Shows
Followed By MercyThe Pharisee in the Mirror: Breaking Free from LegalismSend us a textWe all know the "Pharisee" characters in the Bible—the ones who stood on street corners and judged others. But the "Pharisee spirit" is more subtle than we think. It’s the inner voice that prioritizes rules over relationships and performance over presence.In this episode, Austin Gardner dives into the mirror of his own 50-year journey in leadership and missions. He discusses how legalism often starts as a desire for excellence but can end up as a shield that prevents us from being truly vulnerable with God and others.In this...
2026-01-2809 min
Followed By MercyThe God Who Sees: Finding Hope When You Feel InvisibleSend us a textThere are moments in life when we feel completely alone, as if no one truly understands the depth of our pain or the weight of our burdens. But Scripture reminds us of a powerful name for God: El Roi—The God Who Sees.In this second episode of our podcast, Austin Gardner shares from his own journey of overcoming health battles and deep personal loss to show how God’s presence is most real in the places we think are hidden.In this episode, we discuss:The story of H...
2026-01-2708 min
Followed By MercyStop Waiting for "Perfect" to Find Peace | The Big Leap of FaithSend us a texthttps://waustingardner.com/the-big-leap-of-faith-believing-god-loves-you-exactly-as-you-are/W. Austin GardnerPodcast: followedbymercy.buzzsprout.comhttps://waustingardner.com/book-page/oAre you waiting until your life is "perfect" before you finally approach God? In this episode, we talk about the "Internal Delay"—the feeling that we have to clean ourselves up before we are worthy of peace.The truth is, the greatest leap of faith isn’t just believing God exists; it’s believing He loves you exactly as you are, right in the middle of your mess.
2026-01-2609 minFollowed By MercyRemembering Our Peace: The Transformative Power of ChristSend us a textsummaryIn this engaging sermon, Austin Gardner delves into Ephesians chapter two, emphasizing the importance of remembering our past and recognizing the transformative power of Christ in our lives. He highlights how Christians often forget their former state of being without Christ, which can lead to a sense of superiority over others. Gardner stresses that salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our own good works, and encourages listeners to reflect on their journey from being lost to being found in Christ. He passionately...
2026-01-1929 minFollowed By MercyFrom Strangers to Family: Embracing God's LoveSend us a textsummaryIn this episode, Austin Gardner delves into Ephesians 2:11 and emphasizes the importance of remembering our past before coming to faith in Jesus. He highlights that this remembrance is not about guilt but about gratitude for the transformation that Jesus brings into our lives. Gardner explains how, prior to Christ, we were without hope and without God, illustrating the barriers that existed between humanity and the divine. He paints a vivid picture of the temple's structure, showing how Jesus broke down these barriers, allowing everyone access to...
2026-01-1706 minFollowed By MercyBold Access, Shared Promise: Ephesians 3 ExplainedSend us a textsummaryIn this episode, Austin Gardner delves into Ephesians, particularly focusing on the themes of grace and the ministry given to the Apostle Paul. He emphasizes that salvation is a gift from God, not based on human works, and highlights the importance of understanding our roles in ministry as servants to others. Gardner shares how Paul, despite being imprisoned, viewed his situation positively, seeing himself as a 'prisoner of Jesus Christ' rather than a victim. This perspective encourages listeners to recognize their purpose in serving God and...
2026-01-1610 minFollowed By MercyYou Were A Spiritual Alien; Now You’ve Got VIP AccessSend us a textsummaryIn this conversation, Austin and Robert discuss the significance of daily devotion and the importance of remembering one's past in relation to faith. They explore the themes of identity in Christ, the transformative power of Jesus' sacrifice, and the assurance of God's presence and love in our lives. The discussion emphasizes the need for gratitude and recognition of God's work in our lives, especially during challenging times.takeawaysSpend time daily in the Bible for spiritual growth.There are...
2026-01-0513 minFollowed By MercyWhen Christ Feels At Home In YouSend us a textsummaryIn this conversation, Austin Gardner explores the profound themes of Christ's love and the intimate relationship believers can have with Him. He emphasizes the importance of being rooted in love, understanding our identity in Christ, and the transformative power of surrendering to God's love. The discussion highlights how this relationship is not about performance but about experiencing the fullness of God's presence in our lives.takeawaysChrist's love is foundational to our identity.Being rooted in love allows us...
