You want to preach grace. But you may be (unintentionally) preaching more law than you think. And yes, law precedes grace. But once the law has done its work, leading us to Jesus, everything changes. We don’t live against the law. But instead of duty and obligation, grace becomes the motivation and the Spirit becomes our power source for change. Do this (if you dare). Listen to a recording of a recent message. How often did you use the words "must," "should," "have to," or "need to"? Yes, these words can be connected to grace. But if that connection isn’t explicit, they are heard by the listener as words of obligation, duty, and responsibility. Words that imply that God's acceptance is waiting on the other side of our obedience. Learning the Grammar of Grace changes everything — especially when doing sermon application. For example, - If the grammar of the Law application is "We must." - The grammar of the Gospel application is "We get to." When you shift your language, you shift the motivational posture of the heart. It seems like a small semantic change. But it really is the difference between law and gospel, a wage and a gift, an obligation and an opportunity. Here’s how to apply the Grammar of Grace to a topic like generosity. Instead of demanding people give more, walk them through this sequence: - Question 1: What is the biblical truth about generosity? - Question 2: Why do we struggle with generosity? - Question 3: How does Jesus demonstrate generosity? - Question 4: What opportunity for generosity is now possible? When you answer Question 3 with the cross, Question 4 (the applicaiton) changes. This means, we’re not called to generosity to prove or secure our standing. We’re called to be generous because (as recipients of mercy) it reflects the greater generosity of Jesus. Good questions people are asking... (1) "But won't people think obedience is optional?" This is the fear that keeps pastors locked into law language.

I think Derwin Gray is credited with that statement. I needed to hear that gospel truth this week. Maybe you do, too. Eventually, you will. Most likely it will be a Saturday. The problem is that I try to curate an image in public, while possessing a deep sense of hypocrisy. But Jesus didn't die for my potential. He died to give me his potential. To put this another way, the only thing I contribute to my justification is my sin. Jesus provides the righteousness. And by grace through faith, I am covered—even the absolute worst version of myself. If you needed that, you're invited to believe it, boast in it, and magnify the grace of Jesus with me.

In sermon prep, we stack the logs, but only the Spirit can bring the fire (gospel light, warmth, and real heart change). Is there anything specific you do on Saturday or Sunday morning to shift your heart from "it's all on me" to a conscious dependence on the Spirit? And, how does/could that change we actually preach?

I watched a video this week by preaching professor Don Sunukjian, who said, "Oral clarity is different than written clarity." That struck me as VERY significant. One implication is that it's different to prepare for the ear vs the eye. And it's different to present something orally than in written form. What are some implications for preaching as we consider this distinction? Have you found anything practically helpful that takes this into consideration? Share below! 👇