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Devotional

Day 1: Knowing Jesus Is the Heart of Salvation

Salvation is not a reward for good behavior or a badge earned by fitting into a certain group. It is a gift that comes from knowing Jesus personally. No matter what labels the world puts on us—whether about our past, our struggles, or our identity—none of these can bring us closer to God or keep us away from Him. The invitation is to relationship, not to a checklist.
When we come to Jesus, we come as we are, with all our questions and imperfections. He meets us in our real lives, not in some future, cleaned-up version of ourselves. The good news is that Jesus is not looking for people who have it all together, but for those who are willing to know Him and let Him lead.

“And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.” (John 17:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: Is there any label or part of your identity that you have believed disqualifies you from truly knowing Jesus? What would it look like to bring that honestly to Him today?

Day 2: God’s Work in Us Is a Lifelong Process

Following Jesus is not a straight line from brokenness to perfection. It’s a journey filled with ups and downs, moments of clarity and times of confusion. Like Peter, who stumbled many times before becoming a leader in the early church, we are all in process. God is patient with us, working in our hearts even when we feel stuck or unchanged.
Sometimes we want instant change, but God is more interested in deep transformation than quick fixes. He walks with us through every season, shaping us over time. Our job is to trust Him with the pace and the process, believing that He is faithful to finish what He started in us.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6, ESV)

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel frustrated by slow progress or repeated struggles? How can you invite God to meet you in that place with patience and hope today?

Day 3: Letting Go of Judgment to Embrace Compassion

It’s easy to forget what it’s like to be on the outside looking in, especially when we’ve been in church for a while or have overcome certain struggles. This “curse of knowledge” can make us less patient and more judgmental toward others who are wrestling with things we don’t understand.
God calls us to soften our hearts, to listen and empathize with those whose journeys are different from our own. Instead of assuming we know what someone else needs, we are invited to be present, to ask questions, and to extend the same grace we have received. Compassion grows when we remember our own need for mercy and choose to see others through God’s eyes.

“Speak evil of no one, avoid quarreling, be gentle, and show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.” (Titus 3:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: Think of someone whose struggles or story you don’t understand. How can you take a step toward listening or showing empathy to them this week?

Day 4: God’s Desire Is Relationship, Not Conformity

God’s greatest desire is not to make us fit a certain mold, but to make us His own. He is not primarily focused on changing our orientation, behavior, or outward appearance. Instead, He invites us into a relationship where His love and Spirit transform us from the inside out.
As we walk with God, He shapes every part of us—including our desires and habits—but the starting point is always His acceptance and love. We don’t have to fix ourselves before coming to Him. He welcomes us as we are, and it’s His presence that brings true change over time.

“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you…” (Deuteronomy 7:6-8a, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you tried to “fix” yourself before coming to God? What would it look like to let Him love you first, right where you are?

Day 5: Holding Grace and Truth Together

Jesus never shied away from the truth, but He also never withheld grace. He met people in their mess, offering dignity and hope, while also calling them to a new way of living. As His followers, we are called to hold grace and truth together—welcoming people as they are, loving them deeply, and gently pointing them toward the life God intends.
This balance is not always easy. It requires humility, courage, and a constant awareness of our own need for grace. When we live this way, we become safe places for others to encounter Jesus, just as we have.

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Colossians 4:6, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to experience both your honesty and your compassion? How can you offer both grace and truth in your next conversation with them?

Sermon Summary

of the Sermon**

In this sermon, Pastor TC addresses one of the most challenging and often avoided questions in the church: “Can you be a Christian and be gay?” Using personal stories, biblical examples, and honest reflection, he emphasizes that salvation is not about our identity, actions, or labels, but about knowing Jesus. The message highlights the transformative power of a relationship with Christ, the ongoing and often messy process of spiritual growth, and the need for the church to respond with both grace and truth. Pastor TC also challenges the congregation to recognize the “curse of knowledge” that can make us judgmental or unempathetic, and calls for hearts softened by God’s Spirit. Ultimately, he affirms that God’s goal is not to make us fit a certain mold, but to make us His, and that His love and grace are available to all, regardless of where we start or what we struggle with.

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Key Takeaways

1. Salvation Is About Who You Know, Not What You Do The sermon makes it clear that no identity, behavior, or label—whether sexual orientation, political affiliation, or even good deeds—can earn us a place with God. Salvation is found in knowing Jesus, and it is this relationship that changes us from the inside out. This truth levels the playing field for all of us, reminding us that we all stand in need of grace, not just those whose struggles are more visible or culturally controversial.
2. Transformation Is Gradual and Messy The journey of following Jesus is not a quick fix or a straight line. Like Peter, who went from being impulsive and unstable to a foundational leader, our transformation is a process that involves setbacks, confusion, and growth over time. God is patient with us, working in our lives even when we feel stuck or unchanged, and He invites us to trust Him with the pace and the process.
3. The Curse of Knowledge Can Harden Our Hearts When we become so familiar with our own experiences and convictions, it’s easy to forget what it’s like to be on the outside or to struggle with things we don’t understand. This “curse of knowledge” can make us judgmental or dismissive, both toward those inside and outside the church. The call is to let God soften our hearts, to listen, empathize, and extend grace, especially when we don’t fully understand someone else’s journey.
4. God’s Goal Is Not to Make You Heterosexual, But to Make You His The sermon challenges the assumption that God’s primary concern is changing someone’s orientation or behavior. Instead, God’s deepest desire is relationship—to make us His own and to fill us with His Spirit. As we walk with Him, He transforms every part of us, including our desires, but the starting point is always His love and acceptance, not our performance or conformity.
5. Grace and Truth Must Go Hand in Hand Jesus models a response to sin and struggle that is both compassionate and honest. He offers dignity and grace to those caught in failure, while also calling them to something better. As followers of Jesus, we are called to embody this same balance—welcoming people as they are, loving them deeply, and gently pointing them toward the life God intends, knowing that we too are in constant need of His grace.

