Spirit Power & Grace: Recent Episodes
Andrew Thompson and Jen Ryerson
Lydia and Andrew sit down on this year's Thanksgiving Special to talk turkey, pie, and virtue ethics. Thanksgiving is the only holiday that could bring together the perennial questions: "What makes a great pie?" and "What makes a great person?" Sit back and enjoy this year's Thanksgiving Special, and have a great Turkey Day.
Tony Miltenberger is a pastor, podcaster, coach, and writer. He is the host of the Follow2Lead podcast and author of "Wisdom in the Wound: How God Uses Your Past to Shape Who You're Becoming." Tony recently sat down with Lydia and Andrew to talk about his new book and how we can find new insight and inspiration from the wounds that we have suffered in our lives. You can find out more about his book at wisdominthewoundbook.com.
Mike Hutchings joins Lydia and Andrew to talk about the power of forgiveness in the Christian life. While we often treat forgiveness as if it is an issue of having the right feeling towards someone who has wronged us, Mike helps us to understand that forgiveness is actually an act of obedience to Jesus. With forgiveness comes freedom and healing and new life through the Holy Spirit.
Rebekah Bled sits down with Lydia and Andrew to discuss the power of telling your story. At its heart, evangelism is about sharing with others how Jesus has changed your life. Rebekah talks about the role of storytelling in sharing the good news of Jesus and living an evangelistic life.
AnnMarie Hayden has experienced what it means to be transformed from a victim into a victor in the world of human trafficking. Following her calling into ministry, she has dedicated herself to helping women like her escape trafficking and find redemption through the power of Jesus. In this second conversation with Lydia and Andrew, AnnMarie continues her testimony and describes her work through No Strings Attached and Fireborne. You can find out more about AnnMarie's work through her website at fireborne.org.
[Content Advisory: Parents should take caution before sharing this episode with children.]
AnnMarie Hayden is a survivor leader, pastor, and founder of Fireborne—a faith-rooted, survivor-led movement equipping communities to confront human trafficking with the hope of the Gospel. Lydia and Andrew sit down with AnnMarie to hear her story on this episode. Drawing from her own experience of surviving childhood exploitation, she speaks with authenticity and bold faith about God’s power to restore what the enemy tried to steal. You can find out more about AnnMarie's work through her website at fireborne.org or on Instagram @ann_marie_hayden or @fireborne_org.
[Content Advisory: Parents should take caution before sharing this episode with children.]
Lydia and Andrew come off of their summer hiatus to celebrate the 100th episode of Spirit Power & Grace. They look back on the origin of the podcast, their partnership, and their hopes for the future.
How are we supposed to cope with suffering and grief as believers in Christ? And why do these things have to exist? On this episode, Andrew looks at how we can think about grief and loss with the help of Romans, St. Augustine, and Julian of Norwich.
Andrew and his son Stuart continue to explore the outbreak of the Revolutionary War by looking at two momentous events: the Battle of Lexington and Concord, and the Battle of Bunker Hill. Join them as they celebrate the 250th anniversary of the events that led to American independence on this special episode of Time Machine: Father and Son.
As Spirit Power & Grace takes its summer break, Andrew and his son Stuart sit down to talk about the American Revolution. They recognize the 250th anniversary of the outbreak of the Revolutionary War by digging into the important events that led to war. Enjoy this special episode of Time Machine: Father and Son!
Andrew and Lydia talk about the role of Antioch in the Book of Acts and why the Christian church needs to embrace its calling to be a new Antioch in our day.
Lydia sits down with Andrew in this episode to talk about her experience of healing from PTSD. They talk about the long-term effects of trauma from past experiences and the possibility of real healing through the grace of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Rebekah Bled and Matthew Johnson join Lydia and Andrew on this episode to talk about Robert Coleman's classic meditation on evangelism. The explore the relevance of the biblical model of evangelism and how Jesus' approach to training up the disciples can work in the church today.
Dr. David Watson will soon become the new president of Asbury Theological Seminary. Asbury is the leading evangelical seminary in the Wesleyan world. David sits down with Lydia and Andrew on this week's episode to discuss the future of theological education and how seminaries are preparing pastors for ministry in the church.
