2025.06.22 | The Church Is Full of People Who Don’t Belong — And That’s the Point
This blog is based on the sermon from June 22, 2025.
If the church were only for people who had it all together, I wouldn’t be here.
I used to think faith was for the polished and put-together, the ones who never missed a Sunday and always had the right answers. So when I showed up at church years ago, carrying more questions than confidence and more doubts than doctrine, I wasn’t sure there was space for me.
I still remember sitting in the back row, unsure if I was even allowed to sing the words on the screen. I didn’t grow up in church, and I didn’t know the right words or when to stand or sit.
This Sunday, Josh’s words echoed in my heart:
I used to think faith was for the polished and put-together, the ones who never missed a Sunday and always had the right answers. So when I showed up at church years ago, carrying more questions than confidence and more doubts than doctrine, I wasn’t sure there was space for me.
I still remember sitting in the back row, unsure if I was even allowed to sing the words on the screen. I didn’t grow up in church, and I didn’t know the right words or when to stand or sit.
This Sunday, Josh’s words echoed in my heart:
“The church is full of people who don’t belong. None of us belong. I don’t belong.
There’s no in-group, because apart from the cross, we are all in the out-group.”
There’s no in-group, because apart from the cross, we are all in the out-group.”
This week’s message from Acts 15 reminded me why I’m still here. Because the gospel isn’t about proving we’re good enough. It’s about trusting that Jesus is enough.
The early church wrestled with the same question we still ask today: Who’s in, and who’s out? But God had already answered it. He welcomed Jew and Gentile, clean and unclean, rule-followers and rebels… all by grace, not by merit.
And He still does.
There’s no in-group in the kingdom of God. Not at Hope. Not in Heaven.
We’re not accepted because we checked all the boxes.
We’re welcomed because Jesus already did.
So if you’ve ever felt like you don’t belong in church…
If you’ve stayed away because you didn’t think you were “church material”…
If you’ve ever looked around and wondered, “Am I the only one who doesn’t get it?” …
You’re not alone. And you’re exactly who grace is for.
There’s room for you here. Not because of what you’ve done. But because of what Jesus has done… for you, for me, for all of us misfits and mess-ups who still get to call this home.
I’m so grateful Hope has been a place where grace gets the final word, and where I’m reminded each week that I belong, not because of what I’ve done, but because of who Jesus is.
If this resonates with you, we’d love for you to hear the full message.
Catch the sermon on our YouTube channel, and know this: there’s room for you at Hope.
Catch the sermon on our YouTube channel, and know this: there’s room for you at Hope.
Posted in Sunday Sermon
Posted in Josh FItch, Book of Acts, Hope Community, Church, Gospel, Church family
Posted in Josh FItch, Book of Acts, Hope Community, Church, Gospel, Church family
Recent
2026.07.19 | When My Yes To God Needed More Resolve Than Emotion
July 21st, 2026
2026.07.12 | I've Been Holding Onto Something I Know I Need to Let Go Of. It Just Feels Too Expensive.
July 14th, 2026
2026.07.05 | I Make a Lot of Plans. I Don't Always Check With God First.
July 7th, 2026
2026.06.28 | I Keep Praying for Stability. Maybe I Should Be Praying for Something Else.
June 30th, 2026
2026.06.21 | I've Been Running on Empty for a While. Sunday Gave Me Something to Hold Onto.
June 23rd, 2026
Archive
2026
January
February
March
2026.03.01 | I’ve Been Around Jesus My Whole Life, But My Picture of Him Was Too Small 2026.03.08 | I Didn’t Realize How Distracted I’d Become at Church2026.03.15 | When the Leaves Look Good but the Fruit Is Missing2026.03.22 | Watching My Kids Helped Me Understand the Two Sons2026.03.29 | The Stewardship of the "Vineyard"
April
May
2026.05.03 | I Told Myself I’d Serve When Life Slowed Down2026.05.10 | I Finally Understood What Wholehearted Love Looks Like. I Was Holding It.2026.05.17 | I Keep Running Into This Question, and I'm Running Out of Reasons to Ignore It.2026.05.24 | I’ve Been Trying to Impress God for Years. I’m Tired.
June
2026.05.31 | I've Always Assumed Global Mission Was for a Certain Kind of Person.2026.06.07 | I Know the Gospel. I Just Don't Talk About It Much Anymore.2026.06.14 | I've Been Searching for Something. I Think Sunday Told Me What It Is.2026.06.21 | I've Been Running on Empty for a While. Sunday Gave Me Something to Hold Onto.2026.06.28 | I Keep Praying for Stability. Maybe I Should Be Praying for Something Else.
2025
August
2025.01.26 | The Sower, the Seed, and the Soil2025.02.02 | Growing in God’s Kingdom2025.02.09 | When Small Things Become Something Big2025.02.16 | A Call to Faith and Hope2025.02.23 | Finding the Ultimate Treasure2025.03.02 | Finding My Worth in Christ2025.03.09 | Are You Living with Eternity in Mind?2025.03.16 | Are We Missing What’s Right in Front of Us?2025.03.23 | What If Following Jesus Cost You Everything?2025.03.30 | When What You Have Feels Like Not Enough2025.04.06 | When the Storm Feels Bigger Than Your Savior
September
2025.05.04 | When Jesus Wants More Than Just Our Sundays2025.05.11 | When Jesus Shows You Your Heart2025.05.18 | Faith That Won’t Let Go: At Home and Around the World2025.04.27 | When Following Rules Isn't Enough2025.04.20 | Alive. Free. Loved. With Jesus.2025.04.13 | When the Wind Hit My Face2025.05.25 | Loaves, Fish, and a Full Calendar: Why I’m Still Saying Yes to Jesus2025.08.17 | What Must I Do to Be Saved?2025.08.03 | Faithfulness When It Hurts2025.06.08 | When Obedience Makes Things Awkward... Not Easier2025.07.27 | When God Redirects You, Trust Him2025.08.10 | Finding Freedom in the Midnight Hour: A Journey Through Fear and Faith2025.08.24 | Hope in Hard Seasons2025.08.31 | Grace That Gathers Us2025.09.07 | The Sign That’s Already Enough2025.08.24 | Childlike Faith, Public Love: Ryder and Brady’s Baptism at Hope2025.09.14 | When the Headlines Overwhelm, Remember God’s Track Record2025.09.21 | Who Do You Say Jesus Is?2025.07.20 | You Were Made for This2025.07.13 | I Thought I Wasn’t Ready… Until I Realized Jesus Already Called Me2025.07.06 | Not Flashy, But Faithful: A Tribute to the Barnabases at Hope2025.06.29 | Learning to Just Point to Jesus2025.06.22 | The Church Is Full of People Who Don’t Belong — And That’s the Point2025.06.15 | Living Faith That Puts Others First2025.06.01 | When Bold Faith Feels Costly
October
December
2025.11.16 | Kingdom Greatness: Learning Humility and Dependence from a Child2025.11.09 | The Sons Are Free — Yet Jesus Paid It All2025.11.02 | He Died for Me2025.12.07 | The Hard Gift of Correction: Why Humility Is the Key to Freedom2025.11.30 | Found & Forever Loved: Why God's Pursuit Changes Everything2025.11.23 | Freedom Found in Facing the Truth2025.12.14 | The Heirlooms of Hurt2025.12.28 | The Table of Enough: Learning to Trust the Daily Allowance2025.12.21 | I’m No Angel, But I Have a Message
No Comments