Making Sense of Faith with Adam Hamilton

• Learning to Forgive When Someone You Love Does the Unthinkable

  In this deeply moving episode of Making Sense of Faith, Adam Hamilton sits down with Bob and Kelly Pascuzzi to explore one of life's most challenging questions: How do we forgive when someone we love does the unthinkable? Through their raw and honest conversation, Adam reveals why forgiveness isn't just a nice spiritual concept—it's the most essential life skill you'll ever learn. Drawing from decades of pastoral experience and his own struggles with forgiveness, Adam offers practical wisdom for anyone wrestling with hurt, betrayal, or the seemingly impossible task of letting go.Five Key Insights You Don't Want to Miss:The Six Words That Can Save Any Relationship Adam shares the two simple phrases that no successful relationship can survive without—and they're probably not what you think. These six words have the power to transform marriages, friendships, and family dynamics, yet most of us struggle to say them regularly. Why Your Brain and Your Faith Should Work Together Forget the idea that faith requires checking your intellect at the door. Adam explains how critical thinking actually strengthens faith and why asking hard questions isn't the enemy of belief—it's often the pathway toward deeper understanding and authentic spirituality. The Backpack Full of Rocks Metaphor That Changes Everything Discover Adam's powerful visualization for understanding forgiveness as a process of releasing the emotional weight we carry. From small pebbles of daily irritation to massive boulders of deep hurt, learn how to identify what you're carrying and why it's time to set it down. What to Do When Someone Won't Stop Hurting You Through a personal story about a difficult parishioner, Adam reveals the surprising prayer strategy that transformed his heart over 18 months. This isn't about becoming a doormat—it's about finding freedom when you can't escape a toxic situation. How Hurt People Really Do Hurt People Adam shares the breakthrough moment that helps unlock empathy for those who've wounded us: understanding their own pain. When we discover the trauma and wounds that shaped someone's behavior, forgiveness becomes possible without excusing what they did to us.Whether you're struggling to forgive a spouse's betrayal, a parent's neglect, or facing an unthinkable tragedy like the Pascuzzis, this conversation offers hope without easy answers. Adam doesn't promise that forgiveness is simple or quick—sometimes it takes 18 months of daily prayer, sometimes it requires professional help, and sometimes we need to protect ourselves first. But he does promise this: learning the art of forgiveness will transform your life more than any other skill you could master.Ready to discover how even the darkest moments can become doorways to freedom? This episode will challenge everything you thought you knew about forgiveness, faith, and what it means to truly let go.

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• The Ancient Debate that Shaped Christianity Forever

  What if the most important theological debate in Christian history happened because faithful people were simply trying to make sense of confusing ideas? In this fascinating episode, Adam Hamilton takes us back 1,700 years to explore the Council of Nicaea and the creation of the Nicene Creed—a document that emerged from one of Christianity's most heated controversies. Far from being a dry academic exercise, this ancient debate tackled the exact questions that keep thinking people up at night: Who is Jesus, really? If there's one God, how can Jesus also be God? And why does any of this matter for our daily lives? Adam reveals how a priest named Arius, genuinely trying to help his congregation understand their faith, sparked a theological firestorm that nearly split the early church. Through rich historical detail and accessible explanations, this episode shows how the church's most foundational beliefs weren't handed down from on high, but were hammered out through passionate debate, political intrigue, and the messy process of faithful people wrestling with life's biggest questions.Highlights:The Catchy Phrase That Nearly Destroyed Christianity - Arius created the memorable slogan "there was a time when he was not" to explain Jesus's relationship to God the Father, but this seemingly helpful teaching tool threatened to undermine the entire foundation of Christian faith. When Being Wrong Could Get You Exiled - Adam reveals the high stakes of theological debate in the Roman Empire, where even bishops faced banishment for holding unpopular views, and how the champion of orthodoxy, Athanasius, was exiled five times for defending his beliefs. The $10 Word That Changed Everything - The Greek term "homoousios" (of the same being) became the crucial phrase that defined Jesus as fully God, not just God-like, settling the debate about whether Jesus could truly save us or was merely a divine sidekick. Why the Creed Became Illegal - In a stunning twist, the very term championed at Nicaea was later outlawed by the Roman Empire, showing how even "settled" theology continued to be contested for decades after the famous council.This isn't just a history lesson—it's an invitation to understand why these ancient debates matter for anyone grappling with doubt, seeking authentic faith, or wondering how a 2,000-year-old story can transform modern life. Whether you're skeptical about Christianity or simply curious about how core beliefs developed, Adam's exploration of the Nicene Creed offers fresh insights into the faith that has shaped Western civilization and continues to offer hope to millions worldwide.

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• America was Built on Protest: A Response to the ICE Protests

