09/08/2026
9-6-26 Sermon with Tim Craighton. Welcome back, Pastor Tim! 🙏❤️ We’ve missed you and are so thankful to see you feeling better and back with your church family!
**GO TO THEM FIRST**
📖 *Matthew 18:15–20*
Jesus gave us a pretty clear process for handling conflict.
If someone has wronged you, **go to that person first. One-on-one.**
He didn’t say:
Post about it on Facebook.
Tell everyone else what happened.
Send the group text.
Gather people who will agree with your side.
Make a vague post and hope they know it’s about them. 👀
He said, **“go and point out their fault, just between the two of you.”** — Matthew 18:15
Imagine how different our churches, families, friendships, and communities would look if we actually followed that instruction.
Matthew 18:15–20 teaches us that reconciliation should begin privately and personally. If that doesn’t work, then others may become involved—not to create sides or spread gossip, but to seek truth, accountability, and restoration.
That can be hard in today’s world.
We live in a time when it takes only seconds to post our frustration for hundreds of people to see, but sometimes it takes a lot more courage to sit across from one person and have an honest conversation.
**But Christians are called to be different.**
The worse our world gets, the greater our stand as Christians needs to be.
Not louder just for the sake of being loud.
Not harsher.
Not more judgmental.
But **more Christlike.**
More willing to forgive.
More willing to speak truth in love.
More willing to handle conflict Biblically.
More willing to go directly to someone instead of talking about them.
More willing to seek reconciliation instead of winning an argument.
And then Jesus gives us this beautiful reminder:
**“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”** — Matthew 18:20
Even in the uncomfortable conversations.
Even in disagreements.
Even when reconciliation is difficult.
**Christ is there.**
Before we post it, share it, text it, or tell someone else about it… maybe we should ask ourselves:
**Have I gone to them first?**
The world already knows how to divide.
Let’s show them what it looks like to follow Jesus. ✝️❤️