Podcasts about grace god

In today's episode, we have the pleasure to interview Matt Grace, author of God Doesn't Relapse: Sex, Drugs, and the Life That Almost Killed Me.Matt is an author, speaker, and transformational recovery expert with more than 20 years of sobriety and over 10,000 hours spent mentoring individuals and families impacted by addiction. After nearly losing his own life to addiction, Matt dedicated himself to helping others recover through service, personal responsibility, discipline, and faith.In this episode, you'll learn how families can unknowingly enable the addictions of the people they love, why Matt believes service can become a higher power even for people who struggle with faith, and how purpose, discipline, and brutally honest boundaries can help someone rebuild their life. Matt also shares some incredibly raw stories from his own addictions and explains why recovery requires changing the person behind the destructive behavior, not simply removing the substance.Now get ready to learn and enjoy this incredible conversation with Matt Grace.if you want to learn more about Matt and buy his book visit: Book: https://a.co/d/09tnzxp4Website: https://mattgrace.com/https://www.instagram.com/mattsavinggrace/https://www.tiktok.com/@MattSavingGracehttps://www.youtube.com/@mattsavinggracehttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581939312746

God's Gospel Goes Global   After Peter told the story of his vision and going to Joppa to the home of Cornelius, we read in Acts 11:18 that "… the believers in Jerusalem had no further objections and praised God saying, 'So even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.'" And now the barriers that had existed between the Jewish world and the non-Jewish world are down in a single moment. The believers in Jerusalem that had grown up as devout Jewish people had their eyes opened to understand the new age that God promised had arrived. AND God's Gospel Goes Global!!!   Then + Now  GOD's Plan - His plan and intent have always been to win the entire world to Himself. God's plan is coming to fruition. Romans 10:12-13 we see that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile because the Lord saves all who call on Him.   In verse 19 and 20 we read that those scattered by the persecution following Stephen's martyrdom are spreading into Cyprus, Phoenicia and Antioch sharing the gospel message to Jews and Greeks. Peter's ministry to Cornelius opened the flood gates!!  Verse 21 tells us that the Lord was with them and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.   We see the gospel exploding in Antioch, a place with many from multiple backgrounds and cultures, a wealthy city and an incredibly immoral city and this is where the Gospel explodes!!  Unbelievers discover what they are living for has no lasting value, leaving them empty.  Does this sound like the world today?  It is there that God desires to bring the Good News that changes people lives, transforming them from the inside out, that brings an eternal destiny, and great joy and He does that through His people then and NOW!   God's People - God uses His people to do mighty things. He desires to use us to touch our families, neighbors, and even our enemies with His word and his love. In verse 22 the news of the spread of the Gospel got back to the church in Jerusalem, so they send Barnabas to Antioch. Barnabas was from Cypress and was known as an encourager and once he saw what the grace of God was doing there, he encouraged the new believers to persevere in their faith with all their hearts, just as we need to do TODAY!   God's Grace - God's breaks into our lives because He is good, not because of anything we have done, but because He is gracious. It is all based on what Jesus did at the cross. We all need to encounter that grace and know that God cares for us. His grace is powerful and changes lives, families, marriages, communities and the world both then and NOW!.   God's Leaders - Through Barnabas a great number of people are brought to the Lord. And Barnabas goes to Tarsus to bring Saul to Antioch. God assembles a great group of leaders, an amazing team uniquely qualified to carry out God's plan. In verse 26 we read that great numbers of people in Antioch were taught for an entire year by this leadership team, equipping God's people to know God, His Word, His guidance, His direction, and His Holy Spirit. These leaders were specially needed in a corrupt age, in a corrupt city, because if God's people are not equipped they will fall prey to the enemy. Today we see God continuing to raise up leaders to do His work, in His strength and with His guidance and Holy Spirit.    God's Teaching - we need to be instructed in the Truth.  It is a matter of connecting what the Bible says to the life of a believer.  Orthodoxy - right opinion - Beliefs - essential to be grounded in God's truth - the message of Christ's forgiveness. Orthopraxy - right practice - Conduct - knowing how to live our lives in a fallen world.  It's not just head knowledge, it is about heartfelt, Spirit-guided living - conduct that becomes a follower of Jesus.   Titus 2:11-14 - the grace of God offers salvation to ALL people and teaches us to live self-controlled, godly lives as we await Christ's return.    God's Mercy - In verses 28-30 we read that Agabus, a prophet, predicts a famine, so the disciples decide to support the believers living in Judea. In the mercy of God they reached out to those in the midst of famine, then. Today, God's mercy shows in us as we walk by faith and follow the Holy Spirit's leading.   … and God's Gospel continues to Go Global!   This week's READING ASSIGNMENT: Acts chapter 11-12.    Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos   Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

