Eric Echols https://ericechols.net Eric Echols | Pastor, Author, and Leadership Coach Mon, 16 Feb 2026 13:16:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://i0.wp.com/ericechols.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/EE-logo.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Eric Echols https://ericechols.net 32 32 221862755 Justification and Works: Faith Alone, Never Alone https://ericechols.net/justification-and-works-faith-alone-never-alone/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=justification-and-works-faith-alone-never-alone https://ericechols.net/justification-and-works-faith-alone-never-alone/#respond Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000 https://ericechols.net/?p=12593 Justification by faith alone does not make obedience optional—it puts it in its proper place. Good works never earn acceptance, yet true faith always bears fruit. When the verdict is secure, obedience grows freely, repentance becomes honest, and assurance deepens without fear.

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]]> https://ericechols.net/justification-and-works-faith-alone-never-alone/feed/ 0 12593 Faith Alone: The Instrument of Justification https://ericechols.net/faith-alone-the-instrument-of-justification/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=faith-alone-the-instrument-of-justification https://ericechols.net/faith-alone-the-instrument-of-justification/#respond Mon, 16 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000 https://ericechols.net/?p=12570 Faith alone keeps Christ at the center of justification, assurance, and obedience. This post explains why faith receives Christ rather than replaces Him, grounding confidence outside ourselves and freeing obedience from fear. Drawing from Scripture and the 1689 Confession, it shows how sola fide protects assurance and fuels grateful holiness.

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]]> https://ericechols.net/faith-alone-the-instrument-of-justification/feed/ 0 12570 Why Imputed Righteousness Is the Heart of Justification https://ericechols.net/why-imputed-righteousness-is-the-heart-of-justification/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=why-imputed-righteousness-is-the-heart-of-justification https://ericechols.net/why-imputed-righteousness-is-the-heart-of-justification/#respond Mon, 02 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://ericechols.net/?p=12551 Imputed righteousness explains how God can declare sinners righteous without compromising His justice. This post unpacks the biblical foundation, the great exchange, and why justification stands secure only when Christ’s righteousness—not ours—is counted as our own.

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]]> https://ericechols.net/why-imputed-righteousness-is-the-heart-of-justification/feed/ 0 12551 The Danger of Getting Justification Almost Right https://ericechols.net/the-danger-of-getting-justification-almost-right/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-danger-of-getting-justification-almost-right https://ericechols.net/the-danger-of-getting-justification-almost-right/#comments Mon, 16 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://ericechols.net/?p=12519 Getting justification almost right can quietly distort the gospel. This post exposes how subtle shifts—tying justification to progress, faith quality, or perseverance—undermine assurance, weaken obedience, and move confidence away from Christ alone.

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]]> https://ericechols.net/the-danger-of-getting-justification-almost-right/feed/ 1 12519 Justification: The Doctrine That Holds the Gospel Together https://ericechols.net/justification-the-doctrine-that-holds-the-gospel-together/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=justification-the-doctrine-that-holds-the-gospel-together https://ericechols.net/justification-the-doctrine-that-holds-the-gospel-together/#comments Mon, 02 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://ericechols.net/?p=12505 How can a sinful person be right with a holy God? The doctrine of justification answers that question—and everything else depends on whether we understand it rightly.

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]]> https://ericechols.net/justification-the-doctrine-that-holds-the-gospel-together/feed/ 1 12505 Multiplying Disciples: How God Grows the Church Through Ordinary People https://ericechols.net/multiplying-disciples-how-god-grows-the-church-through-ordinary-people/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=multiplying-disciples-how-god-grows-the-church-through-ordinary-people https://ericechols.net/multiplying-disciples-how-god-grows-the-church-through-ordinary-people/#respond Mon, 19 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://ericechols.net/?p=12346 God’s pattern for multiplying disciples has never changed. Rooted in grace, practiced through relationships, and sustained by endurance, disciple-making is how the gospel moves from one generation to the next. The church doesn’t grow strongest by addition, but by faithful multiplication.

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]]> https://ericechols.net/multiplying-disciples-how-god-grows-the-church-through-ordinary-people/feed/ 0 12346 Blueprint for Discipleship: How Everyday Relationships Shape Spiritual Growth https://ericechols.net/blueprint-for-discipleship-how-everyday-relationships-shape-spiritual-growth/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=blueprint-for-discipleship-how-everyday-relationships-shape-spiritual-growth https://ericechols.net/blueprint-for-discipleship-how-everyday-relationships-shape-spiritual-growth/#respond Mon, 05 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://ericechols.net/?p=12340 Discipleship isn’t a program or a personality—it’s God’s design for shaping faith through real relationships. Titus 2 shows how the gospel forms a multigenerational church where older believers invest in younger ones, and everyday faithfulness becomes the means God uses to grow His people.

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]]> https://ericechols.net/blueprint-for-discipleship-how-everyday-relationships-shape-spiritual-growth/feed/ 0 12340 The Decline of the Attractional Church Model https://ericechols.net/the-decline-of-the-attractional-church-model/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-decline-of-the-attractional-church-model https://ericechols.net/the-decline-of-the-attractional-church-model/#comments Mon, 01 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000 https://ericechols.net/?p=12174 The attractional church model is collapsing. People aren’t looking for a show anymore—they’re hungry for depth, Scripture, community, and the presence of God. The future isn’t bigger production. It’s a return to historic, biblical Christianity that forms disciples, not spectators.

