Grace on Tap

Evan Gaertner and Mike Yalgey continue the conversation of Martin Luther’s treatise on the Catholic church’s medieval sacramental system, which was holding captive Christians. This episode focuses on the Lord’s Supper being described as a sacrifice vs a promise. Luther challenged the teaching that the Mass was a re-sacrifice of Christ’s passion. When the Lord’s Supper is turned into a good work, it becomes a measurement of how much we deserve to be welcomed by God. When the Lord’s Supper is offered as a gift of promise, then it is received by a sinner as a glad welcome. Luther emphasized that grace arrives through the pure and unmerited love of Christ. Beer Break Wrexham Lager: A lager that has been around since 1882 and has been renewed in its fame because of Wrexham AFC’s resurgence as a football club in the Welsh town of Wrexham.

Mike Yagley and Evan Gaertner continue a conversation about “On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church,” which was written by Dr. Martin Luther in 1520. This treatise by Luther challenged the medieval church’s sacramental system. This episode looks at how Luther seeks to find the definition and purpose of Sacraments through the lens of Scripture and grace. Grab your favorite beverage, settle in, and join in the discussion that unpacks the profound implications of Luther’s arguments against withholding the cup, the doctrine of transubstantiation, and the concept of the mass as a sacrifice. Beer Break NA Beer is a metaphor for beer. Does it have the substance of beer or only the appearances? We feature Samuel Adams’ Just the Haze IPA, an award winning beer.

Mike Yagley and Evan Gaertner begin a multi-part review of Dr. Martin Luther’s treatise The Babylonian Captivity. 1520 was the year that Luther published three major treatises (Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church, and On the Freedom of a Christian). This second of three treatises accuses the Catholic Church of keeping the people captive through the abuse of the sacramental system. Beer Break Kasteel Rouge Cherry Brew NA by VanHonsebrouck. A ruby red specialty beer with a rich head and strong flavor of fruit.

Evan Gaertner and Mike Yagley finish their conversation on Dr. Martin Luther’s Bondage of the Will. This episode includes a discussion on free choice – the will and the reason cannot strive after God without God. Whenever the will and reason are described as us moving to God, this should be condemned because this is the opposite of faith. The only path to faith is our brokenness and trust in God’s revelation of promise in Christ Jesus. Beer Break FLVR! Chocalte Dark Brew – “All the rich chocolatey goodness of your favorite stout, now without the alcohol! Loads of dark malt and cacao nibs give this dark brew the smooth bitterness and luxurious body befitting a decadent liquid dessert!”

Evan Gaertner and Mike Yagley discuss how our identity is found in our relationship with God instead of our works. When our relationship is secured in the righteousness of Christ, then our will is free to share life with God and with other people. Without Christ, our lives are lived in bondage to our transactions. You can learn more by reading Dr. Martin Luther’s Bondage of the Will. Beer Break This episode features a beer from a Wisconsin brewery, Stubborn Brothers Brewery. Mike and his wife went for a ride in their camper around Lake Michigan. He had a great Reuben there and enjoyed the beer. American Wheat. Shawano has to be a great city because this is where this beer is from, but also because this is where Evan was born. Sweet Peel American Wheat.

Evan Gaertner and Mike Yagley continue their conversation about Martin Luther’s response to Erasmus about the condition of the human will. This episode focuses on why Martin Luther thinks this conversation is important. Righteousness according to moral efforts will always fall short, and God desires that we find our righteousness by having faith in Him. This sort of righteousness must be revealed by God Himself and is not found by our own vain quests for holiness. Beer Break Griffin Claw’s Macchiato.

Mike Yagley and Evan Gaertner review De Servo Arbitrio, which means Bondage of the Will, by Martin Luther. It was published in 1525 in response to Erasmus’ work from 1524 on humanity in De libero arbitrio diatribe sive collatio or On Free Will. The first part of this book by Luther is a recounting of the arguments made by Erasmus. This podcast picks up with Luther’s position. Luther walks through key passages of Scripture to show that the work of God is necessary for salvation. This episode is the beginning of a multi-part examination of this fundamental work by Martin Luther. Beer Break Spotted Cow by New Glarus Brewing Company. This beer is only available for purchase in Wisconsin but has become well known throughout the midwest.

