If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone.

If the member listens to you, you have regained that one.

Matthew 18:15

Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive?

As many as seven times?”

Matthew 18:21

What is the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation and which is appropriate when?

The entire chapter of Matthew 18 focuses on the power of forgiveness and restoration of relationships.

As people following Jesus, we should always forgive (letting go) and should also seek to restore relationships when possible.

Our gospel text for Sunday lays out in great detail a “how to” process which when followed strengthens communities and relationships.

See you then!

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord!

This must never happen to you.”

But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!

You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

Matthew 16:22–23

Last week, Jesus called Simon the Rock upon which the church would be built.

This week he is called a “stumbling block” and demonic.

That is quite a turn of events!

Simon Peter had a moment of divine revelation when he proclaimed Jesus was the Messiah.

However, he was not ready for Jesus to describe God’s mission for the Messiah was suffering, death, and resurrection.

Jesus helps the disciples understand that following him means journeying to the cross serving God before all else.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples,

“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Matthew 16:13–15

The people of Israel had been promised a Messiah who would deliver and redeem them.

The prophets foretold the Messiah with certain signs for people to watch for.

With hopeful expectation the people watched and waited.

For some, the ministry of Jesus checked a lot of the boxes for the promised Messiah.

Jesus asks the disciples what people are saying about him and then more pointedly ask the disciples what they think.

Jesus’ question “who do you say I am?” is also one for us all to ponder.

It is a universal question and a personal one.

See you Sunday as we ponder this question.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon.

Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David;

my daughter is tormented by a demon.”

But he did not answer her at all.

And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.”

Matthew 15:21–23

Jesus’ reputation as a miracle healer spread everywhere he went.

People were suffering and would seek him out with hope and expectation that he could cure them.

When Jesus and the disciples enter a Gentile region, a woman with a demon possessed child persistently urged Jesus to heal her.

Initially, Jesus ignored her, but she never stopped advocating for her daughter and demonstrated her great faith.

Join us Sunday as we explore this story and open ourselves to what it means today.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:9

This simple statement of faith “Jesus is Lord” was the first creed of the Christian Church.

The Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds were formulated much later and include far more tenets of dogma (virgin birth, Holy Spirit, etc.).

To declare that Jesus is Lord and to believe in your heart he was raised from the dead is more than simply have a belief about God,

rather it is an orientation and foundation for all of life.

Join us Sunday as we consider Confessing Faith.

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said,

“This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”

Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.”

They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.”

Matthew 14:15-17

Jesus feeding of the 5,000 is one of the most well known stories in scripture.

With 5 loaves and two fish, Jesus not only miraculously feeds the massive crowd, but ends of up with 12 baskets of leftovers!

The story is amazing and demonstrates the power of God and the abundance of God’s blessings.

This story also reminds us to focus more on what we have than what we are missing.

The disciples could only see the large crowd and meager provisions.

Jesus helped them see the impact they could make with what they had.

Join us Sunday as we consider God’s abundance!

Message delivered by Pastor Ben Sandin.

Message delivered by Pastor LaVinnia Pierson.

Message delivered by Pastor Don Larson.

Message delivered by Chris Christensen.

Message delivered by Rev. Liz Milner.