Matthew 18:5-17

"Dear Beloved, I began yesterday to share with you the four Immanuel passages in the book of Matthew. Recall that Immanuel is the name given to Me in...."

"[Jesus continued,] "If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you..."

"[Jesus continued,] "If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and..."

"If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search..."

Why do we not fight harder to stick with God's ideal? Paul reminds us of God's plan for marriage, without divorce; so let's fight to keep it.

"[Jesus continued,] "But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone...."

"[Jesus continued,] "So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It's better to enter eternal life with only one hand or....."

"Dear Beloved, Occasionally in an earthly family, a family member can lose his or her way. That person's behavior can become bizarre, erratic,..."

Does community like this actually exist? Phil Ware looks at Matthew 18 and radical community in our churches.

"[Jesus continued,] "And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.""

"[Jesus continued,] "Beware that you don't look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence..."

"[Jesus continued,] "If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you..."

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over."

"If your hand or your foot causes you to sin cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two..."

Whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me. - Matthew 18:5

Christ ecard of Matthew 18:10: Don't look down on these little ones. Therir angels always see the face of my father in heaven.

Inspirational illustration of Matthew 18:15 --

We were not made to do this discipleship thing alone. Phil Ware continues his series on experiencing God through Jesus, Immanuel, this time focusing upon our need for spiritual community, family, fellowship.

Living My Mission Under Social Distancing Phil Ware opens the New Testament and reminds of a great way to live out our mission while under social distancing, prayer because prayer has always been a virtual way of blessing others.

What do you do when things fracture between you and someone important to you? Phil Ware talks about what to do when relationships are shattered and how it feels easier to trade in those relationships for new ones, but asks if this is really smartest and if it honors Christ and our walk with God.

For God so loved us that he came to our world as a child. Phil Ware reminds us of the divine titles for Jesus in Matthew 1 and then drives home the point that this divine Christ, Messiah, Son of God, Immanuel, God with us, came to us as the child, Jesus.

Who can help your daughter when you can't be around? Phil Ware shares a memory from over ten years ago about his daughter and an angel.

Will anybody intervene? Will I intervene? We must learn to intervene to help children in our world.

So how do we get real about the church? Phil Ware continues his series from Matthew on God's presence in Jesus and this week talks about church as family, not community.

What do you see around you? God has his protection for us all around us if we will only ask for eyes to see.