A House Divided

Historically The United Methodist Church has been on the forefront of pressing social issues, dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries around things such as the institution of slavery, the role of women in the Church and on through the Civil Rights era. This is not to say that we, by any means, have been perfect along the way. Our “walk” has not always followed our “talk.”

I’m wondering if once again The United Methodist Church has the opportunity to be an example on the issue of homosexuality, though perhaps not how you might guess. Is it possible The United Methodist Church could demonstrate what a graceful transition into a new denomination might look like? I’m not suggesting which “side” should chart a new course but rather if there is a way we might facilitate this, for either “side,” while demonstrating and living in the grace that is foundational to our theology?

With the completion of The UMC conference season and the division that has become more apparent moving from General Conference into the various Jurisdictional Conferences on the issue of inclusivity, I can’t help but wonder if it is only a matter of time before one “side” or the other will be forced to leave. The words of Jesus come to mind, “a house divided against itself will fall” (Mthw 12:25; Mk 3:25; Lk 11:17). Under our current “united” structure, I believe the hurt will only become deeper as individuals continue to press the issue, an issue that will not be going away anytime soon. We all share the goal of “creating disciples for the transformation of the world,” but the longer we remain divided, the more energy we all spend away from this mission.

Would the creation of a new denomination free both “sides” to do ministry in the way they feel called, respectively? Could a graceful creation and transition into a new denomination alleviate the hurt? Or would it cause more? What might another resolution look like?

I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts, I hope you feel welcome to share and brainstorm with me.

A Prayer for Today

I call to you, O Lord, from my quiet darkness. Show me your mercy and love. Let me see your face, hear your voice, touch the hem of your cloak. I want to love you, be with you, speak to you and simply stand in your presence. But I cannot make it happen. Pressing my eyes against my hands is not praying, and reading about your presence is not living in it.

But there is that moment in which you will come to me, as you did to your fearful disciples, and say, "Do not be afraid; it is I." Let that moment come soon, O Lord. And if you want to delay it, then make me patient. Amen.

~From A Cry for Mercy by Henri J. M. Nouwen

Wesley Sermon Read-Along

It all started when my Twitter friend and fellow UMCer Andrew Conard (@andrewconard and check out his blog here) mentioned he was thinking about rereading through some of Wesley's sermons that the idea took-off. I told him I would be interested in doing that with him and before we knew it, we had 25+ who wanted to form a Wesley read-along group. After a handful of emails back and forth, here is what Andrew and I came up with:

-We will host a Twitter chat each Monday night at 8:30pm cst/9:30pm est starting on June 4th.
-We will use the hashtag #jwchat for our Twitter conversations.
-We will read and discuss Wesley's first 8 sermons over an 8 week period, reading & discussing one sermon a week. You can find them online here and here. Here is our reading schedule: 

• Salvation by Faith (6/4)
• The Almost Christian (6/11)
• Awake, Thou That Sleepest (6/18)
• Scriptural Christianity (6/25)
• Justification by Faith (7/2)
• The Righteousness of Faith (7/9)
• The Way to the Kingdom (7/16)
• The First Fruits of the Spirit (7/23)

-We will use these 3 questions to guide our discussions each Monday:

• If you were to preach this sermon in 140 characters, what would it be?
• How did you hear God speaking to you through this sermon?
• What did you discover that is most relevant to your community?

Let me know if you have any questions, suggestions, or plan to join us.

