Sunday School, 9 a.m.
Sunday’s Schedule
8am: Doors open
8am–9am: Coffee & Conversation in our Dining Facility
9am-10am: Sunday School (see classes below)
9:15am: Coffee & Convo Devotion in our Dining Facility
10am: Sunday Morning Service in our Sanctuary (which is our gym).
Sunday School Classes & Their Location
To those leading and serving, thank you!
Classes run August 9th-October 4th and will begin at 9a.m.
Classroom 1: 0-2 year olds: Church Nursery
Classroom 2: 3 & 4 year olds
Classroom 3: Kindergarten-Second Grade Class
Classroom 4: Third-Fifth Grade Class
Classroom 5: Tweens & Teen Boys
Red-Brick Sanctuary: “Gospel in Life” — Co-ed Class
Classroom 7: Theology Class, led by Mike Hare
Classroom 8: Tweens & Teen Girls
Dining Facility: Life Class Devotion (Ongoing throughout the year)
chapter 19
continuing our series through Matthew
Highland — How thankful I am for you! Having you in my life is among the richest of blessings! Oh, I rejoice over you. Furthermore, thank you for all that you do to serve one another. From checking on one another, to putting away chairs each Sunday afternoon. I appreciate everyone who’s leading and coming to Sunday School! It’s a gift to be able to do life with you.
Sunday’s sermon was not able to be recorded. So sorry for any inconvenience this causes you. Even still, I can offer a summary. The passage was Matthew 18:21-35, “The Unmerciful Servant.” Our central point: forgiveness.
Forgiveness is Right in the Eyes of The Lord
The Lord deems forgiveness to be right. Now, Peter is approaching Jesus about forgiveness.
Peter’s asking Jesus about the number of times we are obligated to forgive someone who offends us habitually.
Jesus tells Peter to stop counting. Rather, in sharing in heart agreement with the Lord, forgiveness is part of our nature, it’s as natural as breathing.
“If you’re still counting how many times you’re forgiving someone, you’re not really forgiving them at all – you’re simply postponing revenge.” – N.T. Wright
Considering how Jesus directs us to forgive, let’s look at our Prayer Guide. You’ll find 4 questions that allow us to probe our hearts. Let’s ask the Lord to help us forgive. See our Prayer Guide below.
Jim & Jo Ellen
Prayer Guide
1st Strand of Stewardship — Heart
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive” (Colossians 3:12-13).
God is forgiving. The heart of one who loves Jesus is inclined to forgive. We do not forgive because our offender deserves forgiveness. Rather, our motivation to forgive flows out of receiving forgiveness for our sin.
As we pray this week, let us remember the error of our ways, our shortcomings and our sin. May our hearts rejoice over the forgiveness of sin we’ve found in Christ. In rejoicing over His mercy, let’s allow our hearts to be inclined to be merciful, forgiving our offenders.
As we pray this week:
Who might you consider offering amends?
Are there people you need to reconcile with?
Is there a relationship in which you need to promote forgiveness?
What loved ones in your life might need to be encouraged by you to forgive?
When we surrender our resentment and choose to forgive, we are honoring Jesus, our deliverer! Our hearts find peace in His presence because we are walking in the Spirit, promoting peace. Our hearts thereby come into submission to God’s Word, which says “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:6). Let us pursue the Lord, who is our peace, and live!
Highland Cafe’ is open next week. Summer hours: Tuesday—Thursday, 8:30a.m.-11:30a.m.
Highland Cafe’
The Highland Cafe’ is open. If you want to serve, please contact us. Doors will be open Tuesday through Thursday, 8:30a.m.—11:30a.m throughout the summer.
Next Session — October 14th
Men’s Bible Study
Men, let’s get together. Let’s spend some time studying God’s Word and doing life together. We will have a meal, spend time together, then study God’s Word together. We will begin at 6pm. Register below. Please note — no childcare will be provided. If you are reading this in our weekly email, see the original post to access the form to register.
I love you, Highland.
See you Sunday,
Rob