Unless you point to the good news of God's grace people will not be able to bear the bad news of God's judgement.

We only fully grasp the gospel when we understand, as Paul did, that we are the worst sinner we know

There is no evil that the father’s love cannot pardon and cover, there is no sin that is a match for his grace.

Only on the cross do you have a totally holy God and a totally loving God.

We instinctively tend to limit for whom we exert ourselves. We do it for people like us, and for people whom we like. Jesus will have none of that. By depicting a Samaritan helping a Jew, Jesus could not have found a more forceful way to say that anyone at all in need - regardless of race, politics, class, and religion - is your neighbour. Not everyone is your brother or sister in faith, but everyone is your neighbour, and you must love your neighbour.

While we want doubts to give way to faith, we should be merciful and patient with those who are still in a doubt-troubled place.

We're far worse than we ever imagined, and far more loved than we could ever dream.