Singing Oaks Church of Christ

On Earth As It Is In Heaven

By Ross Thomson, Preaching Minister | January 17, 2020

“On Earth As It Is In Heaven.” Can you believe it is 2020? I believe that in 2020 we are on the verge of the greatest breakthrough of the kingdom of God. I believe that we are on the threshold of the greatest spiritual awakening that humanity has ever seen. I see the Spirit of God moving. I see hearts and minds being changed. I see the impossible happening.

With Power

By Ross Thomson, Preaching Minister | November 14, 2019

This weekend is “Go Denton.” We are going out to share Jesus. And as we go I am reminded of how Jesus sent out His followers. In Luke 10 Jesus sends out 72 of His people out ahead of Him in pairs. He tells them to heal the sick and to announce the kingdom of God. They do it and here’s what happens afterwards. Luke 10:17-21,

17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

Grow Together

By Ross Thomson, Preaching Minister | September 6, 2019

What does it mean to be a Christian? What does it mean to be in Christ? Paul answers those questions in 1 Corinthians 12:12-19.NIV

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

According to Paul there is no such thing as a “solitary Christian.” To even imagine such a thing would be as silly as imagining an autonomous freestanding solitary eyeball. We are Christians together or we are not Christians at all. We find our individual identities only within our shared experiences together.

Get In The Game!

By Ross Thomson, Preaching Minister | July 12, 2019

A few days ago I passed a high school and I thought back to my own experience growing up in Australia. I played soccer for Centenary Heights High School in Toowoomba, Queensland. Just in case you are wondering about my athletic prowess I should explain that in Australia at that time the best athletes went out for rugby; the second tier played hockey; and then there was soccer. Our team did actually have a few first rate athletes… but, they also had me.

The position I played was “inside left.” I can see the puzzled looks on the faces of you soccer aficionados, “What on earth is an ‘inside left?’ There is no such position as an ‘inside left.’” You are right. There isn’t. … Ah, but there was such a position back then. Today the whole strategy has changed. The names of the positions have changed. And not just the names… the positions themselves have changed. The game has evolved.

Disciples

By Ross Thomson, Preaching Minister | June 21, 2019

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20.

So, with these words Jesus commissioned His disciples. With these words He gave us our marching orders. We must go out and “bring disciples to Jesus.”