That's Grace Podcast

In our hustle-bustle world of instant everything, gratitude and thankfulness often get squeezed out. You’d think with all we have we’d be more grateful! Instead, we find it so easy to take for granted our many blessings and comforts. In this message, we find practical ways from the Bible to cultivate sincere, consistent thankfulness in our lives and learn how to move past discontentment and entitlement and let your needs and blessings prompt you to draw closer to God.

We take so much for granted - our lives, loved ones, talents we have. But have you ever stopped to seriously ponder where all the good in your life actually originates? Most often we assume it's from our own efforts and take full credit for it, but what if our thinking was totally backwards? In this video, we see what the Bible says about the true source of every blessing we receive. See the life changing difference between believing we're entitled to the good we have versus understanding it all as an undeserved gift from God.

Grace Church turns 18 years old! It's crazy to look back on how we started out with just 35 people crammed in a hotel conference room and to see where God has brought us. In this video, our Lead Pastor Sean Sears shares some awesome stories and history of where we have been as a church but also reminds us that we've only just begun to tap into all that God dreams for us. Hear how we can be a church God continues to bless and how you can be a part of helping these dreams become a reality!

Everywhere we turn, it seems we find conflict. Not only on the news but in our homes, workplaces, and communities. We long for peace in our world, in our lives, and in our hearts, but it seems there is always something ready to rob us of it. In this video, we explore the upside-down path of peacemaking Jesus lays out. While we’re distracted by achieving our definition of peace, Jesus calls us to engage through conflict to do the hard work of true peacemaking. Learn how to trust God through the struggle and become conduits of peace in a hostile world.

Having a pure heart often feels impossible with all the temptations and brokenness around us. This struggle can cause us to feel discouraged and unworthy or tempt us to throw in the towel and allow our hearts to become calloused and dirty. So how can we actually experience purity of heart like Jesus teaches? In this video, we see that purity of heart does not equal perfection, but rather can be obtained through practical habits to guard your heart, change your focus, obey God's voice within you. When we live this way, we can experience the blessing and peace God intends for us.

Injustice seems rampant today. We hunger for wrongs to be righted, yet showing mercy appears weak and lets the offender off the hook. So how do we reconcile Jesus’ teaching for us to want justice, but also freely give mercy? In this video, we see how Jesus flips the script by redefining our understanding of justice and mercy, what it would look like for us to live as people of justice and mercy, and how living out Jesus' radical, countercultural teachings leads us towards lives of peace, contentment, and purpose that we’ve been craving.

Do you ever feel like life is leaving you empty and unfulfilled? You try to check all the boxes for success - nice job, possessions, relationships - but something's still missing. What if God knows something about finding a blessed and fulfilling life that we’re missing? What can be challenging is sometimes Jesus’ instructions can feel backwards to us. Jesus said the poor, grieving, and humble are blessed, but living that way doesn’t sound like it leads to a better place. So what is Jesus talking about? In this video, we’ll be unpacking these counter cultural values that are supposed to lead to blessing and favor and see how Jesus intended them to bring us a life of meaning and purpose.

Living out your faith nowadays can feel like you’re on stormy waters. With Christian values diminishing in our culture, many people of faith are left feeling overwhelmed, angry, or tempted to leave their faith behind. So in these divided times, how should Christians respond to the culture around them? In this video, we answer this question by giving a Biblically-grounded perspective on what it looks like to stand firm in your faith and also live as a person of compassion and love towards those who do not share your beliefs.

Most of us grew up being taught evolution, but what if there’s actual empirical evidence that points toward purposeful design? We’re putting the Bible to the test to see if believing in Creation requires you to check your brain at the door, or if you can believe the Genesis account and still be rational and intelligent. In this video, we'll see respected scientists who believe the data fits better with Genesis than natural selection, and we'll discover how the world around us defies random chance, revealing fingerprints of an intelligent Creator behind it all.

