In this episode of The Church Planting Podcast, Greg Nettle sits down with Michael Frost, internationally recognized missiologist, author, and leading voice in the missional church movement. Michael is the author of influential books including The Shape of Things to Come.

Together, Greg and Michael explore what it means to lead, plant, and evangelize in a post-Christian world—a cultural reality where people no longer understand the Christian story, assumptions, or language.

Michael shares his personal journey from traditional church leadership into missional theology, explaining how the global church must move beyond attractional and recruitment-based evangelism. He clarifies the difference between post-Christian and post-Christendom cultures and explains why many people today still value Christian ethics—like generosity and hospitality—while rejecting religious authority.

The conversation reframes evangelism as a relational journey, not a one-time presentation. Michael introduces the "three stories" model—God's story, our personal story, and the other person's story—as a powerful way to share faith in a way that resonates with people who have little or no biblical framework.

This episode challenges church planters and leaders to slow down, listen deeply, and trust that God is already at work in people's lives long before the church shows up.

Podcast Contents:

00:00–02:00
Introduction to Michael Frost and the missional church conversation.

02:00–08:00
Michael's story: leaving traditional church leadership and discovering missional theology.

08:00–14:00
What "post-Christian" really means—and why it matters for church planters.

14:00–18:00
Why evangelism feels difficult today and what people are reacting against.

18:00–23:00
Evangelism in a post-Christian world vs. a Christian world.

23:00–27:00
The "three stories" model and practical guidance for relational evangelism.

27:00–29:00
Final encouragement for church planters navigating post-Christian contexts.