Jim Graff

I’ve pastored over thirty-five years now, and recently, it hit me that I’ve probably preached on Advent from every single character’s perspective—except for one. The star of the show, the reason for the season—Jesus. As I thought through the story, I wondered how He might’ve felt leading up to His own birth—knowing He was trading […]

Perseverance isn’t easy. It requires choosing what’s hard over what’s easy over and over again. It can often feel pointless, but it’s the vital foundation of any lasting success. We see this clearly in the story of the Israelites during their critical period of restoration following exile. Here’s some backstory. In 539 BC, King Cyrus […]

Throughout history, every generation has faced defining moments that challenge the values of their nation. For my parents’ generation, it was the shock of the assassinations of the Kennedys and Martin Luther King Jr., which forced the country to confront the issue of civil rights. For my generation, it was 9/11. When those planes hit the […]

In February 2023, something special happened in our country—what many refer to as the Asbury Revival. At a regular chapel service, as the students worshipped, the Spirit of God fell, and for 16 days, there was a constant flow of people in the chapel worshipping, praying, and repenting. What caught my attention recently, though, is […]

At 17, I gave my heart to God. But that doesn’t mean my habits directly followed. For years, my Sundays looked like this: Wake up at 7:30am to watch the Notre Dame highlights. Go to mass at 9am, then CCD until 11am. I’d go home, eat steak, watch the Steeler game at 1pm, then the […]

In America, we’re facing a critical moment. For decades, church membership held steady around 70 percent, but between 2000 and 2020, it plummeted to 60 percent. Today, for the first time in generations, more Americans are outside the church than in it. Every generation—from traditionalists to millennials—is walking away at alarming rates. Still, there’s reason […]

When my kids were young, the movie Aladdin came out. The first time I watched Aladdin wish to be a prince, then become it immediately, I thought, I’m going to have to talk to these kids about this! Life doesn’t work this way! It’s why Matthew 12:33 urges us to focus on the health of […]

Winston Churchill stands as one of history’s most remarkable figures. When Nazi Germany threatened to consume Europe under its evil domain, it was Churchill who rallied Britain to fight when victory seemed impossible. Yet what makes his story inspiring isn’t just the moment of triumph—it’s the long, difficult, and often discouraging path that led him […]

John Quincy Adams once said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” Few biblical figures exemplify this better than Nehemiah, whose masterful motivation of two vastly different audiences teaches us timeless principles for godly, heart-centered leadership. Nehemiah achieved something remarkable: he convinced the […]

Mother Teresa once advised, “Be faithful in the small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” Nobody likely thought much when she first invited an abandoned leper into her home, caring for them with dignity. But by the time she died, she was known worldwide for initiating transformative change—the kind that comes […]