Southside Lexington Podcast

Southside Church of Christ
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Southside Church of Christ, Lexington, KY

  1. 5d ago

    9-20-26 (Jeremy Stewart) Whose Authority?

    Mark 11:27 - 12:12 27 They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. 28 “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?” 29 Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30 John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!” 31 They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 32 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.) 33 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” 1 Jesus then began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 2 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully. 5 He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed. 6 “He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 “But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. 9 “What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10 Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture: “‘The stone the builders rejected     has become the cornerstone; 11 the Lord has done this,     and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” 12 Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away. LESSON NOTES 1. “By what authority are you doing these things?” - Mark 11:27–33 Where does Jesus’ authority come from? What authority are the religious leaders actually listening to?  2. “They will respect my son.” - Mark 12:1–9  The tenants reject the authority of the owner.   Rejecting his authority doesn’t remove his authority.  3. “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” - Mark 12:10–12 The religious leaders reject Jesus.  How do you respond to Jesus’ authority? DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Icebreaker: Who is someone whose voice you can recognize almost instantly, even if you can’t see them? What makes their voice so recognizable to you? The religious leaders ask Jesus, “By what authority are you doing these things?” What does their response to Jesus’ question about John reveal about what they actually value or fear?   The sermon used Michael Young’s sovereign-citizen argument to illustrate the difference between disagreeing with an authority and actually being outside that authority. Where are we tempted to treat Jesus’ authority as something we can “opt into” only when we agree with him?  The sermon described our lives as “a world full of authorities” competing for our loyalty and allegiance—including our own desires. What voices or influences most commonly compete for your allegiance? How can you recognize when one of them is becoming more authoritative in your life than it should be?  The sermon asked, “Where do you submit to him? And where are you still holding out?” What is one area where following Jesus’ authority can be particularly difficult? Why?  Hiroo Onoda’s story illustrates that “the authority we listen to matters” because our allegiance affects both ourselves and other people. Where have you seen the authority someone follows—good or bad—produce consequences beyond that individual? What might faithful allegiance to Jesus produce in the lives of the people around us?

  2. Sep 14

    9-13-26 (Barrett Coffman) Mini-Temples

    Mark 11:20-25 20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!" 22 "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 23 "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourselves into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." NIV 84 LESSON NOTES Have Faith In God: When the disciples are confused by the withered fig tree and everything happening around Jesus, He simply tells them, “Have faith in God.” The sermon emphasizes that faith isn't merely intellectual agreement with Christian beliefs. Faith is allegiance to the King—a continual choice to trust God and live in dependence upon Him. Prayer and Forgiveness: Jesus identifies two specific fruits that should grow out of faith: prayer and forgiveness. These weren't random teachings. They directly connect to the purpose of the temple itself. The temple was intended to be a house of prayer and a place where people could find forgiveness, but Jesus found neither. The Living Temple: At the cross, Jesus accomplishes what the temple could never ultimately accomplish. He becomes the once-for-all sacrifice, prays for forgiveness for His executioners, and the temple curtain is torn. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus becomes the true and living Temple—the place where we meet God and receive forgiveness. Mini-temples: Paul says, “You yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you.” Through faith in Jesus and the Holy Spirit, believers become what the sermon calls “mini-temples.” That changes our understanding of mission. We don't simply invite people to come to a building where they can encounter God. God sends His people into the world. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. The disciples were perplexed. Things were happening quickly, Jesus had confronted the temple, and opposition was growing. Into their confusion Jesus said, “Have faith in God.” Where in your life right now are you struggling to understand what God is doing? What would it look like for you to practice allegiance to God even without knowing how the situation will turn out? 2. Jesus identifies two specific fruits that should grow out of faith: prayer and forgiveness. These weren't random teachings. They directly connect to the purpose of the temple itself. The temple was intended to be a house of prayer and a place where people could find forgiveness, but Jesus found neither. This gives us a practical way to examine our spiritual lives. Is my faith making me more dependent upon God in prayer and more willing to release people through forgiveness? 3. The sermon says, "unforgiveness happens when someone else's sin becomes bigger than the cross." Is there someone or something you're currently holding onto — bitterness, resentment, a grudge — that you've been unwilling to let go of? What would it look like to actually give that to Jesus this week? 4. If every Christian is a "mini-temple" sent out into the world instead of people having to travel to find God, how does that change the way you think about your workplace, campus, neighborhood, or daily routine? What's one concrete way you can be a "house of prayer and place of forgiveness" this week?

