"Growing In Grace" - a Podcast of Gracehills Church

Episode 34: Run the Race – Living with Purpose, Finishing with Faith

In this episode of Growing in Grace, Matt and Pastor Brandon dive into Paul's farewell to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20—a passage rich with urgency, humility, and purpose. Using the metaphor of running a race, Paul reflects on what it means to live a faithful life, even when the journey is hard.

Together, they unpack five key traits of a life well lived: commitment to community, humility, gospel-centeredness, sensitivity to the Spirit, and living for a purpose beyond self. They also explore how modern believers—whether parents, singles, students, or retirees—can stay on mission when comfort, distraction, or discouragement tempts us to slow down or step off the track.

Whether you're in a strong stride or feel like you've drifted to the sidelines, this episode is a timely encouragement: it's never too late to enter the race, and it's always worth it to finish well.

Episode 33: Faith That Stirs the City – Living Boldly in a Comfortable World

In this episode of Growing in Grace, Matt is joined again by elder Mike Davis to unpack the second half of Acts 19, where Paul's preaching in Ephesus creates not just revival—but resistance. As the gospel spreads, it begins to disrupt the city's economy, values, and idols, ultimately sparking a riot led by Demetrius the silversmith.

Matt and Mike reflect on what it means to live faithfully in a culture that often prizes comfort over conviction. Together, they explore:

• Why true Christianity is always countercultural

• How to identify modern idols like success, independence, and influence

• Practical ways to live a bold, Spirit-led faith in families, workplaces, and everyday rhythms

• The wisdom of knowing when to speak and when to stay silent

• How God often uses unexpected people and moments to protect His purposes

Whether you're raising kids, navigating grief, leading in the workplace, or wrestling with cultural pressure, this episode will remind you that the gospel isn't just comforting—it's disruptive, and it's worth everything.

Tune in and be encouraged to live a faith that makes people ask questions—and maybe even stirs the city.

Episode 32: Faith That Disrupts – Living Changed in a Comfortable World

In this episode of Growing in Grace, Matt is joined by Gracehills elder Mike Davis to reflect on Paul's ministry in Ephesus from Acts 19. From public repentance and burned scrolls to cultural upheaval, this passage reveals the kind of faith that doesn't just sit quietly—it transforms lives and challenges norms.

Mike and Matt explore how the gospel calls believers out of comfort and into bold obedience, asking hard questions like:

• Are we truly following Jesus or just borrowing His name?

• What idols—old or modern—do we still need to burn?

• How do we model repentance and transformation across generations?

Whether you're navigating blended family dynamics, working in a secular space, or simply wondering if your faith still stirs anything in you, this episode will encourage you to jettison what holds you back and fully follow the One who calls you forward.

Listen in and be challenged to live a faith that doesn't just fit in—but stands out.

Book Mentioned: Freedom of the Will- (Jonathan Edwards)

Episode 31: Almost Right – Why Discipleship Matters More Than You Think

In this episode of Growing in Grace, Matt and Pastor Brandon dive into Acts 18 and 19 to explore a critical truth: salvation is not the finish line—it's the starting point of a life of discipleship. Through the examples of Apollos and the disciples of John the Baptist, we see how being almost right in our beliefs can still lead us far from where God wants us to be.

They discuss:

• Why sincere belief isn't the same as saving faith

• How spiritual confusion shows up in everyday life

• Building a discipleship culture in busy or broken homes

• The power of humble correction and the role of biblical community

• What it means to truly receive the Holy Spirit and walk in obedience

Whether you're wrestling with spiritual uncertainty, stuck in legalism, or simply wondering how to grow in your faith, this episode will challenge and encourage you to pursue a deeper relationship with Jesus.

Tune in and take a step from almost right to fully surrendered.

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Episode 30: Strength for the Weary – How God Meets Us When We Want to Quit

In this episode of Growing in Grace, Matt and Pastor Brandon walk through Acts 18, where Paul—worn down and discouraged in Corinth—experiences God's providential strength through people, promises, progress, and protection. This conversation unpacks how God shows up when we feel like giving up and reminds us that if we're still breathing, we still have a mission.

Together, they explore:

• Why Christian community is essential in seasons of discouragement

• What it means to find purpose in mundane work, painful relationships, or spiritual loneliness

• How to stay on mission when you feel stuck, unseen, or overwhelmed

• Practical ways to reengage with biblical community and rediscover calling

If you've ever hit a wall in your faith, felt invisible in your circumstances, or questioned whether your life still has impact—this episode is for you.

