Strong Church

Pastor Lucas Miles sits down with Pastor Luke Barnett of Dream City Church for an inspiring conversation about faith, resilience, and leading through adversity. From personal trials to building a ministry that impacts thousands, Luke shares how to stand strong when life throws its hardest challenges—and why a deep, unshakable trust in God is the key to enduring success in both ministry and life.Topics Covered:How a life-threatening accident reshaped Luke’s perspective on ministryThe biblical foundation for resilience and perseveranceBuilding a thriving church culture rooted in faith and visionWhy personal character matters more than public platformEncouragement for leaders facing burnout or discouragementDon’t Forget:Subscribe to Strong Church on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTubeFollow Us: Luke Barnett → @pastorlukebarnett Lucas Miles → @mrlucasmiles TPUSA Faith → @tpusafaith

In this episode, Pastor Lucas Miles sits down with Chad Connelly, founder of Faith Wins and one of the nation’s leading voices equipping pastors to reengage in the civic arena with courage.Chad shares his journey from serving as a state party chairman to launching Faith Wins, and how his mission has become maximizing Christian turnout at the ballot box. With millions of professing believers sitting out every election, Chad challenges the Church to recover its salt and light influence in the public square—and shows practical ways pastors and churches can step into their civic responsibility without fear.Topics Covered:Why millions of Christians don’t vote—and why that must changeThe biblical case for civic engagement and voting your valuesOvercoming the fear of being “too controversial” from the pulpitWhy voter registration and voter guides matter for every churchResponding to accusations of “Christian nationalism” with biblical truthDon’t Forget:Subscribe to Strong Church on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTubeShare this episode with a pastor, church leader, or Christian who needs encouragement to step into the public squareFollow Us: Chad Connelly → faithwins.org Lucas Miles → @mrlucasmiles TPUSA Faith → @tpusafaith

In this conversation, Pastor Lucas Miles sits down with Blaze Media host and cultural commentator Steve Deace to talk about the dangers facing the modern Church, from seeker-sensitive compromise to the rise of toxic empathy. Steve doesn’t hold back as he calls out pastors who fear offending people more than God, the apologetic silence after Roe v. Wade was overturned, and why the Church must stop retreating into “evangelical monasteries.”Steve also shares a powerful personal testimony about God speaking to him in a hospital, reminding him that the Church needs apostles, not assassins. Topics Covered:Why the seeker-sensitive model crippled discipleshipThe danger of replacing the Great Commandment with “don’t offend anyone”Why pastors stayed silent after Roe v. Wade was overturnedThe rise of toxic empathy in the pulpitEvangelical monasticism and the retreat from cultureWhy courage—not compromise—is the Church’s greatest needSteve’s personal encounter with God: “I need apostles, not assassins”Don’t Forget:Subscribe to Strong Church on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTubeFollow Us: Steve Deace → @SteveDeaceShow Lucas Miles → @mrlucasmiles TPUSA Faith → @tpusafaith

Pastor Lucas Miles sits down with Taylor Ransom for a conversation that’s equal parts funny and profound. Taylor opens up about his journey in comedy and how satire has become one of his boldest tools for the Kingdom.From dealing with critics to navigating life in the entertainment world, Taylor shows how laughter can both disarm and inspire.Topics Covered:Using comedy as a weapon against cultural deceptionThe fine line between humor and compromiseCourageously holding to biblical truth in entertainmentHow Christians can use satire without losing their witnessDon’t Forget:Subscribe to Strong Church on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTubeFollow Us: Taylor Ransom → @realtaylorransom Lucas Miles → @mrlucasmiles TPUSA Faith → @tpusafaith

In this hard-hitting episode, Pastor Lucas Miles welcomes back theologian and meme-maker Nathan Finochio to call out what he believes is the biggest error the Church has made in the last 40 years: the seeker-sensitive movement.Finochio pulls no punches as he breaks down how soft sermons, cultural appeasement, and a lack of theological depth have weakened the modern pulpit—and what it’s going to take to rebuild a Church that actually disciples believers instead of entertaining crowds.

