The Light

1. Read Ephesians 1:21–22 and Colossians 3:4. What is the difference between trying to continually "put Christ first" and recognizing that Christ is already your life and already above all things?
2. Read Acts 17:28 and Philippians 1:21. How do these verses challenge the idea that the Christian life is about fitting Jesus into one part of our lives rather than living from Him as the very source of our life?
3. Read 1 Corinthians 6:19–20. If the Holy Spirit already lives in you and you already belong to God, how might that change the pressure to repeatedly "rededicate" yourself to Him when you feel you have fallen short?
4. Read Romans 7:4 and Romans 7:6. According to these verses, what happened to our relationship with the Law when we came to Christ, and what has replaced the "oldness of the letter"?
5. Read Galatians 5:18 and Galatians 3:24–25. What was the Law's purpose, and what do these passages say about our relationship to the Law now that faith has come and we are led by the Spirit?
6. Read 2 Corinthians 3:7–9. Why does Paul call the commandments engraved on stone a "ministry of death" and "ministry of condemnation," and how is the ministry of the Spirit different for someone who has spent years trying to measure up?
7. Read 1 Timothy 1:7–9. What does Paul mean when he says the Law is good when used lawfully, but that it is "not made for a righteous person"? How does that challenge the idea that Christians need the Ten Commandments as their daily rulebook?
8. Read Romans 12:2 and Philippians 2:12–13. Instead of anxiously searching for a hidden plan from God before every decision, what do these verses suggest about how God works through a renewed mind and even through our own desires?
9. Read 1 Corinthians 10:31. If Scripture says we can eat, drink, and do "whatever" we do to the glory of God, what freedom does that give us when facing ordinary decisions where several choices may all be perfectly acceptable?

What can I do if I never feel like I measure up? If I feel like I'm always failing? How can the message of God's grace help me? What role do the 10 Commandments play in my life? What are your thoughts on evangelism? I often get discouraged when people shun me because of my faith. What is Peter referring to when he says a dog returns to its own vomit and a pig to the mud? Is that about loss of salvation? How does God treat us in the midst of a struggle with lust? Now I can't help but share the truth of God's grace! I'm excited!

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when the church—the very place where we expect to find grace, community, and care—becomes a place of hurt?

In this episode of God-Sized Stories with Patricia Holbrook, Patricia talks with Timothy St. John, counseling pastor at Lighthouse Community Church in Torrance, California, about church hurt, healing, rebuilding trust, and finding a healthy church community.

Timothy is the author of After Church Hurt: Healing in the Care of the Good Shepherd, a book that addresses the spiritual and emotional wounds that can result when sin and harmful behavior are minimized, normalized, or protected within a church culture.

Timothy brings years of experience in biblical counseling to this conversation. He serves as a counseling pastor and oversees a counseling ministry designed to help people bear one another's burdens within the church.

If you've experienced church hurt—or if you're a pastor, counselor, ministry leader, or friend trying to help someone who has—this conversation offers a thoughtful place to begin.

BOOK GIVEAWAY: Timothy St. John is giving away a copy of After Church Hurt. Visit the blog connected to this episode for details and entry instructions.

Read the full blog and find links to Timothy's book and resources: https://patriciaholbrook.com/2026/09/when-faith-communities-cause-pain/

Don't forget to subscribe to God-Sized Stories with Patricia Holbrook, like this video, leave a comment, and share it with someone who may need this conversation.

#ChurchHurt, #AfterChurchHurt, #TimothyStJohn, #ChristianCounseling, #ChurchHealing, #BiblicalCounseling, #ChristianLeadership, #GodSizedStories, #PatriciaHolbrook

Support the show

Click on the link above to support us and help keep this show going!

Click on the links to connect with Patricia on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube 

Isolation can seem like an easy response when we feel hurt, overwhelmed, busy, or disappointed by others. But prolonged loneliness and withdrawal can leave us spiritually discouraged and emotionally vulnerable. Proverbs 18:1 warns about the danger of isolating ourselves, reminding us that God did not create us to navigate life entirely on our own.

