The Waking up to Grace Podcast

The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, revealing the righteousness that comes from faith for faith as prophesied in scripture. • Paul declared he was not ashamed of the gospel despite being treated as "scum of the earth" • Christians worldwide face persecution while media remains silent about their suffering • The gospel was given to the Jews first, then e...

Continuing last weeks study, we explore the biblical truth about fellowship with God, challenging the common teaching that Christians can be "in and out" of fellowship based on behavior and sin. • Examining Paul's letters to the Corinthians reveals he affirmed their secure standing with God despite their sinful behavior • Understanding fellowship with God is based on His faithfulnes...

Lenny and Melissa explore Paul's prayer life across his letters, revealing his consistent focus on thanksgiving, spiritual growth, and Christ's love rather than sin-consciousness. • Paul consistently displayed thanksgiving and never-ceasing prayer  • Paul's prayers focused on believers growing in knowledge of Christ's love, not on their sin • The resurrection life was the hope...

Prayer extends beyond designated moments of quiet conversation with God into an ongoing spiritual mindset that permeates our entire thought life. When Paul prayed for the Romans "without ceasing," he showed us how to maintain spiritual focus and awareness of God's presence throughout our daily activities. • Prayer doesn't need perfect posture or flowing words – it's about...

God sees you as a saint, not a sinner, and this profound truth transforms how we understand our identity in Christ and our relationship with Him. • Paul consistently addressed all believers as "saints" regardless of their struggles with sin • The Catholic tradition restricts sainthood to legendary figures while Protestant churches often emphasize "sinner saved by grace" • A sai...

The gospel of grace stands as the ultimate cure for the cognitive dissonance many Christians experience when they believe conflicting ideas about forgiveness and fellowship with God. • Paul's greeting of "grace and peace" reveals a profound truth about what believers already possess • Cognitive dissonance occurs when Christians believe they are forgiven yet must continually ask for...

Join us as we explore the epic tales and profound truths found within Scripture, anchoring our focus on the narratives of Nephilim and the Tower of Babel. We ask tough questions about mankind's purpose and God's unwavering promise of redemption through Christ. • Insights on the Nephilim and their impact on humanity • Discussion on God’s response to corruption through the Flood • Examinat...

Our exploration dives into the title "God Most High" and the implications it has on our understanding of divine authority. Against a backdrop of creation and rebellion, we discuss Yahweh's divine council, the nature of spiritual warfare, and the challenges faced by both humans and angels alike. • Unpacking the theological significance of "God Most High" • Exploring the nat...

This episode explores the deep connection between obedience and faith, challenging common misconceptions taught within many religious circles. We discuss how true obedience flows from a gift of grace, emphasizing that it cannot be earned and is symbolic of belief. • Defining obedience in terms of faith versus self-effort   • Analyzing Paul’s teachings regarding grace in Romans   • Challenging the...

The episode focuses on the name of the Lord, particularly revealing that 'Jesus' is originally 'Yeshua,' meaning 'Salvation from Yahweh.' Listeners are invited to explore the significance of names in scripture, the cultural transitions of linguistic changes, and the deeper meanings and connections to faith that arise from understanding Christ's true name. • Explo...

This episode emphasizes the importance of abiding in Christ as a transformative aspect of faith, highlighting the contrast between the Old and New Covenants. Discussions revolve around God’s sovereignty, the power of prayer, and the significance of love in the believer's life while exploring key themes of calling, justification, and glorification in the context of Romans. • Abiding in Christ...

This episode delves into the complexities of discipleship, exploring how it often creates burdensome expectations rather than fostering true fellowship with Christ. As we discuss the implications of law versus grace, listeners are called to rethink what it means to truly bear their cross in faith. • Analyzing the true meaning of bearing your cross   • Exploring the role of love as the fulfillment...

Discipleship is fundamentally a spiritual calling rooted in grace rather than human effort. This episode illuminates the nature of being a disciple, emphasizing that one is chosen by God, and highlights the importance of understanding one's identity in Christ. • Clarification of forgiveness and grace  • Distinction between disciples and Christian believers  • Discussion on the cost of discipl...

Junia emerges from the pages of scripture as a pivotal figure, highlighting the essential roles women played in early Christianity, including the possibility of her being an apostle. By closely examining key texts and historical contexts, we debunk traditional biases against women's leadership, recognizing their vital contributions in the body of Christ.   • Discussion on the evolution of apo...

Today, we take a deep dive into Paul's letter to the Romans, exploring its profound message about identity in Christ and the apostleship of Paul. We discuss the significance of being a bondservant, the transformation of Paul from persecutor to apostle, and the implications of receiving grace amid our calling. • Introduction to the new study on Romans   • Understanding the significance of Paul...

Paul’s exploration of tradition and community within the letter to the Romans invites us to reflect on our own practices in today’s churches. As we dissect historical context and early church dynamics, we emphasize the importance of participation and unity in worship.   • Reflections on Christmas demonstrating the impact of traditions   • Introduction to the relevance of Paul’s letter to early chu...

Join us as we explore the deep connections between rhetoric, argumentation, and faith in Paul's letters to the Romans. This episode discusses the importance of effective communication in the early church and encourages listeners to engage openly with scripture and one another for deeper spiritual growth. • Introduction to the study on Romans   • Emphasis on the significance of personal reflec...

The gospel of grace frees us from religious systems that create a hyper-awareness of sin while offering conditional acceptance with God through rule-keeping. • The love of Christ, not religious obligation, is what truly controls and transforms us • Paul teaches that those in Christ are new creations, with old things passed away and new things come • Christians are given the ministry of reconciliat...

We explore the profound difference between bearing fruit through legalism versus bearing fruit through grace, unpacking what it truly means to "abide in Christ" and how this transforms our spiritual fruitfulness. • Understanding what it means to abide in Christ through grace, not self-effort • How the commands of law ("love your neighbor as yourself") differ from the commands o...

The blueberry bush in Lenny's garden mirrors many Christians today - alive but not bearing fruit or growing properly. When spiritual fruit is absent despite apparent life, something essential is missing from our spiritual nourishment. • Hebrews 5 speaks of believers who should have matured to teaching others but remain spiritual infants • The early Hebrew Christians traded walking in Christ&a...

We celebrate and explore what Scripture really teaches about body, soul, and spirit, clearing away philosophical concepts that have muddied our understanding of these biblical terms. • Spirit (pneuma) represents our attitude or mindset rather than a ghostly entity • The Spirit of God reveals truth to us that human wisdom cannot grasp • When Christians were "of one heart and soul" in Acts...

Our connection with Christ mirrors our earthly relationships—feeling distant despite physical closeness happens when we lose focus and turn to unbelief rather than faith. Christ remains perfectly faithful even when we waver, because we are one with Him and He cannot deny Himself. • The feeling of distance in marriage relationships provides insight into spiritual disconnection • Christ is the perfe...

We explore the true meaning of fellowship in Christ, challenging the common misconception that fellowship equals church attendance or following a specific set of rules or teaching. • Fellowship is not something we do but something inherent in our identity in Christ • Many Christians focus on where they go to church rather than a genuine spiritual connection with other believers • The Corinthian ch...

We explore the transformative journey of casting anxiety onto God and finding peace through complete dependency on Christ. Through powerful personal stories and biblical insights, we uncover how pride often prevents us from experiencing the freedom that comes with genuine surrender to God's care. • A moving story about my father-in-law's resilience and humor through life-threatening illn...

We trace a missed Sunday service to a bigger truth about timing, covenant, and how to read Scripture without confusion. Through Hebrews and Luke 21, we argue the Old Covenant age ended with the fall of the temple, and the New Covenant now defines our life in Christ. • daylight savings story as a metaphor for God’s time change • Hebrews on the temple as symbolic for the present age • the New Covena...