Do not be pressed into the world’s mold. Instead, be metamorphosed by aligning your thinking with the Truth of the Word who is Christ. This produces discernment to “prove” God’s good, acceptable, and perfect will.

The revelation of holiness as identity and holiness as experience cuts to the very heart of the Gospel’s scandalous beauty and danger. It is not merely a theological nuance. It is the difference between freedom and subtle bondage, between resting in the grace of sonship and striving from thoughts that still whisper, “You are not yet enough.”

Holy Week is not a call to reenact or earn, but to behold and abide. In the Christic Covenant, every event shouts, "It is finished." You are not striving toward union; you are united with Christ. His entry, cleansing, supper, agony, death, burial, and rising are yours. Go forward in new life from this reality. "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

When you accepted Jesus (assuming you did) when you said “yes” and gave your life to Christ, was it in response to an invitation born out of love for God and gratitude for what Christ did for you on the cross? Or was it driven primarily by a fear of hell?

That’s a big question.

Because I preach such a strong message of grace, I often get labeled as someone who doesn’t believe in hell. When people ask me, “Do you believe in hell?” my answer is simple: “Yes, I do.”

But then I like to turn the question back to them: “Tell me, what is hell?”

What usually follows is a flood of ideas (many of them dramatic, terrifying, or even grotesque) but far too often, those ideas aren’t grounded in the Bible at all.

And that’s a problem we need to address..

This replay from the old Reckless Grace Podcast is by request from listeners who asked that it be reposted. Over time I expect to release every old episode of the Reckless Grace Podcast so they will all be available to you.

King David was a poet and a prophet as well as a warrior king. So many of the words of the Psalms were prophecies pointing to what could only be fulfilled in Christ. In this podcast, Bill Vanderbush explores Psalm 103 and a parallel of the words of King David to the five aspects of the finished work of the cross.

The Kingdom is Christ Himself, the very life of God revealed in self-giving love (John 1:14; Philippians 2:5–11). It is not built or controlled by human ambition (John 18:36 “My kingdom is not of this world”), but received as a gift (Luke 12:32 “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom”). It transform the heart first, then flows outward into relationships, communities, and into all creation.

Discerning the Times - Live at Bethel Austin by Bill Vanderbush

God's face imparts blessing (Numbers), calls us to focus deeply (Psalms/Mark), is modeled in Jesus Christ (Luke), and is unveiled through the Holy Spirit's outpouring (Ezekiel/Acts). Life and identity flow from beholding Him. Psalm 27 is a roadmap from fear to fearless intimacy. Fear God alone, seek His face continually, and wait in confident hope.

Jesus Christ wasn't limited like you and me, or at least like we feel. While he was in a body, he was filling all things, sustaining everything, and while living as a man, he was sustaining and upholding all things. This is the wonder of the incarnation, the unlimited one entered limitation without ceasing to be unlimited.

The modern church faces a critical moment regarding prophetic ministry. In many charismatic and Spirit-filled circles, the gift of prophecy (as described in 1 Corinthians 14:3) has been marred by misuse, exaggeration, and outright fabrication. High-profile controversies, failed predictions, and cases of moral failure tied to those claiming prophetic authority have shaken trust. People rightly question what they've seen when they hear words don't come to pass, personal agendas masquerading as divine revelation, and a lack of accountability. The solution isn't to abandon prophecy but to restore prophetic integrity where we learn how to test words and prophets alike. We need to return to God's Word as the unchanging standard, where true prophecy aligns with Scripture, builds up the church, glorifies Christ, and comes under humble accountability.