Rebekah Bled has served the Lord in many ways: as a youth minister, young adult minister, missionary, and evangelist. She joins Lydia and Andrew this week to talk about calling, deconstructing faith, spiritual mentorship, and evangelism. Rebekah also shares the story of her spiritual journey and search for an authentic faith in the midst of a rapidly changing culture.
Lydia's husband JT Brady joins the conversation on this week's episode. Andrew asks JT and Lydia to talk about their calling to life at Wild Roots Ranch. They talk about faith, stewardship, land, and ministry in this fantastic conversation.
Dr. Mike Hutchings is a pastor and evangelist with Global Awakening. His specialty is helping people find healing from PTSD and other forms of trauma. Mike sits down on this episode to share his story with Andrew and Lydia and talk about the way the Holy Spirit can bring real healing into the lives of those who have experienced trauma. For more information about Mike and his ministry, go to godhealsptsd.com.
Andrew sits down with Kyle Westfall and Matthew Johnson on this episode to talk about the big things coming up at Holy Spirit 2025 in Tulsa. They run through the all-star lineup of speakers, including Mike Hutchings, Pete Bellini, Tommy Jones, Warren Smith, and Chris Bounds. And they also talk about their main hopes for the conference, which is that God “may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Ephesians 3:16-17). For more information, go to www.holyspiritconference.org.
"You're never going to grow into the fullness of how Christ has called you to live and experience him in your own life without sharing him with others," Matt Reynolds says. Matt is the president and founder of Spirit & Truth Ministries, which is dedicated to helping believers become equipped to witness for Christ and evangelize in their own lives. Lydia and Andrew sit down with Matt on this episode to talk about the difference that the Holy Spirit makes in helping us become evangelists for Jesus.
A truly intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit is not something that everyone realizes they can have. The desire by God for intimacy with us through the Spirit is something that is very important for Dr. Connie Jeske. Connie is a pastor and a spiritual director, and she sits down with Andrew and Lydia on this episode to talk about what it means to cultivate a relationship with the Spirit of God.
Connie is going to be a workshop presenter at Holy Spirit 2025. Find out more and register at www.holyspiritconference.org.
Dr. Pete Bellini is a pastor and professor of evangelization and church renewal at United Theological Seminary. Pete will also be speaking on deliverance ministry at the upcoming Holy Spirit 2025 conference (go to www.holyspiritconference.org). He sits down on this episode with Lydia and Andrew to talk about his conversion to faith in God, the supernatural worldview, demonic affliction, and deliverance ministry.
Matt Judkins is the pastor of Renewal Church in McAlester, OK. Matt will be leading a breakout session at the upcoming Holy Spirit 2025 Conference (www.holyspiritconference.org). He sits down this week with Lydia and Andrew to talk about testimonies of healing through intercessory prayer.
Andrew sits down with Kyle Westfall and Matthew Johnson to talk about the upcoming Holy Spirit 2025 Conference. They cover the who, what, when, and why of this new conference focused on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Find out more at www.holyspiritconference.org.
Tommy Jones might tell you that he is the least likely person to get called into ministry. But God kept pursuing him, even when he was running in the other direction. Today, Tommy is the pastor of Grace Church in East End, AR, a thriving church plant that he has been leading for the past 15 years. Tommy recently sat down with Lydia and Andrew to share the remarkable story of his faith and ministry journey.
The Bible can seem overwhelming and confusing at times. Is there a way to understand its meaning? In this episode, Lydia and Andrew discuss the biblical concept of covenant and how it holds the key to making the whole message of the Bible clear and comprehensible.
Nancy Buskirk has lived the life of a complete follower of Jesus Christ. Together with her husband Dr. Jim Buskirk, Nancy was engaged in ministry in churches in Mississippi, Georgia, and Oklahoma. Her and her husband’s influence on the lives of countless people has left a legacy of faithfulness to the gospel. Nancy sits down with Lydia and Andrew to talk about their journey in life and ministry for this week’s episode.
In the wake of the death of one of the pivotal influences in Andrew's life, he and Lydia talk about the importance of teachers and coaches in their lives. They discuss the role of mentorship in our intellectual, spiritual, and physical formation.
