For you, what creates a safe place, a place where you're not afraid to be known?

This episode explores how grace is not just a theological concept but a lived experience—especially within a community. Bill and Scott reflect on what it means to belong to an “environment of grace” and how mutual dependence leads to maturity, unity, and purpose. They challenge listeners to trust others, embrace their own needs, and believe that grace is meant to shape every relationship around them.

Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode:

(00:03) What Is an Environment of Grace?

* Grace allows people to live beyond their circumstances and meet others’ needs.

* Communities shaped by grace express love as their defining characteristic.

(04:45) The Difference Between True and Pseudo Community

* A true grace-based community meets needs and cultivates joy and purpose.

(08:52) Spiritual Gifts Are for the Community

* Believers are gifted by God for the benefit of others, not self-expression.

* Without a grace environment, spiritual gifts remain unused.

(12:31) Maturity Requires Community

* Hiding weaknesses blocks the maturing process and isolates believers.

* Grace invites vulnerability and leads to growth.

(14:53) Mutual Dependence Is Leadership

* Submitting to one another’s strengths is an act of grace and trust.

* Experiencing grace means learning to give and receive it—including with yourself.

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

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This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

As yourself: Am I experiencing grace and love in my life? And if I'm not, how can I do that?

Grace is not just a theological concept—it’s the foundation for every meaningful relationship of love. In this episode, Bill and Scott unpack how trust unlocks the experience of love and how grace enables us to lay down our masks and let our needs be seen.

Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode:

(04:09) The Connection Between Trust and Love

* Love is the process of meeting needs.

* How God meets our deepest need for security.

(08:05) Designed to Be Loved

* Bill shares how his insecurity made it difficult to believe he mattered.

* God’s love is given, not earned—because He is love.

(12:14) Choosing to Be Loved

* Bill reads from Revelation 3 and reflects on Laodicea’s self-sufficiency.

* Jesus doesn’t fix people—He loves them into healing.

(15:18) The Healing Power of Love

* Grace leads to healing through safe, consistent love.

* Love shifts our focus outward and helps us live transformed lives.

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://spoti.fi/4hUd9pM

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

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This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

What happens when you begin to believe you are lovable?

In this episode, Bill and Scott continue their discussion about how grace becomes the foundation for spiritual maturity, identity, and calling. They reflect on personal stories of shame, self-worth, and trust, revealing how deeply grace can shape our understanding of who we are. They also invite listeners to stop measuring themselves by behavior and start believing who God says they are.

Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode:

(01:05) Maturing Through Grace

* Scott’s scandalous feeling of saying, “I believe I’m worthy.”

* How believing you're a saint transforms your self-perception.

* Ephesians 1 and the challenge of seeing yourself as holy.

(05:54) Identity vs. Behavior

* How measuring yourself by shame leads to self-centeredness.

* The importance of imagining what God says is true.

(10:09) Lovable and Trusted

* How Scott’s past shaped his ability to receive love.

(14:15) Set Apart With Purpose

* Galatians 1:15 and Paul’s purpose as a parallel for all believers.

* What it means to be called by grace to know Christ.

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://spoti.fi/4hUd9pM

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 trusting grace impact your spiritual growth?

In this episode, Bill and Scott explore the role of grace as the foundation for our maturing in Christ. They challenge performance-based spirituality and invite you to embrace a new identity rooted in trust, love, and divine truth. Through personal stories and rich theological insight, they unpack what it means to mature not by striving but by receiving.

Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode:

(0:02) Grace as the Basis of Maturing

* Grace is not just the way to salvation—it’s also the way we grow.

* Justification and sanctification are both rooted in grace, not effort.

(8:24) Who Am I? Defining Identity

* God sees beyond behaviors.

* Christians must move from shame to identity in Christ.

(14:52) Love as the Evidence of Maturity

* Jesus gave us a new commandment we’re now able to live.

* Love is the fulfillment of the law.

* The fruit of grace is love, and love heals.

* Love replaces shame and drives transformation.

* The foundation of all maturity is God’s grace at work in us.

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://spoti.fi/4hUd9pM

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/

If God is going to give this immense gift of grace to the humble, who are the humble?

