This Is What the Gospel Sounds Like: A Podcast on K-Pop Demon Hunters

Sarah Crowder
  • 4.1 (25)
  • Christianity
  • Weekly

A podcast where Sarah Crowder explores the Gospel in surprising places, beginning with the animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters. Together with Pastor Andrew Jones, she reacts to the movie’s music, community, and spiritual themes while connecting them to Lutheran theology and the good news of Jesus. Honest, fun, and Gospel-centered, this show is for fans, theologians, and anyone curious about how faith speaks through culture.

  1. 8h ago

    Why Does Aslan Cry? The Magician's Nephew and the Gospel

    What does Aslan's compassion reveal about the heart of Jesus? In the final episode of their three-part series on C. S. Lewis's The Magician's Nephew, Sarah Crowder and Andy Jones explore some of Narnia's most beautiful Gospel connections, from the tears of Aslan to the trees that point toward God's promises of life and restoration. Drawing on theologian Robert Kolb's Face to Face, Sarah reflects on the powerful moment when Digory looks into Aslan's eyes and discovers a lion who understands his grief more deeply than he could imagine. Andy connects Aslan's tears to the compassion of Christ, reminding listeners that Jesus wept, too, and that sometimes the greatest gift Christians can offer someone who is grieving is simply their presence. Along the way, Sarah and Andy discuss Uncle Andrew and Queen Jadis as contrasts to Christ, the biblical imagery of trees from Genesis to Revelation, and the moments they most hope to see brought to life in Greta Gerwig's upcoming Netflix adaptation of The Magician's Nephew. From the garden of Eden to the tree of the cross and the tree of life, this conversation returns to the good news at the heart of Narnia: Christ knows human grief, meets his people with mercy, and gives his life for them. Because that is what the Gospel sounds like. In this episode: Aslan's tears and the compassion of JesusRobert Kolb's Face to Face and seeing the face of ChristUncle Andrew, Queen Jadis, and the contrast between selfishness and ChristGreta Gerwig's Narnia and the scenes worth anticipatingThe tree of life, the cross, and God's promises of restoration#TheMagiciansNephew #ChroniclesOfNarnia #CSLewis #Aslan #GretaGerwig #ChristianPodcast #Gospel #LutheranTheology

  2. Oct 30

    The Magician's Nephew: Can You Hear Aslan's Song? | Narnia & the Gospel

    What happens when Aslan sings a world into existence? And what does C. S. Lewis's The Magician's Nephew reveal about the power of God's Word? In part two of their three-part Narnia series, Sarah Crowder and Andy Jones explore the characters, worlds, and Gospel connections in The Magician's Nephew, the creation story of Narnia. From Digory and Polly's adventures to Uncle Andrew's inability to hear Aslan's song, Sarah and Andy consider how Lewis's imaginative storytelling points toward the biblical accounts of creation, the voice of the Good Shepherd, and the life-giving promises of Jesus. Along the way, they discuss the multiverse, Tolkien, Star Wars, the relationship between creation and justification, and the surprising ways God's Word brings comfort to those who teach and proclaim it. In this episode: Why Aslan sings Narnia into existenceDigory, Polly, Jadis, and the mysterious Uncle AndrewWhat happens when we cannot hear the goodness of God's voice?Creation, justification, and the powerful Word of GodWhy the Gospel is not just for others, but for us tooSpoiler alert: This episode discusses major plot points from The Magician's Nephew. This Is What the Gospel Sounds Like explores the Gospel in popular culture, from K-Pop Demon Hunters to the world of Narnia, always looking for Gospel handles that point us back to Jesus and His good news for you.

  3. Oct 23

    The Magician's Nephew: Aslan Is on the Move! | Greta Gerwig's Narnia

    Aslan is on the move! Greta Gerwig is bringing C. S. Lewis's The Magician's Nephew to the screen, and teacher Sarah Crowder and Pastor Andrew Jones are heading into the wonderful world of Narnia! In the first of three episodes exploring The Magician's Nephew, Sarah and Andy discuss the excitement, controversy, and creative choices surrounding the new adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia. Where should newcomers begin reading Lewis's seven books? Why does the reading order matter? What should we make of the changes to the story and the casting of Aslan? Along the way, they explore C. S. Lewis's journey from atheism to Christianity, the wonder of encountering Aslan for the first time, and the opportunities Christians have to share the Gospel through the stories capturing our imaginations. Plus, a little KPop Demon Hunters Halloween chatter, because apparently Huntrix and Narnia belong in the same podcast! As Christians, we have something far better than outrage to offer the world. We have good news. Aslan goes by another name in our world. His name is Jesus, and His love, forgiveness, and promises are for you. Welcome to This Is What the Gospel Sounds Like, where Sarah and Andy find gospel handles in the stories we love.

  4. Sep 10

    Your Voice Is Welcome Here: K-Pop Demon Hunters, Singing & the Word of God

    What happens when music becomes a weapon? In this episode of This Is What the Gospel Sounds Like, Sarah Crowder and Andrew Jones return to K-Pop Demon Hunters to explore one of the film’s most powerful themes: the power of song. From HUNTR/X using music to strengthen the Honmoon to the Saja Boys using catchy songs to draw people away, the movie reminds us that words matter. Music can carry truth, shape devotion, and lodge ideas deep in our hearts. Sarah and Andy connect that theme to Scripture, from the trumpets of Jericho and Gideon to Paul’s description of the Word of God as the “sword of the Spirit.” They also explore the Psalms as songs, the early church’s practice of singing Scripture, and why Christians continue to gather together and sing. But what if you are not a singer? What if singing in church makes you uncomfortable? The answer is not shame or performance. Your voice is welcome, and so is your listening. The power is not in how beautifully we sing, but in the Word God gives us. The goal is simple: let the Gospel become sticky. Let God’s promises settle into your ears, your memory, and your heart so deeply that you carry them with you long after the music stops. Plus, Andy introduces the big idea behind his three-book series on reading the Bible, resisting Satan’s lies, and learning to pray: a spirituality centered not on producing more for God, but on receiving what God gives. Because the Christian life is not ultimately about our performance. It begins with receiving the gifts and promises of Jesus.

