The Grace Cafe Podcast

When grace shows up, resistance follows. From religious and church traditions to personal objections, we walk through some of the fear-based objections people raise concerning grace and the surprising freedom that comes when grace breaks through.

In this episode we talk about the simplicity of the gospel and how we clutter it up and make it complicated with add-ons. But it isn't complicated. Join us as we talk about Susan's recent church visit and we take a look back at our gospel roots in the Jesus movement of the late 60s and early 70s and how things have changed in today's church climate. Enjoy!

In this episode of The Grace Cafe we talk about life changes and what's important and what isn't as we grow older and grace becomes more important than ever. _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow 

Many people try to live like Jesus, thinking that's what makes them right with God. But if Jesus is only our role model, we're left with an impossible standard. When Jesus is viewed only as a role model, as is often the case in religious settings, His life becomes a crushing burden — not good news. But when we see Him as our substitute and Savior, all of that changes. In this episode we interact with an email we received asking us our thoughts on the extreme legalism that can result from this kind of thinking in institutional Christianity. Enjoy! We're excited to tell you that we were recently interviewed by Emily Shepherd on the REST: Recovering from Spiritual Trauma podcast. Here's the link to part one.  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rest-recovering-from-spiritual-trauma/id1724810445?i=1000710940538  As soon as part two is out, we will pass along the link. While you're there, check out Emily's podcast. She co-hosts it with her adult daughter. We think you'll like it. _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow

Has religion tied you down instead of setting you free? In this episode, we share some of our own experiences in escaping the religious mindset so prevalent in many institutional churches. We talk about the dangers of rigid leadership, legalism, and religious tradition—how they obscure our view of the gospel of grace and the freedom we have in Jesus to be ourselves. Many of us lose our true identity in the institutional church, conforming to man-made rules and expectations instead of walking in the freedom that is already ours in Christ.  Join us as we unravel these issues and explore what it truly means to step away from religious conformity and back into the liberating grace of the New Covenant gospel. If you've ever felt confined by church systems or struggled to break free, this conversation is for you. Here are some of our previous episodes of ours related to topics that came up in this episode. Patriarchy and Its Affects on Women and Men https://www.gracecafepodcast.com/2213342/episodes/13205508-patriarchy-and-its-affects-on-women-and-men-02 Did Paul Command Women to be Silent in Church? (Part 1) https://www.gracecafepodcast.com/2213342/episodes/13282310-did-paul-command-women-to-be-silent-in-church-part-1-03 Did Paul Command Women to be Silent in Church? (Part 2) https://www.gracecafepodcast.com/2213342/episodes/13370653-did-paul-command-women-to-be-silent-in-church-part-2-04 Did the Law of Moses Silence Women? https://www.gracecafepodcast.com/2213342/episodes/13445967-did-the-law-of-moses-silence-women-a-second-glance-at-1-corinthians-14-34-40-05 _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow

In this episode of The Grace Cafe podcast we start out by talking about why we lose friends when we leave the institutional church. Then our conversation turns to an analogy from C.S Lewis' book, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and Spiderman and Institutional religion's preoccupation with sin. Yes, we're that spiritual! Enjoy! _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow

In this episode of The Grace Cafe, we talk about grace in the midst of suffering in the context of Mike's cancer and his ongoing treatments. In the institutional box church, where one-size-fits-all is the assumed norm, our performance is often a barometer of our spiritual condition. An upward trajectory is assumed. But suffering and not being able to perform reinforces the true nature of grace and the gospel. Namely that one is justified by faith apart from works of any kind, resulting in rest from our performance and a fresh appreciation of our relationship with the Father through Jesus. Enjoy! _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow

This episode of The Grace Cafe is a conversation from 2018 that Mike had with Mike Kapler of the Growing in Grace podcast. It centers around the content of Mike Kapler's book, Clash Of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through The Grace Guarantee. We talked about many topics that often lead to confusion for believers, including the Sermon on the Mount, the Prodigal Son, the Old Covenant, the New Covenant, and more. I'm posting this on both the Grace Cafe and the UnSunday Show. Links we talked about in the episode: Clash Of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through The Grace Guarantee (This is the link to the paperback version. The Kindle version can be found there) Growing in Grace Podcast Page - The podcast home of Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke. They've been talking grace on this podcast for almost 20 years and 900+ episodes. All the episodes are there for your enjoyment. You can also listen on your favorite podcast app. I'm (Mike) bringing some episodes over from the old Grace Cafe podcast while I wait for my voice to heal enough to carry on a conversation.  Enjoy! _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow

In this episode of The Grace Cafe we reached back to episode 50 of the old Grace Cafe podcast to a conversation Susan had with our late friend Nora Shaw. This is an energizing conversation about the freedom Jesus intends for us to experience in all of life. It's a freedom that the one-size-fits-all box church takes away through religious obligation and expectations. What makes this episode dear to us is that Nora has since passed away and is experiencing the fullness of Jesus face-to-face. Enjoy! _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow

