http://findtransformation.com/, https://substack.com/@pastorjefftalarico

Transformation Church - Kerrville, Texas, 125 Lehmann Drive, Kerrville, TX (2026)

06/23/2026

Let Justice Flow

There are some verses that stop us in our tracks. They cut through the noise, the excuses, and even our religious routines. Amos 5:24 is one of those verses.

The people of Israel were still attending worship services, offering sacrifices, and observing religious traditions. From the outside, everything appeared healthy. But God saw something deeper. He saw hearts that were disconnected from Him and lives that were not reflecting His character. This verse reminds us that God is not merely interested in what happens during worship. He cares about how we live when worship is over.

“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
- Amos 5:24 (ESV)

Amos was a shepherd turned prophet who delivered a message that many people did not want to hear. Israel was prosperous. Business was good. Religious activities were taking place. Yet beneath the surface there was corruption, oppression, and a lack of concern for those who were hurting.

God’s response was not a call for more ceremonies. It was a call for lives that reflected His heart.

Justice and righteousness are often linked together in Scripture. Justice is treating people fairly and standing for what is right. Righteousness is living in a way that honors God. One deals with how we treat others, and the other deals with our relationship with Him. God never intended those two things to be separated.

It’s possible to sing worship songs on Sunday and still be impatient, dishonest, unforgiving, or indifferent to the needs of others on Monday. Amos reminds us that genuine faith is meant to flow beyond the church walls.

Notice the imagery God uses. Not a puddle. Not an occasional rainstorm. A river. An ever-flowing stream.

A stream doesn’t have to be forced every few weeks. It continually moves because it is connected to a source. In the same way, righteousness is not something we manufacture through willpower. It flows from a life that remains connected to God.

I think about the rivers and creeks here in the Texas Hill Country. After a good rain, dry creek beds suddenly come alive with rushing water. But before long, many of them slow down and dry up again. God isn’t looking for temporary spiritual enthusiasm. He desires a steady, consistent faith that keeps flowing day after day.

The question this verse asks each of us is simple: Does my faith stop at what I say, or does it continue into how I live?

The world may never hear us sing on Sunday morning, but it will certainly notice how we treat people, how we conduct business, how we respond to criticism, and whether our actions match our beliefs.

God’s desire is that His people become channels through which His justice, mercy, righteousness, and love continually flow.

Action Steps

* Ask God to reveal any gap between your public faith and your private life.
* Look for one opportunity today to treat someone with greater kindness, fairness, or compassion.
* Spend time with the Lord and ask Him to help your faith become a consistent stream rather than an occasional surge.

Challenge for the Day

Find one person today who may be overlooked, struggling, or in need of encouragement, and intentionally show them the love and care of Christ through your words or actions.

Prayer

Father, thank You for caring about more than outward appearances. Help me live a faith that is genuine and consistent. Let Your righteousness flow through my life and shape the way I treat others. Show me where I need to grow, and help me reflect Your heart in my home, my work, and my relationships. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pastor Jeff

06/22/2026

The Name Between the Names

If you've ever tried reading through the genealogies in Scripture, you know how easy it is to start skimming.

"Son of..." "Father of..." “Mother of…” “Brother, Sister, Uncle, Aunt of…”

Name after name after name.

Most of us read those passages looking for a familiar name before moving on to the next chapter. Who am I kidding, most of us gloss right over this section because we in the Western World don’t think it matters to us.

God didn't include those genealogies by accident.

Every name mattered. Every life mattered. Every story mattered.
And every once in a while, right in the middle of a long list of names, God slows the pace down and tells us a little more about someone.

One of those people is Jabez.

In the middle of a genealogy in 1 Chronicles, where names are moving by rapidly, the Holy Spirit suddenly hits the brakes.
Why?

Because there was something about this man's life that God wanted us to see.

Scripture says:

"Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, 'Because I bore him in pain.' Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, 'Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!' And God granted what he asked."
— 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 (ESV)

Think about that for a moment.

His name literally carried the memory of pain.

Every introduction.

Every conversation.

Every time someone called his name, it was a reminder.

A reminder of sorrow and difficulty.

A reminder of what surrounded his birth. Pain.

Yet Jabez refused to allow pain to become his identity.
Instead of being defined by his circumstances, he brought his future before God.

And God answered.

What strikes me isn't simply the prayer.

It's the placement.

Out of all the names listed in that genealogy, God pauses for this one.

