More to Church

brandt
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Christianity

Have you ever sat in a church service while singing the songs, listening to the sermon, or praying the prayers and though, "There has to something more to church than this!"? If so, this is the place for you. We will drop short encouraging videos helping you along your journey as you seek for something more!

Episodes

  1. Oct 9

    What happens when you question everything you believe?

    What happens when you start questioning the things you were taught about your faith? Can asking difficult questions actually strengthen your relationship with God? In this episode of Heaven in the Home, Miracle Semien sits down with Brandt Johnson, a former pastor and church leader, author, and podcaster, for an honest conversation about faith, doubt, church culture, spiritual growth, and the importance of seeking truth. Brandt shares what it was like growing up deeply immersed in Christian culture and eventually realizing that going through the motions of church was not the same as having a genuine relationship with Christ. As he began questioning some of the traditions and beliefs he had been taught, Brandt learned the importance of studying Scripture for himself and following the example of the Bereans. He explains why healthy questioning does not necessarily mean a lack of faith and why spiritual growth sometimes requires us to change our minds. Brandt also shares how a serious motorcycle accident became a turning point in his life and helped him understand something important about his purpose: God didn't call us to be successful. He called us to be faithful. Miracle and Brandt talk about deconstruction, learning to love people who are still growing, what the church should look like beyond simply attending services, and how Christians can use AI wisely while continuing to verify information and seek truth through Scripture. This episode is an encouragement to ask the questions, study the Word, remain open to growth, and seek God wholeheartedly. ✨ IN THIS EPISODE • Growing up “churchy” and discovering the difference between religious routines and a relationship with Christ • What led Brandt to question the traditions and beliefs he had been taught • Why healthy questioning and studying Scripture for yourself matter • How a serious motorcycle accident changed Brandt’s perspective on purpose and faithfulness • Why God calls us to be faithful rather than successful • Deconstruction, spiritual growth, and learning to love people who are still growing • What the church should look like beyond simply attending on Sundays • Using AI wisely while continuing to verify information and seek truth 💬 FAVORITE QUOTE “God didn't call us to be successful. He called us to be faithful.” 🙏 REFLECTION QUESTIONS Have you ever been afraid to question something you were taught about your faith? Are you allowing Scripture to shape what you believe? Where might God be calling you to focus on faithfulness instead of success? Are you giving yourself and others room to grow? What questions about faith have you been afraid to ask? 🏡 JOIN THE HEAVEN IN THE HOME COLLECTIVE Want to grow deeper in your faith and learn how to bring more of heaven into your home? Join the Heaven in the Home Collective and continue growing in faith alongside others. https://miracle-semien.kit.com/d9c291 Support the show

  2. Sep 27

    What If Church Was Never Supposed to Be About Attending?

    What if following Jesus was never supposed to be about simply attending church? In this episode of More to Church, Brandt Johnson sits down with David Dodie of Bible in Order for a wide-ranging conversation about what it really means to follow Christ, serve others, and become a functioning part of the body of Christ. David shares his story of being called into ministry, serving as a vocational pastor, leaving traditional ministry structures, and discovering that ministry doesn't have to mean having a job at a church. Together, Brandt and David explore some challenging questions: • Are Christians being equipped to actually do the work of ministry—or simply being trained to attend church? • What does it mean for every member of the body of Christ to participate? • Is Christianity meant to revolve around a weekly church service? • What can we learn from the early church's practice of meeting from house to house? • Why does spiritual maturity require more than listening to sermons? • Are we following Jesus—or simply following a church, denomination, doctrine, or system? • What does it look like to actually impact the community around us? • Can a church become so focused on maintaining itself that it loses sight of its mission? • What does it mean to be faithful to God's calling rather than measuring success by numbers? • Why might genuine discipleship require us to rethink what we mean by "church"? David also shares a powerful story about praying for a vape shop near his home—and realizing that perhaps the answer wasn't for God to simply remove the problem, but for him and his family to become part of the solution by opening their home and building relationships with local college students. This conversation gets into church reform, organic church, house churches, discipleship, spiritual gifts, ministry, church attendance, Christian maturity, evangelism, and what it means to live out the gospel beyond the four walls of a church building. The goal isn't to attack the institutional church or tell everyone they need to do church the same way. It's to ask a deeper question: What if there really is More to Church? 🎙️ Guest: David Dodie 📖 Bible in Order: bibleinorder.com 🎙️ Host: Brandt Johnson ⛪ More to Church: Reclaiming church as a people, not a place. If this conversation challenges you, don't just agree or disagree—search the Scriptures, wrestle with the questions, and decide what following Jesus looks like in your own life. Subscribe to More to Church for conversations about church, discipleship, faith, Scripture, Christian community, and reclaiming church as a people rather than a place. #MoreToChurch #Christianity #Church #Discipleship #HouseChurch #OrganicChurch #ChristianFaith #FollowingJesus #SpiritualMaturity #ChurchReform Support the show