In this heartfelt episode, Pastor Lucas Miles sits down with model, actress, and entrepreneur Kathy Ireland to talk about the courage to follow Christ in the spotlight—and the cost that often comes with it. From her journey through Hollywood to leading a God-honoring business, Kathy opens up about standing for truth, fighting for life, and living unapologetically for Jesus in a culture that often wants believers to stay silent.This episode is a testament to what happens when faith meets boldness—and why now more than ever, we need strong women and men who won’t compromise on biblical truth.Topics Covered:Kathy Ireland’s journey from supermodel to sold-out ChristianWhy she won’t stay silent on abortion and biblical valuesHow to navigate faith in the public eyeThe power of prayer and the role of Scripture in her daily lifeEncouragement for women called to stand boldly in today’s cultureDon’t Forget:Subscribe to Strong Church on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTubeFollow Us: Kathy Ireland → @kathyireland Lucas Miles → @mrlucasmiles TPUSA Faith → @tpusafaithThank You to Our Sponsor:Stockholm Syndrome Christianity - Stockholmsyndromechristianity.com

What does the Bible actually say about the supernatural—and why is it making a comeback in our cultural conversations? In this gripping episode, Pastor Lucas Miles sits down with journalist and author Billy Hallowell to discuss spiritual warfare, exorcism, Hollywood’s obsession with the occult, and how Christians can reclaim a biblical worldview when it comes to good and evil.From demonic manifestations to misunderstood Bible verses, this conversation is a sobering and timely reminder: the spiritual realm is not a myth—and believers must be equipped for the battle.Topics Covered:Why culture is fascinated by the demonicThe biblical case for the supernatural worldWhat exorcisms actually look like—and why they’re increasingHow to discern spiritual deception in pop cultureWhy Christians must take evil seriously while standing in victoryDon’t Forget: Subscribe to Strong Church on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTubeFollow Us: Billy Hallowell → @BillyHallowell Lucas Miles → @mrlucasmiles TPUSA Faith → @tpusafaithThank You to Our Sponsors: SecureGive — securegive.com/turningpoint

What happens when one of the architects of online knowledge has a radical encounter with the Truth? In this episode, Pastor Lucas Miles sits down with Larry Sanger—co-founder of Wikipedia—to talk about censorship, decentralization, and the powerful story of how a former atheist philosopher came to faith in Jesus.From questioning Ayn Rand to navigating the woke takeover of academia and Big Tech, Larry shares the brick-by-brick journey that tore down his intellectual barriers and rebuilt a foundation rooted in Christ.Topics Covered:Larry’s viral conversion story after five years of silenceWhy he left Wikipedia and became one of its biggest criticsHow Big Tech controls the narrative—and what we can do about itDecentralization, digital sovereignty, and data ownershipThe role of Christian philosophy and apologetics in Sanger’s journeyWhy the cumulative case for God finally convinced himDon’t Forget: Subscribe to Strong Church on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Share this episode with a friend who thinks faith and reason can’t coexistFollow Us: Larry Sanger → larrysanger.org Lucas Miles → @mrlucasmiles TPUSA Faith → @tpusafaithThank You to Our Sponsors: Stockholm Syndrome Christianity: https://stockholmsyndromechristianity.com/

In Part 2 of this thought-provoking conversation, Pastor Lucas Miles and renowned apologist Dr. Frank Turek go beyond the evidence and dive into the real reason many people reject Christianity—not because it isn’t true, but because they don’t want it to be true.Drawing from years of debates, campus Q&As, and biblical insight, Dr. Turek reveals how emotional resistance, moral conflict, and spiritual rebellion often underlie intellectual objections. If you're serious about defending your faith and understanding the heart behind unbelief, this episode will equip you to engage with clarity and compassionTopics Covered:Why belief in God is often a moral issue, not just an intellectual oneThe difference between “can’t believe” and “won’t believe”How to respond when someone admits they still wouldn’t believe—even if it were trueWhat Romans 1 says about suppressing the truthThe link between truth, freedom, and responsibilityDon’t Forget:Subscribe to Strong Church on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTubeFollow Us: Dr. Frank Turek → @drfrankturek Lucas Miles → @mrlucasmiles TPUSA Faith → @tpusafaithThank You to Our Sponsors: SecureGive — securegive.com/turningpoint Wildflower Coffee Company — wildflowercoffeecompany.com