  3. Sep 6

    9-6-26 (Barrett Coffman) Nothing But Leaves

    Mark 11:12-21 12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it. 15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: " 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations' ? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.' " 18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. 19 When evening came, they went out of the city. 20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!" NIV 84 LESSON NOTES The Illusion of Distance: Both the fig tree and the Jerusalem Temple shared the same problem: they looked highly successful, healthy, and impressive from a distance, but yielded absolutely nothing upon closer inspection. True spiritual health is verified up close, not by the outward profile we project to others. Growth Without Fruit is Decay: The sermon highlights that "growth without fruit is always a sign of decay." In a faith community or individual life, being busy, large, or full of activity ("leaves") does not automatically equal spiritual vitality. The Markan Sandwich: The Gospel of Mark utilizes a distinct literary structure where one story frames another (Fig Tree → Temple → Fig Tree) so they interpret each other. We cannot fully understand Jesus cursing the fig tree without realizing he was actually passing a prophetic judgment on the broken Temple system. Missing the Main Mission: The Court of the Gentiles—the only space where foreigners, the marginalized, and the ritually impure could pray—had been completely overrun by livestock and money changers. The religious leaders had prioritized financial trading and religious market convenience over their actual mission to be a "house of prayer for all nations." Rejection, Not Just Renovation: Jesus wasn't merely trying to clean up or fix the Temple system; his actions signaled a radical rejection and replacement of it. He did not clear the Temple of the Gentiles as popular expectation dictated; he cleared it for the Gentiles to make a way for everyone. The Curse Transferred: The ultimate hope of this passage is found in the gospel overlay. Jesus cursed a fruitless fig tree at the beginning of the week because he knew that by the end of the week, he would become a curse on a tree to redeem us and make us capable of bearing real fruit. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. The fig tree looked healthy from a distance but was fruitless up close. What are some outward signs that can make a person appear spiritually healthy even when genuine spiritual fruit may be missing? 2. The sermon asks us to lay the fig tree metaphor over our own lives. If Jesus were to closely inspect your daily schedule, thoughts, and relationships right now, would He find mostly "leaves" (appearances) or actual "fruit" (the fruit of the Spirit, repentance, love for others)? 3. When the chief priests heard Jesus’ teaching and saw His actions, they reacted out of fear and immediately looked for a way to kill Him rather than evaluating their own hearts. Why is it so terrifyingly easy to protect a broken status quo in our lives instead of practicing the fruit of repentance? 4. Jesus became a curse on the tree so that fruit could be produced in us. How should the gospel—that Jesus took our curse and redeemed us—change the way we respond when God exposes fruitlessness in our lives?