Tiffany Rinas is the founder and superintendent of the Owasso Preparatory Academy in Owasso, Oklahoma. Tiffany has a strong sense of the presence and direction of the Holy Spirit in her life, and she sits down with Lydia and Andrew on this episode to talk about how that has guided her throughout her life.
“It was like a rest, a total rest,” Joan said when describing what it was like to be overcome in the power of the Holy Spirit. “I felt like I was floating. I felt like colors were brighter…it just seemed like things were so new.” Joan had a front-row seat for the ministry of Dr. L.D. Thomas and the preaching of Kathryn Kuhlman during a crucial period of Holy Spirit renewal in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She shares her remarkable story with Lydia and Andrew on this week’s episode.
Who were the wise men? And where did they come from? Why did God call them to travel such a long distance to offer Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh? How is our story with Jesus wrapped up in their story? On this episode, Lydia and Andrew explore the story of the magi in the Gospel of Matthew to better understand how and why the Epiphany of Jesus Christ is expressed in it.
In the final episode of 2024, Lydia and Andrew talk about riding horses, new year's resolutions, the practice of covenant renewal, and the early Methodist revival. It's the year-end wrap up on Spirit Power & Grace!
Where does Santa Claus come from? Is he really real?!? Lydia and Andrew do a deep dive on the history of Saint Nicholas in this episode to find out the truth. If he really a right jolly old elf? Maybe not, but the truth is even better.
Dr. Arden Autry has been a pastor, a teacher, a Bible scholar, and a missionary over the course of his career. He describes his calling as a dual calling to minister and to teach. And in each season of his life, he has sought to do both faithfully. Arden sits down with Lydia and Andrew on this week’s episode to talk about his faith journey.
Kevin Watson of Asbury Theological Seminary is our guest on this episode. He stops by to talk about his new book: Doctrine, Spirit, & Discipline: A History of the Wesleyan Tradition in the United States. Kevin's historical interpretation can help us better understand the history of Methodism in America as well as equip us for spiritual renewal in the present.
Why do we celebrate Jesus' birthday on December 25? Is that really the day he was born? On this episode, Lydia and Andrew talk about the tradition of celebrating Christmas on December 25 and why it exists. Their conversation has a little bit of everything: Herod the Terribly Great, Dionysius Exiguus, Numerology, Sol Invictus, and the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. And by the end, they kind-of, sort-of, maybe just arrive at an answer.
Join Lydia and Andrew as they talk about Thanksgiving traditions, the best kinds of pies, and turkey hunting. It's all things Thanksgiving on this year's Thanksgiving Special!
In Part 2 of their two-part series on grace, Lydia and Andrew talk about how grace works in human life. What does the categories of grace mean: prevenient grace, convincing grace, justifying grace, and sanctifying grace? And what are the means of grace, and why are they important? In this episode, we see how grace works within us to draw us closer to Christ and give us a true relationship with him.
Grace is a word that Christians use all the time. We read about grace in the Bible. But what do we mean by that word? What really is grace? How should we understand it in relation to our salvation? In part 1 of this two-part series on grace, Andrew and Lydia talk about the nature of grace and why it is important in our lives.
Ron Griffin served as a Ranger and a Green Beret in the U.S. Army, and later founded a successful startup company as an entrepreneur. Now he is the Executive Director at Shepherd's Fold Ranch, a Christian camp in Avant, Oklahoma. The motto of Shepherd's Fold is that it is "a place in the country where kids do business with God." Lydia and Andrew sit down with Ron in this episode to hear his story and how God has been at work in his life. Check out Shepherd's Fold at sfrcamps.com.
What does it mean to be a spiritual father or mother? And why is that needed right now in our culture? Andrew and Lydia sit down to talk about the importance of spiritual fatherhood and motherhood on this week's episode.
Todd Lovell sits down with Lydia and Andrew to talk about the 'could,' 'should,' and 'must' of ministry. Out of all the things we could be doing or should be doing, what are the things we absolutely must be doing as a part of the Christian life? Todd, Lydia, and Andrew talk about taking stock of the culture we are living in as a way to gain clarity into what real discipleship requires.
Andrew and Lydia talk about a recent article from Christianity Today about the wave of renewal being experienced in many corners of the Wesleyan world at present. From the Asbury Revival of February 2023 to the present, there are signs of new fire in Wesleyan spirituality in local churches and on college campuses, and even in various publications and media outlets. Their conversation also gives the opportunity to talk about the distinction between Calvinist and Wesleyan approaches to the Christian life.
