Pastor John Lovell

The Pharisees placed themselves on a throne of their own making by seeking wisdom and signs so soon after witnessing Jesus miraculously feed thousands of people with a few loaves of bread. Instead of focusing on the amazing works of God, they spent their time and energy on religious and intellectual impulses, destroying the unity of the community and missing out on the presence of the Holy God. Listen this week as Pastor John asks the tough questions about our spiritual walk with Jesus. Are y...

The religious elite of the New Testament had some serious misunderstandings of the promised Messiah foretold in Genesis for the descendants of Abraham. While the Jewish leaders were waiting for some majestic, robe- clad King with mighty, authoritative characteristics, our humble Jesus was busy casting out the Gentile's demons and teaching the Samaritans of love and service. Grace City Rome celebrates our new church building this week as Pastor John preaches a fiery message regarding our ident...

Jesus Christ was confronted and questioned by the religious elite for allowing His Disciples to eat with dirty hands. He frankly and boldly called out the hypocritical religious sect, offering His scathing rebuke of their ceremonial cleansing processes and endless traditions. Listen this week as Pastor John warns that religiosity will destroy a church and how to recognize the difference between the religious phony and the truly holy. He reminds us that brothers and sisters in Christ can...

A.W.Tozer wrote in The Knowledge of the Holy that "what comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us". Our mental image of God will influence every aspect of our lives as it shapes our views of worship, serving, and loving others. Listen this week as Pastor John presents a tension-inducing question of whether or not we should fear Jesus, showing how the Bible states in some contexts to fear Jesus, while in others declaring "do not be afraid" and "do not fe...

The only miracle that is mentioned in all four gospels is when Jesus called His disciples into His ministry to perform an impossible task - feed the crowd. Glory to God for His power to multiply the provisions and to bless those who are faithful in giving what they have, as thousands were fed that day. Listen this week as Pastor John celebrates great news for Grace City Rome, praising God for the answered prayers about our own church building and for the faithfulness of the church. A small of...

When you stand strong for Christ, you will be rejected by man, as Christianity is the most persecuted religion on earth. As evidenced in ancient biblical times as well as today, only the cowards will retreat from the fight for truth and God's Kingdom, eventually surrendering to the pressures and depravity of society. Listen this week as Pastor John implores strong men to ready themselves for spiritual courage and leadership, armoring up for the battles ahead to preserve our faith, our familie...

Since the fall of man in the garden of Eden, sin has caused broken relationships and ego-driven chaos in all humans. Those first scenes in Genesis depict a history of mankind's long-standing coercion of others for its own benefit, displaying selfishness in its desire to always be the main character. Listen this week as Brother Brett Gossett challenges believers to evaluate our relationship with God, keeping our focus on Jesus, and desiring nothing for our own gain. When presented with an oppo...

When Jesus commissioned His disciples to spread the gospel, He never sent them out alone. He sent them out in pairs, knowing that this early evangelism model demonstrated by a loyal few would be the foundational elements of His church. Listen this week as Pastor John encourages believers to get plugged into the body of Christ, adding your strength, skills, and gifts to the local congregation, and banishing all desires to live a "Lone Ranger Christianity". A fruitful harvest for the Kingdom st...

Our Almighty God has the power to redeem lost and hurting souls. In His infinite power, He can take a tortured, terrorized life of abuse and neglect and turn it into a glorious restoration story that draws people closer to the gospel. Listen this week as Grace City Rome welcomes contemporary American evangelist, Tony Nolan to the pulpit to share his powerful testimony. He speaks boldly about this transformation that took him from his dark childhood of physical/sexual abuse and rejection...

The only perfect human ever to walk this earth was rejected by those who knew Him, those who lived in His town, and those He called family. Time and time again, Jesus proclaimed the truth of the gospel that most certainly offends those with a sinful nature problem. Listen this week as Pastor John highlights the painful division many of us are experiencing among friends and family, leaving us to ponder such biblical truth that our faith family is more precious to us than our blood family. Just...