I am posting this conversation on The UnSunday Show podcast as well as here. It's a short health update from yours truly. Push play and give it a listen and thank you for following my podcasts! I was recently invited to speak on the Grace at Last podcast with Corinne Kinstler on the subject of women in the church. I would really appreciate it if you would give it a listen as well. My conversations with Corinne are always well-seasoned with grace and this one is no different. It's one I really enjoyed! Here's the link to that episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grace-at-last/id1689072652?i=1000655385359 _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow

Welcome to the Grace Cafe! We're Mike and Susan, AKA, The Husband and Wife Grace Team! In this episode we talk about the dark side of sin management and the sin police in institutional church and religion.  _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow

Who are we in Jesus? Is there anything lacking in our new identity in Jesus? Is the cross enough? Are we ever not doing enough? Does God expect more from us? Is God ever disappointed in you? Is there a list of things we need to be doing to earn God's approval? What does it mean to live in a place of rest? What about fear? Is fear of not doing or being enough a valid reaction? Is it ok to set boundaries? Join us as we talk about these topics and more by taking a deep-dive into the New Covenant gospel of grace with Matt McMillen. Find Matt's podcast, YouTube channel, newsletter, books, and other social media links on his website at https://mattmcmillenministries.com/ _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow

In this episode of The Grace Cafe, we talk about the Holy Spirit and how religion and the box church give us a version of the Holy Spirit that's more like an angry mobster than a comforter and loving friend. Along the way we talk about some of our experiences with institutional church and church cults. Be sure to check out Jason Gray's awesome video, Remind Me Who I Am, linked below. Enjoy! Jason Gray - Remind Me Who I Am - https://youtu.be/eKyY8zfjBMQ?si=dIEL9FkSn-4i5FLW _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow

Our friend Amber joins us in this episode. In her own words, each of us has two stories; a life story and a faith story. Amber shares both of her stories and the breaking points that led to her seeing grace as grace and a return to the simplicity that is in Jesus and the New Covenant gospel of grace. Amber is on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@honorgodsgrace247 Amber is on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/honorgodsgrace/  We hope this episode encourages you in grace! _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow

Welcome to The Grace Cafe! In this episode we talk about the freedom we have in Jesus and how this freedom allows us to rest from our own works and effort. But organized church and organized religion redefines freedom and rest to keep us dependent on the system. _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow

Welcome to episode 13 of the Grace Cafe podcast. This episode is a conversation about how religion and institutional church dilutes grace with performance goals designed to keep the institution alive. There is no rest apart from grace. In religion, the work is never done and there's always more to do. When we come to understand the grace of the New Covenant rightly, we realize the pressure to conform and perform is off and the work is done. Enjoy! _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow

Welcome to episode 12 of the newly relaunched Grace Cafe Podcast. In this episode we talk about the importance of being rooted and grounded in the grace of the New Covenant. The write of the letter to the Hebrews put it like this: "Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace..." (Hebrews 13:9) Anything that leads us away from grace and attempts to establish our hearts in anything other than New Covenant grace should be viewed as a diverse and strange teaching that's to be rejected. And yet almost without exception, the opposite is true in the world of organized religion. When we talk about the grace of the New Covenant to someone still inside organized religion, we are rejected and looked upon as someone involved in a strange teaching because the pure message of grace has been so watered down that it sounds foreign to so many in the church. So let's talk. Here's the link to the episode of the Gracereach podcast we mentioned in this episode. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-gracereach-podcast-with-brad-robertson/id1503583444?i=1000642413493  Enjoy! _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow

This episode is a look back at our journey out of institutional church. Leaving religion and coming into a better knowledge of grace was a years-long process for us. Being a pastor in a high-performance based church setting finally caused Mike to hit a wall of performance and Susan fell into a deep depression. All of this came to a head for us on early 2009 when we made a final decision to leave. In addition to this episode we will continue to sprinkle bits and pieces of our story in future episodes. But with so many new followers since shutting down or last podcast, we decided to dedicate one full episode to share our story with you here.  _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow

Welcome to episode 10 of The Grace Cafe Podcast. In this first episode of 2024 we update you on what's been happening with us, including Mike's recent health scare, a little bit of our back story, and our current dilemma of community and church. Find us online and interact with us at https://www.gracecafepodcast.com Enjoy! _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow

Welcome to episode 9 of The Grace Cafe podcast. This is a past episode (98) of the old  Grace Cafe from New Year's Eve, 2020 that we wanted to share with you. In it, we talk about ways Christianity has weaponized faith and the Bible to enforce conformity. We'll be reaching back from time-to-time and bringing forward one of those old episodes to share with you and this is one of them. Also, Mike was recently interviewed on the Grace at Last podcast. This was a conversation about church and the New Covenant with Corinne Kinstler. You can listen to it by going to https://www.lastministry.org/grace-at-last-podcast/022-what-i-should-know-about-church-with-mike-adamsnbsp or on your favorite podcast app. Enjoy! _____________________________ Other places you'll find us: The UnSunday Show Podcast - https://www.unsunday.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unsundayshow/ The Grace Cafe YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@GraceCafePodcast The UnSunday Show YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@unsundayshow