Where does the spirituality of Methodism come from? Lydia asks Andrew about his upcoming trip to England to explore sites associated with the life of John Wesley and the early Methodist revival. They have the opportunity to talk about some of the more remarkable events of Wesley's life and the history of Methodism.
Wade Paschal shares about what it means to learn walk in the Spirit and be transformed every day in this episode of Spirit Power & Grace. Over a long career in ministry, Wade pastored churches, taught Greek to seminary students, authored Sunday school curriculum, and helped to start the Beeson Doctor of Ministry program at Asbury Theological Seminary. "God has been gracious to me," Wade told Lydia and Andrew. "and I'm still learning. God's not finished with me yet."
“I felt like I was being flooded with warmth … like the Holy Spirit washing over me,” Emma said. Lydia and Andrew sit down with Emma Parker, a senior at Oral Roberts University who is pursuing a call to ministry. She describes how God has led her each step of the way in her life, including filling her with the Holy Spirit. Her testimony is one of a young adult finding her way through faith in Jesus and reliance on his call in her life.
Lydia and Andrew dig into the Didache, the oldest Christian text outside of the New Testament. This first century A.D. manual for discipleship and worship was lost to history for 1500 years, until it was rediscovered in 1873 by a Greek biblical scholar named Philotheos Bryennios. The Didache offers us a window into the life of the earliest Christian churches. It also connects believers today with our spiritual fathers and mothers from generations going all the way back to the time of the apostles.
Matthew Johnson sits down with Lydia and Andrew to talk about Holy Spirit 2025, a conference coming to Tulsa, Oklahoma, on April 2-4, 2025. This conference is intended to be a catalyst for a deeper understanding and greater love for the Holy Spirit. Sanctification, healing, faith, spiritual gifts, and fruits of the Spirit are all on the menu as the conversation digs into Holy Spirit-related topics that the conference will focus on.
Andrew and Lydia sit down to ask the most basic of questions: Who is the Holy Spirit? They dig into the Bible to find out what the actions and attributes of the Holy Spirit are, including how it is that the Holy Spirit leads us to Jesus. This is an episode that drives at the tagline of the whole podcast––where the Holy Spirit is at work in the world, and why that matters in your life.
Andrew and Lydia sit down to talk about the doctrine of apostolic succession and its importance in the church today. They cover the importance of words that have to be learned and interpreted: doctrine, evangelical, orthodox, catholic, and others. Then they dive into the concept of apostolic succession and how it connects to the authority for ministry in the church. Their conversation is connected to an article that Andrew recently published on the same subject in Firebrand Magazine (www.firebrandmag.com).
Andrew and Lydia sit down with Matt Judkins of Renewal Church to talk about the "how to" of deliverance ministry. Matt shares the 10 steps approach of Pablo Bottari, and he answers questions about what healing from demonic affliction looks like in practice.
Lydia asks Andrew about his experience studying Spanish for the purpose of mission work. After years of wishing he knew the language better, Andrew has recently experienced a Holy Spirit conviction to learn Spanish fluently. Their conversation explores what it means when God surprises you with something you did not expect, and how to respond to that. They also talk about the four ways that you can "hear" God speaking into your life.
"Somebody, please help me." In this episode, Lydia Brady tells the story of going from a place where she wanted nothing to do with Jesus to receiving Jesus as the only one who could save her. The testimony Lydia tells Andrew is one of the most powerful you will ever hear. Her story is her own, but it is also the story of many others. Listen to it and experience the compassion of Jesus for you.
What are demons? What is demonic affliction? And what does deliverance ministry have to do with our faith? Matt Judkins of Renewal Church sits down with Andrew and Lydia Brady to talk about the reality of the demonic in the life of faith. Matt shares the story of how he overcame his fear of thinking about the demonic through the biblical promise that Jesus’ followers will be equipped to cast out demons and overcome the dark spiritual powers in the world. And Lydia shares a personal story of her own experience with demonic attack. Their conversation builds a bridge between the stories about demonic affliction in the Bible and the presence of the demonic in everyday life.
