Living Influence with Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd

Who is Jesus, and can you really trust Him with who you are?In this episode, Bill, Scott, and Waldemar explore why believers often find themselves in crisis, and why the church and striving to lead “the Christian life” frequently fail to provide the necessary relief. They challenge us to shift our focus from religious performance to the person of Jesus. They also invite us to consider that healing often begins with trust and vulnerability, as well as being loved by Jesus and others. Bill, Scott, and Waldemar highlight the freeing power of vulnerability, trusted relationships, and allowing love to reach the places shame has kept hidden.Topics Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and Waldemar Kohl discuss in this episode:(02:19) The Real Question Many Christians Are Asking Is Why Christianity Isn’t Working For Them.(04:50) The Difference Between Striving To Live The Christian Life And Resting In The Reality That Believers Are Already Made Righteous.(07:31) The First Critical Step In Crisis: Admitting That You Are Actually Hurting And Need Help.(09:24) Shame Keeps People From Being Known - Bringing Darkness Into The Light Breaks Its Power.(10:50) The Connection Between Trust And Love Is Explored, Emphasizing That The Degree Of Trust Determines The Degree To Which Love Can Be Experienced.(17:34) Honestly Asking Whether Jesus Has Been Blamed For The Crisis and The Freedom That Comes From Realizing Faith Is About Who Is Being TrustedThis episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, Waldemar Kohl, and the Living Influence team.Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast:* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast* Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYILearn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/booksFollow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast* TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

How would your life change if you truly believed that God is delighted in you right now?In this episode of Living Influence, Bill, Scott, and Waldemar address the quiet frustration of the exhausted believer who wonders why faith doesn’t seem to “work.” They discuss why many feel their faith is failing when they rely on personal effort over the finished work of Jesus. The hosts explain that true rest and joy come from shifting focus from "becoming" to simply living out of one’s established identity in Christ. By embracing humility and being authentic with God and others, believers can finally step into a life defined by grace and mutual love.Topics Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and Waldemar Kohl discuss in this episode:(02:14) Challenging the phrase “my faith is not working” and questions whether faith has subtly become effort rather than trust.(04:21) Exploring how turning spiritual growth into self-effort leads directly to exhaustion.(06:28) The difference between striving to become godly and expressing who you already are.(09:39) Can you trust that God is already delighted in you?(10:54) God actually enjoys His people and offers them His joy.(15:17) Grace is given to the humble and defines humility as trusting God “with me.”(18:39) Scott describes the powerful experience of being fully known in a safe community and discovering love instead of rejection.This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team.Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast:* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast* Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYILearn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/booksFollow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast* TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

How often do you measure your worth by what you are doing rather than who you are?In this episode, Bill, Scott, and Waldemar unpack why so many believers feel spiritually exhausted despite doing all the “right” things. It’s a deep-seated fatigue many feel when they attempt to maintain their standing with God through constant effort and "doing." They reveal how a performance-based theology and the internal voice of shame quietly drain joy and hope. Through a renewed understanding of grace and identity, they offer a path toward hope, freedom, and living without condemnation.Topics Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and Waldemar Kohl discuss in this episode:(01:44) The concept of the “exhausted Christian” is introduced, including the struggle to feel joy despite spiritual effort.(03:19) Empathy for those who feel worn out and questioning whether exhaustion stems from misunderstanding identity in Christ.(06:28) How constant spiritual activity, achieving a sense of worth, and “trying to be right with God” create deep fatigue.(07:51) Trying to be right with God through effort inevitably produces discouragement and exhaustion.(10:48) The internal critical voice is identified as shame, shaping identity apart from God’s truth.(13:19) Trust that Christ’s finished work fully secured your right standing with God.(15:19) Unresolved shame fuels frustration, anger, and inner turmoil.(19:20) Romans 8:1 is presented as God’s counter-voice to shame: no condemnation for those in Christ.This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, Waldemar Kohl, and the Living Influence team.Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast:* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast* Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYILearn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/booksFollow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast* TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