Relationships today are complicated. Our world is constantly communicating to us how to navigate things like sex, dating, and marriage, but is this really working out well for us? Many of us still struggle reconciling our faith with our current desires and our past failures. In this video, we’ll have an open, judgment-free conversation on what the Bible says about navigating tough topics like healthy boundaries for sex, dating in a modern world, divorce, and re-marriage. Discover how to reconcile faith with your desires, build intimate relationships that honor God, and find hope and healing from heartache.

Navigating the topic of gender identity today is tough. Transgender. Gender dysphoria. Non-binary. What does it all mean? We want to care for people's innermost feelings and desires but is fully exploring and expressing all feelings and desires leading us towards wholeness? The complexities surrounding these issues leave many longing for clarity. In this video, we'll see what answers and wisdom the Bible gives around this topic to help us navigate these delicate and important issues.

Do you ever worry you'll look back with regret on how you spent your time and energy? It’s hard enough just getting through the day to day, let alone making sure your decisions are leading to a life of fulfillment and purpose. That’s where having strong values can help! In this video, we talk about 4 values designed to help you build a life of purpose and meaning. Find out why being biblically centered, outwardly focused, radically generous, and personally involved matters and also practical ways for you to start incorporating these values into your life this week.

Between pandemics, politics, and social media outrage, it's no wonder so many of us struggle with fear and anxiety. The constant state of feeling triggered can really take its toll on our mental, emotional, and spiritual health, and while we try to hide, ignore, or self medicate these feelings, they never really seem to go away. But here's the truth: you were created to live in peace, not in panic, but that doesn’t mean we’ll never wrestle with these feelings. In this video, we'll unpack practical techniques to manage fear and anxiety and give you Biblical wisdom for processing these emotions.

Love is a super confusing emotion. We say we "love" a lot of things when we really mean we like, we desire, we enjoy, we crave. And sometimes when we say “love” we really mean "lust". We live in a world that glorifies fantasy love while real relationships struggle and more often than not our disordered desires lead to pain and brokenness. No wonder we have so many questions about love! In this video, we take a look at what the Bible says about this messy thing we call love to find clarity and understanding so we can manage this emotion in a better way.

Is being happy all it takes for a fulfilling life? As a culture, we do so much, buy so much, and try so much to experience this blissful emotion and then we wake up and do it all over again. Most of the daily choices and decisions we make revolve around what will make us happy. After all, God wants us to be happy right? The problem with this emotion is when we start to believe feeling happiness can accomplish something it was never designed to do. In this video, we talk about how the obsession to be happy can lead us astray, how God desires more than for us to just be happy, and where lasting joy and happiness can be found.

Anger and rage seem to be all too common in our world today. Everyone seems to have a short fuse! We see it online, through the media, on our commutes, and in our relationships. It’s the default emotion when things don’t go right, and this intense emotion can be very destructive when handled in unhealthy ways. In this video, we’ll be learning from the Bible how we can navigate the complexities of anger, how to avoid its destructive tendencies, and how to manage this emotion in a God-honoring way.

Nobody wants to feel guilty or ashamed. We try to make excuses or shift blame so that we can avoid these feelings. But the reality is dealing with feelings of guilt and shame are a part of being human! In this video, we work to understand why God allows us to feel these difficult emotions and see how the Bible says we can go about dealing with these feelings in a more healthy way.

Let's be real, our emotions can be super complex and downright frustrating at times. Sadness, anger, fear, and love: if we’re honest, it’s a lot easier to numb or dismiss these emotions than deal with them! We often separate them from our spirituality, thinking they are two separate things, but what if God sees your emotions differently and deeply cares how you feel? In this video, we will see that God designed you to have “all the feels”, and by understanding and embracing God’s design for our emotions can lead to a deeper understanding of God and allow us to grow in our faith.

