Conflict is inevitable—even among Christians. The question is not whether we will hurt one another, but how we will respond when we do.

In Matthew 18:15–20, Jesus gives us a different way. Instead of ghosting, gossiping, or trying to win at all costs, we are called to pursue one another with humility, truth, and love. The goal isn't victory in an argument. The goal is to gain a brother or sister.

Jesus gives us a slow, careful, restorative path: speak directly, involve others when necessary, and even when separation becomes necessary, never abandon the hope of restoration. This is not about protecting our pride or proving ourselves right. It is about pursuing the unity Christ desires for his people.

And there is something deeper happening here. Jesus prayed that his people would be one, and the early Church understood this unity as part of God's ultimate work of restoring all things in Christ.

So what makes this kind of conflict possible?

It begins with knowing that our identity is secure in Christ. When we know we have already been fully seen and fully accepted at the cross, we don't have to win every argument—and we don't have to run from every difficult conversation.

We can hear, "You hurt me," without being crushed. And we can say, "You hurt me," without becoming self-righteous.

That is the third way: not fleeing, not conquering, but holding grace and truth together.

And every time we walk that road, God is forming us into the likeness of Jesus.

Matthew 18:15–20
Christ the King — Denver

Jesus gives us one of the great paradoxes of the Christian life: “Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

In Matthew 16, Peter recognizes Jesus as the Christ—but then immediately resists the way of the cross. Jesus' response reveals something profound about discipleship: our deepest and most authentic desires are not always aligned with the purposes of God.

What does it actually mean to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus?

In this sermon, we consider three questions that can help us practice this kind of watchfulness in our everyday lives:

1. What do I want?
2. What does Jesus want?
3. What will obedience cost me?

Self-denial is not ultimately about making life miserable or suppressing every desire. It is the path by which our desires are reordered toward the fullness of life that Christ offers.

Jesus does not call us away from life, but into true life—a life of freedom, deeper joy, communion with Him, and participation in the renewal of all things.

In this week’s sermon, Deacon Steven looks at Jesus’ Parable of the Sower and asks us to consider what kind of soil our hearts have become. The seed of God’s Word is generously scattered, but how we receive it makes all the difference. Jesus describes hearts that are hard, shallow, distracted, and those that are ready to receive his Word and bear fruit. Drawing from his own experiences of seasons when life disrupted his spiritual rhythms, Steven reminds us that our hearts can change over time and need regular care. He offers three simple ways to cultivate “good soil”: staying rooted in Scripture and prayer, practicing repentance and receiving God’s grace, and remaining connected to Christian community. It’s an encouraging invitation to let the Holy Spirit shape our hearts so God’s Word can take deep root and bear lasting fruit. “He who has ears, let him hear.”

In this homily, Deacon Steven addresses the universal experience of soul weariness by exploring Jesus's invitation to the burdened in Matthew 11. He begins by identifying the heavy yokes of modern life—such as burnout, loneliness, and professional stress—arguing that worldly escapes like entertainment or substances are merely temporary fixes that leave the spirit empty. The speaker then highlights the gentle character of Christ, emphasizing that Jesus does not demand self-improvement before arrival but offers a divine exchange of our crushing anxieties for His manageable burden. By sharing his personal struggle with the psychological weight of war, the deacon illustrates that true restoration is found not in a place of physical sleep, but in the person of Jesus. Ultimately, the text serves as a pastoral call to relinquish self-reliance and find lasting peace by walking in step with a Savior who carries the greater weight of our existence

In this message, we dive into Matthew 10 to explore the deeply human experience of fear and Jesus's repeated command to "do not fear." While we often think of fear in terms of physical harm or existential threats, it frequently manifests in subtle ways—such as the fear of rejection, loss, or being misunderstood—quietly shaping our lives and decisions.

Rather than calling us to muster up stoic courage on our own, Jesus invites us to redirect our fear by remembering how deeply God cares for us. Through the text, we look at two powerful images that offer comfort:

• The Sparrows: Even the smallest, least expensive birds sold at the market are seen and valued by God, reminding us that we possess immense value and do not need to fear being unseen or excluded.

• The Hairs on Our Head: God intimately numbers the hairs on our head, which serves as a profound reminder that He fully knows us and has already numbered our overwhelming anxieties and enemies.

Ultimately, we overcome our fears not by trying to be harder or stronger, but by entrusting ourselves to God and boldly acknowledging Christ before others. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer noted, the fear of God is the single fear that destroys all other fears.

Passage:
Matthew 10:34–39

YouTube Blurb:
Some words of Jesus stop us in our tracks:

"I did not come to bring peace, but a sword..."

What does Jesus mean? Isn’t He the Prince of Peace?

In this message from Matthew 10, we explore one of Jesus’ more difficult teachings through the lens of Ordo Amoris — “the order of our loves.” Jesus isn’t calling us to love family less; He’s inviting us to love God first so that every other love in our lives finds its proper place.

When good things become ultimate things, they begin to carry a weight they were never meant to bear. But when our hearts are rightly ordered, we discover greater freedom, deeper joy, and the ability to love others better.

This week we ask:
What love in my life has drifted out of order?
What am I asking to carry the weight of my soul?

CTK | Matthew 10:34–39

What does it actually mean to live on mission?

Many Christians find themselves in one of two ditches. On one side is a constant pressure to evangelize every person, every moment, every opportunity. On the other side is a quiet faith that rarely moves outward at all.

In Matthew 9, Jesus offers a different way.

As He looks upon the crowds, He is moved with compassion because they are "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." From that compassion flows a vision for mission that is rooted not in pressure, guilt, or performance, but in God's mercy.

In this sermon we explore three marks of a faithful missional life:

• The Eyes — seeing people with spiritual compassion
• The Hands — ordinary people empowered by Christ
• The Pace — a patient, rooted, and enduring witness

Mission is not frantic striving, nor passive disengagement. It is learning to participate in God's loving call and outpouring with compassionate eyes, obedient hands, and a patient pace.

Scripture: Matthew 9:35–10:4

Christ the King Anglican Church
Denver, Colorado

We live in a world that knows how to punish but struggles to forgive.

In Matthew 9, Jesus does something scandalous: He calls a tax collector, dines with sinners, and confronts the religious leaders with a surprising truth:

"I desire mercy, and not sacrifice."

This message explores God's relentless mercy, the story behind Jesus' words in Hosea, and what it means to stop keeping score and trust God with justice.

If you've ever struggled with forgiveness, resentment, self-condemnation, or the desire to see someone "get what they deserve," this passage offers a better way.

On Trinity Sunday, we explore one of the deepest mysteries and greatest gifts of the Christian faith: God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Far from being an abstract theological puzzle, the Trinity reveals the very nature of God as a life of perfect love, self-giving, and communion. In the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20), Jesus invites us not merely to learn about God, but to be drawn into His life.

What does it mean to be baptized into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? How does participation in the divine life transform who we become? And how does that shape our mission as individuals, families, churches, and the global body of Christ?

Join us as we discover that the Christian life is ultimately an invitation into the overflowing love of the Trinity—and a call to share that love with the world.

Happy Pentecost!

In John 14, Jesus prepares His disciples for His departure — and underneath all their questions is a deeper cry:

“Can you comfort us?”

Jesus answers by promising the gift of the Holy Spirit — the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, the abiding presence of God with His people.

In this Pentecost message we explore:
• The Holy Spirit as Comforter
• The Spirit who grounds us in truth
• How God invites us to participate in His life and mission

Jesus does not leave His people as orphans.
The Holy Spirit walks with us, steadies us, comforts us, and summons us deeper into the life of God.

Scripture: John 14:15–26