The Madison Church Podcast

What if the Bible’s big story could be summed up in a single movement: God taking back what was always His? We follow that thread—from Israel’s chains in Egypt to Jesus’ startling claim in Mark 10 that he gives his life as a ransom for many—and discover that redemption is less about paying off darkness and more about a decisive rescue that restores rightful ownership.

We unpack the language behind “ransom” and “redeem,” ex...

What if the quiet crisis in modern Christianity isn’t doubt, but distraction—a version of faith that sounds right and changes little? We go straight at the subtle Gnosticism that still haunts church culture today: the lure of secret knowledge, the shrug toward the physical world, and the fantasy of escape. Then we lay it beside Paul’s charge in Romans 12 to offer our bodies as living worship and James’s blunt verdict that faith wit...

What if the ideas blurring your faith are older than you think—and far sneakier? We trace the enduring pull of Gnosticism, the age‑old promise that secret knowledge can lift you above ordinary life, and we measure it against the clarity of Scripture. Colossians 1 stands like a lighthouse in the fog, naming Jesus as the visible image of the invisible God, the creator who holds all things together and reconciles heaven and earth. Tha...

Have you ever felt at war with your own body? Perhaps you've tried to escape it through overwork, screen time, or numbing behaviors. Maybe you've obsessed over perfecting it, measuring your worth by fitness levels or appearance. Either way, the message is clear: your body, as it exists right now, isn't enough.

This powerful message challenges that harmful narrative by exploring how God sees our physical exis...

Have you ever heard someone say "I'm spiritual but not religious" or "everything happens for a reason"? These well-meaning phrases attempt to bring comfort and order to life's chaos, but they often represent a blurred vision of Christianity—one that promises easy answers instead of genuine transformation.

Pastor Stephen challenges us to consider whether we've reduced Jesus to a vague spir...

What does it mean to be faithful when your plans fall apart? Eleven years ago, Madison Church launched with meticulously researched strategies, countless prayers, and 200 empty chairs. Only 20 people showed up that first Sunday—half of them family members visiting from out of town. The humiliation was crushing, but looking back now reveals how God was writing a better story than anyone could have imagined.

This anniversary...

What if your personality is secretly sabotaging your generosity? This eye-opening exploration of the "shadow sides" of our giving profiles reveals why some of us hesitate when opportunities to give arise—and it's not always about money.

Through a fascinating examination of the DISC personality assessment and six distinct generosity profiles, we discover that our weaknesses are actually intertwined with our s...

What remains when we remove Christ from Christianity? A powerful exploration of how modern Christianity often betrays its namesake by replacing love with judgment, inclusion with exclusion, and grace with condemnation.

Through vulnerable personal stories and penetrating cultural analysis, we confront the uncomfortable reality that Gandhi articulated: "I like your Christ, but not your Christianity." From turning a...

Do you ever feel like you're on a spiritual treadmill with God? Running faster, praying more, serving more—yet somehow not moving forward in your relationship with him? You're not alone.

Pastor Stephen Feith tackles this universal struggle head-on, revealing how our performance-driven culture shapes our approach to faith. When we treat God like a boss to impress or a coach deciding if we'll make the team, we...

What if the beautiful flowers we showcase on social media were just the perfect frame hiding a garden overrun with weeds? That carefully curated image represents how many of us approach not just our online presence, but our spiritual lives as well.

In this deeply introspective exploration, we examine the concept of spiritual authenticity through the lens of Jesus's teachings in Matthew 6. Like those famous London town...

Have you ever felt like you're doing all the "right" spiritual things but still missing something? This profound question opens our exploration of how we can unintentionally trade relationship with God for routines centered around God.

The Pharisees were devoted, serious about Scripture, and committed to living how they thought God wanted. Yet when confronted with God in the flesh, they completely missed him...

When confronted with a woman caught in adultery, Jesus faced a carefully crafted trap. The Pharisees, delighting in their judgment, expected him to either condemn her according to Mosaic law or reveal himself as a false teacher by showing mercy. Instead, Jesus turned their trap against them with eight powerful words: "Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone."

This sermon examines how easily we slip...

The gap between knowing and living, between religious performance and authentic faith—this is where many of us find ourselves today. In this challenging and heartfelt message, Stephen Feith opens a new six-week series with a question that hits close to home: "Have you ever done the right thing for the wrong reasons?"

Drawing from Matthew 23, Stephen examines why the Pharisees—people who believed in Scripture, the...

Have you ever been terrified by end-times prophecies based on Revelation? You're not alone. Randy Knie vividly recalls sitting on his parents' bed at 13, trembling as he read a newsletter predicting imminent apocalypse—supposedly decoded straight from Revelation's pages. This traumatic experience mirrors countless others who've either become obsessed with this mysterious biblical book or avoid it entirely.
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What happens when human systems fail us? Where do we turn when justice becomes injustice? Stephen's powerful story provides an answer that still resonates today.

Standing before a hostile council with false witnesses arrayed against him, Stephen doesn't cower in fear but shines with supernatural radiance – "his face became as bright as an angel's." This first Christian martyr demonstrates what hope...

When discrimination emerged in the early church, it sparked a revolutionary leadership model that still challenges us today. This message examines a pivotal moment in Acts 6 where Greek-speaking Jewish Christians complained their widows were being overlooked in food distribution by the Hebrew-speaking majority.

Rather than dismissing these concerns or implementing top-down solutions, the apostles responded with remarkable ...

What happens when following Jesus puts you at odds with everyone around you? When doing the right thing costs you something meaningful—comfort, relationships, or future plans? This transformative episode explores the courage of the early church in Acts 5, where ordinary believers faced extraordinary opposition yet remained steadfast in their mission.

The apostles, once hiding in fear after Jesus' crucifixion, now bold...

What does it truly mean to live a Spirit-guided life beyond Sunday mornings and worship experiences? Through the lens of a profound contrast in the early church, we discover that authenticity matters more than appearance when building genuine spiritual community.

The story of Acts 4-5 presents us with two portraits: a radically generous community characterized by trust, and a couple whose deception undermines that very fou...

What does courage look like when following Jesus means facing resistance? Pastor Stephen Feith takes us through Acts 3-4, where we discover that spiritual boldness isn't reserved for the naturally confident or specially trained—it's available to every believer who depends on the Holy Spirit.

The journey begins with Peter and John noticing a disabled man whom everyone else had learned to ignore. This simple act of...