Shadyside Church of Christ
351 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 days ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsEvangelist Jeff Kent and the Shadyside Church of Christ present a weekly lesson to help and encourage listeners in their daily walk with Christ and spread the Gospel. We are non-denominational and all lessons are taken directly from the scriptures.
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Episodes
An Unknown God
March 05, 2023 22:00 - 34 minutes - 23.8 MBWhen Paul was in Athens, he was provoked by its idolatry and a shrine to "An Unknown God." He began teaching about Jesus and the resurrection and eventually had opportunity to declare this Unknown God to them - the living and true God. This situation is so similar to today's world in which people are worshiping many "unknown" gods, but need to hear of their Creator and His Son the Lord Jesus.
New Testament Christianity
February 26, 2023 21:00 - 32 minutes - 22.4 MBMany people who say they are Christians are believing things and practicing things which are not found in the New Testament. What does the New Testament teach us about Christian beliefs and practices? Do we need to go to any outside sources for instruction about the church or being a disciple? Here is a brief overview of what is written in scripture, and where we should go to get our answers.
Teaching Servanthood
February 19, 2023 05:00 - 30 minutes - 20.7 MBWhen Jesus put aside His clothes, took a towel and began washing the disciples' feet, He was teaching them. When He was finished, He asked them if they knew what He had done. Do we?
Ears to Hear
February 05, 2023 05:00 - 29 minutes - 20 MBOn more than one occasion Jesus challenged His listeners if they had "ears to hear." Unless a person is truly deaf, would they not be able to hear what He said? What is Jesus talking about? What would cause a person not to be able to "hear" the words of God?Show less
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God
January 29, 2023 05:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MBJesus came proclaiming a gospel of the kingdom. Gospel means, of course, good news. We tend to focus exclusively on the good news of salvation which we do not wish to downplay at all. However, there is much more to this "good news" than that men and women can be saved from their sins.
Of Broomsticks and Flashlights
January 23, 2023 02:00 - 27 minutes - 19.2 MBWhen the woman in the parable lost one of her ten coins, she lit a lamp and swept the floor until she found it. Then she called friends and neighbors to rejoice with her because she had found her coin. In the same way, angels rejoice when a sinner repents and returns to God. Just how diligent are we at "sweeping our floors" and how thrilled are we to rejoice with angels?
I Am
January 15, 2023 05:00 - 32 minutes - 22.2 MBToday's world, rooted in progressivism, is characterized by uncertainty as people do not believe in absolutes. So people focus their lives on just about anything from social justice to patriotism. None of these things fulfill the soul's deepest longings and offer an unstable, ever-changing, environment. Only one "thing" is a sure foundation for life, the One who calls Himself the "I AM."
The New and Living Way
January 01, 2023 19:00 - 32 minutes - 22.4 MBThrough the years, when God saw the need, He would bring about change and renewal. As Israel wandered further and further from keeping the moral and love commandments of its covenant with the Lord, He knew it was time for a change, an upgrade as we would say today. So He brought in a "new and living way" so that people could confidently draw near to Him and become the kind of people He wants us to be. God's Son Jesus brought in this way. In fact, He is the Way!
Jesus "Lite"
December 25, 2022 05:00 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MBNothing too serious. No calls to repentance. No suffering. None of that holy living. This is especially true around Christmastime. Let's just keep the Babe in the manger along with that nice story about no room at the inn, shepherds, wise men and that little drummer boy. That's enough Jesus for me. Only one problem with Jesus "Lite" - He's not the real Jesus.
A Place at the Table
December 18, 2022 18:00 - 29 minutes - 20.6 MBIt has always been considered a great honor to be invited to eat at the King's table. In several places, scripture speaks of the Lord having His followers sit down at His table in His kingdom. It will be a great dinner with all the family there and the Lord as host. Everyone is invited. Will you have a place at the table?
What is Jesus Worth to You?
December 11, 2022 19:00 - 28 minutes - 20 MBA good bit of our lives is involved in placing a value on things. What groceries will I buy? Is that car worth it? How will I spend my time this evening? Even this - What will I do with my life? Judas thought Jesus to be worth only thirty pieces of silver. What is Jesus worth to you?
