Pastor John Lovell

Christians are not perfect people, we are just forgiven people who recognize that mankind is fatally flawed and that we need a Savior.  Believers have heard the liberating call of Jesus Christ to be gloriously authentic, pressing toward the mark of spiritual maturity, always reaching for holy ambition. Listen this week as Pastor John takes us to the Apostle Paul's letter to the church at Phil...

The world is mourning the loss of some very influential, kingdom-building Christian leaders at this current time, those who unapologetically shared the Word of God. Carrying this burden of such devastating and heart-breaking loss brings believers closer to Jesus, and in the depth of our collective grief, His eternal promises bring much needed hope.  Listen as Pastor John upholds Epaphroditus, a lo...

The Apostle Paul performs a savage take-down of the inadequate and corrupt religious crowd in the early church era. He proudly proclaimed in the book of Philippians that all his former religious accolades and laws were rubbish compared to the joy of his new heart and his new life in Jesus Christ.  Listen as Pastor John urges us to understand the distinction between religion and faith-based relatio...

What would it be like to be part of a genuine dream team for your church? The Apostle Paul singles out a brother in Christ, Timothy, as a model for the kind of leader the church should value - those who put Christ and others first in all they do. The struggle to locate purely selfless men was as evident in the early church as it is in modern times. While sinful humans revel in their desire for sta...

This vile and broken world that we inhabit is full of warped and wicked displays of behavior, and the disgusting evidence from our current news cycles show a continuous downward spiral of moral decay. We have witnessed the evil of lost souls who celebrate the death of a Christian martyr, who harbor bitterness and anger in their hearts, and who stand boldly against any responsibility or accountabil...

To be saved through God's salvation plan is when you give your whole heart and life to Jesus Christ. It may begin with a beautiful, eternal moment at an earthly altar, but then the lifelong quest of His holiness and righteousness comes from our desire to serve Him and His people. The Apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians that the believers responsibility is the active pursuit of obedience in...

Love God and love others. This profound and simple foundation of Christian principle is boldly exclaimed by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the church at Philippi, as he calls the church to unity through humility. Listen as Pastor John passionately proclaims that the gifts of mercy and love that Christ has provided for believers in turn commissions us to extend this same humility and grace to ot...

The road to victory often goes through pain and suffering, as the Bible does not endorse the current worldview of happiness - that temporary, shallow emotional state based on external circumstances. The Apostle Paul calls for a genuine unity of believer's hearts and minds at the church of Philippi, reminding them that Jesus offers holiness, eternal joy, and a purpose-driven fulfillment that n...

A unique form of radical extremism is demonstrated through the Apostle Paul's letter to the Philippians, as he wrestles with the tension of his soul's deep desire to be with Jesus and his heart's desire to strengthen the spiritual walk of the new believers.  This significantly personal and theological reflection views death as a personal gain and a deeper doorway to fellowship with...

The seeds of destruction are sown in churches across America when envy, rivalry, and selfish ambition enter in, sometimes disguised as a true ministry of the gospel. In his letter to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul acknowledges that people can sometimes do the right thing (preach the gospel) for the wrong reasons (approval of man, influence, power). Pastor John warns us today that if hearts are...

Being imprisoned typically denotes disgrace and punishment upon the outcast who experiences social shame and failure. The Apostle Paul's message to the Philippians, however, completely flips the script on this prisoner stereotype, as he defied the worldly expectations of his confinement in a Roman prison.  He boldly proclaimed that his chains and his suffering were golden opportunities to lea...

The loneliness epidemic is sweeping across our nation at statistically alarming rates, and this modern day trend is in incredible contrast to the divine, biblical design that calls us to vibrant fellowship and love for our fellow man. The Apostle Paul demonstrates in Philippians that Christians are called to be radically different, yearning to be with each other, having affection toward your broth...

