SIGHING ON SUNDAY

40 Meditations for When Church Hurts

MEGAN HILL

© 2024 by Megan Hill

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—except for brief quotations for the purpose of review or comment, without the prior permission of the publisher, P&R Publishing Company, P.O. Box 817, Phillipsburg, New Jersey 08865-0817.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Scripture quotation marked (nkjv) is from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Where relevant, Scripture quotations from the New Testament use the ESV’s alternate, footnoted translation of adelphoi (“brothers and sisters”).

Italics within Scripture quotations indicate emphasis added.

Cover design by Jelena Mirkovic

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Hill, Megan, 1978- author.

Title: Sighing on Sunday : 40 meditations for when church hurts / Megan Hill.

Description: Phillipsburg : P&R Publishing Company, [2024] | Includes bibliographical references. | Summary: “Are your Sunday mornings more difficult than joyous? Forty thoughtful meditations on biblical truths encourage readers to understand the source of their struggle, express their sorrow, and take wise action”-- Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2023046894 | ISBN 9781629959849 (hardback) | ISBN 9781629959856 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: Church attendance--Psychological aspects--Meditations. | Suffering--Biblical teaching--Meditations. | Consolation--Biblical teaching--Meditations.

Classification: LCC BV4523 .H549 2024 | DDC 262--dc23/eng/20240202

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2023046894

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted

and saves the crushed in spirit.

(Ps. 34:18)

CONTENTS

Introduction

What Is Happening?

1. I’m Being Neglected

2. I’m Being Sinned Against

3. I’m Enduring Difficult Personal Circumstances

4. I’m Observing Congregational Conflict

5. I’m Grieving Changes

6. I’m Being Led by Sinful Shepherds

7. I’m Being Rejected

Why Is Church So Hard?

8. We Live in a Fallen World

9. Satan Hates the Church

10. People Are Weak

11. People Sin

Why Should I Trust God When Church Hurts?

12. God Is Sovereign

13. God Is Powerful

14. God Never Changes

15. God Is Loving

What Can I Do?

16. Express Sorrow

17. Beware Bitterness

18. Confess Sin

19. Beware Self-Righteousness

20. Trust the Lord

21. Beware Doubt

22. Seek Help from God

23. Beware Pride

24. Seek Help from Wise Counselors

25. Beware Isolation

26. Decide to Stay—or Go

27. Beware Strife

Why Should I Keep Showing Up?

28. Christ Established His Church

29. Christ Loves His Church

30. Christ Unites His Church

31. Christ Dwells with His Church

32. Christ ...