Learn to Stop
December 04, 2022 05:00 - 27 minutes - 18.9 MBOn His way to Jerusalem for the last time to face the cross, Jesus heard the cries of Bartimaeus calling for Him to have mercy on him. Jesus stopped the entire procession in order to attend to Bartimaeus' call for help. This event is about so much more than Jesus' healing another blind man. There are several take-aways here for us to learn from.
Seeing With Spiritual Eyes
November 27, 2022 21:00 - 34 minutes - 23.7 MBPaul had trouble communicating with the church at Corinth. He told them that they were "men of flesh," still carnal, and were not seeing and living life from a spiritual perspective. He tries to correct this by teaching them that all things are about God and the Lord Jesus, and that they were "the temple of God," but in danger of destroying it! Didn't they know that through Christ, all things belonged to them anyway?
How Hard it is to Enter the Kingdom
November 13, 2022 19:00 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MBJesus welcomed a rich man's inquiry about how he might have eternal life. He had been on the right track by keeping the commandments, but when Jesus told him what else he had to do, he went away sorrowful. He would not pay the price. Since the blessings of the kingdom of heaven are so incredible, the cost to enter is very high.
Is Faith Dying Out?
November 07, 2022 03:00 - 29 minutes - 20.2 MBSurveys and observations indicate that real faith is declining in the world. Many churches are absorbing secular beliefs and practices. Jesus wondered whether He would find faith on the earth when He returned. Scripture records the amazing things God did with just a few people who had real faith. What was their faith all about? Can we have that faith today?
Assembling Together
October 30, 2022 04:00 - 28 minutes - 19.7 MBFrom the outset, the early church assembled on the first day of the week. This is God's design, and it serves several purposes with attendant benefits. If we fail to assemble, we miss out on those benefits, and the entire church suffers.
Limiting God's Power
October 23, 2022 04:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MBBelievers know that God has divine power and can do anything which is consistent with His character. But when God decides to work through His people (which He does a great deal of the time), He is, in effect, willing to limit His power to what they will do. This should cause every disciple to seriously consider their work in the kingdom.
Jesus Has Questions for You and Me
October 16, 2022 18:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBWhen Jesus was on the earth, people had questions for Him. Some were sincere in their questions, but others were just trying to find accusations against Him. However, Jesus also had questions for those who heard Him. These were questions of life and death. And today, you and I still need to answer these questions.
Unanswered Questions
October 09, 2022 16:00 - 30 minutes - 21 MBWe all have unanswered questions about life. Why did this happen and not that? Why did this happen to me? Etc. - our questions are many. Asaph had questions, too, about all the evil in the world, and these weighed on him so much that he nearly lost his faith. Then God brought him out of his despondency by reminding him of the final end of both the wicked and the righteous.
Power in the Blood
October 03, 2022 02:00 - 31 minutes - 21.7 MBWhen God gave mankind the right to eat meat, He told Noah that the life of the flesh was in the blood. Consequently, the eating of blood was forbidden. Later under Moses, animal sacrifices were established as their blood would provide atonement for the soul of the sinner. But atonement is only a covering since the blood of bulls and goats cannot remove sin. Now what?
Timothy - An Example for Us All
September 26, 2022 03:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MBTimothy received glowing praise from Paul about his devotion to his work in the kingdom. Timothy had worked hard and demonstrated a willingness to sacrifice for the cause of Christ. But Timothy still had difficulties to overcome, and he needed continuing instruction and encouragement from Paul.
God Who Laughs
September 04, 2022 16:00 - 32 minutes - 22.5 MBOver the centuries, people have tried to out think and out maneuver God. They have ignored Him and His word. But, no matter what men and women might do, God just laughs and does whatever He wants and needs to do. This is especially obvious when God established Jesus as the Christ as King in His kingdom.
Love In Deed
August 22, 2022 03:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MBJohn's third letter is a "snapshot" of early Christian life. Some in the church were living the truth of God, and some were not. It shows people have not changed. And this unchanging life principle was holding true: Love is not demonstrated by what a person believes or by what they know, but by what they do.
The Joy Ahead
August 14, 2022 04:00 - 28 minutes - 19.9 MBIt seems that too many Christians live joyless lives of drudgery and worry. Certainly, we have our times of trouble and grief, but what of the joy in being a Christian? Scripture states that one reason Jesus could endure the cross was because of "the joy set before Him." What's that all about? And does it mean anything for the Christian?
