Inside Grace with Alan Wright

On this episode of Inside Grace with Alan Wright we examin why the word "Gospel" means “Good announcement” – because that's what the Gospel is, an announcement of really wonderful news.We will explore many of the ways that God transforms our lives, but here is the center, the hub that connects it all. The Gospel is good news and good news will change you. What would happen if people comprehended the beauty and magnitude of what God has given them in Jesus Christ? How generous might they become? How much more ready to love and honor their spouses? How much more likely to be patient with their children? How much more ready to let go of judgment and racism? How much more able to conquer sin?  What people need for real change isn't more good advice –they need more good news!

There is a way for every Christian to “pray in the Spirit” – praying God's Word. Because all scripture is “God-breathed,” all of God's Word is full of the Spirit. Thus, when you pray God's Word, what you are praying is Spirit-filled.

According to surveys, there's something that more Americans will do this week than will drive a car or go to work. It's an activity that almost all Americans say they believe in and most claim it to be very important.But, if so many people think that prayer is so important, why do so few people report feeling good about their prayer lives? Why does prayer seem to be a struggle? Why do so many feel their prayers are powerless? Paul's answer is simple, compelling and direct: “praying at all times in the Spirit….” (Ephesians 6:18) The invitation to “pray in the Spirit” is part of the famous exhortation to put on the whole armor of God. Alongside of donning the helmet of salvation and utilized the shield of faith, we must learn to “pray in the Spirit.” But how?Join Pastor Alan Wright for Season 3 of Inside Grace to answer these questions and more! For more resources, visit www.pastoralan.org!

In the episode of Inside Grace, Pastor Alan Wright explains the power of rejecting curse in your life as you begin to understand the power of blessing.

Pastor Alan and Chris continue their discussion on Alan's new book, The Power to Bless, and reflect on Alan's childhood and what he learned about blessing his own children.

Anyone can discover the power to bless. On launch day of Pastor Alan’s new book, today’s episode lays the foundation for a life of blessing.

There may be many risks not worth taking, but there’s one dare we all must take: love. In Acts 20, Paul says goodbye to the elders of the Ephesian church, where he had spent years. It’s a stirring scene of great pathos that reveals Paul’s true nature. The scene unveils the nature of Christian love—deep affection and enduing care. In the aftermath of a contentious election, many Christians are uncertain what to do. In today’s episode, Pastor Alan and Chris discuss the one thing we absolutely must do: risk love.

Pandemics and political elections prove that our joy is far too dependent upon our circumstances. In the wake of the presidential election, liberals are jubilant and conservatives and upset—but what is the right attitude of the Christian’s heart? Joy—always joy. If you’ve lost your joy because one of more of your candidates lost the election, remember the Apostle Paul. He lived under an emperor who claimed to be god, was surrounded by pagan idols, and was wrongly imprisoned awaiting possible execution when he wrote: “Rejoice (have joy again) in the Lord always!” In the election of the heart, vote for joy!

As we approach an historic election, emotions (that have been frayed by pandemic and racial unrest) are running high. Christians and non-Christians have this in common as we near election day—anxiety and frustration. What are we to with our frustrations and fears? How are we to interact with a culture that is unchurched and often antagonistic to Christianity? With the backdrop of ancient Athens, today’s episode unveils Paul’s ingenious presentation of the Gospel via the image of the “altar to the unknown god.” Discover the amazing back story of “the unknown god” and gain skill in reaching people in a non-Christian culture. Whether your candidate wins the political election, there’s a different contest that every Christian can win—the election of the heart.

Does the upcoming election have your stomach in knots? Do you find yourself fighting unhealthy emotions? There’s good news. There are two elections taking place in the next week. The first is the election of a president and other governing officials. In that election, we don’t control the outcome—we each get just one vote. But there’s a second election taking place this week. And, for the second election, we control the outcome 100%. It’s the election of the heart—what we each decide to do with our heart regardless of the political ups and downs. Todays’ podcast is part one of two special pre-election day messages that offer peace in the midst of the political storm.

In the conclusion to an important series about overcoming spiritual malaise, today's episode exposes the dangers of a mixed Gospel and explores the freeing power of pure grace. Discover why the smallest seeds of law are deadening and learn to embrace fullness of life in the Gospel of grace alone.

What was the most important meeting in history? The council of Nicaea? The Diet of Worms? The Yalta conference? Today’s episode suggests another meeting at the top of the list – the Jerusalem Council in the first century. There, as the early apostles assembled to consider the question of whether circumcision should be required of the Gentiles, the decision was for grace alone. Discover how only a gospel of pure grace can awaken us from spiritual malaise.

Ever noticed that you don’t know you’ve been asleep until you wake up? Today’s episode explores again the vague, uneasy sort of spiritual slumber that seems to be plaguing the body of Christ during extended pandemic. The only solution to spiritual malaise is a fresh wake up call!

When the angel of the Lord appeared in Peter’s prison cell to liberate him from death row, the heavenly messenger had to wake up the apostle. Like a parent waking up sleepy-headed toddler, the angel had to physically nudge Peter on the side. Freedom was at hand, but Peter needed to wake up. In today’s important episode, we return to the miracle story of Acts 12 with an eye on the scripture’s honesty about real life. James was executed. The church, though praying, couldn’t believe it when Peter was released. But, at the center of the story was the miracle. Life has some mayhem and plenty of Monday mornings, but the real story, the formative narrative of our lives, is the miracle of God’s grace. Pastor Alan opens up about some of the heartbreak in his own life in order to point toward a healthy, spiritual outlook on life. Pandemic has become wearisome, but, by the power of God’s grace, we call awaken from spiritual malaise.

