Grace on Tap

Mike Yagley and Evan Gaertner begin a two-session study on Martin Luther’s section on Baptism in the Babylonian Captivity. Dr. Luther affirms that Baptism is a good, solid ship that remains intact even amidst the shipwreck of our souls. A symbolic ship named Sacramentum sails through the sea of sin and doubt toward a radiant sunrise and castle. Beer Break TROPICÁLIA is an IPA from Creature Comforts Brewing Company from Athens, Georgia.

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.

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 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.

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 fanaticism. Müntzer’s dark preaching of divine revolution and peasant uprising sent shockwaves through Germany, forcing Luther to return to Wittenberg and deliver his famous Invocavit Sermons to restore order and direction. But even as Luther reestablished calm, the emperor, the pope, and Frederick’s own relatives pressed hard for him to hand over the troublesome reformer. This episode traces how Frederick the Wise navigated the storm with remarkable restraint and political cunning. Through papal pressure, imperial mandates, and internal dissent, Frederick maintained a careful appearance of neutrality while quietly protecting Luther’s cause. His steady leadership, even amid the radicalism of Müntzer and the violence of the Peasants’ War, preserved the fragile early Reformation. Join us as we explore how God worked through Frederick’s wisdom, patience, and faith during one of the most volatile chapters of church history—and how his legacy continues to shape our understanding of godly leadership today. We utilized throughout this eight-part series the book, Frederick the Wise: Seena nd Unseen Lives of Martin Luther’s Protector. This book is a biography written by Sam Wellman and published by CPH. Beer Break We review the Rural Bavaria Hefeweizen from Cadillac Straits Brewing Company in Madison Heights. We found it sweet, with notes of banana and cloves. Hefeweizens are the original hazy beers from Germany.

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 to see how Frederick acts as a leader, balancing faith, politics, and survival in a rapidly changing Europe. Mike Yagley and Evan Gaertner trace how Frederick managed student riots in Wittenberg, negotiated with papal envoys, and framed Luther’s case so it couldn’t be dismissed as mere rebellion. By carefully demanding impartial judges and keeping trials close to German soil, Frederick gave Luther a chance to survive and speak the truth. Beer Break Warsteiner Oktoberfest Special Edition: Clean, malt-forward Oktoberfest featuring flavors of white bread, pretzel, and graham cracker, yet well attenuated and modestly bittered for a dry, refreshing finish.

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 demanded that Luther be sent to Rome, where execution likely awaited him. But Frederick saw the danger, not only to Luther, but to the fragile balance of power in the Holy Roman Empire. What followed was a masterclass in political restraint and strategic genius. We walk through the events of the 1518 Reichstag in Augsburg, where Frederick successfully blocked a sham “crusade” that would have aligned the emperor with the pope. He also managed to preserve his electoral influence by denying Emperor Maximilian’s request to pre-crown his grandson Charles, all while keeping Luther safe at home. You’ll hear how about the interrogation of Luther by Cardinal Cajetan unfolded. We will also discuss how a drunken brag changed the course of diplomacy. Martin Luther in front of Thomas Cajetan, Ferdinand Pauwels (Public Domain) Beer Break Guinness 0 is similar to Guinness Drought but brewed to be non-alcoholic. It is unmistakably Guinness from the pour into the glass, to the rich dark malty color, and all the way to the hints of chocolate and coffee in the flavor.

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 for a university, a grand residence, and a powerful religious presence. As tensions rise and Martin Luther enters the scene, Frederick’s influence will be tested like never before. Tune in to explore the life of the man who would become one of the Reformation’s most pivotal figures. Beer Break Komes Imperial Stout is a flavorful stout from Poland that uses Ukranians hops. This beer features smooth coffee and chocolate notes. This beer is fro Brewery Fortuna.

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 the Wise: Seen and Unseen Lives of Martin Luther’s Protector. Frederick III (January 17, 1463 – May 5, 1525). He became the Elector of Saxony after his father died in 1486. Frederick protected Martin Luther from retaliation from the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V. Albrecht Dürer painted a portrait of the younger Frederick the Wise, which is a contrast from the later images of him being an older and overweight noble. Beer Break We are thankful for Dave who provided our beer from Cadillac Straits Brewing Company. We are fans of their Oktoberfest Märzen.

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 an August letter to George Spalatin. Please note that the sound quality is not as good as we would have liked, but we enjoyed the conversation with each other. We hope you enjoy this episode. Beer Break Athletic Brewing Co. Upside Dawn Golden. A Non-Alcoholic beer from one of America’s fastest-growing beer companies.

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 suggestion to consider this topic. Beer Break Great Turtle Brewing Company – No Cars Allowed Cream Ale.

Evan Gaertner and Mike Yagley continue their discussion of Martin Luther’s commentary on the gospel for the Third Sunday in Advent – Matthew 11:2-10 (One Year Historic Lectionary). This commentary is found in Luther’s Works Volume 75, published by Concordia Publishing House. Beer Break Founder’s All Night IPA

Evan Gaertner and Mike Yagley finish their discussion of Martin Luther’s sermon commentary on 1 Corinthians 4:1-5. The focus of their conversation is mostly on how Paul directs us not to judge one another by works but to encourage everyone to trust in the grace of Jesus Christ. Beer Break We feature in this episode Griffin Claw Brewing Company’s Marshmallow Drip. This is an Irish Stout made with your favorite Lucky Charm cereal. It is a tasty beer with well-layered flavors.