Looking into the lectionary - When ruling elders preside at Communion 🍷

Matthew 22:15-22 21st Sunday after Pentecost 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time October 18, 2026 As Christians, we live with one foot in our world and one foot in the kingdom of God. We are called to act as citizens of the kingdom of God, a kingdom that doesn’t run on greed, popularity or hierarchy. But we also live in our world with traditions, rules and experiences that run counter to kingdom living. We are called to share what we have in abundance, making sure that everyone has enough. Yet, we are not fully confident that others would be as generous with us if the tables suddenly turned. We are called to have mercy and not judge others based on worldly definitions of worthiness. Yet, our world champions the independent spirit that can pull themselves up by their bootstraps. We are called to live lives intertwined with others. Yet, we wonder if this is the worst group project ever. In Matthew 22:15-22, the Herodians and the Pharisees, two groups that generally did not get along, come together to face a common enemy. Both factions are very concerned about Jesus’s influence and seek to trap him. By asking him about taxes, Jesus will either champion the ways of the Roman Empire, risking his popularity with the Jewish population who disfavored the taxes, or champion the ways of the kingdom of God, putting him at odds with the Roman authorities. Perhaps you have felt this tug before as well. Do you live according to the rules you’ve learned on Sunday, even if that makes living comfortably and getting ahead in the world Monday through Saturday more difficult? How much do you resist your community’s rules for an ideal life that sometimes seems so out of reach? How much do you push back against the community practices or governmental policies when they seem out of line with Christian discipleship? First, it is important to note that Jesus recognizes the trap set for him. This is not an easy question for him or for us. As Christians who straddle these two kingdoms, we must be mindful about our answers. ... Thank you to this week's writer, Rae Watson. Read the rest of the commentary at pres-outlook.org. Want the worship resources for October 11, 2026? You can find them here. A practical guide to new and noteworthy Advent resources for worship, small groups, congregations and individual devotion. Today at 1 pm ET!  Register to receive the recording.

Order of worship — October 18, 2026, by Rae Watson You have youth. They just aren’t in your pews. by Phillip Blackburn What are our worship songs teaching us? by Shea Watts When ruling elders preside at Communion by Joel Moody

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