  5. Sep 4

    BONUS: What Is Receptive Spirituality? | Episode 23 Preview

    What ties together reading the Bible, resisting the lies of Satan, and learning to pray? In this bonus preview of Episode 23, Sarah Crowder asks Andrew Jones to summarize the big idea behind his 10 Things trilogy: Ten Questions to Ask Every Time You Read the Bible, Ten Lies Satan Loves to Tell, and Ten Treasures of Learning to Pray. Andy describes the thread running through all three books as receptive spirituality, a Christian life centered less on what we accomplish for God and more on receiving what God is already doing, giving, and speaking through His Word. It is a short introduction to the conversation coming in Episode 23 of This Is What the Gospel Sounds Like, and a preview of Andy’s upcoming visit with students at Faith Lutheran.

  6. Sep 3

    Who Covers Our Shame? KPop Demon Hunters & the Gospel

    What do we do with shame, especially when our instinct is to hide? In this episode of This Is What the Gospel Sounds Like, Sarah Crowder and Pastor Andy Jones return to KPop Demon Hunters to talk about Rumi, Jinu, guilt, shame, and the powerful movement from isolation into community. Sarah and Andy explore the difference between guilt and shame, how culture shapes the way we experience honor and shame, and why Scripture gives us something better than simply trying to cover up the things we are afraid for others to see. From Psalm 32 to the robe of Christ’s righteousness, the Gospel gives a different kind of covering: Jesus forgives, restores, and promises that the evil and brokenness of this world will not have the final word. They also talk about why shame often drives people into isolation, why trusted community matters, and the beautiful gift Christians can give one another by speaking Christ’s promises aloud: You are loved. You are forgiven. You are not alone. 📚 Books by Andy Jones • Ten Questions to Ask Every Time You Read the Bible • Ten Lies Satan Loves to Tell • Ten Treasures of Learning to Pray 📖 Book mentioned in this episode Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible by E. Randolph Richards and Brandon J. O’Brien 🎙️ This Is What the Gospel Sounds Like is a KPop Demon Hunters fan podcast looking for Gospel handles in the movie’s songs, characters, stories, and themes, asking again and again: What does the good news of Jesus sound like here?

  7. Aug 27

    Jesus Wept: KPop Demon Hunters, Grief & the Hope of New Creation

    Welcome to Season 2 of This Is What the Gospel Sounds Like! After a year of conversations about movies, music, theology, and grace, Sarah Crowder and Pastor Andy Jones are back with a big theme running through KPop Demon Hunters: grief. From Rumi’s mother and her fear of losing her voice, to the grief of changing identities, broken relationships, death, and even the loss of a beloved pet, Sarah and Andy talk about why Christians don't have to hide sorrow or apologize for tears. Jesus wept, too. And grief does not get the last word. Romans 8, John 3:16, and the biblical promise of new creation give us something much better than vague comfort: God loves His world, Christ has come to redeem it, and creation itself waits for restoration. So what does the Gospel sound like when you're grieving? It sounds like permission to mourn, people who will sit beside you, and the promise that Jesus is making all things new. Read more from Andy: Bible Curious, his weekly Substack exploring Scripture, theology, and the questions worth asking.

  8. Aug 20

    Sussie the Magpie | Birds, the Holy Spirit, and What the Gospel Sounds Like

    August 20 is the Release Date of Andrew Jones' Book! Get it today! Search "10 Treasures of Learning to Pray." This episode begins with one of K-Pop Demon Hunters’ most underrated characters: Sussie the three-eyed magpie. Teacher Sarah Crowder and Pastor and Author Andy Jones explore Sussie’s place alongside Derpy, the Korean folklore behind the tiger and magpie, and a fascinating folktale that might even give us a clue about where Rumi and Jinu’s story could go next. Then the birds lead somewhere unexpected. From the dove at Jesus’ baptism to God gathering His people under His wings, from eagles carrying God’s people to freedom to Jesus reminding us that our Father cares even for the sparrows, Scripture is full of birds. Sarah and Andy consider how these images point us toward God’s protection, provision, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promises will not leave us alone. And maybe that is why morning birdsong feels so hopeful. In the darkness, a song begins. A new day is coming. So the next time you see Sussie, a sparrow outside your window, or hear birds singing before sunrise, perhaps you can remember: Christ has not left you alone. You are cared for. You are gathered under His wings. And the Spirit is still at work, pointing you again to Jesus. That’s what the Gospel sounds like.

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About

A podcast where Sarah Crowder explores the Gospel in surprising places, beginning with the animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters. Together with Pastor Andrew Jones, she reacts to the movie’s music, community, and spiritual themes while connecting them to Lutheran theology and the good news of Jesus. Honest, fun, and Gospel-centered, this show is for fans, theologians, and anyone curious about how faith speaks through culture.

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