Not because Jabez was a king.

He never led an army.

He never performed miracles or wrote a book of the Bible.

God simply wanted us to know his story.

That should encourage every believer.

Most of us will never have our names in history books.

We won't have buildings named after us.

Many of the things we do for the Kingdom happen quietly.

We teach children.

We pray for people.

We encourage friends.

We serve behind the scenes.

We give generously.

We share our faith one conversation at a time.

The world may never notice.

But God does.

The genealogies remind us that God's Kingdom has always been built through ordinary people faithfully walking with Him.

The famous names get our attention.

The ordinary names remind us where we fit.

You may feel like just another name in a long list.

A worker.

A parent.

A grandparent.

A volunteer.

A church member.

Someone trying to be faithful in the middle of everyday life.
But God knows your name.

He knows your story.

He knows the battles you've fought that no one else has seen.

He knows the prayers you've prayed when nobody was listening.
He knows the pain you've carried.

And just like Jabez, He can bring purpose out of places marked by pain.

The beautiful truth of the Kingdom is that God specializes in using ordinary people.

The genealogy in 1 Chronicles proves that.

Most of the names listed there are unknown to us. But none of them were unknown to God.

Their lives mattered enough to be recorded as part of His story.
And so does yours.

Maybe that's why Jabez appears where he does.

Not at the beginning of a chapter.

Not at the climax of a great battle.

Not surrounded by fanfare.

Just one name among many.

Yet God stopped long enough to make sure we noticed. Perhaps that's His reminder to us today.

You don't have to be famous to be faithful.

You don't have to be known by everyone to be known by God.

And even if your story has been marked by pain, that pain does not get the final word.

Let your light shine.

Serve where God has planted you.

Walk faithfully where He has called you.

Because somewhere in God's unfolding story, your name is part of the lineage too.

Share your thoughts below.

Blessings,

Pastor Jeff

06/22/2026

Seek First

There are a lot of things competing for our attention these days. Responsibilities. Finances. Family concerns. Health issues. Future plans. Some of those things are important and deserve our attention. The problem comes when they begin to consume our thoughts and push God to the edges of our lives.

Jesus understood that tendency. That’s why in the middle of a teaching about worry, needs, and daily provision, He gave His followers a simple but life-changing principle.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” - Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

Jesus wasn’t speaking these words in isolation. The verses leading up to this are all about worry. People were anxious about food, clothing, and the necessities of life. They were asking many of the same questions we ask today.

How will I pay the bills?

What happens if things don’t work out?

What about my future?

What about my family?

Jesus didn’t dismiss those concerns. He simply redirected their focus.

Notice He didn’t say, “Ignore your responsibilities.” He said, “Seek first the kingdom of God.”

There is a difference.

Many of us have experienced what happens when life gets out of order. We put work first and family suffers. We put finances first and peace disappears. We put our own plans first and wonder why we feel distant from God.

Jesus teaches that there is a divine order to life. When God is first, everything else begins to find its proper place.

That doesn’t mean life becomes easy. It doesn’t mean every prayer is answered exactly the way we want. It doesn’t mean challenges disappear. But it does mean we stop carrying burdens we were never designed to carry alone.

I’ve watched believers walk through serious illness, financial setbacks, broken relationships, and uncertain futures while maintaining a deep sense of peace. Not because their circumstances were easy, but because their priorities were settled. They had already decided that God’s kingdom mattered more than everything else.

The truth is, whatever comes first in our lives shapes everything that follows.

If God gets what’s left over after our schedules, budgets, and energy are spent, we’ll constantly feel spiritually dry. But when He gets first place, our perspective changes. We begin making decisions differently. We worry less. We trust more.

Seeking God’s kingdom isn’t just a Sunday activity. It’s a daily decision. It’s asking, “Lord, what would honor You in this situation?” before making a choice. It’s opening His Word before opening social media. It’s seeking His direction before rushing ahead with our own plans.

The invitation Jesus gives is simple: Put God first and trust Him with the rest.

Action Steps

* Start your day tomorrow with prayer and Scripture before checking your phone.
* Identify one area where worry has been consuming your thoughts and intentionally surrender it to God.
* Ask yourself, “Is God truly first in my priorities?” and make one adjustment if needed.

Challenge for the Day

Before making any major decision today, pause and ask, “Does this reflect God’s kingdom and His righteousness?” Let that question guide your next step.