The Apostle Paul reminds us in the New Testament that we are to view our physical ailments as divine blessings, because when we are weak in body, we gain strength in spirit. A heavenly mindset is required to have such faith that heals and restores. Listen today as Pastor John tells the story of Jesus bestowing the gift of healing upon His followers, commanding us to use this gift in His name. Pastor John implores believers to faithfully rally together with the church to pray for physical ailm...

A total disregard for moral standards was displayed in a recent disheartening survey of Christian believers, resulting in catastrophic numbers that revealed the sins they are willing to accept in today's cultural chaos. The world, as well as some pew-warming Christians, are guilty of not holding themselves to the Holiness standard that God demonstrates for us in His Word. Listen this week as Pastor Chris encourages us to fight this battle for holiness knowing that spiritual warfare is r...

Many modern-day Christians are dangerously unaware of the spiritual warfare that is being waged against the children of God. Jesus demonstrated in the Old Testament that He had power over the demons who grovelled immediately at His feet and begged for forgiveness, yet the people still wanted Him to leave their region, showing fear of such unknown and disruptive encounters. Listen this week as Pastor John warns the church that spiritual forces of evil attack daily when a crack in your holy arm...

Jesus spoke in parables in the New Testament knowing that ordinary man would not understand the magnitude of His messages. His own family and neighbors could not fully grasp that Jesus came to expose the truth of God and that He actually had knowledge of the foundations of the earth. Listen this week as Pastor Andy proclaims the dangers of assuming that you fully know who Jesus is just because He has saved your soul. Through His parables, Jesus led believers on a journey, revealing the myster...

In the Old Testament, Moses brought the people of Israel to the foot of Mount Sinai so they could meet God, but all they witnessed was the smoke. God always covers His glory in the darkness due to His unapproachable light - and it was only Moses that was chosen for that monumental task. Listen this week as Pastor Andy preaches some harsh truths that none of us are worthy to see God and that there is no path up that mountain to God for ordinary man through their own strength. The true source o...

The disciples thought death was surely imminent as the boat was rocked by massive and angry waves. While Jesus took a well-deserved nap during the storm, they exclaimed their fear and boldly questioned His compassion and loyalty. After calming the winds and the stilling the sea, Jesus noted their fears and immediately admonished them for their lack of faith. Listen this week as Pastor John outlines the biblical path to true freedom from fear, speaking to those who have crafted their entire ex...

For centuries the world has experienced conquering kings and emperors who have used their military might, clever politics, and technological intellect to advance their earthly kingdoms. Historical greats such as Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar ruled empires, oftentimes through bloody wars and violent endeavors. The Kingdom of God is remarkably different from this cultural view of conquering the world by might, as Jesus led in love and forgiveness while offering hope and peace. Listen th...

In this powerful sermon, Pastor John Lovell (former Army Ranger and founder of the Warrior Poet Society) challenges men to break free from passive living and embrace a massive, kingdom-sized mission. Drawing inspiration from the life of the Apostle Paul, John breaks down what it truly means to be an effective missionary and statesman for Christ in today's world.Satan wants nothing more than to keep you distracted, entertained, and burnt out. Watch to learn how to identify the enemy's traps—li...

Our earthly fathers who are believers in Jesus are directed to discipline and love their children through difficult times and uncomfortable situations, knowing that strength is built through adversity. This fatherly love is a reflection of God, the Father, who loves yet admonishes His children on the paths to righteousness, building character and integrity along this challenging journey. Listen today as Brother Brett Gossett brings a powerful message about fatherhood and faith that is learned...

God's Word clearly informs believers that they are to be a light to the world, just as Jesus was the Light to our dark and lost souls. One of Satan's priorities is to extinguish that light of Christians, spreading worldly lies regarding religion and the church. Listen this week as Pastor John proclaims the truth of the gospel that cuts through the darkness and draws people to fellowship, joy, and peace. He reminds us of our responsibility to boldly communicate the good news of our Savior, whi...

