How can you relate to someone whose views and values and practices offend you and distress you? How can we relate to people with whom we deeply differ?

Our culture says we need to be tolerant, but I want to show you that Paul says the mark of a supernaturally changed heart is to go way beyond tolerance. It’s something better than tolerance, something greater than tolerance, something I’m going to call gospel-receptivity—a loving, peaceful receptivity toward people with whom we deeply differ.

What is this receptivity, this receptive grace? The best way to figure it out is to look at 1) what it’s not, 2) what it is, and 3) how we develop it.

This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on February 10, 2002. Series: Practical Grace; How the Gospel Transforms Character. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:4-11; Romans 15:1-7.

Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

One trait or quality of a supernaturally changed heart is peace.

There’s a difference between a supernaturally changed heart and a morally restrained heart. The marks of a supernaturally changed heart are sometimes called the fruit of the Spirit. They’re listed a number of places in the New Testament. And peace is always included.

So let’s look at 1) what is this supernatural peace that’s available to us? and then 2) how can we cultivate it?

This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on February 3, 2002. Series: Practical Grace; How the Gospel Transforms Character. Scripture: Colossians 3:1-15.

Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

Every religion in the world gives you a list of virtuous behaviors. But the New Testament gives you something different. It does give you a list, but it’s of aspects of how a supernaturally, grace-changed heart shows itself.  

The apostle Paul says it’s possible to do all the morally virtuous behavior without any love at the core, for virtuous behavior to flow out of an inner emptiness rather than an inner fullness. Jesus actually talks about this constantly. And so we’re looking at what we’re calling practical graces, at the aspects of a heart that isn’t just restrained but that is supernaturally changed.

We’re looking now at kindness. Let’s look at 1) what kindness is not, 2) what kindness is, and 3) how you can get it.

This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on January 27, 2002. Series: Practical Grace; How the Gospel Transforms Character. Scripture: Ephesians 4:29-5:2; John 15:12-15.

Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

Morally virtuous behavior can arise out of a heart that hasn’t actually been supernaturally changed.

For example, in traditional moral training, we teach people to be honest by using a motive of fear and insecurity. But only for a heart that feels absolutely loved is lying unnecessary and unnatural. It’s only an experience of the grace of God through Jesus Christ that changes the heart rather than restrains the heart. 

We’re looking at the marks of a supernaturally changed heart, and we come now to patience. Let’s look at patience: 1) why do we need it? 2) what is it? and 3) how do we get it?

This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on January 20, 2002. Series: Practical Grace; How the Gospel Transforms Character. Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35; 1 Corinthians 13:4, 6.

Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

The city of Corinth was a place of commerce. Nobody went there except to be successful. It was built from scratch just a few decades before Paul’s letter was written. There were not old families and traditions. This was a place that attracted an unusually resourceful, talented, ambitious, intense kind of person.

And right into this culture, Paul says, “I don’t care how rich or talented you are. If you’re irritable, impatient, selfish, self-centered, self-pitying, driven and anxious, you have nothing. Don’t say, ‘I just have a few personal issues to deal with.’ You have nothing.” Paul says character is everything. And so what is inner love and joy? What is the inner supernatural change in character that God can bring?

In 1 Corinthians 13, we see 1) two things that heart character is not, and 2) one thing that it is.

This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on January 13, 2002. Series: Practical Grace; How the Gospel Transforms Character. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8.

Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

This talk was given by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on November 6, 1994. Series: Redeemer Open Forums.

Today's episode is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on August 29, 1993. Series: Salvation From the Outside In. Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21.

Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on August 22, 1993. Series: Salvation From the Outside In. Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21.

Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

As we find ourselves discouraged with our circumstances in life, we usually react in one of three ways. We might harden ourselves by saying life is unfair and we should get used to it, we might be overcome by despair, or we might simply believe everything will get better for us soon.

The apostle Paul shows us there’s a better way to deal with discouragement. Even as he writes from prison, he explains how our suffering can’t compare to the gifts God has given us—and how it can deepen our appreciation of how Christ suffered for us. 

Let’s examine how 1) hardship is inevitable for Christians, but 2) our hope in Christ gives us a remarkable motivation to persevere through it.

This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on August 15, 1993. Series: Salvation From the Outside In. Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-12.

Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

We sometimes think becoming a Christian is something that has to take a lot of time and effort. As we consider what we believe, it can be easy to feel as if we’re somewhere between “not a believer” and “someone saved by Christ.”

But the Bible gives us a different interpretation: we are either strangers to this world and God’s kingdom, or we are fully citizens of it. And when we profess faith in Christ, we undergo a wonderful, instant change in this identity that doesn’t depend on how smart, experienced, or moral we are.

Let’s look at how 1) until we believe in Christ, we are alienated to God’s world, and 2) becoming a Christian is a change in our citizenship.

This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on May 16, 1993. Series: Salvation From the Outside In. Scripture: Ephesians 2:19-22.

Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

Get the new book The Stories We Live By this month as our thanks for your gift at gospelinlife.com/give.

This video is an excerpt from session 1 of a group study that has also been created to complement the new book. The Stories We Live By Bible Study Guide releases Nov 3rd, but can be pre-ordered today from bookstores or here.