The church is not a pastor. The church is not the worship team. The church is us.

How the church goes is how we show up. Help make the church more beautiful. Don't leave it.

Don't abandon it. Help shape it. Help make it more like Jesus.

I want to take this week and address something that is so important, but has been really tricky for, I would say everyone that is a follower of Jesus, at some point in your life, there has been church hurt. And I want us to have a healthy view of the

church because sometimes I have asked you online about church and what's been difficult.

And the answers are devastating. For some of you, you have felt like you cannot use your gifts.

For some of you, there has been betrayal. There has been leadership that has fallen and caused dramatic hurt in your lives,

in your kids' lives. You have, I mean, abuse. I mean, I have someone I love that entrusted their child to the youth group,

and he was abused. So this is a loaded conversation. So I want to begin this conversation with

prayer because I can't imagine the unique stories that are out there, but I want to talk

about this. I think it's really important, whether you are a member of a church or you have left

the church as a believer because it has just been too painful, this episode is for you.

So God help, help us process together your view of the church,

how you intended it to be. I think of your heart that grieves over every person that's listening

that has been hurt by people that say they love you,

that have been hurt by people that have hurt them under your name.

And God, I can't imagine the anger, injustice, and vengeance you feel toward that.

I just pray today would be healing.

I pray today would be full of empathy

that people would find themselves tucked up

under your love and your compassion.

And I do pray for healing.

...