Church Scars – Week 3 (2-23-25)
Church Scars
Healing Wounds
February 23, 2025
Every scar tells a story.
Scars will remain, but the pain does not have to.
Week 1
- Name it
- Not Alone
- Forgive
- Turn to Jesus
John 20:24-29
Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Why did Jesus still have the wounds on His body?
Isaiah 53:4-5
Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
A subtle difference in sharing your story
I tell my story to show MY strength and the main character is ME and the Hero is ME and I’m telling it for ME. —> Self-Absorbed Victim
I tell my story to show GOD’s strength and the main character is GOD and the hero is GOD and I’m telling it for YOU. —> Wounded Healer
Hebrews 4:15-16
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Why do we approach him?
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Healing comes from God but joy comes from sharing his healing presence with the hurting.
- Identify your pain.
- Look (ask God) for others who share your pain.
- Listen to their story.
- Share your story