

Church Disrupted
Jeff Cochran
Taking on church hurt and spiritual abuse one conversation at a time. If you’ve been hurt by the church, you’re not alone. Together, we can heal. Together, we can bring about change. It’s time to take a stand!
*Church Disrupted is a production of the Spiritual Abuse Institute. Learn more about our work at: https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/
*Church Disrupted is a production of the Spiritual Abuse Institute. Learn more about our work at: https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 6, 2026 • 2h 17min
117: Deconstructing the Church (Part 2): What a Church Gathering Really Looks Like in Scripture
What does a church gathering actually look like according to Scripture? Most of us picture a stage, a band, and a sermon — but is that what Jesus designed?In Part 2 of Deconstructing the Church, we dig deep into 1 Corinthians 11-14 and Acts 2 to uncover the biblical blueprint for the church gathering. What we find might surprise you — and challenge everything you thought you knew about Sunday morning.If you missed Part 1, watch it here: https://youtu.be/At2NI8wavI8Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/.Want to support SAI financially?https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaignLearn more about the Safe Church Pledge Here: https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/safechurchpledgePlease Subscribe and Share!Fair Use Disclaimer:This video may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. All clips used are protected by the Fair Use Doctrine within Title 17 of the United States Code. This doctrine safeguards the use of copyrighted material for transformative purposes, such as commentary, criticism, review and news reporting. Under Title 17 U.S.C. § 512(f), any person who makes a false, bad faith, or misleading copyright claim or uses a copyright takedown to infringe on free speech, criticism, or commentary can be held liable for damages to the content creator.Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015).

Feb 25, 2026 • 1h
116: Deconstructing the Church (Part 1): What the Church Really Is in Scripture
What if much of what we call “church” today isn’t what Scripture actually describes?In this first episode of Deconstructing the Church, we go back to the Bible and ask a foundational question: What is the church — really? Is it a building? A Sunday event? A production? Or something far deeper?Before we critique leadership, systems, or culture, we have to define the church biblically. This is Part 1 of a 15+ part series examining how far modern church culture may have drifted from the New Testament blueprint.Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/.Want to support SAI financially?https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaignLearn more about the Safe Church Pledge Here: https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/safechurchpledgeCheck out our Awareness Apparel HERE: https://church-disrupted.sellfy.storePlease Subscribe and Share!CHAPTERS:00:00 What Is Church03:13 Blueprint vs Additions05:26 Why This Fights Spiritual Abuse07:41 Ecclesia Defined12:22 Three Biblical Uses15:39 What Jesus Said26:43 Paul on the Church29:07 Gathering VS Identity31:03 Why We Misdefine Church36:17 Great Commission As You Go40:38 Organism Not Organization44:57 Systems Commodities And Abuse50:05 Followers Of The Way54:49 Are You Being the Church?Fair Use Disclaimer:This video may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. All clips used are protected by the Fair Use Doctrine within Title 17 of the United States Code. This doctrine safeguards the use of copyrighted material for transformative purposes, such as commentary, criticism, review and news reporting. Under Title 17 U.S.C. § 512(f), any person who makes a false, bad faith, or misleading copyright claim or uses a copyright takedown to infringe on free speech, criticism, or commentary can be held liable for damages to the content creator.Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015).

Feb 12, 2026 • 1h 46min
115: Should Fallen Pastors Be Restored? The Bible’s Answer Might Surprise You.
Should fallen pastors ever return to ministry?In this episode, we open Scripture, not sentiment, to examine what the Bible actually says about disqualified leaders. Is restoration to fellowship the same thing as restoration to church leadership? And does the New Testament give a pathway for elders to regain qualification after public moral failure?Let’s wrestle with it together.Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/Want to support SAI financially?https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaignLearn more about the Safe Church Pledge Here: https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/safechurchpledgeCheck out our Awareness Apparel HERE: https://church-disrupted.sellfy.storePlease Subscribe and Share!Chapters:00:00 Introduction: Should We Restore Fallen Pastors?02:12 Controversial Instagram Post04:56 Common Arguments and Misconceptions08:54 The Case of King David34:29 The Case of Peter41:10 Paul's Transformation and Leadership44:47 Restoration of Elders: Biblical Perspective54:58 Biblical Standards for Elders01:09:20 Modern Examples and Conclusion01:11:27 Case Study: Pastor Micahn Carter01:16:44 Challenges in Restoring Fallen Pastors01:23:19 The Role of Grace and Accountability01:26:39 Jeff’s Personal Experiences and Reflections01:44:48 Final Thoughts and Call to ActionFair Use Disclaimer:This video may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. All clips used are protected by the Fair Use Doctrine within Title 17 of the United States Code. This doctrine safeguards the use of copyrighted material for transformative purposes, such as commentary, criticism, review and news reporting. Under Title 17 U.S.C. § 512(f), any person who makes a false, bad faith, or misleading copyright claim or uses a copyright takedown to infringe on free speech, criticism, or commentary can be held liable for damages to the content creator.Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015).

