Matthew #56: Tasting The Tree Of Life (Matthew 26:17-30)

June 28, 2026 Rob Woodrum

When I was in college, one of my professors led an activity that has stayed with me ever since. He said the word “apple” and asked us to write down as many descriptive words as we could. We wrote things like fruit and tree. Then he showed us a picture of an apple, and our list grew with words like red, round, and leaf. Next, he brought out a fake apple, giving us even more details to describe. Finally, he passed around a real apple. Now we could write about its weight, texture, smell, the sound of a bite crunching, and other characteristics that were impossible to experience through the previous examples.

The purpose of the exercise was to demonstrate how much more we learn when multiple senses are engaged. The professor encouraged us to involve as many senses as possible when teaching because it increases the likelihood that people will understand and remember what is being communicated. Hearing alone has its limits, but understanding grows when we add sight, touch, and even taste.

I often think about that lesson when I consider why Jesus commanded us to eat and drink in remembrance of His sacrifice. We are not called only to listen or to watch. We are invited to taste and touch as we remember what Christ has done and worship Him.

This Sunday we will continue our study in Matthew by reading chapter 26, verses 17 through 30. In this passage, we will see the Last Supper, where Jesus transforms the Passover meal into a reminder of the New Covenant established through His sacrifice. What stands out to you about Jesus’ words and actions?

If you would like to study more of the context ahead of time, The Bible Project has excellent resources on Passover and the biblical covenants that provide helpful context for this week’s passage. We hope you will take a few minutes to explore them, and we invite you to join us this Sunday as we study God’s Word together.

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Matthew #55: Proximity Doesn't Mean Transformation (Matthew 26:1-16)

June 21, 2026 Rob Woodrum

Join us as Nate and Lawana continue in our study of the book of Matthew.

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Matthew #54: Identifying With The Insignificant (Matthew 25:31-46)

June 14, 2026 Rob Woodrum

I once had a job where I wasn’t entirely sure what I was supposed to be doing. Every time my boss walked into the room, I suddenly felt the need to look busy. The problem was that I wasn’t even sure whether what I was doing was close to what was actually expected of me.

Maybe you’ve felt that way before. Have you ever wondered if you’re spending your time on the things that matter most? Have you ever wished someone would simply tell you exactly what was expected?

I know someone who started a new job and never received any training. A few weeks in, some friends asked how things were going. He replied, “To be honest, I still have no idea what I’m supposed to be doing.”

His friends were stunned and asked what he did all day. He said, “Well, I found a clipboard. Every now and then I walk around looking busy, and I make sure to walk somewhere with a sense of urgency.” As you might expect, he did not last long in that position.

This Sunday, we will finish the final section of what is often called the Olivet Discourse. In these teachings, Jesus responds to His disciples’ questions about the fulfillment of God’s kingdom and His return. Interestingly, Jesus does not focus primarily on when these things will happen. Instead, He focuses on how His followers should live while they wait.

Throughout this section of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus has used parables to answer those questions. He has been showing His disciples that waiting for His return is not passive. It is a time of purposeful and faithful service.

This Sunday, we will study the parable of the sheep and the goats. If you’ve ever wondered what our job is while we wait for his return, this passage offers some of the clearest answers in all of Scripture. It challenges us to examine our lives and ask a sobering question: If Jesus returned today, would my priorities line up with what Jesus has defined in scripture?

We invite you to join us this Sunday at 10:00 AM as we study Matthew 25:31–46 together and consider both what Jesus’ return will look like and what He calls us to do until that day.

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Matthew #53: The Risk of Grace (Matthew 25:14-30)

June 7, 2026 Rob Woodrum

This week we’ll be reading a very familiar parable – what is often called “The Parable of the Talents”, in Matthew 25:14-30.

As you read this story, remember that parables aren’t meant to be exact representations of God’s kingdom in all the details. Jesus said it is “like” this sort of thing. The most important element of this story to discern is just what Jesus meant the bags of silver to represent. Older translations call this money “talents”, which is a literal translation. A talent was Roman currency. We get our English word “talent” from this parable, interestingly enough. Do you think Jesus is talking about money? Probably not, since money is the image he’s employing. Do you think he’s talking about our skills though? What else do we know that God has entrusted to us, his subjects, to manage while our King isn’t presently seen?

