Scandalous Freedom

Scandalous Freedom Archive

Erik — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:32:59 +0000

Here's a complete archive of the Scandalous Freedom podcasts. It's a handy reference point if you missed any. Just click the title to go to that message and download or listen. It's also a great way to share the series with friends. Simply click the "mail" icon below to send this page.

In this series, Steve Brown disabuses you of your confusion about freedom, grace and forgiveness. In his inimitable style, Steve describes how real Christianity calls us to live beyond the boundaries, bolstered by the assurance that we cannot fall beyond God’s love. And real freedom…that’s just plain scandalous.

If listening online isn't your thing, you can also get the entire 27-message, Scandalous Freedom series on CD. It's the perfect companion to Steve Brown's popular book, A Scandalous Freedom: The Radical Nature of the Gospel.

Click here to get the CDs.

Click here to get the book.

Both make a excellent gifts for uptight religious folks. Plus, your donation will help support our efforts to share the message of radical freedom.

And now…the archive.

Free Means Free
Free…Really Free
Freedom's Power
Some Gods Need Killin'
Struggling with Truth
The Real Deal
The Perfection We Desire
Give Up
Be Still and Be Loved
"The Church is a whore…
The Good News of Cheap Grace
The Masks We Wear
The Power to Stop Pretending
Masks and Gurus
The Punishing Plagues of Putting People on Pedestals
Guilt and Isolation
The Enemies We Demonize
Three Startling Statements
The Humanity that Sets Us Free
The Boldness We Fear
The Way to Boldness
Bring the Pain
Kiss that Demon on the Lips
The Failure We Foster
The Law and Success
The Path We Avoid
Holding the Land
The Fellowship of the Free

The Fellowship of the Free

Erik — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 18:14:32 +0000

On the last Scandalous Freedom Podcast, one of Steve's suggestions for "Holding the Land" was to never forget the fellowship of the free.

Freedom and grace are at the heart of historical, orthodox Christianity. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. And while many have had a heart transplant by embracing stale old religion, thousands are rediscovering the good news of the good news.

Steve wouldn't say this about himself, so allow me…Steve Brown and Key Life Network have been instrumental in dislodging the religion stick from many in our generation. Thousands are part of the fellowship of the free because the trailblazing Old White Guy tells it like it is.

Over the years, a bunch of those people have decided to hang out with each other on our forums.

If you've been helped by the Scandalous Freedom Podcast, join the fellowship of the free on those forums at FreedomandGrace.com, and get more of Steve's teaching at KeyLife.org. It's all scandalously free!

Also, check back here regularly for more free resources.

Holding the Land

Erik — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 16:16:20 +0000

Today's podcast marks the end of our audio series on Scandalous Freedom. As you've listened to Steve, we hope that you've begun to discover the radical grace and freedom that's yours in Christ.

But watch out! When you walk in God's unconditional love, it's gonna drive the legalists nuts. While at times that can be a lot of fun, it's dangerous business being free. There are all kinds of forces that will work against your freedom. And if you start setting others free, brother…you're in for it.

Click play below to join Steve as he gives you some suggestions on how to hold on to your freedom in the face of people that will want to put you back in your prisons.

The Path We Avoid

Erik — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:56:18 +0000

At this point you may be saying, "Alright, I get it. Steve has me convinced. I want to be free. But how exactly do I do that? What are Dr. Brown's ten steps to freedom?"

Forget about it! If Steve told you how to be free, he'd be taking away your freedom. Just go be free…live free, speak with freedom, offend those who don't understand freedom, test it, walk in it, proclaim it…see if Jesus makes it real to you.

Kinda scary, huh?

Well, The Old White Guy has been down that road. Join Steve on the Scandalous Freedom Podcast #26 for a few pointers for navigating the pitfalls when taking the path that so many avoid.

The Law and Success

Erik — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 22:06:42 +0000

Something about religion can make us into insecure, self-doubting failures. Enough rules, regulations, and laws exist in every religion (including ours) to kill off any hope of ever measuring up.

On this week's Scandalous Freedom Podcast, Steve talks about the perfect law of God and how we misuse it to foster failure. Listen to hear how the preaching of the law without an understanding that it was given to send us to a loving and forgiving God will destroy our freedom (and the resulting success He would have for us).

The Failure We Foster

Erik — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 17:09:49 +0000

Many Christians live in a prison of failure. They aren't free and they don't succeed because they don't think they deserve it.

A misunderstanding of success, humility, and the law mixed up with bad psychology and worse theology have produced churches full of guilty people with a guilty preacher standing in the pulpit, telling the guilty people that they should feel guiltier. Can you think of a better recipe for failure?

Join Steve Brown for the Scandalous Freedom Podcast #24 as he clarifies some terms and cuts through the chains that keep us from becoming all God would have us to be.

