This is the main reason why a pastor who preaches grace but is not otherwise fixated on it or captivated by it can often be a cranky sourpuss among his congregation, or worse. Many of us know of churches that make a big deal out of their commitment to “sovereign grace” but have a gracelessly stifling communal climate. Some of the most theologically

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The current interest in spiritual disciplines, I worry, will simply result in another agenda to “fix my life,” and won’t actually be about losing one’s life to find it in Christ. It will confuse the nature of the Christian life and will end up being another form of self-made religion that is an attempt to perfect ourselves with the flesh.

We need the gospel that is in our brothers, and they need the gospel that is in us. So accountability must ask the hard questions, but it must do so as if Jesus were real. Because he is. And since Jesus is real, his personality and his judgments should shape the personality and judgments of accountability groups. Our hearts should not be shrunken

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