Rutledge Methodist Church

10/23/2026

Join us Sunday, October 25, 11:15a.
Hear Pastor Bryce's message, "Final Jeopardy."

RMC is the place to Be!
Come and See!

10/23/2026

A PREREQUISITE
OCTOBER 23

MATTHEW 7:13_Enter ye in at the strait gate…

Jesus teaches there are two ways to enter this trip called life. Each entrance has a gate.

Jesus says enter at the strait gate—a path designed to lead you to treasure—an abundance of treasure.

These are treasures only God can give—far more valuable than anything the world offers.

Things like:

1 Timothy 6:6 (KJV), “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

Stop and think what life would be like if you were content. That means you would be satisfied—not constantly wanting, changing, or re-arranging. It does not mean you shouldn’t ask, seek, or knock for improvements. It simply means you know the peace that comes with being satisfied.

Notice a prerequisite to this kind of contentment: godliness. When you enter at the strait gate, you will find godliness before you find contentment.

Psalm 5:8 (KJV), “Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.”

Psalm 31:3 (KJV), “For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.”

Psalm 25:4 (KJV), “Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.”

Ask God to help you enter at the strait gate.

PRAYER
Righteous Lord, I don’t know how to find the strait gate, but I can follow You.
In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ leads to the strait gate—I will follow Him!

10/22/2026

GOOD AND BETTER
OCTOBER 22

MATTHEW 7:13_Enter ye in at the strait gate…

Your world entry: you are born.

Your adulthood entry: you make decisions for yourself.

There is always some form of authority—first and foremost God’s. When parents no longer pick you up, take you places, or make decisions for you. It is time to spread your wings and fly!

Jesus wants you to enter adult life through the strait gate. You’ve heard about the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? God has something that good—and better! Through the strait gate!

Jesus has not quite completed His sermon, but everything He has taught thus far leads to the right path. By the time you reach the end of this sermon, you will have uncovered an extremely large treasure (and this is only three chapters out of the entire Bible!).

John 14:2-5 (KJV), “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?”

Thomas wasn’t sure about the way. Jesus’ says it’s the strait gate!

PRAYER
Eternal God, I want to enter in at the strait gate.
In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ is the strait gate—He will lead me!

10/21/2026

10/21/2026

RESTORE – NOT DESTROY
OCTOBER 21

MATTHEW 7:12_for this is the law and the prophets.

Put this principle in simple terminology. Think about how you want to be treated, then treat everyone else that way. Think about how you want to be talked to, and talk that way to everyone else.

As a salty-lit-up disciple you want to restore broken people and relationships—not destroy them. You want to shed light in a dark place—not make it darker.

The apostle Paul says it very well in Galatians 6:1 (KJV), “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”

We can be too indulging and too enabling with people, but we can’t be too kind or too gentle.

Matthew 7:12 has long been known as The Golden Rule. Jesus says this rule is the fulfillment of the Law.

Paul also says it in Galatians 5:14 (KJV),“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

Jesus taught the radical 180 degree turn when it came to the Law. However, He also taught that His radical way was not intended to destroy the Law or the prophets.

The very basis of the Law is love—which is why Jesus fulfills it.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, Let me treat others with compassion and gentleness.
In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ knows the Law is based on love—He fulfills it!

10/20/2026

THE KEY WORD
OCTOBER 20

MATTHEW 7:12_Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them…

Matthew 18:15 (KJV), “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.”

Someone has trespassed into your life. What is the key word in this verse to keep you from falling into the gossip pit? Did you say alone? You got it! The verse does not say spread the news around the whole neighborhood, or church. Deal with it between the two of you.

If private conversation has not resolved the problem, you may need to take a couple of people with you to serve as witnesses. If that doesn’t work, Jesus says for the two of you to take the matter before your church leaders. If the devil has a stronghold when you and the offender talk together, talk separately with the church leaders: same leaders – same conversations. In neither of these cases are you advised to spread the offense outside of Jesus’ set boundaries. (Matthew 18:16-17)

Hopefully, a private conversation, without involving others, can resolve a personal offense. Often offenses are unintentional. You don’t always know how others may perceive what you say.

Besides self-sacrifice, another essential to true love is to give your loved one the benefit of the doubt.

Talk about it.

PRAYER
Holy Jesus, Help me learn to speak carefully and not offend others. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ set boundaries for offenses – I will not cross them!

10/19/2026

WRONG!
OCTOBER 19

MATTHEW 7:12_Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them…

What’s in your heart is seen in your actions and heard in your words. If you find any kind of pleasure in hurting people, your heart is showing. If you receive some kind of power surge in causing someone to cry, your heart is showing.

Let’s use the adulteress woman we previously studied as an example. Is it your duty to spread the news around as to what she had done—caught in the act, no less? After all, everyone needs to know. And it’s true, so it’s not gossip, right? Wrong! If it’s true keeps it from being slander. It does not keep it from being gossip.

Gossip spreads personal news, which may be factual and true, with someone who is not involved in the issue. Gossip spreads harmful information with the objective of exposing someone else’s failures.

If there is a situation which needs to be discussed, all involved should be present for the discussion. Behind the back discussions are never good. Regardless of truth or facts, motives and intentions are something the accused should be allowed to speak for themselves.

As gossip spreads, generally the more it is exaggerated.

PRAYER
Merciful Jesus, Help me know when to keep my mouth shut!
In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ knows the true facts – I don’t need to tell others!

10/18/2026

A DESTRUCTIVE WEAPON
OCTOBER 18

MATTHEW 7:12_Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them…

Jesus leaves no room to pick and choose when it comes to how you should treat people. It’s just like Him to say all things. You can wiggle and squirm, but you can’t get past all things. This principle is like the judgment boomerang—only dish out what you would want dished to you.

For example, what is something most people do without thinking, and would never call it by its name? Yet, it is one of the most destructive weapons in any relationship, at any age, or stage of life:

Gossip!

Stop and ask yourself would you want someone to gossip about you? Then ask yourself if you gossip about others. Take physical features for example. Do you talk about, criticize, or make fun of the physical features of others behind their back? Perhaps the one you are, let’s go ahead and say it, gossiping about has some kind of defect. For whatever reason, you just feel it is your duty to spread the news around. But then, maybe you were born beautiful.

Somehow you feel that justifies your gossip.
Sounds like you do have a defect. It is not physical, but just as easily seen—time for a heart exam.

PRAYER
God of Heaven and Earth, Help me treat others as I want to be treated.
In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ treats me with compassion—He teaches me how!

10/17/2026

YOU ARE PRECIOUS IN GOD’S SIGHT
OCTOBER 17

MATTHEW 7:11_how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?

You are precious in God’s sight. Never let the devil tell you otherwise.

What Jesus is teaching in this verse is a kind of comparison lesson between earthly fathers and the heavenly Father. If you are blessed with a responsible and loving father, never cease to praise God for him. If you have an adoptive or foster father, as many people in the Bible had, praise God for bringing you together as family.

Pray for your father. He faces tremendous responsibilities that you are not old enough to fully understand. Do everything in your power to support, help, and encourage him. Make your gratefulness known to him—don’t just assume he knows it. And more than anything love and respect him.

If an earthly father will meet your needs, because he hears you when you ask—what are the capabilities of your heavenly Father? He is the owner of the universe. His love and compassion are as big as His kingdom—which knows no end.

If your earthly father experience did not go well—you have the opportunity for an even closer relationship with your heavenly Father.

PRAYER
Owner of the Universe, Help me see the vastness of Your power and love.
In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ’s abilities are boundless—He uses them for me!