In this episode of As in Heaven, Jim Davis and Michael Graham welcome Patrick Miller to discuss the meaning of casual dechurching. They address the idea of casual dechurching and provide insights into why roughly three-quarters of those who have dechurched fit this category. You'll learn how we can better engage this group of people and why there is tremendous hope that many of them will return to church.Episode time stamps: Episode topic and guest introduction (0:00)Dechurching and a missional call to Gen Z (4:00)Who are the casually dechurched and why did they leave? (6:06)Church size and COVID-19 (10:22)Re-engaging and what has worked in Miller's context (17:06)The use of technology in re-engaging the dechurched (19:13)Six different profiles of churchgoers (24:54)Four categories of church evangelicals (26:45)Close friendship and discipleship (28:38)Trusting the Holy Spirit and being intentional (33:53)Practically engaging the dechurched through discipleship (41:50)This episode is part of As In Heaven’s third season, devoted to The Great Dechurching—the largest and fastest religious shift in US history. To learn more about this phenomenon upon which the episodes of this season are based, pre-order The Great Dechurching by Michael Graham and Jim Davis.

In this episode of As In Heaven, hosts Jim Davis and Michael Aitcheson welcome Collin Hansen to discuss the historical roots of dechurching. Hansen delves into events like the Enlightenment and the First Great Awakening, biblical criticism, the rise of the internet and technology, and more. You'll learn how these historical moments can inform how we navigate and understand dechurching in America today.Episode time stamps: Episode and topic intro (0:00)Historical factors behind dechurching (1:38)The Enlightenment (5:30)The First and Second Great Awakenings (9:18)The influence of the Civil War and the abolition of slavery (14:48)The "social gospel" and its criticism (19:04)Civil religion in American history (26:00)The rise of the religious right and the decline of Christianity (29:21)Issues and scandals of the religious right (34:51)How have the last 20 years changed the church? (40:19)How to develop a theological vision of the church (46:12)This episode is part of As In Heaven’s third season, devoted to The Great Dechurching—the largest and fastest religious shift in US history. To learn more about this phenomenon upon which the episodes of this season are based, pre-order The Great Dechurching by Michael Graham and Jim Davis.

In this episode of As In Heaven, host Jim Davis welcomes guests Ryan Burge and Michael Graham to discuss the dechurched in America—who are they and why did they leave? They discuss detailed insights about the 40 million adult Americans who have dechurched in the last 30 years and talk in-depth about the four different profiles of dechurched evangelicals.Episode time stamps:Episode and guest introduction (0:00)Defining "dechurching" and why it matters (2:36)The research and how to understand the data (7:36)Six main profiles of the dechurched in America (14:04)A deeper look at cultural Christians (17:36)Understanding mainstream evangelicals (22:15)Demographics of people leaving the church (28:03)Opportunities to better engage the dechurched (33:06)Defining and understanding the BIPOC group (38:18)Understanding dechurching among the Catholic group (42:22)The role of education in the dechurching movement (44:49)College students and religious literacy (47:01)Closing thoughts and looking forward (48:02) This episode is part of As In Heaven’s third season, devoted to The Great Dechurching—the largest and fastest religious shift in US history. To learn more about this phenomenon upon which the episodes of this season are based, pre-order The Great Dechurching by Michael Graham and Jim Davis.

In this episode of As In Heaven, Jim Davis, Mike Aitcheson, Michael Graham, and Skyler Flowers give a preview of the third season of the podcast, which focuses on dechurching in America. The hosts define key terms used throughout the season and discuss who the decurched are, how we can help, and where we're headed as the church in America.The bad news is bad—roughly 40 million people have left the church over 30 years. But the good news is good—there's something we can do as the body of Christ to bring people back and love them in a gospel-centered way. Episode time stamps:Introduction to the show and hosts (00:00)Overview of the season topic and episodes (3:40)Michael Graham's favorite episodes (5:16)Mike Aitcheson's favorite episodes (5:56)Skyler Flowers's favorite episodes (7:58)Jim's favorite episodes (9:38)Invitation to episode 1 (11:32)  This episode is part of As In Heaven’s third season, devoted to The Great Dechurching—the largest and fastest religious shift in US history. To learn more about this phenomenon upon which the episodes of this season are based, pre-order The Great Dechurching by Michael Graham and Jim Davis. 

Jim Davis and Mike Aitcheson talk live at TGC's 2021 national conference with Dr. Tim Keller and Dr. Irwyn Ince about a biblical theology of race and justice. The panel explores the similarities of the course 1940s Carl Henry charted between fundamentalism and liberalism, and how maintaining a prophetic witness will be important as we observe the phenomena of dechurching and deconversion.DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:How does Tim Keller define mishpat?How does Irwyn Ince define shalom?What inferences are drawn as to the relationship of mishpat to shalom?As you observe our cultural moment, what things today bring you to a place of lament?As you observe our cultural moment, what things today bring you to a place of encouragement?What are some of the negative consequences of failing to pursue mishpat and shalom in this particular conversation?What does good leadership look like in such difficult and complex conversations?