2026-01-0208 minFollowed By MercyGrace And Peace: A Prayer For 2026Send us a textsummaryIn this heartfelt message, Austin Gardner offers blessings and prayers for the new year, emphasizing the importance of grace, peace, and God's unconditional love. He encourages listeners to embrace their worthiness through Jesus and to live free from past burdens, focusing on the blessings that God has in store for them in 2026.takeawaysThis year, I pray you'll stop trying to prove you're worthy.Only grace can heal what guilt and striving never could.God wants his people to...
2026-01-0106 minFollowed By MercyFaithfulness Over ApplauseSend us a textsummaryIn this conversation, Austin Gardner reflects on the nature of ministry, emphasizing that true success is measured not by popularity or comfort, but by endurance through suffering and faithfulness to God. He draws insights from 2 Corinthians 6, discussing the contradictions in ministry and the importance of serving God despite challenges. The conversation encourages listeners to focus on their commitment to God rather than seeking validation from others.takeawaysThe true proof of ministry is what you've gone through.Success is...
2026-01-0107 minFollowed By MercyLove That Washes The UnworthySend us a textIn this conversation, Austin Gardner reflects on the profound love of Jesus, particularly in the context of washing Judas's feet. He explores the challenge of loving unconditionally, acknowledging his own struggles with selfishness. Gardner emphasizes that true love comes from allowing Christ to live through us, transforming our actions and attitudes. He discusses the importance of surrendering to the Holy Spirit, which enables believers to forgive, serve, and love others without conditions. The conversation culminates in a call to action, encouraging listeners to embody Christ's love in their daily lives....
2025-12-3005 minFollowed By MercyThe Gift of Grace: Understanding Ephesians 2Send us a textIn this conversation, Austin Gardner explores the themes of spiritual state, God's role in our lives, the nature of sin, and the transformative power of God's mercy and grace. He emphasizes that salvation is a gift from God, not something we can achieve on our own, and highlights the importance of trusting in God's plan for our lives.God never asked you to fix you.We were dead in our sins, cut off from God.You didn't fix things with God; He did it all.God's mercy is rich...
2025-12-2930 minFollowed By MercyLight In A Dark ChristmasSend us a textThis conversation explores the themes of light and darkness during the Christmas season, emphasizing that while Christmas can be a time of joy, it can also bring forth feelings of grief and darkness. Austin highlights that God enters into our darkness rather than waiting for it to dissipate. The message is one of hope, assuring listeners that the light of God shines even in the darkest times and that they are not alone in their struggles. Ultimately, the conversation reassures that darkness does not have the final word, and God's love and light...
2025-12-1808 minFollowed By MercyFrom Orphan Mindset to Beloved: The Cure for Everyday SelfishnessSend us a textWhat if the self-protection you’ve been practicing is the very thing stealing your peace? From a quiet hotel room in Arequipa, while traveling and staying ahead on upcoming shows, Austin speaks to the listener who feels forgotten, unseen, and tired of fighting alone. Bitterness, he says, can sound like wisdom and look like strength, but it slowly becomes a hidden prison. We call it boundaries, but sometimes it’s fear in disguise.In this episode, we talk honestly about how selfishness hides in self-pity, in the need to win the last...
2025-10-2013 minFollowed By MercyAbiding in the Vine: Finding Rest in Your True IdentitySend us a textFreedom dawns when you finally grasp who you are in Christ. In this episode of Followed by Mercy, Robert Canfield, David Gardner, and I talk about what it means to live from your true identity instead of striving through religious performance.We examine Ephesians 1 and celebrate the breathtaking truth that believers are holy, blameless, and spotless, not because of what we do, but because of what Jesus has already done. Many Christians live as if they have two competing natures, but the gospel tells us our old nature was cut away...
2025-10-0634 minFollowed By MercyThe Inheritance Beyond Our Failures: God's Unwavering PurposeSend us a textHave you ever wondered if your failures disqualified you from God’s plan? Maybe you’ve thought your mistakes derailed what He intended for your life. In this episode, we turn to Ephesians 1:11 and discover the freeing truth that God’s purpose for us isn’t built on our performance but on our position in Christ.Robert Canfield and I talk about how God’s plan unfolds according to His will, not our ability to get everything right. When He adopts you into His family, He already has a destiny in mind, a...