Title: All We Need Text: 2 Thessalonians 3:16-18 FCF: We often struggle lacking what is necessary to continue following Jesus. Prop: Because the Lord Jesus supplies all, we must seek the Lord for all we need. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 2 Thessalonians chapter 3. In a moment we will read the concluding benediction of the letter starting in verse 16. I will read from the Legacy Standard Bible but you can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer. Last week, Paul officially buttoned up his main application to the church there in Thessalonica. He wants the issue of the disorderly among them dealt with and has laid out exactly how it should be handled. In the last three verses, Paul introduces three new thoughts which all have one basic application. Seek the Lord. It is perfect way to end this letter and for us to finish our study of 2 Thessalonians. Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the Word of God as it is read. Invocation: Loving and Merciful Father, You have given Your people Your Son and with Your Son's ascension You have sent Your Spirit. You have given us, You. And You are all we need. The things of this world are often a distraction to us. We pursue all manner of earthly concerns and use earthly means to make our way through life. We know that this ought not to be. Help us Father to see that You alone are what we need. Convince us through this text that we must seek You. We pray this in Jesus' name… amen. Transition: [Slide 2] “Christ is wisdom for your ignorance, strength for your weakness, righteousness for your guilt, sanctification for your corruption, redemption from all the thralldom of apostasy.” Richard Fuller “Christ is not only the Savior but the salvation itself.” Matthew Henry [Slide 3] “In His life Christ is an example showing us how to live; in His death, He is a sacrifice satisfying for our sins; in His resurrection, a conqueror; in His ascension, a king; in His intercession, a high priest.” Martin Luther “He who thinks he has no need of Christ has too high thoughts of himself. He who thinks Christ cannot help him has too low thoughts of Christ.” J.M. Mason [Slide 4] “Everything that is really worthwhile in the morality of today has come to the world through Christ. Dismiss His standards of right and wrong and try to draw up your own ethical code and see where you will be!” G. Campbell Morgan Let these thoughts prepare our hearts for the exposition of the text this morning. I.) The Lord of peace brings peace, so we must seek the Lord for all we need. (16) a. [Slide 5] 16 - Now may the Lord of peace Himself i. In the closing verses of 1 Thessalonians, Paul asked that the God of Peace sanctify them and preserve them complete and holy for the coming return of Christ. ii. When we dissected that title that Paul gave to God, as the God of Peace, we recognize that only Paul and the writer of Hebrews use this title in the New Testament. And they use it exclusively to people who are being persecuted. iii. Because the writer of Hebrews and Paul are what we might call experts in the law of Moses – or Old Testament Scholars, we understood that Paul was probably referencing the name of God Yahweh Shalom. iv. We then recognized the theological significance of the word Shalom. It not only means a cessation of hostilities between two warring parties, but it also means completeness, wholeness, or bringing what was disordered back into order. v. With the ending of 1 Thessalonians it made sense to see Paul's use of this title to refer to the ongoing work of sanctification in the church, that they would be made whole and complete for the Lord Jesus' return. vi. But in 2 Thessalonians, we might see the word peace used in another way. vii. Certainly, Paul is hoping and praying for the Thessalonians to gain peace from those who are persecuting them. viii. But, two other ides from this letter seem to be at the forefront in their need for peace. ix. First, the anxiety caused by the false teaching that the Day of the Lord had come. Paul hopes that Christ will use this letter to assuage that anxiety and lead them to peace and comfort in the truth. x. And after his most recent discussion Paul may want peace to bring them back into order. xi. We have already noted that the disorderly among them are still causing problems because they are not working and mooching off the church while using their free time to be busy bodies. xii. To the disorderly Paul has commanded them to get a job and mind their business and stop mooching off the church. xiii. Paul has called the church as a whole to avoid them and if they persist in this disorderly conduct to mark them out for disassociation with the hope that they would repent and return to fellowship soon. xiv. Now Paul is seeking the Lord of Peace… the Lord of bringing order from chaos… to b. [Slide 6] continually give you peace in every circumstance. i. Ultimately it is the Lord Jesus Christ that has the power to bind us together and bring order to His church. ii. When disorderly or unruly brothers and sisters arise in the church, we have been told to do certain things, we have been given instructions on what to do and how…. But ultimately, it is the Lord Jesus who brings order from chaos. iii. When false teaching arises and tempts us to waffle on core doctrines of our faith and practice, Jesus' presence and teaching brings us back into order. iv. It is always Jesus who brings us back into order. He makes us whole. c. [Slide 7] The Lord be with you all! i. Paul's last comment here is directed at what could be a fractured community. ii. He is not requesting that Jesus be with the orderly, as if all of them are against the disorderly. iii. Nor is he requesting that Jesus be with the disorderly as if in a punitive or corrective way. iv. He is requesting that Jesus be with… all of them. v. The ordered and the disordered alike. vi. Christ will bring them peace. From without and from within. He is our hope. d. [Slide 8] Summary of the Point: Paul has three final thoughts in this benediction to close out what is the last canonical letter to the Thessalonian church. The first of these is a prayer that the Lord of peace would continually give them peace. The truth behind this, of course, is that the Lord Jesus is the Lord of peace. A title given to him by the prophet Isaiah, is that He will be the Prince of Peace. He will bring all chaos into order. He will bring all brokenness into wholeness. He will make all things new. He is doing that right now for His church. And one day, He will do that for the whole world. By application then, the apostle Paul is pointing the Thessalonians to this Lord of peace. We too must trust Him completely to bind us up and make us whole. He will bring us into order. He will set us right. We must seek Him to do that and all else we need. Transition: [Slide 9 (blank)] Paul's first thought was a hope that the Thessalonians would be given order and peace from their persecution, their anxiety, and their disorder. What is Paul's second thought he wishes to leave with the Thessalonians. II.) The Lord has given His instruction to us through His apostles, so we must seek the Lord for all we need. (17) a. [Slide 10] 17 - The greeting is in my own hand— i. The second point Paul raises in his final thoughts to the Thessalonians is one that is somewhat difficult to ascertain at first. ii. We know that Paul used amanuensis (uh-man-yoo-EN-suhs), which was the use of a writer to take down and relay his thoughts in a letter. Probably Silas wrote for Paul in this case, and perhaps he and Timothy also contributed or helped to edit the letter. All of this is by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to convey the exact words of God to the Thessalonians and later to us. iii. Scholars also speculate that this was done primarily because Paul's eyesight has been problematic. Both from his interaction with Christ and the scales forming over them, and then later with a possible bout of Malaria he contracted on his first missionary trip in Cyprus. iv. In any case, Paul takes the pen from whoever is writing on his behalf and chooses to write the words that follow. v. What we have to speculate on, is exactly why Paul calls this out in this letter. He did not do this in his previous letter to them, and he only does this in 5 of his 13 letters in the New Testament. vi. So, what is the significance of his calling out his greeting written in his own hand? vii. Let's keep reading and see if there are more clues. b. [Slide 11] Paul, which is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write. i. Here we find out that Paul puts his handwriting in every single letter he has written, whether he calls attention to it or not. Meaning it also appeared in 1 Thessalonians. ii. What is the purpose of him writing a greeting in each letter? iii. He says it is a “distinguishing mark” which is the word sign. As in “signs and wonders.” iv. Now, having studied the book of Acts, we know that sign gifts like tongues, miracles, healings, and prophesy, were used at the foundation of the church to authenticate that those who spoke the gospel were sent by God or to authenticate that people had actually received the gospel. v. In that same vein, we see that Paul's mark, or his handwritten message serves as an authentication that he himself is sending this letter. vi. He identifies himself by his handwriting. vii. Because it is truly from Paul, it bears the authority of an apostle of Jesus Christ, which carries the weight of Christ Himself. viii. So, why is Paul pointing to this letter being authentic and authoritative? ix. Well, way back in chapter 2, remember that Paul was dealing with the Thessalonians receiving teaching, preaching, prophesy, or even letters that were confusing the Thessalonians and convincing them that the Day of the Lord had already come. x. He even mentions that the letter supposedly came from him and his companions. xi. In this letter, Paul has directly contradicted that false teaching about the Day of the Lord. xii. Therefore, he calls out his personal greeting to remind the Thessalonians that unless a letter bears HIS handwriting in some location in the letter – it is NOT FROM HIM. xiii. They are to compare any letter supposedly from him, with this one to verify its authenticity and authority. c. [Slide 12] Summary of the Point: Paul's second thought he wishes to convey to the Thessalonians is the rubric for determining whether something is authentic and authoritative. Of course, we know that the teachings of Paul are not Paul's own invention but are rather handed down from Christ, verified by the rest of the apostles, and then passed on to the churches Paul founded in his missionary journeys. Therefore, this teaching that is being authenticated is teaching that is from Christ Himself. And it is important for the Thessalonians to be clear on that point. In this, they are to trust and obey anything that does come from Christ through His apostles and dismiss or at least treat less authoritatively anything that does not bear those signs or marks. For us then, we must trust what the Lord has said and obey it without question. Again, we are to seek the Lord for all we need including what is true. [Slide 13 (blank)] Transition: Paul now has only one thought left he wants to leave with the Thessalonian's. What could be the last thought Paul wants to leave with them? What else could it be… but the grace of God. III.) The Lord gives grace to His church, so we must seek the Lord for all we need. (18) a. [Slide 14] 18 - The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ i. Paul's final hope or wish for them is that they receive and live in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. ii. What is grace… C'mon CBC... You should know this by now. iii. [Slide 15] God's Grace is God's power which He grants to people according to His free will, to enable them to be, receive, or do something that they are unable and unwilling to be, get, or do on their own. iv. Grace from God, is what is truly needed by all believers as they endeavor to obey God's commands. v. And Paul has called the Thessalonian church to do some difficult things in obedience to Christ's commands and the Christian tradition. vi. If they are going to obey, they must have the grace of God. There will be no hope without it. vii. Paul has also called them to trust in God's future provision and protection of them from those who are persecuting them, knowing that one day Jesus will judge the living and the dead. viii. If they are going to keep believing that, they will need God's grace. ix. But again – who is the grace for? Is it for just the orderly to do what he has commanded them to do? b. [Slide 16] be with you all. i. Paul asks for Christ's grace to be given to all of them. ii. Even though he has had some harsh words for the disorderly, he believes that with Christ's grace, they can turn from their sin and get back in line and conform to the Christian tradition again. iii. No matter what God calls us to be or do, we too need His grace to see us to and through it. c. [Slide 17] Summary of the Point: Paul's final thought again revolves around the Christian's absolute need of Christ. He hopes that the Lord Jesus will give grace to them all to enable them to be and do all that Christ commands them to be and do. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I can think of no greater hope, wish, prayer that could be offered for a Christian brother or sister than to wish them the grace of God. Don't wish them a great day. Don't wish them to have fun. Don't wish for them to be blessed. Grace to you. It is the best hope and wish you could give to a believer. Because Christ is always what they need. And grace is Christ's power to effectively help them. The Thessalonians are once again told to look to Christ. Christ for Peace. Christ for truth. Christ for grace. Christ for everything. Because Christ said, without me you are nothing. So, we must seek the Lord Jesus for grace to help us be His followers. Conclusion: So CBC, what have we learned today that refines our beliefs and guides our lifestyles? Basics of Faith and Practice: [Slide 18] Paul's primary point of this closing benediction is to turn the attention of the Thessalonians onto Christ Jesus their Lord. He is their source for peace. Peace with unbelievers, peace from doctrinal dismay, and peace among each other. He is their source for truth, to hold fast to and believe. He is their source for grace to provide God's Power to do all that He has commanded of them. The Lord Jesus Christ is their source for everything. And so, the implied application to them is… look to and seek Jesus for all they need. Do they need peace? He is peace. Do they need truth? He is truth. Do they need grace? He gives grace! We too must understand that this is what it means to be a believer. This is what it means to be a Christian. This is what it means to follow Jesus. It is to see Jesus Christ as our source for all we need. Not money. Not fame. Not family. Not power. Christ. And Christ alone. So how does this impact us today? What applications endure into the 21st century here? 1.) [Slide 19] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that Jesus is the Lord of peace. a. Every single human being on the planet is looking for peace. b. By peace I do not mean world peace necessarily. I don't mean the cessation of war, necessarily. c. I mean order. I mean unity. I mean wholeness. I mean completeness. d. All human beings want this kind of peace. e. This is the reason that those who preach tolerance cannot tolerate someone who is intolerant. f. This is the reason that mob mentality and echo chambers exist. g. This is the reason that political parties have been polarized into two broad factions, but both parties can't seem to keep infighting from happening. h. Everyone wants wholeness on their terms. Everyone wants their own definition of order. i. And conservative or liberal, homosexual or heterosexual, pro-life or pro-choice, everyone wants the other people to change and be conformed into their image. j. Jesus, as the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace… will make everything new. What does that mean? k. He will fundamentally conform all things to His will. Some by loving guidance, some by forceful rescue, but most by insurmountable power and glory. l. Jesus came as a meek human to die to save His people from their sin. The next time He comes, He will save the world from sinners. m. He will not come in meekness. He will come in power. And He will have peace. n. Blessed are those who seek the peace He offers now. For they will inherit the Kingdom He brings. o. Cursed are those who fight for their own version of order, for they will be part of the chaos He puts down to consummate His Kingdom. p. Jesus is the only path to peace. Continually growing peace in our lives today and perfect and complete peace in the Kingdom that is to come. q. Peace today won't mean the lack of violence, hatred, and hostility. But it does mean completeness, wholeness, and order. The peace of Jesus conforms us to His life, His commands, His ways. In this we are brought into HIS order. We are expected to conform to Him. And as each of us are brought into conformity to HIM – We have peace with one another. r. But peace in His Kingdom will be perfect and it will be complete. We will never have a reason to shed tears again. We will know no sorrow. We will know no war. We will know no failure. s. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. And in Him alone we will find growing peace for today and perfect peace forever. 2.) [Slide 20] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that Jesus is the source of truth. a. Have you noticed that those who desire conformity and peace to their own standard MUST, by necessity, alter or deny the clear teaching of the word of God? b. Why do you suppose that is? c. Why is there a bible called The Queen James Bible where all “confusing” passages that seem to indicate that God does not approve of the LGBTQIA+ lifestyles have been removed? d. Why did Thomas Jefferson remove portions of the bible he didn't agree with? e. Why do churches bend over backward to explain how when Paul says that no woman should preach and exercise authority over men in the church… that that means women should preach and exercise authority over men in the church? f. Because they have no desire to conform themselves to Christ. So, they must conform Christ to them. g. The Reformation sought to reform the Roman Catholic church in five separate ways. The Reformers argued that if these five things changed in the Roman Catholic Church, they would make progress to go BACK to what the apostles taught, which is what Christ taught. h. And, arguably, the pinnacle of these 5 reforms was the Latin words “Sola Scriptura” i. Officially the Roman Catholic church teaches that the wisdom of church theologians down through the ages, and the traditions and conclusions of church councils, should be held in equal authority to what the Scriptures Teach. j. The Reformers argued, correctly, that the Scriptures alone should have the FINAL authority on faith and practice of every single person in the church. k. In essence, this is EXACTLY what Paul is teaching in this text. The Thessalonians had heard from prophets, letters, and preachers that the Day of the Lord had come. Paul, an actual apostle of Jesus Christ, bearing the teaching directly from Christ, says NO! That is not the truth. It is contradictory to what is the truth. l. Paul does not tell them to hold in equal balance what the others taught and what he taught. Paul does not tell them to find the truth in the middle somewhere. Paul doesn't say that both must be true some how. Instead, Paul says, they are wrong and Jesus is right. m. This doesn't mean that church tradition and church scholars, theologians, creeds, and councils should be eliminated. Far from it. Church tradition, scholars, creeds, councils should be consulted as a secondary source to help put up guardrails on our own personal interpretations of the scriptures. n. BUT… where the Scriptures, which is the Word of God, which is another name for Jesus Himself, where the Scriptures disagree with any human… Pope, priest, scholar, church doctor, saint, or otherwise… We are to trust the scriptures and deny the human's wisdom. For if it disagrees with or contradicts the clear teaching of the scriptures… it is not wisdom at all. It is foolishness. o. This is what the Reformers taught. And it is what Paul is teaching here. p. Jesus is our source for truth. The inspired Word of God in 66 books, is our guide for what we must believe and how we must live. q. We are told to approach the scriptures like they are a mirror. How foolish to approach a mirror and see something off or out of place in the reflection and conclude that the mirror must be broken? How foolish to think that perhaps if we viewed the mirror from a different angle, it would make our reflection better? r. But people who disagree with the clear teachings of the scriptures in order to support their own beliefs or lifestyles are approaching the mirror and concluding that the mirror is faulty. s. Or they stand in front of a mirror in such a way that all the things wrong with them don't appear, and they conclude that they are fine. And they leave the mirror the exact same as they always had been. t. My friends, if you cannot remember the last time the Word of God challenged you to change what you believe or how you live… something is wrong! 3.) [Slide 21] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that Jesus gives us grace. a. The definition of grace today in the church has become so watered down and so empty that it means little more than kindness. b. Preachers, even in evangelical protestant circles, preach a grace that is spread so thin that it has no power to do anything unless men add something to it. Without men helping it… it lies dormant, powerless, and ineffective. c. But Paul doesn't tell the Thessalonians to make sure to receive and act on Jesus' grace. He simply asks for Jesus' grace to be given to them all. d. Grace… God's grace… is POWERFUL. It is ALWAYS effective. e. It is not grace to give potential to help us. It is grace TO HELP US. f. When God gives us grace… IT WILL DO what it is given to do. g. [Slide 22] That is why I have tried, so very hard, to get you all to memorize this definition of God's grace. Because I think it accurately and effectively teaches a biblical definition of God's grace. A grace with teeth. A grace with power. A grace that is what the biblical authors claim it is. h. God's Grace is God's power which He grants to people according to His free will, to enable them to be, receive, or do something that they are unable and unwilling to be, get, or do on their own. i. And when we have this definition of grace, we recognize that the greatest thing we could pray for a fellow believer and even for unbelievers, is that God would shed His grace on them. j. Unbelievers need His power to see their own sin and to enable them to believe on Christ. k. Believers need His power to be and do all that He has commanded them. l. Humans in general exist by the grace of God. m. I challenge you all to BEEF UP your view of the grace of God. Make it as powerful as Paul makes it here. That the hope and strength for the Thessalonians doing and being all that he has told them to be and do… is the grace of Jesus Christ. n. When we combine the last three truths we must affirm together… 4.) [Slide 23] Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?” This is the gospel. The gospel is seeing Jesus as our source for everything. If Jesus is anything less to you – you are missing the gospel. a. His words and lifestyle teach us truth. b. His sacrifice and power bring us peace. c. His advocacy and Authority give us grace. d. With the summation of all three of these truths, we conclude that Jesus is everything. e. And my friends… this is the gospel. The gospel is that Jesus is everything. Not just our hope for forgiveness. Not just our substitute. Not just our atoning sacrifice. f. But Jesus is… EVERYTHING. g. To the extent that our whole lives are reoriented around who He is and what He has commanded of us. h. If you are here today, and you either claim to be a Christian, or you desire to be a Christian… this is what it means to be a Christian. It is to have all your life ruled by Jesus Christ. i. He is your hope for peace. j. He is your source for truth. k. He is your supplier of grace. l. He is… your… everything. m. That is what it means to follow Christ. n. If you claim to be a Christian… but Christ isn't your everything and never has been. I don't know what gospel you believed… but I do know that it was false. o. If you have never claimed to be a Christian but want to follow Jesus… You need to speak with someone… right now… that you know is a Christian. They will show you what followers of Christ look like. p. Don't wait for me to get done preaching. Go now… our Elders are prepared to talk to you. q. If you remain, I'll assume that you claim to be someone who is following Christ as best you can. So, what does that mean as we look at this text? 5.) [Slide 24] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must continue to seek the Lord for all we need. a. There are a lot of sources that we can be tempted to look to provide peace, truth, and even power. b. What do we need to feel whole? Complete? Ordered? i. For many people we look for earthly things to make us feel complete. 1. We look for possessions or things. Things and possessions are not bad in and of themselves. But when we seek them to feel whole… they will not satisfy. 2. We look for family. Family can certainly fill up our lives and make us feel part of something bigger. But family fails. Life is fleeting. And sometimes people don't do what you want them to. 3. We look for a tribe or group of likeminded people. This creates a sense of belonging. All of us are the same. We see the world in the same way. But ultimately you will find something to disagree on… or that unity will not produce the wholeness that you desire. ii. In the end, the only thing that can bring us wholeness, completeness, or order… is the God who created us. He knows exactly what we need and how to put us back together. He watched us break apart and He knows the pieces we are missing. Pieces… we assumed were there… He supplies. iii. Without Christ, you will know no peace. c. What do we need to rest in truth? i. For many people they look to earthly things for truth. 1. Rationalism and reason, materialism, and postmodernism point to contradictory paths to truth. Who is right? Everyone, or no one? We just don't know. 2. Human wisdom, settled science, has long been shown to be anything but wisdom and anything but science. 3. History books are always written by the people who win. Are we sure their telling the whole story? 4. Hospitals and medical schools tell us what is best for us… but they also get paid well to tell us one answer and paid nothing to tell us other answers. 5. What is truth? Does truth even matter? ii. Christ is the truth. He alone provides a foundation, a bulwark of something solid and unshakable. iii. For a true Christ follower, we shouldn't start our sentences with “I think” or “I feel like” we must start our sentences with… “turn with me to…” d. What do we need to get more power? i. Again… people often turn to earthly things. 1. Money is power. 2. Fame is power. 3. Influence is power. 4. Secret knowledge is power. 5. And we can't deny that to a certain degree, all of these gain power for people in this life. ii. But true power, comes from God who gives grace to His people freely. The power to live the way our creator desires us to live, comes from the creator Himself. All other powers are failing and fleeting and will be destroyed when He comes again. e. So, Christians… all we need is found in Jesus Christ. Don't be distracted by lesser sources. He is all we have and He is all we need. 6.) [Slide 25] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” Jesus will never fail. a. The story has been written. b. The end has already been told. c. Jesus is… right now… reigning over the world. d. He has conquered sin and death. And one day soon He will conquer all sinners, angelic and human alike. e. My friends, Jesus wins. Always. f. Take comfort in this as believers… g. But if you are still in the room and not a believer… this shouldn't comfort you at all – but it is a warning. h. Jesus wins. i. Blessed are those who repent and serve Him now. [Slide 26 (end)] Let me close with a prayer by the early church father Methodious of Olympia I long for you, Lord of mercy and Lord of my fathers. You have stooped down in grace as a mediator, bringing peace and harmony between heaven and earth. I seek you, great author of all. With longing I expect you who embrace all with your Word. I wait for you, Lord of life and death. I look for you, giver and successor of the law. I hunger for you, the one who makes the dead come back to life. I thirst for you, who refreshes the weary. I desire you, creator and redeemer of the world. You are our God, and we adore you. You are our holy temple, and we pray in you. You are our lawgiver, and we obey you. You are God of all things, the first. God the Father has begotten no other god, and there is no other son who is of one substance and one glory with the Father. To know you is perfect righteousness, and to know your power is the root of immortality. For our salvation, you were made the headstone of the corner, precious and honorable. All things are placed under you as their cause and author, as he who brought all things into being out of nothing. You steer the universe with your wise and steady hand. You are the principle of order and the bond of unity and peace. In you we live, and move, and have our being. So, I will glorify you, my Lord and God. I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things. From ancient days your wise counsel is faithfulness and truth. You are clothed with majesty and honor. What is more magnificent than for you, the King, to assume our humanity, illuminating those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death? Your servant, King David, rightly once sang of you as the King Eternal, saying "you are the most excellent of men" (Psalm 45:2). Coming to the earth, you took on righteousness and faithfulness. Yes, you are righteousness and truth, the joy and praise of all. So, we rejoice this day, along with the heavens, for you have shown mercy to your people. Let the clouds drop the dew of righteousness upon the world, and let the earth sound a trumpet blast, for the resurrection is come. I am filled with comfort, and I am overflowing with joy, O Savior of the world! We pray this in Your name. Amen. Benediction: May the Lord prosper your work and defend you, May his goodness and mercy attend you, May you ponder anew what the Almighty will do, That you may rejoice with all your heart and never again fear any harm. Until we meet again, as Paul prayed for the Thessalonians, Grace and Peace to you.

