Last week, we saw how the power of God is at work in Christians as individuals, saving us from God's wrath by raising us up through our union with Christ. This week, we'll consider the other area where God's word points us to see his power at work: the church.
This weekend is Vision Sunday, when we reflect and recommit to our mission as a church. It is fitting that we'll hear Jesus' conclusion to his Discourse on the Church in Matthew 18, where he paints a glorious vision for a radically forgiven--and radically forgiving--kingdom community.
Part 3 of the Gospel of Matthew is heavily combative, particularly between Jesus and the Pharisees, but there is a break in the action in Sunday's passage. It shows us ultimately that Jesus' ministry isn't primarily a boxing match. It's a servant ministry, a quiet ministry, a ministry to bruised reeds and smoldering wicks. And this, of course, has massive implications for our own church's ministry, too.
