Grace on Tap

Mike Yagley and Evan Gaertner discuss Dr. Martin Luther’s writing on the Sacrament of Baptism in his treatise on the Babylonian Captivity. Faith receives the gifts God offers in the Sacrament of Baptism. Infant Baptism is effective because God’s Word is able to change a godless heart into a believing heart. The faith of a church is instrumental in how an infant is brought to the waters...

Mike Yagley and Evan Gaertner begin a two-session study on Martin Luther’s section on Baptism in the Babylonian Captivity. Dr. Luther affirms that Baptism is a good, solid ship that remains intact even amidst the shipwreck of our souls. A symbolic ship named Sacramentum sails through the sea of sin and doubt toward a radiant sunrise and castle. Beer Break TROPICÁLIA is an IPA from Creature C...

Evan Gaertner and Mike Yalgey continue the conversation of Martin Luther’s treatise on the Catholic church’s medieval sacramental system, which was holding captive Christians. This episode focuses on the Lord’s Supper being described as a sacrifice vs a promise. Luther challenged the teaching that the Mass was a re-sacrifice of Christ’s passion. When the Lord’s Supper...

Mike Yagley and Evan Gaertner continue a conversation about “On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church,” which was written by Dr. Martin Luther in 1520. This treatise by Luther challenged the medieval church’s sacramental system. This episode looks at how Luther seeks to find the definition and purpose of Sacraments through the lens of Scripture and grace. Grab your favorite beve...

Mike Yagley and Evan Gaertner begin a multi-part review of Dr. Martin Luther’s treatise The Babylonian Captivity. 1520 was the year that Luther published three major treatises ( Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church, and On the Freedom of a Christian) . This second of three treatises accuses the Catholic Church of keeping the people ca...

Evan Gaertner and Mike Yagley finish their conversation on Dr. Martin Luther’s Bondage of the Will. This episode includes a discussion on free choice – the will and the reason cannot strive after God without God. Whenever the will and reason are described as us moving to God, this should be condemned because this is the opposite of faith. The only path to faith is our brokenness and tr...

Evan Gaertner and Mike Yagley discuss how our identity is found in our relationship with God instead of our works. When our relationship is secured in the righteousness of Christ, then our will is free to share life with God and with other people. Without Christ, our lives are lived in bondage to our transactions. You can learn more by reading Dr. Martin Luther’s Bondage of the Will. Beer Br...

Evan Gaertner and Mike Yagley continue their conversation about Martin Luther’s response to Erasmus about the condition of the human will. This episode focuses on why Martin Luther thinks this conversation is important. Righteousness according to moral efforts will always fall short, and God desires that we find our righteousness by having faith in Him. This sort of righteousness must be rev...

Mike Yagley and Evan Gaertner review De Servo Arbitrio , which means Bondage of the Will , by Martin Luther. It was published in 1525 in response to Erasmus’ work from 1524 on humanity in De libero arbitrio diatribe sive collatio or On Free Will. The first part of this book by Luther is a recounting of the arguments made by Erasmus. This podcast picks up with Luther’s position. Luther...

In  Episode 91 of Grace on Tap , Evan Gaertner and Mike Yagley dive into the turbulent years following Luther’s stay at the Wartburg Castle—when the Reformation teetered on the edge of chaos. While Luther hid under Frederick’s protection, self-proclaimed prophets like Nikolaus Storch and Thomas Müntzer began to claim direct revelations from God, turning reform into fanaticism. Müntzer’s dark preac...

The 90th episode of Grace on Tap traces Frederick’s efforts to secure a fair hearing for Luther in the face of papal pressure, culminating in the dramatic events at Worms. Listeners for how Frederick’s chancellor, Bruck, tirelessly negotiated with imperial and papal representatives, how Glampion tried to limit Luther’s protection, and how Frederick worked behind the scenes to keep Luther on the ag...

Frederick the Wise shielded Martin Luther during the earliest and most uncertain years of the Reformation. Far more than a footnote in Luther’s story, Frederick emerges as a skilled statesman navigating the volatile mix of church corruption, shifting feudal structures, and the rising voices of peasants and humanists. This episode explores the events of 1520 to see how Frederick acts as a lea...

