Making Sense of Faith with Adam Hamilton

• Do You Believe in Everyday Miracles?

  What if a simple Google ad could lead you to save a stranger's life? In this powerful episode, Adam Hamilton sits down with Jeff Reisinger, a Church of the Resurrection member who became a living liver donor, and Dr. Sean Kumer, Chief Medical Officer at the University of Kansas Health System, to explore the remarkable journey of organ donation—from that first unexpected popup ad to the moment two families were forever changed.Jeff's story begins with an unusual series of "coincidences": a persistent advertisement, a Christmas Eve phone call, and a match with another Jeff whose son shares his own son's name. But as you'll hear, these weren't coincidences at all—they were part of something much bigger.In this episode, you'll discover:- How living liver donation works and why your liver regenerates after donation- The difference between kidney and liver donation, and what recovery looks like- Why there are over 100,000 people waiting for organ transplants in the US- How faith can lead to radical acts of selfless love- Practical steps you can take to become a living donorThis isn't just a medical story. It's a profound exploration of what it means to love your neighbor in the most tangible way possible. Whether you're considering becoming a donor, curious about the medical process, or simply looking for an inspiring story of faith in action, this episode will move you.Resources mentioned:- University of Kansas Health System Transplant Center: (913) 588-6183- HRSA (Health Resources & Services Administration): hrsa.gov- Gift of Life donation awarenessThis episode could save lives. If you know someone who might be interested in organ donation—or anyone who needs hope that extraordinary goodness still exists in this world—please share this with them.

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• Beyond Left vs. Right: How to Read the News in Polarized Times

  In a world where news feels overwhelming and every headline seems designed to trigger an emotional response, how do we stay informed without losing our peace—or our ability to love people we disagree with?Critical Thinking as Spiritual Practice Adam explains why Jesus's command to love God with our minds is more relevant than ever. When Jesus said we should love God with heart, soul, and mind, he used the Greek word "dianoia"—which can be translated as "critical thinking." This isn't just intellectual exercise; it's a spiritual discipline that helps us guard our hearts from hatred while engaging thoughtfully with the world around us. Whether it's evaluating news sources or listening to a friend share gossip, critical thinking asks us to slow down and seek the whole truth before responding.The Manipulation Machine: Understanding Modern News News has fundamentally changed from Adam's childhood, when it aired at specific times and aimed for balance. Today's 24/7 news cycle combined with social media algorithms has created what Adam calls a "manipulation machine"—headlines designed as clickbait, stories that confirm our existing biases, and coverage that prioritizes emotional reaction over comprehensive understanding. Adam shares his own struggle with news addiction, describing the unhealthy pattern of "doom scrolling" before bed and checking multiple news apps throughout the day. The first step toward healthier news consumption is recognizing how we're being manipulated.Multiple Sources, Multiple Perspectives Adam's practical approach includes subscribing to news sources across the political spectrum—New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC. When a story triggers a strong emotional response, he intentionally seeks out how it's being covered from different angles. This isn't about moral relativism or saying all perspectives are equally valid; it's about gathering enough information to form thoughtful conclusions rather than reactive ones. Adam notes that often the most salacious headline is followed by a much more mundane story, and taking time to read beyond the headline changes everything.From Information to Transformation: Guarding Your Heart Perhaps the most powerful insight Adam shares is about the danger of allowing news consumption to lead to hatred. He references Holocaust survivor Sonia Walorski, who said "I will not hate" even after losing her family to the Nazis. Adam emphasizes that Christians can take strong stands against injustice and wrong actions while still loving the people on the other side. This requires intentional work—trying to understand others' motivations, being curious about their perspectives, and remembering that we're called to "agape" love, which means wishing the best for others even when we disagree with them.Pause and Think Before You Post Adam shares a vulnerable story about posting too quickly after a public figure's assassination, having to revisit his words after feedback from a respected church member. His key advice: slow down. Wait before posting on social media. Do more fact-checking. Try to understand the other perspective. This discipline of pausing creates space for wisdom instead of reaction, for love instead of hatred, for truth instead of propaganda. In a culture that rewards instant responses, choosing to slow down is a countercultural—and deeply Christian—practice.

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• Why Church? The Surprising Science Behind Faith Community

  Adam Hamilton tackles one of the most pressing questions facing modern spirituality: Do we really need church? With trademark honesty, Adam acknowledges the hurt and disillusionment many people feel about organized religion... and then makes a compelling, research-backed case for why faith community might be exactly what we're missing. Drawing from his own journey from teenage atheist to pastor of the largest United Methodist church in the country, Adam shares both hard data and heartfelt stories that reveal the transformative power of showing up, belonging, and being carried by others when life gets hard.Insights from This Episode:Church attendance could add 7 years to your life. Multiple Harvard studies show that people who attend religious services at least weekly live significantly longer... with mortality rates 25-35% lower over 10-15 years. Adam breaks down why this isn't just about faith, but about the social capital, support systems, and “stretcher bearers” we all desperately need.Mental health and faith community are deeply connected. The American Psychiatric Association reports that 6 in 10 Americans say faith supports their mental wellness, and those actively involved in faith communities show 20-30% lower rates of depression and up to six times lower rates of suicide. In an age of increasing isolation, these numbers tell a story we can't afford to ignore.Churches are volunteer engines that power communities. Here's a stat that might surprise you: 58% of people actively involved in church also volunteer in other community organizations. Adam explores why researchers are raising alarms about what happens to our communities if church attendance continues to decline... where will the volunteers come from?You don't have to claim the worst examples of Christianity. When people say, "I'm a follower of Jesus, not a Christian," Adam pushes back with wisdom: If you let the Christians who get it wrong claim the title while you abandon it, then those are the only Christians people will know. Be the different kind of Christian the world needs to see.If you've ever wondered whether church is worth it, or if you've been hurt by church and aren't sure you can go back, this episode offers a fresh perspective that doesn't require you to check your brain at the door. Adam invites both skeptics and longtime believers into an honest conversation about why gathering together still matters, backed by science and lived experience. Whether you're spiritual but not religious, nominally religious but not active, or somewhere in between, this episode might just change how you think about community, belonging, and what it means to truly thrive.

