Growing in Grace

330. The 7-Year Niche: Reflecting on 7 Years (Part 2)

graceroots@gmail.com (Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 05:00:01 PST

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On our 7th anniversary of the Growing in Grace podcast, we continue to reflect on what the podcast has been about. This week both Joel and Kap share some of their favorite foundational points about God's grace and the Gospel.

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.

329. The 7-Year Niche: Reflecting on 7 Years of GIG Podcasts

graceroots@gmail.com (Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 05:00:07 PST

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Seven years ago we had no idea the Growing in Grace podcasts would have had such a positive impact on so many people around the world. Nor did we think we would still be doing them! We take a look back at how the podcast came together and why it seems to attract some of the most unlikely listeners. Also, what if you only had a few minutes to share the Gospel with someone? Joel tells us a couple of his favorite highlights to start with when you only have a limited amount of time with someone.

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.

328. Comparing (Many) Lambs With the (One) Lamb of God

graceroots@gmail.com (Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:51:55 PST

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God commanded the sacrifice of animals and the shedding of the innocent animal's blood under the Law. This was required to provide forgiveness under the old covenant but could only cover sins and not take them away. Therefore these same sacrifices had to be performed over and over again. Yet even though God commanded this through the law, we discover that it was never actually God's will nor did He take pleasure in this. So why did He command it? To point us to His true will... The one-time sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
(This is an easy way to listen and to share the podcast with others on Facebook, your blog and other sites.)

327. From Death to Life - Not from Bad to Good

graceroots@gmail.com (Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:52:10 PST

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So often, believers are caught up with "doing" rather than "being." You have not only been redeemed and forgiven but you were once dead and have now been made alive. God has accepted you, but not because you started trying to do all the right things. He has accepted you because of what Christ did on our behalf and because we are "in Him."

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
(This is an easy way to listen and to share the podcast with others on Facebook, your blog and other sites.)

326. God Has Stopped Forgiving

graceroots@gmail.com (Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 13:39:23 PST

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We take a deeper look at forgiveness. God's forgiveness of sin has canceled out all judgment, punishment, obligation and debt. God did not provide this for us based on our reaction towards him but rather because of His unconditional love for us (John 3:16-17). He wanted to do it!

The act of forgiveness from God has already been extended to us and is something that is done; a work that has been completed at the cross of Christ. We don't have to beg God for something that He wanted to give and has already provided. Through belief, we can experience the blessing and freedom of forgiveness.

Growing in this grace will help us to understand the new person we have become in Him.

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
(This is an easy way to listen and to share the podcast with others on Facebook, your blog and other sites.)

325. Redemption & Forgiveness (and what they mean)

graceroots@gmail.com (Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 05:00:06 PST

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This week we take a look at two words frequently used in Christian circles but are often not fully understood: redemption and forgiveness. Growing in our understanding of what they mean can make a big difference towards walking in the freedom that God has provided for us through the blood of Jesus Christ. Being redeemed and forgiven is not temporary nor does it come and go based on your actions and circumstances.

It may be hard to believe but we've managed to tap into more really good news for the 325th podcast in a row.

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
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324. Are We Commanded to Love God?

graceroots@gmail.com (Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 15:13:33 PST

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We continue to look at New Covenant living and compare it to the previous (old) covenant. One way of contrasting the two covenants is to understand what they teach about love. Most of us have been taught that we are required to love God and our neighbor as ourselves. But is this really something that is meant for New Covenant believers or is it another burdensome commandment that by our own efforts is impossible to keep? The focus of the OC demanded that we love God. The focus of the NC reveals God's unconditional love for US. Understanding this truth will enable us to freely love God in return and by His Spirit within we'll be able to extend it to others. Attempting to live by the command to love is a recipe for failure.

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
(This is an easy way to listen and to share the podcast with others on Facebook, your blog and other sites.)

323. Contrasting the Two Covenants

graceroots@gmail.com (Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 09:28:20 PST

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Is the New Covenant a continuation of the old? That's what some have been led to believe but this one thing has caused much confusion in peoples' lives....They do not belong together. The old covenant had its purpose but the writer in Hebrews draws some clear distinctions between the old and the new, even going so far as to say the old has become obsolete. Understanding this truth will help you in your walk of freedom and grace.

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
(This is an easy way to listen and to share the podcast with others on Facebook, your blog and other sites.)

Mick Mooney - December 2011 - Part 2

graceroots@gmail.com (Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 08:49:34 PST

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Well, we didn't stick to our 20 minute time limit... haha! But Part 2 of my chat with Mick Mooney is well worth listening to, as Mick goes even deeper into exposing the heart of God and the reality of the living Christ in us. Mick helps us to move away from mere head knowledge about God to actually knowing Christ.

The Bible, and the information that we can get from it about God, is absolutely wonderful. But just like the law, mere information and doctrine/theology is nothing more than "written code" and can minister death and condemnation to us if not understood from the heart of God and from the reality of actually knowing Him. God is huge! And Mick keeps pointing back to the reality of Christ and to the truth that the Spirit of God is sufficiently enough for us.

Also, hear Mick's take on the account of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5, as well as other happenings in the book of Acts. Are these accounts meant as doctrine for us to live by, or are they perhaps stories of real happenings in a yet-to-be-matured church that was still finding its way?

As always, I believe you'll find Mick's insights to be thought-provoking and refreshing.

Check out all the things that Mick is up to on his website, searchingforgrace.com.

Here's a link to Part 1 of the interview.

In addition, I had a four part interview with Mick about a year and a half ago. Here's the first part of that interview, with links to the other parts as well.

322. When Did the New Covenant Begin?

graceroots@gmail.com (Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 05:00:02 PST

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The chronology of our Bibles might lead us to think the that New Covenant began at the beginning of the writings that we call the New Testament. Many make the assumption that it all started with the birth of Jesus at the beginning of Matthew (Mark, Luke or John). During the Christmas season, more than ever we realize that the birth of Jesus was and is something to celebrate. God became a human, born of a woman and as we stated last week, He was born under the Law.

Another word for testament in the Greek is the word "covenant." This week we examine how the scripture reveals that a testament or covenant is not in effect until after the testator dies. The idea that the New Covenant began at Jesus' birth has led to much confusion about the books referred to as "the Gospels."

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
(This is an easy way to listen and to share the podcast with others on Facebook, your blog and other sites.)

Mick Mooney - December 2011 - Part 1

graceroots@gmail.com (Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 08:50:04 PST

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It's been a while, but it's time for another Growing in Grace Together podcast! Joel's special guest this time is Mick Mooney, who is known for his Searching for Grace comic strip and who has recently authored a book called Grace Apart From Law. This is a two part conversation, and the second part will be posted in a few days.

Listen in as we hear Mick's thoughts on all kinds of things, including, but not limited to, how we can understand life in Christ apart from the law, and life in the Spirit instead. What is the difference? It's helpful to understand the proper reason the law was given. Also, we discuss the idea of looking at the Scriptures as a whole, rather than taking lone verses and passages to 'prove our points' and build entire doctrines.

Mick also helps us to take a look at some of the people who wrote the scriptures, such Peter as one example, and how they didn't really understand the gospel right away, and in fact it took them years until they came to understand the true gospel. I think you'll find Mick's insight on this very revealing and helpful. We are all on a journey of learning and discovery, and so we can allow ourselves and one another to have time and breathing room to understand the fullness of Christ and the glorious gospel.

Check out all the things that Mick is up to on his website, searchingforgrace.com.

Here's a link to Part 2 of the interview.

In addition, I had a four part interview with Mick about a year and a half ago. Here's the first part of that interview, with links to the other parts as well.

321. Jesus Taught the Law

graceroots@gmail.com (Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 12:00:57 PST

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In the sermon on the mount in the book of Matthew, Jesus began to teach in a way the Jews had never heard before. But was Jesus providing new principles for living under the new covenant or was he teaching the old Law in a more revealing way to help those Jewish people understand they needed something other than the commandments of the law?

The book of Galatians states that Jesus was born of a woman, born under the Law. He was indeed the Son of God in the flesh but Jesus was a prophet under the old covenant. Many of His teachings were aimed specifically at the Jews of that day by holding up the Law as a tutor that would lead people to His life instead of trying to keep commandments that could never make them right with God.

Jesus taught the Law but it was intended to make us guilty before God, yet from the beginning He never intended for us to keep it. There is a better way...Him.

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
(This is an easy way to listen and to share the podcast with others on Facebook, your blog and other sites.)

320. Performing Old Covenant Ceremony Lands Paul in Prison

graceroots@gmail.com (Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:46:51 PST

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It sounds strange that someone would end up in prison for trying to keep the law. Yet that's what happened to the Apostle Paul. Sort of.

Jewish Christian leaders had an intense disagreement with Paul and some other apostles regarding this controversy that Paul taught of forsaking the law of Moses. In the effort to find common ground, Paul agreed to participate in an old covenant type of purification ceremony (which included an animal sacrifice). The Jewish leadership was eager to show other Jews that Paul walked according to their customs and also kept the law.

Afterwards, Paul would speak about the amazing ministry of Christ to the Gentiles. But that would cause the crowd of legalistic zealots to lose control which led to Paul's arrest and ultimately to prison where he would eventually write much of the New Testament. Based on Paul's NT writings, perhaps this experience caused Paul to realize there could be no compromise when it came to Faith and Law.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
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319. The Moral Code Has Been Wiped Out

graceroots@gmail.com (Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 11:43:31 PST

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Religionists will argue that without a moral compass such as the 10 Commandments, people will run amuck and be led astray into a life of immorality and ungodliness. The problem that still exists with this line of thinking is that no law can make us right with God... not one. As Paul said in Galatians, if there were a law (a work to perform) that could have made us righteous then one would have been given. So why would anyone want to live under a system of rules that is guaranteed to fail and bring guilt and condemnation? Why try to abide by something that is opposed to you?

There is one way to connect with the living God and that is through the blood of Jesus Christ. So how should we approach the Christian life if there are no rules for people to follow? How are we supposed to live without written commands? After all, the Bible is clear they were taken out of the way and nailed to the cross. The answer doesn't lie so much in the "how" but rather the "Who."

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
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318. Does Grace Empower Us to Live by The Law of Moses?

graceroots@gmail.com (Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 14:45:05 PST

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Now that we've experienced God's grace in our lives, does this mean we have been empowered to live-out the commandments of the Old Testament law? Did the Lord intend for us to keep the Law's commands by His grace or did something else occur through the finished work of Christ? What is the difference between the moral laws such as the 10 Commandments compared to sacrificing animals or following strict dietary rules?

We discuss some specifics of what the Law is, why it was given and whether it still has a place in the life of a believer.

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
(This is an easy way to listen and to share the podcast with others on Facebook, your blog and other sites.)

Jim Robbins Interviews Andrew Farley ("God Without Religion")

graceroots@gmail.com (Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 07:39:46 PST

Just wanted to alert Growing in Grace listeners to a series of three great podcasts from Jim Robbins, as he interviewed Andrew Farley (author of The Naked Gospel and God Without Religion).

All three parts of the interview can be found here. You can listen/download the mp3's directly from Jim's podcast page or via iTunes.

317. Unbelievers: Are They Rejecting God or Is It the Wrong Message?

graceroots@gmail.com (Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:48:55 PST

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We all know people who have refused to embrace the Gospel, chosen to ignore it's message or not to believe. But our discussion this week examines the likelihood that many of these so-called unbelievers haven't necessarily rejected the true Gospel but rather a message that wasn't really the Gospel at all. They haven't believed the Good News because they haven't heard what it really is. They may have a negative view of God because of misinformation.

So what is the true Gospel message? We think once most people begin to understand the answer to this question without it being tainted by religion and a confusing old covenant mixture they will respond to the Lord with belief and thanksgiving. Knowing that God is good, that He accepts them and is not against them will bring a change of mind. People simply need to hear the message of unconditional love and that it has already been demonstrated to them by God Himself. We don't have to shoot the messenger, but the message on the other hand...

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
(This is an easy way to listen and to share the podcast with others on Facebook, your blog and other sites.)

316. What Must I Do to Be Saved?

graceroots@gmail.com (Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 13:21:44 PST

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A question many have asked for centuries. Church denominations and various religions around the world have sometimes complicated a very simple answer to the question, "What must I do to be saved?"

Of course the answer is simply to "believe on the Lord Jesus."

What does it mean to believe? How do I know I really believe? Have you ever wondered if you have enough faith to believe? The good news is belief is a gift that God has been made available to everyone. Belief is not something you "try" hard to do.

This week we focus on belief and faith and how anyone can trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
(This is an easy way to listen and to share the podcast with others on Facebook, your blog and other sites.)

315. A Discussion of Hell

graceroots@gmail.com (Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 12:29:52 PDT

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Recently the subject of hell has caused quite a bit of discussion and even controversy amongst believers because of new books on the market. Of course this subject is nothing new and it has provided many different points of view for as long as man can remember.

So this week we try to provide some perspective. It is not our intention on this podcast to declare our opinions about hell but rather to address how we as believers should approach topics that may be controversial or may have a wide variety of opinions.

Well meaning believers sometimes can't find common ground even on subjects as substantial as hell. The truth is there are quite a few things in scripture that we just don't fully understand and may not be able to come to a definitive conclusion. We just aren't going to know for sure what all the answers are regarding certain things. That doesn't mean we can't formulate opinions or beliefs based on what we see in scripture, but how should we react to one another when we have a different point of view or belief?

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
(This is an easy way to listen and to share the podcast with others on Facebook, your blog and other sites.)

314. Paul Addressing Sin in the Church

graceroots@gmail.com (Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 14:07:03 PDT

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We're shifting gears just a bit this week, taking just a few minutes to discuss something that our Growing in Grace podcast doesn't normally focus on. As we all know, Paul talked in depth about how our sin has been completely forgiven and taken away through Christ and how we've become the righteousness of God in Christ through nothing less than a free gift from God. That's normally our focus here, as well as our new identity that we have in Christ.

But Paul also addressed other things as well, and one of the issues that he addressed from time to time was the issue of sinful behavior in the church. As people who love and stand deeply rooted in God's love and grace, we need not shy away from looking into the question of how to deal with things when the way we live doesn't line up with our new identity in Christ. In particular this week, we look into an extreme example that Paul dealt with in the Corinthian church - a matter of sexual immorality.

There is no condemnation for those are in Christ Jesus, so listen in as we look at the good news in regards to this issue that much of the church tends to deal with in a legalistic sense and doesn't normally seem to connect with good news!

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
(This is an easy way to listen and to share the podcast with others on Facebook, your blog and other sites.)

313. The Problems of a Performance-Based View of God

graceroots@gmail.com (Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 11:27:05 PDT

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The Bible is meant to be a source of "good news" for people, telling of the unconditional love of God and His acceptance of us in Christ. But to many people, the Bible has become a book that only tells them how far short they fall of living up to certain "expectations" that they feel they must live up to. Their view of God is based upon how they think He expects them to perform, and so they never really get to know the good news that He really does want them to know!

The church has come up with words such as "challenge" (as in, "this passage of scripture is 'challenging' me to perform a certain way') and "conviction (as in, "God is convicting me to live a certain way'), and because of this, the all too common view of God that the church presents is a performance-based view that puts people in fear and condemnation, rather than walking in the truth and knowing the grace and love of God, and an intimate relationship with Him that is not based on our performance.

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
(This is an easy way to listen and to share the podcast with others on Facebook, your blog and other sites.)

312. Subtle Legalism and the Danger of Mixing Covenants

graceroots@gmail.com (Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 15:16:50 PDT

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Outright legalism - the straightforward teaching of "pure" law or the "pure" Old Covenant - is usually pretty easy to spot and to understand. In a similar way, it's also easy to recognize the pure, straightforward teaching of grace. But what happens when law and grace mix? What happens when the New Covenant is taught with various aspects of the Old Covenant mixed into it?

This is unfortunately all too common in the church today, and it can be difficult to sort through it all. But not only can it be difficult, it can also be dangerous, harmful, frustrating and confusing for people who simply want to know Christ alone! The work of Christ is a final work and a sufficient work. There is nothing to mix in with it, and in fact when anything is mixed in with it, it nullifies it. And yet this "hybrid covenant" (mixing the Old Covenant with the finished work of Christ) happens all the time in the church!

It's hard to stand on solid ground when two opposing foundations are being mixed together. This week we talk about the dangers of doing this and the importance of teaching and standing on the foundation of pure grace.

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
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311. Is Our Testimony Based on Changed Behavior?

graceroots@gmail.com (Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 16:20:01 PDT

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It's a common practice in the church for people to give their "testimony." That is, they share what happened to them when they became a Christian. Almost always, a person's testimony revolves around how their behavior changed when Christ came into their life. They talk about how they used to be involved in certain "bad" behaviors, but then they changed. They stopped doing those bad things and their actions became "good."

While we don't want to invalidate the wonderful changes that happen in people's lives, and while there can be value in these types of testimonies, is this really what life in Christ is about? Is our true testimony in Christ based upon changed actions, or did God do something far greater than simply cause a behavior change?

The awesome truth of the gospel is that we are "born again" and that in Christ we are "new creations." Does this simply mean that we've changed from "bad to good," or does our true testimony go so much farther and deeper than a change in our outward behavior?

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
(This is an easy way to listen and to share the podcast with others on Facebook, your blog and other sites.)

310. Is "Right Living" the Goal of the Christian Life?

graceroots@gmail.com (Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:33:14 PDT

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Last week we talked about how our sin has been taken away, and how God's blessings in our lives aren't dependent upon our behavior, and how we are not "cursed" when we sin. And so some people might ask, "What about living right?" Should we strive to be holy? What about good works and bearing fruit? Should it be our goal to "live right"?

Is the gospel a matter of us changing our lives for God, or is there something missing when it comes to that type of thinking? We talk about all of this on Growing in Grace this week!

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
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309. Are We Cursed When We Sin and Blessed When We're Good?

graceroots@gmail.com (Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 14:36:49 PDT

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In the Old Covenant, there was a lot of talk about blessings and curses. God's law was full of various blessings for the people if they obeyed, and various curses if they disobeyed. Is this still true in New Covenant life?

Is it only when you're being "good" that you can experience God's blessings? When you're sinning, are you kept from God's blessings, and even worse, are you cursed, judged or punished by God? Are God's blessings based upon our behavior?

We may live with a lot of unnecessary fear and an unnecessary feeling of separation from God if we don't understand His unconditional love and all that was accomplished with the death and resurrection of Jesus. We may not fully experience the blessings that He has freely given us if we think His blessings are based upon anything less than the finished work of Christ!

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
(This is an easy way to listen and to share the podcast with others on Facebook, your blog and other sites.)