  4. Aug 30

    8-30-26 (Barrett Coffman) The Most Important Question

    Mark 10:46-52 46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. 51 "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." 52 "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.  LESSON NOTES A Unique Messianic Sign: The giving of sight to a blind person is the only miracle Jesus performed during His earthly ministry that never occurred in the Old Testament. While prophets performed other miracles, restoring sight was a specific sign reserved exclusively for the coming Messiah. The Progression of Spiritual Sight: Spiritual awakening is rarely instantaneous; it often happens in stages. Just like the blind man at Bethsaida who needed a "second touch" to see clearly rather than seeing people look like "trees walking around," believers frequently move from seeing Jesus partly, to personally, to primarily. The Wrong Answer vs. The Right Answer: When asked the exact same question by Jesus—"What do you want me to do for you?"—the disciples James and John answered by seeking power, position, and prestige. In contrast, the blind beggar Bartimaeus gave the correct response: "Rabbi, I want to see." As one commentator noted, "James and John asked to be seen, but Bartimaeus asked to see." The Mercy of the Messiah: While other disciples like Peter, James, and John recognized Jesus as the Messiah, they expected Him to fulfill that role through political or military might. Bartimaeus stands out because he recognized that Jesus would establish His kingdom through His mercy, repeatedly crying out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." The Response of Faith: When Jesus called him, Bartimaeus responded with a joyous extravagance and recklessness of faith. He instantly threw aside his begging cloak—the very tool he used to collect his daily livelihood—and jumped to his feet to go to Jesus despite his physical blindness. From the Sidelines to the Road: This account is ultimately a conversion story rather than just a physical healing. Bartimaeus went from sitting by the roadside as a helpless beggar to following Jesus along the road as a servant and a future leader in the early church. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. “What Do You Want Me to Do for You?” Imagine Jesus asking you that question personally today. What would your honest answer be? What does your answer reveal about the things you most desire right now? 2. The sermon describes the journey of seeing Jesus as moving from partly → personally → primarily → perfectly. Do you relate to this journey? Where would you place yourself on the journey? What has God used to help you see Jesus more clearly? 3. “Have Mercy on Me” Bartimaeus simply cries out for mercy. Why can admitting our need for mercy be difficult? What changes when we stop trying to appear self-sufficient and honestly bring our need to Jesus? 4. “When Jesus calls you, faith picks up the phone.” Is there an area of your life where you sense Jesus calling you to take a step of faith? What would actually “picking up the phone” look like this week? 5. Bartimaeus threw aside the cloak that represented part of his livelihood and security. What might be your “cloak”—something you rely on for comfort, identity, control, or security—that could keep you from responding fully to Jesus? 6. Bartimaeus went from sitting beside the road to following Jesus along the road. The sermon challenges us not to remain spectators but to become servants. Where are you most tempted to be a spectator in your faith? What is one concrete way you can move from watching to following this week?

  5. Aug 25

    8-23-26 (Trace Lee) You Were Made For This

    Genesis 1:26-27 26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image,     in the image of God he created them;     male and female he created them. LESSON NOTES & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Icebreaker: As you process through different transitions in your life (going to college, marriage, kids, new job, retirement, etc.), what were some of the joys and challenges of those seasons? The Beginning of Belonging. Each and every one of us was created to belong. We are biologically wired for it. In fact, humanity was created IN community (Genesis 1:26) and FOR community (Genesis 2:18). Question: In what spaces/areas is it the easiest for you to find connection/belonging? What spaces/areas have you found the greatest challenge? The Barriers to Belonging. Although we were created for community, our sin creates barriers to belonging for us and others. David Kim ("Made To Belong") identified four different "dysfunctional approaches to belonging". Those four dysfunctions are to be: avoidant, anxious, aggressive, or accommodating. Question: Of the four dysfunctions we discussed, which one do you resonate with the most? The Bridge to Belonging. Google defines a bridge as "a structure built over a river, road, or gap to help people and cars cross safely. As a verb, it means to connect two things or close a gap.” Bridges connect communities, countries, and continents. Because of humanity's sin in the garden we put a huge gap between us and God. Yet, by the grace and love of God, He gave us a Bridge. That Bridge is Jesus (John 14:6, Ephesians 2:12-13). Just as Jesus is a Bridge for us, the Holy Spirit equips us to be a bridge for others. Question: In what ways/environments has God gifted you/placed you to be a bridge for others to experience His goodness and His grace?   The Blessedness of Belonging. One day, all who belong to Jesus will be brought together for the greatest, longest, and most beautiful get together of all time (Revelation 19:6-9). As we sit in this place between the beginning of belonging in Eden and the ultimate blessedness of belonging in eternity, we remember this: We were made to belong. Question: How could this reminder be an encouragement to you as you live your day to day life?

