Grace Abides with Nick & Andy

Listen in as Nick and Andy continue their study of the Sermon on the Mount. In today’s episode they try their best to answer the following questions:

+ What is the most terrifying thing Jesus said to the crowd that gathered to hear his sermon?

+ What exactly is Jesus asking his followers to do in the world when he calls us salt?

+ How does “being light” change the way we think about Christian living?

+ How do we reconcile “letting our light shine before others” with Jesus’s later warning to not practice our righteousness in order to be seen by others?

+ What role does good works actually play in the Christian life?

Listen in as Nick and Andy start a slow walk through the greatest sermon ever preached, Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount. They begin with the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) and discuss the following:

+ What does it actually mean to be “poor in spirit” and is that something we should aspire to become?

+ How can someone who is grieving possibly be called blessed?

+ What does biblical meekness look like?

+ What does it mean to hunger and thirst for righteousness?

+ Which is harder to live out today, mercy or peacemaking?

+ How do we distinguish between suffering for Jesus and consequences for behaving badly?

Listen in as Nick and Andy look at Revelation 22 and discuss the following:

+ Why do we need healing in heaven if God has already defeated suffering and death?

+ Are we going to have something meaningful to do in eternity, rather than simply existing in an endless worship service?

+ Why hasn’t Jesus returned yet?

+ What does it say about God that one of the final messages of the entire Bible is an invitation?

+ Can we genuinely pray “Come, Lord Jesus” if we're pretty comfortable with our lives right now?

Listen in as Nick and Andy look at Revelation 21 and discuss the following:

+ Nick teaches Andy a new word.

+ Are we going to heaven or heaven is coming here?

+ What if tears, pain, and even death don’t get the final word?

+ What does it mean that “God is making all things new?”

+ Will we really walk on streets of gold?

Listen in as Nick and Andy look at Revelation 20 and discuss the following:

+ Is Andy really a good luck charm for the Vikings?

+ Does Revelation change the we look at suffering and evil?

+ What happens when we die? Are we immediately in paradise, or do we have to wait a thousand years?

+ Does the continued presence of evil and suffering, make us believe that God has lost control?

+ Are we saved by grace or works? Why isn’t the Bible consistent?

+ How does God’s victory over death change the way we understand life, grief, and hope?

Thank you for listening!

Listen in as Nick & Andy explore Revelation 19 and discuss the following:

+ What makes worship meaningful?

+ How can a loving and powerful God reign allow suffering?

+ Can good things become idols?

+ What weapon does Jesus use to defeat enemies?

+ What loyalties must come second to the King of Kings?

And much more! Thanks for listening.

Nick & Andy explore Revelation 18, diving into the collapse of "Babylon" and exposing how its ancient traps of consumerism, comfort, and envy hijack our souls today.

• Verses 2 & 4 – The Ultimate Eviction Notice: Nick unpacks the command to "Come out of her, my people.” Why do we keep trying to redecorate our apartments in a burning building?

• Verse 7 – The "Rule as a Queen" Delusion: Comfort is a deadlier spiritual assassin than suffering. Prosperity acts like an anesthesia, convincing us we don't need God.

• Verses 11-13 – When Humans Become Line Items: 1 Timothy 6:10 in real-time. We love money so much that society willingly barters human souls for a cheaper price tag.

• Verse 14 – The Permanent Expiration Date: Buyer's remorse on a cosmic scale. We trap ourselves chasing the "next big thing" to fill an internal spiritual void.

• Verse 20 – The Heavenly Standing Ovation: True justice isn't about malice; the real party starts when global oppression finally ends.

• Verses 23-24 – Sorcery: We are still falling for the same "magic spell" as the Golden Calf—the delusion that material wealth buys ultimate security.

In this week's Grace Abides podcast, Nick & Andy strip away the sanitized versions of modern faith and dive straight into the terrifying imagery of Revelation 17, a mirror held up to our own hearts.

Here are the provocative questions driving this week's discussion:

• Who or what is the "great prostitute"?
• What subtle, modern idols are completely intoxicating our spirits?
• Where exactly do modern Christians draw the line before becoming spiritually compromised by greed?
• Why has bloody persecution consistently purified the church, while comfort has systematically weakened it?
• If the Lamb's army is called, chosen, and faithful, which mark do we fail at most today?
• Why is evil fundamentally engineered to be self-destructive?
• Is this warning merely historical, or a recurring blueprint of corruption happening right now?

Is Revelation Predicting the End of the World…or Revealing the Truth About Human Nature?

In our newest episode of the Grace Abides Podcast, Nick & Andy tackle one of the most intense and controversial chapters in the entire Bible: Revelation 16.

+ First, baptism in the lake? Who should be baptized?

+ What are the seven bowls of wrath?

+ Is Armageddon a literal battle, OR a symbol of humanity’s endless trust in power and violence?

+ Why does Revelation describe darkness, plagues, earthquakes, and the fall of Babylon?

+ What did Jesus mean when He cried out, “It is finished,” compared to Revelation’s final declaration: “It is done”?

Most importantly, we ask: What is Revelation actually trying to reveal about God, evil, humanity, and hope?

Whether you’ve studied Revelation for years or have always found it confusing, this conversation will challenge the way you think about the Bible’s most mysterious book.

Listen now to Revelation 16 on the Grace Abides Podcast.

Regarding baptism, here is a link to Luther's writing, "Concerning Rebaptism," referenced in the podcast about who should be baptized, and whether people should you be rebaptized.

In this week's Grace Abides podcast, Nick and Andy dive into Revelation 15 — one of the most powerful and visually stunning chapters in the book of Revelation.

We talk about:

• The meaning of the seven last plagues

• Why heaven’s “victory party” looks completely different from worldly victory

• What it means that “all nations” will worship before God

• The overwhelming glory of God filling the temple with smoke

• Why Revelation’s final message is ultimately about restoration, not fear

Plus, we wrestle with some big questions:

• Is God forever angry?
• Who might surprise us by being part of God’s kingdom?
• How do we rediscover wonder and reverence in modern Christianity?

If you’ve ever found Revelation confusing, intimidating, or fascinating, this conversation is for you.