Prayer

Father, thank You for caring about every detail of our lives. Forgive us for the times we allow worry, fear, and distractions to take first place. Help us seek You above everything else. Teach us to trust Your provision, Your timing, and Your plan. May our lives reflect Your kingdom in all we do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pastor Jeff

06/21/2026

A Father’s Heart

There are some truths in Scripture that become even more meaningful the longer we walk with God. This is one of them. Many people grow up seeing God as distant, disappointed, or waiting for them to fail. Yet Psalm 103 gives us a completely different picture. David reminds us that God relates to His children with the tenderness, patience, and compassion of a loving father.

“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.” Psalm 103:13 (ESV)

Compassion is one of those words we hear often but sometimes overlook. Compassion is more than feeling sorry for someone. It is love moved to action. It is seeing someone’s struggle and stepping toward them instead of away from them.

If you’ve ever watched a good father teach a child to ride a bike, you’ve seen compassion in action. The child wobbles, falls, cries, and wants to quit. The father doesn’t stand back and criticize every mistake. He picks the child up, brushes off the dirt, offers encouragement, and says, “Let’s try again.”

That picture helps us understand God’s heart toward us.

Many believers carry unnecessary guilt because they assume God reacts to their failures the way people often do. We imagine Him shaking His head in frustration. Yet Psalm 103 paints a different picture. When His children stumble, He responds with compassion. He is not surprised by our weaknesses. He knows our fears, our struggles, our limitations, and our tendency to wander.

The verses surrounding this passage make that even clearer. Just a few verses later David writes that God remembers that we are dust. He knows exactly how fragile we are. He doesn’t expect perfection before extending His love. His compassion is not earned through flawless performance. It flows from His character.

That doesn’t mean God ignores sin. A loving father corrects his children when necessary. But even His correction comes from love, not rejection. His goal is restoration, not condemnation.

I’ve noticed something over the years in ministry. People are often much harder on themselves than God is. They replay mistakes, relive failures, and carry burdens long after they have confessed them. Meanwhile, their Heavenly Father is inviting them to receive the mercy He has already provided.

Today, maybe you need to stop viewing God through the lens of your failures and start viewing Him through the lens of His compassion. He sees you. He knows your story. He understands the battles nobody else sees. And He has not walked away.

His heart toward His children is still the heart of a loving Father.

Action Steps

* Thank God today for His compassion instead of focusing on your shortcomings.
* Spend a few minutes reflecting on ways God has shown mercy in your life.
* Extend the same compassion to someone else that God has extended to you.

Challenge for the Day

When you make a mistake today, don’t run from God in shame. Run toward Him and receive the compassion your Heavenly Father freely offers.

Prayer

Father, thank You for loving me with compassion and mercy. Thank You that You know my weaknesses and yet continue to draw me close. Help me stop viewing You through the lens of my failures and instead see You as the loving Father You truly are. Teach me to receive Your grace and to extend that same compassion to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pastor Jeff

06/20/2026

The Freedom of Coming Clean

There is a reason so many people walk around exhausted.

It is not always because they are overworked.

Sometimes it is because they are carrying things God never intended them to carry.

Guilt is heavy.

Shame is heavy.

Regret is heavy.

The amazing thing about God is that He never asked us to carry those burdens ourselves. He simply asked us to bring them to Him.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (ESV)

This verse is one of the most comforting promises in all of Scripture.

Notice what John does not say. He does not say that God forgives us if we are good enough. He does not say God forgives us if we pray enough, serve enough, give enough, or somehow earn our way back into His favor.

He simply says that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us.

That means forgiveness is based on who He is, not on how well we perform.

I think many of us understand forgiveness in theory, but we struggle to live in it.

We will confess something to God and then spend the next week, month, or even year replaying it in our minds. We keep revisiting the mistake. We keep reopening the wound. We keep carrying a burden that God already removed.

Imagine taking a bag of trash to the curb on garbage day. The truck comes by and hauls it away. Later that afternoon, you jump in your truck, drive to the landfill, dig through the pile, find your bag, and bring it back home.

Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it?

Yet spiritually, that is exactly what many Christians do.

God forgives it.

God removes it.

God cleanses us from it.

Then we go back and pick it up again.

John says God doesn’t just forgive our sin. He cleanses us from all unrighteousness. The stain is removed. The debt is paid. The relationship is restored.

Maybe today there is something you’ve been carrying for far too long.