In this episode, Bill and Scott explore what it means to trust God with the truth of who you are. They unpack why grace is more than forgiveness—it’s the means by which we stop striving and start receiving. Through Scripture, personal stories, and honest dialogue, they reveal how letting go opens the door to transformation

Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode:

(0:05) Trust and the Nature of Humility

* Bill reflects on 1 Peter 5:5 and what it means to be humble.

* Trusting God begins when we realize we can’t do what’s best for us.

(2:44) Fears About Trusting God

* Scott’s fear: “What if God makes me do something I don’t want to do?”

* Trust is something to do—not passive surrender.

(9:15) The Scope of Grace in Romans 5

* Scott reads Romans 5:15–21.

* Jesus’ gift of grace outweighs Adam’s sin.

(14:43) How We Limit Grace

* Bill points to Romans 11:6—grace ceases to be grace if works are added.

(19:41) God’s Grace

* Transformation comes when we stop defending ourselves.

* Grace changes how we see ourselves, God, and the world.

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://spoti.fi/4hUd9pM

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 grace the only means for our salvation?

In this episode, Bill and Scott open up about their personal journeys of discovering grace and meeting Jesus. Through powerful stories—one marked by fear and redemption, the other by slow awakening—they illustrate how grace is not a concept but a person. Their reflections show us how authentic encounters with Jesus can change the trajectories of our lives.

Topics Bill and Scott discuss in this episode:

(0:43) Bill’s Fearful Introduction to Grace

* Bill recounts his first encounter with grace at Bible camp, rooted in fear of hell.

(5:33) When Grace Became a Person

* Bill describes the moment his brother asked him, “What are you going to do with Jesus?”

(8:19) Scott’s Journey of Awakening

* Scott recalls being disenchanted with both Baptist and Lutheran traditions.

* Seeing his stepmom’s intimate relationship with Jesus was transformative.

(13:37) From Salvation to Calling

* Bill reflects on how grace compelled him to share Christ.

(17:44) Grace That Shapes a Life

* How grace transformed Bill into a saint, not just a saved sinner.

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://spoti.fi/4hUd9pM

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/

What does it mean that grace began within the Trinity before creation? And how does the incarnation reveal the nature of grace?

Grace didn’t begin as a response to sin—it originated in the very nature of God. In this episode, Bill and Scott explore the stunning truth that grace began within the Trinity and was brought to us in the person of Jesus. Through Scripture and personal reflection, they show how grace is not only how God treats us—it’s how God treats God.

Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode:

(00:12) Grace Originated in the Trinity

* The Gospel of John reveals that Jesus came full of grace and truth.

(05:25) Grace and Truth, Not Law

* The law was given through Moses, but Jesus brought grace and truth.

(08:53) The Throne of Grace

* Hebrews invites us to approach the throne of grace with confidence.

(12:35) Grace in Our Suffering

* Grace doesn’t erase hardship but meets us in the midst of it.

(15:37) Grace That Establishes Us

* God restores, confirms, strengthens, and establishes us.

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://spoti.fi/4hUd9pM

Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

How does our view of God shape our ability to receive grace? What if we truly believed that God loves us, without conditions?

In this episode, Bill and Scott explore the depth of grace, challenging common misconceptions about God’s love. They discuss how shame distorts our ability to receive grace and how understanding God’s nature can reshape our self-perception. This episode invites listeners to embrace a grace-filled life, where love is not earned but freely given.

Topics Bill and Scott discuss in this episode:

(0:28) Understanding Grace

* Having the right view of God is essential to understanding grace.

* The core concept of grace is rooted in the statement, “God is love.”

(3:29) God’s Love and Grace

* God's love and grace involve Him wanting to give us His best.

* The hosts address the feeling of not deserving God's best and how it hinders experiencing His grace.

* Grace and truth are interconnected and should not be separated.

(6:34) Worthiness to be Loved

* Scott shares his journey of understanding grace and realizing his worthiness to be loved by God.

* God’s love extend to both our “person” and our “stuff” (our actions and circumstances).

(10:57) Your Relationship with God

* God is the initiator in the relationship.

* The hosts address questions about God's unwavering commitment and love.

(17:30) The Language of Shame

* Hope is tied to feeling loved. Not having hope can lead to feeling like the world is against you.

* How “I’m not enough” is one of the phrases in “the language of shame.”

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://spoti.fi/4hUd9pM

Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/