Andrew and Lydia sit down with their friend Craig to talk about what it means to reach the last unreached and unengaged people groups with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Craig explains the concept of the 10/40 Window, and the importance of raising up 'near culture proximate believers' to serve as missionaries. He also describes the Perspectives course, which is an excellent resource for believers in the U.S. to learn more about the work of mission around the world.
After a hiatus, Spirit Power & Grace is back with new episodes! Andrew sits down with Craig Garrison and Lydia Brady to talk about Craig and his wife Kara's calling to be missionaries in Southeast Asia. Craig shares the story of how he was called into youth ministry, and then to seminary, and eventually to the work of mission to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. He also talks about what it means to be committed to reach the remaining "unreached and unengaged people groups" left on earth. This is the first part of a two-part conversation and mission work in the contemporary world.
The days of Holy Week and Easter make up the holiest time of the year for Christians. But why do we use the words that we do to describe those days? Why is it called "Maundy" Thursday? And what is "Good" about Good Friday? For that matter, where in the world does "Easter" come from? Andrew sits down with Matthew Johnson on this week's episode to talk about the origin and significance of the odd words we use to describe the days of Holy Week and Easter.
In Part 2 of their conversation about experiences of the Holy Spirit, Andrew sits down with Dr. Arden Autry and Courtney Westfall. They explore the biblical foundation and personal experience of miraculous healing and the gift of prophecy. Their discussion is driven by questions that arose out of a recent Holy Spirit Weekend in Tulsa, but it also includes the way these signs and wonders appear in regular Christian discipleship.
Andrew sits down with Dr. Arden Autry and Courtney Westfall to talk through some questions related to a Holy Spirit Weekend in February 2024. People who attended had questions around four main topics: Falling out under the power of the Spirit, Praying or speaking in tongues, experiences of healing, and the practice of prophecy. In this first part of a two-part conversation, Andrew talks with Arden and Courtney about how these topics reflect what we find in the Bible and in normal Christian experience.
On the one-year anniversary of the outbreak of the Asbury Revival, Andrew sits down with Matthew Johnson and Kyle Westfall to talk about what it was all about. They also look ahead to the Holy Spirit Weekend upcoming in Tulsa, which will feature Dr. Kim Maas as the main speaker. The trio talk about the purpose of the Spirit's presence in the hearts and lives of believers as they grow to become more like Christ.
On this episode, Andrew sits down with Todd Lovell to talk about the Wesleyan teaching on the means of grace. As channels given by God that open us up to His presence in our lives, the means of grace have the power to help us grow in holiness of heart and life. As Andrew explains, they are meant to be the pattern for our daily discipleship and growth as followers of Christ.
Kim Maas is a preacher and evangelist who has spoken all over the United States and around the world. She believes that God desires all believers to hear His voice, and that they can speak his voice through the gift of prophecy. Andrew sits down with Kim to talk about her calling into ministry, the practice of prophecy, women in ministry, preaching in Brazil, and the prospects of revival in our day.
Hannah Wells realized at a certain point that she didn't have to have it all figured out. All she had to do was say 'yes' to the next step that God was calling her to take. "Once you have Jesus leading your life and it's not about you ... problems just disintegrate," Hannah says. On this episode of Spirit Power & Grace, Andrew sits down with Hannah to talk about her spiritual journey as a Gen Z believer pursuing a calling into ministry.
On this special episode of Spirit Power & Grace, we present the Christmas story. Special thanks to Kyle Westfall, Natalie Colclasure, Donna Richey, and Joseph Bias. Enjoy, and Merry Christmas!!!
Are angels and demons real? What is spiritual warfare? How are we supposed to know about spiritual realities that we cannot see or touch? Matt Judkins sits down to talk with Andrew about all these issues and more on this episode of Spirit Power & Grace.
As a teenager, Joseph Bias found himself sitting at a kitchen table together with his sister and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The conversation that they had that evening changed the course of his life. On this episode of Spirit Power & Grace, Andrew sits down with Joseph to talk about how that experience and others that served to shape him with determination to be the man that he is today.
Andrew sits down with Todd Lovell to talk about the topic of martyrdom and its relationship to Christian witness. They talk about the difference between "red martyrdom" and "white martyrdom" and how those have been expressed throughout church history. They also look at the way in which martyrdom requires the formation of faith over a lifetime as well as the presence of the Holy Spirit in the martyr's life.
