How to Stop Letting Your Experience Define Who You Are
Are you defined by God or your experience? Also, if you’re defined by your experience, is your experience your God?This episode dives into the roots of shame and its lingering presence even after becoming a Christian. Bill, Scott, and Waldemar discuss how sin management, comparison, and fear are often signs of unresolved shame. Through biblical truth and personal stories, they explore how the redemptive work of Jesus offers a new identity free from condemnation.Topics Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and Waldemar Kohl discuss in this episode: (00:00) What Is Shame?* Bill contrasts guilt and shame and explains how shame rewrites identity.* How shame distorts the way Christians see themselves despite God's truth.(04:12) Sin Management Theology* “Sin management” keeps Christians in shame.* Churches may preach grace but still convey a message of needing to “measure up.”(07:49) Adam and Eve* Genesis 3 and sin management.* How fear and hiding reveal shame hasn’t been healed.(10:00) Shame, Blame, and Comparison* How shame leads to blame and relational distance.* Shame often causes us to see others and ourselves through the wrong lens.(15:20) Wearing the Coat of Righteousness* The symbolism of God clothing Adam and Eve with animal skins.* Personal stories of when shame distorted how Scott and Bill saw themselves.This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast * Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/
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Moving From Shame to No Condemnation
What if shame or condemnation no longer had the power to define you?In this episode, Waldemar Kohl joins Bill and Scott to explore how grace offers a radical alternative to a life shaped by shame and condemnation. They also discuss what it means to trust Jesus not just with sin, but with our insecurities, failures, and fears. Topics Waldemar Kohl, Bill Thrall, and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode: (0:33) Waldemar’s Story * Waldemar’s early life of performance-driven faith and corporate success.(5:56) From Shame to No Condemnation* Thinking of trust as the bridge between belief and transformation.(10:01) The Object of Our Faith* Trust isn’t about quantity—it’s about the One you’re trusting.* Jesus can not only forgive sin but also take on shame itself.(14:21) The Power of Safe Community* Grace-based environments create safety, allowing people to be known.* When shame loses its grip, people discover trust through vulnerability.(20:15) Redefining Theology and Identity* Many Christians are still living as sinners instead of saints.* Learning to be loved leads to loving more—and sinning less.This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast * Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/
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True Destiny: Trusting God With Everything
What if your destiny isn’t about what you do for God, but what He does in you and for you?This episode explores how grace radically shapes our destiny—not through performance, but through trust. Bill and Scott discuss how identity, humility, and influence are transformed when we receive God's view of us. They challenge listeners to stop fixing themselves and start receiving the life-changing truth of grace.Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode: (00:03) Grace and Destiny* Doing things for God is not the same as receiving from Him.* Influence begins with how we see ourselves—either through shame or through God’s view.(03:16) Humility and Transformation* True humility is trusting what God is doing in you, not minimizing yourself.* God wants to exalt us because we are saints, not sinners trying to perform.(07:54) Strategic Plans vs. Divine Declarations* God’s declaration of who we are is more powerful than incremental improvement.* Our purpose begins with trusting that God's choice of us includes a calling.(16:22) Influence That Earns Trust* Our destiny includes earning people’s trust so they can receive our love.This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast * Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/
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Authentic Christian Communities
For you, what creates a safe place, a place where you're not afraid to be known? This episode explores how grace is not just a theological concept but a lived experience—especially within a community. Bill and Scott reflect on what it means to belong to an “environment of grace” and how mutual dependence leads to maturity, unity, and purpose. They challenge listeners to trust others, embrace their own needs, and believe that grace is meant to shape every relationship around them.Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode: (00:03) What Is an Environment of Grace?* Grace allows people to live beyond their circumstances and meet others’ needs.* Communities shaped by grace express love as their defining characteristic.(04:45) The Difference Between True and Pseudo Community* A true grace-based community meets needs and cultivates joy and purpose.(08:52) Spiritual Gifts Are for the Community* Believers are gifted by God for the benefit of others, not self-expression.* Without a grace environment, spiritual gifts remain unused.(12:31) Maturity Requires Community* Hiding weaknesses blocks the maturing process and isolates believers.* Grace invites vulnerability and leads to growth.(14:53) Mutual Dependence Is Leadership* Submitting to one another’s strengths is an act of grace and trust.* Experiencing grace means learning to give and receive it—including with yourself.This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast * Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2F2RSvXKfU08Q5LVTCyIYI Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/
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Grace is the Key to All Loving Relationships
As yourself: Am I experiencing grace and love in my life? And if I'm not, how can I do that?Grace is not just a theological concept—it’s the foundation for every meaningful relationship of love. In this episode, Bill and Scott unpack how trust unlocks the experience of love and how grace enables us to lay down our masks and let our needs be seen. Topics Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd discuss in this episode: (04:09) The Connection Between Trust and Love* Love is the process of meeting needs.* How God meets our deepest need for security.(08:05) Designed to Be Loved* Bill shares how his insecurity made it difficult to believe he mattered.* God’s love is given, not earned—because He is love.(12:14) Choosing to Be Loved* Bill reads from Revelation 3 and reflects on Laodicea’s self-sufficiency.* Jesus doesn’t fix people—He loves them into healing.(15:18) The Healing Power of Love* Grace leads to healing through safe, consistent love.* Love shifts our focus outward and helps us live transformed lives.This episode was brought to you by Bill Thrall, Scott Boyd, and the Living Influence team. Learn about Living Influence: https://www.livinginfluence.com/ Subscribe to the Living Influence podcast: * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingInfluencePodcast * Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4kP9Mm2 * Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4hUd9pM Learn about Bill Thrall’s books: https://www.livinginfluence.com/books Follow and like the Living Influence podcast on social media: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livinginfluencepodcast * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livinginfluencepodcast * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61576202821527 This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/
Acerca de Living Influence with Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd
Discovering who God says you are may be your most important life pursuit. Imagine what our world might be like if we believed we were designed and gifted by God for each other.
Living Influence is co-hosted by Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd.
Bill Thrall is an author, mentor, public speaker, and co-founder of Trueface. He is married to Grace, who loves to mentor women and to come alongside leadership couples with Bill. They have three children, nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. They live in Phoenix.
Scott Boyd founded QuesTec Companies, a mechanical contracting and HVAC service business. He is married to Aileen. Scott and Aileen both lost their first spouses to cancer. They together have five children and seven grandchildren.
No matter who you are, your influence matters. We believe your view of you may be the most critical factor in your influence.
Whatever your role, professional, pastor, parent or student, the most significant expression of your influence will be from your person.
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