Church Could (Literally) Save Your Life

Church Could (Literally) Save Your Life

Author: The Gospel Coalition, Collin Hansen October 21, 2025 Duration: 55:48

Imagine you could save your life through one simple, regular act. You wouldn’t always want to do it. Every week you’d come up with multiple excuses. The night before would often be a struggle. Same with the morning before. Every time you finish you feel refreshed, energized, eager to undertake that day’s agenda. But then when it came time to do it again, somehow you’d still struggle to do it.

Ok. I don’t know what comes to mind for you. Maybe the gym. Maybe a quiet time of Bible reading and prayer. Maybe a call or meeting with a family member or friend. But I’m talking about church and a new book by Rebecca McLaughlin, How Church Could (Literally) Save Your Life, published by Crossway and TGC.

Rebecca is widely known to Gospelbound viewers and listeners as author of several of the most encouraging and successful books in TGC history, including Confronting Christianity, The Secular Creed, and Jesus through the Eyes of Women. She’s also a fellow with The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics. She returns to Gospelbound to discuss the life-changing research on what makes church good for your health.

In This Episode

04:30 – What Makes Church Unique

08:00 – How many modern moral values come directly from Christianity 

16:00 – Real Benefits, Real Belief

23:00 – The Church as Family

30:00 – Sharing Faith in a Skeptical World

45:00 – Healing from Church Hurt

48:00 – A Practical Vision for Believers 

Guest  Resources

——

SIGN UP for my newsletter, Unseen Things

Help The Gospel Coalition renew and unify the contemporary church in the ancient gospel: Donate Today

Don’t miss an episode of Gospelbound with Collin Hansen:

Use code “GOSPELBOUND” for 25% off tuition.

Learn more at downlinememphis.com/virtual-institute or email info@downlineministries.com for group pricing and discounts.

Check out The Pour Over Podcast — politically neutral news for people who want the facts without the spin, and with a brief biblical perspective


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.


In a world that often feels unsteady, Gospelbound offers conversations grounded in something deeper. Host Collin Hansen, with The Gospel Coalition, sits down each week with thoughtful guests to explore how historic Christian faith speaks into our current moment. These discussions aren't theoretical; they're about the actual books people are reading, the ideas shaping our culture, and the practical challenge of living out conviction when the ground seems to shift. This podcast recognizes the particular anxieties of a post-Christian context but refuses to be defined by them, turning instead to the resources of the gospel for clarity and hope. You'll hear a focus on enduring truth, but the tone is far from detached-it's engaged, curious, and built for anyone who wants their faith to be both thoughtful and resilient. The result is a series of dialogues that feel like a necessary pause, a chance to consider how a centuries-old story provides a surprisingly fresh compass for life today. Tune in for a perspective that is both timely and intentionally rooted beyond the headlines.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Gospelbound
Podcast Episodes
Top Theology Stories of 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:42:16
Melissa Kruger joins Collin Hansen to discuss the top theology stories of 2025.
Why We Should Recover Cultural Apologetics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:18
Christopher Watkin and Joshua Chatraw join Collin Hansen to discuss cultural apologetics, arguing that apologetics should engage the heart, mind, and community, while recognizing its cultural context.
A Biblical Response to Transgender Theory [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:05
Rob Smith joins Collin Hansen on Gospelbound to discuss transgender theory, how it spread, why it’s peaked, and where evangelicals need to go next.
3 Threats to Secularism in the West [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:10
Collin Hansen reflects on a recent visit to Copenhagen as he discusses how secularism emerged, why some places resist it, and how understanding this can help us pass on a resilient Christian faith.
How To Exit Tech [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:26
Clare Morell joins Collin Hansen to reflect on the value of a screen-free childhood.
Why Everything Never Feels Like Enough [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:59
Bobby Jamieson joins Collin Hansen to discuss why many people struggle to find lasting happiness, and argues that true happiness isn't found in worldly gain, but in humbly accepting life's limits and receiving them as gi…
Sing with Getty and Other Greats in This New Hymnal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:40
On this episode of Gospelbound, Keith Getty joins Collin Hansen to talk about the much-anticipated Sing! Hymnal and how hymns continue to shape worship across generations.
BONUS: Advice for Apologetics with Wes Huff [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:10
Wesley Huff joins The Everyday Pastor and Gospelbound to discuss how pastors can effectively practice and teach apologetics, offering insights, examples, book recommendations, and quick responses to common objections.
Summer Reading with Melissa Kruger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:42
In this episode of Gospelbound, Collin Hansen and Melissa Kruger share why reading still matters in a digital age and offer dozens of book recommendations to inspire your summer reading list.
Obergefell: 10 Years Later [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:21
In this episode of Gospelbound, Collin Hansen looks back on the decade since the landmark 2015 Obergefell decision, exploring why support for same-sex marriage is declining and how the church withstood one of the most ra…