Send us Fan MailA lot of Christians quietly live with a low-grade panic: “What if I mess up and God lets me go?” We don't tiptoe around that fear. We argue that saving grace is not a temporary status or a fragile contract, but an unbreakable translation into Christ's kingdom and an acceptance that cannot be severed. If that sounds “too much,” we explain why the gospel really is that bold and why the alternative always ends in anxiety, self-salvation projects, and spiritual burnout.Pastor Brian joins Sister Mariah, Vanessa, Lisa, Brother DT, and Sister Candy to work through Romans 6 and the flashpoint question: does grace become a license to sin? We push back hard. Real grace does not make sin attractive, it makes sin bitter. We talk about how regeneration changes desire, why believers grow in sensitivity over time, and why God's commands are not the cause of salvation but the voice the sheep respond to. One of the most helpful images is the “rope” analogy: salvation is a strong cord made of many strands, and Christ is the One who holds it together.We also clear up a common confusion about law and grace. The law still reveals God's holy character, but it no longer stands over the believer as an executioner. Christ fulfills the law as our substitute, and grace changes our relationship to obedience from fear to love. If you've been trapped between legalism and cheap grace, this will help you name the difference and find solid ground.Listen now, then subscribe, share this with a friend who needs peace, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.Support the showBE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!

Send us Fan MailIf grace is really free, why do so many Christians live like they are on probation? We go straight at one of the most emotionally loaded questions in Christian theology: can you lose your salvation, and what does Romans 6:15 actually mean when it says we are not under law but under grace? Our push is simple but sharp: grace does not weaken holiness. It breaks sin's dominion and changes what we want, which is why the idea that grace “encourages sin” exposes a misunderstanding of what grace accomplishes in the soul. We talk through the two ditches people fall into: legalism that tries to gain or keep God's acceptance through stricter obedience, and antinomianism that treats mercy like permission to ignore God's commands. Along the way we connect justification, sanctification, and the new birth, and we explain why Spirit-produced fruit is not a performance metric for “fruit inspectors” to wield as a weapon. We also address the fear behind losing-salvation teaching and why it turns the gospel into something that no longer feels like good news. A key thread is imputed righteousness: if our sin is truly placed on Christ, then Christ's obedience is truly credited to us. There is no halfway version where Jesus “did most of it” and leaves the rest for you to finish. That kind of message either feeds pride or produces despair, and it distracts from the power of real Christian freedom: we resist, we submit to God, and we grow in holiness because we have been made new. If you have ever felt trapped between rule-keeping and reckless “grace,” this conversation is for you. Subscribe for more Bible-centered conversations, share this with a friend who needs clarity on eternal security, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway or question so we can keep the dialogue going.Support the showBE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!

