302. Game Changers - Part 3

Download/Play MP3 (14 Min, 9.6 MB)

(Click to Play, Right-Click to Download)

For a few weeks now we've been talking about various "game changers" in our understanding of the gospel of God's grace. This week we continue with this, talking about more things that radically changed things for us as the lights went on about various aspects of gospel truth.

We have discovered that "grace" is not merely a "subject" to be taught from time to time, but rather is the very essence of life in Christ, so we talk about that. Also we tackle the issue of whether it's possible to teach "too much" grace. Other game changers that we discuss include how we've been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, and have been perfected in Him, as well as what we've discovered about performance-based Christianity vs. knowing God.

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
(This is an easy way to listen and to share the podcast with others on Facebook, your blog and other sites.)

301. Game Changers - Part 2

Download/Play MP3 (14 Min, 9.6 MB)

(Click to Play, Right-Click to Download)

Continuing on this week with our celebration of having reached the milestone of our 300th podcast, we talk about more "game changers" - nuggets of truth that have helped us over the years, and even revolutionized our thinking when it comes to understanding the gospel of God's grace and peace.

Do you think God has saved you to do great stuff for Him? Well, how about the notion that instead of you working for God, HE is at work in you! That's one of the game changers we discuss this week. We also get into some issues that might be somewhat controversial for some people (gee, we've never done that before!) such as talking about whether or not all of Jesus' words are directed to Christians and whether or not the four "Gospels" (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) only contain "gospel" and "New Covenant" teachings.

"Jesus said it, so we live by it." Is that right? "We are to live by the words in the Sermon on the Mount." Is that correct? "If you don't forgive others, God won't forgive you." Really? What about the Law? Is it for Christians to follow?

Hopefully we can set the conditions this week to help give you a breath of fresh air in some of these things as we share some more game-changing concepts this week on Growing in Grace.

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
(This is an easy way to listen and to share the podcast with others on Facebook, your blog and other sites.)

300. Game Changers - Part 1

Download/Play MP3 (14 Min, 9.6 MB)

(Click to Play, Right-Click to Download)

WOW! It's somewhat difficult for us to believe, but today we celebrate the posting of Growing in Grace Podcast #300! Who knew we'd make it this far when we started out over six years ago - just two ordinary guys sitting down to chat about God's love and grace. We're very thankful to God in so many ways and we're also thankful that so many of you have sat in with us week after week as we've shared our hearts and minds in this casual discussion setting.

To "celebrate" this occasion, we're taking a bit of time off of the series that we were recording in which we were contrasting "bad news" with "good news," and we'll pick back up on that in a few weeks. Until then, we're going to take some time to look at some of the "game changers" in our lives in Christ. That is, we'll be looking at various life-changing concepts and truths that have revolutionized our thinking and our understanding of life in Christ that have helped us to become rooted, grounded and established in God's love and grace and to actually enjoy the Christian life!

We have peace with God through the Cross of Christ and we are fully accepted by God as dear, beloved children, but yet many Christians are not experiencing the reality of all of this.  How many people need to hear gospel truth that will help them to experience God's love and peace in their day to day lives? Do you need a breath of fresh air? Listen in this week as we begin to share these game changers - gospel truth that has helped to set us free from religion and helped us to experience the abundant life that we can have through Christ.

This week we'll start off by talking a bit about the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ that provided the complete forgiveness of our sins.

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
(This is an easy way to listen and to share the podcast with others on Facebook, your blog and other sites.)

299. Does Sin Affect Our Relationship with God?

Download/Play MP3 (14 Min, 9.6 MB)

(Click to Play, Right-Click to Download, or use Player below)

Does sin cause us to lose fellowship with God? Are we cursed by God when we sin? Do we miss out on the blessings of God when we sin? Is it our job to overcome sin and fight it off? What are the consequences of sin? Is our relationship with God affected when we sin?

These are some of the questions Christians have, and this week we hope to put to rest some of the fears that Christians have as we discuss the radically good news of what the finished work of Christ has accomplished for us - the taking away of our sin!

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
(This is an easy way to listen and to share the podcast with others on Facebook, your blog and other sites.)

298. Do Prayer and Bible Reading Make Us Closer to God?

Download/Play MP3 (14 Min, 9.6 MB)

(Click to Play, Right-Click to Download, or use Player below)

Last week we looked at some of the so-called "spiritual disciplines," including prayer and Bible reading. We talked about how these things can often become heavy and burdensome legalistic duties. They can become lifeless laws and rules in the lives of sincere people. And yet of course they can be really good things as well!

So this week we look at how prayer and Bible reading can be really wonderful things, while at the same time asking questions such as, "will we 'starve' spiritually if we don't pray and read our Bibles daily or on set schedules?" Do we need to have a regular "quiet time" in order to hear from God? Will our Bible reading "feed" us and will our prayers bring us "closer to God"? Why do we pray and read our Bibles? Join us as we chat about these things from a relational point of view, rather than a legalistic point of view.

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

NEW! "Watch" this episode on YouTube.
(Also an easy way to share the podcast with others on Facebook, your blog and other sites.)