Dr. Frank Turek joins Pastor Lucas Miles for a no-nonsense conversation on why so many people reject biblical truth—not because of evidence, but because of preference. This episode exposes the deeper motives behind common objections to Christianity and provides bold ways to answer them.If you’ve ever been told “I wouldn’t believe even if it were true,” or faced pushback over what the Bible says about morality, this episode will help you navigate those issues.Topics Covered:Why most objections to Christianity are moral, not intellectualThe real reason people don’t want the Bible to be trueWhy “your truth” is a cultural trapWhat the Bible actually says about slavery and same-sex attractionHow to deal with people who reject truth on principleThe cost of following Jesus vs. the comfort of cultureDon’t Forget:Subscribe to Strong Church on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.Follow Us: Frank Turek → @drfrankturek Lucas Miles → @mrlucasmiles TPUSA Faith → @tpusafaithThank You to Our Sponsors:SecureGive - securegive.com/turningpointStockholm Syndrome Christianity - https://stockholmsyndromechristianity.com/

In this faith-fueled episode, Pastor Lucas Miles sits down with evangelist Nicholas Bowling to talk about revival—real revival—and why it starts with you. From preaching the gospel in college campuses and public parks to witnessing radical healings and deliverance, Nicholas brings raw stories and bold conviction about what it means to be a follower of Jesus in today’s culture.Topics Covered:Why revival isn’t an event—it’s obedienceHow to preach Christ in uncomfortable placesThe danger of waiting on a move of God you’re called to startMiracles, healing, and power evangelismChallenging the Church to disciple, not entertainDon’t Forget:Subscribe to Strong Church on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTubeShare this episode with your outreach team, evangelist friends, or church leaders hungry for revivalFollow Us: Nicholas Bowling → @nicholasbowling Lucas Miles → @mrlucasmiles TPUSA Faith → @tpusafaithThank You to Our Sponsors: SecureGive — securegive.com/turningpoint Wildflower Coffee Company — wildflowercoffeecompany.com

In Part 2 of their conversation, Pastor Lucas Miles sits down with Pastor Mark Driscoll to discuss how pastors can no longer pretend we’re living in a “neutral world.” As the culture shifts from positive to hostile toward biblical values, church leaders must confront one critical question: Who do you fear more—God or man?From navigating spiritual attacks in the pulpit to preparing sermons, this episode is a wake-up call for every believer tired of watching truth take a back seat to comfort.Topics Covered:Understanding the shift: Positive, Neutral, and Hostile world paradigmsHow fear of man is shaping weak pulpitsWhat real sermon prep looks like in a spiritually hostile cultureWhy pastors must preach with courage, not compromiseHow repentance—not relevance—is the path to revivalPreparing your people to stand firm when the world pushes backDon’t Forget:Subscribe to Strong Church on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTubeShare this episode with your pastor, church team, or someone afraid to speak upFollow Us: Mark Driscoll → @markdriscoll Lucas Miles → @mrlucasmiles TPUSA Faith → @tpusafaithThank You to Our Sponsors:SecureGive — securegive.com/turningpointStockholm Syndrome Christianity — Stockholmsyndromechristianity.com

