If I were to ask you the question “Who is Jesus”, how would you respond? When you talk to others about Jesus, what do you tell them? The bottom line is there is no more important question to answer in all of life than that one. This question is especially crucial in today’s culture in which it has become increasingly common to conform our thoughts of Jesus in accordance with our own desires and expectations. There was an article posted by the pastor Kevin DeYoung in the Gospel Coalition in 2014 identifying some of the most popular, modern versions of Jesus: There's the Republican Jesus—who is against tax increases, for family values, and owning firearms. There's Democrat Jesus—who is against Wall Street and Walmart and for reducing our carbon footprint and spending other people’s money. There's Therapist Jesus—who helps us cope with life's problems, heals our past, tells us how valuable we are and not to be so hard on ourselves. There's Open-minded Jesus—who loves everyone all the time no matter what (except for people who are not as open-minded as you). There's Touchdown Jesus—who helps athletes run faster and jump higher than non-Christians and determines the outcomes of Super Bowls. There's Martyr Jesus—a good man who died a cruel death so we can feel sorry for him. There's Gentle Jesus—who was meek and mild, with high cheek bones, flowing hair, and walks around barefoot, wearing a sash (while looking very German). There's Hippie Jesus—who teaches everyone to give peace a chance, imagines a world without religion, and helps us remember that "all you need is love." There's Yuppie Jesus—who encourages us to reach our full potential and reach for the stars. There's Spirituality Jesus—who hates religion, churches, pastors, priests, and doctrine, and would rather have people out in nature, finding "the god within". There's Platitude Jesus—good for Christmas specials, greeting cards, and bad sermons, inspiring people to believe in themselves and lifts us up so we can walk on mountains. There's Revolutionary Jesus—who teaches us to rebel against the status quo, stick it to the man, and dream up impossible utopian schemes. There's Guru Jesus—a wise, inspirational teacher who believes in you and helps you find your center. There's Boyfriend Jesus—who wraps his arms around us as we sing about his intoxicating love. There's "Good Example" Jesus—who shows you how to help people, change the planet, and become a better you. Can any of you relate to any of these perspectives? Perhaps, one or two of these interpretations hit close to home. The fact of the matter is there is only one right understanding of Jesus’ true identity. If we want to be effective and impactful as witnesses for Jesus, we need to make sure our opinion and message is ruled exclusively by the authority of God’s Word.

Have you ever wondered if you would stay faithful under pressure? If staying loyal to Jesus suddenly cost you something you never expected to give? Your reputation? Your job? Your friendships? Your future? Your safety? Or even the choice between life and death? Most of us aren’t afraid that we don’t love Jesus. Of course we do. We’re afraid we won’t love Him enough when it matters most. We wonder if the heat ever gets turned all the way up, how we would respond. Would our loyalty hold? Would our courage collapse? Would we stand firm… or fall apart? Those questions aren’t signs of weak faith; they’re the honest fears of people who want to be faithful. You wouldn’t ask these questions if you didn’t desire to be loyal to Jesus right? But Scripture gives us a truth far stronger than our fears: The loyalty God creates in His people is stronger than any pressure that will without a doubt come against us. Today’s story teaches us why every believer can face the future with confidence, knowing our faith will pass the test.

What do you do when you know someone, or something, is working against you, like every step forward only uncovered a new obstacle waiting for you? Doesn’t following Jesus often feel like walking through a world full of traps? Maybe it’s at work. Maybe it’s in your family. Maybe it’s physical, emotional, spiritual, maybe it’s all of it at once. Here’s the deeper question beneath all the stress and pressure: Can a trap evil has set in front of you, meant to destroy you, become something that reveals the power of God’s sovereign grace over you? Scripture is clear: We live in a world that does not love our King. And when the world rages against the King, we feel the shockwaves. But Scripture is just as clear, and far more comforting: Every trap the enemy sets ultimately becomes the stage where God exalts His anointed King. So, if you’ve ever felt trapped, outmatched, outmaneuvered… this sermon is for you. Because today we’re going to see how evil can plot, scheme, and set traps, but evil cannot stop the King.

