Joel V. webb
PASTOR – WRITER – Podcaster – THEOLOGIAN
“the sacramental life” is a space devoted to exploring the Christian faith through the lens of a sacramental worldview. Here, we approach Scripture, tradition, and daily life with the conviction that God’s grace is not only spiritual but also tangible, made visible and present in the ordinary, the material, and the liturgical. Drawing from the richness of historic Christianity, this blog reflects on how the sacraments, liturgy, and spiritual rhythms shape both our understanding of God and our participation in His ongoing work in the world.
Vita Sacramentum seeks to bridge academic reflection and pastoral care, offering insights that are thoughtful yet accessible, intellectually rigorous yet deeply devotional. It invites readers to encounter the divine in the fabric of everyday life, to see creation as charged with God’s glory, and to experience faith not merely as belief but as lived, embodied, and relational. Through study, meditation, and reflection on Scripture and tradition, this blog is a space for cultivating wonder, deepening devotion, and discovering the transformative power of a sacramentally attuned life.
Recent Blog Posts
Book Review: The Lord of Spirits
What does on in the spiritual realm? Is there more, and if there is what does it look like, and how does it operate? These questions are more pertinent than ever as despite a very post-Chrisitan culture in the West the concept of “being spiritual” is at an all...
Love vs. Power
If there is not God, than all there is is power. In our day and age of virulent political activism, actors on both sides of the political aisle withing Christianity are vying for power. "If only WE could be the ones to control it, then we can...
Relationship vs Religion?
One of the heralded phrases that I have heard much of my life about being a follower of Jesus is, “it’s a relationship, not a religion!” I’m sure many of you who are reading this right now have at least heard this, if not subscribe to this in some fashion. It sounds...
Book Review – The Gospel is Bigger Than You Think
One of the biggest issues that evangelicalism has been facing the last several years is that the “Jesus died for you so you can go to heaven” message is not working anymore. Why? Frankly because it is not the whole gospel message, and misdirects us to begin...
Politicians bring joy?
I recently saw a post from a person in the Christian camp, who is also a pastor pointing to the reasons he will be voting for a particular presidential candidate this November. He somewhat listed off some of the fruit of the Spirit found in the book of...
Translation Wars
This last weekend I went to Washington D.C with my wife to lead a bus for an organization called Passages Israel which provides trips to Israel for Chrisitan college students. these trips highlight the Jewish roots of the Christian faith, explore the history of...
Pruned or Rotting?
An image that is used in Scripture, and by extension preaching is the idea of being pruned. When a plant grows, sometimes the way that it is growing does not contribute, but actually takes away from the fruit production of the plant. Jesus talked a lot about the fruit...
Racisms Discipleship Problem
A major area of contention for the Church is answering the questions surrounding race tensions, and racial reconciliation. How are many in the Church to respond to the reality of histories where institutional organizations of denominations participated in the...
Narnia, Lord of the Rings & our moment of post-modern destruction
I was born in 1995, which is long after the lifetimes of both C.S. Lewis and J.R.R Tolkien. Yes, despite this large time gap, their written works have been some of the most enjoyed and formative pieces of fiction of my life, and I look forward to sharing them...
Why read old stuff?
There is a fantastic quote by C.S. Lewis in the introduction for my copy of On the Incarnation, by Athanasius where he says, “There is a strange idea abroad that in every subject the ancient books should be read only by the professionals, and that the amateur...
Hi, my names is Joel
Joel Webb is an ordained Elder in the Free Methodist Church, and as a pastor, theologian, and writer explores the intersection of Scripture, historic worship, and spiritual formation through a sacramental worldview. He is committed to helping the Church recover theological depth and faithful worship practices as a means of shaping disciples in a polarized age. Through his preaching, published writings, and podcasts, Joel emphasizes the importance of Scripture in its historical context, the formative power of liturgical tradition, and the call of the Gospel to transform both individuals and communities. He lives with his family and pastors in Eastern Michigan where he enjoys reading, writing, teaching, and engaging in meaningful conversations about faith and culture.
Lead Pastor – Croswell FMC
Joel is lead pastor at Croswell Free Methodist Church. A liturgical and sacramental expression of Free Methodism that seeks to bring the beauty of Christian worship to the modern world.
