Can Christians celebrate Halloween? Katie and Pastor Dom (dressed as cowboys, naturally 🤠) dig into what the Bible says about Halloween, where the holiday actually came from, and how believers can approach it with wisdom, freedom, and love for their neighbors.In Episode 13 of Grace Out Loud, the podcast for conversations about faith that you don't hear every Sunday, we unpack the origins of Halloween in All Hallows' Eve and All Saints' Day, why Halloween gets a bad rap in the church, and what Scripture says about witchcraft and the occult (Deuteronomy 18:10–12). We look at three ways Christians approach the holiday (rejecting it, redeeming it, or treating it as harmless fun) and how Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 8 on food sacrificed to idols helps us think about conscience, Christian freedom, and not becoming a stumbling block to others.We also talk about whether Christians should watch scary movies or horror movies, how to practice discernment with the media we consume (Philippians 4:8), and how to be in the world without being conformed to it (Romans 12:2). Plus: Trunk or Treat and other church Halloween events, why Halloween is one of the best nights of the year to get to know your neighbors, favorite Halloween candy, childhood costumes, and pumpkin carving.Whether you're trick-or-treating, hosting a harvest festival, or skipping Halloween altogether, remember that God loves you. Happy Halloween! 🎃⏱️ CHAPTERS0:00 Intro1:07 Halloween candy & costumes3:17 Can Christians celebrate Halloween?5:50 What does the Bible say?7:00 1 Corinthians 8 and the "stumbling block"10:24 Should Christians watch scary movies?13:43 Trunk or Treat & loving your neighbors18:36 Pumpkin carving & final thoughts💬 How does your family approach Halloween? Tell us in the comments!MB015U3RTCRNZ3OMB01BW9DLNUHLBF

Meet Pastor Mateus de Campos, Grace Chapel’s new Senior Pastor, and hear the story of his faith, ministry, family, and calling to lead Grace Chapel.In this episode of Grace Out Loud, Pastor Mateus shares about growing up in Brazil, coming to faith at a young age, leaving a career path in computers to pursue ministry, and how God eventually led his family to New England.He also talks about his approach to biblical preaching, his passion for discipleship, and what excites him most about the future of Grace Chapel and the opportunity to make an impact for the gospel throughout New England.In this episode:• Pastor Mateus’ faith journey and calling to ministry • His family and years of ministry around the world • His approach to preaching and Scripture • Why discipleship is so important to him • His vision for Grace Chapel’s next chapter Grace Out Loud is a podcast from Grace Chapel featuring conversations about faith, life, ministry, and the stories you don’t always hear on Sunday.Subscribe for more conversations from Grace Chapel.#GraceChapel #GraceOutLoud #MateusDeCampos #ChristianPodcast #Discipleship #Faith #ChristianLeadership

How do I pray? Does God hear me? And what happens when the answer isn’t what I hoped for?In Episode 11 of Grace Out Loud, we explore what it means to build an honest, everyday prayer life. From the Lord’s Prayer and the Psalms to unanswered prayers and seasons of waiting, this conversation offers encouragement for anyone learning to talk with God and trust him more deeply.We talk about:• Getting started with prayer without needing perfect words• Using the Lord’s Prayer as a foundation• Finding comfort and honesty in the Psalms• Growing closer to God while waiting for answers• Navigating closed doors and uncertainty about God’s direction• Making room for prayer in a busy dayWhether you’re new to prayer or looking to renew your routine, there’s a simple place to begin: show up honestly and spend time with God.What helps you make time for prayer? Share in the comments.

What does baptism mean—and do you need to be baptized to be saved?In Episode 10 of Grace Out Loud, Katie and Dom explore the biblical meaning of baptism, why Jesus chose to be baptized, and how baptism represents an outward expression of an inward faith.They also discuss:• How baptism began in the Bible• The relationship between baptism and salvation• How to prepare for baptism• Why sharing your testimony matters• Infant baptism and being baptized as an adult• Renewing your baptismal vows• Following Jesus after baptismWhether you are considering baptism, returning to your faith, or simply curious about what Christians believe, this conversation offers a thoughtful and approachable place to begin.Interested in learning more? Explore Alpha, connect with someone at Grace Chapel, or join an upcoming Explore Baptism class.Learn more about Grace Chapel: https://www.grace.org#Baptism #ChristianFaith #FollowingJesus #GraceChapel #GraceOutLoud

Our first episode of the Grace Out Loud podcast starts with a look at one of the most common words used to described our faith: "journey." What does the Christian journey of faith look like? 
Katie, our host, and Dom, a pastor, share openly, honestly, and conversationally about what it means to walk the journey of faith.

