The Mysteries of Compassion
This matter of forgiveness is very hard. And here, while I admit it is hard to do, I mean hard in another sense. Let me give two examples…

The Mysteries of Compassion
People like to look down on people. Have you noticed that? Years ago there was a very funny half-hour program. It was called, “Corner Gas”, and it was set in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.

The Mysteries of Compassion
People like to look down on people. Have you noticed that? Years ago there was a very funny half-hour program. It was called, “Corner Gas”, and it was set in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.

The Mysteries of Compassion
There is an older German story, the story of Faust, written by Johann Wolfgang Goethe in the 16th century.

The Mysteries of Compassion
This is not the first time in this section of Matthew where we are forced to examine the role of Scripture in the life of a follower of Jesus.

The Mysteries of Compassion
I’ve seen it many times. A group of people from a local church, perhaps even a youth or college group, will go on a short term missions trip. And they are inspired.

The Mysteries of Compassion
Richard Baxter was an English Puritan pastor who lived in the 17th century. His most famous work is a book entitled, “The Reformed Pastor” and its still a great help to many pastors today.

The Mysteries of Compassion
You have probably heard it before. Someone says, “It’s just a cross I have to bear.” When people say that, they remember the words of Jesus. But they apply his words in a peculiar fashion.

The Mysteries of Compassion
There is a story I have heard several times. I don’t think it’s a true account, but I wish it was. At any rate, so the story goes, a man was accepting tickets to get onto a train…

The Mysteries of Compassion
In today’s passage, here in Matthew 16 and then in Matthew 18, these are the only places in the gospels where we find the word, “church”. And that’s interesting.