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.

---

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

Episode 003 – Why the Church Exists: Word, Sacrament, and the Mystery of It All

What if church isn’t about a great speaker, a cool vibe, or a killer music team? What if it’s about something far more ancient—and far more essential?

In this episode of Anchored in Christ, Doug and Pastor Curt explore what the Church is really built on: Word and Sacrament. These aren’t just buzzwords. They’re the foundational gifts Christ instituted to actually do something—to give faith, forgiveness, and life.

You’ll hear:

• Why the Word of God isn’t just informative—it’s performative. It actually creates faith (Romans 10).

• Why sacraments aren’t symbolic rituals, but concrete, God-given means of grace.

• How water, wine, bread, and spoken words are vehicles for divine mercy—not superstition, but Scripture.

• Why rejecting the sacraments is often less about theology and more about history—and how Protestant anti-Catholic sentiment may have thrown the baby out with the bathwater.

• Why you can’t just “stream church” or “commune with God in nature” and call it the same thing.

Doug reflects on his own journey out of evangelical confusion and into the historic, sacramental church—and why he’s still in awe that this isn’t new, but ancient.

🔑 Word of the Week: Sacrament

Pastor Curt unpacks the biblical roots of the term, especially from 1 Corinthians 4:1, where pastors are called stewards of the mysteries of God (Latin: sacramentum). These aren’t abstract ideas—they’re the tangible ways Christ delivers what He promises.

👂 Whether you’re burned out on church, confused about why it matters, or longing for something deeper than spiritualized self-help, this episode reminds you: God meets you in real, physical things. Not because He has to. But because He wants to.

🎙️ Subscribe & Share

Listen at AnchoredPod.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

If this helped you, share it with a friend—or just pray for us. That means more than you know.

Support the show at: http://anchoredpod.org/giving-page

Exhausted from trying to be a “good Christian”? In Episode 2, Doug and Pastor Curt unpack why the Gospel is a promise we rest in, not a list we strive to complete. If you're worn down by vague spiritual to-do lists or unsure whether you’re doing enough, this episode is for you.

Support the show: https://anchoredpod.org/giving-page

---

Full Show Notes

Welcome back to Anchored in Christ, a podcast about clear, Christ-centered faith in a noisy world. In this episode, Doug Hannah and Pastor Curt Hoover dig into the difference between chasing assurance and resting in God's promises. This is not a soft, feel-good message. It is the actual biblical gospel.

Whether you have been burdened by legalism or burned out by spiritual ambiguity, this episode is a fresh reminder that Christ really finished the work.

In This Episode: - Why so much of modern Christianity exhausts people with endless spiritual homework - How the gospel is not about what you do, but what has been done for you - The difference between moralism and assurance, and why it matters for real life - How baptism, the Lord's Supper, and the preached Word offer concrete promises, not abstract encouragement - Why online-only church cannot fully substitute for the meal and the Word - Why rest in Christ does not lead to laziness, but to freedom and joy - What the Word of God actually does when spoken out loud - Why remembering your baptism brings more assurance than any feeling

Pastor Curt’s Word of the Week: Justification Being right with God is not something you build up. It is something given. "Just as if I never sinned" is not just a nice saying. It is a truth rooted in Christ’s finished work. Pastor Curt explains how this word lies at the heart of the gospel.

Resources and Support: Website: https://anchoredpod.org Give: https://anchoredpod.org/giving-page