Andrew is joined by Matthew Johnson and Todd Lovell on this special Thanksgiving edition of Spirit Power & Grace. They set out to talk about being thankful, and they spend their entire time talking about the wide-open possibilities in theological education in the church today.
On this episode, Andrew talks about spiritual identity. He specifically explores the views of John Wesley, the leader of the Methodist revival, around what it means to be a Methodist. That label can mean many things to many people, what would it mean to Wesley himself? And how does that show us what it ought to mean today?
Matt Judkins sits down with Andrew on this episode of Spirit Power & Grace to talk about the "problem areas" of charismatic spirituality. What happens when spiritual gifts are not exercised well? Should you test prophecy? And how should pastoral leadership be held accountable to the church? Matt is the pastor of Renewal Church of McAlester, OK, and he shares his perspectives on what healthy charismatic spirituality looks like.
Spirit Power & Grace kicks off Season 2 with Kyle Westfall sharing the story about his recent encounter with the Holy Spirit. Kyle joins Andrew to discuss what it means to "cross the threshold" into a new spiritual reality in his life. Their conversation turns to what it means to have a fire kindled inside so that new spiritual fruits begin to emerge.
Andrew sits down with Jen to look back on the first year of Spirit Power & Grace. They talk about how the podcast began, and how it has evolved over the past twelve months. They also look forward to where they believe the Holy Spirit is leading the podcast in the year ahead---as SPG prepares to launch into its second season!
“I’m just a 20-year old girl from Dayton, Ohio, who’s following Jesus.” That statement from Emma Winchester is true, but she is much more than that. At a certain point in her life, Emma realized that there was more to life with God and that she didn't want to settle for less. "I had this hunger and desire for something more, but I didn't know how to get it," she said. On this episode, Andrew and Emma sit down to talk about her spiritual journey as a Gen Z young adult and how she came to know Jesus.
Matt Reynolds has a passion for sharing Christ in our culture and equipping other people to do the same. On this episode, Andrew sits down with Matt to talk about how the Lord called him into a ministry to equip a global movement of local churches to become empowered by the Spirit, rooted in the truth, and mobilized for the mission. Matt also tells the story of how he was led to found the Spirit & Truth Ministry in Dayton, Ohio.
There is a biblical concept that goes by a number of different names: "entire sanctification" and "full salvation" are two of the ways it is often described. Another one (and the most controversial) is "Christian perfection." Many Christian theologians and evangelists have insisted that it is possible to “be made perfect in love in this life.” John Wesley believed that spreading this teaching was the most important reason God had raised up the Methodist movement! But is that really true that people can be made perfect? On this episode of Spirit Power and Grace, we look at the concept of perfection and explore whether it can become a reality in the life of the believer.
Healing prayer is found in places all over the New Testament, from the healing stories of Jesus to the instruction in James 5:14-16 for believers to pray for one another that they may be healed. Matt Judkins joins Andrew on this episode to talk about healing prayer and the way that believers can receive and practice the spiritual gift of healing in their own lives.
"As you continue to mature in faith, you just keep pouring what you knew to be true about God into a bigger vessel so you can experience more and learn more about Him and go deeper in Him," Nichole Nordeman says. On this episode of Spirit Power & Grace, Andrew and Nichole talk about prayer, leading worship, the spirituality of songwriting, and how the Lord meets us in the places of our spiritual hunger.
"I was able to hear and discern the voice of God because I believe that God speaks," Jen Ryerson says. "The first requirement necessary for us to hear the voice of God is to know and believe that our Father in heaven is still speaking to us." On this episode, Andrew and Jen talk about the amazing reality that God speaks to His children. They discuss ways that we can hear the voice of God: through Holy Scripture, through the direct intervention of the Holy Spirit, through other people (including spiritual fathers and mothers), and through specific situations.
"I haven't been able to look away from God," Jacob Odom says about the role of faith over the course of his life. "And I do view that as a miracle." On this episode of Spirit Power & Grace, Andrew and Jacob talk about what it means to sustain faith over the course of a lifetime and the importance of Christian courage in the present age.
