Welcome to this time of worship.
- Our service begins with the singing of one of two hymns, the more contemporary song being found here and the traditional hymn being here.
- The video and audio-only versions of the service are both located above.
- Following the blessing you are again invited to join in the singing of either a contemporary song or a traditional hymn.
Leading in worship today are: Patty, Jerry, Fiona and James.
To view the sermon only, copy & paste this link into your browser: https://youtu.be/Dp-d9OjgYb8
Sermon Summary and Questions:
"The Measure of the Kingdom" (James Maynard)
Peter asks Jesus, “How many times must I forgive?” He wants a number, a limit, a rule. But Jesus answers with a parable that takes the calculator out of Peter’s hands and reveals the measureless mercy of God’s kingdom.
A servant receives release from an impossible debt, yet refuses mercy to someone who owes him far less. His account has changed, but his heart has not. Jesus shows us that receiving mercy and living mercifully belong together. Forgiveness does not mean denying real harm, abandoning justice, restoring trust prematurely, or remaining in an unsafe relationship. For those carrying deep wounds, forgiveness may be a long journey.
We cannot manufacture a merciful heart through willpower alone. We need the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of our hearts to God’s immeasurable love and to form the life of Jesus within us. As we learn to see ourselves and others through God’s mercy, we can speak truth without hatred, establish wise boundaries, pursue justice without vengeance, and remain open to restoration.
The mercy we receive becomes the life we share. In this way, God’s new creation becomes visible among us, and we begin living the life for which we were made.
As we reflect on Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant, these questions invite us to consider what the story reveals about God’s mercy, what we may be carrying, and how God’s mercy might increasingly shape our hearts and lives.
So let me invite you to sit with three questions.
- What does this story show me about the God Jesus wants me to know?
- What am I carrying that makes it difficult for me to forgive as the King forgives?
- How might I keep my eyes on the mercy of the King, so that his mercy increasingly shapes my heart and my life?