Matthew 27:32-46

³² As they were going out, they found Simon, a man from Cyrene. They forced him to carry his cross. ³³ When they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Skull Place, ³⁴ they gave Jesus wine mixed with vinegar to drink. But after tasting it, he didn’t want to drink it. ³⁵ After they crucified him, they divided up his clothes among them by drawing lots. ³⁶ They sat there, guarding him. ³⁷ They placed above his head the charge against him. It read, “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.” ³⁸ They crucified with him two outlaws, one on his right side and one on his left.
 ³⁹ Those who were walking by insulted Jesus, shaking their heads ⁴⁰ and saying, “So you were going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, were you? Save yourself! If you are God’s Son, come down from the cross.”
 ⁴¹ In the same way, the chief priests, along with the legal experts and the elders, were making fun of him, saying, ⁴² “He saved others, but he can’t save himself. He’s the king of Israel, so let him come down from the cross now. Then we’ll believe in him. ⁴³ He trusts in God, so let God deliver him now if he wants to. He said, ‘I’m God’s Son.’” ⁴⁴ The outlaws who were crucified with him insulted him in the same way. ⁴⁵ From noon until three in the afternoon the whole earth was dark. ⁴⁶ At about three Jesus cried out with a loud shout, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani,” which means, “My God, my God, why have you left me?" (CEB)

Even in Jesus' death He was associated with the least and the lost. Crucified between two convicted criminals hung the Savior of the world. This act of humble obedience serves as the in-breaking of God's kingdom for without Christ's death, we would still be slaves to sin.

What does the death of Christ mean for you? How does it challenge your own obedience to God's will? 

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?

Matthew 26:57-68

⁵⁷ Those who arrested Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest. The legal experts and the elders had gathered there. ⁵⁸ Peter followed him from a distance until he came to the high priest’s courtyard. He entered that area and sat outside with the officers to see how it would turn out.
 ⁵⁹ The chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death. ⁶⁰ They didn’t find anything they could use from the many false witnesses who were willing to come forward. But finally they found two ⁶¹ who said, “This man said, ‘I can destroy God’s temple and rebuild it in three days.’”
 ⁶² Then the high priest stood and said to Jesus, “Aren’t you going to respond to the testimony these people have brought against you?”
 ⁶³ But Jesus was silent.
   The high priest said, “By the living God, I demand that you tell us whether you are the Christ, God’s Son.”
 ⁶⁴ “You said it,” Jesus replied. “But I say to you that from now on you’ll see the Human One sitting on the right side of the Almighty and coming on the heavenly clouds.”
 ⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He’s insulting God! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, you’ve heard his insult against God. ⁶⁶ What do you think?”
   And they answered, “He deserves to die!” ⁶⁷ Then they spit in his face and beat him. They hit him ⁶⁸ and said, “Prophesy for us, Christ! Who hit you?" (CEB)

I have never been spit on but imagine it is one of the more degradable things one human could do to another. I would think one of my first reactions would be to respond with violence if someone spit in my face and here we see Jesus, in complete humility, stand and take it.

It seems to me that in this difficult moment, the life and actions of Jesus speak quite profoundly, even in His silence. How do you use your silence? When do you find it appropriate to speak-up or remain silent? Even in the face of accusations or inaccuracies?

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?

Matthew 26:36-46

³⁶ Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He said to the disciples, “Stay here while I go and pray over there.” ³⁷ When he took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, he began to feel sad and anxious. ³⁸ Then he said to them, “I’m very sad. It’s as if I’m dying. Stay here and keep alert with me.” ³⁹ Then he went a short distance farther and fell on his face and prayed, “My Father, if it’s possible, take this cup of suffering away from me. However—not what I want but what you want.”
 ⁴⁰ He came back to the disciples and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you stay alert one hour with me? ⁴¹ Stay alert and pray so that you won’t give in to temptation. The spirit is eager, but the flesh is weak.” ⁴² A second time he went away and prayed, “My Father, if it’s not possible that this cup be taken away unless I drink it, then let it be what you want.”
 ⁴³ Again he came and found them sleeping. Their eyes were heavy with sleep. ⁴⁴ But he left them and again went and prayed the same words for the third time. ⁴⁵ Then he came to his disciples and said to them, “Will you sleep and rest all night? Look, the time has come for the Human One to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Get up. Let’s go. Look, here comes my betrayer.” (CEB)

Sometimes we try so hard and still fall short. These three disciples must have felt awful for falling asleep as their friend Jesus was feeling so much sadness and pain. Jesus must have felt so alone.

