Christians should not expect to comfortably fit

into the patterns, practices, and beliefs of the

secular world. Worldliness is founded on self-

gratification, self-satisfaction, self-promotion,

and self-preservation. Christians are set apart

as holy unto the Lord. Our lives, our bodies, our

minds, our words, our actions, etc., are set apart

as vessels of worship unto the Almighty. Likewise,

worldliness within the Church produces a counter-

feit Christianity which strays from the gospel and

threatens the church's identity as the Spirit-filled

body of Christ. 

This Sunday, we begin our new series by consid-

ering the ministry of reconciliation. Reconciliation

is a key component of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We have been forgiven much, reconciled to the

almighty God through Christ's atoning sacrifice. In turn, the church is entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation. 

In preparation for this Sunday, read Matthew 18:21-35.