The element of investing the talents is intriguing to me. It carries the implication of risk-taking. What would taking risks with what God has entrusted to us look like in our lives? What would it look like in our churches?

The third steward in this story seemed to speak respectfully to his master. But what do you think his actions actually revealed? Contrast the way the first two stewards interacted with the master and the third stewards assessment of what the master is like. What do you make of that contrast, if anything? Here’s a hint – how did the Pharisees understand God’s nature in contrast to Jesus’ revelation of God?

We’ll have a lot to think about as we engage this passage on Sunday. I hope you can join us!

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Matthew #52: Waiting For The Wedding (Matthew 25:1-13)

May 31, 2026 Rob Woodrum

It seems like every culture has a different approach to weddings and the rituals associated with them. This Sunday, as we continue our study in Matthew, we’ll be reading about the unusual wedding rituals of ancient Palestine as we study chapter 25:1-13.

As you read the parable that Jesus tells, what do you believe the main point is? How comfortable or uncomfortable are you with the topic of the end times? If you knew for sure that Jesus was going to return within the next hour, is there anything you would do differently?

It’s interesting to note that both sets of girls fell asleep while waiting for the bridegroom during a long delay. The only time the differences began to show up between them was when the alarm was sounded. One group was prepared, one was not.

In what ways can we see to it that we are prepared for the reveal of Christ as King?

I think this will be an interesting topic for our study – plus, we’ll be celebrating Communion – hope you can join us this Sunday at 10 AM!

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Matthew #51: Faithfully Waiting (Matthew 24:36-51)

May 24, 2026 Rob Woodrum

My wife and oldest daughter were in Chicago once, trying to navigate our way to my son’s house on the city’s train service. This was back before it became much easier and all on your phone – at that time we had to buy metro cards and load them with the proper amount for our trip. My daughter had gotten hers in order and had gone through the turnstiles, but my wife and I encountered a problem and the cards wouldn’t work.

“Wait for us on that side, we’ll be there soon!” we shouted to her above the noise on the busy platform.

We finally got things squared away, paying more than we probably needed to, inserted our cards and moved through the turnstiles to look for my daughter. She was nowhere to be found. We looked around, confused and feeling a bit panicked, when we heard a shout from behind us. There she was, back from where we had just come, on the other side of the turnstiles, smiling sheepishly.

“I got tired of waiting and came to see if I could help.” she offered. Happily, she got through and we made it to our train…but just barely.

It can be a frustrating thing when we’ve asked someone to wait for us, and they don’t do it or befuddle a plan by doing something extra. It can be a devastating thing if we fail to wait faithfully for Jesus when he told us to.

This Sunday we’ll be reading Matthew 24:36-51 in our study of that Gospel. In our text, Jesus makes it as explicit as he can that nobody will know just when Jesus will return. It’s astonishing how many ignore that bit of Scripture.

Jesus will use a few picture to emphasize the point. It will be like the days of Noah – everything going along as it always had until it doesn’t. Some will be swept away in judgement, others will remain behind in safety. The only difference, apparently, is their faithfulness in waiting.

Then Jesus tells a parable to explain what faithful waiting looks like. What was the faithful servant doing when the landowner returned? How does that contrast with the unfaithful servant – what parts are common denominators in both their descriptions? What do you think we learn about the nature of faithfully waiting for Jesus to return? What might it entail in a real-life scenario?

Hopefully we’ll be challenged and grow from our exploration of this text. We’ll have a missions update from Suzy Zechman about In Deed and Truth ministries as well! Hope you can join us!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #50: Wise Living In A Troubled World (Matthew 24:15-35)

May 17, 2026 Rob Woodrum

This Sunday we’ll be continuing our trek through Matthew 24, reading v15-35. Much of what Jesus predicts in this section deals with the upcoming siege of Jerusalem, a prediction that was fulfilled in 70 AD.

As we did last week, we’ll focus on the instructions we receive from Jesus concerning how we respond and live in light of the temporal nature of this world’s systems. As you read through the passage, pay attention to the places where Jesus gives specific instructions to his disciples and consider how those instructions would apply to our lives in this present world.

While so much of our modern Church’s interest is in the speculations about when, what and who of these predictions, Jesus seems to focus on more pragmatic issues. What can that tell us about how we, as the Church, should respond to these words?

