Embracing Our Mess: God's Grace in Brokenness

Devotional

Day 1: God Welcomes Messy People into His Family

Christian community is made up of deeply messy people, and God is not surprised or put off by our brokenness. From the earliest days of the church, God has invited people with all kinds of baggage, addictions, shame, and struggles to be part of His family. The idea that you must have your life together before coming to Christ or joining His people is a lie; in fact, the church is expected to be filled with those in desperate need of grace. No matter what your story holds, you are not too much for God or His church—He sees you, knows you, and still calls you to belong. [43:28]

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (ESV)
"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

Reflection: What part of your story or struggle have you believed makes you too messy for God or His people? Can you take a step today to bring that into the light, trusting that you are welcomed and expected in Christ’s family?

Day 2: Jesus Cleanses and Claims Us, Not Our Own Efforts

You are not claimed by God because of what you have done, but because of what Christ has accomplished on the cross. Even as old habits and struggles resurface, your identity is rooted in being washed, sanctified, and justified by Jesus. God’s love is unconditional and steadfast, like a parent’s love for their child, and He is committed to your cleansing and growth. You don’t have to clean yourself up before coming to Him—He delights in making you new, and no amount of mess can keep you from His embrace. [45:08]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Reflection: Where are you still trying to earn God’s acceptance or clean yourself up before coming to Him? How can you rest today in the truth that you are already washed and claimed by Jesus?

Day 3: True Freedom Comes Through Submission to Christ

True freedom in Christ is not found in doing whatever we want, but in submitting our lives to Him. The world tells us that freedom means following our desires, but Jesus calls us to a deeper, more lasting freedom that comes from surrendering our wants, habits, and longings to Him. As we submit to the Holy Spirit, we are transformed—slowly but surely—into people who reflect God’s love, joy, and peace. This path is not always easy, but it leads to the life we were created for. [52:54]

1 Corinthians 6:12-14 (ESV)
"‘All things are lawful for me,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful for me,’ but I will not be dominated by anything. ‘Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food’—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have been holding onto your “rights” or desires instead of submitting to Christ? What would it look like to surrender that area to Him today?

Day 4: Don’t Just Listen—Live Out God’s Word

It is not enough to merely listen to God’s Word; true blessing and transformation come when we do what it says. God’s commands are not mysteries or burdens, but good and perfect wisdom that lead to freedom. Every aspect of your life—your relationships, your time, your thoughts, your body—matters to God, and He invites you to walk with Him in obedience. Even when surrender is difficult and imperfect, God honors your honest desire to follow Him and will help you grow as you lean on His Spirit. [55:24]

James 1:22-25 (ESV)
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."

Reflection: What is one specific command or teaching of Jesus that you have heard but not yet put into practice? How can you take a concrete step to live it out today?

Day 5: Radical Hospitality and Honest Community

God calls His people to radical hospitality and honest community, where no one’s story is too messy and everyone is invited to belong. The church is meant to be a family that supports, adopts, and embraces those who are giving up much to follow Jesus, especially when that means loneliness or sacrifice. When we open our homes, our lives, and our hearts to one another, we reflect the love and kindness of Christ. There is power in sharing our real struggles and testimonies, and God uses our honesty to display His goodness to the world. [01:03:08]

Romans 12:10-13 (ESV)
"Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality."

Reflection: Who in your church or community might need to experience radical hospitality or deeper belonging? What is one tangible way you can extend welcome, support, or friendship to them this week?

Sermon Summary

Is my story too messy for God? That question haunted me from a young age, especially as I wrestled with pain, loss, and the realization that my desires and struggles didn’t fit the neat categories I thought Christianity required. Growing up in a pastor’s home, I learned to equate faith with following rules and earning God’s favor. But when life unraveled—through grief, family brokenness, and the awakening of same-sex attraction—I felt abandoned, incompatible with Jesus, and convinced my mess was too much for God.

Yet, as we look at 1 Corinthians 6, we see that the early church was filled with people whose stories were just as messy. Paul writes to a community in Corinth—a city infamous for its excess and immorality—reminding them that their pasts were full of brokenness: sexual sin, greed, addiction, and more. But he also insists that these people, with all their baggage, were invited into God’s family. The church has always been made up of people with complicated stories, and God has always known and welcomed us in our mess.

