The Gospel in Acts
Spreading the Gospel Acts is the story of God’s grace flooding out to the world, from the cross and resurrection of Jesus in Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. […]
The Difference Between Guilt and Shame
Philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre accurately describes shame as “a hemorrhage of the soul,” that is, a painful, unexpected, and disorienting experience. It is often linked to some painful incident—sin that has […]
Grace Motivates and Other Things I Wish I’d Known…
About Leadership Grace is not the opposite of strong leadership, but the heart of it. This is important for leadership in all realms, and especially in ministry. Insecure leaders worry […]
Jesus Is a Karma Buzz-Kill
During the Last Supper (Mark 14:12–25) with his disciples, Jesus talks about his impending death and initiates the practice of communion. Jesus says in Mark 14:27–28, “You will all fall […]
Walking in Good Works
Ephesians 2 is filled with the good news of grace for both our justification and sanctification. The chapter begins by describing our natural condition—trapped in sin and by sin, rebelling against […]
Why Does Grace Matter?
Grace is not an abstract principle, but a reality of our life with God. As Karl Barth once emphasized: “Grace must find expression in life, otherwise it is not grace.” And […]
Preaching God’s Two Words: Law & Gospel
I was invited to speak at the “Preach the Word” conference at Living Stones Church in Reno, NV, and was assigned “Preaching God’s Two Words: Law & Gospel.” I can […]
When My Dad Loved Me At My Worst
Many of us think (whether we admit it or not) there must be some breaking point where our Father God gives up on us. Even if we successfully avoid believing […]
What Is Grace?
“The very center and core of the whole Bible is the doctrine of the grace of God.” – J. Gresham Machen “Grace” is the most important concept in the Bible, […]
Grace Is the Opposite of Karma
A Q&A with Justin Holcomb on the release of his newest book, On the Grace of God. Question: So let’s start with the big idea. Give us a quick summary […]