This will, hopefully, be an encouraging study – I hope you can join us this Sunday at 10 AM.

Click here for a PDF of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #49: Living In A Fading World (Matthew 24:1-14)

May 13, 2026 Rob Woodrum

This Sunday we’ll be starting chapter 24 of Matthew’s gospel this Sunday reading the first 14 verses. End time predictions are almost a cottage industry in the Church over the years…needless to say, we won’t be adding to those. What we’ll learn from Jesus is that there is a presupposition of the world’s ending. It’s how we live in the time we have that’s truly important.

v1-3 give us the overall heading of this section. Jesus predicts the end of something – what is it? The disciples ask him when this will happen, and what sign to look for to signal his coming. Do you find that odd? He’s right in front of them – why are they asking about his coming? They didn’t expect him to leave – what were they talking about? The word “coming” in the Greek is “parousia” – the arrival of a king. They are asking when he’ll be revealed as King and bring the present, broken world to it’s conclusion. They don’t realize it, but they are asking two different questions. What then, are the two subjects in view in this section?

Jesus describes things that sound like current events to us and could be alarming – except for what Jesus says in v6. What are these events, in his view?

Instead of giving his disciples a straight forward answer about when these things would happen – what does Jesus say to his disciples as instruction? (hint: v4, v6, v13)

Before things really end, what is happening according to v14? What is our mission then, in light of the end? Does knowing when the end may come have any bearing on what our mission is? Does it change? If not, what does that tell us?

We may not all agree on how to view eschatology (views on the “end times”), but that should never be a reason to divide us. Let’s approach this text as objectively as we can and see what we may learn by God’s Spirit. See you this Sunday!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #48: Bad Religion (Matthew 23:1-39)

May 3, 2026 Rob Woodrum

Join us as we continue our study of the book of Matthew. In this passage, Jesus pronounces woes upon the religious leaders.

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Matthew #47: God's Redemptive Plan (Matthew 22:15-46)

April 26, 2026 Rob Woodrum

This Sunday we’ll be reading through a string of confrontations Jesus experiences in Matthew 22:15-46 as we continue our study in that Gospel. It’s delightful to me how Jesus is able, not only to gracefully answer his accusers, but to weave clues into his answers that reveal an overview of what God is up to.

The section we’ll be covering breaks down into four sections – v15-22, where Jesus is asked if it’s lawful to pay a poll tax to Rome. It was an extremely loaded (even dangerous) question. His answer reveals that Jesus wasn’t a political crusader – he was loyal to only One. In what way do you think we bear the image of God the way a coin bore the image of Caesar?

In v23-33 Jesus is approached by the Sadducees who rejected the notion of a resurrection at the end of the age (we’ll go into why on Sunday). They pose a riddle meant, in their minds, to highlight the absurdity of resurrection. V 32 sums up Jesus’ unassailable response. What do you think his point is, that God is the God of the living, not the dead?

The famous confrontation about the greatest commandment is found in v33-40. Why do you think Jesus said that the entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on the two commandments to love God and our neighbor as ourself? How would love be the main component of all that the law of Moses required?

Finally, Jesus turns the tables and asks them a question in v41-46, about the existential nature of the Messiah. We’ll go into what Jesus was getting at, and we’ll see how it actually brackets the whole section by subtly pointing back to the image of Caesar on the coin.

I think this will be an encouraging section to dig into. I hope you can join us this Sunday as we do!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #46: An Invitation From The King (Matthew 22:1-14)

April 19, 2026 Rob Woodrum

What is the biggest, most elaborate party you’ve ever been invited to? Did you enjoy yourself or was it challenging to be there?

No matter how big the party was that you attended, I can guarantee it didn’t hold a candle to ancient royal feasts. They were known to last up to 10 days. Even into the medieval period, England and France threw a joint party that lasted for 17 days in a huge field, where everyone was given coats woven with silk and gold.

This Sunday we’ll read a story told by Jesus about a party thrown by a king who gets snubbed. It’s a curious story, not without its critics. We’ll be reading Matthew 22:1-14.

Who do you believe the king is in this story? Who is the son? Who do you believe the people snubbing the invitation represent? Who do you think the replacement invitees are? If you said, respectively, “God, Jesus, the Religious Leaders, the church”, you would be in the company of the majority of those who interpret this parable. I agree with them too. There are other views about who is representing whom, but they aren’t as convincing to me, given the context and theme that has been rolling along since chapter 21 began.