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide**

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### Bible Reading

- **Acts 4:11-12 (NIV)**
"For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved."

- **Matthew 16:13-18 (NIV)**
"Now when Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, 'Who do people say that the Son of Man is?' And they said, 'Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets.' He said to them, 'But who do you yourselves say that I am?' Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' And Jesus said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.'"

- **Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NIV)**
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws."

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### Observation Questions

In Acts 4:11-12, what does Peter say is the only way to be saved?
According to Matthew 16:13-18, what was the turning point in Simon Peter’s life, and how did Jesus respond to his confession?
In Ezekiel 36:26-27, what does God promise to do for His people regarding their hearts and spirits?
From the sermon, what are some examples of people in the Bible who were transformed by knowing God?

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### Interpretation Questions

Why does the sermon emphasize that salvation is about “who you know” rather than “what you do”? How does this challenge common assumptions about what it means to be a Christian?
The sermon describes transformation as “gradual and messy.” What does this mean for someone who feels stuck or unchanged in their spiritual journey?
How does the “curse of knowledge” affect the way Christians relate to others, especially those whose struggles or experiences are different from their own?
According to the sermon, what is God’s ultimate goal for us—especially in the context of sexuality and identity? How does this differ from what people might expect?

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### Application Questions

The sermon says that no identity, behavior, or label can earn us a place with God. Are there any labels or achievements you’ve relied on to feel “right” with God? How might you shift your focus more toward knowing Jesus personally?
Think about a time when you expected instant change in your life or someone else’s after coming to faith. How can you be more patient with yourself or others in the “messy” process of transformation?
The “curse of knowledge” can make us judgmental or unempathetic. Can you think of a situation where you’ve struggled to understand someone else’s journey? What would it look like to let God soften your heart in that area?
The sermon challenges the idea that God’s main goal is to change someone’s orientation or behavior. How does it change your perspective to think that God’s first desire is simply to make you His?
Jesus responded to people’s failures with both grace and truth. Is there someone in your life who needs more grace from you? Is there someone who needs gentle truth? How can you offer both this week?
The church is called to be a place where “real people can bring real flaws and struggles and meet a God whose grace is bigger than their mess.” What would it look like for our group to live this out? Are there barriers we need to break down?
The sermon ends by saying God doesn’t transform us in order to love us—He transforms us because He loves us. How does this truth affect the way you see your own struggles or the struggles of others?

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Sermon Quotes

Every single one of us would be turned away… because it’s not about what you do, it’s not about who you are—it’s about who you know. It’s all about knowing Jesus, and if you really know him, it changes you.

God’s goal is NOT to make you heterosexual. It is to make you HIS. To have relationship with you, to fill your life with the Holy Spirit. And as the Holy Spirit works in our lives, we are transformed.

We describe ourselves as a Messy Church: a place where real people can bring real flaws and struggles and meet a God whose grace is bigger than their mess.

The curse of knowledge makes it hard to relate. We gather experiences that shape our beliefs, and it becomes difficult to understand why someone else can’t hear the same “song” as us—even though we’re the only one hearing our own melody.

It’s messy because caring and loving for people while also sharing that God has something better beyond their mess is challenging. But that is exactly what Jesus does with us. He loves us exactly where we are, but he grows and transforms us.

Can you be a Christian and be tempted? Yes, and God has a good plan that is different than your desires. Can you be a Christian and wrestle with porneia? Yes, and God has a good plan that is different than your desires.

We all have a battle to fight. We are tempted everywhere, all the time. So can you be a Christian and be gay? I would say yes—and God has a good plan that is different than your desires.

There are some desires that we have to sacrifice to be his. We have desires to stay the little cottage, but God is building something different—something greater than we could imagine.

God does not transform you in order to love you… he transforms you because he loves you and has something so far beyond where our desire can take us.

Christians… we must be better. We must be a people of grace first! We must be better at loving, caring, showing grace first because that’s what Jesus did… and we all need his grace.

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gay.docx

Devotional

Day 1: Knowing Jesus Is the Heart of Salvation

Day 2: God’s Work in Us Is a Lifelong Process

Day 3: Letting Go of Judgment to Embrace Compassion

Day 4: God’s Desire Is Relationship, Not Conformity

Day 5: Holding Grace and Truth Together

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Quotes

Chatbot

gay.docx

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