The Church is in crisis—not because of culture, but because of cowardice. In this episode, Pastor Lucas Miles sits down with Pastor Mark Driscoll to talk about the collapse of biblical masculinity in leadership, why emotional fragility is destroying the pulpit, and how to reclaim strength in a Church that’s lost its backbone.This is a call to men, pastors, and believers everywhere: if the Church is going to survive, we need conviction—not compromise.Topics Covered:The dangerous rise of “feminized” ChristianityWhy the Church needs strong, godly menHow pastors have traded courage for cloutThe role of emotional resilience in ministryWhat real spiritual leadership looks like in 2025Don’t Forget:Subscribe to Strong Church on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTubeShare this episode with your pastor, men’s group, or someone seeking biblical strength.Follow Us:Mark Driscoll → @markdriscoll Lucas Miles → @mrlucasmiles TPUSA Faith → @tpusafaith🙏 Thank You to Our Sponsors:SecureGive — securegive.com/turningpointWildflower Coffee Company — wildflowercoffeecompany.com

What happens when your TikTok feed is shaping your theology more than Scripture? In this high-impact episode, Pastor Lucas Miles sits down with evangelist and content creator Brooks Phillips to talk about emotional fragility in the Church, why offense has become a virtue, and how believers can stay grounded in biblical truth while navigating a noisy online world.If you're ready to grow in resilience and anchor your identity in something deeper than digital affirmation, this one’s for you.Topics Covered:Why emotional maturity is vital in an age of online outrageThe danger of building your theology off TikTok & reelsHow to stay unoffended and unshaken as a believerWhat it means to follow Jesus, not your feelingsBrooks’ journey from TikTok virality to gospel clarity📢 Don’t Forget:Subscribe to Strong Church on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTubeShare this episode with your church group, youth ministry, or that always-offended friend🔗 Follow Us:Brooks Phillips → @theisbrooks and @brooksphillips Lucas Miles → @mrlucasmiles TPUSA Faith → @tpusafaith🙏 Thank You to Our Sponsors:SecureGive — securegive.com/turningpoint SperaVita Institute — speravitainstitute.com Wildflower Coffee Company — wildflowercoffeecompany.com

In this episode, Pastor Lucas Miles sits down with Dr. George Barna—America’s most respected Christian researcher—for a raw conversation about the decline of biblical worldview, the failure of discipleship, and how parents, pastors, and churches can reverse the trend before it’s too late.Barna exposes the uncomfortable truth: most American Christians don’t actually live with a biblical worldview, including 59% of senior pastors and 88% of children’s pastors. He shares the seven cornerstones of biblical worldview formation, the role of media in shaping belief, and how parents and grandparents can reclaim their influence with the next generation.🧠 Topics Covered:What a biblical worldview really is (and why most Christians don’t have one)The media’s role in shaping belief more than the ChurchWhy only 3% of adults meet Jesus’ standard of discipleshipThe surprising influence of grandparents in Gen Z’s spiritual lifeHow churches can stop measuring attendance and start measuring maturity📢 Don’t Forget: Subscribe to Strong Church on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube Share this with a pastor, parent, or anyone hungry to live with biblical clarity Follow @tpusafaith and @mrlucasmiles Explore more at culturalresearchcenter.com🔗 Follow Us:George Barna → @georgebarnapollster Lucas Miles → @mrlucasmiles TPUSA Faith → @tpusafaith🙏 Thank You to Our Sponsors:SecureGive — securegive.com/turningpointSperaVita Institute — speravitainstitute.comWildflower Coffee Company — wildflowercoffeecompany.com

In this deeply moving episode, Pastor Lucas Miles sits down with Lola Sheen, daughter of actors Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards, to share her powerful testimony of coming to Jesus after years of depression, anxiety, and searching for meaning in all the wrong places.Lola opens up about growing up in the Hollywood spotlight, battling mental health struggles, experimenting with New Age practices, and the moment Jesus radically entered her life in a supernatural encounter that changed everything. If you’ve ever wondered whether anyone is too far gone or if Gen Z can encounter real, transformative faith — this is an episode you can’t miss.K E Y M O M E N T S: [01:00] Growing up in the Hollywood spotlight [06:00] Mental health decline and isolation [09:30] Searching for meaning in New Age practices [14:30] The night Jesus supernaturally met Lola [22:00] Lola’s encouragement to young people struggling with depressionD O N ’ T F O R G E T:Subscribe to Strong Church on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.Share this episode with parents, youth pastors, or anyone needing a reminder that no one is too far gone for God. Follow @tpusafaith, @mrlucasmiles, and @lola__sheen.S P O N S O R S SperaVita Institute | https://www.speravita.com/ SecureGive | https://www.securegive.com/turningpoint/

