When I was 25, I believed I could change the world. At 41, I have come to the realization that I cannot change my wife, my church, or my kids, to say nothing of the world. Try as I might, I have not been able to manufacture outcomes the way I thought I could, either in my own life or other people's.

My observation of Christendom is that most of us tend to base our relationship with God on our performance instead of on His grace.

A preacher who doesn't believe he's that bad will attract people who don't think they're that bad. And that's bad.

Only when we see that the way of God's law is absolutely inflexible will we see that God's grace is absolutely indispensable. A high view of the law reminds us that God accepts us on the basis of Christ's perfection, not our progress. Grace, properly understood, is the movement of a holy God toward an unholy people. He doesn't cheapen the law or ease its requirements. He fulfills them in his Son, who then gives his righteousness to us. That's the gospel. Pure and simple.

Job's unraveling wasn't wrong or sinful; rather, it was emotionally realistic.

The gospel alone liberates you to live a life of scandalous generosity, unrestrained sacrifice, uncommon valor, and unbounded courage.

Our assurance is anchored in the love and grace of God expressed in the glorious exchange: our sin for His righteousness.