Western Hills Church Of Christ, Temple

Speaker:  Scott Meyer, Lead Minister Scripture:  James 4:1, Matthew 7:3-5,  2 Samuel, Psalm 51 Summary:  Relationships bless and break us, and conflict often arises not from others’ faults but from the desires and brokenness within us (James 4:1). Jesus’ teaching about the plank and the speck (Matthew 7:3–5) calls us to “stay in our circle,” practicing humble self-examination before attempting to fix someone else. Confession clears our vision for compassion: when we acknowledge our wounds, sins, and patterns, we’re better able to love and help others without hypocrisy. David’s fall and repentance (2 Samuel; Psalm 51) model this posture—bringing a broken and contrite heart to God and praying, “Create in me a clean heart,” trusting that God runs toward, not away from, our brokenness. The sermon culminates in communion as an embodied response—offering our “planks” to Jesus who bore the cross (two planks) for our healing—inviting continued conversation with God and transformed relationships by His power.