Simply By Grace Podcast

Gordon "Butch" Bennett was a troublemaker from the youngest age. As an adult, he was dating a woman when she became a Christian. Her friends told her to dump him, that he was a bad guy. But they said they would pray and if he doesn't become a believer in 30 days, well.... Drugs were a big part of Butch's life, but he got to reading the Bible while high, and God started working. Did God pull him in before the cutoff date? Today, Butch has served a lifetime with Ethnos360 (formerly New Tribes Mission) in Mexico and as dean for their Bible Institute. He has a fun and infectious personality, and you will enjoy hearing his Grace Story. Subscribe, Like, and leave us a good review.

The atonement refers to the finished work accomplished by Jesus Christ on the cross that makes salvation and all its blessings possible. Dr. Allen has written extensively on the subject (see the books mentioned in the introduction to the previous discussion of Calvinism). Strict Calvinists insist that Jesus did not die for the sins of all people, but only the elect. We will see how weak and unfortunate this theological position is.

Are you sure you know what the gospel is?  What is it that actually saves a person and what do we need to do or know?  You might be surprised that many Christians have a skewed view of this because they don't understand fundamental doctrines like justification and sanctification. 

This podcast is an excerpt from a series on Galatians Charlie did many years ago at Burleson Bible church. Charlie provides an overview of the importance of the book, the doctrines it addresses, and why those are critical to the believer. 

In this episode, we talk about what is Calvinism, how Calvinistic John Calvin (1509-1564) was, and the Calvinism of the Synod of Dort (1618-1619). We discuss Calvinism that is taught today and why it has become so popular and how it has shaped the Southern Baptist Convention. There are unfortunate consequences for one’s assurance of salvation, the clarity of the gospel, and evangelism. David Allen (PhD, University of Texas) serves at Mid-America Seminary (Memphis) as the Dean of the Adrian Rogers Center for Preaching and is the Distinguished Professor of Preaching. Before that, he served 18 years at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in the theology and preaching departments. He served as the senior pastor of two churches for 21 years and has been a teacher of preachers for more than 25 years. He has written many books available on Amazon and elsewhere. Referred to in this episode are his book on The Extent of the Atonement, The Atonement, and his contribution to Calvinism: A Biblical and Theological Critique. You can learn more about his ministry of coaching preachers at preachingcoach.com.

First, you will find out how he got the name Yankee. You will also hear how God took him from feeling like a hell-bound reject to a great winner of souls. Yankee shares how he came to know Christ as Savior and fulfilled his vision of winning thousands to Christ, which he continues to do today through his preaching and teaching. You can access his messages on his podcast and YouTube ministry at YankeeArnold.com. You’ll see that Yankee is all about God’s grace, the clear gospel, and winning people to Christ wherever he is—even when in a hospital room near death.

Three gospels tell the story of two thieves crucified with Jesus, but only Luke lets us see the change of heart in one thief that brought him eternal life with Christ. In a time and environment where so many people confuse or complicate the gospel, this story reminds us of the simplicity of faith in Christ as Savior. You will see what the thief did and did not do to obtain eternal life. It is a picture of God’s grace in salvation and a challenge for us to never give up on anyone who needs to be saved.

Always given to fitness and athletics, Katie Taylor ran into a surprise major impairment that slowed her down. After some soul searching and church searching, she landed in a good place. Grace restored her health and spirit so she can now say, “Jesus means absolutely everything.” Katie’s journey is a story of God’s love and grace. Today she is a fitness trainer who lives for Jesus in Florida. You will be inspired by her story of faith and persistence.

Charlie recently attended the FGA conference in Keller, TX. In one of the sessions, he had a question-and-answer with the attendees. On stage with Charlie was Grant Hawley, the FGA Executive Director, along with Asare Kyei-Baffour from Ghana. We thought you might enjoy this as a podcast to hear about how each of the ministries touch lives around the world and how grace reaches believers and the lost.

In this Grace Story you will meet Don and Patty DenHartog. Don is pastor of Grace Bible Church in McPherson, Kansas (GBCMcPherson.org). Though raised in a Christian home, Don was plagued with doubts about his salvation until he went to seminary and found good biblical teaching. Find out what he heard that drove his doubts away. Patty grew up on the mission field in South America. They came together in college and after seminary, they ministered at several churches. Not long ago, tragedy struck when their grown daughter was diagnosed with cancer. Christy’s story is woven with theirs and demonstrates the power of God’s grace in difficult times. You will see how faith can persevere through doubts, in ministry, and in suffering.

Where? In a jade mine in northern Myanmar (also known as Burma). Why? Because he is totally addicted to opium and heroin. Who? Han Bo Tun, who we call by his western name, Edward. Charlie talks to a ministry partner on the other side of the world in southeast Asia. Edward’s journey out of drugs and into ministry happened because he remembered his Christian upbringing and people were praying for him. Today, he trains hundreds of pastors as the director of Bible Education by Extension (BEE) in Myanmar. The recent Covid pandemic and military coup has made ministry difficult, but Edward and wife, Hannah, continue to share the gospel of grace in an environment of legalism and Buddhism. Listen and tell us what you think. You can check out their ministry and find out how to support them at BEEMyanmar.org.