  In this timely episode of Making Sense of Faith, Adam Hamilton tackles one of today's most challenging intersections: where faith meets politics, and where our deepest values collide with current events. Responding to the ICE raids and protests happening across California and other cities, Adam doesn't shy away from the hard questions that keep thinking people up at night. Instead, he offers a fresh perspective that bridges historical wisdom with present-day realities, showing how the very foundations of America—and the birth of our military 250 years ago—were rooted in the right to peaceful protest. This isn't your typical political commentary; it's a thoughtful exploration of what it means to live out faith authentically in a complex world.Highlights:America's Army Was Born from Protest - Adam reveals the surprising truth that our Continental Army was formed in 1775 precisely because American colonists were protesting their government. From the Boston Tea Party to the Stamp Act protests, our nation's military exists because people dared to speak up against injustice—making the right to peaceful protest fundamentally American. The Golden Rule Test for Immigration Policy - What would immigration policy look like if we truly applied Jesus's teaching to "do unto others as you would have them do unto you"? Adam challenges listeners to consider this question honestly, especially since most American families immigrated here at some point—some legally, some not. When Protest Goes Wrong (And Right) - Drawing from his own experience at George Floyd protests in Kansas City, Adam shares what he witnessed when peaceful demonstration devolved into name-calling and property destruction. He makes a compelling case for how we can speak up for justice without undermining our own moral authority. Speaking Up for Those Who Cannot Speak - Referencing both Pentecost Sunday and Proverbs 31, Adam explains why people of faith are called to be bold advocates for the vulnerable and voiceless—especially when fear keeps others silent. It's about human dignity, not just policy positions. The Surprising Deportation Statistics - Adam shares eye-opening numbers that challenge assumptions on all sides of the immigration debate, showing how facts can help us move beyond reactive anger toward more thoughtful solutions.Whether you're skeptical about mixing faith and politics, curious about what Christianity really says about social justice, or wrestling with how to respond to the chaos in our news cycle, this episode offers something rare: a conversation that doesn't ask you to check your brain at the door. Adam's approach stands in the radical center, refusing easy answers while providing practical wisdom for navigating life's complexities through the lens of faith. This is what happens when ancient wisdom meets modern challenges—and the result might just transform how you think about both faith and citizenship.

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• The Church Nobody Thinks Could Exist: Progressive Faith Meets Deep Tradition

  What happens when three young pastors decide to build churches that challenge everything people expect from organized religion? In this compelling episode of Making Sense of Faith, Adam Hamilton sits down with three remarkable young clergy who are reshaping what it means to be a pastor in today's world. Fresh from a gathering of United Methodist pastors, these emerging leaders share their deeply personal call stories and their bold vision for creating faith communities that nobody thinks could exist—places where progressive values meet ancient traditions, where doubts are welcomed alongside belief, and where diversity isn't just tolerated but celebrated as a reflection of God's kingdom.5 Key Highlights from This Conversation:"God Made Me Different on Purpose" - Tyler shares his powerful childhood realization that God created diversity intentionally, leading him to embrace both his sexuality and his calling to ministry as gifts meant to work together, not compete. The Church That Doesn't Exist Yet - Julia describes her dream of starting a faith community that confuses everyone because it's "unapologetically Jesus-centered" while being both evangelical and progressive. From Crisis to Calling - Janelle reveals how her call to ministry came during a faith crisis after her grandmother's death, discovered while reading John Wesley's Covenant Prayer in a church member's basement during a social justice internship. Why Young People Still Choose Ministry - Despite the United Methodist Church having only 400 clergy under age 40, these three pastors explain what draws them to serve communities hungry for authentic faith that doesn't require checking your brain at the door. Building Bridges in Divided Times - Adam explores how recent changes in United Methodist policy have opened doors for LGBTQ+ clergy like Tyler, creating space for new kinds of inclusive faith communities that reflect the radical center.This isn't your typical religious podcast episode—it's a glimpse into the future of faith itself. These young pastors aren't just starting churches; they're reimagining what spiritual community can look like when it embraces both the wisdom of 2,000-year-old traditions and the needs of people living in an increasingly complex world. Whether you're skeptical about organized religion, curious about progressive Christianity, or simply wondering if there's a place for thinking people in faith communities, this conversation offers hope that the church you've been looking for might just be getting started. Adam and his guests prove that sometimes the most revolutionary act is refusing to choose between heart and head, between ancient wisdom and modern understanding—and instead creating something beautifully, impossibly whole.

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• Run Towards Pain? The Key to Influence with Global Leadership Expert Tommy Spaulding

  Adam Hamilton sits down with leadership expert and bestselling author Tommy Spaulding for an honest conversation that bridges the gap between faith and leadership. What starts as a discussion about servant leadership quickly becomes a vulnerable exploration of forgiveness, relationships, and what it really means to live like Jesus in our everyday interactions. Tommy's transparency about his own struggles with forgiveness—despite being a global leadership expert—creates space for the kind of real, authentic conversation that speaks to anyone wrestling with life's hardest questions.The 80,000 Person Stadium: Your Life's True Measure Tommy shares a stunning statistic: the average person influences 2.8 people per day, totaling 80,000 people in a lifetime. He challenges listeners to imagine all these people gathered in a stadium at the end of their life—will they be cheering, booing, or sitting in silence? This powerful metaphor reframes how we think about our daily interactions and the legacy we're building one conversation at a time. "It's Not About You": The Leadership Tattoo Worth Getting Despite not being a tattoo fan, Tommy reveals the four words he'd permanently ink on his body if he could: "It's not about you." Adam explores this counterintuitive leadership principle that echoes Jesus's example of washing his disciples' feet—true leadership means serving others first, not filling your own cup. Running Toward Pain Instead of Celebration While we're quick to send congratulations and birthday cards, Tommy argues we avoid the moments that matter most—showing up when people are going through divorce, loss, depression, or other hardships. He shares the story of supporting a friend whose son died by suicide, illustrating how presence during pain creates the deepest bonds. The Forgiveness Audit: 35 People and Counting In a moment of raw honesty, Tommy admits he has "35 people" he needs to forgive, from childhood teachers who called him stupid to more serious wounds. Adam explores how forgiveness isn't about saying harm didn't matter, but about choosing to release the rocks we carry in our hearts—because love truly "keeps no record of wrongs." Jesus as Leadership Model, Not Just Savior Moving beyond seeing Jesus only as a spiritual figure, Tommy and Adam discuss embracing Christ as our leadership role model. This shift changes how we approach everything from marriage to politics to business, calling us to love and serve all people—even those who believe differently than we do.Whether you're leading a team, navigating difficult relationships, or simply trying to figure out what it means to live with purpose, this honest exploration of faith-centered leadership will challenge you to think differently about influence, forgiveness, and what it really means to follow Jesus in today's polarized world.

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