The Church Is Not a Metaphor: Jason Micheli on Suffering, Sacraments, and Preaching That Promises (Part 2)

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)