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

It started as just another concert.The lights were dim, the crowd was electric, and Coldplay was on stage, doing what they do best, captivating thousands with emotion-filled lyrics and soaring melodies. But in the middle of the noise, cameras caught more than a performance. A couple, wrapped up in intimacy, completely unaware, or unbothered, that they weren’t alone. The problem? They weren’t marri...  Read More

We live in a world where the word “Christian” has been watered down. It’s become more of a label than a lifestyle. But Jesus didn’t come to hand out labels; He came to call people to die to themselves and live for Him. That means if you’re truly a follower of Christ, then something in your life has changed. Not perfectly. Not instantly. But genuinely.Paul says it plainly in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Th...  Read More

We live in a world that craves the spectacular. People chase signs, demand wonders, and wait for the skies to part before they’ll believe. “If God is real,” they say, “then let Him prove it.” But here’s the truth: God doesn’t perform on command. He doesn’t cater to skepticism. And He doesn’t hand out miracles like party favors to satisfy a faithless crowd.Jesus Himself made that clear.In Matthew 1...  Read More

Let’s talk about something real. Something that’s easy to ignore or get defensive about. But something that matters deeply to God, and deeply to the mission of the Church.Tithing.Now, I know what some of you might be thinking: “Here we go again. The church wants my money.” But hear me out, not as a pastor asking for a budget boost, but as a shepherd caring for the spiritual health of our house.Tit...  Read More