The Waking up to Grace Podcast

Grace is not about following religious rules or checking spiritual boxes. In this episode, we discuss children, faith, baptism, and the joy of knowing Christ apart from fear-based religion.

This Bible study explores whether infants and young children who die are automatically saved, working through several key passages. Starting with 1 Corinthians 7:14, the group concludes that a child's "holiness" describes the covenant environment a believing parent provides, not a guarantee of salvation. They apply the same logic to circumcision: it set Israel apart outwardly, but t...

This episode presents a full preterist interpretation of biblical prophecy, arguing that Christ's Second Coming, the final judgment, and the establishment of God's kingdom were fulfilled in the events surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. The discussion examines passages from Revelation, Thessalonians, Hebrews, and the Gospels to support the view that these prophecies descri...

This episode explores the meaning of “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done” in the Lord’s Prayer, arguing that Jesus was speaking prophetically about the coming New Covenant and the establishment of God’s kingdom. The discussion examines Matthew 24, Luke 21, Revelation 21, and Galatians 4, presenting the view that many end-times prophecies were fulfilled in the first century through the destruction...

This episode explores the difficult theological question of the eternal destiny of infants and those unable to consciously believe the gospel. The discussion examines biblical passages about resurrection, original sin, faith, and predestination, emphasizing that Scripture clearly teaches salvation through faith in Christ while offering no definitive answer regarding infants. The speakers argue tha...

The conversation examines whether the Bible teaches that infants who die are saved, arguing that the answer is not explicit in Scripture and that David's words about his deceased child should be understood within the ancient Hebrew expectation of resurrection rather than an immediate entrance into heaven.  The problem which is revealed in the argument is that in shaping the scripture to fit o...

This conversation explores prayer, grace, and the believer's relationship with God from a New Covenant perspective. The speakers emphasize that prayer is not about following formulas, postures, or religious performance but about honest, authentic communication with a loving Father. They discuss how understanding God's acceptance and pleasure toward believers removes fear, guilt, and stri...

The episode explores a grace-centered view of Christianity focused on identity in Christ rather than fear, guilt, or performance. The speakers discuss how believers are loved and accepted by God as “new creations,” and argue that spiritual struggles often come from forgetting that identity. They emphasize renewing the mind, trusting God’s love, and living by faith instead of shame or self-condemna...

This episode explores the concept of authentic Christian community and the true meaning of the church. Lenny and Jack discuss how Christ is revealed and experienced within genuine community, emphasizing that the church is not a building or a program, but the fellowship of believers living out grace together. They highlight the importance of organic relationships over religious formalities and chal...

In this episode, the speakers reflect on their experiences within traditional church denominations and the eventual paradigm shift that led them away from legalism and toward an understanding of grace. The conversation centers on "institutional" Christianity, which they describe as a burdensome cycle of sin, repentance, and self-effort—a system that often leaves congregants feeling guilt...

This episode explores Peter's second epistle as a template for Christian living, emphasizing grace and faith as foundational gifts from God, not earned by personal merit. Peter teaches that believers have received "a faith of equal standing" through Christ's righteousness, and that grace and peace multiply through a growing knowledge of Jesus. The Christian life, according to P...

This episode explores the meaning of "divine nature" as described in 2 Peter 1:3-4. It explains that believers are granted faith as a gift, placing them on equal footing with the apostles, and that true godliness and spiritual growth come through deeper knowledge of Jesus and the gospel—not through outward works or religious effort. The "divine nature" means sharing in God&apos...

This is a biblical reflection on 2 Peter 1:3-4, teaching that believers already have everything they need for life and godliness through Christ. Drawing on scripture, personal stories, and figures like Peter and Abraham, the episode encourages Christians to walk by faith rather than sight, actively build on their faith with virtue and love, and trust in God's provision even through hardship —...

This episode explores the question of whether God wants us to be happy, using Paul's life and writings as the central case study. It argues that God's goal is not our temporal happiness or comfort, but our growth, faithfulness, and deep reliance on Him through every circumstance. Paul's suffering — beatings, imprisonment, anxiety — shows that hardship is normal even for the faithful...

Discussing Paul’s thorn in the flesh and why God’s answer “My grace is sufficient” reframes weakness as the place where Christ’s power becomes clear. We connect Paul’s suffering, Satan’s limited role, and the call to endure so we stop relying on ourselves and start building on Christ with lasting strength.  • questioning whether we are spiritually hungry and what grace means in daily life  • unpac...

Modern churches misdefine fellowship as something broken and restored through repeated confession and repentance — scripture does not support this. The Holy Spirit permanently perfected fellowship between believers and God; seeking ongoing reconciliation is no longer necessary. Fellowship is not earned through good behavior; it is about walking by the Spirit in daily trust and dependence on God. S...

We challenge the modern end-times script by testing rapture language, second coming claims, and “watch the news” theology against Jesus’ own timeline in Luke 21. We argue that AD 70 and the destruction of Jerusalem sit at the centre of the prophecy many believers keep pushing into the future, and we call for a return to the finished work of Christ and our identity under the new covenant.  • spirit...

We take on the hardest form of the question “Did God create good and evil?” and refuse to settle for rhetoric that leaves us doubting God’s goodness. We read Isaiah alongside Paul, Jesus, and Martin Luther to find a sober, grace-filled way to trust God’s sovereignty without making him the author of sin. • why Isaiah 45:7 and Isaiah 53:10 sound jarring at first read • the difference between God rev...

We trace the fear around “I never knew you,” set it in its first century context, and show why Jesus’ demand for perfection aims to drive us to faith in him, not to tally our works. We contrast false confidence in religious performance with the simple obedience of believing the Son. • why “be perfect” exposes need and points to Christ • who Jesus addresses in Matthew 7 and why context matters • th...

We challenge the habit of treating God as absent and call listeners to the freedom of Galatians 2:20—Christ living in us through the indwelling Spirit. Stories, Scripture, and honest questions expose legalism, replace anxiety with abiding, and invite a return to first love. • the living center of Galatians 2:20 • Luther’s story as a grace wake-up • mistaking church culture for self-help • be still...

We question whether heavenly rewards are wages for effort or the present fruits of abiding in Christ, using Scripture and a Wizard of Oz parable to rethink crowns, timing, and Paul’s race. We land on a simple call: stop striving for what grace already gave and live from union with Jesus. • the five crowns as facets of salvation in Christ • Paul’s race as focused dependence, not merit • Hebrews on...

We challenge the modern, single-pastor model by tracing “pastor” back to “shepherd” and showing how the New Testament envisions plural elders, shared gifts, and open participation under Christ. We call listeners to leave performance religion, enter rest, and practice courageous, Scripture-shaped discernment. • the word pastor in translations and its link to shepherds • Ephesians 4 gifts equipping...

We challenge the common use of Malachi 3 and make the case that Christians are not under the Mosaic tithe. We walk through Scripture to show how grace reframes giving as free, cheerful, and focused on real needs rather than institutional maintenance. • defining the biblical tithe as produce and livestock for Levites • placing Malachi in Israel’s national covenant context • rejecting church-as-temp...

We challenge comfortable assumptions and ask listeners to test church teachings against Scripture in context. We walk through ten common doctrines, contrast law and grace, and call believers to Berean-style courage, clarity, and confidence in Christ’s finished work. • why “we teach the Bible” can still miss context • fear and comfort as barriers to discernment • Berean nobility as a model for test...

We challenge performance-driven “holy living” and show why it breeds fear, double standards, and burnout. We point to trust in Christ as the path to peace, assurance, and daily fellowship grounded in grace, not effort. • how conditional fellowship teaching creates anxiety and confusion • Jesus’ heart-level standard that exposes self-reliance • the repent-repeat treadmill versus union with Christ •...