Lesson Of The Hour

Society has convinced most Christians that personal sexuality is a natural outlet. However, Paul described such a pursuit of satisfying lusts as “impurity.” The Scriptures describe impurity as a specific sexual sin that those who practice will not inherit the kingdom of God. The apostle Paul instructed Christians not to let sin reign in their bodies to obey its passions. Furthermore, Paul revealed that those who walk in the Spirit will not gratify the lusts of the flesh. How does the Christian walk in the Spirit? This message presents key scriptures that free believers from slavery to sin.Scripture Reading: I Thessalonians 4:7-8 (read by Justin Hirt)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded June 24, 2018 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Some early churches struggled with welcoming guests. James corrected believers who showed favoritism for the value of someone’s clothing. Such partiality is to sin against the royal law of loving one’s neighbor as oneself. The Bible calls those showing partiality "judges with evil thoughts." Christians must think of how they welcome guests into the church and into their lives. The Bible commands Christians to be hospitable and love guests. This message challenges Christians to think about how the church receives guests.Scripture Reading: I Corinthians 14:23-25 (read by Dutch Dekker)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded June 17, 2018 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

In the first century, the church in the city of Corinth divided according to teachers. They quarreled and forgot that they all united in Christ. While this church denominated, Paul identified them as “of Christ.” Twenty centuries later, the church faces the same problems. Christians must learn from the apostle Paul not to accept such division or even agree to disagree. He exhorted this church to unite in the same mind and same judgment. The church has teachings from Christ and His apostles that are essential to its oneness. This message encourages those points of unity, and that Christians can and must maintain unity.Scripture Reading: John 17:17-23 (read by Marcq Rhodes)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded June 10, 2018 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Being a member of a community requires some commitment and certain responsibilities. To be in the church, a believer must be in Christ. The Bible tells of salvation that is only in Christ. Who is in Christ? Not everyone who claims to be a Christian is a Christian. The apostle Paul revealed the way in which believers are baptized in Christ. This message turns to the Scriptures to understand that the church are those in Christ.Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:9-11 (read by Christopher Howell)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded June 3, 2018 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Jesus declared, “I will build my church.” Jesus promised to build His church — the congregation of His followers. Jesus spoke of His church built upon the rock of faith that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God. According to Scripture, Jesus’s apostles and prophets form the foundation with Jesus as its cornerstone. The foundation of the apostles and prophets is God’s revealed message to the faithful. In the Bible, many churches like today drifted from the teachings of Christ and His apostles and prophets. However, that foundation can and does unite churches today. This message continues a series of lessons encouraging all Christians stand on the foundation that Christ set for the church.Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:24-28 (read by Don Kovar)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded May 27, 2018 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

This message challenges believers to follow Christ to His church. Today, many people prefer non-denominational churches with few distinctions to be more accepting and less restricting. Who wants to question their family church and traditions? However, Christians cannot compromise the church of Christ built upon faith in Jesus as the Son of God. This message draws commands from the Scriptures to observe and maintain the traditions that come from Christ and His apostles. Distinctive characteristics set the church in the New Testament apart from many churches today.Scripture Reading: Mark 7:1-9 (read by Steve Berg)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded May 20, 2018 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

In the parable of the sower, Jesus described different types of soil representing the types of people who hear God’s word. Those who heard the word and the cares of the world choked them were as seed cast among the thorns. What are Christians to do with cares and anxieties in this life? Jesus commanded, “Do not be anxious about this life” (Matt 6:25). This message presents Christ’s words that redirect the believer’s focus past anxieties to seek more.Scripture Reading: Luke 12:22-33 (read by Dutch Dekker)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded May 13, 2018 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

For 18 years, she was bent over. One day, she was in a synagogue where Jesus was preaching. Without the woman asking, Jesus called her to him, and he healed her. Christians desire to model Jesus’s compassion as seen throughout His numerous miracles. Jesus referred to the woman that He healed as “a daughter of Abraham.” The way that people view each other affects how they love one another. This message compels each person to look at others as God would have believers to look at each other and all humanity.Scripture Reading: Romans 12:9-10 (read by Gerrit Dekker)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded May 6, 2018 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Soldiers endure great hardships for a cause to save, protect, and give liberty to others. People endure for a cause that they believe in. People stand in line for a new product because they believe in the company. Faith is believing that God exists and more. Believers must believe that God rewards those who seek Him. Christians look for more than this life. Christians should look for an afterlife that is more than living as a spirit in a ghost-like body. Most people even unbelievers hope for this. This message presents the faith of substance and certainty.Scripture Reading: Hebrews 12:12 (read by Marcq Rhodes)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded April 29, 2018, at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

His spirit was provoked by the idols that filled the city of Athens. The apostle Paul went and reasoned in the synagogues and marketplace. Because Paul was proclaiming Jesus and the resurrection, some philosophers took Paul to the Rock of Ares, the Areopagus. Paul stood before those thinkers and made reasonable observations about the unknown God, and Paul declared a message that all people need to hear. Christians must learn from Paul’s reasoning and message. Christians can persuade, reason, and lead others to the hope of Jesus’s resurrection.Scripture Reading: Romans 1:18-23 (read by William Salisbury)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded April 22, 2018, at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