  3. Mar 24

    More to Church than Moralism

    Is Christianity really about rules… or have we misunderstood the gospel? In this episode of More to Church, we take a hard look at the difference between moralism and true biblical faith. Many people have been taught—directly or indirectly—that Christianity is about behavior, performance, and “getting it right.” But that mindset often leads to burnout, frustration, and a distorted view of God. So what’s missing? We unpack how moralism subtly replaces the gospel in modern church culture, why it leaves people feeling stuck, and what real transformation actually looks like when faith is rooted in something deeper than rules. If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly falling short… or that your faith feels more like pressure than freedom, this episode will challenge and reframe how you see your relationship with God. 🔑 In This Episode: The difference between moralism and the gospelWhy rule-based faith leads to burnoutHow church culture can unintentionally distort truthWhat real, lasting transformation actually looks likeSupport the show

  4. Feb 25 ·  Bonus

    More to Church: Why I do this

    I became the exact kind of Christian I once resented — confident, certain, armed with Scripture… but missing the heart of Christ. In this episode of More to Church, I share the personal story behind this podcast: growing up as a pastor’s kid in a conservative church, entering pastoral ministry, and the moment an elder confronted me with a truth that changed everything. This isn’t a church-bashing video. It’s an honest conversation about tradition, doctrine, inherited assumptions, and what happens when you begin reading the Bible without denominational gridlines. Why do we do church the way we do? Why Sunday? Why once a week? Which beliefs are clearly biblical — and which are historical, cultural, or simply assumed? If you’ve ever: Questioned modern church structure Wrestled with tradition vs Scripture Felt disillusioned but still deeply committed to Christ Wanted to seek God beyond tribal loyalty Struggled with defending doctrine without reflecting Jesus This episode is for you. We talk about: Spiritual deconstruction without losing faith The difference between sincerity and accuracy How tradition shapes theology Repenting not just in behavior, but in motivation Seeking God with your whole heart The goal of this channel isn’t controversy. It’s clarity. Not division — but deeper faith through honest examination. If you're spiritually awake but still rooted in Christ… welcome. We're just getting started. Subscribe for thoughtful discussions on church history, biblical interpretation, faith, and what it really means to follow Jesus beyond inherited assumptions. #Christianity #Deconstruction #ChurchReform #FaithJourney #BibleStudy #SpiritualGrowth #MoreToChurch Support the show

  5. Feb 13 ·  Bonus

    More to Church Than Worship Songs: Interview

    Is worship just singing songs on Sunday morning? Or is it something much deeper? In this follow-up episode of More to Church, we sit down with Kyler, Director of Worship and Discipleship at Oak Heights Covenant Church, to unpack a question many Christians are quietly wrestling with: What is worship really? Together, we explore: ~Why worship is more than music and emotional moments ~How discipleship and worship are inseparable ~The danger of confusing emotional manipulation with spiritual transformation ~Why serving, evangelism, and daily obedience are acts of worship ~How the Western church may have narrowed worship far beyond its biblical meaning Kyler shares a powerful definition of worship as a lifestyle response to God’s revealed love through Jesus—and challenges the idea that worship leaders, songs, or services can bring us closer to God apart from Christ Himself. If you’ve ever felt uneasy about “worship culture,” wondered why church feels disconnected from real life, or sensed there must be more to church than a song set, this conversation is for you. 👉 Subscribe for honest conversations about faith, church, discipleship, and what following Jesus actually looks like beyond Sunday mornings. 👉 Like & share to help others rethink worship and rediscover a faith that moves into everyday life. Support the show

