“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18

’ll be honest, when I think of a building with gates I think of the church. First Lutheran has a metal fence that goes all the way around it, so maybe it’s natural to think of this. So I’ve probably misread this passage from Jesus throughout the years. I’ve thought of the church as A Mighty Fortress too. But reread the verse. Who owns the gates? Who is on the defensive? Who is protecting their turf? It’s not the church. The church, it seems, is pushing against the gates of Hell. The church is the one doing the invading. Jesus has done it again, totally upended my thinking and challenged my preconceived notions. What might it mean to think of the church on the move working to overtake the defensive positions of the enemy?

-Pastor Travis

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