How are you doing? Kind of a strange way to start a weekly thought, I know, but it's a common question. We usually ask it when we see someone we know, like when we arrive at church on Sunday morning, but often it's just another way to say hello. We don't really want to know how you're doing -- not really. After all, you could say you're not doing well and then we'd be obligated to stop and listen, and we really just want to get our kid down the hall to Sunday School (you do take your kids to Sunday School, right?). But sometimes you have to stop and listen because it's important. And it's very helpful when we do that.

So, let's start again. How are you doing? Maybe you're struggling with brokenness, loneliness, abuse, loss, relational mistakes, or just plain old everyday anger. It's hard to figure out how to move on. It's even harder to figure out how to forgive those people who brought the brokenness, loneliness, abuse, loss, relational mistakes, and just plain old everyday anger into your life. Or maybe you brought them upon yourself (well, not you, but someone else for sure). And all of that is a way to get us to start thinking about one of those Biblical concepts that we all agree with, but find incredibly hard to put into practice -- and that's forgiveness.

Our passage this week, Matthew 18:21-35, is all about forgiveness. Last week we talked about how the church has to deal with unrepentant sinners. This week we get to talk about how you and I as individuals have to deal with those who've sinned against us, who've hurt us, who've wronged us. And, in the process, Jesus teaches us a whole lot about our own hearts. And if we stop and listen to Him, we'll find out it's not only important, but it's also very, very helpful.

See you Sunday! Dr. Dave