Between Sundays™

IN THIS EPISODE:

In this episode of Between Sundays, Tyler, Maron, and Barry return to the Gospel of Matthew (chapters 8–9) to talk tax collectors, table fellowship, and the transforming power of Jesus’ mercy.

What does it mean that Jesus called someone like Matthew, a despised collaborator and social outcast, to follow Him? Why did Jesus share a meal with "sinners and scum"? And what do ancient customs like reclining at the table, status symbols, and mercy over sacrifice still teach us about following Jesus today?

We're diving deep into Week 9 of the Follow Me series at Grace Church, unpacking:

- Jesus’ absolute authority and radical inclusion

- The cultural and spiritual weight of eating together

- Why Matthew’s calling is a turning point in God’s new kingdom

- Hosea 6:6, mercy vs. sacrifice, and what that means for church today

- What it looks like to extend mercy even to the people we judge... or just don't want at our

table

Plus, we tackle a bunch of big questions:

- What makes someone open to mercy?

- Is mercy optional for Christians?

- Can churches be built on mercy instead of sacrifice?

- Did tax collectors choose their path—and could they quit?

We also answer a few fun mailbag questions, including:

- What’s your most-used emoji?

- Where do you go in Scripture on hard days?

- Favorite Between Sundays moment from 300 episodes!

Submit your questions for future episodes: https://gracechurch.us/podcast

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share with someone who might be sitting in their own tax booth!

⏰ TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - What's New with the Gang

05:39 - Mayonnaise & Mandarin Oranges

14:32 - Most Used Emojis

21:02 - Favorite Podcast Moments

24:14. Big Idea & Sermon Discussion

25:03 - The Calling of Matthew

27:14 - Tax Collectors in Ancient Israel

31:24 - Matthew’s Longing & Readiness

34:52 - Forgiveness vs. Inclusion

39:48 - Reclining at Dinner & Table Fellowship

43:01 - Matthew’s Dinner Party: Evangelism or Hospitality?

47:13 - Pharisees, Sinners, and Table Dynamics

50:04 - Mercy vs. Sacrifice

58:13 - Mercy as a Non-Negotiable for Christians

01:02:49 - Receiving Mercy: Humility and Transformation

01:06:58 - Building Churches on Mercy, Not Sacrifice

01:12:02 - Where Do We Go Next? & Podcast Wrap-up

🎙️ ABOUT THE SHOW:

Church services happen on weekends. And that's all well and good until we get to Mondays and find ourselves asking, "Now what?"

Welcome to Between Sundays! Join hosts Tyler, Maron, and Barry every Wednesday as they hang out and catch up on the conversations, sermons, and culture of Grace Church.

🔔 SUBSCRIBE for new episodes every Wednesday

Edit#FathersDay #sports #parenting #kidscamp #basketball #golf #community #personalanecdotes #humor #parentingtrends #familybonding #messychallenges #mayonnaise #mandarinoranges #listenerengagement #podcastformat #sermonseries #emojis #scripture #Psalms #grace #acceptance #inclusion #selfrightousness #mercy #transformation #taxcollectors #Jesusministry #culturalcontext #discipleship #evangelism #compassion #relationships #historicalperspectives #disabilities #communitysupport #personalexperiences #connection #laughter #memorableexperiences #parentingchallenges #audienceparticipation

🎯 IN THIS EPISODE:

In this Star Wars-laced deep dive into Matthew 8, we explore the surprising faith of a Roman centurion who shocked Jesus Himself and everyone else around Him. What does it mean when the empire bows to the Kingdom?

In this episode we talk about:

Why Jesus was amazed by a Gentile's faith and what it says about insiders vs. outsiders

How sacred authority differs from oppressive control

What a modern-day centurion might look like

Why submitting to Jesus doesn’t erase our identity

What it costs to follow Jesus instead of empire in 2025

Whether our churches look more like the Kingdom… or a sanitized version of it

And how fear might be quietly uninviting people from our tables

⏰ TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - What's New with the Gang

08:01 - John Guerra Concert

11:49 - Podcast & Social Media Housekeeping

13:13 - Matthew 8 & Big Idea

15:55 - Roman Centurion Context & Authority

20:48 - Authority, Identity, and Submitting to Jesus

24:14 - Faith of the Centurion vs. Disciples

29:30 - Living by Jesus’ Authority & Faith in Practice

31:12 - Star Wars Metaphors & Real-Life Parallels

36:26 - Cost of Following Jesus & Centurion’s Consequences

38:25 - Radical Inclusion & The Church as the Cantina

42:09 - Boundaries, Fear, and Inviting Others

44:59 - Repentance, Humility, and the Table

47:46 - Centurion’s Transformation & Roman Obligations

49:01 - Where Do We Go Next?

