Shadyside Church of Christ

Hannah is a powerful example for us on how to live by faith. She had several problems in her life - she was childless and had difficulties within her family. Instead of taking matters into her own hands, she entrusted God with her troubles, and He blessed her. She kept her word to the Lord, and He continued to bless her in life.

Paul warned the church at Corinth of "another Jesus" being preached to them.  Is there "another Jesus?"  What would such a person stand for?  Teach?  Would He be our Savior?  Would He tell us the truth?  Where would He lead us?

In recent years, we have been hearing a lot about how man-made climate change/global warming is going to bring catastrophe to the earth.  As with everything, the more you hear something repeated, the more you tend to believe it.  Thus the need to filter everything through the lens of scripture.  Does the Bible have anything to say about God's superintending what's happening to the earth?...

Israel had been a nation of shepherds from their beginning. Jesus teaches that He is the good Shepherd protecting His sheep from thieves and predators. He will even lay down His life for the sheep. Jesus also teaches that His sheep will only listen to His voice? We all need to ask - Is that true of me?

God has not left humanity which He created without good direction in navigating the paths of life.  Problem is that too many people don't bother to look into God's book of wisdom but choose to go elsewhere for their directions.  Because of this, so many end up with very troubled and even wasted lives.  What are some of God's words of wisdom for living a good life?

Some like to divide life into secular and sacred activities.  Working your job is secular.  Going to church is sacred.  But is this legitimate?  When Jesus worked as a carpenter, was that considered just ordinary, day to day life?  What does the Bible teach?  You may be surprised.

In his letter, James warns of a stricter judgment for those who teach the word.  However, the Bible speaks of the need for teachers of various kinds in the church, in the home, etc.  So what's the answer?  Scripture gives us instruction about what and how to teach so as to guide those who would teach.  Here, Jeff shares six scriptures which have helped guide his teaching.

From time to time, we step back and ponder why God created humankind in the first place.  Although there are certainly many potential answers to this question (which all would have some merit), one theme flows like a stream through the scriptures - God wants to dwell with the people whom He created!  This seems so far out there that it's hard to believe.

Jesus spent a lot of time in prayer with His heavenly Father. So much so, that His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray. Jesus' model prayer (the Lord's prayer) doesn't so much tell us what words to say, but does teach us those things for which we need to pray and thereby the great need for us to be a praying people.

Jesus affirmed to Nicodemus that a person could not see the kingdom of God unless they were "born again." Must be important. What does that mean, and how does it happen? And after being born again, is anything different in a person's life?

Samson is a very puzzling individual. He was chosen by God from birth to be devoted to Him as a Nazirite and to begin the deliverance of Israel from the Philistines. But Samson had a weakness which he allowed to be used against him, and it was nearly his undoing. We can learn several powerful lessons from Samson.

Many people have weighed in on the meaning of this scripture.  So did Jesus.  In His parable of the "good Samaritan," Jesus beautifully shows the true meaning of this commandment.  What does it really mean?

They believe that Jesus their Lord was resurrected from the dead. Because of that belief, they are baptized (immersed) into Him and raised from that water to a new life in which sin and Satan can make no claim on them. They anticipate that after their death they will be raised to a new life in a new immortal body to enjoy life in the kingdom of Christ. They believe that death is not the end but th...

Jesus used the illustration of the vine, the vinedresser and the branches to teach about the spiritual growing process and fruit bearing in His disciples.  As we have seen so often in scripture, spiritual life parallels the physical world.  There are several not only important but life and death lessons here that we need to learn here.

Jesus used the illustration of the vine, the vinedresser and the branches to teach about the spiritual growing process and fruit bearing in His disciples.  As we have seen so often in scripture, spiritual life parallels the physical world.  There are several not only important but life and death lessons here that we need to learn here.

Most of us don't like it in the dark because too much bad stuff happens there.  Too many people don't realize there is a spiritual darkness where a lot of bad stuff happens as well.  Saul found this out when he was persecuting the church and Jesus appeared to him in a great light and shined the light of truth into his heart.  Saul came out of the darkness then, and his life was forever c...

We all love to hear about the grace, mercy and love of God. And rightly so. But there is another side to the "God coin." God is holy and righteous. He must be reverenced, and His word honored by learning it and keeping it as closely as we can. He is our Creator, the Most High, and as He Himself says in Malachi, "a great King." Israel and Achan learned a hard lesson about revere...

The scriptures encourage us to gain knowledge and understanding.  But Paul warns that knowledge in and of itself can make a person arrogant.  Gaining Bible knowledge has several purposes, but, in the end, it all is to lead us to one particular place.

 The gospel of God is most certainly about the salvation of mankind, and this is on what we usually focus. However, it is also good news about several other things as well. These many facets of the gospel all come together to provide a more complete message of the good news which God wants all people to know. We need to know and proclaim the entire gospel of God. 

 The Bible records several individuals who had close encounters with God. Some lasted for extended periods while others were quite brief. The response in these various encounters ranged from fear and amazement to an adoring love and a desire to know more. The Lord still calls His people today to walk with Him, to love Him and to "know" Him. As you get closer to God in your walk with Him,...

Baptism remains a point of controversy in Christian circles. However, overlooked in the whole discussion is the connection between Jesus' baptism by John and believer's baptism as ordained through Peter on Pentecost. And this connection is marvelously beautiful as we see with everything to which God puts His hand.

Jesus tells the parable of the shepherd who left the 99 sheep in search of the one which had wandered off.  We wonder about this since this potentially exposes the 99 to danger or having them wander off as well.  Why would the shepherd do this?  What does this tell us about how much God loves and values each individual human being?

In His sermon on the mount, Jesus described people who would be part of His kingdom.  He noted some of the challenges they would face.  But He also said that they would be truly blessed in this life, and even more in the life to come.  Are you a kingdom person?

 Crime and immoral behavior of all kinds seem to be spiraling out of control.  What is going on?  What has changed?  The apostle Paul describes a world which has rejected God, and has been left by God to its own devices.  The description given in scripture certainly describes what we see happening now.  It all seems to fit.

The cross of Christ is very often misunderstood.  Paul wrote that Jews found it a stumbling block, and Gentiles thought it foolishness.  But he affirmed that the cross was the power and wisdom of God?  What actually happened at the cross of Jesus?