How can suffering actually accelerate your maturity?In this episode, Bill and Scott explore the profound relationship between spiritual maturity, suffering, and the willingness to take risks for the benefit of others. They challenge the assumption that obedience guarantees safety and comfort, emphasizing instead that it often leads to risk-filled purposes. Ultimately, they encourage listeners to move toward a Christ-centered life where they trust God with their unknown futures and embrace the influence they have on those around them.Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode:(01:10) Suffering as an intentional part of God’s process of maturing people.(02:14) The difference between knowing information and obeying truth.(03:54) The difference between suffering common to humanity and suffering unique to believers.(05:10) Challenging the belief that obedience always leads to comfort or blessing.(06:16) Are you willing to take risks for the benefit of others?(08:26) Taking risks to care for your family.(10:46) Trusting God with the future.(13:01) Mature leadership and owning the influence one has on others.This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team.Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast:* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast* Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYILearn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/booksFollow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast* TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

Are you living out what the Bible says for you or are you living out what others expect of you? In this episode, Bill and Scott challenge the assumption that spiritual or personal growth comes from knowledge alone. They explore how trust, not compliance, leads to lasting transformation and authentic maturity. Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode: (03:11) How knowing the right answers does not equate to making right choices in life.(04:19) The difference between teaching knowledge and teaching trust in truth.(06:33) How acting on trusted truth leads to transformation and changed choices.(10:06) How compliance often produces judgment and a lack of love.(12:33) The idea that people adapt themselves to the expectations placed upon them.(14:48) How children raised to meet expectations often grow up compliant but unprepared.(22:44) Warnings against turning trust into rigid patterns instead of teaching principles of truth.This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast * Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

How do you know which stage of maturity you’re experiencing right now? Also, is it possible to have different levels of maturity in different aspects of your life?This episode reframes maturity as a trust-based process rather than a time-based achievement. Bill and Scott unpack why truth transforms only when it is trusted and why growth often happens repeatedly in different areas of life. They also highlight how safe, relational environments are essential for people to stop hiding and experience real transformation.Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode:(01:39) Why maturity follows a “trust line,” not a timeline.(02:14) Contrasting truth-based transformation with performance-driven practices.(04:33) Why growth can’t happen without another person involved.(06:20) The need for safe places, especially for young believers.(07:38) The difference between defining safety and learning how to create it.(09:23) How modeling vulnerability creates safety in performance-driven cultures.(12:10) Why hiding prevents maturity and reinforces false identity.(20:35) How isolation leads to failure and why safe community interrupts that spiral.The Living Influence team is proud to announce the creation of Living Influence Leadership: https://www.livinginfluenceleadership.com/Attend the Living Influence Leadership conferences and cohorts (also known as peer groups), and you’ll:* Lead from identity.* Cultivate trust that strengthens culture.* Gain clarity that fuels lasting influence.* Integrate who you are, and your God-given purpose, with how you lead.This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team.Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast:* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast* Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYILearn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/booksFollow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast* TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

Are you willing to trust God with your future, even when it feels like the scariest step of all?In this episode, Bill and Scott explore what it truly means to trust Christ with your future and why this step of maturity can feel so unsettling. They reveal how freedom grows out of believing who God says you are and learning to trust both God and the new heart He has given you. This conversation will challenge you to move from control, fear, and obligation into trust, freedom, and shared growth.Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode: (00:06) The three phases of spiritual maturity. (01:52) Bill shares a personal story from his marriage that illustrates love meeting needs. (03:17) How trust allows influence in relationships without manipulation or control.(04:45) Why trust is required before truth can be heard without feeling like criticism.(06:25) Connecting workplace leadership to relational trust. (07:30) Understanding Christ-centered living as loving others the way Christ loved. (09:01) Why growth in relationships must be processed together rather than fixing one person independently.(12:31) Living in freedom is being rooted in who God says you are, not what you ought to do.(14:52) The importance of trusting the new heart given through Christ instead of viewing oneself as deceitful.(18:11) Why trusting God is foundational before pursuing His purposes for your life.The Living Influence team is proud to announce the creation of Living Influence Leadership: https://www.livinginfluenceleadership.com/ Attend the Living Influence Leadership conferences and cohorts (also known as peer groups), and you’ll: * Lead from identity.* Cultivate trust that strengthens culture.* Gain clarity that fuels lasting influence.* Integrate who you are, and your God-given purpose, with how you lead.This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast * Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

