What does a cheesesteak have to do with theology?
More than you’d think. Less than a seminary textbook. Exactly enough to matter.
“Messy, cheesy, and surprisingly good for your soul.”
Cheesesteak Theology isn’t about having all the answers - it’s about asking better questions somewhere between the sacred and the everyday. It’s the kind of book that lives in the space where late-night conversations, family dinners, sideline chats, and quiet prayers all collide.
Because faith doesn’t usually show up in stained glass moments.
It shows up in traffic. In texts you don’t want to send. In conversations you didn’t plan to have. In the weight of responsibility - and the grace you didn’t see coming.
This is theology without the jargon.
Wisdom without the pedestal.
Truth served hot, a little messy, and meant to be shared – just like the Philly cheesesteak!
If you’ve ever tried to figure out what following God looks like in real life - not just the polished version - pull up a chair (and grab a book to join the discussion!).
There’s room at the table. Gen Z to Boomers – let’s talk…
About the Author
As an eight-time Emmy® Award-winning TV/Film Producer and Director, Jess Stainbrook is also the Director of Digital Media, Artist in Residence and professor at Colorado Christian University, having launched the Strategic Communication and Digital Media Major from the ground up starting in 2019. He is passionate about raising up the next generation of visual storytellers, communicators, and creative professionals by engaging them with hands-on learning experiences that will have tangible and practical application for sharing the gospel in the real-world.
Jess is the Founder and Chief Entertainment Officer of FSPN, the Faith+Sports Programming Network that produces a wide variety of inspirational content through talking with professional athletes about their faith. Jess is known for his Faith, Family and Football Super Bowl programming with Tony Dungy and the associated Faith, Family and Football Challenge reading plans with YouVersion through The Bible App. As an ordained pastor, Jess also serves as the Broadcasting/Sports Media Director and a professional sports chaplain with Athletes in Action, a ministry of CRU.
Jess has been shooting and directing media all over the world since he started his first creative services ad agency while still in college at Temple University in Philadelphia. Jess’ credits include producing/directing programming around major sporting events such as the NFL Super Bowl, Olympics, Grand Prix/NASCAR Racing, World Cup Skiing, the X-Games, Mountain Dew Tour, GoPro Games and many more. His clients include broadcast networks and international corporations like ESPN, PBS, MTV, A&E, AT&T, Bell Atlantic and ARAMark, just to name a few.
Jess served as an Exclusive Advisor on The Bible series and Son of God movie by Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Apprentice, Shark Tank) and Roma Downey (Touched By An Angel). Jess led the creative and business efforts as the Executive Producer for Seven Days in Utopia, the inspirational major motion picture featuring Academy Award winners Robert Duvall and Melissa Leo. The movie was Movieguide®’s “Teddy” Award winner for 10 Best Mature Audience Movies and the Templeton Foundation Epiphany Award Nominee for Most Inspirational Movie of the year. For the movie Heaven is for Real, Jess created the DVD Conversation Kit and Small Group curriculum through Thomas Nelson Publishing. Jess is sought out regularly for his “out of the box” thinking as well as expertise in developing film and media projects from the ground up and continues to be active in the marketplace on major motion pictures and high profile media projects.
Moving intentionally from success to significance, Jess has been serving as the Executive Director for the Invisible Disabilities® Association since 2018 and launched the National Disability ID Initiative (NDID) which is mobilizing legislation that approves a designated symbol on government IDs that allows for voluntary disclosure for people living with disabilities. The NDID is proving most valuable in law enforcement, first responder and educator interactions. https://invisibledisabilities.org/
His foray into writing this time (the last time was children’s books) began in a conversation with his daughter about how words matter. It continued as he and his wife met regularly with the newly marriage young couples from the university, as they were asking good questions about life, money, spiritual unity in marriage, etc., etc. And being from Philly, well, Cheesesteak Theology just seemed like the right way to go about communicating about “finding God in those ordinary moments of faith, family and life.”