Spirit Power & Grace

What should a family of faith today look like? What does the church in the New Testament look like? How can the young learn from the old, and how can the old mentor the young? Those are all questions that Andrew and Lydia take up with Hannah Wells in this episode of SPG.

Lydia and Andrew welcome Matthew Johnson to talk about all the exciting details around the upcoming Holy Spirit Conference. They look at the way that Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to be poured out in power so that believers can act as his witnesses throughout the whole world. Then they talk about some of the fantastic speakers who will be featured at the conference: Kim Maas, Matt Reynolds, Ian Dunn, Guillermo León, and more!

Several years into his professional career as an architect, Gary Sparks received a message from God. "Use architecture as a ministry, and I'll take care of the rest," God told him. Gary obeyed, and soon after that his career began to change dramatically. He eventually went on to design the major renovations to both Gallagher-Iba Arena and Boone Pickens Stadium at Oklahoma State University. He tells the story of career to Andrew in this second half of their conversation.

Gary Sparks has one of the most compelling stories you'll ever hear. He and his family moved around the country 39 times before he graduated from high school. His first job was working as a janitor in an office building. But God led him eventually to study architecture and to use his profession as a ministry to show others how to follow Jesus. His story of perseverance in the face of great odds is inspiring.

Lydia and Andrew talk about Andrew's new Advent devotional, "Watching from the Walls." They dive into the meaning of the season of Advent and the calling of Scripture for us to be active players in the Christmas story. The expanded and revised edition of Watching from the Walls is now available on Amazon.

Donald Ryan grew up in Trinidad and Tobago and began playing the piano in his home church at the age of 3 years old. He tells the story of how surrendering his life to Christ led to him overcoming "death by quarter note" and learning to love music as the passion of his life. Donald's career has led him to play in England, France, Germany, Austria, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, the islands of Jamaica, Montserrat, and Barbados in the Caribbean. He has also performed in Guyana in South America. He sits down with Lydia and Andrew on this episode to share his remarkable story.

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."