Instead of trying to conquer sin by working hard to change our actions, we can conquer sin by trusting Christ to change our affections.

Instead of imagining all the things we can accomplish, we ask God to do what only he can accomplish. Yes, we work, we plan, we organize, and we create, but we do it all while we fast, while we pray, and while we constantly confess our need for the provision of God.

The primary purpose of prayer is not to get something, but to know Someone.

What if the very reason we have breath is because we have been saved for a global mission? And what if anything less than passionate involvement in global mission is actually selling God short by frustrating the very purpose for which he created us?

This is the gospel. The just and loving Creator of the universe has looked upon hopelessly sinful people and sent His Son, God in the flesh, to bear His wrath against sin on the cross and to show His power over sin in the resurrection so that all who trust in Him will be reconciled to God forever.

Ultimately, tragedy on earth can only be understood rightly from the perspective of heaven.

We live in a church culture that has a dangerous tendency to disconnect the grace of God from the glory of God.