This has been one of the most volatile years for the church, and our church, in a long time. The global pandemic, a racial justice movement, a contentious presidential election, and more have contributed to confusion and discouragement over the nature and mission of the church. In God's providence, this is the perfect time for us to jump back into the Gospel of Matthew and receive Jesus' triumphant, and comforting, promise: "I will build my church."
Whether it's a birthday party, a vacation, a dissertation defense, or a new baby, significant events in our life require preparation. In fact, the more significant the event, the greater the preparation needed. This week we jump back into the Gospel of Matthew. During Advent we covered the Introduction: The Promised King. Now we'll begin the body of the Gospel with Part 1: The Announcement of Christ's Kingdom. Now that Jesus the King has arrived, his new kingdom is proclaimed and the people are called to prepare for his rule. How do we make sure we're ready to receive him?