Good intentions are nice but not enough. Even in Jesus' prayer we see the need for active obedience, not simply an intention to obey. How might you move from intention to action? Has Lent challenged you in this way?

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?

Matthew 26:17-30

¹⁷ On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover meal?”
 ¹⁸ He replied, “Go into the city, to a certain man, and say, ‘The teacher says, “My time is near. I’m going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.” ’” ¹⁹ The disciples did just as Jesus instructed them. They prepared the Passover.
 ²⁰ That evening he took his place at the table with the twelve disciples. ²¹ As they were eating he said, “I assure you that one of you will betray me.”
 ²² Deeply saddened, each one said to him, “I’m not the one, am I, Lord?”
 ²³ He replied, “The one who will betray me is the one who dips his hand with me into this bowl. ²⁴ The Human One goes to his death just as it is written about him. But how terrible it is for that person who betrays the Human One! It would have been better for him if he had never been born.”
 ²⁵ Now Judas, who would betray him, replied, “It’s not me, is it, Rabbi?”
   Jesus answered, “You said it.” (CEB)

It was not as if Jesus had no idea Judas was about to betray Him and yet He still invited Judas to the table. We cannot afford to miss the weight of this act. Jesus chooses to share with one He knows will hurt Him.

Scratch out Judas' name and put yours or mine and the invitation from Jesus reads the same: "I know that you already have, and will likely again, hurt, betray, ignore me but your seat at the table is always open and ready for you. Come not because you deserve it, but because you're invited."

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage? 

Romans 12:14-21

¹⁴ Bless people who harass you—bless and don’t curse them. ¹⁵ Be happy with those who are happy, and cry with those who are crying. ¹⁶ Consider everyone as equal, and don’t think that you’re better than anyone else. Instead associate with people who have no status. Don’t think that you’re so smart. ¹⁷ Don’t pay back anyone for their evil actions with evil actions, but show respect for what everyone else believes is good.
 ¹⁸ If possible, to the best of your ability, live at peace with all people. ¹⁹ Don’t try to get revenge for yourselves, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath. It is written, Revenge belongs to me; I will pay it back, says the Lord. ²⁰ Instead, If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. By doing this, you will pile burning coals of fire upon his head. ²¹ Don’t be defeated by evil, but defeat evil with good." (CEB)

Think of the last time you shared in the emotions of another. What sort of impact did it have on you? What about the other person? Paul challenges us to do just that, enter into the emotions of others, not in a way that is unhealthy or self-serving but rather as a means of support.

One of the other things this does is level the playing field. Paul says, "Consider everyone as equal," which emotions give us the chance to do. Rich or poor, anger is anger. PhD or GED, sorrow is sorrow. Black or white, loneliness is loneliness. Sharing the emotions of another puts us face to face and heart to heart. Seems like a great picture of what it means to follow Jesus.

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?

Romans 12:9-13

⁹ Love should be shown without pretending. Hate evil, and hold on to what is good. ¹⁰ Love each other like the members of your family. Be the best at showing honor to each other. ¹¹ Don’t hesitate to be enthusiastic—be on fire in the Spirit as you serve the Lord! ¹² Be happy in your hope, stand your ground when you’re in trouble, and devote yourselves to prayer. ¹³ Contribute to the needs of God’s people, and welcome strangers into your home." (CEB)

Paul just got done describing the Church as the parts of a body working together. Now he is challenging us to love each other like family. Most families have a way of loving each other even when things get messy. It seems as though the Church should do the same. This sort of "family love" allows us to love each other even when life gets messy or when we need to challenge each other in some way. So, my question to you is: Are you an active part of a church family? Why or why not? If so, what kind of "family member" are you?

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?