Connie begins this episode with a description of what it means to experience the promptings of the Holy Spirit in daily life. Connie and Andrew then discuss the ministry of spiritual direction. Connie shares about spiritual direction from her own experience as a spiritual director. They explore the idea of spiritual direction as hearing the Holy Spirit and responding in faith in order to more closely with Christ Jesus.
On this episode, Andrew sits down with Brad Camp to talk about faith formation with children and youth. Brad draws on his own experience of coming to faith as a teenager to talk about the importance of investing in the lives of kids. As a longtime leader of Confirmation ministry, Brad gives deep insight into the way parents can have an impact on the faith of their children.
Andrew sits down with Yvonne Buchanan to talk about how she came to understand that being filled with the Holy Spirit is meant to be the normal Christian life. She describes how she came to receive the gift of healing, and how she grew in her comfortability with the ministry of the Spirit in her daily life.
Andrew sits down with Matt Judkins to talk about what it means to receive and practice the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They discuss the power of spiritual gifts, including prophecy and words of knowledge. Matt also shares stories about his recent evangelistic trip to Brazil and some of the fruits of that ministry.
In Part III of our series on mission in Antigua, Guatemala, Andrew talks with Kelly Junk and her 8-year old granddaughter Margot. Kelly and Margot embody the "family" nature of the recent trip to Guatemala, where parents/grandparents and their children/grandchildren were a major feature of the mission team. Both Kelly and Margot share about how important the ministry with the Escuela Integrada is to them, as well as their sense of calling to the work of international mission.
In Part II of our series on mission in Antigua, Guatemala, Andrew sits down with Shelli Pleasant. Shelli led the family mission team to Guatemala in June 2023, and she reflects back on the many years she has traveled to do work with the Escuela Integrada in Antigua. Shelli also shares a great deal on her relationship with the Holy Spirit: "The Holy Spirit is my guide, my life, my best friend ... I depend on the Spirit for guidance in everything I do."
In Part I of our series on mission in Antigua, Guatemala, Andrew sits down with his 12-year old daughter Alice Thompson. They talk about their recent mission trip to work with the Escuela Integrada, a school that services underprivileged children in the city of Antigua. Alice shares what it was like to go on her first mission and her first trip out of the United States. She offers advice to other kids who might be thinking about going on a mission trip.
How can God's grace make us more forgiving people? That was a question of great interest to John Wesley. In fact, he wrote to other people about the topic of forgiveness and considered it essential to what it meant to live a faithful life. For Wesley, being able to forgive others was dependent on knowing ourselves as forgiven by Christ Jesus. “Forgiveness is the beginning of redemption, as the resurrection is the completion of it," Wesley said at one point. It's always about the cross and the empty tomb---only with both of them in view can we understand the fullness of salvation. We can, indeed, learn to be more forgiving people. To do so, we must come more and more to know ourselves as forgiven and set free by the boundless grace of the Lord Jesus ... and thus to live a whole new life.
"We're being freed for obedience, for a new start ... freed for the opportunity to be in an ongoing relationship with the creator of the universe, the Lord God Almighty, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit," Kevin Watson tells us. Andrew sits down with Kevin for a wide-ranging conversation on the nature of the Holy Spirit and what being open to the full power of God can mean in a believer's life. They also talk about the future of the Wesleyan tradition and the content of a deep, vital Wesleyan spirituality.
Dr. Kevin Watson is the Director of Academic Growth & Formation at Asbury Theological Seminary. He is a church historian who has written widely on the history of the early Methodist movement and the trajectory of the Wesleyan tradition.
"I'm not afraid to die now because of what I experienced," Kellye said. "I want to be in that place.” On this episode of Spirit Power & Grace, Steve and Kellye Smith share with Andrew their remarkable experience of being called to mission ... and finding the Holy Spirit in the process.
On this episode of Spirit Power & Grace, Matthew Johnson reflects on how the believer's life is meant to be shaped by prayer: through petition and intercession, and through healing prayer and praying in the Spirit. Prayer is the central act that causes us to abide with God, and God with us. As he shares with Andrew, the best advice for someone who wants to deepen his prayer life is simple: "Seek out people who are already praying, and pray with them."