50:07 - Podcast Wrap-Up & Farewell

📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman: "00:10:57"

Check out Jon Guerra! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_WcSIC3l9BlUoBJyyoJtpA

🎙️ ABOUT THE SHOW:

Church services happen on weekends. And that's all well and good until we get to Mondays and find ourselves asking, "Now what?"

Welcome to Between Sundays! Join hosts Tyler, Maron, and Barry every Wednesday as they hang out and catch up on the conversations, sermons, and culture of Grace Church.

🔔 SUBSCRIBE for new episodes every Wednesday

Connect with us:

Facebook, Instagram, Youtube

Keywords/Hashtags

Tyler, Maron, Barry, Between Sundays, podcast, sermon, Star Wars, Roman Empire, kids' camp, faith, authority, inclusivity, Black Liberation Theology, Howard Thurman, NBA Finals, church community, early church, Jewish believers, Gentiles, transformation, identity, vulnerability, invitation, repentance, humility, Jesus, Matthew's Gospel, centurion, authority figures, pop culture references, Grace Church, social media, podcast discussions, diversity, unity, Christian faith, boundaries, fear, personal reflection, community engagement, grace, mercy, humility, transformative power, historical context, contemporary life.

How to Know If You’re Really Following Jesus | Ep 270 by Grace Church

269 - Who God Really Blesses | The Beatitudes Explained by Grace Church

This Sunday, Barry challenged the people of Grace to read through the Sermon on the Mount at some point this week. If you would prefer to listen instead of read, join Barry as he reads through the passage!

Jesus in the wilderness. Forty days. No bread. All temptation. What does this iconic story really mean—and what does it have to do with marshmallows, baptism, and political power?

In this episode of Between Sundays, Tyler, Maron, and Barry dig into Matthew 4 and unpack the wilderness temptation of Jesus. We explore why Matthew draws heavy parallels between Jesus and the story of Israel, how spiritual warfare often follows spiritual affirmation, and why resisting temptation is less about gritting your teeth and more about trusting God, knowing Scripture, and living a life of worship.

We also ask some tough questions:

Did God lead Jesus into temptation?

Was Satan actually questioning Jesus’ identity?

How do we know when Scripture is being twisted today?

What does it really mean to worship in a world of distraction?

And—are we supposed to imitate Jesus in temptation… or just depend on him?

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if this episode challenged you to trust deeper, walk stronger, and follow Jesus when it’s hard.

267 - Why Jesus Got Baptized by Grace Church

Why does Matthew kick off the story of Jesus with a long, dusty list of names? And why should you care?

In this episode of Between Sundays, the gang digs into why genealogies are NOT boring — and why Matthew’s opening chapter is actually a revolutionary declaration of God’s faithfulness.

We unpack:

Why the Gospel of Matthew mattered so much that early Christians were willing to die for it.

How Jesus’ family tree ties Him directly to God’s promises, even through generations of failure, scandal, and exile.

Why the inclusion of Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba in the genealogy flips ancient expectations on their head.

What this ancient list of names has to say to a modern Church facing division, doubt, and distraction.

Who the modern-day "outcasts" would be if a new genealogy were written today.

Plus:

Tyler’s great-great-grandpa Jeptha Troyer gets a shoutout

Barry has a new piggie

And we wrestle with why we often treat Scripture like a relic instead of the revolutionary manifesto it really is.

Whether you love Bible deep dives or have always been tempted to skim Matthew 1, this episode will open your eyes to the power of God’s promises and your place in His ongoing story.

Subscribe, comment, and like Between Sundays!

265 - What To Do When You're Overwhelmed by Grace Church

Dr. Reverend Milton Keys joins the gang to discuss what we do when it feels like God isn't present in our prayer life