Christian community plays an important role in our spiritual growth, offering encouragement, accountability, support, and opportunities to reflect Christ’s love. While spending time alone with God is valuable, healthy faith also involves connecting with other believers who can strengthen us through difficult seasons. Whether unresolved hurts, a busy schedule, or fear of vulnerability is keeping you distant from others, God invites you back into meaningful relationships. As we encourage and support one another, we discover that connection is not only something we need to receive but also something we are called to offer.

Highlights

• Why isolation can become an unhealthy habit after seasons of difficulty or disruption
• What Proverbs 18:1 teaches about withdrawing from others and sound judgment
• How isolation can pull us away from Christian community, encouragement, and accountability
• Warning signs that loneliness may be connected to unresolved hurt, busyness, or unhealthy independence
• Why balancing personal time with God and meaningful relationships with other believers matters
• How Christians can sharpen, support, and encourage one another through life’s struggles
• Why reaching out to encourage someone else can help us experience deeper connection and community

Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to The Good Word, LifeAudio’s free weekly newsletter.

Sign up at LifeAudio.com/thegoodword

Do you want to listen ad-free?

When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! 

Sign Up Today!

Full Transcript Below:

The Danger of Isolation

By Cindi McMenamin

Bible Reading:

Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;
He breaks out against all sound judgment.  (Proverbs 18:1 ESV)

It was quite the thing to do to isolate from one another during that horrendous year of 2020. We sheltered in place to keep ourselves safe. We kept ourselves away from others to obey governmental authorities. We isolated because, for a time, we couldn’t do anything else. 

But, during that time, we developed some isolation habits that are likely still holding onto us today. When difficulties arise, or you get hurt by another person, or you become very busy and focused on something and don’t want to be interrupted, it can be natural now to withdraw and shut others out. 

The wise King Solomon told us in Proverbs 18:1 that isolating is not exercising sound judgment, and, in the NASB, we are told it “quarrels against all sound wisdom.” Look at that verse alongside Solomon’s words in Proverbs 27:17, which t

Jesus told this story show how God feels about sinners who ask for His forgiveness

What is the importance of repentance, and how can turning back to God bring healing and spiritual renewal? In a culture where admitting wrongdoing can feel risky or uncomfortable, it’s easy to avoid confronting sin in our lives. We may carry guilt, become comfortable with unhealthy patterns, or assume that repentance is only necessary when we have made a serious mistake. But Scripture presents repentance as a gracious invitation from God—a pathway to forgiveness, restored fellowship, and refreshing for the soul.

Acts 3:19 calls us to repent and turn to God so that our sins may be wiped away and times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, God has made forgiveness possible, and we do not have to carry the weight of sin on our own. Genuine repentance involves humility, honest confession, and a willingness to turn toward God. As the Holy Spirit reveals areas that need change, we can trust God’s mercy and allow Him to renew our hearts, strengthen our faith, and lead us into a life of righteousness.

Highlights

• Why genuine repentance involves more than simply saying, “I’m sorry”
• How unconfessed sin can weigh on our hearts and affect our relationship with God
• What Acts 3:19 teaches about repentance, forgiveness, and spiritual refreshing
• The difference between godly sorrow that leads to repentance and worldly sorrow
• How the Holy Spirit brings conviction and helps us recognize sin
• Why Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is the foundation of our forgiveness
• Encouragement to regularly examine our hearts, confess our sins, and experience God’s renewing mercy

Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to The Good Word, LifeAudio’s free weekly newsletter.

Sign up at LifeAudio.com/thegoodword

Do you want to listen ad-free?

When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! 

Sign Up Today!

Full Transcript Below:

Why Repentance Is Good for the Soul

By Lynette Kittle

Bible Reading:

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” - Acts 3:19

When was the last time we spent heartfelt time repenting? Not just a quick “I’m sorry” or “Please forgive me,” but heartfelt repentance before the Lord, with genuine sorrow and possibly tears for our sins?

If we can’t remember, then are we walking around under the weight of sin, unaware of our need to confess and repent of it? Have we become comfortable with it, no longer recognizing its presence in our lives?

Repentance isn’t a popular word in the Church today. Sure, we want revival, but when it comes to repenting for the sin in our lives, that’s another story because it means admitting that we sin.

The thinking today is that we don’t ever admit to being in the wrong in relationships, careers, business situations, traffic incidents, and more because, if we do, then we become liable, making ourselves vuln