Generational Divide

I am about to speak from my experience and in generalities, so please do not be offended if you do not fall into one of these categories or I misrepresent you in some way. Instead of getting upset, I would ask that you help me learn through meaningful dialogue. With that said...

I was born in 1979. Depending on who you ask or how you break it down, I am part of "Generation X" or "Millennials" (aka "Generation Y"). I can clearly see in myself I have characteristics of both. I see my education as a means to get where I'm going (Gen X) while also being committed to making social connections (Gen Y). I like the idea of saving money (Gen X) but am not afraid to spend it for something I might like (Gen Y...without being excessive). I look for ways to make things relevant to my life and culture and view leadership as an opportunity to serve, not a right that is earned.

I have been clergy within the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church since 2008, when I received my license as a full-time local pastor as a 29 year old. I have had the opportunity to be on staff with 6 different UMC pastors, all of which were older than me, some by more than 30yrs. In interactions with some of them as well as other clergy within my conference I have noticed the expectations each of them has for the office of "pastor" and how often they are much different than mine.

This is what makes me wonder if generational differences make an impact on clergy health. After having just read the Church Systems Task Force report I was struck by the relatively poor shape we are in as clergy; physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially, and socially. Throughout the report stress is named as the key cause of so much pain and unhealthiness. This makes sense to me as I talk with some of these older clergy and hear the expectations they have placed on themselves (along with parts of their congregations) about the need to be involved in everything that is going on in the life of the church. The belief that the senior pastor should be omniscient resonates with them.

I see this very differently, and perhaps it is generational. As a pastor (who is responsible for a considerable amount at my church) I recognize there will be plenty of things happening in the life of our church that I don't know anything about, and I'm not only ok with it, I'm thankful. My life and ministry have enough stress as it is that to add onto that the expectation of being involved in everything slows everyone down. I would suggest that this is simply not the way Gen Xers (or Gen Yers) are made. As a matter of fact, we don't expect the senior pastor of a church to know everything that is going on or participate in every event. We recognize this is not only unhealthy but not possible.

And so I continue to wonder, do generational differences impact the health, or lack thereof, of clergy within The United Methodist Church?

Romans 12:1-8

¹ So, brothers and sisters, because of God’s mercies, I encourage you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God. This is your appropriate priestly service. ² Don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God’s will is—what is good and pleasing and mature. ³ Because of the grace that God gave me, I can say to each one of you: don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to think. Instead be reasonable since God has measured out a portion of faith to each one of you. ⁴ We have many parts in one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function. ⁵ In the same way, though there are many of us, we are one body in Christ, and individually we belong to each other. ⁶ We have different gifts that are consistent with God’s grace that has been given to us. If your gift is prophecy, you should prophesy in proportion to your faith. ⁷ If your gift is service, devote yourself to serving. If your gift is teaching, devote yourself to teaching. ⁸ If your gift is encouragement, devote yourself to encouraging. The one giving should do it with no strings attached. The leader should lead with passion. The one showing mercy should be cheerful." (CEB)

What a beautiful picture of what the Church should be, a body of many parts with different jobs and the humility to serve each other (and the world) with our gifts. The unity of this body is so great that Paul even says, "we belong to each other." What could the life and impact of the Church look like if we lived in such a way that we belonged to one another? Not in some warped, selfish, take advantage of way but out of humility, mercy, and grace. What does that look like to you?

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?

