The church of Christ on McDermott Road

Many argue this story is not a parable. Unfortunately, that endless debate almost always shifts the focus from the moral of the story to the minutia of the story. It becomes about, “What happens to people when they die?” rather than, “What happens to people when they’re greedy and don’t feed their poor neighbors?” Maybe we should ask […]

Jesus told a story about a farmer with a bumper crop. The farmer drew up plans to store his newly acquired wealth and retire. However, in the parable, “God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” Why does God call the man a […]

In this first parable, Jesus uses four types of soil to illustrate a sobering truth, many people have ears to hear but don’t really hear or hang onto the word of God. You’re likely familiar with this parable. You may have even thought about what sort of “soil” you are. However, have you considered the uncomfortable truth, bad […]

Most of what the New Testament says about the Holy Spirit is in the context of the collective life of the church. The Holy Spirit is equipping other Christians for your benefit. And he is equipping you for the benefit of other Christians. Therefore, you will only ever experience the complete benefits of the Holy Spirit when you […]

Jesus assumed that after his ascension to the throne, his followers would fast. He even gave them specific instructions about how to fast. Fasting is one way that Christians have—for the last 2,000 years—disciplined their bodies in order to be more aware of the Spirit. The desires of our flesh, even the most natural desire of hunger, will […]

Paul gives Christians this command, “be filled with the Spirit.” The next few phrases in Ephesians 5 either teach Christians how to be filled with the Spirit or describe what it looks like when we are filled with the Spirit. Either way, there is no doubt that singing songs of praise is an essential part of a Spirit-filled […]

The pouring out of the Holy Spirit marks, for those who receive him, entrance into the age to come. This is an age in which, for us, war has ceased and everyone can sit “under his vine and under his fig tree.” This is the peace that was promised when the Messiah established God’s kingdom. And though the […]

Romans 8 has so much to teach us about the Holy Spirit. One of the things Paul says in this section is that the Holy Spirit is active in our prayer life. As we pray, the Holy Spirit is partnering with us. However, if we are neglecting prayer, we are forfeiting this prayer partnership with the Holy Spirit. […]

Though some people take this idea to an extreme by limiting the Holy Spirit’s presence to “the word only,” Scripture is absolutely essential to aligning ourselves with the Holy Spirit. In fact, Paul says Scripture is, “inspired.” We could understand that as something like, “inspirited.” Scripture has God’s breath in it. If we want to be aligned with, […]

It’s easy to keep pushing yourself, long after the fuel light has come on and you’re running on fumes. But stubbornly refusing to pull over and refuel helps no one. Worse yet, it can be harmful and dangerous. God doesn’t need you to be a hero, trying to accomplish things on your own. He needs you to put […]

Sometimes the threat to “pull this car over” was just that, a threat. But other times, it was a promise. And when the car was stopped and the door was yanked open, there was a good chance that the innocents would be punished as severely as those who were guilty. How can we  create an environment where discipline is […]

We often pack more items than we need when we go on a trip with family, friends or on our own. Our life journey is similar. Traveling down life’s road is not meant to include carrying heavy unnecessary baggage. God wants us to travel light. (Scripture: John 3:16-18)

This whole series is about true love. Not just romantic love, but love that is true. Love that comes from God, that is demonstrated in the cross, and that is produced by the Holy Spirit in the lives of God’s people. Love that is true in the sense of being constant and dependable. Love  that doesn’t give up on people. […]