We all work really hard to make our lives easy and comfortable. But when it comes to loving our neighbor, Jesus says it’s more than being friendly and polite. In fact, he says truly loving our neighbor will often cost us something and push us beyond our comfort zones. In this video, we explore why we are so uncomfortable with this idea and also why making such a countercultural decision to love others is worth it.

For most of us hospitality is reserved for friends and family around birthday parties, BBQs, and holidays. Our busy, fast-paced lives and our reliance on technology can often distract us from spending time with those around us. But here's the thing: hospitality is more than just being polite. It's about loving your neighbor, just like Jesus taught us. In this video, we talk about how hospitality is more than just being a good neighbor, and we’ll give you some simple, practical ideas for inviting others into your space without it being awkward.

When facing adversity, tough circumstances, and difficult people, we tend to react…well poorly. After all, we were wronged! It wasn’t our fault! We deserve better! But our reactions act like a mirror that reflects what’s in our hearts, and exposes our hidden thoughts and character. And at times, when what’s in our hearts comes out through our words and actions, it can even surprise us! So what do we do about it? In this video, we discover that we have a choice in how we respond in these situations and learn from the Bible how to allow God to grow and transform us into the people He wants us to be through these times.

We've all experienced those moments when it feels like everything in our lives is falling apart. We long for comfort, security, and immediate solutions. We want God to fix our problems and make everything better. And when it doesn't happen, doubts and questions start to surface. But these are the moments where our faith is tested. In this video, we will see that God is not distant in hard times and that when we trust God in the midst of hardship, something incredible happens. God uses those hard times to shape us, to grow us, and to strengthen our faith.

Many people are initially drawn to faith with the expectation that following Jesus will lead to an easier and more carefree life. But is that really true? Does being a Christian increase your chances for more blessings and prosperity? If so, you might be asking “why are there still so many struggles in my life?” In this video, we talk about the realities of living with faith, and highlight how God sees hardships and struggles differently than we do. 

Ever wondered what it would be like to let God take the wheel and write more of your life's story? If we’re honest, many of us feel more comfortable being the authors of our own lives and it can be daunting to feel like we are giving up control of our own lives. But what if you knew for a fact that God had something better planned? Something you’d miss if you never took the risk? In this video, we are talking about what a life written by God can look like, why the risk is worth it, and how you can make your first move to hand the pen over to God. 

Many people have questions about the Holy Spirit: Who or what is it? How does it relate to God and Jesus? What role does it play in our lives? How do I know if the Holy Spirit is working in my life? How can I discern the voice of the Holy Spirit? In this video, we'll explore the Holy Spirit from a Biblical perspective and clarify common misunderstandings. By the end of this video, you'll have a better understanding of who the Holy Spirit is and how you can experience His power and presence in your life.

Are you struggling to share your faith with others? Do you feel unsure of how to start a conversation about Jesus? Maybe you feel that your faith is still too small to talk with anyone else about it. You're not alone! But the good news is that God can give us the confidence to share our faith. In this video, we'll explore how our confidence in God equips us to live like Jesus and tell others about him. Ultimately, we'll see that sharing our faith is not about having all the answers, but about trusting in God's power and love enough to obey and allow Him to transform hearts and lives.

Do you find yourself wondering or concerned whether you have enough faith? When doubts arise and our faith feels diminished, it’s easy to feel inadequate or even guilty. Maybe you even question whether you are worthy of God’s love and acceptance because your faith seems so small. So exactly how much faith is enough? In this video, we talk about how faith and doubts can coexist together. By the end of this video, you'll have a better understanding of what it means to have faith, and some practical tools to help you strengthen your own.

What are you supposed to do when you have doubts about faith? Are you supposed to talk openly about them or hide them? Some of us have experienced our doubts being shut down when we tried to share them, or were given an answer that only led to more questions. In this video, we talk about why seasons of doubt are not something to be discouraged by and give 3 practical things you can do as you process through your doubts and questions. 