2025-10-0312 minFollowed By MercyYou Are Not Your Performance, You Are In ChristSend us a textWhat would your life look like if you truly understood your identity in Christ? In this episode of Followed By Mercy, Austin Gardner and Robert Canfield explore the freedom that comes when we stop striving to earn what God has already given us.Drawing from Ephesians 1:11, they unpack the difference between being “in Adam” and being “in Christ.” This isn’t just theology; it changes how we see ourselves, how we face our struggles, and how we grow. True transformation doesn’t come from rules, programs, or self-effort. It comes from God working...
2025-10-0224 minFollowed By MercyEphesians 1: How God Makes Us Holy, Not How We Make Ourselves HolySend us a textWhat if everything you thought about holiness was backwards? What if, instead of working hard to become holy enough for God, you discovered He has already made you holy?In this episode, David Gardner joins us for a powerful conversation through Ephesians 1. Together, we uncover the life-changing truth that holiness isn’t earned by performance but given as a gift in Christ. From being blessed with every spiritual blessing, to being adopted as sons and daughters, to being accepted in the Beloved, Paul’s words reveal the depth of God’s grac...
2025-09-1223 minFollowed By MercyWhat If God Isn't Angry? A Fresh Look at Global OutreachSend us a textHave you ever considered that much of our approach to evangelism might be missing the point? In this episode, Austin Gardner and Robert Canfield explore a life-giving perspective on missions that reshapes how and why we share the gospel.At the center is a simple but powerful truth: we are not rescuing people from an angry God. God, who has already reconciled the world to Himself through Christ. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5, “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.” That means evangelism is not an obligation we carr...
2025-09-0227 minFollowed By MercyStop Polishing Your Binoculars for Other People's SinsSend us a textOur eyes reveal the condition of our hearts. When we measure ourselves against others, searching for someone “worse” to feel better about ourselves, we slip into what Jesus called an “evil eye.” This perspective is fueled by pride and fear, pride that elevates us above others and fear that, without comparison, we may not measure up.In this conversation, Austin Gardner and Robert Canfield look at Jesus’ vivid illustration in Matthew 7:3-5 about removing a speck from someone else’s eye while ignoring the beam in our own. His exaggerated picture driv...
2025-09-0128 minFollowed By MercyThe Distorted Lens: How Our Hearts Shape Our VisionSend us a textWhat shapes the way you see the world around you? In this conversation, Austin Gardner and Robert Canfield unpack the profound truth that what fills your heart determines what you notice and how you interpret life. Just like buying a Tesla suddenly makes you see them everywhere, your spiritual focus shapes your perception of reality.Many believers struggle with a distorted view of God. Instead of seeing Him as the generous and loving Father He reveals Himself to be, they see Him as harsh, demanding, and quick to punish. That...
2025-08-2918 minFollowed By MercyThe Battle Between Two Masters: Heaven's Treasures vs. Worldly DesiresSend us a textJesus’ words about the eye being “the lamp of the body” in Matthew 6 have left many people puzzled. In this heartfelt conversation, Austin Gardner and Robert Canfield dive into one of Christ’s most often misunderstood teachings and show how it speaks directly to our spiritual priorities.Jesus was not changing subjects when He spoke about eyes and light. He was deepening His call to treasure God above all else. The hosts explain how Jewish listeners would have understood the “evil eye” as greed, envy, and spiritual darkness. In...
2025-08-2821 minFollowed By MercyWhen You've Been Wronged: Why God Keeps Vengeance for HimselfSend us a textHave you ever been so wronged that your heart burned for revenge? That desire feels like justice, but it’s not the same thing at all.In this podcast, we explore the life-giving truth behind God’s words, “Vengeance is Mine.” Far from limiting us, this promise frees us from the exhausting burden of trying to make things right on our own. Through honest stories of hurt, grace, and healing, we examine how vengeance binds us to the past while God’s justice brings genuine restoration.Forgiveness doesn’t say the wron...
2025-08-2232 minFollowed By MercyWhen We Follow Christ, Our Hearts Become Like HisSend us a textWhat if following Jesus wasn’t about proving yourself, but simply learning from Him? In this heartfelt living room conversation with friends Chris, David, and Robert, we explore Jesus’ invitation to “come learn of me” and discover how it changes everything.So many of us live under the exhausting pressure to earn God’s approval. But Jesus offers a radically different way—one where transformation flows from proximity, not performance. As David shares, “The longer we’re close to Jesus, the more we become like Him, meeker, more gentle, humble, accessible, kind, and loving...
2025-08-2127 min