As humans, we are pretty good at making rules. There are rules for everything from driving to paying taxes, not to mention all the unwritten rules that every culture has. It's not hard to come up with rules for others to follow. When it comes to someone's faith, though, it's important that we don't start coming up with more rules than what God has given. All throughout Romans 4, Pastor Bill shows us that Paul doesn't emphasize the rules the religious leaders enacted. He iterates the importance of simply believing in God.

Outside of your immediate family, most relationships require you to do something for the other person to be pleased with you. Your boss expects you to do your work. Your teacher is looking for effort and diligence in the classroom. If you're not careful, you can begin to think that God needs your good deeds in order to be pleased as well. Pastor Bill teaches us today, though, that the basis of pleasing God can't come from deeds. He simply asks for your trust. Your deeds have to be based on faith in God.

It's always encouraging to have someone vouch for you, right? Whether you're trying to win an argument or apply for a new job, having someone else give testimony of your worth and legitimacy is invaluable. As Pastor Bill looks at Romans today, he reminds us that we will all stand before God one day. In your own strength and efforts, you can never convince God that you are sinless and blameless. But, if you've put your faith in Jesus, his work on the cross vouches for you and justifies you to God.

Some passages in the Bible are really difficult to accept. It might not be a difficult passage to understand intellectually, but it can be hard to let the message sink into your heart. When you hear the truth that there is none righteous, and there is none who does good, it's easy to feel offended. It's natural to want your good deeds to count for something. Today, Pastor Bill reminds us of the sobering truth that apart from Jesus, our “good deeds” are not really good. Good deeds can never take the place of the cross.

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a “he said, she said” argument? Maybe your kids have tried to convince you of their innocence or some coworkers were passing the blame to the other. In those situations, it's difficult to discern who is telling the truth and who is lying. Sometimes, you will hear people have the same type of argument about something God has said. But as Pastor Bill teaches today, whenever someone is questioning what God has said, you should always believe God.

Many of us have experienced manipulation within the church. Whether the experience involved you directly, or it was something you witnessed, the use of the scripture to manipulate is something that is far too common. In today’s message, Pastor Bill explains that as Christians, someday there will be an account for our sins. If you’re only talking the talk and not walking the walk, you’re missing out on who God wants you to be. Live your life for Him and be saved.

Before you even knew how to talk, chances are you knew the difference between right and wrong. We all have a conscience that we choose to listen to or not, and at the end of the day, everyone has a sense of what’s right and wrong. In today’s message, Pastor Bill explains that as Christians, we can’t be habitually doing what we know is wrong. The more you ignore the habitual sin in your life, the more it gets ingrained in you and becomes your character.

Have you ever gotten so good at faking it that the fake version starts to feel like the real you? As Christians, this is a situation that many of us find ourselves in—sometimes without even realizing it. We like to dress up for church and smile, but is our heart really in the right place? Today, Pastor Bill wants you to know that you can’t just go through the motions of being a Christian. If you continue faking it in life, you’ll get good at being fake and this is not who God wants us to be.

Have you ever ignored something you knew was good for you and instead built up bitterness and rage towards it? It’s easy to continually push something or someone away, but with that comes baggage. Today, Pastor Bill wants you to know that you need to lay down your burdens and accept God’s love. He will never stop pursuing you. The more you reject Him, the more you build up resentment, which won’t last. He sent his son in order for you to be washed clean, follow Him, and be set free.

Most of our culture sees religion a certain way: follow strict rules, be a “good person,” and get rewarded. In today’s message, Pastor Bill wants you to know that this is the opposite of what it means to be a Christian. Jesus has always had you in His heart and will pursue you until you’re in His kingdom forever. Stop wasting your time getting caught up in the rules and accept that He is the pursuing you. Embrace the free gift of grace and follow a God who knows you and loves you.