At Calvary, is Jesus able to bring me into His death? And, what does it mean when I say, “I am crucified in Christ”? 

In this episode, Bill, Scott, and Waldemar explore the radical reality of being crucified with Christ. They unpack what it means to die with Him—leaving behind shame, condemnation, and the law—and to begin living under grace. This conversation will invite you to trust God’s finished work and discover the freedom of a new identity.

Topics Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and Waldemar Kohl discuss in this episode: 

(0:30) – The Reality of Death in Christ

* Galatians 2.

* At Calvary, believers were brought into Christ’s death, freeing them from shame and sin.

(3:30) – Surrender vs. Death

* Challenging the idea of surrender as the solution, emphasizing that death is the ultimate surrender.

(6:19) – Dead to Law, Alive to Grace

* If we are dead to the law, then shame and condemnation no longer define us.

* Experience does not define identity—God’s declaration does.

(11:31) – It Is Finished

* Reflecting on Jesus’ words, “It is finished.”

(17:15) – Freedom Through Grace and Love

* How love covers sin and creates healing relationships.

This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. 

Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ 

Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: 

* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast 

* Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 

* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI 

Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books 

Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: 

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This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

Are you defined by God or your experience? Also, if you’re defined by your experience, is your experience your God?

This episode dives into the roots of shame and its lingering presence even after becoming a Christian. Bill, Scott, and Waldemar discuss how sin management, comparison, and fear are often signs of unresolved shame. Through biblical truth and personal stories, they explore how the redemptive work of Jesus offers a new identity free from condemnation.

Topics Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and Waldemar Kohl discuss in this episode: 

(00:00) What Is Shame?

* Bill contrasts guilt and shame and explains how shame rewrites identity.

* How shame distorts the way Christians see themselves despite God's truth.

(04:12) Sin Management Theology

* “Sin management” keeps Christians in shame.

* Churches may preach grace but still convey a message of needing to “measure up.”

(07:49) Adam and Eve

* Genesis 3 and sin management.

* How fear and hiding reveal shame hasn’t been healed.

(10:00) Shame, Blame, and Comparison

* How shame leads to blame and relational distance.

* Shame often causes us to see others and ourselves through the wrong lens.

(15:20) Wearing the Coat of Righteousness

* The symbolism of God clothing Adam and Eve with animal skins.

* Personal stories of when shame distorted how Scott and Bill saw themselves.

This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. 

Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ 

Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: 

* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast 

* Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 

* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI 

Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books 

Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast 

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This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

What if shame or condemnation no longer had the power to define you?

In this episode, Waldemar Kohl joins Bill and Scott to explore how grace offers a radical alternative to a life shaped by shame and condemnation. They also discuss what it means to trust Jesus not just with sin, but with our insecurities, failures, and fears. 

Topics Waldemar Kohl, Bill Thrall, and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode: 

(0:33) Waldemar’s Story 

* Waldemar’s early life of performance-driven faith and corporate success.

(5:56) From Shame to No Condemnation

* Thinking of trust as the bridge between belief and transformation.

(10:01) The Object of Our Faith

* Trust isn’t about quantity—it’s about the One you’re trusting.

* Jesus can not only forgive sin but also take on shame itself.

(14:21) The Power of Safe Community

* Grace-based environments create safety, allowing people to be known.

* When shame loses its grip, people discover trust through vulnerability.

(20:15) Redefining Theology and Identity

* Many Christians are still living as sinners instead of saints.

* Learning to be loved leads to loving more—and sinning less.

This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. 

Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ 

Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: 

* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast 

* Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 

* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI 

Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books 

Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast 

* TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast 

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This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/ 

What if your destiny isn’t about what you do for God, but what He does in you and for you?

This episode explores how grace radically shapes our destiny—not through performance, but through trust. Bill and Scott discuss how identity, humility, and influence are transformed when we receive God's view of us. They challenge listeners to stop fixing themselves and start receiving the life-changing truth of grace.

Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode: 

(00:03) Grace and Destiny

* Doing things for God is not the same as receiving from Him.

* Influence begins with how we see ourselves—either through shame or through God’s view.

(03:16) Humility and Transformation

* True humility is trusting what God is doing in you, not minimizing yourself.

* God wants to exalt us because we are saints, not sinners trying to perform.

(07:54) Strategic Plans vs. Divine Declarations

* God’s declaration of who we are is more powerful than incremental improvement.

* Our purpose begins with trusting that God's choice of us includes a calling.

(16:22) Influence That Earns Trust

* Our destiny includes earning people’s trust so they can receive our love.

This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. 

Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ 

Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: 

* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast 

* Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 

* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI 

Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books 

Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast 

* TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast 

* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/ 

For you, what creates a safe place, a place where you're not afraid to be known? 

This episode explores how grace is not just a theological concept but a lived experience—especially within a community. Bill and Scott reflect on what it means to belong to an “environment of grace” and how mutual dependence leads to maturity, unity, and purpose. They challenge listeners to trust others, embrace their own needs, and believe that grace is meant to shape every relationship around them.

Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode: 

(00:03) What Is an Environment of Grace?

* Grace allows people to live beyond their circumstances and meet others’ needs.

* Communities shaped by grace express love as their defining characteristic.

(04:45) The Difference Between True and Pseudo Community

* A true grace-based community meets needs and cultivates joy and purpose.

(08:52) Spiritual Gifts Are for the Community

* Believers are gifted by God for the benefit of others, not self-expression.

* Without a grace environment, spiritual gifts remain unused.

(12:31) Maturity Requires Community

* Hiding weaknesses blocks the maturing process and isolates believers.

* Grace invites vulnerability and leads to growth.

(14:53) Mutual Dependence Is Leadership

* Submitting to one another’s strengths is an act of grace and trust.