Tune in and be reminded: God hasn't forgotten you, and He's not finished with you.

Episode 29: The Unknown God – Engaging Culture Without Compromising Truth

In this episode of Growing in Grace, Matt and Pastor Brandon explore Paul's bold encounter with the people of Athens in Acts 17:16–34. Surrounded by idols and spiritual confusion, Paul steps into the cultural heart of the city—not with condemnation, but with compassion and clarity.

They discuss how modern believers can follow Paul's example by engaging a skeptical world thoughtfully, recognizing the "unknown gods" of our time—from comfort and politics to status and control. The conversation also tackles how to navigate spiritual curiosity, speak truth in love, and share the gospel in a way that's both bold and gracious.

Whether you're discouraged by culture, unsure how to start gospel conversations, or wrestling with hidden idols in your own life, this episode will challenge you to see your neighborhood, workplace, and relationships as a mission field—and to respond with truth, love, and urgency.

Tune in and be equipped to meet people where they are and point them to the One true God.

Episode 28 – Boldness, Opposition, and the Berean Spirit

In this episode of Growing in Grace, Matt and Pastor Brandon explore Acts 17:1–15, where Paul and Silas continue their missionary journey through Thessalonica and Berea. They face strong opposition—but also find people eager to hear and examine the Scriptures.

What do we do when truth is met with hostility? How do we maintain boldness without arrogance? And what can we learn from the Bereans, who listened eagerly and searched the Scriptures daily to discern what was true?

This episode challenges us to be people of the Word—bold in witness, patient in opposition, and grounded in truth. Whether you're leading, learning, or simply navigating faith in a skeptical world, this conversation will equip and encourage you to engage with Scripture like never before.

Episode 27: Worship in the Chains – When the Mission Doesn't Go as Planned

In this powerful episode of Growing in Grace, Matt and Pastor Brandon take a deeper look at Acts 16, where Paul and Silas find themselves beaten, imprisoned, and seemingly stuck—yet still worshiping. This conversation unpacks how God often does His greatest work through our hardest moments and how what feels like a setback may actually be the beginning of your most impactful ministry.

Together, they explore:

• Why God allows closed doors and detours

• How to worship when everything feels like it's falling apart

• What it looks like to live with gospel-centered resilience

• How suffering can become a witness to the watching world

• And how spiritual leadership means obedience, not control

If you've ever felt disqualified, stuck, or discouraged by hardship, this episode is a powerful reminder that your pain has purpose—and your prison might just be your pulpit.

Tune in and be reminded that God isn't finished yet. He's still working, even in the dark.

Episode 26: Conflict & Calling – When the Mission Gets Messy

In this powerful episode of Growing in Grace, Matt and Pastor Brandon unpack Acts 15–16, where conflict and calling collide in the early church. Paul and Barnabas—two spiritual giants—go their separate ways, but instead of derailing the mission, God uses the moment to multiply it.

This conversation explores how disagreements, closed doors, and personal limitations can actually move God's purposes forward when we stay surrendered and available. Together, Matt and Brandon dive into:

• Why conflict doesn't have to mean disqualification

• How to hold both grace and truth in church leadership

• The difference between contextualization and compromise

• What to do when clarity is missing but calling still stirs

• And how every believer—no matter their past—can step into God's mission

If you've ever wrestled with uncertainty, church hurt, or a sense of spiritual "stuckness," this episode will challenge you to keep moving forward in faith, even when the path isn't clear.

Listen now and discover how God uses even the tension we hate to accomplish the purpose we pray for.

Episode 25: Jesus Plus Nothing – Embracing the Radical Simplicity of Grace

In this episode of Growing in Grace, Matt and Pastor Brandon dive into Acts 15 and unpack one of the most pivotal moments in church history—the decision to stand firm on the truth that we are saved by grace alone through faith in Christ. They explore the subtle and not-so-subtle ways believers still fall into the trap of adding to the gospel, creating unnecessary barriers that Jesus never intended.

Together, they discuss:

• The tension between grace and legalism in church culture

• How modern believers can unintentionally become "well-meaning Pharisees"

• What grace really looks like in everyday life and leadership

• How to cultivate a church culture that's both doctrinally sound and radically gracious

Whether you're a church leader, new believer, or just wrestling with what it means to live by grace, this episode will remind you that Jesus doesn't need our edits—He is enough.

Tune in and be encouraged to rest in the finished work of Christ and lead with grace in every area of life.