He (Jesus) came so that we might receive new life through supernatural regeneration.

It's important to realize that we adopt not because we are rescuers. No. We adopt because we are rescued.

We do not have time to waste our lives coasting out casual, comfortable Christianity.

I believe that the gospel and the American Dream have fundamentally different starting points. The American Dream begins with self, exalts self, says you are inherently good and you have in you what it takes to be successful so do all you can, work with everything you have to make much of yourself. The gospel begins with God, the reality that we were created to exalt his name to the ends of the earth.

Our possessions can be deadly. They can be subtly deadly.

We can accomplish more in one month of dependence on the Spirit than we can in 100 years of dependence on ourselves.

Consider what it takes for successful businessmen and businesswomen, effective entrepreneurs and hardworking associates, shrewd retirees and idealistic students to combine forces with a creative pastor to grow a "successful church" today. Clearly, it doesn't require the power of God to draw a crowd in our culture. A few key elements that we can manufacture will suffice.