Reconstruction: The Things We Missed

Pastor Dan begins by validating the profound hurt, anger, and frustration many feel due to the manipulation of religious messages, the mistreatment of various people groups, and experiences of rejection or lies within religious spaces. He affirms that it is holy and healing to deconstruct the harmful foundations of fear and shame. However, Dan challenges the congregation to consider moving beyond merely tearing down what needs to be destroyed, proposing that they cannot eternally “park ourselves at the site of demolition”. The central question posed is whether the problem lies with the “seed” (the core truth or practice) or the “soil” (the environment of shame, fear, and rejection) in which it was planted.

The sermon pivots to finding a reason to reconstruct, asking the community what elements of their past faith—such as community, comfortable prayer, sacred space, or incarnational missions—they actually miss. The task ahead is to reclaim these valuable “seeds” and replant them in a new soil defined by love, inclusion, joy, grace, and community, rather than fear and guilt. Pastor Dan emphasizes that this shift allows them to fix their minds on “true… noble… right… pure… [and] lovely things” (Philippians 4:8) and find healing in building a successful community that looks exactly opposite of what harmed them. This congregation is called to be pioneers, turning the momentum around and proving that church can be profoundly loving and inclusive.