Feb 9, 2026 • 1h 59min
114: Bethel’s Response Raises Red Flags Every Christian Should Notice
Bill Johnson, senior Bethel leader known in the charismatic movement, offers a public apology and account. Chris Vallotton, prophetic teacher from Bethel, also delivers an apology and explains the church’s handling of allegations. They discuss what was said and avoided, accountability failures, honor culture risks, slow discipline, investigation limits, and promises of cultural change.

Jan 29, 2026 • 56min
113: How Churches Can Stop Spiritual Abuse In Its Tracks!!! (with Natalie Runion)
Spiritual abuse doesn’t stop with better intentions. It stops with better systems. In this episode, Jeff and Natalie walk through the Safe Church Pledge and explain how churches can build real accountability, transparent governance, survivor-centered reporting, and safeguards that prevent abuse before it starts. This isn’t about damage control after harm. It’s about creating structures that make abuse harder, not easier, and helping churches become genuinely safe places again.Find out more about the Safe Church Pledge here: https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/safechurchpledgev2Read the "Building Safer Churches" report here: https://d1yei2z3i6k35z.cloudfront.net/941486/67d5e4a3d884c_BuildingSaferChurchesResearchWhitePaper.pdfFind out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/.Want to support SAI financially?https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaignJoin the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6ZLearn more about the Safe Church Pledge Here: https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/safechurchpledgeCheck out our Awareness Apparel HERE: https://church-disrupted.sellfy.storePlease Subscribe and Share!Fair Use Disclaimer:This video may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. All clips used are protected by the Fair Use Doctrine within Title 17 of the United States Code. This doctrine safeguards the use of copyrighted material for transformative purposes, such as commentary, criticism, review and news reporting. Under Title 17 U.S.C. § 512(f), any person who makes a false, bad faith, or misleading copyright claim or uses a copyright takedown to infringe on free speech, criticism, or commentary can be held liable for damages to the content creator.Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015).

Jan 12, 2026 • 1h 9min
112: Responding to Allegations Against Jeff & SAI
Recently, a local church pastor made allegations of sin against Jeff and called for a retraction, public apologies, and his temporary removal In this episode of the Church Disrupted Podcast, Jeff talks about the allegations and the path forward.Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/.Want to support SAI financially?https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaignJoin the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6ZLearn more about the Safe Church Pledge Here: https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/safechurchpledgeCheck out our Awareness Apparel HERE: https://church-disrupted.sellfy.storePlease Subscribe and Share!Fair Use Disclaimer:This video may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. All clips used are protected by the Fair Use Doctrine within Title 17 of the United States Code. This doctrine safeguards the use of copyrighted material for transformative purposes, such as commentary, criticism, review and news reporting. Under Title 17 U.S.C. § 512(f), any person who makes a false, bad faith, or misleading copyright claim or uses a copyright takedown to infringe on free speech, criticism, or commentary can be held liable for damages to the content creator.Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015).

