Pastor John Lovell

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 are called to stand against this fallen entity, yet commissioned by God's commands to continue to spread the gospel, even behind enemy lines. Listen this week as Pastor John clears up that hazy line between civil obedience and civil disobedience, urging believers to live peaceably amidst Non-Christian governance. He encourages us to balance our Christian, God-given freedoms with our civic duties and responsibilities. We are ONE NATION UNDER GOD - and we will boldly declare the excellency of His Holy Counsel.Thanks for listening!Visit our website for more info:https://www.gracecityrome.com/

The discussion begins with the challenge of responding to persecution through love instead of seeking revenge. Acknowledging the danger of a vendetta mindset, the speakers highlight divine justice, emphasizing trust in God's sovereignty. Inspiring stories, like that of the Elliott family and Louis Zamperini, illustrate the powerful transformation brought by forgiveness. Listeners are encouraged to embrace grace and unity, demonstrating love even amidst conflict, and to remember that true justice ultimately belongs to the Lord.

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 a spiritual fervor in our lives. The journey of Christianity will include the trials and the struggles, yet in Christ Jesus, we have the power to allow the storms to become part of our testimony, encouraging others to the path of righteousness through our Lord and Savior. Christians can live joyfully in the zealous hope of Jesus!Thanks for listening!Visit our website for more info:https://www.gracecityrome.com/

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 unity among other believers. Listen this week as Pastor John implores us to consider allowing the genuine author of love to set the moral standard for us and to guide our actions in love toward our brothers and sisters in Christ.Thanks for listening!Visit our website for more info:https://www.gracecityrome.com/

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 God-given gifts are for other people, not necessarily just for us. Full spiritual development requires being a member of a church body, where each of our unique gifts will bless the kingdom of God.Thanks for listening!Visit our website for more info:https://www.gracecityrome.com/

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 some practical methods for walking out the previous deep theological passages by transforming and renewing their minds and by not conforming to a lost and broken world. Listen now as Pastor John challenges us to live radically counter-culture and to respond in grateful obedience to God by becoming living sacrifices for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.Thanks for listening!Visit our website for more info:https://www.gracecityrome.com/

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 faithfulness to His chosen people, as He preserves a remnant of Israel by grace. Listen this week as Pastor John shows us the depths of God's mercy, encouraging us to live by the truth of the Gospel. All things that exist and happen in creation are FROM Him, THROUGH Him, and TO Him, which in turn, serve to bring glory to our sovereign God. Thanks for listening!Visit our website for more info:https://www.gracecityrome.com/

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 luxury sports cars, and fat wallets do not impress the Creator of our universe. Pastor John's sermon takes us through the gospel message and the intimate accessibility that we procured when we chose to believe in Jesus, the ONLY One who has the power to dramatically change our lives. When this fiery passion is ignited, believers are more compelled to share the truth of the gospel, leading more people to Jesus through His free plan of salvation!Thanks for listening!Visit our website for more info:https://www.gracecityrome.com/

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 sovereign choices and standards set for loving your enemies. Listen as he introduces Jesus as the rock of offense, with power to crush or build, the true Living Stone with supernatural providence to conquer all.Thanks for listening!Visit our website for more info:https://www.gracecityrome.com/

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 and is the conqueror of sin and death. The Lion of Judah is so much more than a humble babe in a manger. Listen this week as Pastor John reminds us from Romans that in Christ Jesus, we are more than conquerors. Through the gifts of mercy and grace, believers now have the ability to conquer even the vilest of human hearts. Thanks for listening!Visit our website for more info:https://www.gracecityrome.com/