Bringing Scars Into the Light

Hi church family,

What a morning. We kicked off our new series, Scars, at both campuses today.

I will be honest with you. I always carry a little trepidation into a series like this one. The subject matter is tender, and I know that in a room our size there are people sitting with wounds nobody else can see. It is easy for something said from the stage to land in a way it was never intended. But I have also learned over the years that these are the series where the most breakthrough happens. We spend a lot of time praying over these weeks, asking the Holy Spirit to do the work no sermon can do on its own. I believe we watched Him do exactly that this morning. People responded, and some of the conversations that followed the service were the beginning steps of healing.

Over the next several weeks, we are going to name the things that typically hold people back - shame, unforgiveness, and the wounds we carry out of our family of origin.

Do You Want To Get Well?

Here are the three things I asked people to do this week. If you were not with us this morning, start here.

1. Write it down. Pick one wound. Probably the one that came to mind when you read that question and you tried to move past it. Get it out of your head and onto paper.
2. Say it to God, out loud. Not a polished prayer. Just tell Him what you have been carrying and how it actually feels. He already sees it. He already knows how long. You do not have to pretend with Him.
3. Say it to one person this week. Not the whole church, and please not social media. One safe person. A spouse, a friend, a counselor, a pastor. "Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed" (James 5:16).

One of the most dangerous things we can do is call something healed just because we stopped talking about it. We cannot ask Jesus to heal what we insist on hiding.

Rows On Sunday, Circles Through The Week

Our community groups kick off over the next two weeks, and I am genuinely excited about this semester. Hopefully you got a look at the group catalog online or picked one up in the lobby this morning. If you have been thinking about getting connected, now is the time to do it!

I cannot say this strongly enough: real spiritual growth is not going to happen while we sit in rows on Sunday morning. It happens in circles, where we share our lives with brothers and sisters who know our names and our stories. Given what we just started talking about this morning, you are going to want people around you.

Find a group here: churchatthegrove.com/groups

Would You Pray With Me

Last week I asked you to pray for Janice Whitehead and her family. Janice went home to be with the Lord early Monday morning. Please keep praying for Roy, Connie, and their whole family as they grieve.

Would you also keep praying for Crystal Williams and her family? Crystal is nearing the end of her life and could go home to be with the Lord at any time. Pray for Steve and for all of their kids, that God would be near and that peace would fill that room.

Upcoming Opportunities

Official Community Group Launch, Sunday, September 7. Groups officially launch for the fall semester across both campuses. Get signed up before then: churchatthegrove.com/groups

20th Anniversary Celebration, Sunday, September 20, 4:00 to 7:00 PM, The Grove Park in Walnut Grove. Twenty years ago, a handful of families gathered in a middle school cafeteria hoping God would do something in this community. We are getting everybody in one place to say thank you. Food, worship, room for the kids to run, and time to catch up with people you usually only wave at across the lobby. Nothing to sign up for and nothing to bring. Just clear the evening and come.

Pray With Us This Week

• For a Student Pastor and a Production Director for our Social Circle Campus.
• That the Lord would use this series to heal the wounds our people are carrying.
• That people across our church family would get connected in real community this fall.

Resource To Consider

One of my favorite things to listen to while I am reading Scripture in the morning is a husband and wife on YouTube, Garett and Kate. They have a real gift for leading people to Jesus through music, and honestly it reminds me of the prayer nights we have had in Social Circle over the years. Put it on while you read this week: youtube.com/@garettandkate

Grateful for each of you,

Nathan