Dec 21, 2025 • 1h 33min
111: "Stop Judging Pastors"? An Honest Christian Conversation About Accountability
“Don’t judge!"It’s a phrase Christians repeat often — but is it biblical?In this episode, Jeff sits down with a critic for an honest, respectful conversation about accountability, public rebuke, forgiveness, and what Scripture actually teaches about confronting church leaders. This isn’t a debate or a takedown. It’s a necessary conversation about truth, grace, and whether avoiding discomfort has cost the church more than we realize.Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/.Want to support SAI financially?https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaignJoin the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6ZLearn more about the Safe Church Pledge Here: https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/safechurchpledgeCheck out our Awareness Apparel HERE: https://church-disrupted.sellfy.storePlease Subscribe and Share!Fair Use Disclaimer:This video may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. All clips used are protected by the Fair Use Doctrine within Title 17 of the United States Code. This doctrine safeguards the use of copyrighted material for transformative purposes, such as commentary, criticism, review and news reporting. Under Title 17 U.S.C. § 512(f), any person who makes a false, bad faith, or misleading copyright claim or uses a copyright takedown to infringe on free speech, criticism, or commentary can be held liable for damages to the content creator.Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015).

Nov 18, 2025 • 2h 13min
110: The Viral Social Experiment That Shook The Church (Part 2)
The second half of this experiment gets uncomfortably honest. After the initial reactions came the explanations, excuses, and spiritual justifications — and then the fallout. In the second part of this series, we break down why so many responses sounded “Christian” but weren’t actually biblical, and we explore what happens when our theology is tested in real-life ministry moments.Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/.Want to support SAI financially?https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaignJoin the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6ZLearn more about the Safe Church Pledge Here: https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/safechurchpledgeCheck out our Awareness Apparel HERE: https://church-disrupted.sellfy.storePlease Subscribe and Share!Fair Use Disclaimer:This video may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. All clips used are protected by the Fair Use Doctrine within Title 17 of the United States Code. This doctrine safeguards the use of copyrighted material for transformative purposes, such as commentary, criticism, review and news reporting. Under Title 17 U.S.C. § 512(f), any person who makes a false, bad faith, or misleading copyright claim or uses a copyright takedown to infringe on free speech, criticism, or commentary can be held liable for damages to the content creator.Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015).

Nov 17, 2025 • 1h 47min
109: The Viral Social Experiment That Shook the Church (Part 1)
A viral social experiment put Churches to the test, and the responses were… revealing to say the least. And some were straight-up embarrassing.In part 1 of this two-episode series, we walk through the call, the setup, and the real-time reactions from believers, pastors, and church leaders when confronted with a simple request for help. What does our first instinct say about the modern church, and what does Scripture expect of us in moments like this?Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/.Want to support SAI financially?https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaignJoin the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6ZLearn more about the Safe Church Pledge Here: https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/safechurchpledgeCheck out our Awareness Apparel HERE: https://church-disrupted.sellfy.storePlease Subscribe and Share!Fair Use Disclaimer:This video may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. All clips used are protected by the Fair Use Doctrine within Title 17 of the United States Code. This doctrine safeguards the use of copyrighted material for transformative purposes, such as commentary, criticism, review and news reporting. Under Title 17 U.S.C. § 512(f), any person who makes a false, bad faith, or misleading copyright claim or uses a copyright takedown to infringe on free speech, criticism, or commentary can be held liable for damages to the content creator.Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015).

Nov 11, 2025 • 52min
108: Is Daystar's NDA About Confidentiality...Or Control?
Find out more about the Spiritual Abuse Institute and the Church Disrupted Podcast at https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/.Want to support SAI financially?https://donorbox.org/sai-initial-funding-campaignJoin the church disrupted COMMUNITY here: https://discord.gg/nbWwg8Sz6ZLearn more about the Safe Church Pledge Here: https://www.spiritualabuse.institute/safechurchpledgeCheck out our Awareness Apparel HERE: https://church-disrupted.sellfy.storePlease Subscribe and Share!Fair Use Disclaimer:This video may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. All clips used are protected by the Fair Use Doctrine within Title 17 of the United States Code. This doctrine safeguards the use of copyrighted material for transformative purposes, such as commentary, criticism, review and news reporting. Under Title 17 U.S.C. § 512(f), any person who makes a false, bad faith, or misleading copyright claim or uses a copyright takedown to infringe on free speech, criticism, or commentary can be held liable for damages to the content creator.Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015).