As pandemic drags on and people grow weary of suffering, it can start feeling like this is “the new normal” and we can unwittingly fall into spiritual malaise. How do we continue to believe in a God of supernatural miracles, glory and grace when there is so much confusion and uncertainty all around us? In today’s episode, Pastor Alan and Pastor Chris share from the marvelous account of Peter’s angelic escape from prison in Acts 12. It’s a breathtaking miracle story. But, interestingly, the story is flanked on one side by the unvarnished announcement of James’ tragic martyrdom and, on the other side, by the doubts of the praying early church. Discover how to believe in miracles while knowing that life brings its share of troublesome mayhem and routine Monday mornings.

We continue our conversation about the source of authentic energy for life in today’s relevant episode. Pandemic has made us weary and we’re too easily duped by hell into pursuing counterfeit solutions. Rebellion cries: “I won’t let anyone tell me what to do” and promises energy through pleasure. Religion offers an equal and opposite allure. The spirit of religion dangles the promise of performance-based living as the path to energy. It traffics in pride that says, “I’m better than others because I do everything right.” Today’s episode exposes the twin counterfeit paths to life and points to the one, true source of refreshment—relationship with God through Christ.

“Are you hanging in there?” It’s the question we ask one another during global pandemic because, in one way or another, the world crisis is draining us physically and emotionally. Everyone seems tired. What is so exhausting about life during pandemic and how do we find authentic energy? Those questions and more are answered in today’s episode that explores the conversion of Saul of Tarsus (the Apostle Paul). Saul was zealous to persecute Christians and, after meeting Jesus, became even more zealous to preach Christ. Today’s episode exposes the counterfeit motivational forces of rebellion and religion and leads listeners into deeper relationship with Jesus.

We’re joined today again Dr. Jeff Deaton, a reproductive endocrinologist ( a fertility doctor) to talk about the amazing phenomenon of balance. Real balance isn’t found in a commitment to the safe, middle ground—real balance is portrayed in the capacity to swing between seemingly opposite extremes without falling off either end. Just like the human body is designed for big swings in hormones (or sleep and rest), so the soul is designed for contemplation AND celebration, for intimacy AND awe. Discover the secret of abundant, spiritual life as we discuss again the beauty of balance.

During hard seasons like this, life can feel out of balance. Usually, when we’re “out of balance,” we mean we’re too busy or we’re stretched too far in one direction. But, in today’s episode, we discover that the Biblical notion of balance isn’t about finding a safe, middle place that avoids any extremes—real balance is the ability to stretch far in seemingly opposite directions. Pastor Alan and Chris are joined today by Dr. Jeff Deaton, a reproductive endocrinologist and professor at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital specializing in fertility medicine who is a seasoned lay minister and elder. Dr. Deaton reflects with us about the amazing design of hormonal balance in the human body and how it points to God’s design for balance in all creation.

Pastor Alan’s wife talks about the “yes” house and how God is a “yes” God – God is the author of freedom, right? But a lot of people think the opposite. Devil lured Adam and Eve to take their eyes of the “yeses” and focus on the one “no” – so the essence of temptation is to think that any form of restraint limits freedom.

“If only I didn’t have so much responsibility, I’d finally be free.” “Keep your options open—make sure you don’t miss out on a better opportunity.”Those are the mantras of the age we live in. We have been duped into believing that freedom comes when we escape commitment and responsibility. But in this week’s episode of Inside Grace, we discover why responsibilities are privileges and why commitment leads to real freedom.

Culture’s version of freedom sounds like this: “Be free. Don’t be constrained by others’ values. Live your truth and don’t let anyone limit you.” In other words, the spirit of the age equates freedom with the lack of restraint. Keep your options open is today’s mantra. But the Biblical picture of freedom isn’t a lack of submission—real freedom comes from ultimate submission. Freedom isn’t the absence of responsibility—it is the embrace of responsibility. In today’s podcast, Alan Wright explores the meaning of freedom and explains why only well-trained dogs can go unleashed.

Most Christians are familiar with lamb that was sacrificed on the Day of Atonement each year during Israel’s fall festival. The lamb’s blood made temporary atonement for the sins of the people and foreshadowed Jesus, the “lamb who takes away the sin of the world.” But many have never notice that there were two animals actually presented on the Day of Atonement. One goat was slaughtered, but the other was kept alive and sent to the wilderness to bear the shame of the people. In today’s episode, Pastor Alan Wright shares about the significance of the scapegoat and explains how families and societies tend to scapegoat individuals or segments of people. Understanding the cause and cure of scapegoating is essential for the healing of racism.

Amidst the racial tensions, many constructive conversations are taking place that can help lead to healing. But, perhaps the most important conversation of all is not at the forefront—the roots of racism itself. Pastor Alan Wright shares what he’s learned from nearly years of study and teaching on the subject of shame as it relates to the root issues of racial prejudice, hate and violence.

Do victorious people celebrate more or do celebrative people have more victories? Pastor Alan explores the Biblical concept of celebration and shares practical insights for individuals and families. We mustn’t postpone celebration until the end of pandemic—we sometimes need celebration most when life is most difficult.

Pastor Alan Wright and his friend, Bishop J.C. Hash, a leading African-American pastor in the same community, sit down for an honest, healing conversation about the killing of George Floyd, the pathway to deeper understanding and the power of the Spirit to cure racism.

What does Paul mean when he writes, “hope does not put us to shame”? (Romans 5:5) Pastor Alan explains the dynamics of toxic shame and how the hope of the Gospel lifts deep shame.

If a little girl says, “I hope I get a pony for Christmas,” she means, I wish I would get a pony, but I likely won’t. True hope—Biblical hope—isn’t wishful thinking, it’s inward certainty of future blessedness. Discover how to live in the power of real hope.