If you want God's grace, all you need is need, all you need is nothing. But that kind of spiritual humility is hard to muster. We come to God saying, "Look at all I've done," or maybe "Look at all I've suffered." God, however, wants us to look to him - to just wash.

Because we put ourselves in God’s place, He put Himself in our place.

God takes our misery and suffering so seriously that he was willing to take it on himself.

Gifts are abilities God gives us to meet the needs of others in Christ’s name.

We were designed to know, serve, and love God supremely - and when we are faithful to that design, we flourish.

To stand in the presence of God, that is what the Gospel is. The Gospel is not primarily about forgiveness. It’s not primarily about good feelings. It’s not primarily about power. All those things are byproducts, sparks. It’s primarily about the presence of God.

Religion makes us proud of what we have done. The Gospel makes us proud of what Jesus has done.