John 15:1-12

¹ “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vineyard keeper. ² He removes any of my branches that don’t produce fruit, and he trims any branch that produces fruit so that it will produce even more fruit. ³ You are already trimmed because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch can’t produce fruit by itself, but must remain in the vine. Likewise, you can’t produce fruit unless you remain in me. ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce much fruit. Without me, you can’t do anything. ⁶ If you don’t remain in me, you will be like a branch that is thrown out and dries up. Those branches are gathered up, thrown into a fire, and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. ⁸ My Father is glorified when you produce much fruit and in this way prove that you are my disciples. ⁹ “As the Father loved me, I too have loved you. Remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have said these things to you so that my joy will be in you and your joy will be complete. ¹² This is my commandment: love each other just as I have loved you." (CEB)


There is a lot going on in this passage. Everything from the relationship of Israel and the "True Vine" to the directive of producing "good fruit." I would like to focus on the idea of being pruned (the CEB uses trimmed). I am by no means a master gardener and frankly, probably not even an amateur one at that but the concept of pruning makes a lot of sense to me. Cut away the dead stuff or even the stuff that won't produce fruit so it won't suck energy away from the parts that will in order to maximize growth. Sounds like a powerful spiritual practice to me. Could Lent be seen as a season of spiritual pruning? Which aspects of your life need pruning? 

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?

John 14:25-31

²⁵ “I have spoken these things to you while I am with you. ²⁶ The Companion, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I told you.
 ²⁷ “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I give to you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid. ²⁸ You have heard me tell you, ‘I’m going away and returning to you.’ If you loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than me. ²⁹ I have told you before it happens so that when it happens you will believe. ³⁰ I won’t say much more to you because this world’s ruler is coming. He has nothing on me. ³¹ Rather, he comes so that the world will know that I love the Father and do just as the Father has commanded me. Get up. We’re leaving this place." (CEB)

Disciples, meet the Holy Spirit. The "Companion," "Guide," and "Counselor." Not only does the Holy Spirit journey with us on the road of discipleship but becomes the agent of Christ's peace. A peace He leaves with us (perhaps in the form of the Holy Spirit?) and a peace He gives us. How might Christ be calling you to be an agent of His peace?

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?

Matthew 20:1-16

John 14:1-7, 18-19

¹ “Don’t be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in me. ² My Father’s house has room to spare. If that weren’t the case, would I have told you that I’m going to prepare a place for you? ³ When I go to prepare a place for you, I will return and take you to be with me so that where I am you will be too. ⁴ You know the way to the place I’m going.”
 ⁵ Thomas asked, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
 ⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you have really known me, you will also know the Father. From now on you know him and have seen him.”
¹⁸ “I won’t leave you as orphans. I will come to you. ¹⁹ Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too." (CEB)

The part that sticks out to me is when Jesus says, "so that where I am you will be too" (vs. 3). What a powerful image. We will be where Christ will be because He desires to have us there with Him. Maybe that's what He means when He calls Himself "the life," that where He is, there is life. 

What are the things that bring you life? How often do you stay near them? I wonder why we allow ourselves to get distracted and weighed down by things that don't bring life but instead stress, worry, etc. 

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?

John 8:1-11

¹ And Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. ² Early in the morning he returned to the temple. All the people gathered around him, and he sat down and taught them. ³ The legal experts and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery. Placing her in the center of the group, ⁴ they said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. ⁵ In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone women like this. What do you say?” ⁶ They said this to test him, because they wanted a reason to bring an accusation against him. Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger.
 ⁷ They continued to question him, so he stood up and replied, “Whoever hasn’t sinned should throw the first stone.” ⁸ Bending down again, he wrote on the ground. ⁹ Those who heard him went away, one by one, beginning with the elders. Finally, only Jesus and the woman were left in the middle of the crowd.
 ¹⁰ Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Is there no one to condemn you?”
 ¹¹ She said, “No one, sir.”
   Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on, don’t sin anymore.” (CEB)

What an incredible display of shame, regret, humiliation, grace, and restoration. I am struck by the way in which the "religious guys" seemed to care very little for the woman, other than to use her as a prop to trap Jesus. Jesus looks right through the words of the "religious" into the hearts of the crowd gathered to watch this spectacle, after all they thought they were about to witness someone getting stoned to death. And then Jesus hands down the verdict, "Whoever hasn't sinned should throw the first stone." The crowd goes silent and walks away leaving this woman to experience the love and mercy of God.