Jesus compares the kingdom of God to an elaborate party. How does that fit within your pictures of what God’s kingdom is like? How does it match up with images of people with wings sitting on clouds and playing harps? Which is more appealing to you?

How would you interpret the last part of the story – the guy who is under-dressed and gets tied up and thrown out? What do you suppose this metaphor is representing to us about our invitation to God’s party? How might Galatians 3:27 help you imagine what this part means?

Just some stuff to ponder. Hope to see you Sunday at 10:00 AM!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #45: The Great Power Grab (Matthew 21:33-46)

April 12, 2026 Rob Woodrum

Has someone ever taken something that belonged to you – or at least you felt belonged to you? How did that make you feel?

Have you ever been in charge of something and someone else starts stepping all over your authority? What do you want to do in a situation like that? We’re going to be thinking about that theme this Sunday as we continue our study in Matthew, reading chapter 21:33-46.

Jesus tells a parable that traditionally is referred to as “the parable of the wicked tenants”…but it could be more accurately called “the story of the renters from hell”.

Read the parable over. Who do you think the sharecroppers, who are renting the property, represent? Who would they represent as we try to apply this parable to our own lives and church context?

Who does the Landowner represent? What do we learn from about Him from His responses to the growing tensions?

What was the last straw in this stand-off? What drove the Landowner to action? What can we learn from this story about our own lives and the choices and responses we have?

Jesus perpetually challenged the religious system – and this Sunday will be no different. I hope you can join us!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #44: A Fruitless Religion (Matthew 21:18-23)

March 29, 2026 Rob Woodrum

Many years ago I was with my dad at the home of family friends. At one point, he reached out for an apple that was in a fruit bowl as the centerpiece for the table where we were sitting. Our friends gasped in horror as he quickly put it to his mouth and bit down hard…only to find it was plastic. I have to give it to the old man, his teeth were in great shape because he bit right through the plastic shell. We all had a good laugh (at least I did), but my dad didn’t seem to find it as humorous as the rest of us. I suppose it’s pretty disappointing to find an imitation meant only for display when you have your heart set on a tasty apple.

This Sunday we’ll be returning to our study in the book of Matthew, reading chapter 21:18-32, and we’ll be considering that theme of religion for display purposes only.

In v18-22, we see Jesus do the only destructive miracle in the entirety of the gospels. Do you think this fruitless tree was just something that irritated Jesus and he lashed out…or do you think there was something else being communicated in this? If this were a living parable being acted out for his disciples – what do you think the message is, given Jesus’ actions in the last section, where he condemned the temple?

The following account actually gives examples of what the message of the fig tree was. Jesus has yet another conflict with religious leaders – albeit, the chief priest is now involved. This is a first in an escalating opposition to Jesus. The question of authority is posed – “who do you think you are Jesus, emptying out the temple like that?”. There is no answer Jesus can give that won’t put him in immediate danger. Jesus pulls a Bugs Bunny (“Duck season, Wabbit season…”) by posing a question that is impossible for them to answer. Who were the religious leaders afraid of when it came to answering the question? What does that tell us about the motive for their spirituality?

The parable of the two sons spells it out in a pretty straightforward way. If you were to sum up the lesson of the parable, how would you word it?

Looking forward to examining this passage together! Hope to see you Sunday!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #43: The Triumph of Peace (Matthew 21:1-17)

March 22, 2026 Rob Woodrum

This Sunday we’ll be reading the account of Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, something we’ve called the “Triumphal Entry”. It’s a very familiar event from the Gospels, and one that we might miss the significance of because of that familiarity. We’ll be reading Matthew 21:1-17 as we continue our study of that Gospel.

This event is pointing back to ancient prophecies about the Messiah, as well as prior historical events in Israel, and all of it is meant to create a contrast between the kingdoms of this world and how God rules His kingdom. That’s something we’ll be digging into in our examination of the text.

We’ll also be reading about Jesus’ actions in the temple. Normally when we hear about Jesus driving out those who were selling sacrificial animals and exchanging money in the temple, we assume his motive is to rebuke commercialism/consumerism within the house of worship. I would say the majority of people read it that way…I know I always did.

