dwight Zscheile

#132: Reframing Evangelism: Following Jesus into Sorrow with Andy Root (Part 2)

In part two of our conversation with Andy Root, we explore a radically different approach to sharing faith that moves beyond happiness-hunting strategies to embrace God's presence in brokenness.
people in a bible study

Bodybuilding: Equipping God’s People for Ministry

The deeply collaborative New Testament vision for ministry
stained glass windows

Stewardship and the Mixed Ecology

Figuring out a sustainable way forward
Pivot Podcast | Episode 131. Image description reads: Reframing Evangelism (Pt. 1) Feat. Andy Root, Terri Elton, and Dwight Zscheile

#131: Reframing Evangelism: Following Jesus into Sorrow with Andy Root (Part 1)

Dr. Andy Root shows us how to evangelize through what he calls "a theology of consolation" - being present with people in their sadness and brokenness, because that's where Jesus shows up.
Pivot Podcast | Episode 130. Image description reads: Being Church During Community Crisis Feat. Feat. Alicia Granholm, Dwight Zscheile, Marcos Canales, and Nina Lau

#130: Being Church During Community Crisis

With Pastor Marcos Canales and Nina Lau Branson, discover how being church in a community crisis goes far beyond emergency preparedness.
Pivot Podcast | Episode 129. Image description reads: One Church Multiple Models Feat. Dwight Zscheile, Terri Elton, and Alicia Granholm

#129: One Church, Multiple Models: How the Mixed Ecology Approach Transforms Ministry

In this insightful episode of the Pivot Podcast, we talk with Dwight Zscheile about the concept of "one church multiple models" through what he calls a "mixed ecology" approach.
photo of people in b&w

The Myth of Homogeneity

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How embracing diverse expressions of church unlocks new vitality
Pivot Podcast | Episode 128. Image description reads: Finding Your Preaching Rhythm Feat. Dwight Zscheile, Terri Elton, and Mark Glanville

#128: Biblical Improvisation: How Jazz Music Transforms Preaching in a Post-Christian Society

Discover biblical improvisation with Dr. Mark Glanville—where jazz meets Old Testament insight to craft sermons that resonate in today’s post-Christian world.
Photo of an English parish church

Stewardship Across the Pond

A letter of learnings from a week studying mission-driven ministries in the U.K., for church leaders everywhere

#127: Church Leadership Community Engagement: Transforming Ministry Through Sustainable Outreach Models

Host Dwight Zscheile interviews Pastor Ed Doerner from Messiah Lutheran Church about their revolutionary approach to church leadership and community engagement.
Pivot Podcast | Episode 126. Image description reads: Authenticity with Gen Z Feat. Dwight Zscheile, Terri Elton, and Eric Huseth

#126: Gen Z Spiritual Formation: Authentic Campus Ministry Approaches That Work

Discover effective approaches to Gen Z spiritual formation in this insightful Pivot Podcast episode featuring Eric Huseth.