A failure.

A bad decision.

A season you’re not proud of.

A moment you wish you could erase.

Take it to Jesus.

Not tomorrow.

Not next week.

Today.

Because freedom begins where confession starts.

Action Steps

* Ask God if there is anything you need to bring before Him today.
* Be honest and specific in your prayer.
* Thank Him for His forgiveness and refuse to pick that burden back up again.

Challenge for the Day

Stop carrying what God has already forgiven. Leave it at His feet and walk in the freedom He has provided.

Prayer

Father, thank You that Your grace is greater than my failures. Thank You that I do not have to earn Your forgiveness because Jesus already paid the price for my sin. Help me to be honest with You, quick to confess, and willing to leave my burdens at Your feet. Teach me to walk in the freedom that comes from knowing I am forgiven and cleansed. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pastor Jeff

06/19/2026

Freedom Where the Spirit Leads

There is something within every person that longs to be free. Free from regret. Free from fear. Free from the pressure of trying to be someone we’re not. Free from the weight of carrying yesterday into today. The good news is that true freedom isn’t something we achieve; it’s something Christ provides.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
- 2 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV)

This verse is often quoted by itself, and rightly so. It is one of the great declarations of Scripture. But when Paul writes these words, he is contrasting the old covenant of law with the new covenant of grace. He is describing what happens when a person stops trying to earn God’s approval and instead lives in a relationship with Him through Christ.

Many people think freedom means the absence of boundaries. Scripture teaches something different. Freedom is not the ability to do whatever we want. Freedom is finally becoming what God created us to be.

A fish is free in the water. Remove it from the water and it may appear free from its environment, but it will die. In the same way, people are most free when living in the presence and purpose of God. The farther we drift from Him, the more we find ourselves enslaved by things we thought would satisfy us.

I’ve discovered that some of the strongest chains are not visible. Fear of failure. Fear of what others think. The need to control outcomes. The burden of carrying guilt long after God has offered forgiveness. These are the kinds of things that quietly rob us of joy.

Yet where the Spirit of the Lord is, those chains begin to loosen.

The Spirit reminds us that we are forgiven. He reminds us that our identity is found in Christ, not in our accomplishments or our mistakes. He gives us the courage to trust God when we cannot see the whole picture. He produces peace when circumstances suggest we should panic.

Freedom is not the absence of trouble. Freedom is the presence of God in the middle of it.

The world searches for freedom in possessions, positions, popularity, and pleasure. None of those things can provide lasting freedom because none of them can change the heart. Only the Spirit of God can do that.

Today, take a moment to ask yourself a simple question: What am I carrying that God never intended me to carry? The answer may reveal the very area where He wants to bring freedom.

Action Steps

* Ask God to reveal any area of your life where fear, guilt, or control has taken root.
* Spend a few moments thanking Him for the freedom already provided through Christ.
* Surrender one specific burden to God today instead of carrying it yourself.

Challenge for the Day

Identify one thing that has been weighing on your heart and intentionally place it in God’s hands. Then refuse to pick it back up.

Prayer

Father, thank You for the freedom that comes through Your Spirit. Help me recognize the areas where I am still carrying burdens You never intended for me to bear. Remind me that my identity is found in You and not in my successes, failures, or the opinions of others. Teach me to walk in the freedom Christ purchased for me and to trust You more each day. Fill me with Your peace, Your wisdom, and Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pastor Jeff

06/18/2026

Walking as He Walked

There are some verses in Scripture that are powerful standing alone, and 1 John 2:6 is certainly one of them. Yet sometimes the richest understanding comes when we step back and read the surrounding verses. Today’s verse takes on even greater meaning when viewed alongside verses 4 and 5. Together, these three verses remind us that Christianity is not simply about what we say we believe—it is about how we live.

“Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”
- 1 John 2:4-6 (ESV)

John writes with remarkable clarity. He leaves very little room for confusion. It is possible to claim faith with our lips while our lives tell a different story. In verse 4, John challenges every believer to examine whether their actions align with their profession of faith. Knowing Christ is more than possessing information about Him. It is more than attending church, quoting Scripture, or identifying as a Christian. True knowledge of Christ produces obedience.

Verse 5 then provides the beautiful balance. Christianity is not about legalism or earning God’s favor through perfect performance. Instead, obedience becomes evidence that God’s love is transforming us. As we surrender to Him, His love matures within us. The goal is not perfection overnight but continual growth in Christlikeness.

