Gracelife Sarasota

Scripture tells us that when unity in the church of Jesus is broken. Everything else around it begins to unravel. Satan & his evil forces know they can’t undo the cross, so the miracle of unity among us is their most common target. Division often sneaks in through our families & friendships. It’s all part of spiritual warfare. It’s Gen 3 all over again. Evil whispers lies, stirs up scandal, flatters egos, elevates preferences, trying to chip away at the unity of God’s people. But often, the American church is distracted. It focuses on the wrong “spiritual” battles, leaving our unity vulnerable. Christians talk a lot about fighting Satan & evil, w/political movements, culture wars, prayer formulas, spirit rituals, etc. Paul says the real battle is simpler than all of that, but simple doesn’t mean easy: Its standing together in truth & love. Romans ends w/this ringing question: Will we let the serpent divide us, or will we crush his lies under our unified feet?

Do you ever find yourself content to come to church every week and never really engage with anybody meaningfully? In America, Its very easy to slip into church life without really knowing anyone or making an effort to know anyone. We come in, smile, shake a few hands, sing the songs, and leave without ever remembering a name? What if worship was never meant to be that anonymous? What if true worship wasn’t just about what happens between you and God in the vertical sense, but also about how deeply you know and love the people around you? Think about it: How many people in this church could you honestly say you know well enough to thank God for them? How many people could you write a note to that expresses gratitude, affection, and joy over seeing grace in their lives? How many people could you name, whose faith has encouraged you, whose service has blessed you, who you admire? And here’s a tough question: If we can’t do that, can we really call what we’re doing worship? Or have you

What would it take for you to risk your comfort, to part with your money, your time, your safety, not for your kids or your closest friends, but for people you’ve never even met? Would you do it for people who don’t look like you, don’t vote like you, maybe don’t even like you personally? Most of us would admit that level of generosity is unnatural. What’s natural is generosity for those we already know & love, those who are like us, who can be generous to us back. But here’s the problem: if that defines our generosity, then that’s no different than the kind of generosity in the world. If that’s what we are, that’s not the kind of generosity Jesus commands His church to have, the kind that points to Him. That’s why we need to hear what God has for us today in His word Because surprising generosity is part of our reasonable, rational, logical worship in response to the sovereign grace and mercy of God from chapter’s 1-11 in Romans. Th

Christians have always been fascinated with prophecy. We want to know what God is doing, where history is headed. But too often we look in the wrong places—blood moons, breaking news, headlines that rise and fall with the day. Some follow people claiming to have the gift of prophecy, ignoring the warnings in scripture about what should happen to someone who’s wrong even once. But hey, that’s another sermon series for another time. Truthfully? I think those are the worst places to search if you want proof that God is keeping His promises. The clearest prophecy being fulfilled is right here, in the church, people who should be divided are united in Christ. Every time we lay down our personal preferences for the sake of the Gospel & unity, we’re not just getting along. We’re actually stepping into real-time prophecy. We become part of the fulfillment of God’s ancient promises. I think the way we treat each other in matters of personal preference reveals how much we trust

Have you ever walked into a new church & felt out of place, like you were ignored, like you didn’t belong? Maybe you didn’t dress like everyone else, vote like they did, or raise your kids the way they said you should. Maybe you’ve been on the other side, judging others with unwritten rules you’ve unconsciously added to the Gospel. Have you ever caught yourself assuming other Christians should be more like… you? Not more like Jesus, but more like your opinions, your preferences, your way of doing church? When that starts to happen, the church stops feeling like a family, as we all start sizing each other up. Selfishness dresses up as strength, churches are torn apart instead of being built up, & don’t feel like home anymore. And the truth is—most of the time, it’s the people who think they’re spiritually strong who cause the most damage. But in the Kingdom of God, strength isn’t in how confident you are, how free you are, or how right you

