Gracelife Sarasota

Have you ever needed a fresh start, a new beginning that provided some hope, just the potential for joy or satisfaction? Maybe it was a job, a relationship, new form of self-discipline that might provide that fulfillment or peace you long for. This world constantly offers false hope for peace, but none of them will ever bear the weight, the price of real peace. What happens when those things you’ve pinned your hope for peace on unravel or collapses? It’s the opposite of peace. Scripture calls it shame. That feeling of not measuring up, feeling unworthy or defective. These false hopes always fail, leaving their victims in shame, still searching, & even more restless than we were before. Shame is one of the worst experiences of human nature. I think all of us desire its opposite… Peace. But what is peace really? How do you know if you have attained it? If you have, how can you keep it or maintain it?

Many “spiritual” voices promise formulas for a blessed life: pray this way, keep these rules, support that cause. The blessed life isn’t a life of ease, comfort, or financial prosperity. If it were, Jesus and Paul missed it entirely. As a pastor, I’ve watched countless people pour their hearts into these fraudulent “blessing systems,” bending over backwards for every supposed “secret” hidden knowledge, instead of simply trusting Jesus. From rigid legalism & bogus prosperity gospels to incense, crystals or mushroom “journeys”, every alternative to faith alone in the gospel of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection is a lie, and all of them are destined to disappoint. I’ve seen so many left feeling crushed and empty from things like this, asking, “Did God fail me, or did I fail Him?” Have you ever been broken, worn out, left for dead spiritually, by fraudulent blessing systems that failed to deliver? If you’

As you know, I’m a rule follower. I could talk company policies for hours! I love instruction booklets & directions. Actually, I hate instruction manuals. If I buy something that needs assembly, I’m not flipping through pages of tiny print. I’d rather just look at the picture on the box, assume I can figure it out, and start putting it together. And if something doesn’t fit? That’s what duct tape is for! Leftover parts? Toss them in the junk drawer! But imagine a rule follower, an instruction booklet reader carefully following each step, only to see this on the last page: “Oh, by the way, no matter how closely you followed these steps, you are never going to put this together correctly." “These instructions weren’t written to help you succeed; they’re designed to reveal that you can’t do it on your own.” "The only way is to have someone else do it for you.” The 1st question would be, “Then what’s the point of the

Last week is what I will call the “hopelessness climax” in Paul’s letter to the Romans. The case he makes is airtight. Humanity is drowning in idolatry, enslaved to impurity, consumed by arrogance, corrupted by deceit, driven by malice. Humanity is blind to truth, utterly incapable of righteousness; religion, human spirituality, or philosophy can’t save us. In fact, Paul provides a summary statement in today’s section: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. If Romans ended there, it’s pretty hopeless. So where does that leave us? If humanity is totally depraved, what next? Thankfully Paul is about to make a drastic shift in tone It starts with “But now…”. This next section focuses on something we call “Justification”, a critical piece of the foundation of Christian Doctrine. I could preach the next 30 verses all together, but it’s so important we’ll walk through it together for the next

Who gets to decide what is good and what is evil? Who has the authority to declare what is righteous and what is sin? If there is a God, why does He have the right to judge us? These are intense philosophical, deeply personal questions. In today’s world, people will try anything to explain away God’s right to judge, while inserting themselves in His place. Some hide behind religious heritage. Others trust in their own morality, sincerity, or self-made spirituality. And when confronted with the reality of divine judgment & eternal accountability, boy the excuses come fast! What if each time humanity tries to come up with an excuse against God’s moral law actually seals our condemnation? That’s the question we’ll wrestle with today as Paul dismantles every human argument against God’s right to judge.

Have you ever noticed that we church people tend to be blind to our own spiritual deficiencies? Even at GraceLife where we want to love one another, we’re constantly judging each other without even realizing it. Confident in our own superiority, we pass moral, cultural, and political judgment on others without hesitation. We gossip, lash out with passive aggression, and unleash self-righteous social media rants over society’s latest controversies. What if the very thing you’re most confident in—your supposed superiority—is the very thing that condemns you? Are you really so sure that, while you admit you’re not perfect, you’ve got this part all figured out? Having a false sense of superiority or security in any area of life is a very dangerous spiritual place to be. It blinds us to our need for grace, keeps us from examining our own hearts, and leads us further from the truth. We are all in the same boat together. Any “superiority” over anyone els

How do you think God looks at your spiritual life right now? Do you have confidence because you assume you’re doing better than others? I mean nobody’s perfect, but you’re certainly doing better than someone like, Randy, or Scotty right? Imagine you’re sitting in the back of a packed courtroom with a despicable criminal on trial for despicable crimes. The prosecutor has just finished his airtight case against the defendant, detailing every crime, misstep, and even private sin. You find yourself stunned by the evil this criminal has committed, and that the prosecutor has exposed. You’re nodding in agreement with the prosecutor, shaking your head in disgust at the guilty party. Then the judge points at you & asks the prosecutor, “Yeah that’s bad but isn’t this person over here just as bad?” Romans 2 is that moment. After Paul’s indictment of the pagan world in Romans 1, it’s easy for us to point fingers. We agree w/his condemnation of

Today we’re talking about a topic you’ve probably heard before at GraceLife called Human Depravity. I know, Fun right? Depravity is about how sin has polluted every part of your life. That is a harsh reality, but it’s also beautiful in this way. Because without understanding this truth, you will never grasp your desperate, urgent need for the Gospel. You will never be able to grasp why God had to send His son, Jesus, to die on the cross for your depravity. You see, when it comes to depravity, we all tend to judge it on a curve. That is what makes it such a tough topic. Because when it comes to having our depravity singled out, 2 things normally, naturally happen. One, we resent the one that points it out, and two, we immediately defend ourselves, justify ourselves, etc. That’s why I’m anxious about preaching today’s passage, cause I don’t want you to judge me. These aren’t my words. They’re God’s Words. Because I’m your pastor & I lo

I’ve wrestled with how to approach Romans. Because it’s a long, tough book with so much packed in it. Instead of dissecting every phrase we’ll approach it how Paul’s readers would have, in community, in larger sections. Because Romans wasn’t just for theological geeks. It was for everyone. But I’m nervous. Let me tell you why. Have you ever had to have a hard conversation with someone you love that you know will sting, but they need to hear it? You don’t care about being right or winning an argument, it’s being vulnerable enough to tell someone you love the truth. It’s tempting to go soft, to make it taste better, or worse, avoid it all altogether & hope the results aren’t catastrophic. But real love will risk discomfort, say the hard things because their well-being matters more than your comfort. The best way to start is to make sure they know you really do love them. That’s what Paul does first, let's look at Romans 1:1-17.

Why do we celebrate birthdays, weddings, promotions, or other milestones? Is it because we see them as turning points that provide some kind of hope in the midst of ordinary life? Maybe it’s just tradition, or an excuse to gather and indulge in unhealthy foods we otherwise wouldn’t eat? But how often do we celebrate our redemption, and acknowledge how God’s grace has turned our despair into hope? Or have these eternal moments been overshadowed by fleeting, lesser celebrations? Here is something actually worth celebrating… What God is doing in your heart and lives! Do we proclaim the quiet ways He redeems what we thought was lost, or are we too busy celebrating what won’t last? This last sermon in this series, “Power for Ordinary People,” is about a celebration that points to one far greater.

Have you ever been in a situation where you desperately needed someone to step up for you—but no one did? How did it feel to be left standing alone, knowing that there is no one willing to come to your defense? Maybe you let people down so often they’ve stopped believing in you, or the cost of standing w/you is just too high. Maybe you looked around so ordinary and felt so unseen that no one noticed you were in trouble; you didn’t matter. What about a time when someone noticed, took the risk, stood up for you & paid the price no one else would? And it reminds you that you’re seen, valued, and loved. Today’s passage is a story where redemption hung in the balance. A moment that reflects the greater story of the Redeemer who stepped forward for us, when no one else could. If you’ve ever doubted your worth or wondered if anyone truly sees you, this sermon is exactly what you need today.

What is loyalty? Why is it a virtue? Is loyalty always a good thing? What if you’re loyal to the wrong person or thing? If someone asked you, “How loyal are you to Jesus, His Kingdom, and His people, what would you answer?” What does real loyalty to God and His people look like? How can we know it when we see it? Does it come with a cost? These are all questions that pierce deep if we’re willing to ask it. Assessing your Kingdom loyalty is important though. What happens when it demands courage in a moment of fear, or grace in a moment of pain? I’m not talking about convenient loyalty when it's easy, fashionable, or socially acceptable. Kingdom loyalty isn't cheap. It’s bold, risky, and costly, & anything less than complete loyalty to Jesus & His people is really just different levels of compromise.

One day, as Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind beggar on the roadside, heard Jesus was passing close by. Immediately, he began crying out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! His boldness offended everyone around him. They rebuked him. You’re rude! Leave Jesus alone! Be quiet, shut up! His bold desperation was seen by others as inappropriate, but he wouldn’t be silenced. He cried out even louder! Jesus stopped, called him forward, & asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, let me recover my sight.” Jesus was impressed by his desperate, bold faith! He loved It! He commended his faith & healed him on the spot! Have you ever been so spiritually desperate for Jesus that you became so bold you didn’t care what others might think? I’m not talking about selfish desperation or arrogant boldness driven by a desire for something in this world. I’m talking about a bold, spiritual desperation for something this world could never provi