This Sunday we’re going to challenge that idea. Jesus was certainly staging a prophetic rebuke…but of what? There is an alternative proposition about what Jesus was doing that I find quite persuasive, and the message if far deeper and heavier than mere consumerism. (Not to excuse a consumer mindset within the sphere of worship – there are other places in Scripture that address that as improper, I’m just not convinced that’s what Jesus was doing in this particular text).

I think this will be an enlightening, albeit challenging, study. I hope you can join us this Sunday!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #42: The Power of Mercy (Matthew 20:29-34)

March 15, 2026 Rob Woodrum

This Sunday, in our study of the Gospel of Matthew, we’ll be reading Matthew 20:29-34.

Like all the gospel writers, Matthew loves a good contrast. In this text, we find two blind and desperate men who are presented right on the heels of James and John seeking greatness in the last section. Instead of two self-assured followers of Jesus looking for advancement, we have these two beggars bereft of any self-confidence. It’s another reminder of what sort of attitudes rightly represent God’s kingdom activity.

When the blind men call out to Jesus for mercy, the crowd tries to silence them. What are some of the ways in which societal pressures or assessments try to silence our cries for God’s mercy? This passage is inviting us to consider the nature of God’s mercy and its powerful effect on our lives. When these men experienced the mercy of Jesus by receiving their sight, what did they do? When we’ve encountered God’s mercy in our lives, how can that draw us closer to him?

This story is a great reminder of the depths of God’s love for us, and his desire to meet our true needs, not just our immediate wants. I think it will be really encouraging! Hope you can join us this Sunday as we dig into scripture together!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #41: The Path To Greatness (Matthew 20:17-28)

March 8, 2026 Rob Woodrum

This Sunday, we will continue our study in the Gospel of Matthew as we read Matthew 20:17–28.

In this passage, Jesus predicts His death for the third and final time (see also Matthew 16:21 and Matthew 17:22). Yet instead of seeing the disciples wrestle with or process what Jesus has just revealed, we immediately encounter an unexpected request. The mother of James and John approaches Jesus asking that her sons be given seats of honor in His kingdom.

Their reaction reminds me of this humorous scene from The Simpsons, when Marge gives Homer instructions for when she’s away:

Like Homer in the clip, the request from the disciples’ mother—and likely James and John themselves—shows little indication that they truly heard what Jesus was saying. Jesus is speaking about suffering, betrayal, and death in Jerusalem, yet their focus is on status and position.

The passage invites us to pause and reflect:
Are we really listening to what Jesus is saying?
Do we understand the road He is describing for His followers?

As the section unfolds, it becomes clear that the disciples are looking ahead to the throne awaiting Jesus, but they are not recognizing the cross that lies on the road to get there.

Jesus responds by teaching them that leadership in His kingdom must look radically different from the power structures of the world. Instead of authority being used to dominate others, greatness in God’s kingdom is defined by humility, service, and sacrifice.

We invite you to join us this Sunday at 10:00 AM as we dive into God’s Word together.

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #40: The Radical Exchange (Matthew 19:27-20:16)

March 1, 2026 Rob Woodrum

This Sunday we’ll be reading Matthew 19:27-20:16 – which includes a parable that is unique to Matthew’s gospel. It is the parable of the laborers in the vineyard.

In chapter 19, after witnessing what happened with the rich young ruler, Pete asks the question that is basically “after sacrificing all we had to follow you, what’s in it for us?”. Jesus does promise a reward to him, but where is it centered, according to the first part of v28? Given that context, what do you think the first/last dynamic is intended to teach us?

In chapter 20 Jesus tells a story about a rich landowner who hires day laborers to pick grapes during the vineyard’s harvest. The story is unsettling in it’s economic implications – but what about it’s spiritual ones? What reason does the landowner give for paying everyone the same amount? What do you believe that is teaching us about our pursuit of spiritual and eternal rewards and the actual source of it?

In v12, what is the chief complaint about the identical pay-stubs everyone had? What does this tell us about the self-perception of the complainers? In v 15 when it says “Or do you begrudge my generosity?”, it literally is asking “why do you give my generosity the evil eye?” Many, if not most, translations read a variation on “Should you be jealous because I am kind to others”. What are the complainers be envious of? They received what they agreed on as a wage. Justice was done…but something else was added – what? It’s interesting that they aren’t jealous of the money the short-timers received, they’re jealous of the landowners right to judge by his own standards. This really makes me think of something we’ll expound on in the teaching.

