Lesson Of The Hour

Did anyone teach you that all sins are equal and one is not greater than another? Jesus addressed this matter throughout his ministry as he taught about the severity of the punishment for sins. In Jesus’s trial, Christ answered the question of whether sins are greater. Many churches today take a false position that undermines their integrity and purity as followers of Christ. This message addresses those positions. Christians must listen to Paul’s exhortation for Timothy to avoid contradictions. Within this message are a number of scriptures that answer this vital question.Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded May 14, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Where should a woman find love and value first and above all? With so many expectations that women place on themselves, they need to turn first to God and know the love of Christ. All other expectations may disappoint. Women need Christian men. This lesson will present six things that women need primarily from Christian husbands including the need for men to lead their wives in holy living. The Scriptures reveal the great blessings of prudent wife is to man. God gives favor to the man who finds a wife. Women who fearful serve God deserve praise.Scripture Reading: Proverbs 31:30-31 (read by Marcq Rhodes)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded May 14, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

To be a light of the world is to glorify God. Glorifying God is more than praising God. Jesus taught that being a light meant the world could see the disciple’s good works and those works give glory to the Father. This lesson explores important reasons to look deeper into Jesus’s teaching of being a light. Glorifying God was the mission of Christ, and this is the mission of the church. Glorifying God is the effect of the Gospel. However, Christians do not realize how they hinder the glorification of God. With a biblical understanding, faithful Christians will move forward. Christians can increase their light that glorifies God. This lesson emphasizes the need for disciples to share the light and the opportunity to glorify with other through the Gospel and sharing one’s life.Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:14-16 (read by Barry Rutkowski)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded May 7, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

This week, our lesson comes from the opening study of our multi-lesson series entitled, "Being a Servant". This 5 part series addresses different ways that we can be better servants to God and each other through God's Word, the Bible. The first lesson looks at the example that Jesus set as a servant, and how we can strive to serve like him. For as he told his disciples, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve." (Mark 10:45)If you are interested in the other lessons in this series, they will be available this coming week at our website!http://www.deanroadchurchofchrist.org/gospel-meeting-2017.htmlLesson by Ryan FredrickRecorded April 29, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

This study looks at six ways that the Bible teaches Christians to grow spiritual. This study also presents the reasons that churches either die or grow. Christians need one another to grow and increase. The Scriptures are clear that hearts will harden to the deceitfulness of sins without the fellowship of Christians. The first church began and they devoted to the apostles’ teachings and the togetherness of disciples. All churches thrive through the fellowship of Christians in God’s Word. The Gospel produces life in repentant believers. The Christian faith must grow upon the foundation of Christ. Jesus died, was buried, and overcame the curse of death by rising from the dead. Those that join the church in study will remain committed when they draw closer to God and have deep relationships with other Christians.Scripture Reading: Colossians 2:1-8 (read by Christopher Howell)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded April 23, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

On the evening that some found Jesus’s tomb empty, the disciples locked the doors for fear of the Jews. Jesus appeared to them and blessed the disciples, “Peace to you!” This frightened and startled the disciples who should have already believed the reports that Jesus rose. The disciples thought Jesus was a spirit. However, Jesus challenged them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have” (Luke 24:38–39). Jesus rose bodily like none other. His body had put on immortality and glory. Jesus’s resurrection is the beginning of the Christian’s hope of resurrection for eternal life. Faith in Jesus requires believing that all will rise one day. This lesson presents reasons to believe in Jesus’s resurrection, implications of Jesus’s resurrection for eternal life, and resurrection as the focus of evangelism.Scripture Reading: I Corinthians 15:1-4 (read by Marcq Rhodes)

What do you think about lukewarm soup, water, or coffee? Some Christians have a faith that is lukewarm and unappealing. For some reason, many of us lose our zeal, enthusiasm, and passion for the faith. We seem to float on our faith like a life raft not looking for more from our faith in Christ. In this study of the seven churches of Asia, Christians learn how Jesus see churches and what Christ expects. In Revelation, Christ spoke to the church at Laodicea urging them to be zealous and repent. Christ described them as lukewarm because their works were neither cold nor warm. Jesus declared that He would spit them out of his mouth. Jesus affirmed that He rebukes and disciplines those whom He loves. When we as Christians drift in our zeal, how can we restore that enthusiasm? This lesson will help.Scripture Reading: James 2:17-19 (read by Undre Griggs)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded April 9, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Late one afternoon, a king was walking on his roof when he saw a woman bathing. Instead of going out to battle that spring like other kings, David stayed in Jerusalem. On that roof, David looked with lust and commanded his servants to bring Bathsheba to him. Bathsheba later sent word to David that she was pregnant. After David tried to get her husband Uriah to go home to his wife, David ordered his commander Joab to withdraw his men from Uriah in battle for him to die. This one event devastated David’s integrity and character as a faithful man. Likewise, Christians face similar temptations. In Revelation 2, Christ spoke to a church that allowed the influence of sexual immorality to lead them away from Christ. What would God have to learn from the church at Thyatira?Scripture Reading Psalm 52:8-12 (read by Gerrit Dekker)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded April 2, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