Send us Fan MailFreedom can be misunderstood when you only define it as “no rules.” We take on Romans 6:15 head-on and ask the question people avoid saying out loud: if we're under grace and not under law, what stops a Christian from just doing whatever they want? The answer isn't guilt, fear, or pretending sin doesn't matter. The answer is a Person, Jesus Christ, and a finished work strong enough to change what we love.We talk about why assurance of salvation and holiness always belong together. When our confidence rests entirely on Christ, the law stops feeling like a burden and starts looking like wisdom from a good Father. We call out both extremes that distort the gospel: antinomianism that treats grace like permission and legalism that treats grace like a gift you must repay. Grace never lowers God's standard, never excuses sin, and never encourages moral carelessness. Instead, it establishes a new dominion where Christ reigns and gratitude replaces fear.Along the way, we bring it down to daily life with clear analogies and anchor texts like Colossians 3 and Titus 2, plus a reminder to speak to brothers and sisters with compassion, not condemnation. We also close in prayer, because theology matters most when pain is real and the church is caring for one another. If this strengthened you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs clarity on grace, and leave a review telling us what hit home.Support the showBE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!

Send us Fan Mail“Shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace?” Romans 6:15 asks the question people still dodge, and Paul answers with zero hesitation: God forbid. We slow down and take that verse seriously, because a clean understanding of it clears up years of confusion about salvation by grace, Christian obedience, and what real freedom actually means.We start by backing up to Romans 6:14 and the theme of dominion. We talk through what it means to be moved from one governing realm to another: out from under sin's mastery and into the reign of grace. That transfer shapes how we think about assurance, condemnation, and the fear that a believer can slip back under the old ruler. If the wages of sin is death, what happens when sin is no longer your master? We trace the logic Paul is pressing and why he treats “under law” and “under grace” as opposing realities that don't blend.Then we tackle the common shortcut: “Grace means the rules don't matter.” We contrast Romans 6:1 with Romans 6:15, showing the difference between a settled course of life in sin and isolated acts that get excused as “no big deal.” We also define “under law” as a covenant that demands perfect obedience and condemns every transgressor, and “under grace” as unmerited favor through union with Christ that not only pardons but also provides the power for sanctification, holiness, and good works.If you've ever wondered how grace can be free and still produce real change, this conversation is for you. Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who wrestles with “cheap grace,” and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.Support the showBE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!

Pastor Scott Ardavanis preaches a sermon from Ephesians 2 verses seven through ten about the grace of God.

Send us Fan MailEvening Prayer (Amazing Grace; God with us; Safety; Pains of Life)Thank you for listening, our heart's prayer is for you and I to walk daily with Jesus, our joy and peaceaimingforjesus.comYouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@aimingforjesus5346Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aiming_for_jesus/Threads https://www.threads.com/@aiming_for_jesusX https://x.com/AimingForJesusTik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@aiming.for.jesus

Message from morning service - Church on the Hill, San Jose, CA

In a world filled with competing voices and shifting truths, God has given us His Word to teach, correct, and shape us for faithful living. Paul reminds Timothy that Scripture is not merely information—it is God's gracious means of forming His people in righteousness. Come discover how God's Word equips us to stand firm, endure faithfully, and live out the gospel with consistency and courage.

What if your worst mistake didn't have the final say? In this message, Pastor Jeff Davis unpacks the story in John 8 of the woman caught in adultery and reveals how Jesus responds to our failures with truth, grace, and transformation. While others were ready to condemn, Jesus challenged them to look within and offered the woman a future beyond her sin. Discover how God's grace empowers us to leave the past behind, walk in His presence, and live in the freedom He provides.

Sunday Morning Service Series - A Series covering the Book of Romans: Today we cover Romans 3: 21-31, Amazing Grace - GOD Makes us Right! Romans is a theological letter written by Paul the Apostle explaining the gospel and how God saves humanity through grace by faith in Jesus Christ. It teaches that all people—both Jews and Gentiles—are sinners in need of salvation, and that righteousness comes not through the law but through faith in Christ. The letter also calls believers to live transformed lives marked by humility, unity, love, and obedience to God. If you are interested in attending our LIVE teachings (Wednesdays @ 7:00 pm & Sundays @ 10:00 am), you are invited to visit us at 4218 Boston Ave. Lubbock, Texas. To connect with us, you can call us at (806) 799-2227, email us at calvarylubbock@hotmail.com, or checkout our website at CalvaryChapelLubbock.church. You can also watch us on Facebook and contact us through Facebook Messenger. Please feel free to let us know about your walk with Jesus, as we would love to hear it and pray with you. If you'd like to partner with us to help us take the Gospel to the world, just click on the DONATE button on our website, let us know through Facebook Messenger, or in person. We pray that the rest of your week be blessed and that you share the love of Jesus with everyone that you encounter.

Sunday Morning Service Series - A Series covering the Book of Romans: Today we cover Romans 3: 21-31, Amazing Grace - GOD Makes us Right! Romans is a theological letter written by Paul the Apostle explaining the gospel and how God saves humanity through grace by faith in Jesus Christ. It teaches that all people—both Jews and Gentiles—are sinners in need of salvation, and that righteousness comes not through the law but through faith in Christ. The letter also calls believers to live transformed lives marked by humility, unity, love, and obedience to God. If you are interested in attending our LIVE teachings (Wednesdays @ 7:00 pm & Sundays @ 10:00 am), you are invited to visit us at 4218 Boston Ave. Lubbock, Texas. To connect with us, you can call us at (806) 799-2227, email us at calvarylubbock@hotmail.com, or checkout our website at CalvaryChapelLubbock.church. You can also watch us on Facebook and contact us through Facebook Messenger. Please feel free to let us know about your walk with Jesus, as we would love to hear it and pray with you. If you'd like to partner with us to help us take the Gospel to the world, just click on the DONATE button on our website, let us know through Facebook Messenger, or in person. We pray that the rest of your week be blessed and that you share the love of Jesus with everyone that you encounter.

Sunday Morning Service Series - A Series covering the Book of Romans: Today we cover Romans 3: 21-31, Amazing Grace - GOD Makes us Right! Romans is a theological letter written by Paul the Apostle explaining the gospel and how God saves humanity through grace by faith in Jesus Christ. It teaches that all people—both Jews and Gentiles—are sinners in need of salvation, and that righteousness comes not through the law but through faith in Christ. The letter also calls believers to live transformed lives marked by humility, unity, love, and obedience to God. If you are interested in attending our LIVE teachings (Wednesdays @ 7:00 pm & Sundays @ 10:00 am), you are invited to visit us at 4218 Boston Ave. Lubbock, Texas. To connect with us, you can call us at (806) 799-2227, email us at calvarylubbock@hotmail.com, or checkout our website at CalvaryChapelLubbock.church. You can also watch us on Facebook and contact us through Facebook Messenger. Please feel free to let us know about your walk with Jesus, as we would love to hear it and pray with you. If you'd like to partner with us to help us take the Gospel to the world, just click on the DONATE button on our website, let us know through Facebook Messenger, or in person. We pray that the rest of your week be blessed and that you share the love of Jesus with everyone that you encounter.

God's invitation and the miracle of restoration from the Old Testament table behind the veil to Jesus, the Bread of Life, who tears the veil and seats spiritual outcasts like Mephibosheth at the King's Table. Grace — God's Riches At Christ's Expense — has made a place for us at His Table so that we might know Him deeply and become witnesses to His redeeming love and transforming power. (2 Samuel 9)

Have you ever noticed how your Apple Watch pushes you to “close your rings” no matter what kind of day you’re having? It’s always about hitting the goal, finishing the task, and sometimes leaving no room for hard days, stress, or life’s natural fluctuations. Now, compare that to the Oura Ring, which considers your context—how much sleep you got, your stress levels, and even suggests you prioritize rest on tougher days. Heather Creekmore unpacks how we often treat ourselves like the Apple Watch: driven by rigid self-imposed goals, little room for compassion, and a tendency toward self-condemnation. But what if we learned to treat ourselves more like the Oura Ring suggests—meeting ourselves with curiosity, grace, and wisdom, adjusting our expectations based on the real demands and needs of our current season? (Never heard of an Oura ring? Learn more about this wearable tech here.) Key Takeaways Apple Watch Mindset: Rigid, goal-oriented, and often uncompassionate to your context. "Did you do enough? Did you close the ring? No nuance, no compassion." Oura Ring Mindset: Flexible, understanding, and grace-filled, adjusting expectations based on your needs. "Prioritize rest today. Choose recovery. No pressure to hit goals when your body needs rest." God’s Model of Grace: God knows your challenges, your grief, your exhaustion. He offers relationship, not a scoreboard. "God doesn’t demand summer fruit in the middle of winter." Stewardship over Shame: True body stewardship is about wisdom and listening, not punishment or fear. Application Questions: Are your habits more about accusation or invitation? Is your wellness rooted in fear, or joyful stewardship? Reflect and Apply If you struggle with self-condemnation, perfectionism, or feeling like you have to constantly “close the rings” of your life, consider: Adopting a mindset of grace over rigid self-judgment—and being more like an Oura Ring to yourself Listening to your body and spirit, honoring seasons of rest as much as seasons of work Asking, “What does loving stewardship look like for me today—given THIS body, THIS energy, and THIS season?” Remember: Your worth is not determined by a closed ring or a perfect scoreboard, but by the loving Creator who knows every detail of your life. Share the Grace! Loved this episode? Share it with a friend who could use some grace today. Be encouraged to stop comparing and start living! For more encouragement and resources on body image and godly self-care, visit improvebodyimage.com. Don’t forget to leave a five-star review and help others discover a podcast that’s all about finding freedom from self-condemnation! Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Pastor Harvey recaps some important highlights so far in Ephesians 1, and emphasizes the mysteries of the Lord, which will be revealed to us in eternity. 

This compelling message from Pastor Char deeply explores the transformative power of God's mercy, grace, and repentance. She clearly explains that mercy spares us from the punishment we deserve, while grace freely bestows blessings we don't deserve. Grace isn't just forgiveness—it's the dynamic force that redeems, empowers, and calls believers into a new identity as God's sons and daughters. Using vivid biblical examples such as David and Paul, she illustrates that no one is beyond God's redeeming love. The message encourages ongoing repentance as a humble posture that opens the heart to receive grace continually. It also challenges common misconceptions that grace permits sinful living, emphasizing instead that true grace leads to holiness, righteousness, and continual growth from glory to glory. Ultimately, Pastor Char invites listeners to embrace the life-changing power of grace, living in freedom, purpose, and full alignment with God's Word.

All programs: https://rumble.com/c/WarningTVJonathanHansen  Website: https://www.worldministries.org/  Dr. Jonathan Hansen World Ministries International  Eagles Saving Nations  Dr. Jonathan Hansen - Founder & President  Rev. Adalia Hansen  Contact:  WMI  P.O. Box 277  Stanwood, WA 98292  (360) 629-5248  warning@worldministries.org  Subscribe to Eagle Saving Nations https://www.worldministries.org/eagles-saving-nations-membership.aspx  Sign up for Dr. Hansen's FREE newsletters http://www.worldministries.org/newsletter-signup.html  Order Dr. Hansen's book “The Science of Judgment” https://www.store-worldministries.org/the-science-of-judgment.html

What does grace actually mean — and why do so many people struggle to believe it applies to them? In this episode of the Nomad Pastor Podcast, Rick shares a moment from a Bikers for Christ chapter meeting where a brother named Pete said something simple that landed in the room like a hammer: “GRACE... The post GRACE — God's Riches at Christ's Expense first appeared on The Nomad Pastor.

Are you a trophy of God's grace? In this devotion from Ephesians 2, Pastor Roderick Webster unpacks one of the most breathtaking truths in all of Scripture — that God did not save us merely to rescue us from hell, but to put us on display as living proof of His amazing grace for all eternity.Drawing from Ephesians 2:4-14 and 2 Corinthians 5:19 (KJV), Pastor Webster walks us through three powerful things God did for His people: He loved us, He liberated us, and He lifted us — and He did it all so that His grace would be glorified forever.You might be asking:- Why did God really save me?- What does it mean to be a trophy of grace?- How does salvation actually work?- What is the role of faith in receiving God's gift?Key points from this devotion:- God loved, liberated, and lifted us according to Ephesians 2:4-6- His ultimate purpose is to display the exceeding riches of His grace for all eternity- Salvation is a gift — not earned, not deserved, but freely given by God's grace- Faith comes by hearing the Word of God, and we must respondIf this devotion blessed you, please like, leave a comment, and share it with someone who needs to hear this today. Subscribe so you never miss a Words From The Word devotion.#WordsFromTheWord #KJV #BibleDevotion #ChristianLiving #GoodNewsBaptistChurchStay connected with GNBC:

Find hope in knowing that Jesus' sacrifice for you paid for the grace needed in your life.

Find hope in knowing that Jesus' sacrifice for you paid for the grace needed in your life.

Find hope in knowing that Jesus' sacrifice for you paid for the grace needed in your life.

Find hope in knowing that Jesus' sacrifice for you paid for the grace needed in your life.

Find hope in knowing that Jesus' sacrifice for you paid for the grace needed in your life.

Find comfort in knowing that grace is God's acceptance of you based on what Jesus did for you—not what you can do for Him.Donate: https://store.intouch.org/donate/generalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Find comfort in knowing that grace is God's acceptance of you based on what Jesus did for you—not what you can do for Him.Donate: https://store.intouch.org/donate/generalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Find comfort in knowing that grace is God's acceptance of you based on what Jesus did for you—not what you can do for Him.Donate: https://store.intouch.org/donate/generalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Find hope in knowing that Jesus' sacrifice for you paid for the grace needed for your life.Donate: https://store.intouch.org/donate/generalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Find hope in knowing that Jesus' sacrifice for you paid for the grace needed for your life.Donate: https://store.intouch.org/donate/generalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Find hope in knowing that Jesus' sacrifice for you paid for the grace needed for your life.Donate: https://store.intouch.org/donate/generalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Isaiah 57:14-19  Ephesians 2:8-22

Matt Grace. The first half of Matt Grace's grippingly honest memoir, GOD DOESN'T RELAPSE (Lasega Books; August 11, 2026) reveals the story of a selfish, entitled, lying, cheating, manipulating, unfaithful, abusive, cruel, worst-case drug addict. From a young age, Grace was a self-indulgent, abrasive, disrespectful bully who manipulated his mother, playing on her guilt for cheating on his father and blaming her for the divorce and his enabling father, continually in denial about his son's drug addiction and never making him pay for his mistakes. If he destroyed a car inebriated, he got another one the next day. If he rang up the credit card to thousands, he was never made to pay it back. This tragic, but inspiring story takes Grace through a life getting high on various substances, from alcohol, to cocaine and crack, to Ritalin to oxy to meth and basically anything he could get his hands on. As with others like him coming from a world of wealth, he had an easy time getting money to pay for his habits, and found jobs through his enabling father who also had the connections to help him avoid the law. He ruined many lives on his chaotic, rudderless journey. But just when he seems the most horrible person imaginable, Grace experiences a coming-to-god moment, really sees the light in a room while he's on his knees, at his lowest ebb, praying. And because he was one of the lucky ones whose addictions didn't kill him, the direction of his life was able to change for the better and he is now on the road to redemption and helping to serve others. More than 48 million Americans are battling substance use disorder—and more than half of those who find their way to recovery will relapse. Grace's story is not just personal—it's urgently relevant. As prescription drug abuse surges, as fentanyl turns every relapse into a potential death sentence, and as families across the country grapple with loss, disappearance, and exploitation, this memoir exposes the deep fractures in the lives of addicts and the often-inadequate approaches within the addiction treatment industry. About the Author Matt Grace is an author, speaker, and transformational recovery expert who has devoted his life to helping people break free from addiction and reclaim their future. With more than twenty years of sobriety, a bachelor's degree in Addiction Studies with a focus on Integrative Healing, and over 10,000 hours mentoring individuals and families, he has become a trusted guide to both the highly privileged and the deeply overlooked. He is the founder of Saving Grace, a practice designed to help families navigate the painful intersection of generational wealth and generational wounds. His work has taken him from Manhattan boardrooms and Palm Beach estates to church basements, recovery homes, and state-funded programs in Michigan, reflecting his belief that addiction knows no boundaries—and neither should recovery. Today, Matt speaks nationally on addiction, recovery, and redemption, bringing raw honesty, practical structure, and hard-won wisdom to audiences across every walk of life. His mission is simple: to dismantle the lies of addiction, restore families, and prove that rock bottom is not the end—it's the beginning. Matt Grace stands as proof that when service becomes your higher power, transformation becomes possible.

Send us Fan MailEvening Prayer (Amazing Grace; God is Love; Praying For You)Thank you for listening, our heart's prayer is for you and I to walk daily with Jesus, our joy and peaceaimingforjesus.comYouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@aimingforjesus5346Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aiming_for_jesus/Threads https://www.threads.com/@aiming_for_jesusX https://x.com/AimingForJesusTik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@aiming.for.jesus

Bible StudyDon't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: .Sermon Notes1. Grace – God saves first“I bore you on eagles' wings” (v.4)Relationship begins with rescue, not achievement2. Obedience – God shapes our livesNot cheap grace, not legalismGod's commands lead to flourishingEmpowered by the Spirit3. Vocation – God sends us“A kingdom of priests” (v.6)Represent God to the world & the world to GodDiscussion Questions1) Does every human being need to be rescued in order to enjoy God's love?2) Are you more tempted by cheap grace or legalism?3) Why is the Holy Spirit critical for obedience?4) Define the priestly vocation.  Give an example of how you live out your priestly vocation.Questions?Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email Randy Forrester ().

This is a sacred conversation. In today's episode, I sit down with Brittany Poppe, a coach whose story is marked by courage, honesty, and the relentless grace of God. Together, we talk about a topic that so many women carry quietly in their hearts—shame after abortion—and the life-changing truth that God's love never leaves us there. If you've ever wondered: Can God still love me after this? Why does this still hurt years later? How do I release the shame I've been carrying in silence? This episode is for you. Brittany shares her journey of walking through guilt, grief, and self-condemnation—and how God gently met her in those places, not with punishment, but with compassion, forgiveness, and restoration. We talk about how shame thrives in secrecy, how the enemy uses it to isolate women, and how God invites us into healing through truth, confession, and grace. This is not a conversation rooted in judgment or fear—but one grounded in the heart of the Gospel: That nothing is beyond redemption. That grace is deeper than regret. That you are not disqualified from love, purpose, or peace. If this topic feels heavy or tender for you, please know this episode was created with care. You are seen. You are loved. And healing is possible. Whether this is part of your story or someone you love, my prayer is that this conversation reminds you of one unshakable truth: God's grace is greater than our past—and His love is not fragile. You are not alone. You are not beyond hope. And your story is not over.   Connect with Brittany: www.brittanypoppe.com Hear the podcast: Abortion Recovery for Christian Women Instagram: www.instagram.com/brittanypoppe ____________________________________________________ Welcome to The Well Community! VISIT www.THEWELLTEAM.COM for all coaching, digital courses, blogs and essential oil education tips! Follow Kari on Insta Join me in the FASTER WAY TO FAT LOSS Create Your Custom Essential Oil Kit   Get my favorite non toxic starter kit here Email hello@thewellteam.com Schedule a free 30 minute consult for potential coaching with Kari here   Join our FACEBOOK COMMUNITY for more support and encouragement to refill daily with faith, self care, health, wellness and essential oil education!

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Are you ready to have a supernatural grace filled 2026 year? Are you filled with emptiness and find that you are looking for love in all the wrong places? In our authentic conversation, special guest Robin Gerblick shares her "Giving Up Grace" God Story about her healing journey of blaming and shaming, and unforgiveness due to wounds of her past abortions. Robin is the best-selling author of "Giving Up Grace..A Spiritual Rebranding of the Soul" book and the founder and visionary of Exodus Women's Retreat. She is a pro-life advocate and speaker for Living Hope Dream Centers and a mom to her adopted daughter from foster care and a dog momma. She lives with her husband and they split their time between the Arizona desert and mountains of Idaho. Robin shares how seeking to fill the empty and broken places inside, idolized men as "kings" and became emeshed in unhealthy relationships where sex became the substitute for love. When she cried out to God, Jesus met her arms wide open and she stepped into his river of grace. Enjoy listening to Robin's inspiring and grace-filled story in support of Sanctity of Human Life month.