Kiss that Demon on the Lips

Erik — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 19:56:24 +0000

Pain is a demon we run from as fast as we can. That's one of the reasons we aren't free. Jesus hangs out around pain and when we run from it, we run from Him.

On this week's Scandalous Freedom Podcast, Steve proposes a counterintuitive approach to dealing with pain (and the fear that it may come)… Don't run away. Run toward it. Face it. Then embrace that demon and kiss it on the lips. If you do, Jesus will be there to set you free.

Bring the Pain

Erik — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 02:10:35 +0000

"The tendency to avoid problems and the emotional suffering inherent in them is the primary basis of all human mental illness."
-M. Scott Peck

Steve Brown has some bad news and some good news for you. He's a Presbyterian, so you're gonna get the bad news first. Specifically, life isn't easy and pretending it is or should be will put you in a prison of guilt and anger.

Join Steve on this week's Scandalous Freedom Podcast for the freeing truth about pain. I know, I know, but it's not as bad as it sounds. Check it out.

The Way to Boldness

Erik — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 20:55:49 +0000

How did some Christians end up being such cowards? And how can they get their mojo back? Real boldness comes from the freedom of having nothing left to lose.

Join Steve Brown for this week's Scandalous Freedom Podcast as he reminds us of the truth, the unsaved, and "the threat," and how they point us back to boldness.

The Boldness We Fear

Erik — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 14:12:16 +0000

Some Christians are on the verge of irrelevance. But those who have discovered they don't have anything to protect and nothing to lose, who have learned that Jesus is in charge and that it doesn't matter what others think about them or do to them…those Christians are dangerous.

Check out this week's Scandalous Freedom Podcast to hear Steve talk about the fact that Jesus didn't die to make Christians nice. Deal with it!

The Humanity that Sets Us Free

Erik — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 12:47:13 +0000

We are all pretty much alike: sinful, afraid, lonely, regretful, sometimes doubting, sometimes right, sometimes wrong, angry, loving, hateful, selfish, kind, wounded, and very human. When we realize how much we have in common with those we tend to demonize, we've taken a big step toward diminishing our "enemies'" power over us.

This week on the Scandalous Freedom Podcast, Steve discusses the freedom that comes from the realization that nobody can speak as an outsider of the human race.

Three Startling Statements

Erik — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 20:10:15 +0000

Christians don't have to pretend to be good. We don't have to be right. And we don't have to fight a battle that's already won.

Those statements run contrary to much of what we've been fed. As a result, many of us have handed the keys of our prisons over to enemies that don't even exist. And while these enemies are imaginary, we remain bound nonetheless.

Join Steve Brown on this week's Scandalous Freedom Podcast for an in-depth look at those 3 startling statements that will give you back the freedom you've given to others.

Don't forget, all past episodes of Scandalous Freedom are archived on this page. Listen here or download them and listen later. Then hit the "Subscribe!" button to get the rest of the series delivered free each week.

The Enemies We Demonize

Erik — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:45:50 +0000

"If I were a gravedigger, or even a hangman, there are some people I could work for with a great deal of pleasure." -Douglas Jerrold

If the liberals are destroying your faith, if the gays are destroying the foundations of the family, if the apostate Christians are destroying the Church, if the warmongering conservatives are destroying the world, and if you have to do battle with them all…you can't just be the person God created you to be.

You have to become a soldier! You have to read the Bible to prove they are wrong! You have to prepare your arguments! You must never let your guard down! And eventually, you will end up bound in a prison of your own making.

Join Steve for the Scandalous Freedom Podcast #17 as he talks about how demonizing people will destroy your freedom.

Guilt and Isolation

Erik — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 01:57:46 +0000

When a Christian leader acts as if he or she has a hotline to God and knows all, don't listen to that leader. You'll end up suffering under tremendous guilt. What's more, when you affirm that kind of nonsense in a leader, you subject him or her to a prison where it's impossible to be free.

On this week's Scandalous Freedom Podcast, Steve discusses the plagues of Guilt and Isolation that result from putting people on pedestals.

Listen by clicking the "Play" button or "Play in Popup." Get future shows delivered free by clicking the "Subscribe!" button in the header of this page.

The Punishing Plagues of Putting People on Pedestals

Erik — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 18:27:08 +0000

When we worship at the altar of another human being, we chain ourselves (and our idol) to unattainable expectations that destroy our freedom to risk, think, feel, and be who God created us to be. Wars have been fought, churches have been divided and damaged, and Christians have been manipulated, bound, and hurt, all because we worshiped at some imperfect person's pedestal.

Join Steve Brown for a look at the plagues of Irresponsibility and Disservice that result from deifying authority figures in our families and churches. Listen to the Scandalous Freedom Podcast #15 by clicking the "play" button or "Play in Popup." Get future shows delivered free by clicking the "Subscribe!" button in the header of this page.

For more on healthy, grace-based leadership, click here to listen to Steve talk with Dan Allender about his book Leading with a Limp: Turning Your Struggles into Strengths.