What will happen to those who never find Christ? What would you think the state of salvation is for someone who worships God, prays continually, and gives to the needy but does not know Christ? The world wants to know: “Are good people saved?” Because if good people are saved and I am a good person, then I do not need to give attention to Christ, His church, and the written Word. How should Christians respond? What does the Bible say? This lesson presents scriptures demonstrating the capability of each person to believe in one God and to seek and find Christ. If a person is able to find Christ, then God justly holds that one accountable for faith.Scripture Reading: Acts 17:24-31 (read by Gerrit Dekker)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded March 26, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Jesus revealed to the church at Ephesus that they left their first love. What was that love? On his third missionary journey, the apostle Paul came to Ephesus. Many great things happened there in the spread of the Gospel. In its beginning, the church became strong and grew (Acts 19). After Paul had traveled to Ephesus, Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus. Later, Peter wrote to Asia Minor in his general epistles. However, Jesus instructed Paul and then an angel to write to Ephesus about how they left their first love. They did not leave their first love by not opposing false teaching and false teachers. They did not leave their first love by not enduring persecution in Christ’s name. They did these things. They left their first love as they left their first works. How do Christians behave in the beginning? How do they love in the beginning? This study looks at when a congregation or an individual Christian might leave their first love.Scripture Reading: Revelation 1:4-8 (read by Christopher Howell)Lesson by Sc

This study introduces the influence of Isaiah upon the conversion of the Ethiopian treasurer bringing him into the Christian faith. Within Isaiah 53 is the Gospel including the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This prophetic prediction of God’s Suffering Servant is about 700 years before Jesus was born. Isaiah 53 has many uses for today’s Christian. This study will present seven uses for Isaiah 53 today. This Isaian passage proclaims, persuades, and stirs people with the Gospel of the Christ. Scripture Reading: I Peter 2:21-25 (read by Dutch Dekker)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded March 12, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Seven hundred years before Jesus, Isaiah revealed the Servant who was pierced for transgressions and crushed for the iniquities of all. The LORD laid on him the iniquity of all, because all like sheep have gone astray. People rejected and despised this Servant. Men hid their faces from Him. However, He healed others by His wounds. His appearance was marred beyond human semblance, and God exalted Him. These are ancient prophecies of the Christ, the Suffering Servant. Faith comes from hearing these words (Rom 10:16–17). This is the Gospel. This is the power of God unto salvation. This lesson urges the listener to be crucified with Christ and take the Gospel to heart.Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:5-11 (read by Barry Rutkowski)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded March 5, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Jesus’s love is a tough love. He is compassionate and yet lovingly confrontational. Jesus’s teachings would not match the definition of politically correct. Jesus observed that sin is evil. He listed such evil thought and behavior that come from within a person and defile the person (Mark 7:20–23). Is your love balanced like Christ’s love? This is lesson challenges the listener to change one’s heart. Jesus did not bend the truth so as not to offend. Jesus did not excuse sin. Jesus did not overlook Judgment Day and hide the place of Torment in Hell. Jesus flipped tables if He had to do that. Jesus exposed hypocrites openly if He had to do that. However, this was not His usually approach. This lesson will urge the listener to count the cost to follow Jesus. This is no other way.Scripture Reading: Matthew 10:34-39 (read by Gerrit Dekker)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded February 26, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

Jesus commanded His follower, “Love your enemies.” Christ explained how and Jesu set the example of compassion. Jesus ministered to the outcasts and fringes of society who came to Him. The Pharisees accused Jesus, “This man receives sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:2). For this reason, Jesus told the Parable of the Lost Sheep. “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?” Jesus’s love crossed boundaries that few people wanted to follow. Jesus revealed to the Pharisees, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.” Jesus knew enemies and He faced enemies as most people do. Jesus died at the hands of enemies. While loving them, He died for them. At one point, every accountable person has been an enemy to God through sinful actions. This lesson explains and challenges Christians to love their enemies and to know why.Scripture

