Pastor John Lovell

Jesus Christ was confronted and questioned by the religious elite for allowing His Disciples to eat with dirty hands. He frankly and boldly called out the hypocritical religious sect, offering His scathing rebuke of their ceremonial cleansing processes and endless traditions. Listen this week as Pastor John warns that religiosity will destroy a church and how to recognize the difference between the religious phony and the truly holy.  He reminds us that brothers and sisters in Christ can thoughtfully discuss the weightier matters with grace and humility instead of bickering over divisive issues. Unity is a top priority, so he encourages us to seize every opportunity to be unrelenting in loving Jesus and loving others.Thanks for listening!Visit our website for more info:https://www.gracecityrome.com/

A.W.Tozer wrote in The Knowledge of the Holy that "what comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us". Our mental image of God will influence every aspect of our lives as it shapes our views of worship, serving, and loving others. Listen this week as Pastor John presents a tension-inducing question of whether or not we should fear Jesus, showing how the Bible states in some contexts to fear Jesus, while in others declaring "do not be afraid" and "do not fear". He clarifies this dichotomy for believers, encouraging the church to keep a holy reverence of our God, and to not allow our hardened hearts to miss the righteous Savior who was sent by His Father to save us!Thanks for listening!Visit our website for more info:https://www.gracecityrome.com/

The only miracle that is mentioned in all four gospels is when Jesus called His disciples into His ministry to perform an impossible task - feed the crowd. Glory to God for His power to multiply the provisions and to bless those who are faithful in giving what they have, as thousands were fed that day. Listen this week as Pastor John celebrates great news for Grace City Rome, praising God for the answered prayers about our own church building and for the faithfulness of the church. A small offering from two young men 3 years ago has multiplied into a thriving community of Jesus-loving believers. Sometimes the mission may require more than you have, but Jesus shows up to deliver His blessings to those who stay faithful to His Word. Thanks for listening!Visit our website for more info:https://www.gracecityrome.com/

When you stand strong for Christ, you will be rejected by man, as Christianity is the most persecuted religion on earth. As evidenced in ancient biblical times as well as today, only the cowards will retreat from the fight for truth and God's Kingdom, eventually surrendering to the pressures and depravity of society. Listen this week as Pastor John implores strong men to ready themselves for spiritual courage and leadership, armoring up for the battles ahead to preserve our faith, our families, and our nation. Christians around the globe should be ready at all times to be hated for Jesus and ready to stand on His Word in civil disobedience against tyrannical government systems. Be bold enough to ask, "What would John the Baptist do?"Thanks for listening!Visit our website for more info:https://www.gracecityrome.com/

Since the fall of man in the garden of Eden, sin has caused broken relationships and ego-driven chaos in all humans. Those first scenes in Genesis depict a history of mankind's long-standing coercion of others for its own benefit, displaying selfishness in its desire to always be the main character. Listen this week as Brother Brett Gossett challenges believers to evaluate our relationship with God, keeping our focus on Jesus, and desiring nothing for our own gain. When presented with an opportunity for true brotherhood in Christ, he urged listeners to step away from attempts to build our own kingdom and to know that our heavenly value is not measured with titles, positions, or status here on earth. Jesus came to release us from the chains of our self-imposed slavery of sin, so we could enjoy communion with God and our brothers and sisters!Thanks for listening!Visit our website for more info:https://www.gracecityrome.com/

When Jesus commissioned His disciples to spread the gospel, He never sent them out alone. He sent them out in pairs, knowing that this early evangelism model demonstrated by a loyal few would be the foundational elements of His church. Listen this week as Pastor John encourages believers to get plugged into the body of Christ, adding your strength, skills, and gifts to the local congregation, and banishing all desires to live a "Lone Ranger Christianity". A fruitful harvest for the Kingdom starts with loving people enough to seek the lost souls and then to intentionally engage them with the truth of Jesus Christ. Christianity advances by the beauty of the cross, not by the edge of a sword.Thanks for listening!Visit our website for more info:https://www.gracecityrome.com/

Our Almighty God has the power to redeem lost and hurting souls.  In His infinite power, He can take a tortured, terrorized life of abuse and neglect and turn it into a glorious restoration story that draws people closer to the gospel. Listen this week as Grace City Rome welcomes contemporary American evangelist, Tony Nolan to the pulpit to share his powerful testimony. He speaks boldly about this transformation that took him from his dark childhood of physical/sexual abuse and rejection to the light and hope of an almighty God who loves us. He was delivered from drug use and alcohol abuse when He met Jesus, the Light who broke through the darkness to provide peace and joy of eternal life with Him. Brother Tony encourages believers to recognize the difference in just knowing about Jesus to authentically surrendering to Him with your whole heart! Thanks for listening!Visit our website for more info:https://www.gracecityrome.com/

The only perfect human ever to walk this earth was rejected by those who knew Him, those who lived in His town, and those He called family. Time and time again, Jesus proclaimed the truth of the gospel that most certainly offends those with a sinful nature problem. Listen this week as Pastor John highlights the painful division many of us are experiencing among friends and family, leaving us to ponder such biblical truth that our faith family is more precious to us than our blood family. Just as Jesus was never interested in setting the story straight when He was rejected, Pastor John encourages believers to hold tight to the faith of Jesus Christ, never straying from the mission ahead of us by looking behind us for any man's approval and acceptance. Only the infinite love of Jesus can empower believers to love and serve more freely to those who have hurt us or rejected us!Thanks for listening!Visit our website for more info:https://www.gracecityrome.com/

The Apostle Paul reminds us in the New Testament that we are to view our physical ailments as divine blessings, because when we are weak in body, we gain strength in spirit. A heavenly mindset is required to have such faith that heals and restores. Listen today as Pastor John tells the story of Jesus bestowing the gift of healing upon His followers, commanding us to use this gift in His name. Pastor John implores believers to faithfully rally together with the church to pray for physical ailments and emotional trials, while never forgetting that mankind's spiritual needs are far  greater than our physical ones. Seeking God's will in your infirmary draws you nearer to the Savior and therefore closer to miraculous healing, whether completed here on earth or in heaven.Thanks for listening!Visit our website for more info:https://www.gracecityrome.com/

A total disregard for moral standards was displayed in a recent disheartening survey of Christian believers, resulting in catastrophic numbers that revealed the sins they are willing to accept in today's cultural chaos. The world, as well as some pew-warming Christians, are guilty of not holding themselves to the Holiness standard that God demonstrates for us in His Word.  Listen this week as Pastor Chris encourages us to fight this battle for holiness knowing that spiritual warfare is real, abide in Him knowing that renewal only happens in His Presence, and rest knowing that the work of Jesus was finished at the cross. For the seasoned saints and the new believers, he challenged us to align our lives in order to bring the most glory to God in our daily fight for holiness. Thanks for listening!Visit our website for more info:https://www.gracecityrome.com/