 |  | | On the Menu  | | Food for Thought... | A NOTE FROM COURTNEY DOCTOR AND MELISSA KRUGER | If you grew up going to church—even occasionally—you probably learned to fold your hands, fingers in, and recite: “Here is the church” (pop out your index fingers), “here is the steeple” (open your hands and wiggle your fingers), “open the doors and see all the people.” Then, depending on your age, someone likely added an important clarification: “The church is not the building—it’s the people.” A good corrective. But it’s precisely because the church is the people that we can be hurt by “the church.” This side of glory, even those who truly love the Lord can wound others. Those still healing from their own hurts can hurt others. And those who haven’t yet begun to heal—or to love the Lord—can hurt others still. On and on it goes. Yet, there is so much hope. As Megan Hill reminds us in this episode of The Deep Dish, the beauty of God’s church is that when we’ve been hurt by the church, the best place to heal is in the church. |  | In Christ,
Courtney Doctor and Melissa Kruger
Women's Initiatives at TGC | | | | The Deep Dish LISTEN IN TO OUR LATEST PODCAST EPISODE | Going to Church When It Hurts The church is a place where we hope to find community and care, but sometimes deep wounds come from God’s people. What do we do when we experience church hurt, and how can we care for others who’ve been wounded? You don’t want to miss this conversation with Melissa, Courtney, and Megan Hill. | | | | Discussion Questions - When you hear the phrase “church hurt,” what comes to mind? How would you define it in your own words?
- What makes church hurt different from conflicts in other areas of life, such as work or friendships?
- How did the biblical examples of church hurt that were shared encourage or convict you?
- How can you come alongside those in your church who are healing from past hurt? In what specific ways can you pray for them?
- How would you discern whether it’s time to leave a church community? Who could you turn to for wise, godly counsel in that process?
- How does understanding God’s perfect justice equip you to encourage and reassure those struggling in the wake of church hurt?
| | | Taste & See Savor God’s Worth with us by memorizing this month’s Bible verse. Download these free lockscreens for your phone to keep God’s Word in front of you all day. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
– Psalm 34:17—18, ESV |  | | | | | Taste & See Savor God’s Worth with us by memorizing this month’s Bible verse. Download these free lockscreens for your phone to keep God’s Word in front of you all day. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
– Psalm 34:17—18, ESV | | | Dig In | ARTICLES TO SINK YOUR TEETH INTO | | | | | | | | Delectable Delights | | FRESH PICKS FROM OUR TEAM | “I’ve enjoyed these sheer nail treatments from Manicurist. They’re easy to apply on my own and help my hands look a bit more “polished,” even though I rarely make it to the nail salon.” —Laura Ehrman | “The CSB Connecting Scripture New Testament is a Bible study goldmine! Each page has tons of notes showing Old Testament quotations, allusions, and parallels in the New Testament. If you want to grow in seeing how all of Scripture fits into the larger narrative, this resource will be a huge help. I’m hoping and praying for an Old Testament version!” —Joanna Kimbrel | “With three little boys at home, I am learning about all the wonderful kids games out there! A few of our favorites are Storytime Chess, Catan Junior, Guess in Ten (we have the animal version) and Racoon Rumpus. I love creating a culture of playing games from a young age. Plus there’s lots of practice on taking turns and responding well to winning and losing.” —Ann Westrate | | | | The Global Dish PRAY FOR THE CHURCH AROUND THE WORLD  Next week, Courtney Doctor will travel to Australia and New Zealand on behalf of TGC’s Women’s Initiatives team to speak at multiple women’s events in Perth, Melbourne, and Christchurch. These gatherings will focus on evangelism, women’s discipleship, leadership, and the “I AM” statements of Jesus from John 10 and 15. Please pray for safe travel, that women would be strengthened in their faith, and that many would come to trust the Lord through these times together in God’s Word. | | | Sponsored Ad  | | Pass the Plate | | Do you know someone who would be encouraged by this email? Forward it to her! If a friend forwarded you this newsletter, you can subscribe for monthly content just like this. | | | | | Hungry for More? SWEETEN YOUR SCROLL - FOLLOW TGCW | | |
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