Have you ever wondered why it is that you love Jesus? Do you love Him because you’re smart enough to realize you should… or is there something far more miraculous going on? And since Jesus really is the King, why is it that some people light up when they hear His Name, and others stay quiet, roll their eyes, or even get angry? How can the same Jesus that fills your heart with peace, joy, and hope feel annoying or threatening to someone else in your own family? Some of you live in that tension every day. You love Christ, but people closest to you don’t. They either tolerate it, resent it, or they flat-out reject it. This chapter is more than the story of what happened in Saul’s palace. It shows us why some hearts are knit to the King while others stay hardened against Him. It also offers hope. It teaches us why the reality that we even love Jesus is some of the clearest evidence of God’s work in you. Today’s passage helps us understand the division we feel, the loyalty we have, and the miracle it is that any of us would love the King at all.

This is one of the most well-known stories in the Bible. Even people who aren’t Christians know about David & Goliath. But sometimes the stories we think we know best are the ones we understand the least. Most people turn this story into a motivational, moralistic, pithy slogan: “Face your giants. Be brave like David.” But if we’re honest, we cannot be David in this story. We all face enemies we have no chance of defeating on our own. Fear. Sin. Addiction. Death. You can’t sling a stone big enough to knock those down. What if the story isn’t about finding courage within you? What if it’s not about your ability to overcome? When we look at our own lives, that simple slogan doesn't feel right, does it? We need this sermon today because “David and Goliath” actually has nothing to do with finding the hero within you. This story isn’t intended to inspire us to fight, or to make us brave. It’s meant to make us worship. If you’re humble enough to admit that you aren’t the hero of your own story, that you aren’t capable of defeating the most important giant in your life. David & Goliath will never sound the same again.

Have you ever noticed how naturally we celebrate God on spiritual mountaintops, but question Him in the valley? Too many people try to measure faith by the elevation of the spiritual mountaintop. But God measures it differently. The truth is, most of life is spent in the valley. If you’re not there right now, don’t worry. Sooner or later, every person will walk into one or be pushed into one. Sometimes it can feel like the walls are closing in, like you’ll never make it out. And its ok to say it. In the valley, there’s reasons to be afraid. You’re vulnerable there. Without the gift of faith, they can be devastating. But for the children of God, the valley is where faith becomes real. It’s the place where faith is proven. The mountaintop may feel spiritual, but it’s not God’s favorite meeting place. The valley is. God doesn’t invite you to climb up to Him; He promises to meet you in the place you’d never choose. That’s why we need today’s passage. For Christians, the valley should never just be a place of fear & exhaustion. It’s the place where our faith is forged. And today, Scripture is going to show us why & how faith is made.

Today’s sermon is about fear… It’s about the right way to fear, and the wrong way to fear. Let me ask you an uncomfortable question: When was the last time fear got the best of you? What was it? You know that slogan, “Faith over Fear”? Honestly I can’t stand it. It looks great on mugs & T-shirts, but if we’re honest… real life is more complicated. I mean I get it. But If fear was something you could conquer with a slogan, why do we still lose sleep, pace the floor, or pray through anxious tears? So what do we do when fear seems like it's winning? Does that mean we are failing as Christians? What if fear isn’t a sign you’re weak, but a reminder that you’re human? What if the moment fear rises isn’t a moment of defeat, but a moment to remember you desperately need a Savior? The fact is, following Jesus was never supposed to be some kind of nonstop victory parade. I call that fantasy theology. Most of us don’t live on the mountaintop. Most of us live in the valley between fear and faith, waiting and trembling, asking God for strength. See, I don’t think fear is our problem. Misplaced fear is. Fear that has been distorted, disordered, and directed at the wrong thing, that’s the issue. That’s why this sermon matters. Because every one of us face real moments where something stands in front of us that’s bigger than we are, and totally outside our control. And it’s in those moments that God does His deepest work.

