The church of Christ on McDermott Road

Lying, deceiving, and misleading people is part of the accepted way of doing business in the kingdoms of the world. However, Jesus calls the people of his kingdom to be people of truth, who say what is true and follow through on what they pledge to do. What does your family do to uphold a standard of truth?

Our world teaches us that our heart should call the shots; if we want to do something or we feel like doing something, then we should follow our heart. Jesus, on the other hand, teaches kingdom people to control their eyes, their hearts, their bodies and their minds. Is your family reinforcing a message of “follow your heart” […]

An introduction to the 2020 Summer Series on Paul’s letters

Jesus tells his followers to prioritize reconciliation above worship. If someone is angry with us, or we are angry with someone else, that becomes the priority even above offering a gift to God. Is it clear in your home that anger, bitterness, and resentment have no place and reconciliation takes priority? (Scripture: Matthew 5:21-26)

What have we learned from this series of lessons on friendship? What actions have been taken in our lives? What are some of the biggest potential pitfalls and some of the potential rewards?

Jesus explains, in the Sermon on the Mount, that his goal is to fulfill rather than abolish the Law and the Prophets. He is saying his ministry is part of that story. If we are followers of Jesus, our lives are also part of the story of the Law and Prophets. Are we teaching that big picture story […]

What can I reasonably expect of myself here? How do I balance my responsibility to reach out to new friends with my needs to be supported by my existing friends?

As a family, what is our mission? What are we trying to be in the world? What are we trying to accomplish in the world? Jesus defines the mission of kingdom families as being “salt” and “light.” What does it look like to be a family of light or a family of salt?

We must develop habits like checking in on friends and following up on difficult conversations, because the friends who stand beside us through life’s storms are the friends in whom we consistently invest.

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus redefines what it means to have the “blessed life.” The blessed life is a kingdom life; and a kingdom life is the very opposite of the earthly definition of a “blessed life.” So, how is “blessed” defined in our families?

It is our responsibility to make things right, not because it is our fault, but because the opportunity that friendship presents is worth the risk.

It’s hard to make plans right now, because we think to ourselves, “I don’t know when this situation will end or what will come next,” but James reminds his readers that we have never really known what the next day would hold, we just assumed we knew. So, how do we take next steps when it’s […]

Once you’ve become acquainted with a friend, how do you take things past that?

Every Christian, everyone who has been raised with Christ, can and should participate in the global mission of the church. Whether or not you ever go on a ‘mission trip,’ you are part of the global mission of the church. How are your actions, words, and prayers impacting the world for Christ?

It can be difficult to deal with some people.  How do we act in a Christ-like way with difficult people in our life?

In the previous lesson, we focused on the way we think (our focus); in this lesson, we will transition to Paul’s instructions about how we live. What does it look like to live a resurrected life? What does it look like to “put to death whatever is earthly” in us? In Colossians 2, Paul gets specific about what […]

Sometimes it can be isolating starting a friendship. You’ve demonstrated interest in them and they may not have shown similar interest in you. How can you make these new relationships deeper?

This Easter we celebrate not only Jesus’ resurrection, but also the sense in which we have “been raised with Christ.” Jesus’ resurrection means everything has changed; the same should be true for our lives, those of us who have been buried and raised with Christ, must have a completely new focus. In this lesson, we consider how setting […]

It can be difficult to know when the right time is to start a new relationship. Rather than worrying about the perfect thing to say, remember that demonstrating interest and making those first steps can be the hardest part.

Being serious about our “resurrection life” means being able to say “no” when the world threatens to derail our forward spiritual momentum with destructive and distracting philosophies. The only way to stand strong against these philosophies is to realize that a resurrected life is a filled life (a life that is lacking in nothing). When the world tells […]

What I can gain from acting charitably and well in a relationship is worth more than what I can get when I act poorly in a relationship

Near the end of David’s reign, he idolized military power and strength by numbering his troops, in spite of warnings not to do so. Because of his idolatry and his failure to trust in God’s strength, a severe plague came upon the nation. David finally took responsibility for his actions and sought God’s mercy. Have we ever been […]

The Biblical story of Paul and Silas – This instruction seems simple, if only by metaphor. “Many hands make light work”, “A cord of three strands is not be quickly broken”, etc. what is the difference between working toward a common goal and bearing each other’s burdens? How do we learn about burdens we should carry?

David’s own son, Absalom, conspires to steal the throne and David finds himself banished from Jerusalem. Psalm 3 is thought to be David’s song on this occasion. Though David had made many mistakes and was suffering the consequences of his own sins, he continued to trust that God would deliver him from the hands of his enemies. When […]