Paul’s words go further: “That is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” The transformation isn’t about us cleaning ourselves up before coming to God. It’s about Jesus claiming us, loving us, and beginning the work of cleansing and sanctifying us. Like a parent who loves and cleans their child, God delights in meeting us in our mess and making us new.

But the journey doesn’t end with being welcomed. True freedom in Christ comes through submission to Him. Paul warns against using grace as an excuse for passivity or self-indulgence. Instead, he calls us to daily surrender, to let the Holy Spirit shape our desires and actions. This isn’t easy—especially when it means giving up things we deeply want or when our struggles persist. For me, that’s meant years of wrestling with my sexuality, learning that following Jesus with integrity required celibacy and surrender, even when my desires didn’t change.

This path is costly, but it’s also where I’ve found the deepest joy and freedom. And it’s not a journey to be walked alone. The church is called to radical hospitality, to be family for those who give up much to follow Jesus. No one’s story is too messy for God. In fact, it’s in our honesty and vulnerability that God’s power and grace are most clearly seen.

Key Takeaways

1. Christian community is made up of deeply messy people. From the earliest days of the church, God has welcomed those with complicated, broken stories—not after they’ve cleaned themselves up, but right in the middle of their mess. Believing your story is too much for God or the church is a deception; you are exactly who Christ came for. [41:16]
2. Our identity in Christ is not defined by our past or even our ongoing struggles. Paul’s use of the past tense—“that is what some of you were”—reminds us that our status before God is secured by Jesus’ finished work, not by our ability to conquer every sin or desire. The process of sanctification is ongoing, but our belonging is already settled. [43:28]
3. True freedom is found not in self-indulgence or the assertion of personal rights, but in submission to Christ. The world tells us to follow our desires, but Jesus calls us to surrender them, trusting that His ways lead to life and peace. This submission is not a loss, but the path to becoming who we were created to be. [52:54]
4. The call to discipleship is costly and countercultural, especially for those whose desires or circumstances don’t fit the mold. For some, like those with same-sex attraction, faithfulness may mean lifelong celibacy. This is not a call to easy answers or denial of pain, but to radical dependence on Jesus and the support of a loving community. [60:13]
5. The church is called to radical hospitality and embodied community. Those who give up much to follow Jesus should find family, belonging, and support among God’s people. Our willingness to share our lives, homes, and hearts with one another is a powerful witness to the world of God’s love and grace. [61:59]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[33:33] - Wrestling with a Messy Story
[36:40] - Corinth’s Brokenness and the Gospel
[38:29] - Wrestling with the List of Sins
[41:16] - Messy People in Christian Community
[43:28] - Washed, Sanctified, and Justified
[45:08] - Ongoing Sanctification and God’s Love
[46:40] - Jesus Cleans Us Up
[47:44] - The Invitation to Confession and Community
[49:00] - The Struggle with Habitual Sin
[50:55] - “I Have the Right to Do Anything”
[52:54] - True Freedom Through Submission
[54:27] - My Story of Surrender
[55:24] - The Call to Do What the Word Says
[57:56] - Submitting All of Life to Jesus
[59:09] - You Are Who Christ Came For
[60:13] - The Cost of Discipleship and Radical Community
[61:59] - Fulfillment in Christ and Radical Hospitality
[63:08] - Prayer and Closing Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (ESV) — > Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

James 1:22-25 (ESV) — > But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Observation Questions

In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, what kinds of people does Paul say made up the early church in Corinth? What does he say happened to them after they came to Christ?
According to the sermon, what was the city of Corinth known for, and why is that important for understanding Paul’s letter? [[36:40]]
In James 1:22-25, what is the difference between someone who only hears the word and someone who does what it says?
The speaker shares that even after coming to Christ, the Corinthians were still “messy.” What evidence from the passage or sermon supports this? [[41:16]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul use the past tense (“such were some of you”) when describing the sins of the Corinthian believers, even though they still struggled with those things? What does this say about our identity in Christ? [[43:28]]
The sermon says, “True freedom in Christ comes through submission to Him.” How does this challenge the way our culture defines freedom? [[52:54]]
The speaker describes her own journey of surrender, especially regarding her sexuality. What does her story reveal about the cost and reality of following Jesus when our desires don’t change? [[54:27]]
According to the sermon, what is the church’s role for people who have given up much to follow Jesus? How does this relate to the idea of “radical hospitality”? [[01:00:13]]

