Shadyside Church of Christ

With the help of the devil, mankind has opposed the word of God from the beginning. This is the same as opposing God Himself because you cannot separate God from His Word. On Paul's first missionary journey, a man was called out for opposing the word of God. It didn't go well for him. What do we need to learn from this incident so we are not found to be opposing the Word of God?

Witnesses are important for establishing first hand accounts of what they have seen and heard.  John wrote that he saw blood and water come from Jesus' side when the soldier pierced Him while on the cross.  Later in his first letter, he wrote of blood and water giving testimony about Jesus along with the Spirit of God.  What is John talking about?  Why did he think these witnesses were necess...

Are faith and doubt mutually exclusive? Does having doubts at times mean our faith is suspect? Many Christians have "beaten themselves up" when their prayers failed to produce a desired result, and they blame themselves for having doubts and a weak faith. What do we find in the Bible? Do we find examples of faith and doubt together in the same individuals? The results may surprise you.

The world is in chaos, and people are at each other's throats because of all the lies which people believe.  Now, more than ever, the world needs the truth of God's word.  The church must start believing again that the Bible is the true Word of God, and start living by it and teaching it and talking it to others.  The Lord affirms that His word is a fire and a hammer to break down barrie...

The Bible is filled with teachings about prayer and exhortations to pray. Prayer is a special privilege for the believer in which he or she, among other things, can request the direct intervention of God in the affairs of men. Christians are urged to pray for all people, from the least to the greatest. Our prayers can make a difference in world affairs and in the eternal salvation of men and women...

Christianity is full of apparent contradictions.  One of these is that in order to live you must die.  What does that mean?  In fact, Paul wrote that he had been crucified with Christ.  Really?  When Paul wrote that he was still alive in his body.  How can that be?  Of course, we recall that Jesus died on the cross but was then resurrected to life.  Is there a connection, and if so, how?  

The beginning of any organization or undertaking establishes its goals and purposes. So it was when God set out in the beginning to create the earth, its universe and all that was on the planet. He was purposeful and intentional in creation. And beyond this, what God did was and is a direct reflection of His power, wisdom and character - His love, orderliness, joy, beauty. What a marvelous creatio...

Sometimes we hear people talk about the sacred and the secular, the religious and the ordinary. Such terms may be useful in some settings, but what does the word of God teach? When Jesus was making tables and axe handles, did He consider it just ordinary work? When Christians are admonished that whatever they do or say is to be done in the name of the Lord, would that leave room for anything to be...

Lesson Description: Do you believe in aliens? The Bible affirms that there are such creatures. In fact, they are crawling all over the place! And they do some very strange things. Jesus affirms that Christians are not of this world. Paul says that the Christian's citizenship is in heaven. Christians love Someone they have never seen, they love their enemies, and they expect to live even after...

Lesson Description: The Holy Spirit through the Word exhorts us to grow and mature in Christ, yet He reminds us that we are also children of God. While on the earth, even Jesus called God His Father. The fatherhood of God precedes human fatherhood as He created us in His image and brought us into existence. How does our heavenly Father care for His children? Are you a child of God?

The early church spent a lot of time in prayer, and this appears to be one reason for their success in spreading the gospel.  Do we believe in prayer?  Really and truly?  How much time a day do we spend in fervent, serious prayer?  Do we expect God to act in response?  The prayers of the church helped rescue Peter from prison, but even they were surprised when he appeared at the gate of the house....

Lesson Description: Scripture plainly teaches that all people have sinned. No one is perfect. Sin is displayed in a variety of ways in different people - from the most heinous acts of violence to subtle deceptions and everything in between. Jesus tells a parable about two sons to illustrate this and to show our heavenly Father's response to a repentant sinner. When the dead come to life again...

Long ago in the midst of his sufferings, Job asked if a person died would he live again.  From of old this has always been a question which mankind has asked.  Is there to be a resurrection of the dead?  What do you believe?  The Bible teaches that Jesus was resurrected from the dead and that there will be a resurrection of all people at the end of time?  Is there any connection between the two? ...

People get nicknames for various reasons. Where they are from. Some physical characteristic. Something they did or do. Perhaps you have a nickname? Joseph from Cyprus was given a "nickname" by the apostles - Barnabas. It means son of encouragement or exhortation. As we follow Barnabas in the book of Acts (chapters 11 through 15), we'll see why he received this name. He teaches us a...

Most of us are always on the lookout for sales: BOGO, clearance, end of season, etc. But you must always be careful about cheap imitations and damaged products. Similarly, with real love - it's never on sale. The price is too high. Love comes at great cost. Our God has shown us the great cost of love in sending His Son to die for us. Nothing cheap about that. So real love in our lives is not...

We usually don't have a whole lot to say about "nothing." (Some of us can talk a streak about anything!) Nevertheless, our God has a great deal to say about nothing, and what He says is important, even crucial, to our understanding of life and our spiritual journey. Only God can truly make something out of nothing.

Speaking in place of the vacationing Jeff Kent, is one of our Church Elders, Mike Bassaro. His lesson is titled, "Is satan laughing?" Enjoy.

When the infant church was about to undergo severe persecution, the glorified Lord Jesus came to John to encourage him and the church, and to provide a revelation about what was to happen soon. Everything was in the hands of God, the Alpha and the Omega. Today's church needs the same encouragement as we face opposition and distress of all types. Keeping our hearts fixed on our Savior and Lord...

Racism continues to rear its ugly head in America, and prejudices of all types exist. What is the origin of such things? How long have they been around? Are we born with such attitudes? What does God say about the hatred of another person simply because of their race, skin color, religion, culture, nation of origin, etc.? What is the answer for such attitudes and actions? 

Many lessons have been taught about the Bible. Things like the number of books, authors, etc. Some have suggested it's a rule book and others that it's a "blueprint" for living. But what is the theme of the Holy Scriptures? What is the Bible really about? Since the Bible is the holy, inspired word of God, should we not want to know what is its intended purpose and message? Othe...

OUR RETURN TO THE CHURCH BUILDING!!! "Jesus proved Himself to be a Man of His word. He always did what He said He'd do and promised that His words would come to pass. When He told His disciples that He would suffer and die, but rise on the third day, they didn't understand what He meant. But Jesus kept His promise anyway, just as He said. He's a Man of His word."

Have you caught yourselves asking.. Why is the coronavirus here? Why is it spreading so quickly and far reaching? In an unprecedented time like this, are you turning to God for comfort and the strengthening of your faith? Will simply praying be enough? We need to turn to God’s word, His Holy Scriptures to replenish and solidify our faith that HE WILL SEE US THROUGH THIS CRISIS… 

Some biblical scholars have put forth the idea that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were not real people but mythical figures developed from later oral traditions and rewritten back into an earlier time frame.  Does it matter whether Abraham was a real person in real time in a real land interacting with real people and receiving promises from a real God?  The question just begs for a "yes" answ...

Over and over, scripture teaches that the kingdom of God is open to all people - that God wants all persons to be saved.  It matters not what race, culture, country of origin, education level, economic status, etc.  It matters not what sins or how many a person has committed - all are welcome.  Yet, the kingdom is also exclusive.  There will be no universal salvation of mankind.  Those who will no...

The wounds of sin on the soul go deep.  If untreated, these wounds continue to fester, to cause pain, and to haunt us.  They ultimately render us ineffective in our service to the Lord and to others.  Jesus encountered a woman who had many, grievous wounds on her soul, and He healed them, every one.  Only He can do such a glorious thing!  What of your wounds?