What do you do when someone in your church doesn’t share your convictions? Not about Jesus. Not about salvation. But about how a Christian should dress. What worship should sound like. How to parent. How to engage with culture. What do you do when someone’s walk with Jesus doesn’t look like yours? Most of us make snap judgments. We size people up. One conversation about money, parenting, schooling… and we quietly file them into categories. Faithful. Immature. Legalistic. Worldly. Safe. Problematic. But what if those categories don’t belong to us? What if the real issue isn’t them at all… but our pride? How we tend to rank or put our priorities & desires over people? Is your obsession w/being right about 2ndary opinions louder than your gratitude for the redeemed, you and others Have we made our favorite traditions an arbitrary proof or marker for spiritual growth? Ch14 confronts all of that. This might be one of the most needed lessons for the modern American

Is there anyone you think of when you hear words like Payback, Retribution, Revenge, Comeuppance, Grudges, Vengeance? Is there someone you wish would experience some of these things? Why is it so easy & natural for us to hold onto someone’s failure, and so hard to extend grace & forgiveness? Why do we treat payback like it’s justice, or bitterness, like it’s righteous wisdom? We don’t say it out loud, but many of us are walking through life carrying receipts. We keep proof of how we’ve been wronged, stacked and ready. But those receipts are heavy, and they’re hurting us. They distort our worship, poison our relationships, and dim the light we’re called to shine in the world. Jesus never modeled retribution. He never once encouraged payback—so why are we so comfortable with it? The way we respond when we’ve been hurt is a clear sign of whether grace is something we actually believe in. If we’ve been rescued from darkness, then it’s ti

What if your attitude toward the government is actually a window into your view of God? What if the way you talk about politics says more about your theology than your party? Let’s be real, some of us have stronger opinions about Washington than we do about the Word of God. When your guy is in office, you’re blessed. When he’s not, you’re persecuted. We’ve acted like the Kingdom of God is hanging by a thread every time there's a new bill, scandal, or election cycle. But if your faith can’t survive the wrong president, your faith might be in the wrong king. And don’t worry, I’m not here to bash your favorite leader or defend your least favorite one. This isn’t about red or blue, left or right, MAGA or woke. This is about if we really trust the God we say we follow. We live in a world where our politics has become our identity, our passion, a modern-day American idolatry. Do you believe He’s in control even when the headlines are wild? Or hav

Is it possible we have come to a severe misunderstanding of what worship really is? What if it’s not about the atmosphere, the songs, what you feel in the moment, but your life when the moment is over? Could it be that real spiritual worship of God is less about singing, but more about something you become? We must not confuse a moving worship experience with a life that’s actually being transformed. Worship isn’t measured by your emotional response during a worship set, but by obedience when the songs are over. God’s intention in providing you with His sovereign grace is to completely rewire everything about how you live. Like… How you speak about others when they aren’t around. How you show up to serve when you’re tired. Your work ethic when there isn’t a public or monetary reward. Repenting quickly when you’re wrong. Generosity when others are in need, even when money is tight. Being in community even when you don’t feel like it. Having

What drives your worship? Is it mood? Music? Memories? Or is it just a deep love for a certain kind of vibe? We live in a moment where worship is being rebranded as an experience to consume rather than a response to truth. Worship music has become a global industry, and while I’m grateful for its growing impact, I’ll be honest. Part of me still struggles with how easily any kind of ministry can start to feel like big business. Sometimes it feels like worship is a top 20 playlist. This isn’t criticism, it’s just something I wrestle with in my spirit. Biblically, worship is what happens when the Spirit of God opens our eyes to the truth of God’s Word. It’s what happens when the revelation of God’s truth breaks through our pride… & gratitude breaks loose in our hearts. Today we’re going to watch that happen, not in a song set, but at the end of a theological argument. Real worship isn’t lit by stage lights or stirred by harmonies; it ignites w

