Lesson Of The Hour

After healing a lame man, Peter proclaimed the Gospel revealing that one must listen to Jesus or be destroyed. The Christian faith is exclusive to Christ. Salvation belongs to Jesus. Jesus declared that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to Father except by Him. The Christian faith is not politically correct. There is no other way to “the good place.” Jesus revealed that the way is narrow and hard that leads to life, and the way to destruction is wide and easy. This message encourages the Christian not to compromise the Truth.Scripture Reading: Acts 4:8-12 (read by Gerrit Dekker)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded January 21, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Most people follow their hearts. The heart is the center of emotional actions to decisions that people face. The Bible describes the heart as the place of thought and emotion. God warned in the Bible about following the heart. However, Jesus revealed that the pure of heart are blessed. Christians are to have pure hearts. This message will uncover conflicts within the heart and ways to change the heart according to the Scriptures.Scripture Reading: Luke 6:43-45Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded January 14, 2018 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Christ prayed that the church be one — united. The apostle Paul appealed and commanded unity. If God commands Christian unity, then Christians can unite. This is with exclusion of false teachers. The key to Christian unity is love and faith. A core faith is essential and love for one another. This message addresses the specifics of the faith and love necessary for Christian unity.Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:1-5 (read by Don Kovar)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded January 7, 2018 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

To complete our series on “The Compelling Christ”, the resurrection of Christ is one of most compelling actions and qualities about Christ. Jesus’s resurrection is the center of Christian theology and the beginning of the Christian’s eternal hope. Saved and blessed are those who believe and confess that Jesus is Lord and that He rose from the dead. Jesus predicted His resurrection, and even His Jewish enemies confirmed this in their accusations and mockery of Jesus. Jesus’s resurrection was a sign for that wicked generation. Through Jesus’s resurrection, the church began. This message will explore Jesus’s declarations of His coming resurrection setting the basis for the Christian faith.Scripture Reading: John 10:14-18 (read by Don Kovar)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded December 31, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

People follow a cause for results. Jesus's leadership produced results. Jesus came not to be served but to serve. A person can see one's leadership by what one washes of others. Jesus washed the feet of His disciples and set a model for Christian leadership. If the Christian's Lord and Teacher served, Christians should too. God had given a gift of Jesus's example. This message will help you contemplate His model.Scripture Reading: John 13:1-7 (read by Barry Rutkowski)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded December 24, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Why do people follow others — admiration, love, fear? Jesus revealed that those who love Him will keep His words. Many people are seeking more — purpose and meaning. Each person hungers and thirsts for more, and only Jesus can satisfy every spiritual desire. Jesus’s words are spirit and life, and there is no spiritual life without His words. This message examines Jesus’s words that compelled so many and yet offended many others. However, Peter confessed, "You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."Scripture Reading: John 6:51-58 (read by Ken Adams)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded December 17, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

The Gospels depict crowds coming to a Jewish carpenter for His compassion. What could a carpenter give that crowds would follow him? The Gospels present Jesus as this carpenter doing wondrous works for those who suffered. For love, the Word is God and came in the flesh to dwell among men. When Jesus saw the people as sheep without a shepherd, He had compassion on them. For this reason, He taught them many things. Jesus expressed His compassion in the Truth that He preached. He did not compromise the truth in order not to offend others. However, many were not offended having seen the compassion of Jesus in His great works. Others mocked Jesus through His suffering and death. Depending on a person’s guilt and sensitivity of conscience, some heard blasphemy and others heard the greatest message the world has ever known. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”Scripture Reading: Matthew 15:29-39 (read by Don Kovar)Lesson by Scot