Beside the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw a man sitting in a tax booth and said, “Follow me.” Levi rose, left everything, and followed him. However, the Pharisees and scribes grumbled that Jesus ate and drank with such sinners. Jesus demonstrated His love to outsiders and outcast. His mercy came in loving kindness to persuade people to come to Christ. Christ’s love comes from God’s love for Him. Jesus affirmed the second greatest command, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” One must love oneself as God loves that person. Only that love can fulfill loving one’s neighbor as oneself. This study looks to the original command from God to Moses to love one’s neighbor as oneself and see God’s meaning from the surround passages.Scripture Reading: Leviticus 19:17-18 (read by Christopher Howell)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded February 12, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

How did Jesus show love? Christ healed the sick. He fed the hungry. Jesus raised the dead. Christ forgave sinners. Jesus preached the Gospel. He set an example of obedience to God’s commands. Jesus died for the world, because God so loved the world. By all of these actions, Jesus demonstrated His love for all. This lesson reflects upon Jesus love to increase our love. Those who love Christ keep His commands. Believers can increase their love for God the more that they perceive the greatness of their debt in sin and Christ’s desire to forgive those sins. Jesus fulfilled the Law and the Prophets through love. Jesus revealed that obeying the greatest commands fulfills the Law. Love in us fulfills the Law.Scripture Reading: Matthew 22:34-40 (read by Theron Golleher)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded February 5, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

If someone asked you, “What is the purpose of the Church?”, what would you say? How one perceives the purpose of the church affects our behavior? Truthfully, if our faith in Christ, then we will value the church as Christ does? Jesus bought the church with His blood. Jesus promised to build His church. Jesus gave Himself for the church. When the church was established, the church devoted itself to the apostles’ doctrine, the Lord’s Supper, sharing together, and prayers together. Is that the church today? What does the church look like? The church has lost its purpose and the world sees it. The purpose of the church is to make disciples baptizing and teaching them to observe all things that Christ commanded. The purpose of the church is to proclaim the excellencies of God. Observations show that churches that grow are evangelizing. The church must return to the mission field and that means devoting oneself to the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer.Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:8

Why do you believe in the Bible? One might reply, “I believe in Jesus.” “The evidence surrounding Jesus’s death demonstrates that Jesus rose from the dead.” “The Bible is the most attested book in history.” “The Bible has changed the world for good.” “The Bible is filled with hundreds of fulfilled predictive prophecies.” All of these are excellent replies. The Bible is the effect of a miracle. Forty writers from Moses to John wrote the Bible over 1600 years. As Jesus is infallible so are the words of Jesus’s infallible. Jesus declared, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Matt 24:35). Jesus gave those words to His apostles and promised the Holy Spirit to guide them into all truth. Apostolic writers formed the Christians Scriptures that has been a wonder to the world. There is much more that is amazing about the Bible, and the Christian’s confidence to uphold the unlimited inerrancy of the Bible is compelling.Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 1:16-21 (read by Justin Hirt)Lesson by Scott

Jesus proclaimed, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt 5:8). Do most people perceive their hearts as good or evil? While many would say “good,” how many would describe their hearts as pure? This lesson presents a biblical picture of the heart as the inner self of thought and emotion. God knows the hearts of all people (1 Cor 4:5). God will judge the hearts of all people (Rom 2:4–6). How will your heart stand before God? There is a way to change the heart.Scripture Reading: Luke 6:43-45 (read by Marcq Rhodes)Lesson by Scott ShifferdRecorded January 15, 2017 at the Dean Road church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL

“It is the Lord who judges me.” “It is a very small thing that I should be judged by you.” Some may say such things because they do not want correction, blame, or to feel guilt. Such familiar statements can remind Christians that their focus must remain upon God for judgment. The apostle Paul has some insightful points from 1 Corinthians 4:1–7 for which this study centers. How much should Christians allow the judgments of others to affect them? The apostle Paul encourages believers by his example to identify oneself as a servant of Christ and steward of the ministries of God. The Christians must maintain a heart that does not judge others by one’s own personal measure, and rather assume the role of a servant humble before God. There is great danger when someone inflates oneself from boasting from low self-esteem according to what others say or from high self-esteem by what one thinks of oneself. However, this focus on self is very hurtful and the inflated person will deflate. This lesson turns the believer’s