God loves you just where you are but loves you too much to leave you there and so Jesus says, "Go, and don't sin anymore." Hear Christ's words to you, "Neither do I condemn you. Now go, stop sinning." May you experience restoration that brings about transformation.

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?

John 3:16-21

¹⁶ God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life. ¹⁷ God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him isn’t judged; whoever doesn’t believe in him is already judged, because they don’t believe in the name of God’s only Son.  ¹⁹ “This is the basis for judgment: The light came into the world, and people loved darkness more than the light, for their actions are evil. ²⁰ All who do wicked things hate the light and don’t come to the light for fear that their actions will be exposed to the light. ²¹ Whoever does the truth comes to the light so that it can be seen that their actions were done in God.” (CEB)

Many of us are familiar with vs. 16 but how often do we keep reading to see God's desire to reconcile the world to Himself. I wonder if it's not about avoiding judgment as much as it is about receiving a judgment of mercy. Mercy that we have freely received can also be mercy we can freely give. What does salvation through Christ look like to you? How does/has/should it effect the way you live?

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?

Matthew 19:16-22

¹⁶ A man approached him and said, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to have eternal life?”
 ¹⁷ Jesus said, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There’s only one who is good. If you want to enter eternal life, keep the commandments.”
 ¹⁸ The man said, “Which ones?”
   Then Jesus said, “Don’t commit murder. Don’t commit adultery. Don’t steal. Don’t give false testimony. ¹⁹ Honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you love yourself.”
 ²⁰ The young man replied, “I’ve kept all these. What am I still missing?”
 ²¹ Jesus said, “If you want to be complete, go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. And come follow me.”
 ²² But when the young man heard this, he went away saddened, because he had many possessions. (CEB)

Discipleship would be so much easier if there was a detailed list we could check-off as we went through life.

Volunteer working with the homeless, √. 

Give some money to church, √. 

Read the Bible some, √.

Prayer some, √.

This is what the guy was asking Jesus about. What other good thing did he need to do in order to go to heaven?

We ask this same question in different ways and at different times, don't we? We get obsessed with being "good" and instead Jesus is looking for us to be obedient. Jesus is not looking for us to check one more "good" thing off the list, just like He told the man to sell everything he had (aka "give me yourself"), He wants all of our lives, in relationship and obedience. How are you trading being good for being obedient?

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?

Matthew 18:21-22

²¹ Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Should I forgive as many as seven times?”
 ²² Jesus said, “Not just seven times, but rather as many as seventy-seven times." (CEB)

The point of this dialogue is not to have Peter (or us) sharpen our math skills but rather the power of forgiveness. Stop for a second and think about this question from another perspective...what if God was asking how many times He had to forgive you and me? 

All of a sudden "seventy-seven" (or some translations say "seventy times seven") doesn't seem like that many. Remember, the focus is not to track the number of times you forgive someone and once he or she gets to 490 times you don't have to forgive him or her anymore. Just like the number seven represents "wholeness" in the Bible, the point of Jesus' response is to forgive wholly. What does it look like for you to forgive wholly? Who needs to receive forgiveness from you today?

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage? 

Matthew 18:1-5

¹ At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
 ² Then he called a little child over to sit among the disciples, ³ and said, “I assure you that if you don’t turn your lives around and become like this little child, you will definitely not enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Those who humble themselves like this little child will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. (CEB)

 What a question to ask. Not to say that some of us haven't wanted to ask questions just like this one. Before Jesus even utters a word, He makes a powerful statement by calling a child over to sit with them. The disciples had become obsessed with the idea of an earthly kingdom and needed to be refocused, what better way to do that than by looking at a child.

This is a story about the greatness of humility and how we must make that a legitimate part of our lives and attitudes. What does it look like for you to "become like a little child?" 

What do you find meaningful, confusing, or challenging in this passage?