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Time of Grace exists to point people to what matters most: Jesus. Using a variety of media (television, radio, podcasts, print publications, and digital), Time of Grace teaches tough topics in an approachable and relatable way, accessible in multiple languages, making the Bible clear and understandable for those who need encouragement in their walks of faith and for those who don’t yet know Jesus at all.
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Time of Grace is for people who want more growth and less struggle in their spiritual walk. We connect people to God’s grace so they know they are loved and forgiven and so they can start living in the freedom they’ve always wanted. In addition to podcasts, our ministry delivers the timeless truth of God’s Word through television, print, and digital media with millions of content engagements each month. Visit us online at https://timeofgrace.org/
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The reason Christians celebrate Christmas is to worship the baby Jesus, right? The One who was laid in a manger. The One who was born of a virgin. Well, Pastor Mike says, the baby in the manger would not mean anything if that same baby were not to die on a cross and then rise again. The end of our suffering, sadness, and sin is not lying in a mange…
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It's shocking, surprising, illogical, and supernatural. And it's for all of us. Pastor Mike explains the amazing gift of God's grace so we understand how grace is the one thing we need the most. To receive special text offers and stay up to date with the Time of Grace, text the word "Grace" to 45321 to subscribe! About "Taboo Questions With Pastor …
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Has a gift you received ever lost its shine or appeal? It was incredible at first but maybe months later was forgotten? Pastor Mike teaches that there is something that will never lose its shine. Through Jesus' miracles, love, and sacrifice, we see God's glory. To receive special text offers and stay up to date with the Time of Grace, text the word…
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Giving and receiving gifts, when done well, can be good. Gifts can even be great. Most of the time, however, we forget about them or let them collect dust. In this first episode of his new series, "Best Gifts Ever," Pastor Mike shares with you a gift that could never collect dust or get old: God's Word. To receive special text offers and stay up to…
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Presents are great. People are better. But the person who came down from heaven is THE best gift. That's the big idea behind Pastor Mike's new sermon series, "Best Gifts Ever." Dig deep with Pastor Mike and Amber Albee Swenson as they give a sneak peek into this series and cover a wide range of topics including why it's important for families to re…
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A new, perfect world where fear, pain, and suffering are gone. That's God's promise in this message that concludes this series. Pastor Mike teaches of how God's promise to make everything new offers both peace for today and a beautiful future beyond this life. To receive special text offers and stay up to date with the Time of Grace, text the word …
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"Living my best life" is a phrase thrown around in modern culture. But maybe more often than not, we feel lacking and circumstances keep us from living our best lives. Thankfully, Pastor Mike reminds us, God is with us and will use even our struggles and tough times for our good. We are all seeking rest and relief in our fast paced society and hope…
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Being a Chrstian is both easy and hard. Jesus lived a perfect life, died for all sin, and rose for us; there's nothing we need to do to earn heaven. That's the easy part. But loving God above everything can seem difficult. In this message, Pastor Mike teaches from the book of Hebrews to remind us of a very important truth: God will help us through …
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Next time something difficult or unexpected happens, will you go into a place of panic, uncertainty, and worry? Or is there a beautiful narrow path of peace and hope that you can take? That path is the promises of God—the topic of Pastor Mike's next sermon series, "God's Promises to You." Join Pastor Mike and Amber Albee Swenson as they talk about …
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Sometimes we may feel as though we're not blessed financially. Even though we live in a prosperous age, many factors determine the kinds of financial struggles we have. In the first message of this new series, "God's Promises to You," Pastor Mike explains a true and comforting promise of God. Namely, despite any struggle we have, God will be there …
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In the final message of “Confusing Things Christians Say,” we explore what “being called” means. Often, when we have a strong desire to do something good or something that betters society, we tend to say we felt called to do it. But what does that actually mean in the Bible? Pastor Mike explains what being called as a child of God means and why tha…
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“Hate the sin; love the sinner” is something most Christians have heard or even said. But can that actually work? Our emotions are tied to the people we love while the same emotions are also tied to the sin that we know God detests. It can certainly feel like we’re walking on a narrow road. But, Pastor Mike says, we can walk that narrow road with t…
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It's been said that taking 10,000 steps a day is beneficial for our physical health. And just like walking physically, we walk spiritually too. In this message, Pastor Mike unpacks three essential connections between our daily, physical steps and our spiritual walk with God. He also provides encouragement for aligning our paths with God’s promises,…
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Loneliness affects our personal health. But what can we do to stop this loneliness epidemic when work is online and relationships take the form of texts and social media? There's something we can take part in today—but it is a confusing word called "fellowship." And fellowship requires work. In this message, Pastor Mike explains what kind of work g…
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"It's a relationship, not a religion” is something often said in Christian communities. But is it possible to live somewhere in the middle of those two words? Can we be religious and seek a relationship with God at the same time? Pastor Mike teaches that the two words truly mingle and that being a Christian means you are a part of a “religious rela…
