The church of Christ on McDermott Road

Scripture: John 21

Scripture: Mark 5:30-34

Scripture: Exodus 14

One of the primary reasons Israel was supposed to love and care for their neighbors was because they were God’s holy representatives. Their generosity towards the poor, their honesty, their justice, and their forgiveness were supposed to represent God’s holy character to the world. As followers of Jesus, we are filled with God’s Holy Spirit. Therefore, our lives and […]

Scripture: Genesis 6

The modern world has as many idols as the ancient world, they are just a little more insidious. An idol is not just something we treat as more important than God. God has never been interested in simply being our favorite God, he wants to be our ONLY God. We must make sure we don’t worship God on […]

Clarence Ross, Jr. Scripture: Genesis 1 In the opening message of our Summer Series, Clarence Ross Jr. reminded us that God is not limited by time, space, or circumstance. Drawing from Genesis 1 and Daniel 3, he encouraged us to trust in a God who brings order from chaos—not by force, but by speaking. When life […]

As many commentaries have remarked on this passage, “Holiness begins in the home.” When Israel was commanded to be holy, the first instruction was for children to revere their parents. This idea is not only echoed in the New Testament, it is infused with even greater meaning “in Christ.” When we listen to, learn from, honor, obey, submit […]

Sexual immorality has always been a sin with very serious consequences; it defiles everyone involved and makes them unclean. Additionally, under the Law of Moses, even the lawful intimacy of a husband and wife made them temporarily unclean. In Christ, our bodies have been purchased and have become the temple of God. This makes sexual […]

Under the Law of Moses, if a person came into contact with bodily discharges or skin diseases, that person was unclean and unable to participate in tabernacle worship until they had been purified. They had not sinned by touching the sick, but they were no longer holy. Jesus, on the other hand, is incorruptibly holy. He touched the sick […]

A Christian woman is a holy priest. When she gives birth to a baby, she is (especially in the ancient world) risking her health and her life for the sake of another. She is coming in close contact with mortality (Leviticus 12), but Jesus has defeated and removed ceremonial impurity. So now, a woman can be in the […]

The new creation has arrived and we are part of it in Christ. Therefore, we need to learn to see the present world as a place where we don’t belong, because it is passing away. This world around us is a dying and decaying place, filled with mixed-up priorities and empty promises. When we see the world through […]

When a person believes the Good News and is born again by the water and Spirit, they become part of the new creation. In a sense, they’ve already been resurrected and are living as a bit and piece of the new creation right in the middle of the old creation. The new creation life is […]

Scripture is that a new heavens and new earth is coming. God will raise the dead and bring about the renewal of all things. Many of the first-century Jews believed this promise and were waiting for this day. However, what they didn’t seem to expect is for the new creation to break out right in […]

As surprising as it might be to us, the Creator of the Universe loves humans. He created us to co-rule with him over creation, to be his images in the world. So, when he sent his Son to become a human and die to rescue humanity, it makes sense within the overall story. Therefore, if […]

 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a […]

Paul expressed his gratitude for what God had done in the lives of the Thessalonians. He saved them, not just in what they are saved from, but in what they are saved to become. Paul prayed for “our Lord Jesus Christ, and God our Father,” to continue strengthening these Christians. God doesn’t just expect people to do good through […]

In his second letter, Paul praised the Thessalonians for their steadfastness “in all [their] persecutions and in the afflictions that [they were] enduring.” Paul said their suffering was making them, “worthy of the kingdom of God.” Suffering is an important part of the process of sanctification. Of course, none of us relish suffering, but if we desire to be […]

The Thessalonians were surrounded by unbelievers who gave their bodies over to “the passion of lust.” They lived their lives in the darkness. But Paul told the Christians that God’s will for them was their “sanctification,” telling them to “control [their] own body in holiness and honor.” They were to live as, “children of light, children of day.” […]

After Paul was run out of town, he was concerned about the Thessalonians church: Had they been taught enough? Would they persevere through trials and persecution? Would they remain faithful? Finally, Paul received word from Timothy that the church was in deed “standing fast in the Lord.” Paul prayed that they would continue to do […]

When Paul preached in Thessalonica, not everyone believed. A mob was formed, a riot broke out, and the city was thrown into turmoil. In spite of this “severe suffering,” those who believed, “became a model” to believers in other areas. Paul commended these Christians for turning “to God from idols to serve the living and […]

Scripture: Romans 10:14-17

Being saved, cleansed, purified, and sanctified means we have no need to fear the Second Coming of Jesus. In fact, we ought to long for that day and pray that it comes quickly. Furthermore, knowing that day is coming should completely change the way we live our lives. As Peter says, “Since all these things are thus to […]

Being God’s chosen, elect, and called people is not a passive identity. It is an identity we must live into. Peter tells his audience to “be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election.” In other words, we need to live in such a way that proves or demonstrates we are God’s sanctified […]

Most modern Westerners think very individualistically, even about our spirituality. When it comes to the church, we tend to think of the church in the same category as a business at which we are customers, an organization to which we are donors, or an establishment in which we have a membership in order to receive goods and services. […]