Matthew 18 is Jesus' fourth of five major teaching blocks recorded in the book of Matthew. This set of teachings is all about our interpersonal relationships with other believers as we together become the people of God, though Western individualism may cause some of us to miss what Jesus is saying. These first verses form the extended metaphor (becoming like children) that Jesus will use for much of the rest of the chapter. Today we explore this metaphor, and the first implications for our relationships with one another in community.

The Living Water Network is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠decentralized network of relationships⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ unified by a love for Jesus and his Kingdom, an affirmation of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠microchurch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and a desire to reach the hard places in the world characterized by violent conflict, persecution, crushing poverty, and compromised rule of law. This podcast is a place for collected teachings that are useful to those within the network.

What was the strategy Jesus used to overthrow the evil empire of his day? What can we learn from the way of Jesus as we encounter systems of power around us that run counter to the reign and rule of Jesus?

This week, we dive into the nature of power and authority in human systems of control. These insights give us a better understanding of how the fearless death of Jesus on the cross disarmed the oppressive empire of his day. And they help us see that the word of our own testimonies--even when everything around us is going wrong--makes it impossible for our spiritual enemy to win. Our fearless, faith-filled testimonies have the power to dismantle empires.

The Living Water Network is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠decentralized network of relationships⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ unified by a love for Jesus and his Kingdom, an affirmation of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠microchurch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and a desire to reach the hard places in the world characterized by violent conflict, persecution, crushing poverty, and compromised rule of law. This podcast is a place for collected teachings that are useful to those within the network.

Music from #Uppbeat:

⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/roo-walker/over-the-horizon⁠

License code: UJ3RGAPIIJUJ8KWU

How are Christians to respond to evil human empires? What does redeemed humanity look like in the midst of systemic injustice, despotic leaders, and geopolitical instability? For many Asian leaders in the Living Water Network, this is their present reality.

Daniel had plenty of experience with tyrannical kings, unjust systems, and wild geopolitics. His lifestyle is characterized by critical distance, humility, fearlessness, and nonviolence. The Bible holds up Daniel's lived example as an example we can follow as well when the world around us seems to go sideways.

The Living Water Network is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠decentralized network of relationships⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ unified by a love for Jesus and his Kingdom, an affirmation of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠microchurch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and a desire to reach the hard places in the world characterized by violent conflict, persecution, crushing poverty, and compromised rule of law. This podcast is a place for collected teachings that are useful to those within the network.