God's Witnesses
August 07, 2022 12:00 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MBDoubters want evidence that there is a God. The Almighty has given mankind three powerful witnesses to affirm His existence. It is up to each person as to whether or not they will believe the testimony of these witnesses.
Marks of the Church
July 31, 2022 22:00 - 26 minutes - 18.3 MBWhat are the marks of the body of Christ, the church which Jesus is building? Although we might point to a list of certain things believed and practiced (as some do), these marks run much deeper than that. They all connect with the One who gives the body its very life.
Idols in the Heart
July 24, 2022 04:00 - 36 minutes - 25.4 MBEvery civilization has had its gods, many of which were associated with idols. Israel had trouble forsaking its idols and serving only the Lord God. Obviously, scripture warns of idol worship, but it also warns that it is more than just an external act. This is where the real danger lies - anything can become an idol.
Good News for All People
July 10, 2022 04:00 - 34 minutes - 24 MBIn these days of so much bad news and opposition to truth and common sense, we all need to hear good news which also keeps us in touch with reality. The gospel is the good news from God and is as relevant today as ever. The church needs to regularly be reminded of it, and the church needs to be telling everybody about it! Here are four points from Jesus' gospel which everyone needs to hear.
Some Things That are Good
July 03, 2022 04:00 - 29 minutes - 20.5 MBJesus tells us that only God is good. In the beginning, God said that all He had created was "very good." It seems these days there is so much evil happening that we forget to think about all the things that are good, and, believe me, the scriptures are filled with a great number of things which God calls good. Here we'll look at some things which are good, and which will be good for us to have in our lives.
What Baptism Doesn't Do
June 26, 2022 18:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MBAlthough, as we saw in our last message, baptism is a very necessary part of the way to salvation, it is not the end of the way. It is not "fire insurance" as some would have us believe. There are some vital things beyond baptism which the Christian must still do in the journey to life eternal.
What Does Baptism Do?
June 19, 2022 17:00 - 34 minutes - 23.4 MBBaptism continues to be a sticking point with many Christians. Although it is a very weighty subject and contains crucial foundational truths, it just isn't that difficult to understand if we can set aside our preconceived ideas. Scriptures clearly indicate that baptism is a necessary link in the salvation chain.
Son of Man
June 13, 2022 03:00 - 33 minutes - 23 MBJesus referred to Himself as the Son of Man more than anything else. "Who is this Son of Man?" was a question He was asked from the crowd at one point. The answer begins in the Garden of Eden with the prophecy that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent's head, and flows through the scriptures like a stream with a definite destination. It is none other than the gospel story of a coming Messiah who would be both a Son of Man and Immanuel, God with us.
Planting the Seed
May 29, 2022 04:00 - 29 minutes - 20.3 MBIn the parable of the sower, Jesus likened human hearts to different kinds of soil. As the seed was sown, it produced different responses in the various soils. Two main questions arise from this for each of us. First: What kind of soil am I? Second: Am I doing any sowing of my own?
Zaccheus and the Gospel
May 22, 2022 16:00 - 31 minutes - 21.6 MBThe gospel of Christ brings salvation to everyone who hears it, believes and obeys. But the gospel also provides two additional important blessings for the believer - sanctification and transformation. These are often not taught, but are very much a part of becoming a disciple of Jesus. Zaccheus' encounter with the Lord illustrates this for us.
Lights in a World of Darkness
May 15, 2022 04:00 - 32 minutes - 22 MBThroughout the Bible, the conflict between good and evil is portrayed as one between light and darkness. The world lies under the power of dark, spiritual forces. Jesus came as the Light of the world to show people the truth and guide them home to their heavenly Father. Christians now have the privilege and responsibility of doing the same.
Just Too Busy
May 08, 2022 19:00 - 28 minutes - 19.4 MBJesus' invitation to follow Him requires us to make a decision. That decision must be based on the knowledge that not all things are equally important, and that the invitation to be part of His kingdom family and serve Him is priceless. Too many people are just too busy with lesser things to accept Jesus' invitation.
Mary of Magdala
May 01, 2022 17:00 - 26 minutes - 18.3 MBJesus had cast seven demons out of Mary Magdalene. As we follow her through the gospels, we see that her thankful and joyful response to being set free was a life of faithful and devoted service to Jesus and His ministry. Her devotion to the Lord resulted in her being given a privilege which no other human being can ever claim. Her example should inspire us all.