How might a renewed understanding of trust and authenticity elevate your leadership and transform those you lead? The Living Influence team is proud to announce the creation of Living Influence Leadership: https://www.livinginfluenceleadership.com/ Attend the Living Influence Leadership conferences and cohorts (also known as peer groups), and you’ll: * Lead from identity.* Cultivate trust that strengthens culture.* Gain clarity that fuels lasting influence.* Integrate who you are, and your God-given purpose, with how you lead.Join Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and Waldemar Kohl for a transformative experience helping Christian executives lead from trust, authenticity, and the freedom of their God-given significance.Bill Thrall: For more than 40 years, Bill has helped senior executives around the world lead from identity, authenticity, and grace.Scott Boyd: Over the past 29 years, Scott has built a thriving business by shaping a culture of trust, grace, and empowered leadership.Waldemar Kohl: For nearly 20 years, Waldemar has worked with executives to create healthy, and high-performing organizations.Learn about Living Influence Leadership: https://www.livinginfluenceleadership.com/

How does trusting God with yourself reveal spiritual maturity?This episode explores what it truly means to become a Christ-centered believer through the process of spiritual maturity. Bill and Scott unpack how trust in God leads to humility, healing, and a willingness to take risks for the sake of others. As believers grow, their lives increasingly reflect joy, purpose, and a deep concern for the flourishing of those around them.Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode:(00:05) The progression from being self-focused to becoming Christ-centered.(01:24) The shift from receiving love to extending love toward others.(01:59) Why maturity cannot be forced but must begin with personal trust in God.(03:42) Trust is the central operating principle in all relationships.(05:11) Fear of trusting God with the future.(08:33) Purpose-centered living as a hallmark of Christ-centered maturity.(10:12) Taking risks for the benefit of others as evidence of deep spiritual growth.(15:12) Healing and joy as signs that trust and maturity are taking root.This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team.Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast:* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast* Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYILearn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/booksFollow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast* TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

What happens when personal growth shifts attention away from yourself and toward others?In this episode, Bill and Scott explore the movement from a self-focused faith into an others-centered life marked by healing, trust, and love. They unpack how maturity is not achieved by striving, but by learning to receive love and allowing that love to overflow toward others. As believers experience healing, they become freer to care, lead, and influence without being consumed by themselves.Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode:(02:00) How personal crisis opened Scott’s life to grace, vulnerability, and deeper growth.(04:03) The difference between trusting with sin and trusting with one’s whole person.(06:05) How experiencing grace leads to feeling loved and then loving others.(07:15) Scott recounts how confession and affirmation became a turning point toward healing.(08:59) How letting oneself be loved is essential to experiencing real healing.(10:28) Immature love compared to mature love.(14:44) Healing as the evidence of maturity and freedom to love others.(18:28) Bill describes maturity as awareness of influence and care for how one affects others.This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team.Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast:* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast* Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYILearn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/booksFollow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media:* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast* TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast:* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast* Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYIThis episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

How can we create a place where ourselves and our loved ones hide nothing? In this episode, Bill and Scott examine why shame teaches people to hide and how even Christian environments can unintentionally reinforce that fear. They also explore what it takes to create truly safe spaces where people can be known, trusted, and loved without pressure to perform or fix themselves. At the heart of the conversation is the hope that emerges when trust replaces hiding and maturity begins through relationship rather than self-effort.Please consider attending the Living Influence Leadership Seminar: https://www.livinginfluenceleadership.com/ Join Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and Waldemar Kohl for a transformative experience helping Christian executives lead from trust, authenticity, and the freedom of their God-given significance.In this seminar, which will be held on March 11-13 in Scottsdale, Arizona, you’ll discover the power of authentic leadership. You’ll walk away with a renewed understanding of how trust and authenticity elevate your leadership and transform those you lead. Learn more at https://www.livinginfluenceleadership.com/services#section-1762312239710 This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast * Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

