GraceLife Sarasota

Most of us can’t imagine ever completely turning our backs on Jesus, yet many believers have walked through seasons of failure—moments of sin, addiction, pride, or spiritual coldness—times when we drifted without even realizing it, only to look up later and wonder, how did I get here. But Jesus isn’t shocked by our weakness; He knows us better than we know ourselves. In today’s passage, He predict...

The Lord’s Table is one of the most important Christian traditions, yet many believers approach it with rigid preferences about the bread, the method, or the order—so much so that the meaning can get lost and a sacred moment becomes an empty ritual. Others participate simply because they’re “supposed to,” without grasping the story behind it. But Jesus had a clear purpose when He instituted this m...

When we hear the name Judas, we recoil—he’s the villain, the betrayer, the one we’re sure we’d never be like. But that reaction exposes something in us: we instinctively place ourselves on the “good” side of every story. We judge others’ failures while assuming we’d never fall the same way. Whether it’s addiction, immorality, pride, or bad theology, we often see ourselves as morally superior; we e...

When was the last time Jesus captured your full attention—when He became the most important person in the room. Maybe it was a miraculous intervention, the moment the Gospel became personal, or a time God used you to impact someone else’s life. Those moments stay with us. I remember when God saved me as a ninth grader, and again eighteen months later when He called me into ministry—both overwhelmi...

Much of Jesus’ story is widely accepted—His teachings on compassion, justice, and humility are admired even by those who don’t believe in Him. But the next three chapters of Mark contain the part of the story the world resists: the crucifixion and the resurrection. These events demand a response. Either Jesus rose from the dead, or He didn’t. There is no middle ground. And because the resurrection...

Many sincere Christians place their hope in the wrong things, and the results can be devastating. During the last election, self‑proclaimed prophets made bold predictions that misled believers and distracted them with misplaced hope in political outcomes; when those predictions failed, people were left confused, disappointed, and even hopeless. But politics isn’t the only place we drift—our hope c...

Why listen to another sermon on prophecy when it feels so confusing? If biblical scholars can’t agree, what chance do we have. But imagine having a clear, reliable process for reading prophecy—one that untangles the knots and turns confusion into encouragement. That begins by starting with what is clear and letting that foundation guide everything else. This week, Jesus delivers one of the most di...

Few topics spark more disagreement than prophecy and end times, and today’s passage is one of the most debated. Jesus speaks of a coming tribulation—a bloody, catastrophic event also foretold in Daniel. Many modern evangelicals believe this refers to a future global tribulation after Christians are raptured. I don’t hold that view anymore, though I once did. What I’ll teach over the next two weeks...

What comes to mind when you hear the word prophecy? For many, it’s a mix of fascination and intimidation. Some Christians become obsessed—scouring headlines for signs, chasing cryptic clues, and slipping into sensationalism. Others avoid prophecy altogether, convinced it’s too confusing or too scary. Both extremes miss the point. Biblical prophecy was given to bring hope and encouragement, not fea...

I recently saw a church post celebrating their pastor’s 40th birthday—nice enough—until I noticed the directive to “sow into your pastor” with a link to a credit card portal for his birthday fund. It made my stomach turn. To see spiritual influence used to exploit people is heartbreaking. Sadly, this isn’t rare. We see it in televangelists flying private jets, CEOs of charities enriching themselve...

If you had to choose the most important thing Jesus taught, what would you pick? Based on frequency, the answer is clear: His deity. Jesus taught about His identity as God more than anything else, and the early church embraced this as its core truth—yet it was under attack almost immediately. Today, people love quoting Jesus on caring for the poor, loving neighbors, and challenging hypocrisy. Poli...

Some passages in Scripture feel intimidating, and today’s text is one of them. Jesus declares the two greatest commandments: love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. Beautiful—but also overwhelming. Who can honestly say they do that consistently, let alone completely? It feels impossible, and the gap between who we are and who we long to be can fe...

A special message at Celebrate Recovery in Sarasota about how desperation is the most important component to success in recovery.

The other day someone scoffed at me for believing in my “imaginary friend” and in Heaven. It didn’t shake me, but it did make me pause and reflect. What is it about Jesus that makes following Him worth everything? Why do we gather as a church family, give, serve, worship, and devote ourselves to Scripture? What inspires Christians to sacrifice worldly comforts for something greater? I believe it’s...

You know that feeling when an unexpected envelope from the IRS shows up in your mailbox, especially in August? Your stomach drops a little. Most of us have paid for tax help at some point, whether through an accountant, a tax service, or even TurboTax, because we want to avoid two things: overpaying and getting in trouble. And with stories of celebrities owing millions or even going to jail over t...

I’m so grateful for Pastor Brian Yost preaching last week—Laura and I watched, and he was incredible. These past eight months have been especially hard for GraceLife, particularly for those at high risk and for families with young kids, and Brian did a masterful job reminding us of who we are as a church. He brought us back to our foundation—our core values, our unique structure, and the biblical...

Brian Yost from City Commit Sarasota, fills in for Pastor Joe, shares a story about the very beginning of GraceLife and how he sees our church living out the commands of Jesus.

What’s your gut reaction to the word submission? Probably not warm, cozy feelings. And authority doesn’t usually land much better. Even when we understand the biblical concepts behind them, something in us instinctively resists the idea of giving up power—especially power over our own lives. Voluntary submission feels manageable because we can “unsubmit” whenever we want, but mandatory submission—...

Many Christians quietly wrestle with feelings of failure when prayers go unanswered or when their faith doesn’t seem “strong enough.” And phrases like “faith to move mountains” or “pray hard enough and anything is possible” can leave us confused, discouraged, or even ashamed. Some believers think, “I know that doesn’t really work… but I’d never say it out loud.” So how does faith work? What does J...

Christians today are caught in passionate debates about politics—what kind of government we should have, which party reflects biblical values, and even which candidate Jesus would support. Everyone seems so certain. And while believers absolutely have a responsibility to engage in the political process, many have lost their balance, becoming consumed with shaping a government that aligns with thei...

We’ve reached the final week of Jesus’ earthly ministry—though with about 15–20 messages still ahead, so don’t get too excited. Before diving into the Palm Sunday story, it’s worth pausing to reflect on what we’ve walked through together as a church family since the pandemic began. At first, we were prepared. Our structure, vision, and core values positioned us to endure hardship. But challenges c...

Have you ever felt true desperation, the kind that strips away your confidence and leaves you painfully aware that you’re no longer in control? Desperation can come from anywhere: relationships, emotions, finances, health. And from an earthly perspective, it feels like impending hopelessness. It’s scary, humiliating, and something most people spend their lives trying to avoid. But there is one mom...

If you oversaw GraceLife, what would you change to make it more “successful”? Most of us have two answers: the spiritual one we know we should say—preach the Gospel, serve sacrificially—and the practical one shaped by modern church culture. Many churches chase success through marketing strategies, appealing to key demographics, building impressive facilities, and securing financial strength. That’...

Today we celebrate our 4th anniversary as a church family. Join us for video messages from our leadership, Megan, and Joe as we thank God for the GraceLife!

Few things are as heartwarming as watching a patient dog endure the poking and prodding of a toddler—gentle, loyal, and motivated by love. As I prepared this message, it struck me that this is often how Jesus must be with us. We love those videos because they show a kind of patient affection that feels almost supernatural. And in today’s passage, we see Jesus displaying that same patient love towa...