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• 15,695 Times: One Key to Love That Lasts a Lifetime

  In this deeply personal episode, Adam Hamilton pulls back the curtain on his 43-year marriage to LaVon, sharing the honest, sometimes messy reality of how faith has held them together when everything else might have pulled them apart. After recently officiating his youngest daughter's wedding, Adam reflects on what it really means to build a lasting relationship - not through rose-colored romanticism, but through prayer, intentionality, and the kind of commitment that shows up even when feelings fade. This isn't your typical marriage advice. It's a real, vulnerable conversation about the moments when attraction wanes, when other people could easily turn your head, and when the gap between who you married and who you're married to now feels impossibly wide. If you've ever wondered whether faith makes any practical difference in relationships, Adam's story - complete with late-night flower runs and 15,695 nightly prayers - offers compelling evidence that it does.5 KEY INSIGHTS FROM THIS EPISODE:The Three-Step Rule That Saved Adam's MarriageAdam describes those dangerous moments early in marriage when casual workplace friendships could have become something more. His solution? Recognizing when he was "three steps away" from destroying everything he cared about, and choosing to step back instead of forward.Why Doing Comes Before FeelingAfter hearing a prompting to buy LaVon flowers at 11 PM when he didn’t feel like it, Adam discovered a crucial truth: in dating, you do loving things because you feel love. In marriage, you often do loving things first, and the feelings follow.The 70% Happiness FactorResearch shows that couples who pray together daily are 70% more likely to report being very happy in their marriages. Active religious participation reduces divorce rates by 30%. These aren't just numbers - they're Adam's lived experience.What the First Wedding Teaches UsAdam unpacks the Genesis story of Adam and Eve, revealing two Hebrew words that define marriage: ezer (helper/rescuer) and kenegdo (companion). You're not promising to always feel madly in love - you're promising to show up and do life together.The Hand Print on Your HeartDrawing from the musical Wicked, Adam shares how he sang "For Good" to LaVon, realizing that after 43 years, they've been changed by each other - reshaped, reformed, and ultimately made better through the commitment they made as teenagers.This episode isn't just for people planning weddings or struggling in their marriages. It's for anyone wondering whether ancient faith has anything relevant to say about modern relationships. Adam's vulnerability about his own journey and daily disciplines offers a roadmap that's both practical and profound - showing us that love isn't just a feeling to chase, but a choice to make, again and again, for a lifetime.

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• Resurrection's First Sermon: October 7, 1990

  On the 35th anniversary of founding the Church of the Resurrection, Adam Hamilton takes us on an extraordinary journey back to October 7, 1990—when he was a nervous 26-year-old pastor standing in a funeral home chapel, wondering if anyone would show up. In this deeply personal episode, Adam shares the complete audio of his very first sermon, a message that tackled life's most fundamental question: "Is this all?" Drawing from his grandmother's deathbed question and the Apostle Paul's words about knowing Christ, Adam explores why the resurrection isn't just about what happens after death, but about how we choose to live today. This isn't a nostalgic trip down memory lane—it's a powerful reminder that the questions keeping us up at night are the same ones humans have asked throughout history, and the answer changes everything about how we show up in the world.5 Key Moments You Don't Want to Miss:The Question Behind Every Struggle - Adam reveals how "Is this all?" shows up in different forms throughout our lives: in moments of despair ("Why should I go on?"), in grief ("Where are they now?"), in success that feels empty ("Where do I go from here?"), and in moral compromise ("Why not? Who's gonna know?"). These aren't different questions—they're all asking whether there's something more than what we can see and touch.Why the Resurrection Is the Answer - For Christians, Adam explains, the decisive proof of "something more" isn't Jesus's birth or even his death—it's the resurrection. This event gives us hope in the face of death, allows us to worship in a funeral home without dread, and proves there's one who holds power even over our deepest fears. It's the foundation that lets us face tomorrow with confidence.The Hero Who Packed His Life Into One Night - The sermon culminates with the moving story of Edward William Spencer, a college swimmer who saved 17 lives during a shipwreck in 1860—and was paralyzed for the rest of his life as a result. When asked if he'd do it again, his answer reveals what it means to live as a person of the resurrection: "I'm a follower of one who packed his whole life into nine hours on the cross."What Makes a Great Church - Young Adam's vision wasn't about having a great preacher, a beautiful building, or perfect programs. It was about people deciding to live as people of the resurrection—laying their lives on the line for others with such authentic faith that others would be drawn to join them.From 200 People to a Movement - What started with coffee mug deliveries and a simple invitation to "come dream with us" grew into the largest United Methodist Church in the country—not through strategy, but through ordinary people choosing to love selflessly and sacrificially.Why This Episode Matters:Whether you're skeptical about faith, burned out on church, or simply wondering if there's more to life than what you're experiencing right now, this episode meets you exactly where you are. Adam's vulnerability about his own nervous beginnings and his willingness to revisit his younger self's convictions create space for honest exploration. The question "Is this all?" doesn't require a religious background to understand—it requires only the courage to ask it honestly and consider what you'll do with the answer. Listen to discover why this 35-year-old sermon still speaks to the deepest longing of the human heart.

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