What happens when church becomes a product instead of a place to die and rise with Christ? In this episode, Doug and Pastor Curt Hoover talk consumerism, church growth models, and what makes a church... actually a church.

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EPISODE 004 – BIG BOX CHRISTIANITY: WHEN CHURCH BECOMES A PRODUCT

Has church become more about attraction than transformation? In this provocative episode, Doug and Pastor Curt Hoover dig deep into the rise of consumer-driven church culture—and why it’s leaving many believers weary, disillusioned, or spiritually malnourished.

IN THIS EPISODE: - Why “relevance” has replaced reverence in so many churches - The danger of shopping for church like you shop for shoes - What makes a church truly a *church* - The loss of Word and Sacrament in modern evangelicalism - Why bigger isn’t always better (and sometimes less is more)

QUOTES TO REMEMBER: “Jesus didn’t bleed out to improve your weekend experience.” “If the pastor doesn’t know your name, is he really your pastor?” “The church’s power doesn’t come from relevance. It comes from reverence.”

WORD OF THE WEEK: REVERENCE Curt Hoover breaks down why reverence isn’t about being stuffy or traditional—it’s about recognizing when we are in the presence of a holy God.

HELPFUL LINKS: anchoredpod.org – More episodes, support the show, or contact us lcms.org – Learn more about the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod