In this Christmas episode of Inside Grace with Alan Wright, Pastor Alan is joined by Pastor Chris Lawson for a warm and lively conversation about the traditions that shape their families and churches each December. From favorite carols and candlelight services to quiet moments at home, Alan and Chris share the practices that help them slow down, remember the gospel, and keep Jesus at the center of Christmas.

Along the way, they reflect on why traditions really matter, how they can either point us to grace or distract us from it, and how to refresh old habits that have gone a little stale. Then they turn to John chapter 1 to ask a surprising question. Could this beloved passage about the Word and the light be the perfect Christmas text? Discover how John 1 pulls back the curtain on the miracle of the incarnation and invites us to see Christmas not just as a manger scene, but as God stepping into our darkness with unshakable light.

In this deeply personal episode of Inside Grace, Pastor Alan Wright shares four profound lessons from 40 years of marriage—insights that beautifully illustrate Christ’s covenantal grace toward His people. Through heartfelt reflections, biblical wisdom, and powerful insights from influential Christian voices like Tim Keller, Elisabeth Elliot, Larry Crabb, and C.S. Lewis, Alan reveals how marriage points beyond itself to the unconditional love, shared mission, life-giving blessing, and joyful celebration that Christ desires for His relationship with the Church.

Join us as we explore how earthly marriages can illuminate divine truths about grace, love, and enduring commitment.

“If only I didn’t have so much responsibility, I’d finally be free.”
“Keep your options open—make sure you don’t miss out on a better opportunity.”

Those are the mantras of the age we live in. We have been duped into believing that freedom comes when we escape commitment and responsibility. But in this week’s episode of Inside Grace, we discover why responsibilities are privileges and why commitment leads to real freedom.

Pastor Alan’s wife talks about the “yes” house and how God is a “yes” God – God is the author of freedom, right? But a lot of people think the opposite. Devil lured Adam and Eve to take their eyes of the “yeses” and focus on the one “no” – so the essence of temptation is to think that any form of restraint limits freedom.

“If only I didn’t have so much responsibility, I’d finally be free.”
 
“Keep your options open—make sure you don’t miss out on a better opportunity.”

Those are the mantras of the age we live in. We have been duped into believing that freedom comes when we escape commitment and responsibility. But in this week’s episode of Inside Grace, we discover why responsibilities are privileges and why commitment leads to real freedom.

The journey to seeing myself with Jesus’ eyes require a new paradigm - a whole new way of welcoming the gifts of God into your life. You need to learn to receive from Jesus. You needed to learn to see yourself as someone Jesus yearned to bless.

Before we can give anything to others, we need to see how much Jesus yearns to give to us.

On this episode of Inside Grace with Alan Wright we examin why the word "Gospel" means “Good announcement” – because that’s what the Gospel is, an announcement of really wonderful news.

We will explore many of the ways that God transforms our lives, but here is the center, the hub that connects it all. The Gospel is good news and good news will change you. What would happen if people comprehended the beauty and magnitude of what God has given them in Jesus Christ? How generous might they become? How much more ready to love and honor their spouses? How much more likely to be patient with their children? How much more ready to let go of judgment and racism? How much more able to conquer sin?  

What people need for real change isn’t more good advice –they need more good news!

There is a way for every Christian to “pray in the Spirit” – praying God’s Word. Because all scripture is “God-breathed,” all of God’s Word is full of the Spirit. Thus, when you pray God’s Word, what you are praying is Spirit-filled.

According to surveys, there’s something that more Americans will do this week than will drive a car or go to work. It’s an activity that almost all Americans say they believe in and most claim it to be very important.

But, if so many people think that prayer is so important, why do so few people report feeling good about their prayer lives? Why does prayer seem to be a struggle? Why do so many feel their prayers are powerless?

Paul’s answer is simple, compelling and direct: “praying at all times in the Spirit….” (Ephesians 6:18) The invitation to “pray in the Spirit” is part of the famous exhortation to put on the whole armor of God. Alongside of donning the helmet of salvation and utilized the shield of faith, we must learn to “pray in the Spirit.” But how?

Join Pastor Alan Wright for Season 3 of Inside Grace to answer these questions and more! For more resources, visit www.pastoralan.org!

[02:35] - Podcast Timestamp