  6. Jan 30

    More to Church Than Worship Songs

    Is Worship More Than Singing? More to Church Podcast Is worship something we do once a week—or a way we live every day? In this episode of More to Church, we explore the biblical meaning of worship and challenge the common assumption that worship is primarily about singing on Sunday morning. Drawing from both Old and New Testament Scripture, this conversation reframes worship as an attitude of the heart—a daily posture of surrender lived out in every moment of life. We discuss how Scripture defines worship as more than music or religious activity, why God’s presence isn’t confined to a building or gathering, and how worship flows from a life oriented toward honoring Him in spirit and truth. This episode invites listeners to rethink worship not as a scheduled event, but as a lived response to the constant presence of God. Support the show

  7. Jan 30

    More to Church than Money

    What if the church didn’t need your money to survive? In this episode of More to Church, we take an unflinching look at one of the most sensitive—and least examined—assumptions in modern Christianity: that church requires compulsory giving to function faithfully. From a North American context, this conversation traces the staggering financial realities of the modern church, unpacking what Scripture actually says (and doesn’t say) about tithing, budgets, buildings, and pastoral pay. Drawing from biblical texts, historical developments, and contemporary financial data, this episode challenges the idea that money is the engine of God’s kingdom—and asks whether we’ve quietly replaced generosity with obligation. You’ll hear: Why the modern tithe looks nothing like the biblical titheHow voluntary generosity in the New Testament became compulsory giving in church historyWhat Jesus affirmed under the Law—and what He never commanded of His followersHow fear, guilt, and spiritual manipulation often replace transparencyWhy the early church thrived without budgets, buildings, or fundraising campaignsAnd the unsettling question: If your church disappeared tomorrow, would your community even notice?This isn’t an attack on church buildings, paid pastors, or organized ministry. It’s a call to honesty. A call to rethink stewardship. A call to ask whether our structures are serving the kingdom—or quietly competing with it. Because if church is reduced to budgets, benefits, and buildings, it stops being the church. There has to be more to church than money. Support the show

  8. Jan 19

    More to Church Than Your/my Church Hurt

    Have you been hurt by the church? This episode addresses the touchy topic of spiritual abuse. Your traumas, hurts, and abuses do not have to define your relationship with God. Just because corrupt individuals, disparate leaders, or toxic church cultures have deviated from the Gospel message and directives to all Christians, everywhere, does not mean that God's plan was wrong. Let's dive in and see how there is more to church than your/my church hurt! Support the show

  9. 12/28/2025

    More to Church than a Weekly Meeting

    Today we look into the meaning of the word that is most often translated into "church" in our english Bibles. When we see the meaning of the word "ekklesia" as it compares to "church" we can see that there has to be a deeper understanding of these translations. We have to understand that being a part of Jesus's church goes well beyond just a weekly gathering a particular place at a particular time. Support the show

  10. 12/11/2025

    Intro Ep. 1

    Let's start a community where everyone is excited to go deeper in understanding what it means to BE the church. Just sitting and listening cannot be enough. This into is just the beginning. We will continue to go deeper and learn more about what it truly means to be a part of the body of Christ, the true Church of God. Support the show

  • 10 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Have you ever sat in a church service while singing the songs, listening to the sermon, or praying the prayers and though, "There has to something more to church than this!"? If so, this is the place for you. We will drop short encouraging videos helping you along your journey as you seek for something more!

Information

  • Creator
    brandt
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 More to Church
  • Show Website
    More to Church