"Growing In Grace" - a Podcast of Gracehills Church

Episode 14: Be Baptized – Publicly Identifying with Christ In this episode of Growing in Grace, Matt sits down with special guest Mark Lydecker to discuss the second command of Christ explored in Gracehills Church's current series: Be Baptized. Drawing from the previous Sunday's sermon, they dive into the profound symbolism of baptism as a public declaration of faith and identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Mark shares personal stories, biblical insights, and the transformative power of obedience in taking this step of faith. They also discuss the connection between baptism and spiritual growth, the joy of aligning with God's will, and the courage it brings to live out our faith boldly in a challenging culture. Whether you're considering baptism for the first time or reflecting on your own faith journey, this episode offers inspiration and encouragement to embrace your identity in Christ.

Episode 13: Repent and Believe – The Foundations of Faith In this episode of Growing in Grace, Matt and Pastor Brandon kick off a new sermon series on the Commands of Christ with an in-depth look at repentance and belief. Reflecting on Luke 7:36-50, they explore the powerful contrast between the responses of a Pharisee and a sinful woman, emphasizing the importance of recognizing our need for forgiveness and turning to Jesus in faith. The conversation dives into the transformative nature of repentance, breaking free from the past, and living a life that reflects true belief. Pastor Brandon offers practical insights on cultivating daily repentance and gratitude, overcoming fear in sharing the gospel, and seeing others through Christ's compassionate eyes. Tune in for an inspiring discussion on how repentance and belief are not just the starting points of the Christian life but the foundation for ongoing transformation and renewal.

Episode 12: Compassion in Action – Seeing People Through Jesus' Eyes In this episode of Growing in Grace, Matt and Pastor Brandon dive deeper into Gracehills Church's latest sermon, which explored the compassion of Jesus as seen in Matthew 9:35-38. They reflect on how Jesus' compassion wasn't just a feeling but an active response to both physical and spiritual needs. The discussion highlights practical ways we can cultivate Christ-like compassion, overcome fear in sharing the gospel, and see people in our communities as Jesus does. Pastor Brandon shares insights on living intentionally on mission, balancing the meeting of physical needs with the ultimate focus on the gospel, and being bold in addressing both temporary struggles and eternal needs. Join us for an inspiring and thought-provoking conversation on what it truly means to be a worker in God's harvest.

Episode 11: Finding Undeniable Hope in Christ In this episode of Growing in Grace, Matt and Pastor Brandon explore the theme of undeniable hope, diving deeper into the latest message from Gracehills Church's God With Us series. Rooted in 1 Peter 1:13-21, they discuss how true hope is found only in Christ and how it transforms our lives, even amidst challenges. The conversation covers the dangers of misplaced hope, the discipline of maintaining a hope-filled mindset, and the power of the resurrection as the foundation of our faith. Pastor Brandon shares practical advice on identifying and releasing "functional saviors" and re-centering our lives on Jesus, emphasizing how obedience and biblical community play critical roles in sustaining our hope. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed or looking for encouragement during this season, this episode will inspire you to set your hope fully on the grace and promises of God.

Episode 10: Finding True Rest in Christ In this episode of Growing in Grace, Matt and Pastor Brandon unpack part three of Gracehills Church's Christmas series, God With Us, exploring the theme of rest in Christ. Drawing from Matthew 11:28-30, they dive into Jesus' invitation to come to Him for true rest, contrasting it with the relentless demands of religion and culture. Pastor Brandon shares practical insights on surrendering control, finding freedom in obedience, and embracing the easy yoke that Jesus offers. The conversation touches on the reasons for our cultural restlessness, how to balance seasons of busyness with intentional rest, and why only Christ can provide the peace we long for. Tune in for a thoughtful discussion about experiencing rest for your soul through faith, trust, and a renewed focus on God's grace.

Episode 9: God With Us – Strength in the Valleys In this episode of Growing in Grace, Matt and Pastor Brandon take a deeper dive into part two of Gracehills Church's Christmas series, God With Us. Drawing from Matthew 1:23 and Psalm 84, they explore the profound truth that God's presence is with us, even in life's valleys. Pastor Brandon shares practical insights on finding strength in our weakness, embracing humility to face reality, and trusting in the who when we don't understand the why. With personal stories and biblical wisdom, this episode encourages listeners to reframe valleys as opportunities for spiritual growth and renewal while leaning on the power of biblical community to navigate life's challenges. Join us for an uplifting and honest conversation about God's sovereignty, provision, and grace during life's toughest seasons.

Episode 8: The Secret to Contentment – A Conversation with Mark Lydecker In this episode of Growing in Grace, Matt sits down with guest speaker Mark Lydecker, former executive pastor and father-in-law of Pastor Brandon Shaffer, to unpack the first message in the new Christmas series, God With Us. Drawing from his decades in ministry and personal experiences, Mark reflects on the theme of contentment, offering insights into living a life of gratitude and trust in God's provision. They explore biblical examples like Mary's surrender to God's will and Paul's unwavering faith amidst trials, along with practical ways to shift from discontent to deep satisfaction in God's blessings. Mark also shares how his faith has carried him through life's joys and challenges, including moments of profound loss, highlighting God's faithfulness every step of the way. Join us for an inspiring and heartfelt conversation that will encourage you to embrace God's plan with gratitude this Christmas season.

Episode 7: Finding Your Story in God's Story with Joshua Lennon In this special episode of Growing in Grace, Matt welcomes guest speaker and author Joshua Lennon, teaching pastor at Red Door Church and author of The Story Circle. Together, they explore the incredible narrative of the Bible as one unified story—from creation to new creation—and how it connects deeply to our personal journeys. Josh shares insights from his book, discussing the six-part framework of the biblical metanarrative and how understanding this story can help us find our place in God's mission. They also dive into the power of the cross and the resurrection, how to navigate conflict through a biblical lens, and how the gospel offers a counter-narrative to the chaos of our world. This episode will inspire you to see Scripture, and your life, through the lens of God's redemptive story. Be sure to check out Josh's book, The Story Circle, for an even deeper dive.

Episode 6: Restored for Eternity – A Hope Beyond Heaven In this episode of Growing in Grace, Matt and Pastor Brandon wrap up the series exploring the metanarrative of the Bible with a discussion on restoration, inspired by Revelation 21. Together, they unpack the ultimate renewal promised by God—a future where all creation is restored, and God dwells with His people. The conversation dives into the bigger picture of faith: it's not just about getting to heaven but embracing our role in God's ongoing story. Pastor Brandon challenges listeners to live with purpose and hope, focusing on the practical ways we can bring a foretaste of God's restoration into our daily lives, communities, and relationships. Tune in for an inspiring discussion that will reshape how you see your struggles, your mission, and the eternal promise of a restored creation.

Episode 5: Clothed in Redemption – A New Status in Christ In this episode of Growing in Grace, Matt and Pastor Brandon dive into the powerful theme of redemption as part of Gracehills Church's ongoing series on the Bible's grand narrative. Pastor Brandon unpacks the transformative meaning of being redeemed, explaining how Jesus's sacrifice not only clears our insurmountable debt of sin but also redefines our status as heirs and beloved children of God. They explore what it means to be "clothed with Christ" in our daily lives, and discuss how our identity in Him should shape how we interact, forgive, and find freedom from the weight of past mistakes. Tune in for a deep conversation on living out our new, redeemed identity and embracing the grace that God offers. Whether you're new to faith or seasoned in your walk, this episode will inspire you to reflect on the profound love and inheritance we share as God's family. SHOW NOTES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbXti68806w&ab_channel=FBCGreenhills

In Episode 4 of Growing in Grace, Pastor Brandon and Matt take a deep dive into the theme of "struggle" in the biblical narrative. They explore how struggle is woven into the journey of faith, from the fall of humanity to God's redemptive promise. Through stories of biblical figures like Noah, Abraham, and Joseph, they discuss how God uses our struggles to shape us and fulfill His purposes. Tune in as they share personal stories, practical insights, and spiritual truths to find hope and meaning in the midst of life's challenges. Whether you're facing hardships or seeking a deeper understanding of God's plan, this episode offers encouragement and wisdom for your faith journey.

In this episode of the Growing in Grace podcast, Pastor Brandon and Matt dive into the story of humanity's fall from Genesis 3, focusing on Adam and Eve's disobedience, the nature of temptation, and sin's pervasive impact on relationships. Pastor Brandon explores how temptation often shifts our focus from God's provisions to what we lack, ultimately leading us to self-centered actions. He emphasizes the need for thankfulness as a counter to temptation and encourages transparency and vulnerability in relationships to break the cycle of sin's effects. The episode also covers how, despite the brokenness introduced by sin, God's love and plan for redemption persist. They discuss Jesus' role in bridging the divide caused by sin and restoring our relationships with God, ourselves, others, and creation. The conversation ends with encouragement to pursue gratitude, seek restored relationships, and focus on God's grace for strength and hope in our daily lives.

Episode 2 - The Metanarrative: Creation Welcome back to Growing in Grace, a podcast of First Baptist Church of Greenhills, soon to be Gracehills Church. In this second episode, Pastor Brandon and Matt take a deep dive into the start of a new sermon series exploring the metanarrative of the Bible—the overarching story that ties all scripture together. This week's focus: Creation. Pastor Brandon explains the concept of the metanarrative, discussing how the entire Bible, though made up of individual books, tells one unified story of God's creation, redemption, and restoration. The discussion zooms in on the first part of the series, Creation, looking at key details like the deeper meaning of "good" in the Hebrew context, the significance of the Garden *in* Eden, and a surprising temple motif. We also hear about Pastor Brandon's resources, like The Story Circle by Josh Lennon, and get a preview of the next sermon: how we went from the perfect rest and fellowship with God in the garden to the brokenness we see in the world today. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that unpacks deep theological truths and gives practical insights for our lives today!

Matt & Pastor Brandon interview James & Kevin who are currently serving in the Middle East. They were able to give an Evangelism Training Seminar for us on 10.13.24