Application Questions

The speaker says that Christian community is made up of “deeply messy people.” Is there a part of your story or struggle that you feel is “too messy” for God or the church? What would it look like to bring that into the light? [[41:16]]
Paul says, “You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified.” Do you find it hard to believe that your identity is secure in Christ, even when you still struggle? Why or why not? [[43:28]]
The sermon challenges us not to use grace as an excuse for passivity or self-indulgence. Are there areas in your life where you’ve been tempted to do this? What would it look like to surrender those areas to Jesus this week? [[52:54]]
The speaker shares that for her, following Jesus with integrity meant celibacy and surrender, even when her desires didn’t change. Is there something you sense God asking you to surrender, even if it’s costly or countercultural? What fears or hopes come up as you consider this? [[54:27]]
The sermon calls the church to “radical hospitality.” Who in your life or community might need to experience this kind of welcome and support? What is one practical way you could extend hospitality or friendship to someone who might feel alone? [[01:00:13]]
The speaker talks about the power of honest confession and vulnerability. Is there someone you trust that you could share your struggles with this week? What would keep you from doing that? [[47:44]]
The speaker’s story includes years of wrestling, prayer, and imperfect surrender. How does her honesty about the ongoing process of sanctification encourage or challenge you in your own walk with Jesus? [[59:09]]

Sermon Clips

``Paul writes to the Corinthian church that is still messy. You see, Paul planted this Corinthian church in a city where people commonly offered temple sacrifices to get the powerful god Apollo on their side, or they used temple prostitution to worship the pagan god Aphrodite. It was like the Las Vegas, but even more licentious of the ancient world, where you went for excess and overconsumption. If you wanted to have a good time, you would go to Corinth. And yet, Paul planted a church there saying, this life is not going to satisfy you. In fact, no thing and no one can do that except Jesus, who lived the perfect life, died a gruesome death, and was raised back to life three days later. [00:36:03] (54 seconds) #GraceInTheMidst

And while that happened, he thought of you. He died for you while you were still sinning, attempting to appease the sensations of your body and your ego. And this god is not like Apollo, where you have to bring him things to make him happy or fear death of a loved one if you make him mad. And he's not like the god Aphrodite is where you become a slave to your literal sexual compulsions. In fact, this god does not have a temple set up that you have to trek to and pay to get in and appear a certain way to enter. Because when you say yes to this god, his spirit is sent to you, and you, your literal physical body becomes his temple. [00:36:56] (49 seconds) #JesusTransformsMess

And the better news is that your current mess is not where Christ desires to leave us. When you read the next line in 1 Corinthians, Paul says, he names that list, and then he goes, and that is what some of you once were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God. [00:43:41] (27 seconds) #MessyButLoved

Paul says you were washed and you were sanctified. Those are cleansing words. Paul tells the Corinthians that Jesus is committed to their cleansing. You see, when my boys get messy, when they skin their knees, or when they spill food all over themselves, I love them, and I love to clean them up. I throw them in the bath, and I help them get all washed up and scrubbed, and I love nothing more than snuggling up with my kids after they've recovered and been cleaned at the end of the day. There's no amount, and I know every parent in this room knows this, there's no amount of dirty that my kids could get that would keep me from not only claiming them, but also desiring to clean them. No one else on this earth can do that for us besides Jesus. [00:47:08] (60 seconds) #StrugglingYetLoved

And that's how your life's not too messy for Christ. In fact, you are exactly who He is after. You are exactly who He came for. Your heart doesn't need to have this massive transformation right now. I want to give you permission to know that and believe it. [00:59:03] (21 seconds) #MessyStoriesInvited

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