GraceLife Sarasota

What’s the 1st image in your head when you hear the word “church”? buildings, steeples, steel, stage, pulpit? I googled it, 1st result is this def: is a building used for public Christian worship. Stones, bricks, mortar, steel, drywall. “We won't be going back here to church again. The A/C wasn't working right. The seats were uncomfortable. The exterminator hasn't been here in a long time. Childre...

How can you know for certain your soul has been purified & transformed by the power of the Gospel? In my career as a pastor, it’s been oft asked. it’s one of the things most people who need comfort want to know. In America, even when life gets tough, we have it easy compared to the suffering of Peter’s readers. Imagine if every aspect of your life was unstable, unsure, and hope of salvation was th...

How can you know for certain your soul has been purified & transformed by the power of the Gospel? In my career as a pastor, it’s been oft asked. it’s one of the things most people who need comfort want to know. In America, even when life gets tough, we have it easy compared to the suffering of Peter’s readers. Imagine if every aspect of your life was unstable, unsure, and hope of salvation was th...

When you experience true heartbreak, suffering… any type of adversity, it’s hard to think about anything else. Nothing puts the human heart in the prison of now like suffering & loss, especially without a hope fixed on eternity. Suffering devours your attention, dominates your emotions, crowds your thoughts, siphons off earthly resources. Sometimes it seems like a monumental burden, just take the...

When you experience true heartbreak, suffering… any type of adversity, it’s hard to think about anything else. Nothing puts the human heart in the prison of now like suffering & loss, especially without a hope fixed on eternity. Suffering devours your attention, dominates your emotions, crowds your thoughts, siphons off earthly resources. Sometimes it seems like a monumental burden, just take the...

Our hearts are w/Judy Carroll, Lor Creasy, & family w/the loss of Gregg Bauer, a part of GraceLife from the beginning. Planning, behavior & choices inspired by hope in the future is one way people different from animals. Last year, when I was given the gift of Super Bowl tickets to watch my beloved Buccaneers, I was so excited. I started preparing for the game two weeks beforehand to ensure I got...

Our hearts are w/Judy Carroll, Lor Creasy, & family w/the loss of Gregg Bauer, a part of GraceLife from the beginning. Planning, behavior & choices inspired by hope in the future is one way people different from animals. Last year, when I was given the gift of Super Bowl tickets to watch my beloved Buccaneers, I was so excited. I started preparing for the game two weeks beforehand to ensure I got...

This week, one of my heroes, Coach Bowden died. He had a huge impact on me as a young football coach & preacher. I’ve loved FSU football since I was a kid, ESPN replayed condensed classic games in his honor. I was watched 5 of them. I remembered most of the plays! I already knew the score, but I loved watching again, reliving all the details, the drama. I loved remembering where I was when they we...

This week, one of my heroes, Coach Bowden died. He had a huge impact on me as a young football coach & preacher. I’ve loved FSU football since I was a kid, ESPN replayed condensed classic games in his honor. I was watched 5 of them. I remembered most of the plays! I already knew the score, but I loved watching again, reliving all the details, the drama. I loved remembering where I was when they we...

What do you think about the Bible instructing us to rejoice when we go through grief and suffering? What does it mean to rejoice? How do you rejoice when earthly circumstances are ripping your life apart? Why Can’t God just save His children & then make life easy? Does our faith really need to be tested for it to be reliable? Perhaps this one of those things in scripture we all nod w/a serious fac...

What do you think about the Bible instructing us to rejoice when we go through grief and suffering? What does it mean to rejoice? How do you rejoice when earthly circumstances are ripping your life apart? Why Can’t God just save His children & then make life easy? Does our faith really need to be tested for it to be reliable? Perhaps this one of those things in scripture we all nod w/a serious fac...

What are some of your hopes and dreams… things you desire for yourself, your children, your family, your country? What about hopes which are a little less long term? Like hopes you have for this coming week? Maybe it’s a vacation you want to take, a relationship you desire, a job or promotion you hope to land. Maybe your greatest hopes are medical, for healing, or emotional, for peace. These hopes...