How does striving to perform for God interfere with the growth God intends for you?In this episode, Bill and Scott explore what it truly means to mature, distinguishing growth from performance-based sanctification. They explain why maturity is not about earning life but about growing into what is already given. The conversation highlights how love, safety, and honesty create the environment where genuine growth can happen.Please consider attending the Living Influence Leadership Seminar: https://www.livinginfluenceleadership.com/ Join Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and Waldemar Kohl for a transformative experience helping Christian executives lead from trust, authenticity, and the freedom of their God-given significance.In this seminar, which will be held on March 11-13 in Scottsdale, Arizona, you’ll discover the power of authentic leadership. You’ll walk away with a renewed understanding of how trust and authenticity elevate your leadership and transform those you lead. Learn more at https://www.livinginfluenceleadership.com/services#section-1762312239710 This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast * Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

How do we transition from living in our flesh to becoming alive in the Holy Spirit?In this episode, Bill and Scott explore what it means to move from living in the flesh to becoming alive in the Holy Spirit. Through Romans 7 and 8, they reveal why sin management and self-effort leave people stuck and discouraged. The conversation points to trust in the Spirit as the foundation for real hope, freedom, and transformation.Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode: (02:19) How Romans 7 describes the ongoing reality of the Christian life. (03:03) The power of sin in the flesh as something humans were never created to manage.(05:00) Why self-effort and discipline can’t overcome the power of the flesh.(07:35) How people become desperate after exhausting themselves trying to fix themselves.(08:37) How working on sin will never resolve sin. (10:30) Why believing Christ is alive within changes how issues are addressed.(11:22) How grace produces hope.(17:24) How trusting the Holy Spirit allows Him to put the deeds of the flesh to death.(19:08) Maturity as defined by God.Attend The Living Influence Leadership Seminar: https://www.livinginfluenceleadership.com/ Join Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and Waldemar Kohl for a transformative experience helping Christian executives lead from trust, authenticity, and the freedom of their God-given significance.In this seminar, which will be held on March 11-13 in Scottsdale, Arizona, you’ll discover the power of authentic leadership. You’ll walk away with a renewed understanding of how trust and authenticity elevate your leadership and transform those you lead. Learn more at https://www.livinginfluenceleadership.com/services#section-1762312239710 This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast * Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

Is it possible to live in a state of being forgiven? Can you actually live in that reality?This episode explores the difference between knowing you are forgiven and actually living forgiven in daily life. Bill and Scott discuss how shame shapes identity and how God provides two gifts—repentance and forgiveness—to cleanse the ongoing effects of sin. Together they show how this leads to freedom with God, others, and even yourself.Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode: (01:09) How being affected by sin becomes the foundation for how people see themselves, God, and others.(02:38) Wrestling with whether forgiveness is only granted when someone explicitly asks for it.(04:08) How the blood of Jesus cleanses all sin.(07:07) The false teaching that Christians will have their sins read aloud in heaven.(09:19) Bill recounts helping a woman process childhood trauma and finally feel clean and free.(11:20) How being cleansed broke the bondage of Bill’s shame.(13:25) How Scott’s father’s alcoholism shaped harshness toward himself.(16:30) How trusting God’s cleansing allows you to live open, transformed lives with others.This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast * Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

How might your life change if you truly believed you were no longer a slave to sin?In this episode, Bill and Scott explore how faith—given to us when we were “dead in sin”—forms the foundation for a new identity in Christ. The conversation reframes spiritual growth from striving to sin less into trusting the truth of who God has already made us to be.Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode: (00:41) How Christians often miss the obvious truth that faith is a gift.(02:39) The cycle of striving to sin less and hiding failures, and why it traps believers in defeat.(03:53) How Jesus not only died for sins but took believers into His death to give them new life.(05:13) Bill shares the short prayer that helped him believe he truly had the ability to serve righteousness.(06:20) Scott and Bill discuss the shift from “freedom from sin” to “freedom to live into God’s purposes.”(07:08) Bill begins unpacking 1 John 3 and what it means to be called children of God with the DNA of Jesus.(09:23) Bill explains why believers are righteous now, even though they are not yet fully mature.(12:41) Bill warns that focusing only on avoiding sin without embracing new identity leads to immaturity and defeat.(17:55) Bill prays for God to teach believers to trust their ability to love, and Scott shares how grief awakened his desire for shared love and community.This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast * Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

