Community UMC Sermon Devotionals

 Based on the sermon Forgiveness , found here:    https://kwssmithereens.blogspot.com/2026/09/forgiveness.html     A Six-Day Devotional on Matthew 18:21–35 — The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant Before you begin: read Matthew 18:21–35 in full from your own Bible. Each day below focuses on a slice of the passage — have it open beside you. Day 1: The Question Behind the Question Read: Matthew 18:21–22 Peter asks Jesus how many times he must forgive someone who sins against him, and offers seven as a generous number — more than double what the rabbis of his day typically taught. He expects to be praised for his generosity. Jesus answers with a number that isn't really a number: seventy times seven. He isn't handing Peter a new ceiling to count toward. He's removing the ceiling entirely. Peter's question reveals something we all do instinctively: we look for the edge of the obligation. How much is enough? When can I stop? It's a reasonable question t...

Based on the sermon Loving Correction found here:  https://kwssmithereens.blogspot.com/2026/09/loving-correction.html Introduction Matthew 18:15–20 sits at the heart of one of the most practical passages in the New Testament — Jesus' teaching on what to do when someone sins against you. It's not a passage about avoiding conflict. It's a passage about how to love someone enough to walk toward them. Over these six days, we'll move slowly through five verses, letting each phrase teach us something about honesty, humility, community, and the astonishing promise that closes the passage: that Christ himself is present when His people gather in His name. Read the full passage before you begin: Matthew 18:15–20 . Day 1: The Courage to Go Directly Focus: Matthew 18:15 Jesus begins with a scenario nobody enjoys: someone has wronged you. His instruction is startlingly simple — go to that person, privately, and tell them. Not to a mutual friend. Not to a group chat. ...