* Experiencing grace means learning to give and receive it—including with yourself.

This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. 

Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ 

Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: 

* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast 

* Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 

* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI 

Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books 

Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast 

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* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

As yourself: Am I experiencing grace and love in my life? And if I'm not, how can I do that?

Grace is not just a theological concept—it’s the foundation for every meaningful relationship of love. In this episode, Bill and Scott unpack how trust unlocks the experience of love and how grace enables us to lay down our masks and let our needs be seen. 

Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode: 

(04:09) The Connection Between Trust and Love

* Love is the process of meeting needs.

* How God meets our deepest need for security.

(08:05) Designed to Be Loved

* Bill shares how his insecurity made it difficult to believe he mattered.

* God’s love is given, not earned—because He is love.

(12:14) Choosing to Be Loved

* Bill reads from Revelation 3 and reflects on Laodicea’s self-sufficiency.

* Jesus doesn’t fix people—He loves them into healing.

(15:18) The Healing Power of Love

* Grace leads to healing through safe, consistent love.

* Love shifts our focus outward and helps us live transformed lives.

This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. 

Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ 

Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: 

* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast 

* Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 

* Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4hUd9pM 

Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books 

Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast 

* TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast 

* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

What happens when you begin to believe you are lovable?

In this episode, Bill and Scott continue their discussion about how grace becomes the foundation for spiritual maturity, identity, and calling. They reflect on personal stories of shame, self-worth, and trust, revealing how deeply grace can shape our understanding of who we are. They also invite listeners to stop measuring themselves by behavior and start believing who God says they are.

Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode: 

(01:05) Maturing Through Grace

* Scott’s scandalous feeling of saying, “I believe I’m worthy.”

* How believing you're a saint transforms your self-perception.

* Ephesians 1 and the challenge of seeing yourself as holy.

(05:54) Identity vs. Behavior

* How measuring yourself by shame leads to self-centeredness.

* The importance of imagining what God says is true.

(10:09) Lovable and Trusted

* How Scott’s past shaped his ability to receive love.

(14:15) Set Apart With Purpose

* Galatians 1:15 and Paul’s purpose as a parallel for all believers.

* What it means to be called by grace to know Christ.

This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. 

Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ 

Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: 

* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast 

* Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 

* Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4hUd9pM 

Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books 

Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast 

* TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast 

* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

How does trusting grace impact your spiritual growth?

In this episode, Bill and Scott explore the role of grace as the foundation for our maturing in Christ. They challenge performance-based spirituality and invite you to embrace a new identity rooted in trust, love, and divine truth. Through personal stories and rich theological insight, they unpack what it means to mature not by striving but by receiving.

Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode: 

(0:02) Grace as the Basis of Maturing

* Grace is not just the way to salvation—it’s also the way we grow.

* Justification and sanctification are both rooted in grace, not effort.

(8:24) Who Am I? Defining Identity

* God sees beyond behaviors.

* Christians must move from shame to identity in Christ.

(14:52) Love as the Evidence of Maturity

* Jesus gave us a new commandment we’re now able to live.

* Love is the fulfillment of the law.

* The fruit of grace is love, and love heals.

* Love replaces shame and drives transformation.

* The foundation of all maturity is God’s grace at work in us.

This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. 

Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ 

Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: 

* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast 

* Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 

* Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4hUd9pM 

Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books 

Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast 

* TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast 

* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/ 

If God is going to give this immense gift of grace to the humble, who are the humble? 

In this episode, Bill and Scott explore what it means to trust God with the truth of who you are. They unpack why grace is more than forgiveness—it’s the means by which we stop striving and start receiving. Through Scripture, personal stories, and honest dialogue, they reveal how letting go opens the door to transformation

Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode: 

(0:05) Trust and the Nature of Humility

* Bill reflects on 1 Peter 5:5 and what it means to be humble.

* Trusting God begins when we realize we can’t do what’s best for us.

(2:44) Fears About Trusting God

* Scott’s fear: “What if God makes me do something I don’t want to do?”

* Trust is something to do—not passive surrender.

(9:15) The Scope of Grace in Romans 5

* Scott reads Romans 5:15–21. 

* Jesus’ gift of grace outweighs Adam’s sin.

(14:43) How We Limit Grace

* Bill points to Romans 11:6—grace ceases to be grace if works are added.

(19:41) God’s Grace

* Transformation comes when we stop defending ourselves.

* Grace changes how we see ourselves, God, and the world.

This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. 

Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ 

Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: 

* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast 

* Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 

* Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4hUd9pM 

Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books 

Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast 

* TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast 

* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

Is grace the only means for our salvation?

In this episode, Bill and Scott open up about their personal journeys of discovering grace and meeting Jesus. Through powerful stories—one marked by fear and redemption, the other by slow awakening—they illustrate how grace is not a concept but a person. Their reflections show us how authentic encounters with Jesus can change the trajectories of our lives. 

Topics Bill and Scott discuss in this episode: 

(0:43) Bill’s Fearful Introduction to Grace

* Bill recounts his first encounter with grace at Bible camp, rooted in fear of hell.

(5:33) When Grace Became a Person

* Bill describes the moment his brother asked him, “What are you going to do with Jesus?”

(8:19) Scott’s Journey of Awakening

* Scott recalls being disenchanted with both Baptist and Lutheran traditions.

* Seeing his stepmom’s intimate relationship with Jesus was transformative.

(13:37) From Salvation to Calling

* Bill reflects on how grace compelled him to share Christ.

(17:44) Grace That Shapes a Life

* How grace transformed Bill into a saint, not just a saved sinner.

This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. 

Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ 

Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: 

* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast 

* Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 

* Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4hUd9pM 

Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books 

Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: 

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast 

* TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast 

* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/