Shadyside Church of Christ

The cross is the centerpiece of the gospel. We see its symbol everywhere. Other than Jesus Himself, the cross is the focus of the Christian faith. But what does it mean? What is the message of the cross? It might surprise you.

When Israel's long-awaited King finally arrived, He was not what many expected. His humble beginnings gave a sure preview of both the King Himself and His kingdom. From His birth in tiny Bethlehem and His being laid in a feeding trough to the wonder of lowly shepherds, everything pointed to something different.

A lot of kids (grown ups, too!) are spending a lot of time and energy looking for Pokemon these days. Wouldn't it be great if people would be searching for Jesus with the same dedication and excitement? Jesus can be found. He wants to be found. He is not hiding. And when you find the Lord Jesus, you will find out that you didn't really find Him, but that He found you!

God is a God of life. He made the earth to be inhabited by all sorts of living things from vegetation to fish to birds to creatures of all kinds. The pinnacle of His creation was humankind for which He planned a truly great blessing - life eternal! God is all about life, both of the body and of the soul.

When Jesus came proclaiming a kingdom of God, He was speaking of more than a new religious body. Through the many miracles and wonders which God performed through Him, He demonstrated that the rule of God had come, and in some ways had returned to the world. Jesus showed power over every facet of creation and affirmed that the "ruler of this world" was to be cast out.