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Upcoming Sermons & Devotional Message
August Sermons 2026
8-16- Play Well With Others.
Proverbs 15:1 Romans 12:18
8-23- Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing
Proverbs 3:5-7 1 Corinthians 1:22-25
8-30- Preach Truth and Grace
Psalms 100 John 1:14
Devotional Message : These will change 1-2 times a week. Stop by often to read the new message.
Some Thoughts on Overcoming Church Hurt
I recently found myself in a situation where someone was angry about something happening in their church. The words spoken were patently untrue and hurtful.
Have you ever been hurt in church? It happens. At our best, we are sinful, broken people whom God has redeemed and forgiven, and who are progressing toward perfection. At our worst, we are sinful, broken people who are struggling to overcome our lower nature. People—even God’s people — will often hurt people.
This is nothing new. It’s been this way since the beginning. The church in Corinth was almost certainly the worst church Paul ever started. A careful reading of his letters reveals that he was writing to a church that was a dysfunctional mess. In 2 Corinthians chapter 12, Paul describes some of his fears about the church.
“For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I want you to be... I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented… “ (2 Corinthians 12:20-21a)
They were guilty of many sins—and some were slow to repent. Imagine that! Unrepentant people in church!
And yet, in 1 Corinthians, Paul describes them as a real church:
“To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people…” (1 Corinthians 1:2a)
The church in Corinth reminds us not to expect too much from our own church. The church is not a gathering of good people, but of believing sinners who often behave sinfully. We ought to be better than we were, but are never as good as we should be, and will often sin against each other.
If someone ever hurts you in your church, make a list of what they did wrong, then do the opposite. If they have been unkind, be extra kind. If they have been gossipy, speak all the good you know. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also (Luke 6:29).
Their poor example can make you a better Christian, and you can make your church a better Christian community.
Bishop Jeff Greenway