Time and time again during His ministry on earth, Jesus spoke to the massive crowds in parables, sometimes leaving them hanging with His engaging stories packed with veiled and coded meanings. Only the eyes and ears that had been prepared for the gospel news were ready to discern the wisdom and power of His Holy Words. Listen this week as Pastor John preaches about the raw and infinite holiness of God, who hides Himself and His purposes from the wicked while preparing the believers hearts for...

Jesus Christ was the exemplary model for living a life focused on the gospel mission, displaying true Christian discipleship that sometimes separated Him from His biological family. The spiritual family that is created when believers join other believers may divide us from our worldly family and traditions, yet it is where the gospel message thrives and grows. Listen this week as Pastor John opens the invitation to join this spiritual family, where the Holy Spirit empowers us through repentan...

The New Testament contains the most intense spiritual warfare passages in the Bible and clearly reveals that Commander Jesus came to invade and overthrow the kingdom of darkness. Human hearts, like those of the Pharisees, can sadly become so hardened that they are blinded to the truth, giving Satan undue credit and power instead of where the honor truly lies, which is in God. Listen this week as Pastor John passionately warns believers of our current cultural situation, where we are outnumber...

ll Christians are missionaries, called by God to join King Jesus to spread the gospel message. Jesus lived the perfect example of seeking and saving the lost souls of the world, while suffering greatly for this holy work. The Bible is very clear about believers' commitments to that exact same mission. Listen this week as Pastor Andy assures believers that a crown of righteousness awaits those who faithfully endure the suffering work to fulfill your ministry. Your family, your neighborhood, an...

The New Testament engages readers with story after story of the disciples of Christ being beaten and broken, yet they always considered it worthy to suffer dishonor for the glory of our Holy God and His gospel message. They were the ones handpicked by Jesus, the true followers and not just the fans who benefited from His noble and generous actions. Listen this week as Pastor John asks believers some tough questions to help us discern between being either a true follower of Christ, one who joi...

The Bible clearly commands that God's children keep the Sabbath holy, taking time to rest and enjoy the presence of God. Yet the modern-day hustle culture, as well as the legalistic, religious elite of the New Testament, distorts this spiritual discipline of honoring God on the Sabbath. One of Satan's favorite tactics is distraction, so he loves when our calendars are full of activities that take us away from resting and honoring our Lord. Listen this week as Pastor John challenges beli...

Jesus always throws the best party in town, and true to their hypocritical character, the religious elite called Him out for it. The stoic, "holy on demand" Pharisee crowd couldn't grasp the concept of freedom from the Old Testament Laws, and they held tightly to their restrictive performance pressures to be holy. Listen this week as Pastor John encourages the hearts of the believers through the story of Jesus feasting while the others fasted, breaking the ceremonial laws of the land. He urge...

When Jesus Christ stepped into His earthly ministry, creating the most powerful religion on the planet, He didn't qualify His disciples through a resume filled with worldly accolades. The clever, hard-working, skilled leaders with excellent management and fund-raising skills were not the priority for Him, as He chose the unwanted, the poor, and the broken. God does not choose His teams like people do - He chooses the unworthy whose hearts are in need of rescue. Listen this week as Pastor John...

Our modern culture is on information and knowledge overload, yet who is wise and understanding among them? Charles Spurgeon was a highly influential English preacher from the 19th century who spoke with biblical authority when he wrote: "Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise; many men know a great deal and are all the greater fools for it." Listen this week as Brother Brett Gossett outlines the core biblical principles of wisdom, encouraging believers to live out the...

The gospel message starts out with some really bad news that our hearts are deceitful and that none of us can compare to the infinite goodness of God. What a miraculous act indeed to pitch this Christianity truth as Jesus did, and yet still become the largest religion in the world, boasting billions of followers to date. The Bible tells us about the sinfulness of mankind and offers a sobering reminder that we are completely lost until we are drawn to repentance for our sins. Listen as P...