Then we arrive at verse 6, the verse of the day. John gives us the standard by which every believer should measure their life: “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

That is both inspiring and convicting.

Jesus walked in humility when others sought status. He showed compassion when others offered condemnation. He forgave when others demanded revenge. He served when others wanted to be served. He loved people who could offer Him nothing in return. He trusted the Father completely, even when the path led through suffering.

The Christian life is not merely believing certain truths about Jesus. It is allowing those truths to shape our attitudes, decisions, relationships, priorities, and responses every day.

Imagine watching a child learn from a parent. They mimic their walk, repeat their phrases, and copy their habits. Why? Because they spend time together. The same is true spiritually. The more time we spend with Christ through prayer, Scripture, worship, and obedience, the more our lives begin to reflect His character.

None of us walk perfectly as Jesus walked. We all stumble. We all fail. But the direction of our lives should increasingly resemble His. When people encounter us, they should see glimpses of His grace, His patience, His kindness, and His truth.

The question is not whether we occasionally make mistakes. The question is whether we are genuinely pursuing the One we claim to follow.

Action Steps

* Read 1 John 2:4-6 several times today and ask God to reveal any areas where your actions do not match your faith.
* Identify one specific characteristic of Jesus you can intentionally reflect today—kindness, patience, humility, forgiveness, or compassion.
* Spend time in prayer asking the Holy Spirit to help you walk more closely in the footsteps of Christ.

Challenge for the Day

Before you make a decision, respond to a situation, or enter a conversation today, pause and ask yourself: “How would Jesus walk through this moment?”

Prayer

Father, thank You for sending Jesus as both our Savior and our example. Forgive me for the times my actions have not reflected my faith. Help me not only to know You but to walk with You daily. Shape my heart to become more like Christ. Let my words, attitudes, and actions point others to You. May Your love continue to mature within me as I follow You more closely each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pastor Jeff

06/17/2026

Love Like Jesus

Love is one of the most talked-about words in our culture, yet one of the most misunderstood. We often define love by feelings, preferences, or what we receive from others. Jesus, however, gives us a much deeper picture. His love is not based on convenience or emotion—it is rooted in sacrifice, commitment, grace, and action. In this simple but powerful verse, Jesus calls His followers to a higher standard of love, one that reflects His own heart.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” - John 15:12 (ESV)

As Jesus spoke these words, He was preparing His disciples for a future that would not always be easy. They would face opposition, persecution, disappointment, and moments of uncertainty. Yet rather than giving them a long list of rules to follow, He pointed them to one command that would define their lives: love one another.

Notice that Jesus does not merely say, “Love one another.” He adds the phrase, “as I have loved you.” That changes everything.

Jesus loved the unlovable. He welcomed those society rejected. He forgave those who failed Him. He served those who could offer Him nothing in return. Even knowing Judas would betray Him, Jesus still washed his feet. That is a level of love that goes far beyond human nature.

Most of us find it easy to love people who agree with us, encourage us, and treat us well. The real test comes when someone disappoints us, hurts us, overlooks us, or disagrees with us. It is in those moments that Christ-like love becomes visible. Anyone can love when it is easy. Followers of Jesus are called to love when it is difficult.

Think about a healthy family. Every family experiences disagreements, misunderstandings, and frustrations. Yet healthy families remain committed because love is greater than the conflict. The same is true within the body of Christ. Churches are not perfect because people are not perfect. If we wait to love until everyone meets our expectations, we will spend our lives disappointed. But when we choose to love as Christ loved us, unity becomes possible.

The amazing truth is that Jesus never commands us to do something He has not already demonstrated. He loved us when we were still sinners. He pursued us before we pursued Him. He gave His life so we could have eternal life. The more we understand His love for us, the easier it becomes to extend that same love to others.

Today, ask yourself this question: Does my love look like Jesus’ love? Not just toward those closest to me, but toward everyone God places in my path.

Action Steps

* Identify one person you have struggled to love and pray for them today.
* Look for a practical way to serve someone without expecting anything in return.
* Reflect on how Christ has shown you grace and extend that same grace to someone else.

Challenge for the Day

Choose one person today who may be difficult to love and intentionally show them the kindness, patience, or encouragement that Jesus has shown you.