An unrivaled passion for Jesus and the gospel message is fully demonstrated by the Apostle Paul,  as he pens a letter to the church of Philippi while imprisoned in a Roman jail. His message of the completed work of Jesus Christ offers believers a new perspective on some old beliefs, reiterating the promise of eternal security for those new Christians. Pastor John opens up a series on the book of P...

Just outside the Garden of Eden Cain was the first man born into a world of sin, and through him,  the ancient texts of the Bible show mankind's first demonstration of refusal to fight against one's own sinful nature. God pronounces His sovereign and righteous judgement on those who let arrogance and pride rule over their heart, yet in His infinite mercy, He offers grace to those who hum...

Highly valued women are viewed as essential to the early Christian church and are honored in the Bible for their obedience to their faith. In the Apostle Paul's heartfelt conclusion in his letter to the Romans, he commends the worthy efforts of the community of like-minded believers, who have shared their faith and their services while on a focused mission for the gospel. In stark contrast to...

One of the most influential preachers and theologians of the 19th Century, Charles Spurgeon,  once asserted that "every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter".  Seemingly impossible missions, whose cause is Jesus Christ, have created some unlikely heroes in our Christian past. Pastor John's message this week celebrates these past champions of the Christian faith. He guides...

Strong Christian believers are called to act in love and to follow the example of Jesus Christ, whose ultimate sacrifice led to the rescue of others. Spiritual strength and robust faith equip believers to prioritize the needs of weaker Christians and to sacrificially bear the failings of those who fall behind.  Against all cultural beliefs regarding strength and masculinity, the church has a bibli...

Imagine your response to being plucked from the crowded streets of Jerusalem by Roman soldiers and commanded to carry the cross of Jesus. The New Testament recounts the story of Simon of Cyrene, who was compelled to carry this heavy, splintered, blood-stained cross and bear the burden of following Jesus. Grace City Rome welcomes Guest Pastor Hank Stanley from Roatan, Honduras to the pulpit this we...

The Bible is quite clear in how Christians are directed to handle their differences in personal convictions, particularly regarding the matters of our faith that are not essential to salvation. While civil discourse is welcome concerning a variety of opinions, we are to accept these differences among believers without judging and division. The Apostle Paul encourages believers in Romans 14 to live...

Believers in Jesus Christ would wholeheartedly agree that the laws of the Old Testament were oppressive and unattainable, so the life-altering advice offered in Romans this week provides the life and freedom we all desire. God's great love for His children is witnessed in the life of Jesus Christ and all of His commandments can be summarized into one eternal directive: Love One Another. It wa...

One key moment in time changed the whole trajectory for all of mankind on earth. While the enemy believed that the final blow was struck at the death of Jesus on the cross, Jesus was accomplishing His mission by holding all the sins of the world between His nail-scarred hands. Cover to cover, the Bible reveals the majestic story of Jesus Christ, and all of history revolves around a singular moment...

Government officials are tasked with upholding justice, punishing evil, and promoting societal good, and since their authority is derived from God, it implies a divine purpose in their role. Submission to this worldly authority is both practical and moral, as long as it aligns with God's divine will. When challenged with the burdensome weight of an unrighteous government authority, believers...

The world often promotes a misinformed mindset of "getting even"  or "settling the score", a dangerous revenge story they rely on when someone wrongs them. This self-centered attitude will consume one's life and steal what joy they may have. The Apostle Paul presents a contrasting challenge to the believers in Rome when he proclaims a wildly heroic command of Jesus to bles...

In the Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans, he offers some practical exhortations for a fulfilling Christian life. He encourages us through God's Word to become the right kind of radical Christian, by passionately loving people and inviting others into our homes and our lives. Listen as Pastor John encourages us to allow the Holy Spirit to summon our true passion for Jesus and to display...

True love rejoices in what is morally good and the scriptures are loaded with the biblical standards of this love. While Hollywood and the secular culture distort real love with their worship of feelings and self-gratification, God reminds us that the very vehicle He used for salvation was His Love for us, His own son Jesus. In Romans, the Apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of sincere love and...