Shadyside Church of Christ

It is quite easy to turn the Christian faith into a rule-keeping exercise.  "Do this, and don't do that."  Certainly there are things to do and not do, but at the center of it all stands a person - Jesus Christ.  He is the reason for and the focus of the Christian faith.  He is alive at the right hand of God and intercedes for us even now.  And the end of the journey is to be where He is.  Do you love Jesus?

After Nineveh repented, and Jonah saw that God relented of bringing disaster on the city, Jonah got angry.  He went to the east of the city, made himself a little shack and waited to see if the Lord would really not destroy the city.  But using a plant, a worm and a scorching east wind, God tried to teach Jonah a lesson about compassion.  We hope Jonah learned the lesson.  What about us? 

After Nineveh repented, and Jonah saw that God relented of bringing disaster on the city, Jonah got angry.  He went to the east of the city, made himself a little shack and waited to see if the Lord would really not destroy the city.  But using a plant, a worm and a scorching east wind, God tried to teach Jonah a lesson about compassion.  We hope Jonah learned the lesson.  What about us? 

After being thrown overboard from the floundering ship, the great fish swallowed Jonah.  Jonah had tried to flee from the presence of the Lord, so the Lord found him a good place for that - dark, lonely, uncomfortable, scary.  So, what do you do in such a place?  Jonah reflects, remembers and prays.  What does He learn?

The Lord gave His prophet Jonah an assignment which he didn't want to do, so he tried to run from the presence of God.  He ended up in a very dark and lonely place.  Not a way to spend your life.  Has something like this ever happened to you? 

Scriptures:  Jonah 1:1-3;  2 Kings 14:25;  Jonah 1:4-6;  Jonah 1:7-9;  Jonah 1:10-12;  Jonah 1:13-14;  Jonah 1:15-16;  Jonah 1:17

Defining God is an impossible task.  Scripture reveals many of His attributes and His nature.  Here we want to discus three aspects of His character.  God cannot act contrary to these, and they have always been behind everything which God has done or said.  God is holy.  God is love.  God is good.  We should be thankful that He is. 

Scriptures:  Isaiah 55:6-9;  Leviticus 19:1-4;  Hebrews 12:7-11;  1 Peter 1:15;  Jeremiah 31:1-5;  1 John 4:7-10;  Psalm 145:1-9;  Mark 10:17-18

For today's church to grow strong in the face of adversity and do the work of God, it must remain attached to its roots and the Source of its power.  One important way to provide encouragement in this endeavor is to take our cues from the early apostles who were witnesses of the life, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus.

Sermon Description: Some Christians still wonder about their forgiveness.  Their conscience still bothers them at times.  Can a person know they are forgiven of their sins?  How does that happen?  The Holy Spirit goes to great lengths in scripture to assure us that "in Christ" a person is forgiven of all trespasses.  So, how does that happen?

When the chief priests and elders had brought Jesus to Pilate, there was a lot of back and forth about who He was, what was happening, and the need to release one prisoner.  After all of this Pilate asked the question: "What shall I do with Jesus?"  It is a question which every person must ask and answer.  You cannot avoid it.  What about you?

Scripture teaches Christians to be ready for every good work to meet urgent needs.  However, sometimes we are so involved in something (even some good work) that we miss an opportunity which God puts right "under our noses."  In this event in Jesus' life, He teaches us about being ready and having the correct priorities.