Episode 37: All Things to All People – Living the Gospel Above Preferences
"Growing In Grace" a Podcast of Gracehills Church
Release Date: 07/16/2025
Episode 53: “Presence Over Performance”
"Growing In Grace" a Podcast of Gracehills Church
Episode 53: “Presence Over Performance” In this episode of Growing in Grace, Pastor Brandon and Matt dive into Jesus’ teaching on prayer and fasting from Matthew 6:5–18. It’s not about performance, public attention, or manipulating God for results — it’s about presence, patience, and private communion with the Father. Together they unpack what it means to pray with authenticity, fast with purpose, and trust God’s heart even when He doesn’t answer the way we expect. Whether you’ve struggled to stay consistent in prayer or you’ve never fasted before, this conversation will...
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Episode 52: “Giving Without the Spotlight”
"Growing In Grace" a Podcast of Gracehills Church
Episode 52: “Giving Without the Spotlight” In this episode of Growing in Grace, Matt and Pastor Brandon unpack Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:1–4 on giving, motives, and the secret place. Jesus warns us not to practice righteousness for applause, but to pursue a heart that seeks God's approval above all else. This conversation explores the temptation to perform faith publicly, the difference between hypocrisy and simple imperfection, and how to cultivate generosity that flows from a transformed heart rather than a desire to be seen. If you’ve ever wrestled with comparison, validation,...
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Episode 51: “Grace in the Face of Hate”
"Growing In Grace" a Podcast of Gracehills Church
Episode 51: “Grace in the Face of Hate” In this episode of Growing in Grace, Elder Mike Davis joins Matt to close out Matthew chapter 5 and unpack one of Jesus’ hardest teachings — loving your enemies. From “turning the other cheek” to “going the extra mile,” this message challenges the world’s idea of fairness and points us toward a radical, Spirit-empowered love. They talk about real forgiveness, what it means to go beyond retaliation, and how to overcome apathy in your pursuit of God. This episode will push you to evaluate your heart, live counter-culturally, and reflect...
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Episode 50: “Faithfulness Over Feelings”
"Growing In Grace" a Podcast of Gracehills Church
Episode 50: “Faithfulness Over Feelings” In this episode of Growing in Grace, Pastor Brandon and Matt talk about what Jesus teaches on marriage, divorce, and keeping your word in Matthew 5:31–37. Jesus shows that marriage is more than a feeling — it’s a lifelong covenant meant to reflect His faithfulness to the Church. Together they discuss God’s original design for marriage, how to walk through brokenness with grace, and why our words and commitments matter deeply in God’s kingdom. Whether you’re single, married, divorced, or remarried, this conversation will challenge and...
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Episode 49: “The Upside-Down Path to Purity”
"Growing In Grace" a Podcast of Gracehills Church
Episode 49: “The Upside-Down Path to Purity” In this episode of Growing in Grace, Pastor Brandon and Matt dive into one of Jesus’ most direct and uncomfortable teachings — lust and adultery (Matthew 5:27–30). Jesus doesn’t just deal with external actions; He goes straight to the heart. Together, they unpack how lust promises pleasure but leaves only wreckage, how to confront the lies it tells, and how to walk in purity and freedom through the power of Christ. If you’ve ever struggled with temptation, shame, or broken trust, this episode will remind you that God’s mercy is...
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Episode 48: "Before You Worship, Go Make It Right"
"Growing In Grace" a Podcast of Gracehills Church
Episode 48: "Before You Worship, Go Make It Right" In this episode of Growing in Grace, Pastor Brandon and Matt unpack one of Jesus’ most challenging teachings from the Sermon on the Mount — dealing with anger and pursuing reconciliation. Jesus shows us that sin doesn’t start with our hands, it starts in our hearts. Together, they explore what it means to let go of bitterness, why reconciliation matters more than religious performance, and how the upside-down kingdom of God calls us to humility, grace, and forgiveness. If you’ve ever struggled with anger, resentment, or broken...
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Episode 47: "Good Enough? Jesus and the Law"
"Growing In Grace" a Podcast of Gracehills Church
Episode 47: "Good Enough? Jesus and the Law" In this episode of Growing in Grace, Pastor Brandon and Matt unpack Matthew 5:17–20, where Jesus makes the radical claim that He didn’t come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it. Together they talk about why we’ll never be “good enough” on our own, how Jesus perfectly kept the Law we could never fulfill, and why real obedience flows from grace, not guilt. If you’ve ever wrestled with questions like “Am I enough?” or “How do I live out my faith without becoming legalistic?”, this episode will encourage you to rest in Christ’s...
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Episode 46: “Shining Bright in a Tasteless World”
"Growing In Grace" a Podcast of Gracehills Church
Episode 46: “Shining Bright in a Tasteless World” In this episode of Growing in Grace, Pastor Brandon and Matt unpack Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:13–16 where He calls His followers the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Together they explore what it means to preserve truth in a decaying culture, to live in a way that makes others thirsty for Christ, and to shine with both grace and truth in the places God has strategically placed us. This conversation challenges us to ask: are our lives adding flavor and light, or have we lost our distinctiveness? Whether in your workplace,...
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Episode 45: “Mercy, Masks, and Living the Beatitudes”
"Growing In Grace" a Podcast of Gracehills Church
Episode 45: “Mercy, Masks, and Living the Beatitudes” In this episode of Growing in Grace, Pastor Brandon and Matt continue the Upside Down Kingdom series, exploring the last four Beatitudes in Matthew 5. From showing mercy and living with a pure heart, to making peace and standing firm under pressure, this conversation will challenge you to live out the values of Jesus — even when it costs you something.
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Episode 44: Living the Upside Down Kingdom
"Growing In Grace" a Podcast of Gracehills Church
Episode 44: Living the Upside Down Kingdom In this episode of Growing in Grace, Pastor Brandon and Matt kick off a brand-new series in Matthew 5–7, the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus flips the world’s definition of blessing upside down — calling His followers to be poor in spirit, to mourn over sin, to walk humbly, and to hunger and thirst for righteousness. Together, Brandon and Matt unpack how these countercultural attitudes apply to everyday life in a world that constantly chases status, comfort, and self. If you’ve ever wondered what it really means to live differently as part of...
info_outlineEpisode 37: All Things to All People – Living the Gospel Above Preferences
In this episode of Growing in Grace, Matt and Pastor Brandon reflect on Paul’s visit to Jerusalem in Acts 21, where he chooses to lay down his preferences in order to build bridges—not barriers—for the sake of the gospel. Though Paul was free in Christ, he willingly participated in Jewish purification rituals to preserve unity and maintain a platform with those he sought to reach.
Together, they explore:
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The difference between compromising truth and contextualizing the gospel
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How to navigate church traditions and personal convictions with grace
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Why unity in the church requires humility, forgiveness, and discernment
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Practical ways to cross cultural, racial, and generational lines in love
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How “becoming all things to all people” impacts outreach, events, and everyday relationships
If you've ever wrestled with when to stand firm and when to flex, this episode will challenge you to put the mission above your comfort and see people through the lens of grace.
Tune in and be encouraged to live a faith that lays down preference to pick up purpose.