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
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...
Is Full-time Ministry the Problem?
Recently I’ve been seeing a series of posts about what they see are the problems with full-time ministry. Part of his emphasis is the importance of pastors building alternative streams of income so they are not sole dependent on a fixed ministry income. Is this an...
Leaving the mountain
There's a certain kind of feeling when you have finished a long hike and you finally reach the scenic overlook. The beautiful display of God's creation laying below as it expands in its ever moving edges to the horizon. In those moments there is a sort of clarity,...
Young Life – Old Church
One of the big discussions happening in the Church is that of reaching to the next generation, most who have never and may never darken the doors of a Church building for a variety of reasons. The pool of research is growing into this field, seeking out how the...
Resisting the Pull
Many in the Church feel there is really only one of two options. We either give in to the political and philosophical ideas of the right-wing in order to pursue God’s call for the Church. Others feel to give into the political and philosophical ideas of the left-wing...
Made for Another World
Doesn’t it sometimes feel like the way things are handled in our greater world of politics just isn’t cutting it? The endless and vicious circle of talking points, ad hominin attacks and a victory at all costs mindset that hurts anyone in the way. This has been...
Ruthless Busyness: A Recovering Addiction
Article as published on lightandlife.fm “How are you?” “Good, just busy.” This is a conversation that I bet just about everyone has had, maybe on a weekly basis — especially for those of us in ministry roles. As of 2024, we have more tools of convenience than at...
The Second Coming of Christ
What do you think the bodily coming of Jesus will look like? I grew up with and was taught to have this image of during the complete destruction of humanity and everything, Jesus would come at the last moment to save the day. Because of the antichrist and the...
Do I Qualify?
One of the things I remember when getting to apply for colleges was “do I have all the prerequisites?” Has everything I have done up to this point made me able to proceed with this potential program?I grew up in a church background that was all about...
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.