Have you ever questioned your faith or felt unsure about what you believe in? Have you ever wondered if your doubts mean you don't have enough faith? You're not alone. Doubt can be scary and confusing, but it doesn’t mean you’re losing your faith or a bad Christian. In this video, we see what the Bible says about doubting faith, what to do when we doubt, and how our doubts can actually help us grow closer to God.

We all long for life to be good. To have days where everything goes right, we feel refreshed and filled, and are able to put aside the troubles and brokenness of our world. We can all agree that our world is broken but it’s harder for us to admit that we contribute towards that broken world too. But what hope do we have that things will get better in our world? What about in our own lives? In this video, we see the answers the Bible gives for why we’re all broken, how that affects our spiritual lives, and how Easter shows us that God has a plan to fix our broken world and how He can restore your world as well.

How far is too far? We see that question being played out everywhere in our world and often it can feel like a fine line between “right” and “wrong”. But if it’s not technically wrong and nobody got hurt does that mean it’s right? The problem is that while it's easy to justify our actions as "technically not wrong" this mindset can lead us down a dangerous path. In this video, we see from the Bible how these seemingly harmless actions can steer us away from God’s plan for our lives, and how we can learn to make choices that help keep our lives on track. 

Have you ever experienced the pain of broken trust in your relationships? Betrayal, disappointment, and hurt can leave us feeling lost and alone, wondering how we can ever trust again. But the truth is that we all have experienced broken trust and we have been the one to break trust with others! In this video, we will explore what the Bible has to say about when trust is broken, how we can find hope and healing in our relationship with God and others, and how we can apply these timeless principles to our lives today.

Have you ever stopped and said, what is going on with our world? You don't have to look very far before you find brokenness, injustice, and evil around us. So how did we get here? Why are people so hateful, selfish, and corrupt? In this video, we see how the Bible says our world got so messed up, how that affects our personal lives, and how change needs to begin within us.  

The Bible is the best selling book of all time and most Americans have at least one in their homes, but just because we open it and read it doesn’t mean that it’s easy to understand or apply to our lives. Even harder is making this a regular discipline in our lives. In this video, Pastor Sean Sears gives you some tools to help you not only read your Bible more often, but also help you hear from God while you read and study the Bible for yourself.

Is the Bible fact or fiction? If we believe it is true, how can we be sure that it’s reliable and accurate? Can we trust the writers were telling the truth? Is it just a book with some good stories or did the accounts that we read about really happen? In this video, Pastor Sean puts the Bible to the test to see if we can know if the Bible is true, accurate, and something worth rearranging our lives around.

What happens when you thought you broke a cycle, but it seems to keep creeping back into your life? Does that mean you’re a failure? Is your cycle just impossible to break? When this happens, our default reaction is to hide it and to pretend like it never happened. But what if the thing you're most afraid of is the key to breaking your cycle for good?  In this video, Sean Sears shares what the Bible says is the key ingredient to breaking a cycle and how just because you might have messed up, doesn’t mean God is done writing your story.

Many of us are exhausted, feeling trapped in the same destructive cycles we’ve always struggled with. The problem isn’t that these cycles of dysfunction can’t be broken, but that we are unsure of how to stop these bad habits. If we want to take a stand against these patterns of behavior and beliefs that no longer serve us, we need to start making different decisions. In this video, Pastor Sean shares a biblical perspective on what courageous choices we need to make to pull ourselves away from these destructive cycles and become the person God created you to be.

Some of the cycles we are stuck in seem so complex that it’s hard to know where to start. Trying to start new habits is hard enough let alone breaking dysfunctional cycles that have always seemed to be a part of us. So what’s the first step? Where do we start if we want to be the ones to break the dysfunctional cycles in our lives? In this video, Pastor Sean shares how to start from scratch, leave behind the past, and embrace a new identity. 

