The Sharing Grace Podcast

In this episode of The Sharing Grace Podcast, Pastor Mark and the team have a heartfelt and thought-provoking conversation about what happens when generosity, bold love, and deep relationships intersect with the presence of Jesus. We revisit the unforgettable scene in Bethany where Jesus shares a table with a once-dead man, and Mary pours out a year’s wages in worship. From resurrection dinners to...

In this heartfelt episode, Pastor Jay and Brandon take listeners on a deeply personal and spiritual journey through John 11, the story of Lazarus, while reflecting on the universal experience of grief. Why does Jesus delay when we need Him most? Why would a Savior who knows resurrection is coming still weep? And what does “I am the resurrection and the life” really mean, not just for eternity, but...

In this episode of The Sharing Grace Podcast, host Jay Austin sits down with Lead Pastor Mark Ragsdale and Middle School Director Maddie Balsitis for a meaningful conversation about Jesus as our Good Shepherd from John 10 and the heart behind CAV’s Middle School Ministry. Maddie shares her passion for students, why this age is so pivotal for faith, and how the church can support the next generatio...

In this episode, Pastor Mark, Jay Austin and Brandon Rieb unpack the message “Compassionate Conviction” from John 8:1–11. Together, they explore how Jesus responded to a tense, public moment - not with condemnation, but with grace and truth. From writing in the dirt to disarming a crowd with one powerful sentence, Jesus models how to lead with both conviction and compassion. This conversation dive...

In this episode, Jay, Brandon and Wendell explore the tension between our urgency and God’s perfect timing, based on Wendell’s powerful message from John 7. Together, they unpack what it means to trust God's timing in a world obsessed with speed, success, and control. From selling homes during transitions to waiting in seasons of uncertainty, they share personal stories and biblical truths that re...

In this episode, Brandon is joined by Lead Pastor Mark Ragsdale and Worship Pastor Jonmark as they dive into the powerful story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 from John 6. They reflect on how each disciple responded to the overwhelming need, and what it reveals about our own approach to problems - whether we avoid them, try to solve them ourselves, or trust God with what little we have. The conversati...

In this episode, we're diving deep into John 5 - a story of hope, mercy, and an encounter that changed everything. Today, Jay, Natalie and Brandon have a candid conversation about how Jesus met a man overlooked and misjudged for 38 years at the pool of Bethesda - literally the “House of Mercy.” We’ll explore how Jesus’ question, “Do you want to be healed?”, speaks to our spiritual and emotional li...

In this powerful and heartfelt episode, Brandon welcomes Jay Austin (Discipleship Pastor), AnneMarie Gustke (Executive Director of Agape Women’s Center), and Stacy Vollenwieder (CAV Staff Member) for an honest conversation inspired by John 4—the story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. Together, they explore what it means to be spiritually “thirsty” and how Jesus offers “liv...

In this episode of our It’s Personal series through the Gospel of John, we’re joined by Pastor Mark, our lead pastor, Jay Austin and Harmony Charters, for a powerful conversation on John 3:22-30 titled “Confident Humility.” Together, we unpack the struggle of comparison—especially in the age of social media—and how it quietly robs us of joy and clarity in our purpose. We explore what it means to l...

In this episode, Pastor Mark and Discipleship Pastor Jay Austin join the conversation to unpack the powerful story of Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding in Cana, as found in John 2. With humor and insight—including tales of wedding mishaps and ministry moments—they explore what it means when the “wine runs out” in our own lives. What do we turn to when we’re empty? Why does God sometimes wait to...

In this episode of The Sharing Grace Podcast, Pastors John Leathers, Jay Austin and Brandon Rieb dive into the powerful encounters of John 1, where lives were transformed by a personal meeting with Jesus. From the bold humility of John the Baptist to the quiet faithfulness of Philip, they explore what it truly means to follow Christ and share Him with others—especially when it’s difficult. Join th...

In this episode, we explore the story of Thomas from John 20 and discover that doubt isn’t the end of faith—it might be the beginning of something deeper. Host Jay Austin sits down with Pastor Mark Ragsdale and Dr. Nathan Allison for an honest, hope-filled conversation about faith, questions, and how Jesus meets us in our moments of uncertainty. From personal stories to real-life reflections, this...

When you look closely into the life of Jesus, you see that in his encounters with people, he was deeply personal. On his way to the cross (John 19), Jesus encountered three groups of people who either rejected him, were indifferent towards him, or remained close to him in their intense sorrow. In this episode, the team discusses how encounters with Jesus summons everyone to respond to the Son of G...

While Jesus was being betrayed and unfairly arrested, he boldly asked, "shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?" (John 18:11) Life often brings unfair suffering, but like Jesus, we can handle our struggles with prayer, obedience, and trust. Jesus shows us how to face unfair suffering with integrity and surrender to God's will. In this episode, Pastor Mark and the team candidly shar...

The Apostle Paul boldly stated in 1 Corinthians 11:1, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." Followers of Jesus are both called to disciple and be discipled. Discipleship is about imitation—"being covered in the dust of our Rabbi, Jesus." We are called to follow Him closely, learn from His ways, and reflect His character in all aspects of life. In this episode, the team has candid...

In this episode, we dive into the root causes of conflict in relationships, drawing wisdom from James 4:1 and exploring five key reasons disagreements arise. From power struggles to misunderstood feelings, we discuss how our own tendencies—like the need for control or selfishness—affect the way we handle conflict. Pastor Mark and the team discuss seven practical tools to "fight right," including t...

God has prewired all of us for relationships. We all need somebody. In a world that can be deeply discouraging, we all need friends that we can trust, lean on when things are difficult, and share in times of joy. In this episode, the team discusses the importance and value of friendships. Website: www.churchatviera.com Email: sharinggrace@churchatviera.com

We all have been or will be involved in some sort of toxic relationships. Establishing clear relational boundaries is the key to preventing toxicity into your life. In this episode, the team discusses practical biblical strategies to build healthy boundaries in all of our relationships. Website: churchatviera.com Email: sharinggrace@churchatviera.com

The ability to communicate well is often the key indicator to a healthy relationship. In this episode of TSGP, Mark, Jay and Brandon discuss practical techniques, passive aggressiveness, and healthy vs. unhealthy non-verbal communication. Website: www.churchatviera.com Email: sharinggrace@churchatviera.com

There are seven verses in scripture dedicated to a woman named Dorcas (Acts 9:36-42). She was known for "always doing good and helping the poor." As Christians, through her life, we can learn that we should serve from compassion, serve others using our talents, and serve others with purpose. https://churchatviera.com/for-321/

The practice of generosity in the life of a Christian is both impactful for the receiver as well as the giver. Pastor Mark, Jay, Carrie and Brandon discuss the value of joyfully releasing the resources we have back to the purposes of God. This is part one in the conversation around our For 321 Initiative. If you would like to partner with us in these efforts to bless Brevard County, Florida, follo...

Prayer and fasting is the "one-two punch" of the spiritual practices in a Christian's walk with Jesus. In this podcast, John, Jay and Brandon discuss the importance and the benefits of both regular prayer and fasting. And yes, John, once again, shares about how much he loves salami.

In John 15, Jesus used an illustration of a vine and it's branches to share a powerful spiritual truth. In this episode The Sharing Grace team discuss the practice of abiding in Christ so that our lives bear much fruit. Like a good grower, Jesus will often take Christians through seasons of pruning and discipline so that lives produce abundant fruit.

This is the first episode of The Sharing Grace Podcast. We discuss the origin and the vision of the podcast. We also dive deeper into the importance of practicing the sabbath in the life of every Christian.