Bottom line, our world is different … dramatically different. (white hat off) And in this world it is not clear that I am one of the good guys. In fact, in this world the majority would probably see me as one of the bad guys, as part of the problem, not the solution. (Black hat on) So … this is my hat now. And, if you guys are anything like me, you are probably bad guys now, too. Looks like we need some hats, right? In the eyes of many in our world, guys like me … old, white, middle-class, educated, Christian … Well, some of them would classify me as sexist, and racist, and privileged (which is a bad thing), and insensitive, and intolerant (which is one of the worst sins possible, right?) Now guys, I hope they are wrong. I don’t want to be any of those things. But by their definitions I am all that, I guess. I hope by God’s definitions I’m not. Because, bottom line, it doesn’t matter what people think of me. It doesn’t even matter what I think of me. What really matters is what God thinks of me, right? If God thinks I’m a bad guy, I have issues. If he thinks I’m doing okay and you don’t, well … I think you have issues, right?

There's been many divisions and many conflicts throughout history that have torn and ripped and pulled apart the church, and yet the church still stands. We are evidence of it right now in this moment. In fact, if you look globally, the church continues to grow and expand significantly, and right now it is growing incredibly fast in South America and Africa. It may not feel like the church is exploding forward in America…but

The church continues to grow no matter what Satan does. I've always seen this verse as evidence that the church cannot be beaten. And that’s true. But it’s bigger than that.

We are on the attack. The church presses forward. The church is pushing into hell to redeem and to save those who are captured by Satan himself and that the truth of the gospel, the rock that this is built on, the truth of who Jesus is, has the power to break people free who find themselves living in a very literal hell. People who don’t even know that they are lost.

The church is a family designed by God to value, and love, and welcome "newbies." To welcome anyone else who is wounded...like us. Anybody who needs some of the grace God has lavished on us. God has stitched together this weird, motley crew of diverse people. And, you don't have to be like us to be one of us. You don't even have to like us to be one of us. You just have to want to follow the one we're following. That's it. You're in. You're one of us...this "Band of Brothers."

Have you ever doubted the existence of God? Maybe, the goodness of God? Or, perhaps, the power of God? We have spent the last five months laying out the case for God because it is easy to doubt God. Sometimes our reasons are weak..."I don't want a God." But, sometimes, people have solid reasons to doubt God. The question is...are they going to lean into God, or will they walk away?

Hypochondria, hyperchondria, and apachondria - they are bad enough when it comes to physical sickness. They are infinitely worse when it comes to spiritual sickness. Because we are hybrids, right? There is a physical side to us and a spiritual side. And, as we all know, the physical side can get sick...and die. Our spiritual side can too. And, that is infinitely worse. Let us show you.

We decided to call this series "Blood Stained Pews" because we want CapCity to be a place where the wounded find healing, irrespective of what uniform they might where. So, we are tackling some of the roadblocks that everyone struggles with to prevent healing. Today we are discussing guilt and shame, which probably cripple more Jesus followers than anything else.

Do you struggle with "pride"? It may be the most common and the most dangerous of sins. Let us show you...

Too often, we present the church as a sterile place...all clean and neat. We hide out wounds, and we get uncomfortable when others expose theirs. And, too often wear masks and pretend we are better than we know we really are. We make others wear them too, and wounds that are hidden never heal. And, we know we can not fix ourselves; we've tried. But, God can, God will, restore us, heal us, transform us...if we let him.

I bet you never thought of yourself as a bad guy. But I am guessing that in the past year or so, you chatted with your non-Christian friend that didn’t go well, or you’ve overheard breakroom talk between work colleagues expressing anger over Christian views on a particular issue, or you’ve read or watched a piece in the media taking potshots at biblical ethics. That hurts to find out that we are viewed as the “bad guys.” How? When? -Why did that happen?” In the eyes of much of Western Society, Christians (true Jesus-followers) are the bad guys, and Christianity (Jesus) is the problem. Let us show you.

So, we've spent the last five months laying out the evidence for God, and for Jesus as the Son of God. What if we're right? If that is so then a story has been unfolding since before time and you're part of it. Let us show you...