In this profound episode, Jesse Schwamb delves into the theological treasure found in John Owen's work on being free from sin's dominion. As Christians enter a new year, the question of our relationship with sin becomes particularly relevant. Owen's core thesis—that sin still lives in believers but no longer rules them—provides a framework for understanding the Christian's true freedom. Jesse unpacks how union with Christ fundamentally changes our relationship with sin, breaking its dominion while acknowledging its continued presence. This episode serves as both theological instruction and pastoral encouragement, reminding believers that our freedom comes not from our perfect grip on Christ, but from Christ's unbreakable grip on us. Key Takeaways Sin's Presence vs. Sin's Dominion: Sin continues to dwell in believers, but it no longer reigns as king—it remains a presence, but not a ruling power. Understanding True Dominion: Sin's dominion means it calls the shots, sets the direction, issues orders, and gets obeyed. The diagnostic question is: "Is sin merely present in you, or is sin in charge of you?" Freedom Through Union with Christ: Our freedom from sin's dominion comes not through self-improvement but through our union with Christ in his death and resurrection. Evidence of Grace's Reign: The very battle against sin is often evidence that sin has lost its dominion—tyrants don't get resisted by loyal subjects. Practical Test for Sin's Rule: Owen provides diagnostic questions: Do you make peace with sin or war on it? Do you hide sin or expose it? Do you justify sin or confess it? Do you plan and cherish sin or grieve and fight it? Ordinary Means of Grace: God provides ordinary means—Word, prayer, sacraments, and fellowship—as the channels through which grace's reign is established and maintained. Christian Hope: Our freedom is not based on our perfect grip on Christ but on Christ's unbreakable grip on us. Grace doesn't just forgive rebellion; it overthrows the rebel regime. Understanding Sin's Dominion When we speak of sin's "dominion," we're referring to something far more significant than sin's mere influence or temptation. Dominion speaks to a reign, a throne, a ruling power. In his exposition of Romans 6:12, John Owen helps us see that sin's dominion means it "calls the shots, sets the direction, issues the order, and gets obeyed." This is crucial to understand because many Christians confuse sin's presence with sin's rule. The diagnostic question Owen poses is profound: "Is sin merely present in you or is sin in charge of you?" This distinction helps us avoid both the despair of perfectionism and the complacency of antinomianism. Sin's presence in our lives—even when it causes us to stumble—is not the same as sin having dominion. In fact, our very resistance to sin is often evidence that sin's dominion has been broken, for "tyrants don't usually get resisted by loyal subjects." Freedom Through Union with Christ The gospel's answer to sin's dominion is not found in our determination or moral improvement but in our union with Christ. This union fundamentally changes everything about our relationship with sin. As Jesse articulates from Owen's work, "Grace doesn't just pardon rebels; grace transfers rebels into a new kingdom." This is the heart of the Christian's freedom—not that we've somehow eliminated sin from our lives, but that we've been brought under a new reign, a new dominion. Christ didn't merely come to forgive sin's guilt; He came to break sin's rule. Through our union with Christ in His death and resurrection, we have died to sin's dominion and been raised to walk in newness of life. This means that our fight against sin isn't waged in our own strength but in the power of Christ who has already secured the victory. The Christian life is "warfare under a victorious King," not a horror movie where we're unarmed against an unstoppable monster. The Ordinary Means of Grace Owen reminds us that God has provided ordinary yet extraordinary means through which grace's reign is established and maintained in our lives. These are not secret spiritual hacks or techniques but the divinely appointed channels through which the Spirit works: the Word of God (not merely read, but received with faith and applied with honesty); prayer (not as performance, but as dependence); the sacraments (as God's visible grace to strengthen faith); and fellowship and accountability (because "lone sheep Christianity is basically wolf delivery"). As Jesse notes, "These are simple but profound, ordinary but extraordinary in their effect." The neglect of these ordinary means doesn't create mysterious seasons of spiritual dryness—it creates predictable weakness. Our freedom from sin's dominion is maintained not through extraordinary spiritual experiences but through ordinary faithfulness to God's appointed means. Memorable Quotes "Take heart, Christian, you're not free because your grip on Christ is perfect. You're free because Christ's grip on you is unbreakable." "The Christian life is not a horror movie where sin is the monster and you're unarmed in the basement. The Christian life is warfare, yes, but it's warfare under a victorious King." "Sin doesn't need you to throw a parade for it. Sin just needs you to keep paying tribute." Guest Bio Jesse Schwamb serves as co-host of The Reformed Brotherhood podcast alongside Tony Arsenal. With a passion for making Reformed theology accessible and practical, Jesse brings theological depth combined with pastoral sensitivity to each episode. His ability to distill complex theological concepts into applicable wisdom makes him a trusted voice in Reformed circles. Full Transcript

1 Corinthians 1:8-9 |... (God) will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Paul throughout this letter will call out and correct their sin, but he doesn't want to destroy their confidence and assurance. Before addressing all their flaws, he starts with this foundation: “God is faithful. If you believe by faith, you are saved based on grace and nothing else.” In other words, if nothing you did got you saved… then nothing you do will get you unsaved. No good work, no effort, no achievement gained you heaven, so no bad work, no sin, no shortcoming will get you kicked out. Heaven has never been about what we do, or don't do. Heaven has always been about the grace of God. So though we're flawed, God is faithful.

In this episode, Tim and Sara continue their journey through the movements of grace,this time focusing on justifying grace, God's gift of new life. If prevenient grace awakens us to God's presence, justifying grace is the moment we realize we've already been welcomed—fully, freely, and forever. Anchored in Romans 5:1–11, this conversation explores how God's grace moves first, reconciling us and setting us free to live as beloved children of God. Tim and Sara unpack how repentance isn't a price we pay to receive grace but our “yes” to God's “yes.” They explore what it means to stand in grace, to live from peace rather than striving, and to lead from love rather than fear. Along the way, Tim shares a powerful personal story of discovering what it means to be chosen and loved—an image of the unconditional grace we find in Jesus. Listeners will discover five practical ways to live and lead from justifying grace: confession, communion, courage in conflict, gospel-centered preaching, and blessing others with love. Whether you're a pastor, lay leader, or follower of Jesus seeking renewal, this episode will remind you that grace isn't earned—it's received. Because in Christ, the door is open, the welcome is real, and you already stand in grace. --- Listen Now: https://www.transformingmission.org/podcast/episode-383-justifying-grace-gods-gift-of-new-life/ Scripture Reference:Romans 5:1–11 J Theme: Justifying Grace – God's Gift of New Life Length:26 minutes

Episdoe 382 invites you to begin an exploration of God's grace in the Wesleyan tradition. That exploration begins with prevenient grace, the grace that goes before us, through the lens of John 1:1–9. Long before we act, plan, or even believe, God is already at work. That's the heart of prevenient grace. It reminds leaders that ministry isn't about starting something new, but discerning how to join what God has already begun. Through Scripture, Wesleyan theology, and personal stories, this conversation invites you to reframe leadership as an act of cooperation with God's initiative. From the light that “shines in the darkness” to the relationships and moments where grace is already at work, this episode will help you see leadership through the lens of divine presence and participation. Listen now and rediscover how prevenient grace transforms how you lead, serve, and live. Learn more at transformingmission.org/382

Pastor Darlene Cupp speaks at Lifespring.

Pastor Darlene Cupp speaks at Lifespring.

Pastor Darlene Cupp speaks at Lifespring.

Struggling to find motivation to exercise? In this episode of Grace-Filled Food Freedom, we talk about how to approach movement with grace—not guilt—and why even small steps can make a big difference. If you're tired of all-or-nothing thinking, this conversation will refresh your perspective. Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Classical Conversations, the Christ-centered curriculum we use in our home! You're their first teacher—be their best teacher. Learn how to make homeschooling doable at classicalconversations.com/gracefilled. Get your show notes: https://gracefilledplate.com/gods-role-in-habit-change/ Links mentioned: Get your Binge Proof Action Planner For a deep dive, check out Grace Filled Plate Platinum and be sure to get on the waiting list You may also love: Healthy Habit Planner Season 1 Episode 29: How to Be TRULY, Biblically Healthy Season 2 Episode 4: How to be a God-Pleaser, With Grace! Season 3 Episode 20: How to Pause and Bring Jesus into Your Struggle Get a FREEBIE: Get your FREE Faith [is greater than] Food Jumpstart