Seizing the Opportunity
April 24, 2022 04:00 - 32 minutes - 22 MBWe have all been taught to be "good stewards" of our resources which God has given to us. But how many of us think about being good stewards of our time and the opportunities which God sets before us? In our lesson, a woman seizes an opportunity for which she is highly commended by Jesus, and by which she teaches us some important lessons. SHOW LESS
Power of the Resurrection
April 17, 2022 16:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBWhat we believe affects the way we do life. If I don't believe that Jesus was raised from the dead, then His resurrection won't affect how I live. If I do believe it happened, His resurrection empowers me to live a life filled with hope. It gives me an eternal perspective of things which helps me endure adversities and make the sacrifices necessary to live the Christian life.
Can't We Just Be Spiritual?
April 10, 2022 18:00 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MBSome people advocate individual prayer, Bible reading, meditation, etc. for their faith and religious practice. This is generally brought about by their desire (for any number of reasons) to distance themselves from "organized religion." Although individual spiritual growth is needful, is this approach compatible with the teaching of our Lord? Is there anything missing?
Offering Issac
April 03, 2022 23:00 - 30 minutes - 21.1 MBMany things which God does and asks us to do cause us to pause and wonder. His ways and thinking are so far above ours that we have trouble processing it all. Such is the case with God's asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, the son of promise, as a burnt offering. Such a request shocks us and provokes many questions. How did Abraham process it all?
What is This World Coming To?
March 27, 2022 16:00 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MBWith all of the warfare, murder, lying, public corruption and rampant immoral conduct, we wonder what the world is coming to. God, who is sovereign over all, knows where it's all going. It's all coming to an END! Then a NEW BEGINNING! And we'll all be there! Hope you're ready.
The Law Was Made for Man
March 20, 2022 18:00 - 34 minutes - 23.4 MBJesus regularly encountered opposition when He healed on the Sabbath for his opponents said He was doing work which was forbidden on the Sabbath. Jesus' response was never to deny that His healing was work, but only that He was doing good. His point was that the Sabbath law was never meant to prevent anyone from doing good.
The Law Was Made for Man
March 20, 2022 18:00 - 34 minutes - 23.4 MBJesus regularly encountered opposition when He healed on the Sabbath for his opponents said He was doing work which was forbidden on the Sabbath. Jesus' response was never to deny that His healing was work, but only that He was doing good. His point was that the Sabbath law was never meant to prevent anyone from doing good.
On Racism and Judging Others
March 13, 2022 05:00 - 37 minutes - 25.5 MBCharges of "racism" seem to be everywhere these days. Why is it that we judge others based on skin color and many other outward appearances? Does the Bible say anything about different races of people? Should we "judge" others? If so, how should we do it?
The Word of Truth
March 06, 2022 17:00 - 34 minutes - 23.5 MBPeople are believing a 1000 different things these days about life, its origins, its meaning, its purpose, the existence or non-existence of God, etc. There is only one place to go to find the truth about all of these things and more - God's word, the holy scriptures.
Nations in an Uproar
February 27, 2022 17:00 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MBIn light of this week's events between Russia and Ukraine, Jeff has decided to change this week's sermon - now titled "Nations in an Uproar."
The Gospel - Still Good News
February 20, 2022 18:00 - 33 minutes - 23.1 MBFrom the beginning of His ministry, Jesus proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom of God. With all of the rampant sexual immorality, government oppression, corruption of the religious leaders, abuse of the masses, etc., the people needed to hear good news. Hmmm. Sounds a good bit like today, doesn't it? Perhaps people today would like to hear some good news. The gospel of the kingdom of God is still a whole lot of good news!
By the Numbers
February 13, 2022 22:00 - 33 minutes - 23 MB(Note: Intermittent sound issues clear up around 8:30) Luke seems to pay special attention to the huge crowds which followed Jesus? It's no wonder the Romans eyed Him with suspicion, and the religious leaders were envious. What did move the huge numbers of people to follow Him? There were several reasons - some good and some not.
God Who Sees
February 06, 2022 05:00 - 29 minutes - 20.6 MBSometimes when we are experiencing several troubles and miseries at the same time, or some problem just seems to hang around forever, we begin to wonder if God sees what's happening to us and if He cares. Hagar, the Egyptian maidservant of Sarai, assures us that God hears and sees us in our afflictions.