What are some of your hopes and dreams… things you desire for yourself, your children, your family, your country? What about hopes which are a little less long term? Like hopes you have for this coming week? Maybe it’s a vacation you want to take, a relationship you desire, a job or promotion you hope to land. Maybe your greatest hopes are medical, for healing, or emotional, for peace. These hopes...

Have you ever asked someone a question, you know they heard you, and they just didn’t answer? How do you feel? Like they are intentionally ignoring you? You know they’re choosing not to listening. Its disrespectful. Your response? Me, I am infinitely patient, I caress the suffering brow, overflowing with compassion…. “What’s wrong? How can I help?” Of course, I am quite the opposite, as are most o...

Have you ever asked someone a question, you know they heard you, and they just didn’t answer? How do you feel? Like they are intentionally ignoring you? You know they’re choosing not to listening. Its disrespectful. Your response? Me, I am infinitely patient, I caress the suffering brow, overflowing with compassion…. “What’s wrong? How can I help?” Of course, I am quite the opposite, as are most o...

Have you ever been mad at God? Have you ever been frustrated with how He does things? A couple weeks ago a friend I had not heard from in several years reached out and asked me if they could borrow $50. No biggie, I’m hip, I’ll use Venmo. They insisted I use cash app. “I don’t have cash app; I don’t use cash app.” They got frustrated “Can you open a cash app account? It’s what I use, it’s easier f...

Have you ever been mad at God? Have you ever been frustrated with how He does things? A couple weeks ago a friend I had not heard from in several years reached out and asked me if they could borrow $50. No biggie, I’m hip, I’ll use Venmo. They insisted I use cash app. “I don’t have cash app; I don’t use cash app.” They got frustrated “Can you open a cash app account? It’s what I use, it’s easier f...

What’s your first thought when I tell you today is a sermon about fearing God, about God’s judgement of sinners? How do you feel about sermons centered on the topics of hell and God’s judgement of sinners? Back in my southern Baptist days we called Hellfire and brimstone! Those kinds of sermons are rare these days. The wrath of God has become one of the most neglected doctrines in sermons today. S...

What’s your first thought when I tell you today is a sermon about fearing God, about God’s judgement of sinners? How do you feel about sermons centered on the topics of hell and God’s judgement of sinners? Back in my southern Baptist days we called Hellfire and brimstone! Those kinds of sermons are rare these days. The wrath of God has become one of the most neglected doctrines in sermons today. S...

Special guest Marji Kruger speaks on her ministry in Lesotho, South Africa, and shares a word from the book of Lamentations

Special guest Marji Kruger speaks on her ministry in Lesotho, South Africa, and shares a word from the book of Lamentations

Have you ever confessed without really meaning it? A confession without any real remorse or repentance? Like… “Yeah, I flipped that guy off at the red light, and I’m glad I did! He deserved it!” How about a confession as a humble brag? “Sorry I cussed you out, I just have a tendency to tell it like it is.” How  about false self-deprecation?  “Yeah, best watch out, I have a little bit of an anger p...

Have you ever confessed without really meaning it? A confession without any real remorse or repentance? Like… “Yeah, I flipped that guy off at the red light, and I’m glad I did! He deserved it!” How about a confession as a humble brag? “Sorry I cussed you out, I just have a tendency to tell it like it is.” How  about false self-deprecation?  “Yeah, best watch out, I have a little bit of an anger p...

Have you ever been around an unbeliever who’s just beginning to understand the Gospel, their excitement, their joy? Doesn’t it seem people in that stage are far more teachable than those who have known Jesus for years? Do you remember their passion to consume biblical knowledge? They ask so many questions! What about their hunger for fellowship, their desire to worship God & be obedience to His Wo...

Have you ever been around an unbeliever who’s just beginning to understand the Gospel, their excitement, their joy? Doesn’t it seem people in that stage are far more teachable than those who have known Jesus for years? Do you remember their passion to consume biblical knowledge? They ask so many questions! What about their hunger for fellowship, their desire to worship God & be obedience to His Wo...