The church of Christ on McDermott Road

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 in our homes? Are we helping our families embrace their role in the 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 hard to see past today?