I’ve seen diff kinds of faith: Loud, boastful kind celebrating itself on FB, the quiet, smug kind that always has to be right. We see in recovery. When People get some clean time, they have a presumption they are better than other people. I’ve seen faith that sings the songs, says the prayers, shows up on Sunday, and thinks: “I get it. Others don’t.” The kind that sounds like faith… until the trials come, the fruit doesn’t show, and the roots are exposed. How can you tell if what you call faith is actually really just spiritual pride in disguise? Because spiritual pride can mimic faith. It can look alive, sound sincere, and even seem obedient, for a while. But when testing comes, it withers. And what’s left isn’t really faith at all… it’s just dry, religious bark with no fruit. The scariest kind of pride is the kind that hides behind devotion, the kind that never really produced any fruit at all. Today, we’re going to look it

Do you realize God has chosen people like you and me to represent Him in this world? Have you ever wondered why? We're flawed, messy, often inconsistent. We stumble, struggle, and rarely feel qualified for anything deeply spiritual. Wouldn’t God be better off using the powerful, or the smartest, brightest, best looking people? If you were God, would you trust someone like yourself to carry an eternal message of hope and salvation? But what if the whole point is God intentionally chooses the least likely to carry the most important message? What if the fact that you feel unworthy or unqualified is the very thing makes you the perfect candidate in God's eyes? Today, we're going to explore one of the most surprising truths about God's plan to change the world. He doesn’t primarily use flashy speakers or religious celebrities; most often, He intentionally chooses ordinary, flawed, ugly, dirty vessels like Scotty T to carry a precious treasure; His most important message. If you've ever doubted your

Last week I joined 8,000 Sarasota drivers in the last 4 weeks who got a speeding ticket from the new 24/7 School Zone Safety program traffic cameras, mine stamped 9 p.m. when only thing in the crosswalk might be a hungry raccoon. My wife graciously handed me the envelope. My response? “Good! I deserve it. Totally fair. I love justice! Praise God!” Ever felt justice was robotic—and unfair? Some people feel the same way when they meet our text today. Is God unfair? - Is grace unfair, the idea that no one gets a second chance unless God grants it? Is mercy supposed to be for everyone? Why does one heart melt while another hardens? Upbringing, IQ, sheer effort? What if mercy has nothing do with whether people are smart enough to ask, but a rescue for people who never would Paul says the real answer kills our human pride, and through that, also rescues us from its dangerous consequences. Paul expected this to sting. But Paul’s goal isn’t pain; it’s to shatter pride

Isn’t a church supposed to be where humble people come together in gratitude, to worship God, and love one another? Isn’t a place like GraceLife the last place that should be in conflict, where we look down on others in our church family? I’ve seen churches fracture over church growth strategy, worship style, liturgy, leadership, politics, even social-justice. Why do we get so angry? Don’t we all come from the same desperate place? Don’t we all follow Jesus? Let me be clear: this isn’t about defending the Gospel, that noble fight is our calling. But churches lose their focus! When a church forgets God’s sovereignty and God's grace, we all drift toward pride, entitlement, and division. We wander far away from the fight, the frontlines, back in the barracks, squabbling about the color of the paint. These are symptoms of arrogance, we’ve forgotten how overwhelming God’s grace is, how helpless we are without it. If you’re worn out by church dr

One of my jobs as a pastor is funerals. Funerals are hard. Families hurting, grieving, trying to make sense of the pain. Sometimes they are struggling with regret or shame, like they could have done more, or loved the one they lost more. That’s why in almost every funeral I do, like for James yesterday, I turn to today’s passage in Romans. You’ll see why. In those moments, people don’t need pious clichés, polished religion, “thoughts & prayers. They need something real. They need rock-solid truth. They need to know for certain that God hasn’t let go. That He’s still holding on. But here’s the thing: this passage wasn’t actually written for funerals. It was written for life. Why do we wait until a funeral, a crisis, or when it feels like it’s too late, to turn to promises meant for everyday life? Paul wrote these words so all of us would know, in good times or bad, God’s sovereign grace has no limit and no rival. So all God&#

