September 6, 2026

In this sermon, Pastor Lesley reflects on Matthew’s call to Christian community, reconciliation, and life together as the body of Christ. She imagines the early church trying to live faithfully across differences in tradition, culture, and practice, and reminds us that discipleship is not just about belief, but about learning to listen, forgive, reconcile, and love one another well.

Moving from reconciliation and forgiveness to the promise that where two or three are gathered Christ is present, Pastor Lesley asks what it really means for Kihei Lutheran Church to be the body of Christ in tangible, everyday ways. It means filtering every word, action, and decision through the lens of God’s love, breaking down barriers, welcoming the stranger, speaking truth in compassion, and serving both one another and the wider community.

This message challenges both individuals and the congregation to examine where they fall short and to imagine how different church life could be if everything were shaped first by grace, mercy, peace, and the work of the Holy Spirit. Even something as familiar as passing the peace becomes more than a routine gesture—it becomes a living expression of unity, love, and the presence of Christ among us.