Making Sense of Faith with Adam Hamilton

Does believing in God make sense in today's world? Adam Hamilton tackles this fundamental question with refreshing honesty and vulnerability. Through personal stories of airplane conversations, quiet walks with his granddaughter, and his own struggles with doubt, he explores why faith might still matter in 2024 - even for skeptics and deep thinkers. Drawing from decades of experience connecting with both believers and non-believers, Adam shares how authentic relationships and humble conversations create space for meaningful discussions about life's biggest questions, without requiring anyone to check their brain at the door.Wrestling with Life's Hardest Questions: Through raw and honest reflection, Adam opens up about his own struggles with doubt, including a powerful story about losing his best friend and youth pastor in a tragic accident. He demonstrates how wrestling with difficult questions can actually strengthen rather than weaken faith.Embracing Mystery Over Certainty: Drawing from decades of pastoral experience, Adam challenges the notion that faith requires absolute certainty. Like deep human love, he suggests that the most meaningful aspects of life often exist in the realm of mystery rather than mathematical proof.A Fresh Approach to Suffering: Rather than offering trite answers about everything happening for a reason, Adam provides a compassionate framework for understanding suffering that doesn't require attributing tragedy to God's direct will. He previews a deeper discussion on this topic in an upcoming episode.Why Faith Matters: In a particularly moving segment, Adam reflects on how his faith has enriched his life with peace, joy, hope, and meaning. While he believes deeply in the eternal promises of Christianity, he shares why following Jesus would have made his life richer regardless of what happens after death.Making Sense of Faith continues to stand in the radical center, creating space for both intellectual rigor and heartfelt spirituality. Whether you're wrestling with doubt, curious about Christianity, or seeking meaning in an uncertain world, this episode explores how faith can provide hope, purpose, and peace without requiring blind acceptance or abandoning intellectual honesty.

What if your doubts about faith weren't a barrier to belief, but a gateway to deeper understanding? In this thought-provoking first episode of Making Sense of Faith, Adam Hamilton tackles one of the most fundamental yet challenging aspects of faith: doubt. With warmth and authenticity, Adam shares his personal journey from skepticism to belief, while making a compelling case for why doubt isn't just normal – it's an essential part of a healthy faith journey. Drawing from both scientific perspectives and personal experiences, he creates a welcoming space for listeners to explore their own questions about faith, God, and the intersection of intellectual curiosity with spiritual growth.Doubt is Not Just Normal – It's Biblical: Adam reveals that 95% of people experience religious doubts, and he explains how biblical figures from Moses to Mary wrestled with their own uncertainties. Rather than viewing doubt as a weakness, he presents it as a natural part of engaging our intellect in our faith journey.The Science Behind Faith: Taking listeners on a fascinating journey through space with the James Webb Telescope, Adam explores how scientific discoveries can actually deepen our appreciation for the possibility of a divine creator, sharing insights from both Einstein and priest-physicist Georges Lemaître.Why People Leave Church – And Why It Matters: Drawing from recent research, Adam addresses head-on why 67% of people have stopped believing what their religion taught, acknowledging the valid concerns that drive people away from faith communities and offering a fresh perspective on approaching these challenges.Finding God in the "God-incidences": Through a powerful story about praying for a stranger in an airport, Adam illustrates how seemingly random moments can reveal deeper spiritual connections, showing how faith can manifest in practical, meaningful ways in our daily lives.Making the Choice to Believe: Rather than presenting faith as a set of mandatory beliefs, Adam frames it as a daily choice we make based on our experiences, knowledge, and observation of the world around us – making faith accessible to those who value both intellectual integrity and spiritual authenticity.No matter where you are on your journey, this episode offers a refreshing approach to spirituality that doesn't require checking your brain at the door. Through a blend of intellectual honesty, personal vulnerability, and spiritual wisdom, this conversation bridges the gap between doubt and faith. HIGHLIGHTS: [2:40] Why people having stopped believing in religion[4:28] We are meant to be critical thinkers and ask questions[5:45] Adam’s journey to faith through critical thinking, questions, and doubts[6:56] Why doubt doesn’t offend God and biblical examples of doubt[9:19] Everything in life requires a measure of faith[12:17] Doesn’t science negate the idea that there is a God?[16:20] Where did God come from? [20:01] What is a “God-incidence”? [23:16] How does believing in God impact your daily life?

