PODCAST: The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill

By Christianity Today | Listen | 12 episodes averaging 1h 13m
Published in summer of 2021

SUMMARY: From Hillsong’s Carl Lentz to Liberty’s Jerry Falwell Jr., including local scandals most of us never hear about, there has been no shortage of pastors, churches, and organizations that have been exposed using power and influence to cover up sexual misconduct, toxic work environments, and other assorted sins. In interviews with former Mars Hill church members, ex-evangelicals, pastors, journalists, authors, and all of those in between The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill tells the story of a church culture that drifted from being a church about Jesus to a church about the pastor.

For 18 years, Mark Driscoll led Mars Hill church in Seattle, Washington where average attendance topped 12,000 and sermons garnered over 250,000 weekly online views. Eventually the church’s reach expanded to fifteen sites in four states. But in 2014, Driscoll resigned, following an investigation by church elders that found “bullying” and “patterns of persistent sinful behavior.” After Driscoll’s resignation, most of the Mars Hill churches disbanded.

Creator and narrator Mike Cosper does a superb job of telling the story with grace and truth. Cosper clearly doesn’t want to tell the story to shame, but to point out some of the warning signs in hopes of preventing another Mars Hill situation.

What makes The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill standout from other Christian podcasts is its excellent music and tight production while telling a longform story. It is on par with NPR podcasts.

KEY QUOTE: “I think the worst thing that could happen with a show like this is that people look at it and go, ‘Well, I’d never fall for that.’ Try this on for size, this idea – You would do the exact same thing and you are capable of all those things you hear other people say. If you take that mindset into it, then you will protect yourself and the ones you love. If you listen to this and it is like a freak show and go, ‘That would never happen to me. I would never do that.’ You will learn nothing and you will end up doing the exact same stuff.” – Jesse Bryan

BONUS: If you want to know what the podcast is all about before diving in, we recommend listening to Skye Jethani‘s interview with creator Mike Cosper. Start at 37:47 to get to the interview.

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