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June 2026

Deprived Grace | Will Cravens

Grace Deprived - Doctrines Style

At the heart of this message lies a profound truth: we can only give what we’ve received. The story from Luke 7 of the woman washing Jesus’ feet with her tears reveals something revolutionary about grace—those who’ve been forgiven much, love much. This isn’t just theological theory; it’s the operating system of the Kingdom. The religious leader Simon couldn’t understand why Jesus would allow a ‘sinner’ to touch him, but he’d forgotten his own need for grace. When we lose sight of how desperately we needed mercy, we become stingy with it toward others. The challenge before us isn’t to master evangelism techniques—not the drill, the hammer, or the wrench approach—but to simply listen with genuine care. Jesus spent time at tables with tax collectors and sinners, and the religious elite couldn’t understand it. What was He doing? He was loving people extravagantly, listening to their stories, serving them generously. The kindness of God leads us to repentance, not condemnation. When we truly grasp how much we’ve been forgiven—when we remember we were once the woman with the alabaster jar, the tax collector in the tree, the one caught in sin—we can’t help but lavish that same grace on others. The question isn’t whether we have enough grace to give away; it’s whether we’re willing to receive it fully ourselves first.

Religious Rules or Real Relationship – Week 6

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This powerful message invites us into the profound reality that God is not distant or silent, but actively communicating with His children in multiple ways. Drawing from John 10, we’re reminded that Jesus said His sheep hear His voice and follow Him—not because of religious obligation, but because of genuine relationship. The foundation begins with Scripture, which is living and active, but God doesn’t limit Himself to only one communication method. We discover that He speaks through the inner voice of the Holy Spirit, through other believers, through dreams and visions as promised in Acts 2, and even through the still small voice within our spirits. What’s particularly freeing is understanding that God spoke to us even before we were saved—He drew us to Himself when we were still shaking our fists at Him. The message challenges us to test what we hear through four essential filters: Does it align with Scripture? What fruit does it produce? Who gets exalted? Does it reflect the mind of Christ? We’re encouraged not to chase after various spiritual experiences, but simply to pursue God Himself and let Him speak however He chooses. This isn’t about becoming spiritually elite; it’s about recognizing that our perfect Father loves us completely right now and desires ongoing conversation with each of us.

Sermon Notes

Religious Rules or Real Relationship – Week 5

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This powerful exploration of 2 Peter chapter 1 challenges us to move beyond our private devotional time with God into a lifestyle of continuous relationship throughout our day. We discover that Peter, after witnessing countless miracles and operating in tremendous spiritual power, chose to write about seven foundational qualities that make us fruitful and effective in our faith: virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. What’s striking is that Peter didn’t teach about performing miracles or prophetic ministry—instead, he emphasized these character qualities as the pathway to spiritual power. The message confronts us with a sobering reality: the enemy doesn’t attack openly but erodes our virtue through subtle, incremental compromises. Using the vivid imagery of the two trees in Eden, we’re reminded that seeking knowledge from the wrong source leads to pride, shame, judgment, and religiosity, while the tree of life—Christ himself—produces genuine transformation. The concept of ‘practicing the presence’ invites us to recognize God in every moment, turning even frustrating situations into opportunities for divine encounters. This isn’t about religious rules but about cultivating a real relationship that extends beyond our morning quiet time into every interaction, decision, and thought throughout our day.

Sermon Notes