Those who believe they have pleased God by the quality of their devotion and moral goodness naturally feel that they and their group deserve deference and power over others. The God of Jesus and the prophets, however, saves completely by grace. He cannot be manipulated by religious and moral performance--he can only be reached through repentance, through the giving up of power. If we are saved by sheer grace we can only become grateful, willing servants of God and of everyone around us.

Prayer is awe, intimacy, struggle-yet, the way to reality.

All Christians have opportunities to serve those who might never come to church or listen to a sermon.

It takes pride to be anxious – I am not wise enough to know how my life should go.

Change won’t happen through ‘trying harder’ but only through encountering the radical grace of God.

You are worse than you think you are, but also far more loved than you feel you are.

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