730 Olean Rd.
East Aurora, NY 14052

Dear Pathways Christian Fellowship family and friends, 

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08/27/2026

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For this coming Sunday's service, we will spend time with Matthew 16:21–28 and Romans 12:9–21. Together, these readings explain the cost of following Jesus and how that transformed life looks in daily practice.

 

Matthew 16:21–28: Jesus tells His disciples for the first time that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, and rise again. Peter objects, wanting a triumphant political king instead of a suffering Savior. Jesus sharply rebukes Peter, noting that Peter is thinking from a human viewpoint rather than God’s. Jesus further explains that following Him requires total surrender. Disciples must deny themselves, take up their cross, and lose their life for His sake to truly find it. Earthly power and material gain mean nothing if a person loses their soul.

 

Romans 12:9–21: Paul outlines how a surrendered life behaves in real community. Love must be genuine—hating evil and holding tightly to what is good. Believers are called to show enthusiasm in serving God, share in others' joys and sorrows, and live in harmony. Paul instructs believers not to repay evil with evil. Instead, they must live at peace with everyone as far as possible, leave vengeance to God, and conquer hostility through acts of kindness.

 

Matthew 16 defines the internal foundation of faith—surrendering one's ego, comfort, and life to follow Christ. Romans 12 describes the external fruit of that surrender—showing radical love, humility, and peace toward others.

Let's gather at 10:15am and worship the Lord together!

 

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Patrick