How often do we overlook God’s ordinary blessings right in front of us? Have they become boring, familiar, unnoticed? In a world obsessed with spectacle, have Christians also become so fixated on miracles, breakthroughs, and grand gestures that we forget how to recognize God’s quiet, powerful presence in the fabric of everyday ordinary life? What if our thirst for the spectacular has dulled our senses to everyday quiet evidence of His love and presence? Could it be that God, who can speak through fire and thunder, prefers to speak to us through those ordinary, familiar, everyday provisions; blessings so common we often overlook attributing them to God’s mercy and grace? Our quest for spiritual fireworks makes us numb to a daily meal, a roof over our heads, or community w/His people. Should we stop looking for God’s presence in miracles and look more in the ordinary things He places right in our hands?

Do you ever drift, feel disconnected from your church family or isolated by something you can’t quite identify? What’s the root cause of division between people in the church? How do we nurture unity and keep it thriving? We claim to value in unity, but do our lives and our relationships with each other in this room reflect that? Are we protecting unity, or is it being compromised by entitlement & selfishness with what God gives us for His purpose? Do we want a community where no one is more deserving than another—or just say we do? Well here are more tough questions that expose what we really want: Is church just a Sunday obligation, or a true family? Are we welcoming to everyone, or only those who fit in our culture? Do some feel more valued here than others? Are you here because you need or want something, or are you here because you desire to give something? Are we hoarding God’s blessings, or using them to serve others with generosity? These are tough questions and the fact is

"When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?' Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.' With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, 'Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.' Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day." - Acts 2:37-41 Peter, a complete stranger, filled with the Holy Spirit, convinces foreign Jews to abandon their earthly rabbis right there on the southern steps, & be baptized, in public, in front of everyone, including their earthly rabbi, in the name of Jesus! That day, 3,000 people publicly identified themselves as disciples of Rabbi Jesus! But the number isn’t the big mira

Have you ever hated your job, felt it wasn’t appreciated like you deserved a better job than the one you have? Maybe your work makes you feel unappreciated, underpaid, or that somehow the job you have is beneath you. I think that comes from how the world has determined there are “important” jobs, and then “ordinary” jobs. We fail to see the importance of our work in the “everyday grind”, feeling like it's meaningless in the big picture. What if your ordinary, even annoying work is making important contributions to the Kingdom of God you cannot see? Today, we’ll discover how every day, ordinary work holds more power in God’s Kingdom than you’ve ever imagined.

Have you ever felt the need to go back somewhere, but dreaded what you might face when you arrive? Maybe you wonder how much you've changed, or if anyone will even notice. It’s been a long time, and coming home isn’t easy, especially when the choice to leave was your own. Will people see your return as a sign of failure? Will you feel like a stranger in the place you once belonged? The fear of being seen as we really are, broken, bitter, far from perfect—can keep us from taking those first steps back. But what if the very place we’re avoiding is where God’s healing begins? What if the awkwardness, vulnerability & discomfort, is the 1st step to restoration & grace? My experience? God’s power meets ordinary people when they take that journey back to community with His people. So, what’s keeping you from coming home? Regret? Fear? Bitterness? Whatever it is, know that God is already at work—even if it feels uncomfortable. But to experience His healing, you&

Do you ever wonder if your life carries any real weight? If you died tomorrow, what would your legacy be? Do you wrestle with guilt, feeling like you’re falling short? Or like you’re ordinary and insignificant? Maybe you doubt your impact in God’s Kingdom or feel like you’ve disappointed Him, or your life is too small to matter. These feelings can make us resent the mundane, feeling stuck in the routine and even resenting the simplicity of our days. But, what if those monotonous moments are divinely designed, and intended to be pivotal to God’s sovereign plan? What if you learned that your everyday faithfulness & obedience have a ripple effect beyond your imagination, impacting lives you’ll never see, and shaping eternal destinies? Even when you can’t see it, could God be weaving something extraordinary through your very ordinary life! We’re going to learn today that our Sovereign God delights in using simple, faithful obedience to accomplish His plan to

Life has a way of hitting hard. It has a way of creating defining moments that force decisions we don’t want to make. I am not talking about easy choices, like the one I make almost every day… do I swirl my froyo flavors or not? I am talking about inflection points when circumstances put you at a crossroads between faith and doubt. When things fall apart, where do you turn? Do you rely on your own strength, or do you take that step of faith? And you know, it sounds so simple, right? Just have faith! Just trust that God is in control! So easy right? But faith isn’t easy. It’s not a safety net or backup plan. It’s hard to trust God’s promises when everything says don’t. It’s messy, it’s gritty and sometimes makes no sense. But that’s where faith is required! In the crazy and the hard. These are the moments where you realize your strength was never the point. This is where the shift happens. When life hits hard, the question isn’t just