Today's passage is about the final leg of the Apostle Paul's first intentional, cross-cultural missions trip. Paul is breaking new ground as he makes his way into communities that have never heard the gospel. This reality should frame how we study this passage. This is a story about missions.

Our natural tendency to avoid correction has plagued humanity ever since the fall but it has become easier than ever to drown out and ignore all corrective voices in our lives.

Our natural tendency to avoid correction has plagued humanity ever since the fall but it has become easier than ever to drown out and ignore all corrective voices in our lives.

Individualism is a big topic in on our culture's all-consuming emphasis on self. This individualism can creep into the church. That's a frightening reality. The church is supposed to provide us with a little foretaste of heaven, but when the church is filled with 150 people asking, -What's in it for me--- it becomes instead a little foretaste of hell.

Individualism is a big topic in on our culture's all-consuming emphasis on self. This individualism can creep into the church. That's a frightening reality. The church is supposed to provide us with a little foretaste of heaven, but when the church is filled with 150 people asking, "What's in it for me?" it becomes instead a little foretaste of hell.

The world despises leadership. We don't trust leaders and we don't think we need them. But, how are we supposed to receive leadership-- How does it work in God's design--

The world despises leadership. We don't trust leaders and we don't think we need them. But, how are we supposed to receive leadership? How does it work in God's design?

We avoid confrontation like the plague. That would involve meeting with people that we disagree with in person. That would involve looking them in the eye. That would involve a real conversation that might actually lead to real change. That's scary. Matthew 18-15-20

We avoid confrontation like the plague. That would involve meeting with people that we disagree with in person. That would involve looking them in the eye. That would involve a real conversation that might actually lead to real change. That's scary. Matthew 18:15-20

We are - by and large - a microwave culture. We demand quick results. Why read a book when you can read a tweet-- Unlike our ancestors who placed seeds in the soil and waited for crops to grow, we get what we need with the click of a mouse. Our target today is instant gratification.