1. A “good death” and “good life” are not accomplished through personal striving but are grasped by faith in the promises of God.
  2. God gives his church a story that helps to make sense of this life.
  3. Your justification isn’t a matter of “Jesus plus” anything.
  4. It would serve us well to embrace the beauty of our diversity within the unity of the body of Christ.
  5. Human solutions to problems, important as they are, are inadequate to meet our deepest needs
  6. We must also address the stigma surrounding addiction within so many churches.
  7. It is of the utmost importance that pastors teach their congregation that through faith in Jesus Christ, they are fortified against the machinations of the adversary.
  8. I’ve experienced firsthand the promise that God never leaves a congregation empty-handed.
  9. A pastor is sent to proclaim the unconditional grace of God, reminding us again and again that it is our Heavenly Father who reaches out to us in love through his Christ-won forgiveness, and not the other way around.
  10. Grace comes for every foolish, self-absorbed sinner, for every “Nabal,” and announces that there is one who has already taken it upon himself to shoulder all of our wrongdoing, paying the price for it through the sacrifice of himself.
  11. Christ Jesus brings his word and presence to where you are and he is even willing to do so through the likes of your personally present pastor.