Host introduces the Guardians of Grace podcast, prays for a friend harmed by internet fraud, and shares a passionate study of the letter of James.

The episode explains James’s central theme: tests reveal manifestations of the Spirit under the new covenant, where God’s work through us earns heavenly rewards while our self-made prideful deeds burn away.

Key passages from 1 Corinthians, Colossians, and Revelation are used to illustrate Christ’s spiritual circumcision, the refining fire that consumes the flesh, and the call to patiently depend on God rather than human effort.

Steve Lenart recounts personal moments of being unexpectedly used by the Holy Spirit and explains his lifelong practice of letting Scripture answer questions. He emphasizes that true faith and righteous words come from the Spirit, not human effort.

Using James chapter 4, he contrasts active commands (resist the devil, draw near to God) with the passive work of the Spirit (submit, mourn, humble), urging listeners to depend on the Spirit, give God credit for every good work, and live with humility under God’s guidance.

In this episode Steve explores the book of James, contrasting legalism with the new covenant of grace. He explains how the Spirit of God dwells in believers to produce righteous fruit, especially during trials, and why humility and dependence on God—not human effort—are essential.

Listeners are encouraged to see everyday conflicts as tests that reveal either human nature or the Spirit, to submit to God’s power, and to manifest Christ through peaceful, Spirit-filled living.

This episode explores the Book of James, focusing on the idea of manifesting the Holy Spirit under the new covenant. It explains how daily trials reveal either the flesh or the Spirit and shows how Christians live by depending on Gods Spirit to produce righteous deeds and fruit.

Key themes include faith and works (Abraham and Rahab), wisdom from above versus earthly ambition, the power of the tongue, and practical encouragement to wait on and rely on the Spirit to bring peace, wisdom, and righteous action.

In this episode Steve walks through James 2:13 onward, reframing "faith without works is dead" as "dormant" and explaining how daily trials test for manifestations of the Holy Spirit. He contrasts the inactive faith of Abraham with the immediate action of Rahab to show how true faith is activated by works.

The episode emphasizes the new covenant: Christ’s Spirit living in us does what we cannot, and we are called to give God credit for the good that comes through us, storing up heavenly treasures by letting the Spirit manifest in our actions.

Host Steve walks through James chapter 2, emphasizing James 2:12: "Speak and act as those who will be judged by the perfect law that gives freedom." He explains the new covenant judicial system, the need to give God credit for good works, and how depending on the Holy Spirit—rather than human effort—stores up eternal rewards.

The episode challenges listeners to change their daily speech and actions, live by the Spirit, and understand how words can justify or condemn in the age to come.

This episode explores James 1:22–25 alongside Romans 7–8, explaining the difference between being a forgetful hearer and an effectual doer. The host shows how the Spirit — not human effort — empowers true Christian living, setting believers free from the law of sin and producing perseverance and genuine fruit. Practical parallels to Jesus’ teachings and the New Covenant highlight why abiding in Christ is the way to spiritual victory.

Steve unpacks the opening of James, showing that trials test for manifestations of the Spirit, produce perseverance, and lead to spiritual maturity. He connects James with Paul (Romans and 1 Corinthians) to explain the new-covenant reality of being "in Christ" rather than relying on human effort.

Practical takeaways include asking God for wisdom, humility over self-reliance, being quick to listen and slow to anger, and the promise of the crown of life for those who persevere. The episode ends with a cliffhanger leading into James 1:22–26.

In this episode Steve explains James chapter 1, teaching that trials are not random punishments but tests designed to reveal the Holy Spirits work in us. He contrasts the old-law performance mindset with the new-covenant reality: God puts His Spirit in believers so we can manifest love, patience, perseverance and other fruits during daily trials.

Steve shows how humility, serving others, and relying on the Spirit (not human effort) leads to perseverance and eternal reward — the crown of life. The episode ties James to Paul and Jesus to clarify how new-covenant language reframes faith as visible spiritual manifestation.

In this episode the host unpacks James 1:2–4, arguing that trials are not merely punishments but tests that reveal whether the Holy Spirit will manifest through us. He emphasizes that in the new covenant, faith is a manifestation of the Spirit and that these daily tests expose either our human (Adamic) nature or the life of Christ within us.

The episode links James to Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians and Romans, urging listeners to ask God for wisdom, believe without doubting, and respond to trials with patience. The goal is spiritual maturity—being perfected and lacking nothing as the Spirit is displayed through our lives.