Practical application

Readings for Sunday 23, 4th September are: 

Exodus 12:1-14 and Psalm 149  •

Romans 13:8-14  • 

Matthew 18:15-20

What a lot of people don't get about Christianity

is that it is about living together

How do humans live with God, and how do they live with each other?

While there is no doubt that religion can seem to be remote and ritualistic, 
this dimension only makes sense when it connects to life

Nowhere is this truer than in the Eucharist.

As we gather together to worship God
and share the Bread and Wine of Holy Communion
we are recognising that good experience of God

Is as fundamental 
as the food and drink we share

That God is present to us 
in the ordinary stuff of life

So we expect that 
the key stuff that we talk about

Should not only just sound good in theory 
it should be practical in application

Matthew’s advice about how to deal with disputes

Is sound and practical.

It emphasises discretion and forgiveness. 

It has about it mutuality and care

What else would we expect?

Apart form anything else 
it also says we should try.

A lot of reconciliation doesn’t happen 
because we can’t be bothered.

We would rather ignore conflict 

Than be reconciled.

Pride, embarrassment, arrogance, wilfulness

All stand in the way.

Christian principles suggest

That we should at least 
try!

It won’t always (or ever) be easy

But we are called to try, to engage seriously

In the practical implementation of the gospel

This week

• Where do we need prompting to be reconciled 
• What do I need to do? What precautions/supports are there that need to be applied?
• Are my strategies genuinely kind, patient, forgiving and loving?

IF I FORGET LORD

THAT I AM NOT CALLED TO BE SELF-RIGHTEOUS

THEN GENTLY PROMPT ME.

ALWAYS ENCOURAGE ME

       TO BE HUMBLE AND KIND

       FORGIVING AND LOVING