The Church Needs Therapy
By Kevin Sweeney
The Church Needs TherapyJun 14, 2021
Dr. Andrew L. Whitehead
In this conversation we talk about disentangling Christianity from Christian Nationalism, power and fear, and his newest book, “American Idolatry: How Christian Nationalism Betrays The Gospel And Threatens The Church.”
Advent Sermon for People Without a Church (and also everyone else too)
This is an Advent sermon for people without church right now (and also for everyone else too). In this sermon, I suggest that Advent might be a time of God asking you, “What do you still really want?”
Carl McColman
In this conversation we talk about who the mystics are, why there is resistance to the word mystic, and his newest book, “The New Big Book of Christian Mysticism.”
Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes
In this conversation we talk about what gets in the way of exercising care for our sacred selves, discerning our bodies spirit-given wisdom, and Dr. Walker-Barnes' newest book, “Sacred Care: Daily Practices For Nurturing Our Whole Selves.”
Dr. Carmen Acevedo Butcher
In this conversation we talk about mystics, translating ancient writings for the modern era, and her newest book, “Practice Of The Presence: A Revolutionary Translation.”
The Reverend Mamas
In this conversation we talk about the the creative drive to write a children’s book, the difference between the power of God's presence and the presence of God's power, and their newest book, “My Love, God Is Everywhere.”
Uncertainty Is My Specialty (part 2)
This is a walk through the experience of certainty, facing the unknown, and some things to think about while we are going through these spaces.
Uncertainty Is My Specialty (part 1)
This is a walk through the experience of certainty, facing the unknown, and some things to think about while we are going through these spaces.
Episode 100!
In this episode my friend Phil Wood interviews me and asks about the journey to episode 100 and what is ahead.
Amanda Held Opelt 2
This week is a great conversation with Amanda Held Opelt. In this conversation we talk about her newest book, “Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness, And The Myth Of The Blessed Life”
Cosmic Christ part 2: Jesus is What God Looks Like in Public
In this episode I continue talking about The Cosmic Christ, and how Jesus is what God looks like in public.
Cosmic Christ part 1: Really? Jesus?
In this episode I begin talking about The Cosmic Christ, why when people say Jesus sometimes, it feels weird and out of place.
What Am I Doing Now?
This podcast is me answering the question, "what am I doing now?"
Keith Kristich
In this conversation we talk about centering prayer, his online contemplative community “Closer Than Breath,” and his up and coming “Christian Mystic Summit.”
Justin McRoberts
In this conversation we talk about his book, “Sacred Strides: The Journey to Belovedness in Work and Rest” and you will discover why you want to go out and get this book!
Jason Adam Miller
In this conversation we talk about his book “When the World Breaks: The Surprising Hope and the Subversive Promises in the Teachings of Jesus,” and what it means for a pastor to keep growing into the future while still honoring your past.
We Ask for Wisdom, But Never Ask for Permission
In this episode I talk about letting go of the need for reassurance or permission on our journey to inner authority.
Spiritual Experience and Inner Authority vs. People's Expectations and External Authority
In this episode I talk about the big shift from living up to people’s expectations and external authority, to deep spiritual experience and owning our inner authority.
Caroline Oakes
In this conversation we talk about Caroline's book “Practicing The Pause: Jesus’ Contemplative Practice, New Brain Science, And What It Means To Be Fully Human” the real meaning of repentance, and what happened to Thomas Merton on 4th and Walnut.
Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III
We talk about his newest book “Dancing In The Darkness: Spiritual Lessons for Thriving in Turbulent Times” the richness of Black Spirituality, and what has been revealed in the United States the past few years.
Heather Hamilton
In this conversation we talk about her newest book “Returning to Eden: A Field Guide For The Spiritual Journey,” the purpose of mythological stories, and integrating our whole journey.
Why the Bible is Like Your Old Journals: Also Evolution, Consciousness, Eunuchs, Jesus, and Paul
In this conversation I talk about why the Bible is just like your old journals, how God “changes” his view of Eunuchs in the Bible, and also evolution, consciousness, Jesus, and Paul.
Aurelia Dávila Pratt
In this conversation we talk about her newest book “A “Brown Girl’s Epiphany," divine intuition, and the need to step out of old things and into new things.
The Joy of Letting Go Interview
One of my best friends, author, and creator of the Youtube channel “3-ology” Kevin Livermore interviewed me for his channel, and he was gracious enough to let me use the audio for the podcast.
