Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

539. Becoming Christ Conscious Instead of Sin Conscious

March 13, 2016 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

When we focus on our struggles and problems instead of the answer to them, it can be a frustrating endeavor. Jesus came to release the Israelites from a covenant that kept them in a constant state of sin consciousness. His one-time sacrifice was meant to put an end to this. If we're stuck in a mindset that revolves around trying to avoid sin with the commands of "thou shall not," it will generally cause an increase in sin, resulting in self-condemnation. The alternative is giving up and surrendering to the completed work of Jesus Christ.

538. Freedom from a Sin Consciousness

March 6, 2016 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Under the law, the Jewish people were trapped in a consciousness of sin because they were in a covenant based upon their works and repeated sacrifices that constantly brought a reminder of sins. In contrast, Christ offered one sacrifice for all time to remove the struggle of a guilty conscience and the taking away of sin to be remembered no more. We shouldn't be seeking freedom from sin, but begin realizing God already provided it through the blood of Jesus. We can now live in this freedom found in Him.

537. Resting in the Finished Work

February 28, 2016 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

For those who do not understand that Jesus would minister two completely different covenants, it can seem as though He had a split personality. At times He taught the Jews requirements based on a law of works and at other times He demonstrated grace, mercy and compassion. These were often significant contrasts. People were ministered the choice of working endlessly in a system that offered no solution...Or realizing they were burdened and heavy laden and could come to Jesus in order to find rest. The latter is what Jesus wanted them to learn from Him. Whereas the law was a yoke that the Jewish people were unable to bear, Jesus' yoke is easy and His burden is light.

536. Religious Talking Points: Followers and Disciples of Jesus?

February 21, 2016 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

As Christians, we often like to describe ourselves as followers and disciples of Jesus. But is this really how we are identified in Him? Did Jesus really encourage people to follow him as a disciple or was He attempting to show that nobody could successfully accomplish this? Jesus carefully described the list of rigid requirements needed to be like Him in order to be His disciple. He cautioned those people under the law to carefully count the cost in order to help them realize they would not be able to pay the price that would be needed. Thankfully, our faithfulness to God is not what is on display, but it was God's love and dedication towards us that would be the centerpiece of the gospel.

535. Religious Talking Points: Make Jesus Your Lord?

February 14, 2016 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

In Christian church circles, you may have heard something along these lines: "You have 'accepted' Jesus as Savior, but have you made Him Lord of your life?" There are several inconsistencies with this way of thinking. First, "your" life is no longer your own, but you have been given the life of Christ and He lives in you. In addition, we should not be turning the Lordship of Jesus into a work. We don't make Him Lord, he is Lord and has paid the price to take ownership of you.

Growing in Grace Together – Lucas Miles – Good God

February 9, 2016 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

A while back I had Lucas Miles as a guest on the podcast. Lucas is the President of the Oasis Network for Churches (OasNet), and he has written a soon-to-be-released book called Good God - The One We Want to Believe In but Are Afraid to Embrace. Lucas is back as a guest on the podcast to talk about the book, and why many people struggle to embrace this God that we claim to be good, but yet He is blamed for so many bad things - even by those in the church.

A common question that people ask is, "Why does God allow bad things to happen?" Lucas shares some radical thoughts on this, including tackling the premise that God "allows" bad things to happen. Also, does God put sickness on people, or put them through problems and "trials," so that He can teach them a lesson or so He can then swoop in and "get the glory" for healing and helping?
It's amazing how many people think that God is like this, and Lucas does a great job at showing how the nature of God is always good, and that He never harms us.

The book has received praise from many people, including Kevin Sorbo (actor, God's Not Dead), James B. Richards (author, The Gospel of Peace), Joanna Beasley (American Idol semifinalist and Christian recording artist), Paul Ellis (author, The Hyper-Grace Gospel) and many more. I sure hope you enjoy this conversation about our good God, and that you're left with a much better understanding of and appreciation for the love and goodness of God.

To find out more about Lucas Miles, check out LucasMiles.org.

534. Religious Talking Points: Surrender Everything to God

February 7, 2016 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

When religion tries to put you back in the spotlight where Jesus belongs, beware of those phrases that are found in sermons which will leave you wondering where you stand with God. One example: "You should surrender everything and give yourself completely to Him." It sounds right and preaches good but they will usually avoid getting very specific and will leave it to your imagination as to what it means. This week we bring the gospel back to center stage by us realizing it was Jesus who gave His all and surrendered everything. He paid it all because we could not.

533. Carry Your Own Cross?

January 31, 2016 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

When we assume Jesus was always speaking to us personally, we may get the covenants confused and miss the point of the message being spoken to those who were under the law at that time. A true disciple becomes like their teacher, which would mean leaving all of their family and giving up all their possessions. It would also mean they would literally be required to carry their own cross as He would do. When Jesus said to count the cost, He was showing them they could not pay the price that would be necessary to complete the task at hand. Only Jesus could carry the one cross that would pay the price in full with His blood.

532. God Justifies the Ungodly

January 24, 2016 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Sin is bad. It causes pain, hurts and destroys. We should exhort one another to live from the life of Christ in us which is based on perfect love. However, religion will attempt to convince you the work of Christ was not fully completed at the cross and will try to lay the burden of maintaining an acceptable relationship with God with your performance of works. As a believer in Him, you have been credited with the gift of righteousness. Our conversation this week centers around the result of Christ's finished work, the taking away of sin and what it means for us and our relationship with him.

531. Ananias & Sapphira

January 17, 2016 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

It's one of those mysterious passages in Scripture that can leave one wondering exactly what it means and why it happened. A couple named Ananias and Sapphira were caught in a lie and both ended up dropping dead within a few hours of each other. Often it is assumed God killed them for their disobedience. Is this a correct assumption considering it is not clearly stated as to why they died? We discuss it on this week's GIG podcast.

530. The Lord’s Supper – Remembering Jesus, Not Sins

January 10, 2016 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

There are those in the church who would avoid partaking of communion or the Lord's Supper because of fear they may eat or drink judgment on themselves. This is often taught by those who want to make their case that sin has not been completely dealt with at the cross of Jesus Christ. So what did Paul mean when he said we should examine ourselves to avoid eating and drinking in an unworthy manner? Join us for this week's podcast.

529. Jesus Died; We Inherited

January 3, 2016 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

We have been gifted with an inheritance that could not be earned. This inheritance is "imperishable, undefiled and unfading." Inheritance is based upon the will and desire of the giver and it goes into effect after their death. So it is with our inheritance which was given through the new covenant of Jesus Christ:

"For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives." (Hebrews 9:15-17)