Jon Augusta

Sharing the lessons God's taught me and the stories along with them!

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  • Churches Shouldn’t Hurt

    Churches Shouldn’t Hurt: A Call to Genuine Love and Humble Service

    Jon Augusta – March 4th, 2025

    Remember when Kanye West found faith? In 2019, he released “Jesus is King,” a powerful album that resonated with many. But amidst the praise, a disturbing trend emerged. As Kanye himself rapped in “Hands On,” “They’ll be the first one to judge me / Make it feel like nobody love me.” Sadly, this prophetic line reflected the reality: many Christians were quick to doubt his sincerity, nitpicking his every move.

    Instead of celebrating a high-profile conversion, the focus shifted to judgment. This experience highlights a painful truth: “church hurt” is a real and widespread issue. Too often, people leave churches feeling wounded by the very community meant to embody love and grace.

    The Problem Isn’t the Church Building, It’s the People

    I’ve been raised in the church, and while I’ve bumped into a few doors, the actual building has never hurt me. The pain comes from the people within it. Just like guns don’t kill people, people do. Churches don’t hurt people, people do.

    This brings us to Romans 12:9-21, a passage that outlines the “Marks of the True Christian.” These verses paint a picture of how we, as followers of Jesus, should be living.

    Marks of a True Christian (Romans 12:9-21):

    • Genuine Love: (v. 9a, 10a)
    • Hatred of Evil: (v. 9b)
    • Outdoing one another in showing honor: (v. 10b)
    • Zealous in Service: (v. 11)
    • Full of the Spirit: (v. 11)
    • Serving the Lord: (v. 11)
    • Rejoicing in Hope: (v. 12)
    • Patience in Circumstance: (v. 12)
    • Never Ceasing to Pray: (v. 12)
    • Generous and Hospitable: (v. 13)
    • Bless When Wronged: (v. 14)
    • Shared Joy and Burdens: (v. 15)
    • Harmonious Living: (v. 16)
    • Associate with Everyone: (v. 16)
    • Do Not Repay Wrong with Wrong: (v. 17)
    • Live Peaceably: (v. 18)
    • Do Not Seek Revenge: (v. 19)
    • Care for Enemies: (v. 20)
    • Overcome Evil with Good: (v. 21)

    What Would a Church Marked by These Qualities Look Like?

    Imagine a church where these marks were truly evident. We would be:

    • A Humble People: Genuine love requires humility. Pride creates judgment and division. We must consider others more important than ourselves, showing hospitality and sharing burdens. Church hurt often stems from pride, from people believing they are superior.
    • A Generous People: We are called to contribute to the needs of others and show hospitality. This isn’t about obligation, but a natural outflow of genuine love. We should be eager to share the blessings God has given us.
    • A Serving People: We should be zealous and on fire for the Lord, channeling our enthusiasm into serving Him and His people. Every talent and ability can be used to build up the body of Christ.

    The Root of the Problem: Lack of Genuine Love

    All these qualities stem from genuine love. If we truly loved one another, we wouldn’t see so much “church hurt.” We would prioritize others, showing grace and compassion.

    A Call to Action

    Why is it that often those within the church are the quickest to judge? Why do people associate Christianity with hypocrisy? Jesus commands us to love one another (John 13:34, 15:12-13). Let’s strive to embody these marks of a true Christian.

    For those who don’t know Jesus: You can only live this way through a relationship with Him.

    For those who think they know Jesus but don’t live this way: Jesus is waiting for you to truly follow Him.

    Let us be a church that reflects the love of Christ, a church where people find healing and hope, not hurt and judgment

  • Psalm 23

    What Goes Down, Will Go Up: Finding Hope in the Shepherd’s Care

    By Jon Augusta

    Life is a rollercoaster, isn’t it? We’re constantly navigating trials: entering them, in the thick of them, or finally emerging from them. Just when we think we’ve weathered one storm, another rolls in. We’ve faced a pandemic, economic uncertainty, and now, new health concerns. Where do we find hope in the midst of it all?

    This question brought me to Psalm 23, a passage many of us know by heart. It speaks of a shepherd and his sheep, a powerful metaphor for God’s relationship with us. But it’s more than just a comforting bedtime story; it’s a guide for navigating life’s challenges.

    Our Good Shepherd: Providing and Protecting

    “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” This opening line declares that Jehovah God, the covenant-making God of Israel, is our provider. He knows our needs and promises to meet them.

    We often confuse needs with wants. We feel entitled, forgetting that we deserve nothing but the consequences of our sin. Yet, God, in His infinite love, offered us salvation through Jesus Christ, giving us what we don’t deserve—eternal life.

    Our Shepherd leads us to green pastures and still waters, symbolizing nourishment and peace. He restores our souls, freeing us from anxiety. He guides us on paths of righteousness, not for our sake, but for His name’s sake.

    Think about it: sheep aren’t known for their intelligence. They need constant care. The shepherd’s job is to lead, protect, and provide. He uses his rod and staff, tools of both protection and correction.

    • The rod: A weapon against those who would harm the sheep.
    • The staff: A tool to guide them back to safety when they stray.

    Just like a shepherd tending to his flock, God protects us from danger and gently corrects us when we wander. He anoints us with soothing oil, healing our wounds.

    Trials and Growth: A Necessary Journey

    Life isn’t always easy. We’re not promised a trouble-free existence. In fact, James 1:2 encourages us to “count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.” Why? Because trials refine us, strengthen our faith, and make us more like Christ.

    Just as lifting weights tears down muscle fibers so they can rebuild stronger, trials break us down so we can grow stronger in faith. When we face adversity with a heart focused on God, we emerge more resilient and more dependent on Him.

    The Good Sheep: A Broken and Contrite Heart

    But God’s provision isn’t the only part of the equation. We are called to be good sheep, to follow our Shepherd’s lead.

    Psalm 51:17 tells us, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” God desires a heart that is repentant and remorseful for sin. He doesn’t want empty rituals; He wants genuine humility.

    Sometimes, we face trials because we’ve strayed from the path. We’ve allowed sin to lead us astray. The Shepherd’s staff, though sometimes painful, is necessary to bring us back to safety.

    The enemy wants to isolate us, to lead us away from the flock. But our Shepherd is always there, ready to guide us back.

    Remembering the Goodness of God

    Even in the midst of hardship, we can find joy in knowing that our Shepherd is with us. We can reflect on His faithfulness, His provision, and the promise of eternal life.

    When doubts arise, remember the truths of Psalm 23. Remember that our Shepherd brings peace and comfort. And if we feel lost, we can trust that He will gently guide us back to the fold.

    A Call to Repentance and Communion

    As we prepare to partake in communion, let us reflect on the ultimate sacrifice made for us. This sacred act is a reminder of Jesus’s love and the hope we have in Him.

    If you are struggling with unconfessed sin, take this opportunity to repent and seek forgiveness. If you have not yet placed your faith in Jesus Christ, I urge you to do so today.

    Let us embrace the truth that what goes down, will go up. Through trials and triumphs, our Good Shepherd is with us, leading us to eternal life.

  • Who Is Jon Augusta?

    Hello! You’ve made it to Jonaugusta.com and you may be wondering a few things, maybe you have never met me before and you want to know who I am, what I am about. Maybe you are my mom or dad and you are thinking ok Jonathan, what shenanigans are you up to now. Or, you are one of the few people who have heard my stewing about this idea for a year now and you are proud that I did it!

    My name is Jon, I am a husband, a pastor, a son, an office manager – marketing director – loan officer, and an overall goofball. If I am not working, sermon prepping or binge watching shows with my wife Ali, I am at the motocross track, a hobby I began when I was three and have stayed in love with my whole life.

    Christ called me to follow Him in July of 2007 and ever since then my life has been marked by a strong calling and desire to teach and to serve in the church. I love that He has sent me the Holy Spirit to discern scripture, so that I can read it, understand it and then share it with others. And so that is my hope here with this website. On the JonAugustaVLOGS tab you will be able to watch Ali and my Youtube videos which chronicle all the happenings in our life, JonAugustaBLOGS will exclusively be all things Jesus, my plan is to systematically upload my sermon notes so that you are able to read through them as a series like they were taught. And then JonAugustaMORTGAGES will take you to all my home loan information if you or someone you know needs a home loan!

    So buckle up, hop on and lets have some fun! Send me ideas on what you would like to see to JonAugusta30@gmail.com

    -Jon