The truth is that when it comes to suffering, if we do not go to our graves in confusion, we will not go to our graves trusting. Explanations are a substitute for trust.

I think there is tribalism is a big deal inside of the church, that the church thinks of themselves as a tribe and not a mission.

To focus on how I'm doing more than what Christ has done is Christian narcissism

Only the gospel can truly save you. The gospel doesn't make bad people good; it makes dead people alive...the gospel is God's acceptance of us based on what Christ has done, not on what we can do.

Assurance never comes from looking at ourselves. It only comes as a consequence of looking to Christ.

Unfulfilled dreams, ongoing relational tension, the loss of friendships, a hard marriage, rebellious teenagers, the death of loved ones, remaining sinful patterns - whatever it is for you - live long enough, lose enough, suffer enough, and the idealism of youth fades, leaving behind the reality of life in a broken world as a broken person.

We are broken people living in a broken world with other broken people. We all need grace.