I find this whole story to be fascinating…hope you can join us on Sunday!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #39: Treasures The World Misses (Matthew 19:13-26)

February 22, 2026 Rob Woodrum

Last week my son carried his piggy bank to the store and exchanged months of saved change for a pair of upside down goggles. After carefully looking at each item in the toy aisle, he chose to spend his own money on something that would flip his view of the world. The goggles use small mirrors to turn everything upside down, and they honestly made me dizzy when I tried to use them. Simple challenge cards like high five the person next to you or drawing a tree suddenly become surprisingly difficult. What feels easy becomes confusing and what seems obvious takes patience and practice.

This Sunday we will look at a passage that reveals the upside down nature of God’s Kingdom. It can feel as though Jesus is turning everything over, but in truth he is restoring the world to what it was always meant to be.

In Matthew 19:13-26 Jesus welcomes children, who were overlooked in that culture, and he challenges a wealthy young man to surrender his possessions. The least are treasured in God’s Kingdom, and earthly treasures are exposed as worthless. What does that say about the things we value most? Where might our perspective need to be flipped?

We invite you to join us this Sunday at 10:00 AM as we read and study this passage of scripture together.

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #38: A Controversial Trap (Matthew 19:1-12)

February 15, 2026 Rob Woodrum

I will warn you, the topic of our passage this week is going to be uncomfortable. One may be tempted to skip this teaching, but I can assure you we’ll be treading very carefully here, and you may even be relieved as we get into the cultural and historical elements that surround this text – those elements make this section far more nuanced that a cursory reading seems.

We’ll be reading Matthew 19:1-12 in our study of this Gospel.

One thing I intend to do this Sunday is zero in on the set up for this discourse by Jesus. It’s so very important to remember how Jesus got onto this topic…it was a trap. I want to consider that this Sunday. We’ll look at what Jesus says and see how it instructs his people in marriage relationships, but we’ll also note that Jesus doesn’t allow himself to get cornered by the trick question the religious leaders posed to him. His focus, as it is consistently, is on the heart.

What can we learn from the way Jesus deals with this culturally and politically sensitive topic? There is a difference between the way Jesus speaks in public and the things he says in private to his disciples. How can we apply this to the way we hold our convictions before a watching (and listening) world?

I encourage you, if you’re concerned about this text, we will be remain centered on God’s grace. Hope to see you this Sunday!

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Matthew #37: The Call To Community (Matthew 18:15-35)

February 8, 2026 Rob Woodrum

Did you know that April 15 marks Eastgate’s 31st birthday? Last year at a staff meeting, we talked about how amazed we were that our little church community had reached 30 years. Now here we are, a year later, celebrating 31.

Instead of throwing a big party, we realized we would rather invest our energy into the people and ministries that make this community what it is.

Over the past year, we launched a podcast to share more about who we are and to talk about things we do not always have time for on a Sunday morning. We created our first ever VBS program from scratch and served over 30 children. We began weekly financial support for Pastor Christian and the Spanish speaking ministry he leads. We also opened a new Eastgate location in the Fountain and Marianna area called Eastgate North, led by Julie Gjendem and her husband Trond.

We also continued many of the quiet, faithful practices that shape who we are. Our weekly donations to the Panama City Rescue Mission continued. Our meal train ministry kept bringing meals to families welcoming babies or walking through illness. Men’s gatherings, women’s gatherings, young adult meetings, and small groups all carried on. We trained and hired our teens to help care for children during special events, inviting them into responsibility and service.

I have been part of this community for all 31 years, and I am continually in awe of what God has done through this imperfect, generous group of people. That brings us to this Sunday’s scripture. Jesus will be teaching about what to do when people in a community face internal struggles.

The truth is that a healthy community is made up of people, and wherever there are people, there will be conflict. This Sunday we will read Matthew 18:15 to 35. The first part of the teaching helps us see that conflict is not only normal, but that there are wise and loving ways to address it. How might learning to handle conflict well actually strengthen a community rather than weaken it?

We invite you to join us this Sunday at 10:00 AM as we study this scripture together and reflect on what it means to cultivate community.

Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.