Come On Up

Send us a note! What if the loudest voice in your head saying “not enough” has already been overruled by a higher court? We open Romans 8 with a verdict that changes everything: no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. From that starting point, we move beyond white-knuckle religion and step into the power of the Spirit, where life and peace replace the cycle of trying, failing, and hiding. We ta...

Send us a note! What if the rules were never the cure—and freedom didn’t mean doing whatever you want? We walk through Romans 6–8 with Pastor Carl to face the hard truth about sin’s empty promises and the hopeful reality of grace that changes us from the inside out. The law shines a bright light on our condition, revealing why our best efforts fall short, yet it also guides us to the door of mercy...

Send us a note! Rules say no; our hearts push back. That tension sets the stage for a clear walk through Romans 6, where we explore why the law exposes and even provokes sin—and how the grace of God in Christ breaks sin’s rule without turning grace into a permission slip. We open with a simple image—the forbidden cookie jar—to show how desire awakens under prohibition, then shift to the better new...

Send us a note! Grace doesn’t just meet sin; it overwhelms it. We walk through Romans 4–5 with Pastor Carl and trace a bold arc from Abraham’s uneven faith to the unstoppable gift of justification by faith. Along the way, we face the hard questions people carry: What do I do with recurring failure? How do I find peace with God that lasts beyond my best or worst week? Why would anyone “glory in tri...

Send us a note! We trace Abraham’s faith, David’s failure, and the sweeping grace that justifies the ungodly, then apply it to our daily battles with law, guilt, and suffering. Peace with God becomes the foundation for perseverance, character, and a living hope. • faith as trust against visible odds • David’s sin, repentance, and real forgiveness • righteousness imputed apart from circumcision or...

Send us a note! What if the one thing keeping you from peace with God is the belief that you have to earn it? We open Romans 3–5 and sit with Paul’s bold claim that all have sinned and fall short, then hear the relief: we’re justified freely by grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus. From there we follow a clear thread—Abraham’s righteousness credited by faith before circumcision, David’s fo...

Send us a note! What if the thing that most offends people about faith isn’t Jesus, but our habit of pretending we’re better than we are? We walk through Romans 2–3 with Pastor Carl to face hypocrisy head-on, let the law do its exposing work, and then step into the relief of grace that actually changes us. The thread running through it all: outward religion can’t cure an inward problem, and the Sp...

Send us a note! Ever notice how easy it is to spot someone else’s flaws while quietly excusing your own? We take a clear-eyed walk through Romans 2–3 to uncover why our hearts bend toward self-justification, how condemnation masquerades as discernment, and what it takes to trade the gavel for grace. Along the way, a simple airplane cookie mix-up exposes the hidden mechanics of hypocrisy—and why Go...

Send us a note! What if the most honest question you could ask today is simple: am I walking in the light or settling for a comfortable lie? We open Romans and confront the tension between the flesh and the Spirit, not as a theory but as a daily choice. “I have been crucified with Christ” becomes more than a verse—it’s an identity that changes how we think, love, and live. We trace Paul’s argument...

Send us a note! What if the gospel isn’t the starting line but the whole race? We open Romans with Paul’s longing to visit Rome and uncover a bigger vision: the same grace that saves also fuels everyday transformation. Paul wants to impart strength and receive it too, showing how healthy churches grow through mutual encouragement and shared faith. That heartbeat reframes mission and discipleship a...

Send us a note! Start here if you’ve ever wondered whether the gospel is only the doorway into faith or the very framework for the whole Christian life. We open Romans 1 and walk with Paul from bondservant to ambassador, from self-made holiness to grace-fueled obedience, and from private belief to public calling. Along the way, we explore how Jesus’ resurrection declares Him the Son of God in powe...

Send us a note! Find our a little bit about the upcoming daily podcast from The Mountain Cross entitled Come On Up!  Pastor Carl begins teaching the book of Romans beginning January 5, 2026 right here on this very podcast feed! Come On Up is the radio ministry of The Mountain Cross in Waynesville North Carolina. To learn more about us please visit: TheMountainCross.com .