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Even though there are meaningful, rich, and even profound sayings in the church, sometimes they do not make sense. Understanding them comes before appreciating them. And that is what Pastor Mike will help us do in this series, “Confusing things Christians Say.” In this episode, Pastor Mike outlines what the phrase “born again” means, from repenting…
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What exactly does "born again" mean? How about "a relationship, not a religion"? Pastor Mike and Amber Albee Swenson dissect some of the phrases Christians often say—but may not know what they mean—as they preview the next six-part TV message series, "Confusing Things Christians Say." Other phrases they tackle: "fellowship," "walk with God," "hate …
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Many people, believers and unbelievers alike, have questions about the Bible and its legitimacy. No matter where you fall on this scale, sometimes you just want evidence. In this final message from the series at the Museum of the Bible, Pastor Mike teaches from the Bible Manuscript Room, proving the authorship of the Bible and explaining the key pi…
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Was the Bible written by a person with an agenda? Or maybe by someone who simply held strong spiritual ideas? How would you finish the question, “The Bible is ... ”? If you are unclear about where the Bible comes from, in this message Pastor Mike explores the Bible's origins and shows why you can trust it and why trusting it matters. Get your own l…
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How do we get past life's hurdles? The answer to our shame, sin, and weakness is in the Bible. From the first of three messages from the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., Pastor Mike teaches about the most prolific book ever—the Bible. From Abraham Lincoln to Rosa Parks, people throughout history have found the Bible impactful. And it contin…
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Get ready for a special, one-of-a-kind series! Pastor Mike and Amber Albee Swenson give a sneak peek at our next sermon series that was shot on location from the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C.! In this new three-part series, "Why the Bible Matters," Pastor Mike dives deep into the Bible's impact, its origin, how God speaks to us through th…
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Why do we struggle to believe that God's grace is for everyone—even for those who have hurt us? That's the same struggle Jonah had as he wrestled with God for saving Jonah's enemies. It is tempting for us to draw a line, put ourselves on the right side of it, and think we're the only people God should love. But as Pastor Mike wraps up the book of J…
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If God so loved the world that he sent Jesus to die for us, why do we need to repent? What does "repent" even mean? To answer these questions, Pastor Mike takes us through chapter 3 of the book of Jonah and gives us four takeaways about what it means to repent and how we know we are repenting. Get your copy of “Rewrite Your Story: A Guide to the Li…
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When we mess up and feel so far away from God, one of the hardest things to do is to cry out to God. We find ourselves thinking, "Why would God listen to the cry of someone in such a desperate, rock-bottom situation?" However, as Pastor Mike teaches from the book of Jonah, sometimes we need to hit rock bottom to realize our constant need for God an…
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The book of Jonah isn’t about a big fish. In fact, it’s not even about the prophet Jonah. Instead, it’s about God and his insane love for ALL people—even “those people,” those we often regard as being furthest from God and least deserving. Which, Pastor Mike says, actually includes . . . us. This message kicks off a series that takes us through the…
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It's tempting to think that we just need to wait out this broken world until Jesus comes back, to think that joy only begins with heaven. But the apostle Peter tells us that right now, even during our struggles and challenges, an inexpressible joy is possible. Part 2 of 2. Today's Tough Question: Is Manifestation Compatible With Christianity? ** Pr…
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It's tempting to think that we just need to wait out this broken world until Jesus comes back, to think that joy only begins with heaven. But the apostle Peter tells us that right now, even during our struggles and challenges, an inexpressible joy is possible. Today's Tough Question: Is it Sinful to Use Preferred Pronouns? ** Program note: This is …
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Spoiler alert: the book of Jonah is NOT about a big fish. Pastor Mike and Amber Albee Swenson talk about what the book of Jonah IS actually about: God's love for his people. In their deep dive discussion, they also found ways to talk about poisonous frogs, how we can avoid falling into political divisions (hang out with Amber!), what God may think …
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What happens if something gets in between you and the promise of heaven? At first glance, the Bible's answer may sound contradictory. But as Pastor Mike digs into the apostle Peter's letter that he wrote to friends who were being persecuted, we see why we can turn our fear into peace. Part 2 of 2. Today's Tough Questions: 1. Where is heaven? 2. Why…
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Amber Albee Swenson, co-host of the "Behind the Series" episodes on this podcasts, shares an announcement regarding podcast programming.Time of Grace Ministry
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What happens if something gets in between you and the promise of heaven? At first glance, the Bible's answer may sound contradictory. But as Pastor Mike digs into the apostle Peter's letter that he wrote to friends who were being persecuted, we see why we can turn our fear into peace. Part 1 of 2. Today's Tough Questions: 1. Anxiety and Depression:…
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Sometimes we feel stuck in our relationship with God. There's pain, suffering, frustration in our lives. Maybe we're just lukewarm about our faith. So how do we get closer to God? Pastor Mike says to start with writing a eulogy—about God. Part 2 of 2. Today's Tough Question: Does God choose everyone but knows which ones will reject him? ** Program …
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Sometimes we feel stuck in our relationship with God. There's pain, suffering, frustration in our lives. Maybe we're just lukewarm about our faith. So how do we get closer to God? Pastor Mike says to start with writing a eulogy—about God. Part 1 of 2. Today's Tough Question: How Do Christians Handle Life in a World That's Hostile? ** Program note: …