The best of friends are the loyal, faithful, and hard-charging kind who will tear the roof off someone's house to get you to Jesus. By not allowing obstacles or inconveniences to stop them, these loving and selfless friends demonstrate how they are ALL IN for Jesus, seeking to do the highest good for their brothers in need. Listen this week as Pastor John brings to life a biblical story from Mark, a perfect example of the body of Christ taking care of each other. He outlines the characteristi...

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ intentionally equips and deploys His disciples and other teams as foot soldiers for the gospel message, sending them out with spiritual authority and purpose. This kingdom mission was fueled by divine empowerment granted by God the Father, as they possessed ALL AUTHORITY now to heal the sick, to restore the lost and broken lives, and to deliver people from demonic strongholds. Listen this week as Pastor Andy Middleton compels the church to continue thi...

Without godly wisdom, even the grandest intentions performed in love can accidentally lead to destruction. The miraculously healed leper in the book of Mark had a passionate zeal for Jesus Christ, showed immense gratitude toward Him while in His presence, and then immediately acted disobediently upon leaving Jesus. The consequences of his actions affected the future ministry of Jesus, creating obstacles that could have been avoided had he just done what Jesus told him to do. Listen as Pastor ...

*Apologies for the audio difficulties in the first 8 minutes In the Gospel of Mark, scripture reveals Jesus waking very early in the morning to seek a desolate place to pray and spend time with His Heavenly Father. Though the crowds sought His teaching and His fellowship, Jesus Christ did not seek the earthly opportunity to grow His ministry or to focus on productivity and accomplishment. He did not allow human urgency or expectations to interfere with His time with His Father. Listen this we...

Jesus speaks with absolute authority as He began teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum and astonishes those who hear Him for the first time. The Son of God steps forward in unmistakable command, boldly and directly proclaiming His divinity while immediately silencing the voices of the demons in His presence. He heals the sick with compassion and rebukes the unclean spirits with all spiritual power. Listen this week as Pastor John challenges believers to answer some difficult questions: How d...

When Jesus was ready to assemble His core team of disciples, the world never expected that He would ordain a ragtag bunch of ordinary people with no social status or formal religious training. He didn't call the rich, the religious sect, or the kings and princes. He called those with a heart for Him and whose life was ALL IN for the gospel message. Listen this week as Pastor John calls us to align our hearts with the Savior of the world, no matter what age or level of human prestige.&nb...

God's holy fingerprints are evident in the movement of His people and His church during this season of worship, prayer, and fasting. As the broken world feels unending pain and uncertainty about their present and future plans, Christians are being called to the mission field by Commander Jesus to advance the banner of His love and truth. Ancient biblical texts reveal story after story of battles and hardships, yet the heroes arise proclaiming victory while calling for God's people to display ...

The Holy Spirit is stirring in His people, inviting the church to be called out and consecrated for His purpose. Just as Jesus was called to the wilderness to commune with His Father God before His ministry ever began, we are being called to seek His holy presence through prayer and fasting. Listen as Pastor John passionately reminds us today to seek God's nearness, to commit to the discipline of gaining victory over our fleshly desires through sacrificial prayer and fasting. As God dra...

John the Baptizer was arrested for calling out the kings, the emperors, and the religious elite, all who believed that their lofty positions of power and prestige could shield them from the truth of the gospel. As Jesus begins His ministry during this time, He proclaims that God's time has been fulfilled and that the kingdom of God is at hand, confirming John as a prophetic witness to the coming Messiah. Listen as Pastor John encourages us to be set apart from the rebellious multitudes who ch...

Faithful leaders are held accountable to God's holiness and His commands. While Moses was divinely rescued by God and then anointed to lead millions of Israelites to the promised land, his disobedience left a void in the leadership mission he was appointed. Moses witnessed the burning bush, stood in the very presence of God, and was designated to carry the holy tablets written with the 10 Commandments, and yet, he was still not allowed to enter the promised land. In the modern church era, a f...

