The church of Christ on McDermott Road

Followers of Jesus are like a flock of sheep in need of good shepherds. Peter described how the elders were to shepherd in such a way that they would please Jesus, “the chief Shepherd.” McDermott Road members will soon begin recommending men to serve as additional elders of our congregation. These men should have the sort of character […]

Followers of Jesus are called to bless, do good, pursue peace, and show hospitality, using whatever gifts we’ve been given to serve one another. This is what it looks like to live a saved life; but a saved life is not always a safe life. Sometimes Christians must follow Jesus’ example by suffering while doing good. Whether we […]

When Peter refers to followers of Jesus as chosen, royal, and holy he does not do so to merely  make them feel good about themselves. He is helping them understand that salvation comes with a vocation. In fact, the two are inseparable. Being God’s people, priesthood, and nation is a lifestyle and a full-time job. What would […]

From the very first words of Peter’s letter, it is obvious that Peter wants followers of Jesus to see themselves as God’s chosen people, set apart by the “sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood.” We are saved and set apart to live a particular sort of life […]

All year we have studied about loyalty, faithfulness, and allegiance to King Jesus. In this final lesson, we will consider some of Jesus’ strongest words on the sort of loyalty he is looking for in his followers. He wants a loyalty without limits. A loyalty that, by comparison, makes all of our other commitments look […]

The birth of Jesus is the vindication of hope. The faithful children of Abraham had been waiting for centuries for God to fulfill his promises. Of course, his promises seemed too good to be true and it had been hundreds of years since the Jewish people had returned after the exile. So, those who continued […]

Hope cannot be exercised when we are comfortable and at ease. It is exercised when we are starving and famished, but are also joyfully confident that we be “satisfied as with fat and rich food.” In other words, we don’t hope for what we already have, but for what we know God will provide because […]

Hopeful people are often attacked by the cynical, who see the hopeful as “a leaning wall” or a “tottering fence.” They scoff and say things like, “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” (Psalm 22:8). If we’re not careful, we can take these cynical […]

Hope acknowledges the present reality, appreciates what God has done, and anticipates God working in similar ways in the future. Psalm 16 is a psalm of hope. David is likely in the midst of a challenging time. However, he is confident God will rescue him from death, because of the ways God has been faithful […]

Nearly everyone wants to experience peace, especially the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding. We want this peace guarding our hearts and minds. However, sometimes we fail to do what Paul told the Philippians to do in order to have this peace. It begins with this command, “Rejoice.” How can, “Rejoice” be a command? How can we […]

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-58

Receiving God’s gift of salvation and “working it out” in our lives includes eliminating grumbling and disputing. When we are committed to being obedient children of God, who obey with joy an unity, we stand out like stars shining in the night sky. If we recognize that this generation is just as “crooked and twisted” as it was […]

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:1-14:40

Paul wrote the book of Philippians from prison. How would you feel if you were imprisoned unjustly? Paul actually expressed gratitude for his imprisonment. This attitude of gratitude helped him to see the good things God was doing through his circumstances. If Paul was angry and bitter about his situation, he might not have seen […]

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Every Christian should be grateful for their church family. Not just grateful in their heart, but verbally express their gratitude to their brothers and sisters, and to God. Just as importantly, every Christian should demonstrate their gratitude towards their church family. Even when we’re frustrated with our church family—perhaps, especially when we’re frustrated—we should express, demonstrate, a...

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:1-10

The new Jerusalem is called “the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” It is a beautiful and enormous city (large enough to cover the land mass of the entire Roman Empire). It stands in direct contrast to the beastly empire and the prostitute city that have been destroyed. This is the city that will endure forever, the city […]

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

In contrast to Babylon’s drunkenness and debauchery, a new feast is announced, “The marriage supper of the Lamb.” This is the final celebration that all of history is moving towards, the feast that will celebrate the destruction of Babylon, the victory of the Lamb, and the reconciliation of heaven and earth. Not everyone will be […]

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:12-7:39

Finally, in chapter 18, an angel declares with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon (a figurative name for Rome) the great!” Though John’s audience would not live to see Rome fall, they needed to know that day was coming. The city who lived like a queen, would someday experience torment and mourning. The compromisers in John’s audience […]

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11

The great enemy of Revelation is the dragon, “who is called the devil and Satan.” The dragon “gave his power and his throne and his great authority” to beasts, one from the sea and one from the land. This vision reveals that the Empire is not as beautiful and glorious as it seems, it is […]

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13