Growing in Grace

By Mike Kapler & Joel Brueseke

Growing in Grace is a weekly program featuring informal conversation to help with growth in understanding the gospel, and to live in the freedom that comes through Jesus Christ.... more

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The podcast currently has 1,116 episodes available.

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Number 1: 1078. Keeping Our Eyes Upon Jesus
A common catchphrase that may get thrown around a lot goes something like: "Let's keep our eyes on Jesus." It's certainly good advice to be looking to Jesus ... but just exactly what does it mean? Ask this question to a group of believers or ministers and you're likely to get a variety of different answers. How does one fix their eyes upon Him and what does it involve on our end of things to accomplish it? Don't fall for the assumptions that it involves daily duties and a commitment to certain works or religious activities. Contrary to law-based mindsets, faith is not perfected by our efforts or by what we do. Let's consider it is Jesus who is the author/originator of faith, and He is also the finisher and perfecter. We look at that which is not seen, walking by faith and not by sight ... not guided by the ups and downs of our performance and personal experience. --Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7
August 16, 202619min
Number 2: 1080. Faith Is Not the Ministry of "Look at Me"
Jesus cautioned His disciples to avoid the "look at me" approach used by hypocrites who feel it is necessary to be seen with their doing. It is based in law, not faith. After all, faith is the evidence of that which is not seen. We walk by faith, not by sight. Anybody can perform outwardly and do good deeds ... and they don't have to be self-professed believers in Jesus to demonstrate something positive. Our motivation in Christ should be different than the self-righteous approach of boasting that desires to be seen. It's from a place of perfect love that God demonstrated to us through Jesus and it leaves us with nothing to prove outwardly for others to see or judge. --Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7
August 30, 202622min
Number 3: 1079. Bursting the Juicy Fruit Bubble - A Word About Faith and Law
So ... what about this 'fruit stand' that church brands along the side of the road are always trying to advertise? Even as one of their steady customers, religious fruit inspectors may have cited you with having dead faith if 'your' fruit isn't being seen outwardly. That's not a very reassuring place to be—because how in the world will you know you've achieved success and that all is well in the faith department? After all, it's by grace through faith that one is saved. Jewish people under law could display fruit that looks good outwardly. Wolves in sheep's clothing can do the same. People who don't believe in Jesus can also go full throttle when it comes to doing good works and showing compassion—faith is not required to feed and clothe people. Faith isn't dependent upon fruit that is seen in order to stay alive. But the God kind of faith—apart from the effort of works—is able to trust the Spirit of God from within to allow us to bear His fruit that He produces. It's better than our inconsistent attempts and keeps our boasting in Jesus instead of ourselves. --Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7
August 23, 202619min
Number 4: 1074. Legalistic Lingo: "Backsliding"
"Backsliding." If you've been enjoying the message related to the gospel of grace for a while, you may not have heard the word for a long time. On the other hand, it is probably a regular part of one's vocabulary if surrounded by a legalistic landscape. "Backsliding" will have various implications that are defined very broadly amongst the denominational spectrum. How does a person come to be defined as a "backslidden Christian"? Does it mean a backslider is in God's doghouse? Is divine punishment hanging over their heads waiting to fall? Could it possibly mean one is in danger of losing their salvation that was found through belief in Christ—apart from works? Let's look at this from a New Covenant perspective and scratch off one more worry from the legalistic list. --Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7
July 19, 202623min
Number 5: 1073. The Remedy to Permanently Treat Religious Legalism
There are no chapters in the Bible specifically dedicated to the word legalism ... but the concept can be found throughout the pages. In a nutshell, it's the human effort to acquire God's acceptance and approval while being rewarded with eternal life and other blessings. There can be varying degrees of legalism, sometimes mixed with at least trace elements of the gospel of grace. But a little bit of leaven (religious law) will affect the entire lump of dough. Whether it's subtle or overwhelming, grace and law were never meant to be mixed. How does one escape such a monster of a phony gospel message when it seems to be everywhere in a mixed-covenant culture? What is the cure for such a contagious epidemic? Just reading the Bible won't get it done. It will need to go beyond "solid grace teaching" and contextual understanding from the Bible ... which changes with the weather. It is by revelation from the Spirit of God, who assists in helping to grow in our understanding of grace and the Savior who will not allow us to take any of the credit for what He has done. --Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7
July 12, 202620min