We Are Imperfect People Pursuing a Perfect God | Shawn Johnson | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

We Are Imperfect People Pursuing a Perfect God

Red Rocks Church • Sep 21, 2026 • 45 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

At Red Rocks Church, the foundation of the community rests on the truth that we are imperfect people pursuing a perfect God. Church is meant to be a welcoming hospital for the hurting where people can drop their defenses, be honest about their struggles, and meet Jesus rather than face judgment. Though believers are practically imperfect and undergoing daily sanctification, through Jesus' sacrifice they are declared perfectly righteous in God's sight, filled with the Holy Spirit, and called to walk out their faith together in community.

Themes

Grace and AcceptanceRighteousness in ChristCommunity and FellowshipGod's Pursuit of the LostSanctification and Growth

Key Points

1.
The church should function as a hospital for the hurting rather than a courtroom where people feel judged or forced to pretend they have life all together.
2.
Through faith in Christ, believers are positionally declared perfectly righteous before God, even while practically undergoing the ongoing process of sanctification.
3.
Because believers stand righteous through Jesus' sacrifice, their prayers are powerful and effective regardless of their personal shortcomings.
4.
God pursued humanity first through Jesus—seeking and saving the lost before anyone had the capacity or desire to seek Him.
5.
When an imperfect person turns toward God in sincere pursuit, God responds with grace, drawing near and working to restore their life.
6.
Christian faith is designed to be lived out collectively in community, encouraging one another and carrying burdens together rather than walking in isolation.
7.
Jesus, the sinless and perfect Son of God, took our sins upon Himself on the cross so that we might receive His righteousness, the Holy Spirit, and eternal life.
8.
Creating a warm, welcoming environment where people feel genuinely wanted removes defensiveness and opens hearts to hear and receive the Gospel.

Sermon Moments

“We are a bunch of messed up, imperfect people, but we love to get together like this and pursue a perfect God.”

“I don't ever want our church to feel like you're going to a courtroom... I want it to feel like you're going to a hospital.”

“Sin is like mold and it grows in the dark. But when you bring that thing out into the light and get somebody else to help you take care of it, you can kill it.”

“Positionally, how you stand before God, your heavenly father sees you as perfectly righteous... Practically, I'm an imperfect person who still deals with sin.”

“The only reason we get to pursue God is because He first pursued us.”

“God is not looking for perfection. He is saying as an imperfect person, would you just try?”

“We are instructed to pursue the plans of God with the people of God. We're supposed to do this together.”

“Shawn's story of walking into church for the first time after a suicide attempt, smoking cigarettes at the door, and being embraced rather than judged.”

This Week

Invite a friend or family member to church, ensuring they feel welcomed, loved, and wanted without judgment.

Confess a struggle or secret sin to a trusted Christian friend or small group member to bring it into the light for prayer and healing.

Pray boldly for healing, breakthrough, or impossible situations, knowing your prayers are powerful because Jesus made you righteous.

Commit to gathered worship and church attendance consistently, resisting the temptation to isolate yourself from spiritual community.

Take a practical step to pursue God daily through Scripture, prayer, or worship, trusting Him to meet you right where you are.

Show grace and patience to fellow believers when they mess up, remembering that the church is a hospital for imperfect people undergoing sanctification.

Release guilt and shame over past mistakes, resting in the position of full righteousness that Jesus secured for you on the cross.

Remember This

We are imperfect people who can come as we are to a perfect God, who pursued us first, made us righteous through Jesus, and invites us to pursue Him together in community.

A Challenge for You

Take a risk and trust Jesus today by surrendering your life to Him, and lock arms with your church family as we seek the great physician for healing, restoration, and miracles in our lives.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.