How much of your spiritual struggle comes from trying to manage your sin instead of trusting your identity?In this episode, Bill and Scott unpack why so many believers live stuck in shame, hiding, and sin-management even though they’ve been given a new identity. Through stories, Scripture, and vulnerable examples, they show how experiencing love—not effort—is what transforms the heart. Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode: (01:00) Scott shares how misunderstanding grace left him feeling imprisoned during his wife’s cancer battle.(02:40) How trying to use the law to become godly cuts Christians off from grace.(04:20) Bill describes the years he believed God loved him but never experienced that love personally.(06:00) How conflict with others can impact whether we view ourselves as a saint.(08:00) How passiveness was secretly the voice of Bill’s anger. (09:50) How transformation means the old patterns no longer own you, even if reactions still occur.(11:20) How hiding sin made Bill a slave to it. (15:20) Scott describes a leadership program that revealed how his self-protection was rooted in fear.(18:40) How shame awakens hopeless striving, and why a new reality is the only solution. This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast * Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/ 

How do I move from seeing myself as a sinner to living as someone dead to sin?This episode explores what it truly means to be dead to sin and alive in Christ. Bill and Scott challenge the deeply ingrained belief that Christians are still defined by their sin, revealing how that mindset robs us of joy and love. Together, they unpack how trusting God with your new identity leads to freedom, love, and a life rooted in grace instead of fear.Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode: (00:29) How believers can move from seeing themselves as sinners to being dead to sin.(01:04) How seeing yourself as a sinner keeps sin your focus, but seeing yourself as a saint makes love your focus.(03:42) Faith in Christ gives believers a new identity under grace.(05:33) Why being dead to sin means living out righteousness through love.(07:05) How churches often reinforce a sinner mindset instead of grace.(10:49) Bill explains that the Christian life is not behavior change—it’s death to the old self.(14:03) What it means to trust Jesus not just with sin, but with your whole life.(18:51) Success comes from loving people.This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast * Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/ 

How have you been influenced by grace?In this episode, Bill and Scott reflect on how grace has shaped their lives, leadership, and communities. Scott shares how discovering grace changed his business culture, replacing control with trust and empowerment. Bill tells stories of how grace led to the founding of Open Door Fellowship, where commitment, love, and valuing people created a movement of transformation and freedom.Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode: (01:40) How Scott’s company built a culture where people felt valued and empowered.(03:20) How grace-based leadership helps businesses thrive.(06:30) Seeing value in people, and how that challenges old frameworks of sin management.(11:30) On choosing to be “for, not against,” and how that simple conviction is transformative. (18:10) How grace expands people’s potential and inspires communities built on love, trust, and possibility.This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast * Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/ 

Have you ever thought about how your theology is influencing you?This episode explores how many Christians have unknowingly built their theology around sin management rather than grace. Bill and Scott reflect on the harm caused by striving to become godly instead of trusting who God already says we are. Through personal stories and heartfelt reflection, they reveal that transformation begins not with working on sin, but with receiving and living from love.Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode: (00:03) The idea that theology shapes how people see themselves and God.(01:15) How sin management creates pride or despair, depending on whether someone feels they’re “winning” or “failing” at holiness.(02:43) How striving to sin less never works; instead, love naturally reduces sin’s grip.(05:49) A personal story about how sin management led to painful separation from friends in pursuit of false godliness.(09:38) The discussion exposes how fear-based theology leads Christians to isolate from the world rather than engage it with grace.(13:12) How legalism grows from a theology that refuses to see saints as saints.(15:27) Sin management never touches our reality—only grace does.(16:03) Scott shares a personal story about how grace began transforming him during his wife’s cancer journey.This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast * Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/