Joel Lacey reads from Isaiah chapter 1, where God issues a gracious yet urgent invitation to His people to reason together with Him. Through this passage, Joel challenges listeners to think seriously and honestly about their present spiritual condition as sinners before a holy God. The message calls for self-examination and presses the necessity of making the right decision—turning away from sinful ways, repenting, and walking in obedience to God.
Joel also reads from Romans chapter 1, highlighting the Apostle Paul’s boldness and unwavering confidence in proclaiming the gospel. Paul’s courage was not rooted in himself, but in the gospel of Christ, which he declares to be the very power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. This passage underscores why the gospel must be proclaimed without shame: it is God’s appointed means to rescue and transform sinners.