When church becomes a place to pretend, everyone loses.

In Part Three of our Church Hurt series, we dive into one of the biggest reasons people walk away from church: hypocrisy. Jesus didn’t come for those who have it all together—He came for those honest enough to admit they don’t. This message explores the pressure to perform, the harm of image management, and the freedom to embrace your imperfections. You don’t have to fake it. You can bring your hurt to church.

⏱️ Timestamps:

0:00 – A Place for the Hurting or the Performing?

5:51 – Jesus Calls Out the Fakes

10:02 – Red Flags in Church Culture

17:05 – The Crushing Weight of Image Management

25:30 – You Can Be Flawed, Just Don’t Be Fake

📌 Resources & Next Steps:

→ Series Resources: https://communitychurch.net/series-resources

→ Connect With Us: https://communitychurch.net/connect

What do you do when the place meant to bring hope ends up causing pain?

In this message, Lou walks through four levels of church hurt—from tough love to deep wounds—and offers a path toward healing. Whether you’ve experienced shame, betrayal, manipulation, or even abuse within the church, you’re not alone. And it was never supposed to be this way.

This message isn’t about pointing fingers—it’s about finding clarity, healing, and the kind of honesty that creates healthier communities.

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro & Jesus’ vision for the Church

06:00 – Four types of church hurt

07:15 – Tough love (why it stings but helps)

12:00 – Frustration (the cost of community)

18:00 – Pain (when trust is broken)

24:44 – Abuse (when authority is misused)

35:00 – Real steps for healing

📱 Need someone to talk to?

Text HURT to 631-600-7880 for support from a trained listener or a counselor.

Prefer to stay anonymous? Visit communitychurch.net/resources

We all wrestle with shame — but what happens when shame finds a home in the very place that’s supposed to heal it? This message kicks off a new series on Church Hurt and explores one of the deepest dysfunctions that can quietly take root: shame. Pulling from the Genesis origin story, modern research, and real life experiences, this message uncovers why shame thrives where performance matters more than progress — and why the Gospel offers a radically different story. If you've ever felt "not enough," doubted your worth, or wondered if you truly belong, this is for you. You are deeply loved, even at your lowest, and the church should be the safest place for you to bring your whole self.

Timestamps:

3:50 - How Dysfunction Hurts the Church

7:00 - Humanity’s Origin Story & Shame's Entrance

13:00 - How Shame Speaks into Our Identity

20:00 - When Churches Reinforce Shame Instead of Healing It

29:00 - Why Your Worst Moment Doesn’t Define You

Resources & Next Steps:

• Dive deeper with resources at communitychurch.net/series-resources

• Find your next step at communitychurch.net/connect

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