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Finding Forgiveness: When the Church Hurts and Grace Still Heals

From a sermon by Daniel Lee and Lucas Johnson

The Foundation of Forgiveness

We’re all walking around wounded and hurt. Pain alerts us that something’s wrong—whether it’s the “good pain” of growth or the sharp ache of genuine injury. We all know we’ve done things that are wrong, and we’ve all been wronged by others. So how do we find wholeness? How do we break the vicious cycle of guilt, shame, and woundedness?

The answer comes down to one word: forgive.

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“Your Proud Waves Stop Here”: Setting Healthy Boundaries

Part of our “Becoming Whole” series exploring identity, purpose, and belonging

The Foundation of Boundaries

Who am I? Why am I here? Where do I fit in? These fundamental questions of identity, purpose, and belonging follow us through every stage of life. As Christians, our framework for answering them should be rooted in the greatest commandments: to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

But here’s what many of us miss—that little phrase “as yourself.” We’re called to love ourselves too, which means setting healthy boundaries.

God’s Blueprint for Boundaries

Boundaries aren’t just good advice—they’re baked into creation itself. In Proverbs, wisdom declares: “I was there when he set the limit for the sea, so that the waters would not violate his command.” In Job 38, God says, “You may come this far, but no further, your proud waves stop here.”

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How to Slow Down: Reclaiming the Gift of Sabbath

“I’m in a hurry to get things done, oh I rush and rush until life’s no fun. All I really gotta do is live and die, but I’m in a hurry and don’t know why.”

Those lyrics from Alabama’s classic hit capture our modern reality perfectly. We’re all rushing around, feeling perpetually behind, yet we can’t quite explain why. We’ve become slaves to busyness, to our devices, to everyone else’s agenda for us. Sound familiar?

The Ancient Wisdom We’ve Forgotten

The concept of Sabbath isn’t just an Old Testament rule—it’s baked into the very fabric of creation. Genesis tells us that after six days of creating, God rested on the seventh day and declared it holy. This wasn’t because God was tired; it was because He was establishing a rhythm for humanity.

We were not made to go 24/7, 365 days a year.

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Finding God’s Plan for Your Life: When Your Dreams Don’t Match His Design

Originally preached at Tulip Street Church by Lucas Johnson

My plan was never to be a minister. I went to nursing school, dreaming of getting my nurse practitioner’s license and moving to Denver—somewhere with mountains, hip coffee shops, and definitely not Mitchell, Indiana. I’d grown up here and wanted something different.

But while in nursing school, I couldn’t escape ministry. My dad kept volunteering me to fill in at local churches, I started a Sunday school, became a deacon—and no matter how hard I tried to run from it, ministry kept pulling me back. Like Jonah fleeing from Nineveh, I was running from God’s call.

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When Your Faith Feels Like It’s Falling Apart: A Guide Through Deconstruction

Sometimes we feel like there are just missing pieces. Sometimes we feel like we don’t have it all together. What happens when the foundation you’ve built your life on starts to crack?

The Deconstruction Zone

You’ve built a life for yourself—a solid identity, what you thought was an unshakeable foundation. Then something happens, and it all starts to come apart. The cracks begin to show. There’s a word for this that’s become increasingly common: deconstruction.

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Who Am I? Finding Your True Identity in Christ

“Who are you?”

It’s a simple question that can stop us in our tracks. Whether it’s Simba asking Rafiki in The Lion King or our own hearts wrestling with this fundamental question, the search for identity is universal.

The Big Questions We All Face

Throughout life, we revisit three essential questions that shape our existence:

  • Who am I? (Identity)
  • Why am I here? (Purpose)
  • Where do I fit? (Belonging)

These questions aren’t just for teenagers or young adults. Life changes, seasons shift, and who you were as a high school student isn’t necessarily who you are as a parent, professional, or retiree. If we don’t answer these questions for ourselves, the world will try to answer them for us—and we’ll end up drifting through life.

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Timothy: My Son in the Faith

The young man who changed the world from behind the scenes

Of all the influential figures we encounter in the New Testament, Timothy might be the one who resonates most with young believers today. When he first joined Paul’s missionary team, he was likely just a teenager. Yet this young man would go on to become the head pastor of one of the most influential churches in the Roman Empire – the church in Ephesus – all while remaining remarkably humble and focused on serving others rather than seeking the spotlight.

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Barnabas: Son of Encouragement

by Darrin Chastain

Lessons from an Influencer in the Early Church

In a world constantly seeking influence through social media followers and viral content, the biblical figure of Barnabas offers a timeless example of genuine, life-changing influence. Though just an “average Joe” (his real name was Joseph), Barnabas made such an impact that he became known by his nickname, which means “son of encouragement.”

Who Was Barnabas?

Barnabas appears about 20 times in the New Testament, particularly in the book of Acts. Though he didn’t write any biblical books himself, his character and actions were so remarkable that his story continues to teach us valuable lessons today.

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Priscilla: The Mother of Teachers

Exploring the powerful influence of an extraordinary woman in the early church

Throughout the Book of Acts, we encounter remarkable individuals who shaped the early church through their dedication and service. Among these influential figures stands Priscilla, sometimes called Prisca—a woman whose impact resonates through generations of Christian teaching.

Who Was Priscilla?

Priscilla was Roman by birth and heritage—a Gentile, not Jewish. Historical evidence suggests she may have converted to Judaism later in life. She was highly educated, well-respected, and possibly of noble birth, potentially related to a Roman senator. Beyond her status, she became a dedicated leader in the early church, serving alongside her husband Aquila and the apostle Paul.

By trade, Priscilla was a tentmaker who worked with leather and fabric. This wasn’t just a job—it was how she and Aquila funded their ministry and supported the growing church movement. She exemplified hard work, hospitality, and commitment to spreading the gospel.

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Stephen: The Winsome Radical

Lessons from the First Christian Martyr

For the next few weeks we will be examining influential characters throughout the Book of Acts – people who impacted those around them, shaped the early church, and influenced the Apostle Paul. In Acts 17, city officials make a remarkable accusation against these early Christians: “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too.” Today, we focus on Stephen, whom one commentator aptly called “The Winsome Radical.”

Who Was Stephen?

Stephen holds the distinction of being the first Christian martyr – the first to be executed for his faith in Christ. The term “martyr” comes from the Greek word for “witness,” and Stephen truly witnessed to Christ’s power through his life and death.

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