growing in grace

1001. Celebrity Status in Heaven?

February 16, 2025 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Although we may not fully understand the specifics of what is ahead of us when it comes to heaven and eternity in general, sometimes it's interesting to wonder out loud and talk about it. However, at times, we might discuss such things almost in the form of a fairy tale, myth, or fable. It's understandable because we're living in our current reality of what we know while trying to imagine something we're unfamiliar with ... something that may be more real than the world in which we now live. (What is physically seen was created from that which is not seen).

In our current state, it's not unusual to see a type of "celebrity status" being given to the people we read about in the Bible. In some religious circles, it may even be an unhealthy, worship-like obsession. Of course, it's natural for us in the here-and-now to wish we could have a conversation with some of these people. After all, we have a lot of questions and much curiosity about things that may be difficult for us to understand. So we might begin to think we'll look forward to the day when we can ask some of those same questions to individuals we now consider spiritually famous.

Let's dive into this swimming pool with no water ?? and speculate as to whether this is likely to occur and if it will even be a desire once we arrive at our destination.

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913. How Works Fit Into the Message of Grace

May 28, 2023 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

The majority of us who chose to believe in Jesus were encouraged within religious circles to work at making ourselves better, more holy, more righteous, more sanctified ... and the list goes on. We've gotten it backwards with that approach. The better way is to grow in the knowledge of God with the understanding that He has already declared us to be all of these things and more.

So instead of trying to work at becoming what we think we are not, we realize God has already equipped the believer in Christ with all things that pertain to life and godliness. This is our starting point as we run this race and it's called the finish line. Growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus will completely change our perspective and motivation in many ways—including works.

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848. 17th Anniversary Program – Part 3

February 27, 2022 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

This is our 3rd and final program reflecting on our 17 years of doing the Growing in Grace podcast ... and some of the primary subjects that have dominated our conversations. Much of what we talk about will be the opposite of what people hear throughout most church buildings. Just one example: In the New Covenant of Jesus Christ, you are never asked to give your life to Him. He came to give His life to you! Turning certain traditional mindsets inside out will help people begin to understand a more complete truth of the gospel.

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847. 17th Anniversary Program – Part 2

February 20, 2022 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

We continue to reminisce on our 17th anniversary of doing the weekly Growing in Grace podcast. Have you ever taken a look back at the circumstances of your life and began to realize how God may have been orchestrating some of the seemingly smallest matters … which would later shape and form some of the most significant things in your earthly life? It’s something we can relate to, especially when it comes to how the podcast came to be.

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846. 17th Anniversary Program – Part 1

February 13, 2022 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

In the year of our Lord, 2005 A.D., we were asked to begin a 15-minute Internet Radio Program, and we had no plans on doing a long-term weekly podcast. Now 17 years later, we take a look back at how it all started in our humble beginnings … and how it has grown into tens of thousands of weekly downloads from multiple countries around the world from people wanting to know God in an authentic way. We also reveal how we’re about to break one of our long-standing rules for future podcasts —one which we’ve abided by for all of our programs—until now.

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743. 15th Anniversary Program #3

February 23, 2020 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

This is the third and final anniversary program as Mike and Joel reminisce about doing the podcast for the past 15 years. The discussion includes some of the “favorite” subjects that have been foundational to the program and how gaining an understanding of them will help free people from religious bondage.

Also, you can search for topics on the Growing in Grace website. Growing in Grace is not a donation-based or listener-supported ministry but is supported by listeners sharing the good news with others.

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742. 15th Anniversary Program #2

February 16, 2020 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Mike and Joel continue reflecting about the past 15 years of doing the Growing in Grace podcast.

This week’s discussion includes: How grace made it easier to share the gospel with those who have been a victim of a works-based religious message, and how formal Bible education doesn’t qualify you to minister the gospel.

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741. 15th Anniversary Program #1

February 9, 2020 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Mike and Joel take a look back on 15 years of the Growing in Grace podcast.

The discussion this week includes: The Flintstones, how they met while doing radio, correspondence from listeners around the world, Daffy Duck, and the “aha” moment for Joel which transitioned him to a pure gospel of grace.

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724. Why Did Peter Cling to Law After it Ended with Jesus?

October 13, 2019 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Religious legalists will argue that Peter adhered to rules from the law of Moses for years after the resurrection of Jesus. They make the false assumption that because God moved through him in such miraculous ways—such as shadow healing—Peter must have had a perfect understanding of the gospel. But like the rest of us limited humans, Peter was “growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Through a vision, God began to show Peter the change of law that occurred within a New Covenant which is based upon faith instead of a law of works … and he began to repent (have a change of mind). Later in the book of Acts, he would even argue the case before former Pharisees that Gentiles who were being saved and never had the law, should not be burdened with the futile attempt of trying to keep what they and their fathers were unable bear.