Dr. Mallory Wyckoff
In this In this conversation we talk about her newest book “God Is,” fresh images and feminine metaphors for God, and what it means that God is in the waves.
Alexander John Shaia
Alexander John is one of those rare elders and sages that can make you feel and know that everything is going to be okay. His vision of Jesus is one of the most profound you will hear, his heart for the world will leave you hopeful, and he can help us the beauty in the path of Jesus, and in everything.
Old Church New Church, Red Church Blue Church
In this episode I talk about the space between old churches and new churches, and helps us think through what to do about church now.
Bekah McNeel
In this conversation we talk about her new book, “Bringing Up Kids When Church Lets You Down: A Guide for Parents Questioning Their Faith.” This is such a timely book and conversation for so many right now.
Dr. Alma Zaragoza-Petty
In this conversation we talk about her new book, "Chingona: Owning Your Inner Badass for Healing and Justice.”
Amanda Held Opelt
In this conversation we talk about her new book, “A Hole in The World: Finding Hope in Rituals of grief and Healing” and how there is no life hack for grief.
Damon Garcia
In this conversation we talk about his new book, “The God Who Riots,” Jesus and the temple, and what we are actually saved from.
It's (not) That Serious
Why we can take life seriously and not seriously at all, and why we need to let go of our need for change while we are working for change.
Matt Tebbe
In this conversation we talk about the book he co-authored with Ben Sternke, “Having The Mind of Christ: Eight Axioms To Cultivate a Robust Faith,” naming how whiteness works, and life beyond deconstruction.
Brian McLaren 2
In this conversation we talk about his newest book, "Do I Stay Christian?" what you gain after you experience relational loss, and giving Christianity permission to evolve.
Dr. Holly Oxhandler
In this episode we talk about Holly's book "The Soul Of The Helper," the need for helpers to know their layer of divinity, and holding space for hard feelings, complexity, and messiness.
Jonathan Martin
In this conversation we talk about his newest book, “The Road Away From God,” living the cross and resurrection, and following the questions wherever they lead you.
Kim Honeycutt
In this conversation we talk about soul graffiti, our true self, and life beyond our trauma responses.
Losing Our Heroes and Gaining Our Voice
In this episode I talk about what we desire from our heroes, how they always fail us and become human, and why that’s necessary for owning our own voice.
Good Friday: A Guided Contemplative Experience
By remembering the passion and suffering of Christ, we have a chance to face our own suffering, and to discover this Christ with us.
Hell (not really), The Possibility of Peace, and Particularity
In this episode, I talk about hell (kind of, but not really), the vision of personal peace Jesus articulates, and one thing we need to let go of in order to experience this peace more.
Brandan Robertson (Part 2)
We talk about what it means to empty ourselves like Jesus, how privilege can become a tool for liberation, and how the places we want to avoid have the power to awaken us.
Candice Benbow
In this conversation we talk about her new book, “Red Lip Theology,” how the personal is the theological, and the beauty of black faith.
Why IMAGINE is In Her Final Chapter: The Story of How We Got Here With Special Guest: Christine Sweeney
In this conversation we talk about why IMAGINE is in her last chapter, how we got to this place together, and why acceptance holds all things together.
Danté Stewart
In this conversation we talk about his new book, “Shoutin’ In The Fire,” the movement toward wholeness and freedom, and responding the question of how to be Black, Christian, and American at the same time.
Scott Erickson
In this conversation we talk about his new book, “Say Yes,” a faith that makes sense for us today, and what it means to be a curator of awesomeness.
Leaving Nets Behind, a Zen Story, and a Word.
Tune in to the first episode of "The Church Needs Therapy" in 2022!
What is Advent? Preachers N' Sneakers, and a Spirituality of Subtraction
In this episode I respond to some questions about Advent, the Instagram account Preachers N' Sneakers, and what a spirituality of subtraction means.
Matthew Vines
In this conversation we talk about his new video curriculum, “The Biblical Case for LGBTQ Inclusion,” the authority of the Bible, and his desire to change hearts and minds.
Drew Jackson
In this conversation we talk about his newest book, “God Speaks Through Wombs,” the heart of the poet today, and why imagination is so vital for the future.
This is All About Joy?
In this episode I talk about how Jesus focuses on joy, why we have a complicated relationship with joy, and the connection between heaviness and holiness.