Feeling overwhelmed by the Bible? You're not alone. In Episode 9 of Grace Out Loud (Series 3: Connecting with God), we break down exactly how to approach Scripture without the stress or the "task-rabbit" guilt. Whether you're opening a Bible for the first time or looking to refresh your daily routine, we discuss practical tips for where to start, how to choose the right translation (NIV, ESV, NKJV), and why community is the secret to deeper understanding. Plus, we share our favorite summer vacation plans—from Maine to Bar Harbor—and give you the inside scoop on our Grace Chapel summer reading program (and how you could win tickets to a Red Sox game!). 👇 Let us know in the comments: What is your favorite summer activity? 🔔 Don't forget to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to stay connected with the Grace Chapel community! In This Episode:Where to Start: Why the Gospel of John and the Book of James are perfect for beginners. Translations Explained: The difference between word-for-word and thought-for-thought translations. Historical Context: How to build a bridge between the ancient text and your life today. Favorite Books: Why Jonah is a comedic masterpiece and Psalms is the ultimate comfort read. #HowToReadTheBible #BibleStudyForBeginners #GraceOutLoud #ChristianPodcast #FaithJourney #BibleTranslations #GraceChapel #BookOfJonah #BookOfPsalms #christiancommunity

Welcome back to Grace Out Loud, the podcast for honest conversations about faith that you don’t always hear on a Sunday morning.In Episode 8, Katie and Dom are joined by a very special guest—our Pastor Emeritus, Bryan Wilkerson! After stepping down from full-time ministry, Bryan shares his candid experience of visiting different churches as a regular attendee. He tackles the surprisingly common question: "Do we even want to go to church today?"If you've ever felt disconnected walking into a new church or wondered what makes a church community truly impactful, this episode provides incredible insight from a pastor who recently got to experience the "guest perspective" firsthand.

Welcome to the season finale of our second series! In this episode of Grace Out Loud, Katie and Dom wrap up The Christian Journey by taking a hard look at modern Christianity.How do we build a true relationship with God in a hyper-digital world filled with online services, endless scrolling, and constant distractions? We break down consumer-driven faith, the "church shopper" mentality, and how technology is shifting spiritual accountability.In This Episode, We Discuss:The Tech Cleanse: A month without a smartphone vs. a year without TV—which would you choose?From Acts to Wi-Fi: How the algorithm is introducing young adults to faith late at night.The "Church Shopper" Mentality: Navigating consumerism in a culture where people stream a service seven times before visiting in person.Insider vs. Outsider Churches: Balancing care for long-time members while staying radically hospitable to the next person walking through the door.Digital Bible Studies: How high school students are using the Bible App to read Scripture and build community together.

Welcome to Grace Out Loud, the podcast for honest conversations about faith that you don’t always hear on a Sunday morning. In this second part of our series, The Christian Journey, we move from the history books to real life as Katie and Dom share their own personal faith stories and testimonies.If you’ve ever wondered how to find your purpose outside of your career or how to handle seasons of doubt in your faith, this episode is for you.In This Episode, We Discuss:Ancestors vs. Descendants: A fun "would you rather" on meeting the people who made us or the generations to come.The Search for Meaning: Why humans are naturally drawn to transcendence and asking the "bigger questions" about why we are here.Identity Beyond the Job: Katie shares her journey from being a reporter in the NHL to discovering who she is as a person with a relationship with Jesus.Belonging Without Earning It: Dom reflects on his transition from being "nominally Catholic" to finding a youth group community that welcomed him before he ever felt "cool" enough to fit in.Wrestling with God: Dealing with the "trapdoor" moments of losing your faith and why the struggle, much like Jacob's in the Bible, is often the point of growth.Answering the Call: How Dom decided to become a pastor and how Katie pivoted into digital storytelling for the church.#christianfaithjourney #FindingYourPurpose #RelationshipwithGod #DealingwithDoubt #PersonalTestimony #IdentityinChrist

