Pastor's Circle - Michael Catt

Michael Catt is the pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church, known for making movies like Facing the Giants, Fireproof, and Courageous. Dr. Catt joined The Matt Friedeman Show to talk about Sherwood Baptist and its life as a church. Below are the "CliffsNotes" of his interview.

How have these movies affected your church?

It's certainly made us busy. It's been amazing.

One of the things that's happened is that before we make the movies and while we're making them, we're very intentional about our prayer and our unity on set.

Do you worry that the focus of your church will shift away from the Great Commission?

We see the movies as part of trying to fulfill our role in the Great Commission

We are unashamed about what we believe. We're very open about presenting the Gospel. We don't want anyone to walk away from the movies wondering what we believe.

We know of thousands of people who have come to know Christ through these movies.

How does your church minister outside its four walls?

For about 12 years, we've been feeding homeless people every week. As a result of that, we probably have about a dozen homeless men in our church on any given Sunday.

It's real easy to stand in the pulpit and talk about how the world is so bad. But until we put light in the darkness, complaining about it isn't going to do any good.

You say your favorite biblical character is Joshua. Why is that?

I think as a leader, Joshua followed one of these greatest leaders in all of human history. You have a young man who was content to be second in command for most of his life, and then he assumes command.

For me, Joshua pictures what a man is supposed to do as the leader of his home. He's not a dictator, but he leads his household in how they're going to live.

Why is that so hard for us today?

I think church discipline is an issue. I think accountability is almost lost in the American church.

I think the fear of man is a real problem in the Church today. Many of us see this with pastors, with leaders, with deacons who are afraid to stand out.

You can't blend in. There is a difference between the life of the Church and someone who is just playing with religion.