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(Matthew 18:21–35 ). God has forgiven you the debt of sin without limit, enabling you to forgive others. Silent Prayer: Lord Jesus, live in me and forgive these people through me. I need You. Amen. Engaging Today’s Sermon Text - A Guide for Reflection, Conversation and Prayer for this Week: What was Jesus suggesting with his "seventy times seven"?Are feelings the major problem with the unforgiving servant, or is it his actions? Over time, can God change our feelings too?From what you know of Jesus’ character, is He going to judge you harshly because you are still in the process of forgiving someone, and have asked for His help?

(Matthew 18:1–20). Christ committed himself to seek and save us, and we are commissioned to restore our errant brothers and sisters. Silent Prayer: Dear Jesus, Grant me the courage to respond to your commission to seek out and restore those caught in any sin. Let me do this in a spirit of gentleness, motivated by love. Amen. Engaging Today’s Sermon Text - A Guide for Reflection, Conversation and Prayer: Why is it an act of love to speak to a fellow Christian about some dangerous sin they’re involved in? (See also Galatians 6:1-2).Have you ever had to do this? Where did you find the courage?Has anyone ever done this for you? What feelings did you have about it, and why?

(Matthew 16:21–28 ). Jesus today redefines our life with his own cross. The work that Christ is going to do is sometimes very different from what we expect. And we find ourselves opened to God working in a mysterious way in our life and doing something that we wouldn't even have imagined. Engaging Today’s Sermon Text - A Guide for Reflection and Prayer: Read Matthew 16:21-28 and answer these questions: 1. Why did Peter say, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you” (verse 22)? Why was Jesus so harsh with Peter? 2. Relate a time in your life when you asked in prayer, “I thought I knew you, God. Why are you working this way?” 3. What does it mean to deny self and pick up the cross? How is the self-denial really about somehow living a life which in some way bears witness to the cross, either through service, confession, worship, or witness?

(Daniel 4:28–37) Daniel 4 teaches that our greatest test in life may not be when we hit a dead end but when we hit easy street. Don’t believe me? Then just look at Nebuchadnezzar! Engaging Today’s Sermon Text - A Guide for Reflection and Prayer: Read Daniel 4:1–37 and answer these questions:  1. How does God test Nebuchadnezzar with success? How does God test you with success? 2. James 4:6 states, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” How is this an apt commentary on Daniel 4? 3. What steps does Nebuchadnezzar take to recover from his massive fall?

(Daniel 3:12–25). Today we look at Daniel 3. What will we see? The Heat is On! The heat—for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—was peer pressure. We feel the same heat! Engaging Today’s Sermon Text - A Guide for Reflection and Prayer: Read Daniel 3:12–25 and answer these questions:  1. What kind of peer pressure are you under? What kind of peer pressure did Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego face? 2. Why is Daniel 3:25 the key to the narrative? Who is “a son of  the gods”? 3. What bold stand does God want you to make?

(Daniel 2:1-19). What is your mission impossible? Is it business related? Family related? Finance related? Have no fear, Daniel 2 is here!   Engaging Today’s Sermon Text - A Guide for Reflection and Prayer: Read Daniel 2:1–49 and answer these questions:  1. What impossible situations have you recently found yourself in? 2. What is impossible for Daniel? How does God help him? 3. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream includes a Stone—the Lord Jesus Christ. How does his power and might empower you to face your mission impossible?

How do we avoid conforming to our culture? We follow this verse—“Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself.” (Daniel 1:8) God will strengthen our resolve, too! Scripture Readings: The readings are about thriving when we’re pressured to conform. OT: Daniel 1:8–21; EP: Romans 12:1–2; GO: Matthew 5:10–16 Engaging Today’s Sermon Text - A Guide for Reflection and Prayer: 1. Why is Daniel 1:8 the turning point in chapter 1? 2. What character traits do you admire most about Daniel? 3. How did God bless Daniel’s obedience? (See Daniel 1:19–20

For the next eight weeks, we will delve into the Old Testament Book of Daniel. The series is called -- Thriving No Matter What Hits You. Today’s topic? When Our World Ends! Scripture Readings: The readings are about thriving when our world ends: OT: Daniel 1:1–7; EP: Romans 5:1–5; GO: John 14:1–10. Use the following questions as a guide for further reflection and prayer. Let's remain in God’s Word this summer! Engaging Today’s Sermon Text - A Guide for Reflection and Prayer: Try to imagine what this might have been like for the Jews to be in exile/deported to Babylon. What might this have been like for them? What might they have felt?   If we stubbornly refuse to see that God ends things to protect us, perfect us and direct us, then we add to our suffering. How so? How can Jesus’ resurrection change the way we look at situations when it might look like the end of our world?

(Job 41:20-34) Job 41 ends with this description of Leviathan. “On earth is not his equal.” These words famously appear in Martin Luther’s hymn, A Mighty Fortress is our God.  On Palm Sunday Christ was greeted with palm branches—the ancient symbol for victory. Job 41 is also all about victory. God’s victory over that same evil foe who still means deadly woe!

(John 9:1-41). Jesus healed the blind man and gave him eyes to see—not only to see the physical world around him but also to see Jesus as the Christ (John 9)—so Jesus heals our sinful blindness and gives us eyes to see the truth. Ultimately, it is the light of Christ that enlightens our vision and reveals who we truly are.

(Romans 5:1-8). Paul doesn’t tell me that suffering is like some spiritual exercise. He speaks of God pouring out a gift into my heart. Suffering is not the cause, but the occasion of God’s gift of love and thus Paul’s occasion for joy.

(II Peter 1:16-21). Peter has seen and touched and heard the Lord of Life speak. Peter’s experience of the One who is the Truth is far more substantive than any myth.

(I Corinthians 2:1-12). Paul is trying to get his congregation and us to lose our reliance on the ways of this world. He uses the example of his own preaching, but also notes that it came among them with power and the Spirit of God. It was not because Paul was right, but God was right. Thus, both Paul and the Corinthians need to put aside their own ideas and let the Spirit of God have his way with them.

(Matthew 2:13-23). The slaughter of the innocents may seem like a macabre theme for the Sunday after Christmas. Herod clearly was due for some coal in his Christmas stocking. Can’t we just let the season be and forget all this nasty stuff? It would be nice to continue the sentimentality of Christmas and just leave this story unread. But to do so would be to miss Christmas’ greatest point. In the face of evil, in the face of trauma, in the face of suffering, God works in hidden ways.

(Luke 1:26-38): We contemplate the name Jesus, which was given to him at his birth. It is a reminder to us of his reason for entering into our world: He came to save us. You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. Luke 1:31.