The Pastor's Table
The Church Is Not a Metaphor: Jason Micheli on Suffering, Sacraments, and Preaching That Promises (Part 2)
Published: 31 March 2025 at 11:00 Europe/London
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Episode notes
Is the Church more than a symbol?
In Part 2, Jason Micheli returns to explore what it means to preach the gospel when life itself feels fragile. He shares how cancer reshaped his theology, why the Church must reclaim its sacramental identity, and how sermons should declare—not just instruct.
🎙️ In This Episode:
- The theology of the cross vs. theology of glory
- Why every sermon should offer a promise, not just a takeaway
- Learning to trust the Church when healing doesn’t come
- The sacred weirdness of taking Christian tradition seriously
⏱️ Timestamps:
00:07 — Influences: Barth, Hauerwas & Jensen
07:00 — Preaching as promise, not performance
12:00 — Why suffering belongs in the gospel
15:00 — The Church as the literal body of Christ
17:30 — Preaching that leads to the Table
22:00 — Intimacy with God in suffering
27:00 — Books: Sermon on the Mount, I Like Big Buts, 104 Skins
29:00 — How to pray for Jason
🔗 Resources & Guest Info:
Jason Micheli writes at The Tamed Cynic
Books: I Like Big Buts, The Sermon on the Mount (forthcoming)
