September 12, 2026
Broken Reflections
Pastor TJ Tyus
The Message
The One Thing
Winning was never about getting what you want, it's God's will being fulfilled in you, and your brokenness doesn't disqualify you from reflecting His glory. Often it's exactly where that glory shows up clearest.
The video opens at the start of the message.
The gold in the cracks was always the point
This Week's Message
What He Said
Winning means God's will fulfilled, not getting what you want
If you don't get what you asked for, it doesn't mean you lost — it means something greater is being built in you.
1 John 5:14-15
Broken things still reflect God's glory
A cracked mirror doesn't stop reflecting light, it reflects it at more angles. Your brokenness isn't disqualifying, it may be exactly where His light shows clearest.
2 Corinthians 3:18
Decision cuts off every option but Him
A choice keeps options open. A decision, from its root meaning "to cut off," removes every option except staying with God, no matter what.
Joshua 24:15
The Wrong Definition of Winning
Pastor TJ opens by admitting he struggled with Pastor Eric's word last week that "we are winners" — because if that's true, why doesn't it always *feel* true? In prayer, God corrected the formula: winning is greater than or equal to you getting what you want. If you don't get what you want, that doesn't mean you lost — it means God has something greater in mind, even if the "greater" is simply making you a better man, husband, father, or leader.
Every Loss Was Still a Win
TJ traces that formula through his own life without softening it: his six-year-old nephew's death after falling from a moving car, a false murder accusation and jail time that cost him his football career, a marriage that nearly ended, repossessed cars and eviction notices, and — the sermon's emotional center — losing his daughter to cancer. None of it felt like winning in the moment. All of it, he says, was still inside God's greater.
The Gold and the Fire
Using the image of a goldsmith refining gold until he can see his own reflection in it: you're praying for God to take you out of the fire; God put you in the fire on purpose, to burn off whatever is blocking His reflection in you. "You're saying, God, I don't feel like I'm winning because I'm burning. No — you're winning *because* you're burning."
Broken Things Still Reflect
The anchor scripture, 2 Corinthians 3:16-18: "whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away... we all, who with unveiled faces reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image." The Greek word for "reflect" (*katoptrizomai*) means to reflect like a mirror — a broken mirror doesn't stop reflecting light, it reflects it at more angles. He ties this directly to his daughter: "she had cancer, but cancer didn't have her" — she kept reflecting God's light to everyone she met, broken and all.
Peter's Courtyard Decision
Working through Matthew 16 and 26: Jesus predicts His own death, Peter rebukes Him ("Never, Lord"), and Jesus calls him a stumbling block. Later, in the garden, Peter draws a sword to defend Jesus — then denies even knowing Him three times before the rooster crows. TJ's read: Peter had the right person but the wrong picture of who Jesus was supposed to be. When God doesn't match your picture of Him, you get your own "courtyard decision" — deny Him, or stay.
The M.E.A.N. Formula
Moment (what actually happened) → Explanation (the meaning you attach to it) → Affect (the emotion that meaning produces) → Next move (the behavior that emotion causes). Peter's meaning — "this can't be God's plan" — produced resistance, which produced the sword, and later the denial. TJ's line: "You can't control the event. You can control the meaning you give it."
When God Lets You Down
TJ names it directly instead of spiritualizing around it: there have been real times God didn't do what he wanted, trained for, or prayed for — most of all, his daughter's death after months of declaring her healing. He draws a hard, honest line between disappointment in an outcome and losing faith in God, and reframes it: "Maybe God didn't give me my daughter for me. Maybe God gave me to my daughter, for her." Changing the meaning changed the emotion.
Decision, Not Choice
A choice picks between options; a decision — from its root, "to cut off" — removes every other option. A choice makes Jesus Lord "here, not here." A decision means "no matter what": no matter what's taken from me, I'm still with Him.
You're not losing because you're burning
The Word
The Word
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Philippians 3:13 (KJV)
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (KJV)
Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (KJV)
From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Matthew 16:21-23 (KJV)
And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
Matthew 26:51-53 (KJV)
Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
Matthew 26:74-75 (KJV)
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Acts 2:22-24 (KJV)
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Ephesians 6:17 (KJV)
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
John 21:15-17 (KJV)
Do Not Just Read It
This Week's Assignment
Name the meaning you've attached to your hardest moment, then ask whether it's God's meaning, or your disappointment talking.
0 of 5 done this week
Monday
Name the Moment
What's one specific event in your life you've never fully made peace with? Write down just what happened, not yet the meaning you've attached to it.
Philippians 3:13: forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before
Tuesday
Check the Meaning
What meaning did you attach to that moment, the story you've told yourself about why it happened? Is that meaning actually what God's word says about you, or is it your hurt talking?
2 Corinthians 3:18: we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image
Wednesday
Follow the Effect
What emotion has that meaning been producing, and what has that emotion caused you to do? Avoid people? Hold a grudge? Stay guarded with God?
Matthew 16:23: thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men
Thursday
Choice vs. Decision
Where in your life are you still making a choice, keeping an option open, instead of a decision that cuts it off? Name it plainly today.
Matthew 26:75: Peter remembered the word of Jesus... and he went out, and wept bitterly
Friday
Reflect Anyway
Broken things still reflect. What's one way your specific brokenness, not your strength, could reach someone this week that a whole version of you couldn't?
2 Corinthians 12:9-10: when I am weak, then am I strong
Broken things still reflect the glory
Your Move This Week
The full message, edited for reading, with the slides built in.
Every courtyard has a decision waiting in it
Arise and Build