One time I came across a church’s advertisement for their Sunday morning service. The video showed someone walking into church carrying “100 problems.” As they experienced the service, the number of problems kept dropping until, by the time they left, they had “0 problems.”

I believe the ad was trying to communicate that we can bring our problems to church and trust that God will care for us. But I also wondered if the simplest takeaway could be misunderstood: “Come to church, and all your problems will disappear.”

The Jesus we meet in the gospels never pretends that following him will remove all our problems. What he does promise is this: we don’t have to live in fear, because he will take care of us. The troubles we face are real but temporary; his presence and protection are eternal.

How have you experienced God’s care—not by removing a problem, but by giving you strength or peace in the midst of it?

This week we’re continuing our study in the Gospel of Matthew, reading Ch 10:26-42. Jesus continues instructing his disciples about what to expect as they go out into the world. Even though large crowds were drawn to him, often amazed by his miracles, Jesus was careful to be honest with his followers about the challenges and opposition they would face.

Why do you think Jesus emphasized the hardships of discipleship, even when people were excited about his miracles?

As we prepare for Sunday, I encourage everyone to read Matthew 10, focusing on verses 26–42. We invite you to join us this Sunday at 10:00 AM as we dive deeper into these teachings together.

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.