In the Gospels, God’s power worked through Jesus to do miracles while God’s power worked with others in the Bible. Jesus’s miracles were not like the illusion of magicians in the ancient classical world. Jesus’s miracles were selfless. Jesus is the most reasonable explanation for the supernatural power of God on earth. Because God exists, miracles exist. The universe and life are miraculous effects of God. Christ’s miracles especially His resurrection reflected God’s creative power. Jesus revealed that those who hear His voice believe because of His miracles, but those who do not hear His voice do not believe His miracles. This message is a plea to reconsider the extraordinary nature of Jesus’s miracles and the compelling character of those wonders today.Scripture Reading: John 10:24-30 (read by Gerrit Dekker)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded December 3, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

When Christians offer the Gospel, they offer change for those who know they are missing something. The centurion Cornelius was a devout, God-fearing man who prayed to God and gave generous to those in need. However, he was not saved yet — not without Christ. Cornelius saw an angel who instructed him to call for Simon Peter in Joppa. When Peter arrive, he proclaimed the Gospel in way for which Christians can learn to share their faith. Cornelius and his household believed, and Peter gave them a very specific command to receive the forgiveness of sins in Jesus’s name. This message will present the basic of proclaiming to Gospel to others.Scripture Reading: Acts 10:39-43 (read by David Johnson)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded November 26, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Christ gave the ultimate sacrifice. He is the high priest. In the Bible, the old sacrificial system of worship foreshadowed the time of Christ. In the New Testament, the sacrificial worship had become spiritual from the old physical sacrifices. This lesson examines the significance of every Christian in that life of worship according to the Bible. Christians now have a mission offering spiritual sacrifices that are pleasing to God. Christians often overlook these sacrifices. This message solely rests upon the Bible as its authority. This lesson encourages believers to become a living sacrifice in one’s reasonable service to God.Scripture Reading: Hebrews 13:15-16 (read by Don Kovar)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded November 19, 2017, at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Christians cannot hide their joy in worship. “Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise” (Jas 5:16b). Christians find joy in the midst of trials and struggles. Our faith shines in conflict and persecution. The joy of the Christian hope cannot remain hidden. In culmination of the Scriptures about joy, we look to the natural reaction of thanksgiving and joyous worship. For Christians to have joy, they must experience the faith and hope of the Gospel. This message encourages Christians to increase their joy through a living hope and demonstrate that joy through worship to God.Scripture Reading: John 4:20-24 (read by Gerrit Dekker)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded November 12, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

The Christian joy must confuse the world and can only make sense if Christians have good news. Jesus rejoices when the Lost are saved. There is more joy in heaven over one who repents than ninety-nine who remain righteous who need no repentance. The Christian’s response to repentance much also be joy. The Gospel that believers proclaim is good news — a message of joy. This lesson will draw observations from how Jesus taught the Samaritan woman. Jesus made observations about people and what they were looking for. Christ concluded that the harvest is white and ready for harvest. People still want to hear the message of joy.Scripture Reading: John 4:7-15 (read by Justin Hirt)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded November 5, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

The angels rejoiced on the night of Jesus’s birth. The wise men rejoiced to find the infant Jesus. Why? Many awaited the coming Christ – the King and Son of God. The Scriptures reveal that Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him. When Christians know the victory of Christ over death, they find a deep joy. They see that Jesus’s resurrection is the beginning and hope of the future resurrection and glorification of all true believers. On the last night of Jesus’s life, Jesus encouraged His disciples that they will sorrow when He leaves and yet rejoice when He returns. Even in the midst of sorrow, Christians have joy. Have you found joy in the life of Christ?Scripture Reading: John 16:20-24 (read by Barry Rutkowski)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded October 29, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

For many, this week there will be a night of children knocking on their neighbors’ doors looking for tricks or treats (though they will likely be more interested in the treats). In the Bible, we are presented with two who will be knocking on the door to our hearts: the devil and Jesus. One is the father of lies and the other is the Son of God. In this lesson, the words “Trick or Treat” are made into a short acrostic laying out the ways that the devil wants to trick us and the treats that God has to offer to us. Will you be treated by the Lord or will you be tricked by the devil? Lesson by Jim SullivanRecorded October 30, 2011 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

