In religion, you obey because God is useful. In Christianity, you obey because God is beautiful.

A rich, vibrant, consoling, hard-won prayer life is the one good that makes it possible to receive all other kinds of goods rightly and beneficially. [Paul] does not see prayer as merely a way to get things from God but as a way to get more of God himself.

Prayer is both conversation and encounter with God.

We think that idols are bad things, but that is almost never the case. The greater the good, the more likely we are to expect that it can satisfy our deepest needs and hopes. Anything can serve as a counterfeit god, especially the very best things in life.

How Religion Works: If I obey, then God will love and accept me. The Gospel: I'm loved and accepted, therefore I wish to obey.

God's salvation does not come in response to a changed life. A changed life comes in response to the salvation, offered as a free gift.

Jesus's teaching consistently attracted the irreligious while offending the Bible-believing , religious people of his day.