Have you ever noticed you do things like your Mom or Dad? Or maybe you have Grandpa’s sense of humor or Grandma’s wit? In every family, patterns are passed down, some are good….some are not so good. But when these negative patterns wreak havoc on our lives, we are left to wonder, “Am I doomed to repeat them?” In this video, Sean Sears talks about why we struggle with these negative cycles, how we can choose to be the ones to stop them, how God can begin a process of healing in our lives, and how we can find the strength to begin writing a new story with our lives.

If you knew you could pray prayers that would cause you to see God more active in your life, would you do it? What if praying these prayers gave God the room in your life to steer your life in a different direction? Would you still do it or would these prayers be too dangerous for you to pray? In this video, Pastor Sean shares 3 prayers that we don’t pray but why we should!

How do we pray? Is there a right or a wrong way to pray? Are there special words or certain places where I should pray? In this video, you'll hear insight from the Bible for how we should and shouldn’t pray and tips for how you can change your prayer life this week.

Does prayer really make a difference? Because we’ve prayed for things before and it felt like nothing was happening. Does that mean God didn’t hear you or that He doesn’t care? And if you don’t see anything happening when you pray, what’s the point?  Maybe you’ve started to even doubt that God hears you or cares about you. In this video Pastor Sean gives three reasons to keep praying, even if we don’t see the results we want.

Research shows that over half of us say we pray daily, but there’s also a lot of uncertainty and unanswered questions around prayer. Is prayer talking in my head or out loud? Is it the same as positive vibes and well wishes? Or is it just something religious people do to make themselves feel better about life? In this video, Pastor Sean Sears talks about how we often view prayer, what the point of prayer is, and gives you some simple ways to start praying more.

There’s so much to love at Christmas time! The food, the gifts, and the time with family and friends. But the love that we celebrate at Christmas goes way deeper than the love for these things! In this video, Pastor Sean Sears shares how God’s love for you is evident in the Christmas story and how this love is available to you, even if you've done nothing to earn it.

Happy, content, merry, and joyful! These are the kinds of feelings that we’re supposed to experience around the Holidays. And while there are many things around this time of year that bring us joy, for many of us, we still find joy to be elusive. In this video, Lead Pastor Sean Sears shares what the Bible says about having joy and how even in the most difficult times, you can live a life full of joy.

Who doesn’t want to have more peace? But no matter what we try, isn’t there always something happening in our worlds that seems to rob us of that peace? What we really need is a peace that stays with us even when things in our lives seem to be breaking apart. So how do you find THAT kind of peace? In this video, Pastor Sean talks about where this kind of peace comes from and how you can experience more of it in your life.

At a time when hope is supposed to be abundant, many are left with feelings of hopelessness during the Christmas season. While hope is something every one of us needs, it can often be hard to find. So how can you find hope when nothing in your life seems to be changing or getting better? In this video, Pastor Sean shares what the Bible says about finding hope and how you can anchor yourself to hope this Christmas.

How do you become a more generous person? We all want to think of ourselves as being generous people, but sometimes we feel like we don’t have the money or the time to be really generous. But it doesn’t take a lot of money or time to be generous. Maybe what we really face is that we’re just distracted. In this video, Pastor Sean Sears talks about the secret ingredient to generosity and gives 4 simple ways you can work to become a more generous person to those around you.

Do you own your money or does your money own you? Isn’t that such a question to answer because we know we need money for things like food, clothes, and education, but also much of how we view success, our self-worth, and where we find our security is wrapped up in our money too! And sometimes our pursuit for more causes us to make unhealthy choices and distracts us from living the life God intended. In this video, Lead Pastor Sean Sears shares how you can identify if you have an unhealthy view of money and what steps you can take to own your money before it owns you.

What’s your measure of success? When it comes to leaving a legacy, people have all different ideas of what a successful life looks like. Maybe it’s leaving financial margin for our children, a building named after us, or raising a family to carry on our last name. In this video, Pastor Sean Sears shares what the Bible has to say about leaving a meaningful legacy.