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]]> https://ericechols.net/the-decline-of-the-attractional-church-model/feed/ 3 12174 Covenants: The Plot Line of God’s Redemption Story https://ericechols.net/covenants-the-plot-line-of-gods-redemption-story/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=covenants-the-plot-line-of-gods-redemption-story https://ericechols.net/covenants-the-plot-line-of-gods-redemption-story/#respond Mon, 17 Nov 2025 12:00:00 +0000 https://ericechols.net/?p=11747 The Bible tells one unified story through God’s Covenants. From creation to Christ, each covenant reveals God’s redemptive plan and His faithfulness to His people. See how every promise—from Eden to the cross—finds its fulfillment in Jesus and learn what it means to live under the New Covenant today.

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]]> https://ericechols.net/covenants-the-plot-line-of-gods-redemption-story/feed/ 0 11747 Two Simple Words: Follow Me https://ericechols.net/two-simple-words-follow-me/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=two-simple-words-follow-me https://ericechols.net/two-simple-words-follow-me/#respond Mon, 10 Nov 2025 12:00:00 +0000 https://ericechols.net/?p=12115 When Jesus said, “Follow Me,” He wasn’t offering a suggestion — He was inviting us into a life-changing journey of discipleship. Discover what it truly means to see who Jesus is, surrender everything to Him, and walk in the joy and purpose of following Him daily.

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]]> https://ericechols.net/two-simple-words-follow-me/feed/ 0 12115 What Makes a Healthy Church? 5 Essential Marks https://ericechols.net/five-marks-healthy-church/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=five-marks-healthy-church https://ericechols.net/five-marks-healthy-church/#comments Tue, 19 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000 https://ericechols.net/?p=11289 Discover the five marks of a Healthy Church that go beyond programs and attendance. Learn how expository preaching, sound doctrine, biblical leadership, meaningful membership, and a gospel-centered mission create a vibrant, Christ-centered community. Practical steps help you strengthen your church and align it with God’s design for true spiritual health.

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]]> https://ericechols.net/five-marks-healthy-church/feed/ 1 11289 Spiritual Maturity: How to Grow Beyond Being a Spiritual Infant https://ericechols.net/from-spiritual-infant-to-spiritual-maturity/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=from-spiritual-infant-to-spiritual-maturity https://ericechols.net/from-spiritual-infant-to-spiritual-maturity/#comments Tue, 12 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000 https://ericechols.net/?p=10881 Many believers remain spiritual infants, stuck in shallow faith and never growing into the fullness of Christ. Spiritual maturity isn’t optional—it’s God’s call for every disciple. This post equips you with practical steps to move beyond infancy and pursue deep, lasting growth in your walk with Jesus.

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]]> https://ericechols.net/from-spiritual-infant-to-spiritual-maturity/feed/ 1 10881 Effective Preaching: How to Faithfully Communicate God’s Word https://ericechols.net/effective-preaching/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=effective-preaching https://ericechols.net/effective-preaching/#respond Tue, 05 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000 https://ericechols.net/?p=10861 Preaching is no small task. It’s a sacred calling, yet it often feels like an uphill battle. How do you ensure your message resonates with people’s hearts and points them to Christ? What makes a sermon truly transformative? Effective preaching is both an art and a science—a skill honed over time, yet a gift empowered […]

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]]> https://ericechols.net/effective-preaching/feed/ 0 10861 At the Movies: Undermining Scripture One Clip at a Time https://ericechols.net/at-the-movies-undermining-scripture-one-clip-at-a-time/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=at-the-movies-undermining-scripture-one-clip-at-a-time https://ericechols.net/at-the-movies-undermining-scripture-one-clip-at-a-time/#respond Mon, 14 Jul 2025 11:01:00 +0000 https://ericechols.net/?p=11139 Many churches roll out “At the Movies” sermon series each July, using film clips to draw crowds and feel relevant. But trading exposition for entertainment weakens the pulpit. The Word of God doesn’t need Hollywood’s help—it needs to be preached boldly, faithfully, and unapologetically. Souls need Scripture, not screenplays.

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]]> https://ericechols.net/at-the-movies-undermining-scripture-one-clip-at-a-time/feed/ 0 11139 Everyday Faithfulness: Discover Its Hidden Power https://ericechols.net/everyday-faithfulness-discover-its-hidden-power/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=everyday-faithfulness-discover-its-hidden-power https://ericechols.net/everyday-faithfulness-discover-its-hidden-power/#respond Tue, 03 Jun 2025 11:00:00 +0000 https://ericechols.net/?p=10629 What if the most radical thing you could do for Christ wasn’t big or bold—but faithful and ordinary? In a world chasing the extraordinary, God delights in steady obedience. Discover how everyday faithfulness in your family, church, and calling powerfully displays the gospel and advances Christ’s kingdom in quiet strength.

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