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The Comforting Kingdom of God — 2/24/2026 10:00 AM
Today's speaker is Dr. Chris Moles, pastor, biblical counselor and author. Dr. Moles describes the importance of the local church in holding people accountable when they sin, and comforting those who have been hurt.
Notes
The church can play an important role in comforting victims when they suffer and holding perpetrators accountable for their sin. Relationships provide a unique space to introduce Christ’s Kingdom to those alienated by sin, suffering, and circumstance.
In Luke 5, a suffering and ostracized leper begged Jesus to make him clean. Jesus didn’t respond in a logic-focused way that asked questions or demanded evidence; He said, “I am willing.” When we care for people who have suffered, we should not primarily use logic, rationalization, and preconceived notions. This will lead to bad counsel. Instead, we should show them that we are hurting because they are hurting. We should sit with them, help them, understand them, and be healers.
Compassionate
Kingdom counsel is marked with compassion. Church leaders are called shepherds because their job is to protect the weak. Many churches choose instead to protect the powerful because they don’t want to deal with the fallout. When institutional preferences like power, authority, and position are more important than the people you serve, you are in the wrong job. We need people leading our churches who love people well.
Forgiving
Kingdom counsel is marked with forgiveness. In Luke 5:24, Jesus demonstrates His power to forgive sins. We must see sin as utterly sinful so we can respond with the only hope that anyone can find: the Gospel of Jesus. Perpetrators need the Gospel, and Jesus has love and forgiveness for them. Rather than being frustrated with the way Jesus operates, we can be excited to see Him move in ways that don’t meet our expectations.
Purposeful
Kingdom counsel is also purposeful. We meet people where they are so we can bring them to Who we know and they can have what He offers. This purpose includes being careful not to force victims to reconcile with the perpetrator without seeing repentance first. We want the perpetrators to see, own, hate, and turn from their sin.
Hopeful
Kingdom counsel is marked with hope. Matthew, one of the disciples that Jesus called, was formerly an oppressive tax collector. Jesus offered him hope where there was only hopelessness.
Celebratory
Kingdom counsel is celebratory. When one perpetrator finds repentance or one victim finds safety, we should celebrate more. That is only possible because Jesus offers transformation and safety.
Ultimately, if we don’t have the right motivation, saying all the right words and reading all the right books is useless. Everything we do should be done with a focus on people and a love for them. We don’t just comfort with the Bible; we comfort people with the Bible. Come alongside them not just with words from Scripture but with the truth and grace and love informed by Scripture.
As we interact with people in this broken world, let’s meet the needs of the suffering with compassion, forgiveness, and hope that changes lives. Let’s pray that the church increasingly becomes the safest place on the planet.