Challenging Discoveries of Radical Alignment, with Doug & Bart

In this episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, Erin Johnston sits down with Doug Parks and Bart Rendel to talk about their newest book, Radical Alignment.

After more than a decade of working with over a thousand churches, Doug and Bart share the surprising lessons they’ve learned about why alignment in the church is much harder than they expected—and why it matters more than ever.

The conversation explores the hidden challenges many churches face: the pull of Christian consumerism, the difficulty of collaboration between churches, impulsive leadership decisions, and the growing disconnect between evangelism and discipleship.

Doug and Bart also explain why Radical Alignment serves as a “prequel” to their earlier work—laying the biblical and missional foundation for what it truly means to be an intentional church.

If you're a church leader trying to move your church from an inward focus to mission-focused disciple making, this conversation will challenge and encourage you.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to the Podcast
01:57 – Why Write This Book Now?
04:30 – The Journey of Learning from 1,000+ Churches
07:05 – Why This Book Is the Best Starting Point for Leaders

08:26 – When Big Vision Meets Real Challenges

11:17 – Why Collaboration Between Churches Is So Difficult

13:10 – The Role of Theology, Mission, and Church Identity

14:11 – Leadership Impulsiveness and “Not Invented Here” Thinking

17:40 – The Dynamic Work of God in Reaching People

22:10 – The Challenge of Christian Consumerism

25:00 – Institutional Thinking vs Personal Mission

27:10 – Why Staff Culture Often Reinforces Consumerism

31:00 – Real Examples of Institutional Thinking in Churches

36:49 – The Dangerous Divide Between Evangelism and Discipleship

39:17 – Rediscovering the Biblical Model of Disciple Making

41:17 – Measuring Spiritual Depth the Right Way

43:11 – The Adventure of Owning the Great Commission Personally

45:00 – How Leaders Can Start Moving Toward Alignment

Website: intentionalchurches.com

The Radical Alignment Book

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