1518-1519 was a critical turning point in the politics of the Reformation. Join Mike Yagley and Evan Gaertner as they follow Frederick the Wise as he navigates the turbulent waters between Pope Leo, Emperor Maximilian, and the rising voice of Martin Luther. From the tense Reichstag in Augsburg back-channel negotiations that kept Luther out of Rome, Frederick’s political skill kept the Reform...

Evan Gaertner and Mike Yagley continue a discussion about Frederick the Wise’s ability to protect Martin Luther from the combined pressure of the pope and the emperor. This episode largely focuses on the events of 1518. After Luther posted his 95 Theses, the Church wasted no time in seeking to silence him. Pope Leo X demanded that Luther be sent to Rome, where execution likely awaited him. B...

Frederick the Wise: Reluctant Protector of the Reformation In this episode, Mike Yagley and Evan Gaertner explores how Frederick the Wise’s relationship with Martin Luther evolved between 1516 and 1518. Though initially angered by Luther’s sermons against indulgences and relics, Frederick gradually reconsidered his stance—thanks in part to his advisor George Spalatin and Luther’s mentor Johannes S...

Mike Yagley and Evan Gaertner continue the story of Frederick the Wise, the Elector of Saxon. From his birth in 1463 to his rise as a strategic ruler and devout leader, Frederick navigated political rivalries, financial struggles, and religious reform. Learn how he transformed Wittenberg into a center of learning and faith, laying the groundwork for a university, a grand residence, and a powerful...

Evan Gaertner presented to the Lutheran Luncheon Club in Detroit on January 8, 2025. Mike was unavailable, which is probably why Evan messed up the name of the town that Martin Luther was born in and died in. There was no beer break in this recording before a live audience.

Evan Gaertner and Mike Yagley begin a new unit on Grace on Tap. This podcast will take some episodes to explore the people who were not theologians during the Reformation but still significantly contributed to it. This episode introduces Frederick the Wise. In 2015, Sam Wellmen wrote the ultimate English biography of this noble, Frederick the Wise: Seen and Unseen Lives of Martin Luther’s Pr...

Mike Yagley and Evan Gaertner continue a look at how Martin Luther guided spiritual care and concern for people through letters. This episode reviews a letter written by Luther in November 1527 to John Hess . The letter is about whether Christians are obligated to stay during a time of plague. Beer Break Soft Parade by Short’s Brewing Company This is a fruit ale with blueberries, strawberrie...

In 1527, the plague arrived in Wittenberg and Breslau. Dr. Martin Luther wrote letters to give guidance to leaders during this time of pestilence. We previously discussed Luther’s letter to John Hess in Episode 55. This episode is more specifically looking at the character, context, and counsel of these letters. We start by looking at an August letter to George Spalatin. Please note that the...

Evan Gaertner and Mike Yagley discuss Dr. Martin Luther’s letters that he wrote to provide consolation to those bereft by grief. Through these letters, we find how Luther applied the Law and the Gospel to the caretaking of souls when the grief of sadness had become overwhelming. The letters referenced in this podcast will be found in Luther: Letters of Spiritual Counsel , edited and translat...

Evan Gaertner and Mike Yagley review some letters of Martin Luther written to the sick and dying. Through these letters of pastoral care, we can witness what the caretaking of souls looked like in the 16th century. The sadnesses and griefs are not too far away from our own time. Thank you for a listener suggestion to consider this topic. Beer Break Great Turtle Brewing Company – No Cars Allo...

Mike Yagley and Evan Gaertner finish their discussion of the Gospel of the Third Sunday in Advent, Matthew 11:2-10. This discussion is grounded in Dr. Martin Luther’s commentary on this text to equip preachers during the Reformation. This episode picks up on v. 7. Luther’s Works, Volume 75 What do you look for in Jesus and how is this compared to what you need from Jesus? Beer Break Al...

Evan Gaertner and Mike Yagley continue their discussion of Martin Luther’s commentary on the gospel for the Third Sunday in Advent – Matthew 11:2-10 (One Year Historic Lectionary). This commentary is found in Luther’s Works Volume 75, published by Concordia Publishing House. Beer Break Founder’s All Night IPA

Mike Yagley and Evan Gaertner discuss Martin Luther’s sermon prep commentary on the Gospel reading for the Third Sunday in Advent. Matthew 11:2-10. Historically, biblical commentaries asked, “Did John know Jesus was Christ?” This question happens because John sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Christ or should we look for another?” Luther answered that this...