Imagine | Eighth Sunday After Pentecost | 07.19.26

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Are You Ready For Sunday…

Living out the word

In gardening, a weed is defined by the eye of the beholder, who decides if a plant is desirable or undesirable.

How does this principle apply or not apply in the context of the church?

How might the definition of weed change when the “beholder” is God?

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Talking the Text Podcast

Westminster Talking the Text Podcast for Sunday, July 19th, 2026 | Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 | with Sarah Bird Kneff, Sophie Maness, Stephanie Boaz, and Will Wellman

Talking the Text: your weekly resource for deeper insights into the Sunday scripture. Gain a richer understanding of the pastors’ reflections and prepare your heart and mind for worship with this valuable tool. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to enhance your spiritual journey every week!

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Worship Bulletin & Transcript

The entire sermon transcript will be available the week following the sermon.

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Worship Services

8:30 & 11 a.m. Recorded Services

The full worship service recordings will be posted here after each service.

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Sermon Podcast

The sermon podcast will be posted here after the worship services.

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Scripture

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

The parable of the weeds

13:24He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field,

13:25but while everybody was asleep an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and then went away.

13:26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well.

13:27And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?'

13:28He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' The slaves said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?'

13:29But he replied, 'No, for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them.

13:30Let both of them grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"

13:36Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field."

13:37He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man;

13:38the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one,

13:39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.

13:40Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.

13:41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers,

13:42and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

13:43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!