I just got back from some time away on vacation. It was more than rest for my body, it was a reset for my heart. I slowed down, reflected on life and ministry, and asked God to search me and remind me why I do what I do.Right before that, Nan and I attended the Alpha Conference for leaders and pastors, and it stirred something deep in us. Sitting in sessions, worshiping with other believers, and l...  Read More

Grace is never meant to stop with you.If you’ve truly experienced the grace of God, grace that forgives your sin, lifts you out of shame, and walks with you through life, then you carry a responsibility: to give it away.We love receiving grace. But giving it? That is where the challenge comes in.Freely You Have Received—Freely GiveJesus said in Matthew 10:8 (LSB), “…freely you received, freely giv...  Read More

Grace that hurts is still grace. It’s the evidence that God is doing something deep, even in the places you never would have chosen to go.Next Up: Part 8 – “Grace for Others.”If you’ve truly received grace—even the painful kind—you’re called to extend it. In the next blog, we’ll explore how grace moves beyond you to the people around you.In Love,Pastor Jody...  Read More

If justification is the gavel of grace declaring you “not guilty,” transformation is the hand of grace lifting you to your feet and leading you into a new life.Too many people think grace is a free pass to stay the same. But real grace doesn’t just forgive, it changes you. Grace meets you in your mess, but it refuses to leave you there.Titus 2:11–12 (LSB) says, “For the grace of God has appeared, ...  Read More

If grace is the heartbeat of the Gospel, then justification is the proof that the heart is still beating.We’ve seen grace in the Garden. We’ve seen it in the Law. We’ve met grace in person through Jesus Christ. But now we come to one of the most life-changing truths in Scripture: justification by grace.To be justified means to be declared righteous. It’s a legal word, a courtroom verdict. And if y...  Read More

We’ve traced grace from the Garden to the Law. We’ve seen it in garments of skin, in sacrifices, and in God’s patient dealings with His people. But all of that was only a glimpse, a shadow pointing to something, or rather Someone, greater.Grace is not an abstract idea. Grace is a Person. And His name is Jesus.Grace Came Wrapped in FleshJohn 1:14 (LSB) says, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt am...  Read More

A lot of Christians treat the Old Testament like the “angry part” of the Bible. Full of rules. Full of judgment. Full of wrath. We read the Law and wonder, “Where’s the grace?”But here’s the truth: God didn’t change between the Old and New Testaments. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever. And grace didn’t begin at the cross; it was woven into the Law itself.Yes, the Law reveals God’s holine...  Read More

When we think of grace, most of us start at the cross. And rightfully so, it’s the ultimate picture of God’s love poured out for sinners. But what if I told you grace started much earlier? Like… in the very first chapters of the Bible?Grace wasn’t Plan B. It wasn’t God scrambling to fix a mistake. Grace has always been part of God’s plan, even in the Garden of Eden. And the moment humanity fell, g...  Read More

Grace is one of those words we toss around in the church so often that sometimes we stop feeling the weight of it. We sing about it, pray with it, tag it at the end of sermons, and yet many still don’t understand what grace really is.Grace isn’t just a soft, comforting idea or a spiritual safety net. Grace is the very heartbeat of the Gospel. Without grace, we have nothing. With grace, we have eve...  Read More

Let’s be honest, faith isn’t just a feeling. It’s not a spiritual buzzword. And it’s definitely not just something you believe in your head while playing it safe with your life. No, real faith does something. It moves. It obeys. It risks.I heard someone say at the Alpha Conference, “Faith is spelled R-I-S-K,” and it hit me right between the eyes. Because it’s true. If your so-called faith never le...  Read More

In recent days, headlines have lit up with a troubling message being circulated in the name of the Pope: “Woke is not an insult, but rather a reflection of the gospel.” Although it has been deemed not associated with the pope, it's still being circulated and believed.  Let’s be clear: that statement is not just misleading—it’s dangerous. It confuses the holiness of God with the tolerance of man. I...  Read More

I was working on a deck today, it was hot, like H-E double hockey sticks hot. I was trying to keep enough fluids in my body so I didn't cramp up or pass out. I only worked for 4 hours in full sun, but it felt like an eternity.St. Louis heat is no joke. If you’ve walked outside, you know exactly what I mean. The moment you open the door, it hits you like a wall — thick, heavy, suffocating. You brea...  Read More