The church of Christ on McDermott Road

On Wednesday evenings, we have talked a lot about navigating difficult issues and culture influences as Christians. We have spent a significant amount of time talking about love, unity, understanding, and patience. But it's important to also recognize the need for discipline, the need to hold people accountable to a certain standard. So, in this lesson we will talk about who Christians should discipline and how Christians should discipline.

God’s people have always been shaped by “remembrance.” When we remember what he has done in the past, we are emboldened to trust in the present and the future. This is one thing that should motivate our Bible study, not just knowing facts or rules, but knowing who God is and what he has done. We should study the Bible as those who are saying, “Teach me trust me to trust you even more.”

One of the most important words, and character traits of God, in the Hebrew Bible is “hesed.” Though there is no exact equivalent word in English, it means God is faithful, benevolent, and kind to his people. God’s “hesed” should not only fill our hearts with gladness and joy, it should shape our theology. It should shape the assumptions about how God will act in the future. (Scripture: Psalms 100:1-5)

In our divided and polarized world, the church's love for one another, for our neighbors, and even for our enemies is incredibly important. But what does love really look like? Are we really loving people? Using 1 Corinthians 13, Wes McAdams encourages us to examine ourselves to see whether or not we are actually loving one another.

Thanksgiving inoculates our hearts against doubt. The people of the wilderness generation doubted God, they “went astray in their hearts” because they failed to truly reflect on all the works they had seen God do on their behalf. If we continually “sing to the Lord” and “come into his presence with thanksgiving,” we will be able to enter his rest. (Scripture: Psalms 95:1-11)

Wes McAdams takes a break from the regularly scheduled lessons to talk about living at peace, respecting overseers, admonishing the idle, encouraging the fainthearted, helping the weak, being patient with everyone, and doing good anytime we have the opportunity to do so. To navigate our current circumstances, we must embrace Paul's words to the church in Thessalonica.

The fact that God has brought down evildoers, and exalted the righteous, in the past is evidence he will do so in the future. So, we look back to every example of God’s uprightness—Noah, Abraham, David, Daniel—and give thanks. In giving thanks for who God has proven himself to be, we have confidence about our present and our future. So, no matter what’s happening in the world, the right response is to sing praises to “give thanks to the Lord.” (Scripture: Psalms 92:1-15)

Over the next few weeks, in our Current Events series, Wes will be discussing sexuality from a Christian perspective. How does Jesus teach his people to guard and exercise their sexuality? In this introductory lesson, Wes McAdams and Wayne Roberts discuss the following questions:

1. Followers of Jesus should have a very different perception of sex and sexuality than unbelievers. How would you describe a uniquely Christian view of sexuality?

2. How can the church be a place of grace, offering acceptance and forgiveness to those who’ve sinned sexually, while still maintaining a high standard of sexual ethics?

3. What advice would you have for Christians on exercising and guarding their sexuality in a way that brings glory to God?

In addition to these questions, we also consider what it means for our body to be a temple of the Holy Spirit and how that truth should help shape our sexual ethics.

Whether it be the politics, pandemic, or protests, this year has given us plenty of moments to say, “In the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.” The Psalms teach us to give thanks for the rescuing God has done in the past, so we can have confidence for the present and future storms. We don’t know what the future holds, but we know God’s “steadfast love is great to the heavens” and his “faithfulness to the clouds.” (Scripture: Psalms 57:1-11)

In this final discussion on race and unity, Wes McAdams and Aaron Appleby discuss these questions:

1. What are some of the (positive and/or negative) experiences you've had that have helped shape your perspective on race relations in the church?

2. How, in your opinion, does a Christian call for unity differ from the world's call for unity?

3. What are some things every Christian can do to help promote unity within the congregation and within the church as a whole?