In this special Christmas episode of the Church Revitalization Podcast, Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu react in real time to a series of viral Christmas-themed church and Christian videos circulating online. From funny and lighthearted moments to intense theological takes and over-the-top productions, this episode explores how Christians communicate faith during the Christmas season—and how those messages are received by both believers and the watching world.

Scott Ball is joined by co-host and fellow church consultant A.J. Mathieu as they offer candid, unscripted reactions rooted in decades of ministry experience. Together, they discuss pastoral wisdom, cultural engagement, outreach effectiveness, and where well-intended Christmas expressions may help—or hurt—the church's witness.

Chapters

[00:00] Introduction

[02:15] Pastors, humor, and calling out fruitcake from the pulpit

[04:41] "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and why punctuation matters in theology

[07:45] Is Christmas pagan? Responding to extreme anti-Christmas arguments

[12:44] Cross-shaped Christmas trees and symbolic overcorrections

[18:08] "Christmas at the Movies" sermon series—helpful or overdone?

[24:20] Mega-church Christmas productions, ticket prices, and public perception

[34:12] A deeper look at A Christmas Carol and the dangers of moral rigidity

Links & Resources

• Healthy Churches Toolkit - https://healthychurchestoolkit.com
• The Malphurs Group - https://malphursgroup.com
• Facebook - https://facebook.com/malphursgroup
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/malphursgroup
• YouTube - https://youtube.com/themalphursgroup
• X (Twitter) - https://x.com/malphursgroup

Many churches struggle with volunteers who are spread too thin—serving in three, four, or even five roles. In this episode, we explore why narrowing volunteer focus actually increases effectiveness and joy in serving, and how to transition your church to a healthier, more sustainable volunteer culture.

Hosted by Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu of The Malphurs Group, this conversation walks you through practical steps any church can take. If you're new to the Church Revitalization Podcast, Scott and A.J. bring decades of combined church consulting experience, helping churches grow healthier through strategy, leadership, and intentional systems.

In this episode:

[00:01] Setting the stage: volunteers doing too much and the 80/20 problem
[02:18] Why people fear reducing volunteer roles—and why it actually works
[03:20] Step 1: Creating a realistic, intentional timeline for change
[07:20] Step 2: Helping volunteers find their best-fit roles through Divine Design
[12:20] Step 3: Engaging volunteers in recruiting their successors
[15:27] Step 4: Why a Leadership Pipeline is essential to prevent the problem from returning
[17:41] "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast" applied to volunteer transition
[18:47] Building systems instead of just filling slots

Links & Resources:

• Healthy Churches Toolkit → https://healthychurchestoolkit.com
• Full episode article → https://malphursgroup.com/320
• Website → https://malphursgroup.com
• Facebook → https://facebook.com/malphursgroup
• Instagram → https://instagram.com/malphursgroup
• YouTube → https://youtube.com/themalphursgroup
• X (Twitter) → https://x.com/malphursgroup

Chapters

[00:00] Understanding Revitalization Failures
[07:01] Demographic Mismatch in Revitalization
[12:12] Importance of Accountability in Implementation
[15:42] Decision-Making Challenges in Revitalization
[19:36] Navigating the Consensus Trap

Get a free 7-day trial of the Healthy Churches Toolkit at healthychurchestoolkit.com

Follow us online:

malphursgroup.com
facebook.com/malphursgroup
x.com/malphursgroup
instagram.com/malphursgroup
youtube.com/themalphursgroup