Prayer

Father, thank You for loving me when I did not deserve it. Thank You for the example of Jesus, who showed perfect love through His words, actions, and sacrifice. Help me to love others the way You have loved me. Remove bitterness, pride, and selfishness from my heart. Fill me with Your compassion so that my life reflects the love of Christ to everyone I meet. Use me today to be an instrument of Your grace and encouragement. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pastor Jeff

06/16/2026

Glass Houses

Social media has given every Christian a personal microphone.

Unfortunately, it has also given every Christian a platform to become a critic of everything.

Scroll through Facebook long enough and you’ll find someone declaring that no church preaches the truth anymore. Someone else insists that every pastor is compromised. Another claims they can’t find a biblical church, so they have to watch a preacher three states away on YouTube because he’s the only one willing to “tell it like it is.”

Maybe.

Or maybe there’s another side to the story.

Just yesterday I came across a post from someone making a similar claim. According to him, the local churches had all abandoned biblical truth, so he relied on an online preacher because nobody around him was willing to preach the whole counsel of God.

Now before I go any further, let me say this: sound doctrine matters.

There are churches that drift from Scripture. There are pastors who compromise biblical truth. There are times when believers must exercise discernment and make difficult decisions about where they worship. That is all 100% true.

But then, the Sherlock Holmes part of me had to go to work. So I started to dig deeper in his profile to find a photo of him. I did this because IF he had visited us and WE were one of the churches he was calling out, I would love to have a conversation with him.

But as I continued looking through this gentleman’s social media profile, something caught my attention.

Mixed among his posts were vulgar jokes, images of sc****ly clad women, and content that clearly didn’t reflect a pursuit of holiness. The same person criticizing churches for compromising truth seemed comfortable compromising in areas of his own life.

And it made me wonder.

What if the issue wasn’t that local churches refused to preach the truth?

What if the local churches were preaching truth that he didn’t want to hear?

As a pastor, I’ve learned something over the years. Most people don’t get upset when the Bible addresses sin in general. The discomfort usually begins when Scripture starts addressing their sin.

We all love sermons on pride until they expose ours.

We all love messages on forgiveness until we’re the ones who need to forgive.

And we all appreciate biblical truth until biblical truth becomes personal.

The reality is that an online preacher can challenge your theology without ever challenging your lifestyle.

A pastor on YouTube doesn’t know your marriage.

He doesn’t know your habits.

He doesn’t know your addictions.

He doesn’t know the conversations you’re having behind closed doors.

He doesn’t know the content you’re consuming after dark.

He doesn’t know where compromise has quietly settled into your life.

But a local church is different.

The people there know your name.

They know your story.

They pray for you.

They walk through life’s victories and failures with you.

And sometimes, because they love you, they are willing to speak truth into areas of your life that need correction.

That’s not judgment.

That’s discipleship.

And that’s often where the relationship becomes uncomfortable.

It’s easy to celebrate truth when it’s aimed at someone else’s sin. But it’s much harder when it lands on our own doorstep.

Jesus addressed this tendency directly:

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3, ESV)

Look, Jesus wasn’t condemning discernment. Eventually the speck still needed to be addressed. But first the log has to come out of our own eye.

That’s where many of us struggle. And, if we’re not careful, we can become experts at identifying everything wrong with everyone else while remaining blind to what’s happening in our own hearts.

We critique sermons while neglecting Scripture.

We criticize pastors while resisting accountability.

We point out the sins of others while making excuses for our own.

The truth is that every church has imperfections because every church is filled with imperfect people. Pastors are imperfect. Elders are imperfect. Congregations are imperfect.

If perfection were the requirement, none of us would qualify.

But before we publicly announce everything wrong with the church, perhaps we should pause long enough to ask a more difficult question:

What is God trying to address in me?

Before questioning someone else’s holiness, what does my witness look like?

Before accusing a church of compromise, does my social media reflect Christ?

Before throwing stones, have I spent any time examining the glass around me?

The world is watching how Christians treat one another.

You see, when unbelievers see Christians tearing down churches while simultaneously living no differently than the culture around them, our message loses credibility.

The church certainly needs reform at times.

Yes, false teaching should be confronted. Yes, truth should be defended. Yes, sin should be addressed.

But all of those things must be done with humility.

It begins when we stop standing over others and start standing before the mirror of God’s Word.

Because the safest place to throw stones is never from a glass house.

And if we’re honest, most of us live in one.

Pastor Jeff

Comment below if you want to have a conversation about this....

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