Pastor Lucas Miles sits down with Pastor Rob McCoy to talk about faith, freedom, and the fight for truth in a world that increasingly labels the Church nonessential. Rob shares how he stood against government overreach, the true meaning of Romans 13, and why pastoral leadership in today’s culture must be courageous and uncompromising.If you’re ready to strengthen your faith and boldly stand for truth, this conversation is for you.Key Moments: [03:10] Why the Church cannot stay silent in cultural battles [09:45] Romans 13: What submission to authority really means [15:50] Lessons from the church lockdowns [21:30] How Gen Z is waking up to truth [26:10] A challenge to pastors: shepherd boldly, not passivelyDon’t Forget: Subscribe to Strong Church on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Share this episode with your pastor, ministry leader, or friend hungry for truth. Follow @TPUSAFaith, @mrlucasmiles, and @robmccoy.us for more bold, biblical commentary.Sponsored by:SecureGive – securegive.com/turningpointSperaVita Institute – speravitainstitute.com

In this powerful episode, Pastor Lucas Miles sits down with preacher and content creator Elijah Lamb to talk about heresy, humility, and the urgent need for doctrinal clarity in a divided culture. Together, they tackle why accusations of “false teaching” can be dangerous, where we must draw real theological lines, and how Gen Z is craving substance over spectacle.If you care about unity without compromise, or raising up the next generation in truth, this conversation will sharpen your vision and strengthen your resolve.Topics Covered:Why “heresy” isn’t a word to throw around lightlyHow to recognize gospel essentials vs. secondary issuesWhy Gen Z is rejecting trendy ChristianityHow faithful preaching forms a biblical worldviewWhat real unity in the Body of Christ looks like🎧 Subscribe to the Strong Church Podcast for more truth-driven conversations every week.🔗 Follow UsFollow Elijah Lamb → @elijah.lambFollow Lucas Miles → @mrlucasmilesFollow TPUSA Faith → @tpusafaith🙏 Thank You to Our SponsorsSperaVita Institute – ⁠speravita.com⁠SecureGive – securegive.com/turningpoint

Pastor Lucas Miles and Nathan Finochio talk about one of the Church’s biggest blind spots: theological illiteracy. According to Nathan, the problem isn’t just that Christians don’t read their Bibles—it’s that many don’t even know what Christian doctrine is.They dive into the difference between theology and mere Bible familiarity, why many pastors avoid hard truths, and how doctrinal shallowness is hurting the Church’s witness in a post-Christian culture. It’s a conversation that calls both leaders and laypeople to go deeper—beyond slogans, beyond vibes, and into the actual substance of the faith.Topics Covered:The difference between biblical literacy and theological understandingWhy the Church must recover a love for doctrineThe danger of reducing Christianity to moralism or vibesThe importance of church tradition and historical groundingWhy catechesis and theological training should matter againDon’t Forget:Subscribe to Strong Church on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTubeShare this episode with your pastor, youth leader, or small groupFollow Us: Nathan Finochio → @nathanfinochio Lucas Miles → @mrlucasmiles TPUSA Faith → @tpusafaith

In Part 2 of this conversation, Pastor Lucas Miles and Kathy Ireland go deeper into what it means to live out a courageous Christian witness in a culture that often demands compromise. Kathy shares how faith guides her decisions as a leader, what the Church must do to reclaim cultural ground, and why truth, no matter how unpopular, is always worth defending.