The Shock Absorber

Joel and Tim explore Soul Revival Church’s 2025 Planning Day — and how the church can prepare for God to grow them, being ready if He chooses to do that.

They begin by talking about writing, storytelling, and collective memory — how churches pass down faith through shared stories that shape who they are. Tim reflects on his recent work about how intergenerational communities strengthen faith by remembering together.

The conversation then turns to independent media and creativity, drawing lessons from writers like Ryan Holiday and Jonathan Wilson. Joel and Tim reflect on how Christians can balance curiosity with focus — doing a few things well, recognising that God made people finite so they can’t chase every idea.

At the heart of the episode is Soul Revival’s collaborative Planning Day, where the whole church community — not just leaders — comes together to reflect, celebrate, and plan for the year ahead. It’s a unique approach that embodies their belief in the church as a family, where every generation contributes.

Finally, they look forward to the 2025 Planning Day and the church’s 2030 Double Up Vision, discussing what it means to grow deeply in discipleship and mission, not just in numbers. The episode closes with a reminder to keep telling the stories of God’s faithfulness — because those stories shape who the church is and who it will become.

🕓 Timestamps
00:00 Writing, independent media & being finite beings
20:00 Why have a Planning Day?
27:38 Benefits of collaboration & community input
40:01 Preparing for growth and God’s work
45:45 What’s happening at the 2025 Planning Day
1:06:05 Keep telling your church’s story

Discussed on this episode
Ryan Holiday Reading Recommendation Email
The Painted Porch bookstore
Brass Check
Daily Stoic podcast
Bookmarked
It Was What It Was podcast
Wilson's World (of football)
The Blizzard
Libero podcast
Breaking Points
Tim's Substack
So Good They Can't Ignore You, by Cal Newport
Mensch: Beyond the Cones, by Jonathan Harding
Good to Great, by Jim Collins
Brady Shearer

What is The Shock Absorber?

Thinking and doing church a little differently...