Pastor John Lovell

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...

How has God gifted you and why did He choose you for these unique gifts? The church is THE PLAN of God for a lost and dying world, and the spiritual gifts that you bring to the table are imperative in the growth of the body of Christ. Listen this week as Pastor John throws a curveball into the worldview of special gifts that we may possess. In Paul's letters to the Romans we learn that your G...

Spiritual growth for Christian believers can be dangerously sabotaged by gnosticism, an infusion of ancient ideas and religions that help create a delusional dualistic worldview. The true Word of God openly challenges today's worldly standards and its wildly out-of-touch culture, whose default position is clearly viewed as hostility toward God. The Apostle Paul provides his Roman audience som...

How does our sovereign, all-powerful God handle the Jewish nation of Israel's rejection of Jesus Christ? He allows their stumbling, sinful decisions to extend the gift of salvation to the Gentiles, fulfilling a biblical plan to provoke them to jealousy, so that some Jews may ultimately be saved. The Apostle Paul in Romans 11 reveals the mystery of this divine plan that emphasizes God's f...

The Apostle Paul opens up a bold indictment against the Jewish nation in Romans this week, as he speaks to the hard-nosed, stiff-necked elites of the religious sector. When your moral structure is built on the belief that man is basically good, you will completely miss opportunities to reconcile with God through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Contrary to worldly opinions, your fancy suits, your luxur...

Stumbling blocks are an ever present reality in this broken earth we all inhabit. God's Holy Word and the attributes of Jesus also have the potential to create a stumbling block for unbelievers, as they align their worldly logic with the ancient Pharisee mindset. In the Book of Romans this week, Pastor John unpacks incredibly rich theology, illuminating some new light onto the old stories of...

The conquering heroes of our ancient past continue to intrigue mankind and their stories of world-changing commands live on through the ages. For generations, their military prowess, strategic genius, and sheer determination have left a lasting impact on all of history. The most unstoppable force of nature is our hero, the Commander of the Lord's Army, King Jesus. He rose in power and might a...

All Christians can agree that God's ways are ultimately beyond human comprehension, especially on the subject of predestination and election. In Romans 8-9, the Apostle Paul reminds us that God's choice for our lives is a sovereign one and totally independent of any human's work or merit. While these doctrines have profound and practical implications for our Christian faith, they ca...

Believers in Jesus Christ, though redeemed spiritually, are still awaiting the full redemption of their earthly bodies along with the promise of eternal life. Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 8 that all of creation and all of mankind are groaning as God longs to be united with His children, longing to return us to an edenic state of the garden. As citizens of heaven, we are free from the weight of...

The law of the spirit of life in Christ has set believers free from the law of sin and death. The Apostle Paul contrasts these two mindsets ~flesh and spirit~ and highlights the hope and power of the Holy Spirit. Pastor John preaches an encouraging message this week of freedom from sin, starting with the biblical promise of "no condemnation" in Romans 8. He implores us to live according...

How many of us would benefit from a "great rewind opportunity" in our lives, for a chance to go back and get it right this time? The Apostle Paul reveals such an outline of possibilities in Romans 7, where he proclaims the controversial doctrinal truth that the unyielding trap of the Old Testament law has now been replaced with a spiritual return to that Edenic state through freedom in J...

Slavery is a hot topic both culturally and biblically. Contrary to the current belief systems that the history of slavery is exclusive to the USA, the building of ancient and modern empires upon the backs of slavery is evident throughout the span of all humanity. Pastor John's message this week takes us through some unpopular truths regarding modern-day human slavery, both physical and spirit...

The Apostle Paul offers the Romans a radical proposition of the gospel, to join Christ in His death so that you may join Him in a renewed and resurrected life. Christianity is an "ALL IN" spiritual transformation that encompasses our past, our present, and our future, reinventing and redefining the believers identity. Listen this week as Pastor John invites us to walk in the newness of l...

Every human on earth has received the worst possible inheritance from Adam after his fall in the garden. This original sin is a spiritual infection that separates us from God, while highlighting man's desperate need for redemption. Listen as Pastor John contrasts the actions of Adam with the works of Jesus Christ, the Holy Son of God, who was sent to earth to unravel our vile sinful nature as...