In this holiday episode of Making Sense of Faith, Adam Hamilton takes listeners behind the scenes of his 35th Christmas Eve candlelight service at Church of the Resurrection. Speaking from his home, with his dog Rocky making a guest appearance, Adam shares the detailed journey of crafting and delivering multiple versions of his Christmas message about the Magi seeking Jesus. He walks through his thoughtful preparation process, from months of research to multiple sermon drafts, and how the message evolved through various services to reach over 31,000 in-person attendees and many more online and on television. The episode concludes with his final Christmas Eve sermon.Key moments from the episode:Behind the Perfect Christmas Message - Adam reveals his intensive 20-hour preparation process for each sermon, including research, multiple drafts, and careful consideration of how to speak to listeners' heads, hearts, and hands.The Evolution of Excellence - Experience how the sermon transformed through multiple iterations, from Friday's TV recording to Sunday's traveler’s service, to the final Christmas Eve deliveries.A Pastor's Vulnerability - Adam shares honest moments of feeling depleted, forgetting to eat before services, and the very human side of delivering multiple services to thousands of people over just a few days.The Power of Generosity - Learn how the congregation's Christmas Eve offering of $2.2 million in 2023 is transforming lives through projects like a mobile dental clinic for underserved schools and support for global initiatives.A Sacred Midnight Moment - The episode concludes with Adam's moving description of standing alone in the sanctuary at 1:05 AM after the final service, expressing gratitude for his calling and the privilege of serving his congregation.Whether you're a regular churchgoer, someone curious about faith, or simply interested in the behind-the-scenes workings of one of the largest Christmas Eve services in America, this episode offers a unique glimpse into the heart and mind of a pastor striving to make ancient truths relevant for today's world. Adam's authentic, conversational style and willingness to share both the triumphs and challenges of ministry makes this holiday episode particularly special.

In this soul-stirring Christmas episode of Making Sense of Faith, Adam Hamilton brings fresh insight to the remarkable story of Mary and Elizabeth's relationship. Moving beyond the traditional holiday narrative, he explores the raw humanity, fears, and transformative moments that make this ancient story deeply relevant today. His conversation weaves together biblical wisdom with contemporary understanding, offering both skeptics and believers a meaningful way to connect with the Christmas season.Key moments from the episode:The Power of Intergenerational Relationships: Adam shares how the story of 14-year-old Mary and 60-year-old Elizabeth demonstrates that every person needs both mentors and mentees in their spiritual journey. He illustrates this through his own touching story about his relationship with Reverend Firestone, showing how these connections shape our lives and faith.Finding God in Everyday Moments: Adam reveals his practice of actively looking for "God moments" in daily life, from chasing after church members in the parking lot to responding to unexpected texts. These small but significant encounters remind us that the sacred often shows up in surprising ways.Wrestling with Pain and Disappointment: The episode tackles Elizabeth's struggle with infertility and challenges the ancient belief that inability to bear children was a sign of God's disapproval. Through this discussion, Adam offers comfort to modern listeners facing their own struggles, affirming that pain doesn't equal divine abandonment.The Reality Behind "Silent Night": Adam explains why he titled his book "Not a Silent Night," painting a vivid picture of the messy, painful, and decidedly not-silent reality of Jesus's birth. This honest portrayal helps listeners connect with the very human elements of the Christmas story.Finding Joy in Dark Times: Through Mary's Magnificat and Cheryl Sandberg's story of grief and healing, Adam explores how joy can coexist with pain. He offers practical wisdom about perspective, gratitude, and serving others as pathways to finding light in darkness.Whether you're skeptical about religion, wrestling with faith, or simply seeking a fresh perspective on a familiar story, this episode offers something meaningful for everyone. Adam's thoughtful exploration demonstrates that it's possible to engage with ancient faith traditions while maintaining intellectual honesty and emotional resonance. His discussion shows how the Christmas story, far from being a mere historical account, continues to offer wisdom and hope for navigating life's complexities today.HIGHLIGHTS: [0:43] How was Mary and Elizabeth? [4:50] Do you see amazing “God-moments” happen today? [8:35] How can we trust God like Mary? [11:09] Everyone needs an Elizabeth (aka mentor) and a Mary (aka mentee) in their life. [15:38] What would you want someone to hear who is experiencing struggle or pain, especially with infertility?[18:50] Where and how do we find joy when life is hard? [22:23] What is the Magnificat and why does it matter today? [26:07] It was NOT a silent night when Jesus was born