There is no way to have a real relationship without becoming vulnerable to hurt. Christmas tells us that God became breakable and fragile. God became someone we could hurt. Why? To get us back... No other religion-whethe r secularism, Greco-Roman paganism, Eastern religion, Judaism, or Islam-believes God became breakable or suffered or had a body.

Love is primarily giving. It’s an action that leads to a feeling, not a feeling first.

Suffering is unbearable if you aren’t certain that God is for you and with you.

While the difference between a bad sermon and a good sermon is mainly the responsibility of the preacher, the difference between good preaching and great preaching lies mainly in the work of the Holy Spirit. . . . We should do the work it takes to make our communication good and leave it up to God how and how often he makes it great for the listener.

Fear-based repentance makes us hate ourselves. Joy-based repentance makes us hate the sin.

Faith is not opposed to reason, but it is sometimes opposed to feelings and appearances.

The gospel has two parts. It has the part that says you're a sinner, and it has the part that says you're loved and accepted.