On this episode of Spirit Power & Grace, Andrew talks with David Watson about the work of mission and the rhythm of repentance & revival in the Christian church. “The re-evangelization of the West is going to be a movement that begins with prayer and repentance," David says. "And when we become prayerful and repentant, we are going to see God move in power in ways that are going to blow our minds.”
Andrew sits down with Todd Lovell on this episode of Spirit Power & Grace to talk about the Bible. They discuss how to approach the study of Scripture, as well as how to preach and teach it---including the way in which the word of God is meant to transform our hearts and lives.
John Wesley was fascinated by the lives of holy women in the early Methodist revival. He often used the phrase, "a pattern to the flock" to describe women who served as witnesses of faithfulness to the people around them. On this episode, Andrew looks at the lives of two of those women and explores how John Wesley's description of them helps us understand the nature of grace and the work of the Holy Spirit.
On this episode, Andrew tells the story of the way the Methodist revival reached Newcastle in England. The work of the Spirit in the neighborhood of Sandgate ("the poorest and most contemptible part of the town") offers a witness for how evangelism can work in the 21st century church.
Matt Judkins of Renewal Church talks with Andrew about the "continuationist theology" of Renewal Church, which recognizes all the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They discuss the way spiritual gifts can be used as God means them to be--which is always oriented toward the love of Jesus Christ.
On this episode, Andrew sits down with his daughter Anna Charlotte to talk about her faith. Anna is a fourth grader who loves softball, writing, and hanging out with her friends. She's also a believer in Jesus who preached her first sermon when she was 9 years old. She shares what it's like to live out her faith from a kid's perspective.
Connie Jeske sits down with Andrew to talk about life in the Spirit on this week’s episode of Spirit Power & Grace. They discuss what it means to experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit. And they also talk about being slain the Spirit, spiritual discernment, and waging spiritual warfare. Buckle up! This was a fantastic conversation.
We sit down with Matthew Johnson on this episode of Spirit Power & Grace to talk about the Wesleyan doctrine of entire sanctification. Matthew explains how salvation is meant to not only be forgiveness from sin, but also freedom from sin's power and freedom from sin's presence. The power of the Holy Spirit can give us the "same mind that was in Christ Jesus," and transform us into the beings God has always meant for us to be.
Andrew talks with Todd Lovell, a pastor and church planter at The Vine of Northwest Arkansas. They discuss the challenges of planting a new faith community in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic and how new churches can reach new people for Jesus Christ. Check out The Vine of NWA at www.thevinenwa.church.
Andrew talks with Matt Judkins of Renewal Church about their experience traveling to the revival on the campus of Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, in February of 2023. They discuss their shared conviction that God wanted them to go to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that was happening at Asbury and the experience they had once they were there.
On this episode, Andrew looks at the way that the Holy Spirit is present in the Nativity story. The Gospel of Luke witnesses that the Spirit is active and working from the very beginning of the life of Jesus---and even before! The Spirit's presence in the story of the Nativity shows us the connection between what God was doing at Jesus' birth and what God is doing in our lives today.
Andrew interviews Dr. David Watson of United Theological Seminary on the work of the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, spiritual revival, and the future of the Wesleyan tradition. David is an academic dean and professor of New Testament who is also involved in missionary work around the world from Africa to the Caribbean.
With the season of Advent right around the corner, Andrew and Jen talk about what Advent means and how Christians can observe the Advent season in their own lives. They share thoughts on the role of the Holy Spirit in the rhythm of Advent. Jen reflects on her favorite and most cherished Advent memories from both family life and church life.
Jen talks with Andrew about his recent experience on mission with the church in Kenya. They discuss the importance of water, international mission partnerships, and the presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Kenyan believers.
This week on the podcast, Jen shares her story about her calling into ministry. Like many others who have been so called, it is an experience filled with many unexpected twists and turns. Yet in the midst of all of it, the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit were there.
This week on the podcast Jen and Andrew talk about the revival that happened in the early Methodist movement. They explore how John Wesley's journal reveals that the work of the Holy Spirit in that movement involved the same things Jesus gave his own disciples authority to do: preaching the kingdom of God, casting out demons, and healing the sick.
In this episode, Andrew and Jen introduce the new podcast. Spirit Power & Grace will be exploring where the Holy Spirit is at work in the world today. This episode get things started!