The apostle Paul instructs us that the spirit of God is not a spirit of fear but a spirit of power, love and self-control (II Timothy 1:7). We will explore what fear is, how it effects us, and how to overcome it. Fear is not something unique to one person, but something we have all dealt with at least once. Even the bravest among us have felt fear, they simply have not allowed it to alter their actions. Paul shares the blueprint with Timothy to ensure he does not allow fear to deter him from sharing the Gospel.In this lesson, we will explore where our power comes from, what does it mean to love, and why we need self-control. If you have any questions about this or any other lesson, please find us on Facebook or email us at: dean.road@deanroadchurchofchrist.orgScripture Reading: II Timothy 1:5-14 (read by Barry Rutkowski)Lesson by Undre Griggs, Jr.Recorded October 22, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Those who were not Jews glorified and rejoiced for hearing the Word of God, because Christ would come as a light to the nations. Where is the joy in the Christian faith? Do Christians struggle to maintain this joy? Do believers lose focus upon the Gospel that gives joy? Peter noted a number of things that give an inexpressible joy to Christians. This message will point out these revelations. Those who heard the Gospel were baptized immediately and went away rejoicing. The Good News of Christ causes great joy in believers.Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9 (read by David Johnson)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded October 15, 2017, at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Blessed are those who know the power of the Gospel for they can destroy everything exalted against the knowledge of God (2 Cor 10:3–6). This message encourages Christians to approach boldly the world with the Gospel. Christians must understand the world through the cross of Christ. Paul revealed that he came proclaiming nothing except Christ crucified. The Gospel message undermines all other ideologies and supposed wisdom of men. The Bible reveals that God’s wisdom destroys the wisdom and power of men. For this reason, Christians must contemplate the implications of the Gospel and proclaim boldly the truth. Only with the Gospel on the heart can people reason truthfully. With Christ, science makes sense. The cause of the universe makes sense. The ultimate meaning of life makes sense. Moral absolutes make sense. The existence of laws of logic make sense. Think from the cross of Christ and the implications of God coming in the flesh. The Scriptures reveal that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Chr

Can I truly love my neighbor before I learn to love and fear God? In response to a scribe’s request for the most important command, Christ quoted Moses’s words to love God first and then to love one’s neighbor second. Evidently, the love for God must come first. How does someone love God? The Scriptures reveal that one’s love for God is manifest in obeying God’s commands. What happens when people love their neighbors before they love God? This message will explore Christ’s words concerning the greatest commands and how the first is essential to the second.Scripture Reading: Mark 12:28-34 (read by Gerrit Dekker)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded October 1, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Almost every ideology began because someone told the world one’s own idea, epiphany, or dream. However, people heard Jesus’s teaching and saw him serve. Various people saw Jesus executed, knew his tomb, and experienced his bodily resurrection. Then, they told the world. The Christian faith is unique and unlike any other. The faith focuses on a historical figure whose life, death, and more changed the world. Jesus preached about why people should believe that he is the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus revealed that people can hear his teaching and know that his teaching is not his own but from God the Father (John 7:17). Jesus also pointed to his coming crucifixion for demonstrating that he is the Christ (John 8:28). This message will further examine Jesus's evidences that he is the Christ. This message will also consider some minimal facts for the reality of Jesus’s miracles today. May God bless those who hear.Scripture Reading: John 5:36-38 (read by Gerrit Dekker)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded September 24, 2

The Gospel restores peace, hope, and love to all of life’s problems from marriage and family to work and finances. Many people continue to follow their broken ways, and things get worse and worse. Everyone’s personal short cuts never really accomplish anything. Only the Gospel can restore God’s design to each person’s broken ways. The apostle Paul helped a deserted bondservant, Onesimus, restore this relationship to his master, Philemon. Paul’s intervention helped Onesimus as a new Christian to restore better things through the forgiveness of the Gospel. Christians can help restore peace and unity among brethren in the church. This message observes how Christians can help restore peace, hope, and love among one another.Scripture Reading: Philemon 11-20 (read by Barry Rutkowski)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded September 17, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL