Simply By Grace Podcast

This discussion with the pastor of New Braunfels Bible Church in Texas, Phil Congdon, will help you understand the theology of John Piper. Piper is pastor emeritus of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, and a popular and prolific writer and speaker. He has influenced many with his views that come from a Calvinistic theology. But is that good? Piper’s views on assurance of salvation can be confusing, and when understood, crippling to the conscientious Christian. Phil has read Piper extensively, analytically, and critically, and you will benefit from his insights. Phil is the author of The Church in the World: Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, a Commentary. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=the+church+in+the+world+congdon&crid=LV5XZV16J1MB&sprefix=the+church+in+the+world+congdon%2Caps%2C141&ref=nb_sb_noss

He has also contributed to Living by Grace. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=living+by+grace+bing+congdon&crid=30HR00IMTI50A&sprefix=living+by+grace+bing+congdon%2Caps%2C101&ref=nb_sb_noss

You can hear Phil’s sermons on the church web site NewBraunfelsBible.org and contact Phil at PhilCongdon@NewBraunfelsBible.org. Be sure to share this podcast and give a good rating so more will hear.

Chela Armstrong can tell you life is hard--she's the wife of Pastor Gary Armstrong--OK, that's a bad joke. You heard Gary's Grace Story a couple weeks ago. Now, here's the other half of that story. Chela did have a hard life growing up and adjusting to adulthood and marriage. She and Gary had a rocky path until both found the Lord. Life had some dramatic changes in store for them. But all is well snd they minister together at Burleson Bible Church in Texas. Chela offers some insights along the way as she tells her story that started out rough, but keeps getting better. Grace made the difference! You can contact her through Gary at BurlesonBibleChurch.org.

The reality of rewards for believers is a pervasive teaching of the Bible. Yet due to their theology or neglect of Scripture, many churches and Bible teachers teach very vaguely or nothing at all about rewards. Teaching about rewards makes sense because they are part of God's plan for believers to encourage, motivate, and reward them for living faithfully. It delights the Lord to do so. Having clear thinking about rewards also helps us keep the gospel free and clear because we do not mistake rewards passages for salvation passages. Charlie addresses why we should teach and live by God's plan for rewards by addressing the subject topically with nine reasons. For more information, see GraceNotes no. 9 on why we should teach about rewards https://www.gracelife.org/resources/gracenotes/?id=9&lang=eng. This message was preached at a Free Grace Alliance regional conference at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Starkville, MS. This passage is also discussed in Charlie's book, Grace, Salvation, and Discipleship.

Though he was raised in a good church and knew enough of the Bible, he strayed onto a path that led away from God and eventually to prison. But this was a turning point for Gary Armstrong. He remembered what he had learned about God's Word and way. The more he studied the Bible, the more he found hope, encouragement, and freedom. After prison, Gary had to adjust to a new life. He got married to Chela, got biblical training, and entered pastoral ministry, eventually landing in his present position as pastor of Burleson Bible Church in Texas. Find Gary on Facebook and at Gary@BurlesonBibleChurch.org.

Ecclesiastes 9:13-10:20 

Ever wonder where the sayings "a fly in the ointment" and "a little birdie told me" come from? Charlie explains what they really mean from the original context of Ecclesiastes. This passage is part of the admonitions and advice that Solomon leaves the Hebrews in his old age. It gives us guidance in how to live in a world that seems full of  "vanity" or enigmatic meaninglessness. There is wisdom about how to recognize the value of a wise person, how to apply wisdom at work, in our words, and even in our criticisms of others. This message is part of a series that Charlie preached at Bayside Community Church in Tampa. You can find the series of messages in previous podcasts. Also, see the full outline of Ecclesiastes in Charlie's Old Testament Introductions and Outlines on the GraceLife.org web site https://www.gracelife.org/resources/bibletools/OldTestamentOutlines.pdf

These are all part of Jonel Arcedera's story as he grew up in the Philippines. Oh, and he sold ballut on the streets. What's ballut, you say? You'll find out in this fascinating interview with the Field Director of Word of Life, Philippines. Jonel's parents abandoned him when he was two years old, but he survived on the streets and became a "christ" in the world of cockfight gambling. Through it all, God's grace kept him safe and changed his life when he heard the gospel of grace. Now he is with Word of Life, Philippines, which has multiple ministries and sees thousands come to Christ as Savior every year. Find out more about this ministry or contact Jonel at

Jonel Arcedera 
Word of Life Philippines - Field Director. 
jonelarcedera@wol.org 
JonelEunice Arcedera - face book
www.wolphilippines.org

All the Old Testament prophets spoke of the coming Messiah, but now that He has appeared, what He says is even more authoritative because He is God's final Word. In keeping with the theme of Hebrews, that Jesus Christ is preeminent over all things, we start with who He is as God's final revelation, the Creator, and our Redeemer. If He is God's full and final revelation, we should more diligently heed what He says. Jesus has promised a rewarding future in the kingdom if we do not neglect our spiritual progress. On the other hand, there will be serious consequences for those who do not mature. As believers, we must listen to Him. For more context, you can see GraceNotes no. 15 about interpreting Hebrews https://www.gracelife.org/resources/gracenotes/?id=15&lang=eng. Charlie unpacks this passage at Bayside Community Church in Tampa. 

He has been named one of the top 12 expository preachers in the English-speaking world. That claim is backed up by a congregation of 10,000 people at the church he has pastored for over 40 years, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in the Dallas area, and his large listening audience around the world. Dr. Tony Evans has a multi-dimensional outreach. He is the founder and president of The Urban Alternative and the Tony Evans Training Center. He has served as chaplain for the Dallas Cowboys football team and the Dallas Mavericks basketball team. He is published prolifically with over 100 books and booklets and remains in high demand as a preacher of the Word. Tony's story is mostly a story of ministry, but ministry from the perspective of a clear gospel of grace (see his book, Totally Saved). His new Tony Evans Study Bible is becoming popular with those who value Free Grace interpretations. Charlie and Tony enjoy a chat about their pasts and Tony's ministry story. You can find out more about his ministries and resources at TonyEvans.org.

Whoever wants to be a disciple must follow Jesus Christ's example of giving His life to do God's will. Believers should not seek life in their personal pleasures or pursuits, but will find true life when they give their lives away to God. The language of this passage about saving and losing the soul is actually talking about losing one's essential life, not one's salvation. This interpretation comes from a consistent use of the word sometimes translated "soul" but is better translated "life." Charlie explains what it means to find life by losing it and how this leads to gaining rewards from the Lord. This message was preached at a Free Grace Alliance regional conference at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Starkville, MS. This passage is also discussed in Charlie's book, Grace, Salvation, and Discipleship available in the GraceLife.org bookstore https://gracelife-ministries.square.site/product/grace-salvation-and-discipleship/6?cs=true&cst=custom.

If we compared Jon McCray’s spiritual journey to a plane ride, an early experience with a legalistic church kept him on the runway by turning him off and away from Christianity. In college he took a philosophy of religion class and came to the realization that there is a God. Now he’s taxiing for takeoff. Then a friend took him to a good church and Jon found the wind beneath his wings to get air bound as a believer. But he reached cruising altitude when he discovered the Free Grace message. A committed student of the Word, he now has a popular YouTube channel called Waddo Ya Meme? Check it out and you will see and hear him cover a lot of current social and cultural issues as well as his biblical views on the gospel of grace. Almost 300,000 followers can't be wrong!