Let’s be honest, there are few theological concepts that seem to make modern Christians tense up like predestination. Some people hear predestination and don’t like it because it makes it seem like God is some cold, cosmic chess master. Others weaponize it like a trophy, proud they “get it,” looking down on the people who don’t. Others avoid it altogether, nervously tiptoeing around it, afraid that saying the word out loud might start a theological fight. But here’s the irony: when Paul taught this doctrine, it wasn’t to stir up debates, inflate egos, or make people squirm. It was to give a suffering 1st-century church comfort, to remind the redeemed that in a world wrecked by pain and uncertainty, God’s plan hasn’t fallen apart—and it never will. He wants them to remember their salvation didn’t begin with them. It started with God, and it’s still in His hands. Today, I hope to pull resentment, arrogance, and fear out of prede

Have you ever butted heads with someone you didn’t know all that well that turned into a precious relationship? Did you ever have a coach, or teacher who seemed to unfairly ride you, but some became a lifelong mentor you loved? They pushed you harder because they saw more in you than you saw in yourself, and later in life, you understood why. It’s precious when someone who feels like an enemy suddenly feels like family. Take that story and stretch it to eternity. Picture God, who started off as a judge condemning your sin - standing up, ripping the rap sheet in two, and saying, “Come here—call Me Dad.” This is the miracle Paul is about to unfold: the moment when God the Judge becomes God the Father. Do you feel like you have a lot of work to do in this whole ‘God’ area? You want His blessings but don’t deserve them? Does your past feel like this insurmountable obstacle between how you feel God sees you vs. who you want to be? Paul’s about to show

Social Media is full of influencers & self-help gurus preaching about hidden virtue waiting to be unleashed inside your heart. You also hear a lot of this in our recovery community, in the rooms etc. That inner strength is the key to success. It’s the core of Eastern mysticism, New Age thinking: that you can tap into some inner reservoir of goodness. That we have the power within us to conquer whatever lies ahead. But what if Scripture says the exact opposite? What if, apart from Christ, there is no divine spark inside us, but a rebellious, rotting sin nature, itching to break out? Searching for redemption within is like digging through a landfill hoping to find buried treasure. You can meditate all you want, cultivate a positive mindset, even convince yourself you hold something sacred. This is a hard truth, but it can also be liberating: There’s nothing of eternal value in our fallen hearts without Christ. We need righteousness that doesn’t come from within, a Rescuer outside of us&#x

How many Easters have come and gone, with familiar sermons leaving your heart unchanged? Maybe what we need isn’t another typical Easter message, but a fresh encounter with resurrection power. This morning, we’re focusing on Lazarus’s story in John 11, which happened just a few days before Jesus’ resurrection. It’s kind of a preview of the Power of Jesus, and what He can do with all the dead places in our lives, and in our world. Places of spiritual deadness, dark corners of hidden hurts, regrets, dead ends & burdens we’ve all carried here today. Let’s be honest: our world is steeped in the power of death—broken relationships, crushed dreams, spiritual emptiness. If the resurrection doesn’t speak to the daily funerals of our hearts, how can we trust it with our eternity? Because witnessing resurrection power should provide hope in every kind of “death” we might face in this life. Resurrection power isn’t just about what happen

Have you ever felt stuck in a relationship you just couldn’t make work—constantly trying, constantly failing? Have you ever been in a relationship that became toxic, not because of what the other person did, but it was all your fault? Ok, I see most of you with this puzzled look “No, not me, never. It's always been the other person’s fault.” Sometimes our spiritual lives feel like that: we’re trying to be “good enough,” but end up burdened with guilt & shame. Today, as we open to Romans 7, Paul uses a surprising analogy to explain how powerful grace is at providing Hope! He uses the analogy of marriage, a failing one at that, to illustrate just how powerful the grace of Jesus can be. He talks about marriage, death, and adultery… “Wait Pastor, I thought you said this was a hopeful sermon!” Paul’s example may feel jarring, but there’s a powerful reason behind it. You’re going to hear some powerful theology today, g