In Episode 91 of Grace on Tap, Evan Gaertner and Mike Yagley dive into the turbulent years following Luther’s stay at the Wartburg Castle—when the Reformation teetered on the edge of chaos. While Luther hid under Frederick’s protection, self-proclaimed prophets like Nikolaus Storch and Thomas Müntzer began to claim direct revelations from God, turning reform into […]

The 90th episode of Grace on Tap traces Frederick’s efforts to secure a fair hearing for Luther in the face of papal pressure, culminating in the dramatic events at Worms. Listeners for how Frederick’s chancellor, Bruck, tirelessly negotiated with imperial and papal representatives, how Glampion tried to limit Luther’s protection, and how Frederick worked behind […]

Frederick the Wise shielded Martin Luther during the earliest and most uncertain years of the Reformation. Far more than a footnote in Luther’s story, Frederick emerges as a skilled statesman navigating the volatile mix of church corruption, shifting feudal structures, and the rising voices of peasants and humanists. This episode explores the events of 1520 […]

1518-1519 was a critical turning point in the politics of the Reformation. Join Mike Yagley and Evan Gaertner as they follow Frederick the Wise as he navigates the turbulent waters between Pope Leo, Emperor Maximilian, and the rising voice of Martin Luther. From the tense Reichstag in Augsburg back-channel negotiations that kept Luther out of […]

Evan Gaertner and Mike Yagley continue a discussion about Frederick the Wise’s ability to protect Martin Luther from the combined pressure of the pope and the emperor. This episode largely focuses on the events of 1518. After Luther posted his 95 Theses, the Church wasted no time in seeking to silence him. Pope Leo X […]

Frederick the Wise: Reluctant Protector of the Reformation In this episode, Mike Yagley and Evan Gaertner explores how Frederick the Wise’s relationship with Martin Luther evolved between 1516 and 1518. Though initially angered by Luther’s sermons against indulgences and relics, Frederick gradually reconsidered his stance—thanks in part to his advisor George Spalatin and Luther’s mentor […]

Mike Yagley and Evan Gaertner continue the story of Frederick the Wise, the Elector of Saxon. From his birth in 1463 to his rise as a strategic ruler and devout leader, Frederick navigated political rivalries, financial struggles, and religious reform. Learn how he transformed Wittenberg into a center of learning and faith, laying the groundwork […]

Evan Gaertner presented to the Lutheran Luncheon Club in Detroit on January 8, 2025. Mike was unavailable, which is probably why Evan messed up the name of the town that Martin Luther was born in and died in. There was no beer break in this recording before a live audience.

Evan Gaertner and Mike Yagley begin a new unit on Grace on Tap. This podcast will take some episodes to explore the people who were not theologians during the Reformation but still significantly contributed to it. This episode introduces Frederick the Wise. In 2015, Sam Wellmen wrote the ultimate English biography of this noble, Frederick […]

Mike Yagley and Evan Gaertner continue a look at how Martin Luther guided spiritual care and concern for people through letters. This episode reviews a letter written by Luther in November 1527 to John Hess. The letter is about whether Christians are obligated to stay during a time of plague. Beer Break Soft Parade by […]

In 1527, the plague arrived in Wittenberg and Breslau. Dr. Martin Luther wrote letters to give guidance to leaders during this time of pestilence. We previously discussed Luther’s letter to John Hess in Episode 55. This episode is more specifically looking at the character, context, and counsel of these letters. We start by looking at […]

Evan Gaertner and Mike Yagley discuss Dr. Martin Luther’s letters that he wrote to provide consolation to those bereft by grief. Through these letters, we find how Luther applied the Law and the Gospel to the caretaking of souls when the grief of sadness had become overwhelming. The letters referenced in this podcast will be […]

Evan Gaertner and Mike Yagley review some letters of Martin Luther written to the sick and dying. Through these letters of pastoral care, we can witness what the caretaking of souls looked like in the 16th century. The sadnesses and griefs are not too far away from our own time. Thank you for a listener […]