Welcome to the kickoff of Series 2: The Christian Journey! Now that we’ve wrapped up our "Faith Basics" series, Katie and Dom are moving beyond the fundamentals to explore what it actually means to live out this faith every day. In this episode, we tackle the big question: What is Christianity? We dive into the history, the evolution of the church, and why there are over 45,000 different denominations today. In This Episode, We Discuss:Historical Time Travel: Before getting nerdy with theology, Dom and Katie share which historical events they’d witness firsthand—ranging from the moon landing to Noah’s Ark and the 1980 "Miracle on Ice". Relationship vs. Religion: Is Christianity a relationship or a religion? We discuss how it’s a personal relationship with Jesus that is lived out through the practices and community of the church. The Origins of "The Way": How a group of "ordinary rebels" in ancient Rome became known as "Little Christs" through self-sacrificial love and helping those society cast out. The Protestant Reformation: How Martin Luther and the printing press changed everything by putting the Bible into the hands of everyday people. Theological Triage: Understanding the difference between "primary issues" (like the Resurrection) and "secondary issues" where reasonable minds can disagree. What is Non-Denominational? Exploring "Generous Orthodoxy"—majoring in the majors and minoring in the minors to create a diverse, welcoming worship community. Key Takeaways on the Christian Faith:The Core: Christianity is centered on the person of Jesus—who He is and what He did—rather than just a system of "do’s and don’ts". The Values: Key pillars include love for God, love for neighbors, repentance, and forgiveness. The Identity: Through faith, believers are "adopted" into God's family, moving from being followers to being His children.

What is Salvation? | Grace Out Loud: Episode 4In the final installment of our Faith Basics series, we’re tackling the "big one": Salvation. It’s a topic that could take five minutes or ten years to unpack, but we’re diving into the heart of what it means to be "saved," the reality of the Kingdom of God, and why our imagination matters when we think about the afterlife.We move past the fiery layers of Dante’s Inferno and look at what the Bible actually says about heaven and hell—focusing on the concepts of unity versus separation. Plus, we explore C.S. Lewis’s "The Great Divorce," the "Already/Not Yet" nature of God's Kingdom, and a very important discussion about whether red pandas and dolphins (and our beloved pets) make the cut for eternity.In This Episode, We Discuss:The Dinner Party Icebreaker: From Morgan Freeman’s voice to Adam Sandler’s comedies.Hell vs. Gehenna: Distinguishing between pop culture’s version of the afterlife and the biblical reality of separation.Orientation Over Labels: Why following Jesus is more about the direction you’re facing than which "circle" you’re in.The Already/Not Yet: How the Kingdom of God is present in our communities today while we wait for its completion.Pets in Heaven: C.S. Lewis’s perspective on the immortality of our animals and the "Rainbow Bridge."

What’s up, everybody! Welcome to the third episode of Grace Out Loud, where we dive into conversations about faith that you usually don’t hear on a Sunday morning.In this special Holy Week edition, Katie and Dom celebrate the excitement of Easter while getting real about the "faith basics" surrounding Jesus’ journey to the cross and the miracle of the resurrection.In this episode, we discuss:Easter Traditions & Rivalries: From Katie’s "Scary Katie" cheering voice at the Hockey East Championship to Dom’s tragic "Kevin from The Office" moment with a plate of homemade Italian Cappelletti.The Suffering of the Cross: Why would an all-loving God let His Son endure such pain and humiliation? We explore how the crucifixion isn't just a story of tragedy, but the ultimate display of love and trust.The Humanity of Peter: We break down the story of Peter’s three denials and what it teaches us about our own failures, humility, and the beautiful grace of restoration.Finding Jesus in the Ordinary: Using the story of Mary Magdalene at the tomb, we talk about how easy it is to miss God when He’s standing right in front of us in the "everyday" moments of life.The Reality of Pastoring: Dom gets honest about being a pastor and the misconception that he has all the answers.Whether you’re a lifelong believer or just starting to explore your faith, join us for a look at the "underdog story" that changed the world.Happy Easter from the Grace Out Loud team!

In this episode of Grace Out Loud, Katie and Pastor Dom dive into the foundational questions surrounding the Holy Bible. They balance deep "nerdy" theological insights with relatable personal stories about their own reading habits and how ancient scripture connects to modern life.

Who is Jesus — really? In Episode 1 of Grace Out Loud, Pastor Dom Bronico and Katie Gaus unpack faith beyond rules and into relationship.