According to Luke’s Gospel, the disciples were troubled and doubted when they first saw Jesus risen from the dead. Jesus revealed Himself to them as flesh and bones and not a spirit. Through many proofs, Jesus presented Himself alive from the dead. His resurrection changed the disciples and changes many today. Jesus also gave the greatest mission to tell the world about His resurrection, repentance, and forgiveness of sins. Jesus did not give a mission that could not be accomplished. Furthermore, God gave gifts to Christians for that mission. This message explores the faith, hope, and love that compels obedience to Jesus’s Great Commission.Scripture Reading: II Corinthians 5:14-15 (read by Don Kovar)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded April 8, 2018 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Why do you go to church? Better yet, how would you describe the ideal church to attend? How do the people communicate and interact with each other? How would they handle disputes and disagreements? We live in a world where people are moving further away from home and engaging less in the real world. No longer feeling a sense of community at church or within their family, people are looking elsewhere to fill the void. The church was created to be the most influential and powerful sense of the belonging the world will ever know. So when did things start going wrong? We will discuss the leading cause of division within the church (or any relationship), plus three key elements to overcome them.Scripture Reading: I Corinthians 5:1-5 & II Corinthians 2:5-11 (read by Gerrit Dekker)Lesson by Undre GriggsRecorded April 1, 2018, at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

As the chief priests and scribes mocked Jesus on the cross calling Jesus to come, many today mock the cross of Christ. The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing according to the apostle Paul. What is the cross of Christ to those who being saved? This message presents Christ’s crucifixion as the power of God to salvation. The cross of Christ is God’s demonstration of love. Paul concluded Christ is the wisdom and power of God.Scripture Reading: I Corinthians 3:18-20 (read by Gerrit Dekker)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded March 25, 2018 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Jesus challenged hypocrisy and hidden sins. Many people put God off until later. They focus on this life now. They reason that they are good enough not thinking about the faithful are saved. Jesus told the parable a rich farmer whose land produced much. The man tore down his barns and built new ones. He told himself, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” However, God spoke, “Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” Jesus revealed that only a few are saved. The answer to salvation is in Christ’s words found in Luke 9:23–26.Scripture Reading: Luke 12:4-5 (read by Christopher Howell)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded March 18, 2018 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Christians believe that God instituted marriage for life — one man, one woman, one life, one exception. Jesus declared, “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate” (Mark 10:9). People are amazed at any couple who remain married for decades. However, marriage is often hard but worth it as God made man and women for each other. Divorce seems too common. The Bible describes the cruelty of divorce for any reason. This message urges all believers to listen to Jesus Christ and bring His love into your marriage.Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:31-32 (read by David Johnson)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded March 11, 2018 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Jesus instituted a memorial meal on the night of His betrayal. The New Testament church recognized this as “the breaking of bread.” Many know this memorial as "the Lord’s Supper" or "communion." The breaking of the bread is a communion partaking of Christ’s body and blood, and the meal is an essential act of Christian unity. Paul further warned Christians to partake of the Lord’s Supper in a worthy manner discerning the body and the blood. For in doing this, Christians proclaim the Lord’s death. This message explores these significant points and more from the Scriptures.Scripture Reading: Luke 24:13-27 (read by Gerrit Dekker)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded March 4, 2018 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Can readers trust every “Bible”? The Holy Spirit guided the inspired writers to write God’s wisdom. If God revealed His Word directly to you, how would you record God’s Word? Every word of the Scripture matters. Jesus promised that His words would judge the world one day. However, some “translations” have changed God’s word for strange reasons. This message directs the believer to identify translations that are true to God’s Word.Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:3-5 (read by Will Salisbury)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded February 25, 2018 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Do you need love, attention, acceptance, or security but you feel unlovable? Do you need meaning, purpose, significance, and success but you feel like a failure? God loves you and has a purpose for you. God will transform you when you come to believe and obey Him. This message presents how God’s gracious gifts make disciples of Christ more than conquerors. Nothing in creation can separate the faithful from the love of God. However, selfish sins can separate you from God. Coveting the acceptance of others and protecting your self-importance separates people from God. God has seen you at your worst, yet He loves you. This message presents how God’s grace provides a purpose for your life.Scripture Reading: Romans 8:37-39 (read by David Johnson)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded February 11, 2018, at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Words are powerful. James described the tongue as a deadly poison. When the Holy Spirit fills hearts, there is no room for insults and profanity. This message presents the faults of the tongue. Christians can change their words to build up and give grace. Jesus revealed, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matt 12:35). On the other hand, how should Christians respond to those who insult, abuse, and persecute them with words? Christ taught, “Love your enemies.” Listen and consider how the Scriptures guide believers in the use of their words.Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:29-32 (read by Christopher Howell)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded February 4, 2018 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Jesus declared that His words would never pass away. Faith in Jesus as the Christ the reason that many believe in the Bible. The Bible is the source of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection in the Gospels. How does the Bible attest to its reliability? This message considers come critical points about trusting the Bible many centuries after its origin. Believers find that the Bible is perfect in harmony without any contradiction. The Bible is only as infallible as Jesus is sinless and His words are without error.Scripture Reading: II Timothy 3:12-17 (read by Christopher Howell)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded January 28, 2018 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL