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
What is a “life giving church?”
The phrase “life giving church” gets thrown around a lot these days. It's used in prayers, fills mission statements, church websites, and social media posts that promise energy, joy, and transformation. It sounds good on the surface. Who wouldn’t want to be part of...
Pre-Lent, an unknown season
According to the old liturgical calendar, this last Sunday (Jan. 25, 2026) was the last Sunday of Epiphany. That seems strange, because in modern lectionary and liturgical calendars, we still have three more Sundays until Ash Wednesday, and the official start of Lent....
Why the Table?
If it hasn’t become clear, one of my favorite topics in theology and Christian practice are the Sacraments, particularly communion (Lord's Supper, Eucharist etc…). The enduring and central nature of it’s celebration has been the core of Christian worship since the...
Lost in the Woods
Walking into the middle of the woods can be kind of a disorienting thing. Going off the path, if you are not careful, you can very quickly realize that you do not know where you are, and when you try to get your bearings, you quickly start to realize that the things...
Free to Worship
One of the most fascinating sociological phenomenons is the food offerings at Chinese-American restaurants. While there may be some local variations, these usually independently owned establishments share so much commonality in their menus that I can expect to get...
Does the Church Have a “Platform” or a “Stage”?
This article was writte nfor, and originally posted on HolyJoys.org Names are important because they carry meaning and history with them. When the name for something changes, more than just the name can be lost. Part of its identity can be lost, even if the thing...
Are You Christian or Catholic?
One of the things that has increasingly bothered me in recent years is that basic ice‑breaker question people ask when religion comes up: “So, are you Christian or Catholic?” Most of the time I know what they mean. They’re trying to ask, “Are you Protestant or Roman...
Practial Atheism in Church?
Introduction: When Mission Becomes Functionally Godless Most of us leading evangelical churches would never dream of calling ourselves atheists. We preach Christ, we pray, we plan missions because we genuinely want people to meet Jesus. But if you sit in enough...
Reclaiming Tradition
Modern Christians love to sing about “tradition” when Tevye belts it out in Fiddler on the Roof, but many of us grow uneasy when the same word comes up in church. We instinctively feel the pull of Tevye’s point: tradition gives shape, identity, and continuity to a...
Why Put Candles on the Communion Table?
This article was originally written for and posted on HolyJoys.org s as having deep spiritual symbolism. What we see in historic sanctuaries, such as those in older Anglican, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches, represents a blend of practical development and...
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.