The New Testament clearly indicates a period of time that Jesus was directly tempted by Satan, the Tempter who questioned the identity and the will of God the Father. Jesus, in human flesh, was alone, hungry, and exhausted from His fasting time in the wilderness, yet never allowed the external or internal temptations of Satan to sway Him from His mission here on earth. Listen this week as Pastor John challenges believers to implement some biblical strategies, designed to untangle ...

The prophets of the Old Testament foretold his coming, all four Gospels mention his name, and even the words of Jesus Himself declared that no man was greater than John the Baptist. This remarkable hero of the Christian faith didn't step into ministry with the outward display of holiness like the Pharisees with their fancy hats and robes, but instead, boldly proclaimed Jesus as Messiah wearing his camel hair and leather, eating honey and locusts. John the Baptizer paved the way for mankind to...

The birth of Jesus Christ on that very first Christmas Day was the perfect gift from God the Father, and was undoubtedly the most important day in the history of the whole universe. This cosmic event included supernatural angels and watchers, together with the prophets of old to declare that a Savior is born to us. After 400 years of silence from God and waiting for the Messiah, an angelic procession announced this universal event for the good of all mankind. Listen this week as Pastor ...

The world holds on tightly to their countless stories of rejection and betrayal, marked by repeated let-downs and disappointments from family and friends. This continuous trauma cycle of bitterness and unforgiveness causes poisoned hearts, isolated souls, and broken relationships. Listen this week as Pastor John directs our hearts to see Jesus as the perfect biblical model of forgiveness, the One who graciously cancelled all our sin debt at the cross. This foundation of forgiveness brings abo...

The Book of Philippians opens and closes with scripture regarding finances and money matters, therefore highlighting the deep spiritual relevance of the topic. The Apostle Paul is urging the Church of Philippi to view their riches according to their eternal rewards in following Christ, not in the monetary value of their assets. Listen this week as Pastor John concludes Philippians with a powerful reminder that the heavenly fruit we bear is much more important than any earthly riches we may ac...

In the New Testament, Jesus talked more times about money than He did about heaven and hell combined. Shouldn't believers follow this same model while escaping culture's money trap? The world distorts the dynamics of money, creating an idol that destroys families and relationships, while boasting that all money matters should be kept private and away from the church. The Apostle Paul admonishes the wealthy churches for their lack of generosity to building God's Kingdom, while praising the ext...

Be very discerning when listening to casual Christians try to comfort or guide you with their favorite out-of-context Bible verses. While the lost world often seeks answers to their earthly woes in their next big promotions, fancy neighborhoods, or the biggest bank accounts, believers are walking in the truth of God's Word and finding contentment in Jesus. The Apostle Paul writes to the church at Philippi that God's provision for contentment can only be found in God's Holy Son, Jesus - and th...

The Apostle Paul's quest to exhort encouragement to the early church at Philippi reminded believers to recalibrate their minds to walk in the way of Christ, in virtue and goodness. The modern world is full of doom and gloom, and humans feel the weighty pressure of such negativity and anxiety. The believer's mind, however, has become new and should intentionally focus on whatever is true, just, pure, and lovely, always seeking a heart of peace. When we honor the commendable and worthy ac...

In ancient biblical times, God's presence was centered around a holy temple and the old testament saints would journey to this dwelling place in eager anticipation of His glory. While this pilgrimage would often encounter human suffering and trial, the joy of being in the presence of our Holy God was more rewarding than any earthly comfort. Their souls longed for His courts and their hearts sang of the blessings of God. Listen this week as Brother Andy Middleton brings Psalms 84 to life for t...

While some believers embrace their divisive and prideful intellect during a church conflict, the Apostle Paul models the proper church discipline with two faithful workers, free of judgement and always focused on the goal of unity in Christ and relationship reconciliation. "Unity" that abandons spiritual growth and ignores a biblical conviction of the heart cannot rightfully be called peace, as believers cannot be equally yoked with those who desire discord. Pastor John calls us to guard agai...