1. God gives us the power and authority to proclaim the forgiveness of sins to burdened sinners who entrust us with their pain, guilt, and defeat.
  2. Repentance is meaningless unless we are willing to acknowledge who we are: sinners needing mercy.
  3. The law had to have its way with the expert to bring him around (and back) to Abraham's response.
  4. As the writer to the Hebrews affirms, what makes the Christian gospel so much better is that we are no longer dealing with “types and shadows."
  5. Maybe, just maybe, our goal for 2023 should not be to live more but to die more.
  6. Who would ever want all these screamers and haters? It turns out that Christ does.
  7. O weary ones, O long-time waiting and watching ones, O ones who are late to the game, he is your rest this busy season, and always.
  8. For with God we look not for the order of nature, but rest our faith in the power of him who works.
  9. We don’t start with behavior and work toward Christ. We start with Christ and everything works out from there.
  10. The reason that God’s commandments are not burdensome is that Jesus has fulfilled them.
  11. Both now and forever, the bruised and crucified Lord nailed to a cross is our assurance of deliverance.