What do you do when your own sinfulness creates darkness & consequences in your life? Where do you turn for relief? When it comes to spiritual sickness, most people are experts at symptom management. We numb guilt w/distractions, cover shame w/excuses, and patch sin with quick fixes. We rearrange the spiritual furniture in the dark & call it progress. But here’s the problem: you can’t medicate a sinful heart. Therapy sessions can treat wounds but can’t cure depravity. That’s where many of us live. We know the darkness. We feel the depravity. But we resist the only real cure. Most of us don’t reject God outright, we just try to fix ourselves without Him. We don’t deny sin; we just downplay it. We don’t repent; we self-repair. And self-repair always fails. That’s why the sad part of the story in this passage matters. It exposes the futility of treating sin with quick fixes, and points us to the grace that alone can give us a new heart. Saul’s torment stands as a flashing red warning light. It exposes what happens when we try to manage our sin instead of repenting of it. Band-aids can’t fix a soul that’s bleeding out. Only the sheer grace of God reaches that deep.

Did you know that Mother Theresa and Princess Diane died just a few days apart. Which death got the most attention? What kind of people does the world seem to love? Is it the smartest? The most talented? The beautiful? The strongest? The most impressive on the outside? What if God chose His children the same way as the world does? If that were the case, most of us would be disqualified. We’ve all got weaknesses. If humans were in charge of God’s grace, our failures, stories, and secrets would cause people to heads and say, “No way! Definitely not that one”. Here’s the good news: God doesn’t see His chosen the way the world does, not even the way other Christians might. He isn’t impressed with appearances. He isn’t fooled by the outside. He looks at the heart. That’s why the life of David matters so much. David was not the obvious choice, not in his family, not in Israel, not to anyone watching. But he was God’s choice. And his story reminds us of something that still matters today: God delights in raising up sinners who love Him, not because they are qualified, but because His Spirit empowers them.

Do you consider yourself courageous? How do you define courage? Today, the louder you are, the braver you seem. Our culture says courage means standing up for yourself, being ready to argue, to win the debate, to make your point. Even in churches, being loud is often confused with courage, and bitterness masquerades as boldness. We hijack what true courage is, mistaking it for political passion. We venerate cultural outrage & call it virtue. But Scripture flips that completely. It says real courage isn’t about being louder, it’s about laying yourself down. If our version of courage isn’t aimed at making disciples, it might get likes and reposts, but it’s fake. It’s not courage. It’s arrogance dressed up as conviction. It’s self-righteous, self-serving temper tantrums that look courageous for a moment but are powerless for Kingdom work. Biblical courage isn’t about cultural or political battles. It’s faithfully proclaiming the only truth that can actually save anyone, no matter what the obstacles to that might be. Because when the church’s courage gets hijacked by anything other than the Gospel, we lose our prophetic voice.

When was the last time you felt at peace? Does joy feel distant for you right now? Is life wearing you down? If so, this sermon’s for you. Because John teaches us something profound: Real joy in this life is always tied to truth. Not circumstances, not emotion, not success, but when we are walking with God’s presence, in truth. Do you know what the difference is between happiness and joy? If you’ve been at GraceLife for a while you might. Happiness is circumstantial. Happiness depends on what happens. It’s a conditional emotion. But joy is not happiness. Joy survives a bad medical report, a lost job, a catastrophic life event, or even what seems to be unanswered prayer. Happiness is fragile. But Joy isn’t. Joy endures when circumstances change, sustains you when everything falls apart. But most of us have confused the two. We talk a lot about wanting joy, but most of what we chase isn’t joy at all. It’s happiness dressed up like joy. We chase the next moment, but all it takes is one hard day for it to disappear. And then we are confused, perplexed, even bitter when it seems Joy is elusive, unattainable, or unsustainable. If you’ve lost your joy, its not because life got harder. Perhaps it’s because circumstances have tested your anchor, revealing your drift from the presence of God, from truth, or, if you were anchored to the wrong “truth” to begin with.