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Paul’s famous words about love come not in the context of a wedding celebration but in the context of a church family who did not appreciate their God-given differences. This message pushes God’s diverse people toward humility, appreciation, and love--the glue that holds the body of Christ together. Part 2 of 2. Today's Tough Questions: 1. How Do Y…
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Paul’s famous words about love come not in the context of a wedding celebration but in the context of a church family who did not appreciate their God-given differences. This message pushes God’s diverse people toward humility, appreciation, and love--the glue that holds the body of Christ together. Part 1 of 2. Today's Tough Questions: 1. Am I All…
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Feeling “less than” is one of the devil’s best tricks. We notice what we’re not, what we can’t do, what’s uncomfortable, what’s out of our skill set. But Paul saves us from envy and discouragement by reminding us all that God didn’t design every part of the body to do everything. By his design you can’t do this or that. Let go of the guilt. Give up…
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Feeling “less than” is one of the devil’s best tricks. We notice what we’re not, what we can’t do, what’s uncomfortable, what’s out of our skill set. But Paul saves us from envy and discouragement by reminding us all that God didn’t design every part of the body to do everything. By his design you can’t do this or that. Let go of the guilt. Give up…
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Scripture and experience teach us that people are different. Like different parts of the body, God intentionally decided to make each of us different from everyone else. That truth has the potential to make us better and stronger . . . or, if we ignore it, to make us frustrated at everyone who is not our mirror image. Part 2 of 2. Today's Tough Que…
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Scripture and experience teach us that people are different. Like different parts of the body, God intentionally decided to make each of us different from everyone else. That truth has the potential to make us better and stronger . . . or, if we ignore it, to make us frustrated at everyone who is not our mirror image. Part 1 of 2. Today's Tough Que…
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As Paul begins his discussion of the “body of Christ,” he reminds us of the big picture. Baptism. Spirit. Spiritual thirst quenched by the gospel. What the church has in common is exponentially bigger than our differences. He does the same in Ephesians chapter 4, repeating the unity we have in Jesus—one Lord, one faith, one hope, one God. Therefore…
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As Paul begins his discussion of the “body of Christ,” he reminds us of the big picture. Baptism. Spirit. Spiritual thirst quenched by the gospel. What the church has in common is exponentially bigger than our differences. He does the same in Ephesians chapter 4, repeating the unity we have in Jesus—one Lord, one faith, one hope, one God. Therefore…
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There's always another awful headline, another hypocrite, another problem we want to fix in our broken world. If only it were as easy as plucking out the bad people from the good. But we know it's not that simple. It's for these moments of frustration that Jesus told this particular story of the weeds and the wheat to give us hope. Part 2 of 2. Tod…
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There's always another awful headline, another hypocrite, another problem we want to fix in our broken world. If only it were as easy as plucking out the bad people from the good. But we know it's not that simple. It's for these moments of frustration that Jesus told this particular story of the weeds and the wheat to give us hope. Part 1 of 2. Tod…
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It's going to cost us to follow Jesus. He was upfront about us needing to give up the things we treasure. But, Jesus also said, joyfully giving up the things we have is possible when we find a superior treasure. Through two short parables Jesus told, Pastor Mike helps us see what this treasure is. Part 2 of 2. Today's Tough Question: Is Jesus Actua…
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It's going to cost us to follow Jesus. He was upfront about us needing to give up the things we treasure. But, Jesus also said, joyfully giving up the things we have is possible when we find a superior treasure. Through two short parables Jesus told, Pastor Mike helps us see what this treasure is. Part 1 of 2. Today's Tough Question: Why Do We Take…
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We live in a culture that often says bigger is better, as we easily dismiss the small and mundane as too insignificant to be powerful. But believing this common trope can be spiritually dangerous. Pastor Mike walks us through two of the smallest stories Jesus ever told that give us a really big message for the average moments of our spiritual lives…
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We live in a culture that often says bigger is better, as we easily dismiss the small and mundane as too insignificant to be powerful. But believing this common trope can be spiritually dangerous. Pastor Mike walks us through two of the smallest stories Jesus ever told that give us a really big message for the average moments of our spiritual lives…
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God’s Word doesn't always seem to work in our lives. We share it, read it, and hear it, but it doesn’t seem to change us spiritually. That's because the Word of God, Jesus said, is like a seed—it's packed with potential, but it is also small and vulnerable. How vulnerable? Pastor Mike identifies these everyday threats to God's Word that can stop us…
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God’s Word doesn't always seem to work in our lives. We share it, read it, and hear it, but it doesn’t seem to change us spiritually. That's because the Word of God, Jesus said, is like a seed—it's packed with potential, but it is also small and vulnerable. How vulnerable? Pastor Mike identifies these everyday threats to God's Word that can stop us…
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Pastor Mike and Amber Albee Swenson give us a preview of the next TV message series, "Jesus' Growth Plan for Me." While discussing Jesus' parables, which this series is based on, they also tell of the "mustard seed moments" that changed both Mike's and Amber's lives (both involve their moms), what Amber has in common with Dwight Shrute, and that on…
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