Have you ever been duped? Maybe you gave money to someone in need, only to find out later you were manipulated? Maybe you trusted someone who promised they’d have your back, but when you needed them most, they were gone. Have you ever been conned, promised opportunity, partnership or love & instead you were left empty & embarrassed? Few things are as discouraging as realizing you’ve been deceived. It makes you angry, embarrassed, and jaded. But what about when the lie isn’t about money or friendship—what if it’s about God? John knew how destructive spiritual lies could be. That’s why in his letters, he didn’t treat lies as small problems. He warned believers not to tolerate them, enable them, or even greet those who spread them. Because for John, truth and lies are not competing opinions—they are opposing kingdoms. One builds life; the other destroys it. One belongs to Christ; the other to the deceiver. This is the war every believer is in—whether we realize it or not. That’s why this series through 2 and 3 John matters. These short letters show us that the nature of truth is never abstract or subjective; It’s the only way to spiritual life. It guards us from lies, unites us in love, and gives us courage to follow Jesus no matter the cost. So this week, we’ll focus on the fight John highlights most urgently: Truth versus Lies.

Biblical truth isn’t just some kind of philosophy or just another abstract idea. It’s the only spiritual voice that matters. It matters in every area of life. It strengthens us, protects us, & gives us courage to follow Jesus no matter the cost. It shapes leadership, exposes lies, fuels joy, and demands courage. Today, we start a 4 week mini- series on 2 & 3 John. we will uncover how these short letters still speak powerfully about truth into the life of the church today. They were written to a church wrestling w/faithfulness under a wave of false teachers twisting truth for personal gain. We’ll start w/truth & leadership. Have you ever noticed how quickly a single leader can change the course of a group? One coach can take a losing team to the championship. But one corrupt CEO can sink a company overnight. One faithful teacher can change a student’s life. But one irresponsible Dad can cause decades of dysfunction in his kids. One courageous missionary can transform a village. But one false-teaching influencer online can lead millions astray. Why? Because leadership will always do one of two things, it will either amplify spiritual truth or magnify spiritual lies. That’s why John’s short letters aren’t just personal notes—they are lessons in leadership. In 2 John & 3 John, we see both the beauty of truth-filled leadership as well as the ugliness of self-centered leadership. The question we face is this: What kind of leadership will I offer, and what kind of leadership will I choose to follow?

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 settled for something easier, more distant, less costly, something that serves you more than God? Because worship is meant to be relational. It’s meant to be family. And until we see that, we’ll never experience the depth, the joy, and the power of worship as God designed it. That’s the example Paul sets in this last chapter of Romans.

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. The Gospel calls us to the kind of generosity that makes no sense apart from Jesus. The kind that crosses barriers. The kind that crushes division. A generosity that surprises the world around us. That’s the point in Romans 15. How God’s sovereign grace should create a family so surprisingly generous, the world is forced to notice.

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 God’s promises. So, how sure are you that the things you think are most important are worth the tension they cause in God’s family? How sure are you that your strongest opinions are the ones that matter most in God’s sovereign plan? That’s why we need this text today; because God’s vision for His people is bigger, older, and more beautiful than ours.

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 think you are. It’s measured by how much you’re willing to lay down your personal agenda for the sake of your brothers & sisters

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 Evangelical church. Because the moment grace is no longer the center of our community, something else will be. And whatever takes its place will divide us. Church was never meant to be a fight club, but sometimes we turn it into one.

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 time to stop walking around with receipts and start walking in mercy. If any of this gives you pause or pricks your heart, then you need this sermon, because God wants to set you free from the exhausting burden of keeping score.