  6. Aug 17

    8-16-26 (Barrett Coffman) Not So With You

    MARK 10:32-45 32 They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33 "We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise." 35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask." 36 "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. 37 They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory." 38 "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" 39 "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared." 41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." NIV 84 LESSON NOTES Jesus connects two seemingly opposite Old Testament figures that no one in a million years would have paired together: Daniel’s "Son of Man" (Daniel 7) and Isaiah’s "Suffering Servant" (Isaiah 53). He reveals that God's sovereign kingdom is established not through ruling over, but through serving under. In Mark 8, 9, and 10, we see a repeating pattern: Jesus predicts his suffering, the disciples give a "crazy" self-centered response, and Jesus teaches a lesson on discipleship and self-denial. On the road to Jerusalem, Jesus predicts his own death and resurrection three distinct times. With each prediction, the details become sharper, culminating in nine specific details about his upcoming passion in Mark 10. Jesus was never caught off guard; he resolutely chose the cross. Jesus issues a strict prohibition for his followers regarding leadership. While disciples can and should hold positions of authority, they are strictly forbidden from using that authority to rule "over" others. Kingdom leadership must look completely different from worldly leadership. The ultimate example of service is the Son of Man himself, who did not come to be served, but to serve. In God's kingdom, the King of all is the servant to all. His crown was made of thorns, his throne was a wooden cross, and the positions on his right and left were ultimately occupied by crucified criminals. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Icebreaker - what is the weirdest, most unusual food combination you love that other people might think is completely crazy? 2. William Barclay distinguished between crisis courage and "seeing it coming and going anyway" courage. Where in your life right now might God be asking you for the second kind? 3. Jesus states that leaders in his kingdom must be "servant of all" and "slave of all". In your workplace, family, or church, what does it practically look like to use a position of authority to serve under people rather than rule over them? 4. "Mark 10:45 is what turns Christianity into the gospel." How should the reality of Jesus giving his life as a ransom change the way we treat people who annoy, hurt, or inconvenience us this week? 5. "Jesus laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for one another" (1 John 3:16). What's one concrete way you can lay down your life for someone else this week?

  7. Aug 10

    8-9-26 (Barrett Coffman) One

    MARK 10:1-12 1 Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them. 2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" 3 "What did Moses command you?" he replied. 4 They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away." 5 "It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied. 6 "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 7 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." 10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery." NIV 84 LESSON NOTES Divorce is what Moses allowed; but not what God designed. Jesus distinguishes between what Moses allowed due to our hard hearts and what God originally designed in the garden. God's pre-fall plan for marriage establishes three distinct truths: it is a relationship between a man and a woman, it functions as the strongest relationship, and it is a sacred union formed by God Himself. We are called to live out God’s pre-fall plan for marriage in a post-fall world. The beauty and difficulty of marriage is that "two become one" in a broken world where sinners get married. While Jewish cultural debates focused strictly on the external, legal reasons for writing a certificate of divorce, Jesus exposes the root internal issue: hard hearts. Living out God's original intent for marriage in a post-fall world cannot be achieved through trying harder or loving better; it requires our hard hearts to be broken and compelled by the love of Christ. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1 Of the three characteristics of God's pre-fall plan for marriage - which one challenges you or encourages you the most right now and why? 2 A marriage counselor cited in the sermon advises couples to regularly say, "Remember who brought us together." How does shifting your perspective to view your marriage as a divine union change how you handle daily conflicts? 3 "Two become one" was described as both beautiful and difficult. What has been one of the hardest and one of the most beautiful parts of becoming one with your spouse? 4 Read 2 Corinthians 5:14 ("one died for all"). How does deeply internalizing the reality that Christ died for your spouse's shortcomings—just as He died for yours—transform the way you extend grace during difficult seasons?

  8. Aug 3

    8-2-26 (Jeremy Stewart) Croatia 2026

    COLOSSIANS 3:12-17 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Icebreaker - what stories from Croatia stood out to you? 2. In Colossians 3, verses 12-14 have a strong emphasis on our relationships with others. Jeremy shared about how impactful it was for everyone involved as the students built friendships with their Croatian and Ukrainian brothers and sisters, and encouraged us all to build friendships with others.  How impactful can friendship building be? Do you find it easy or challenging? 3. Verses 15-17 emphasize the impact of the message of Jesus, and we were encouraged to talk to others about what Jesus is doing in our lives. Do you find yourself worried that talking about Jesus will push people away or come off as abrasive? Do you think that people today have a desire to hear about Jesus? If so, in what way?

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Southside Church of Christ, Lexington, KY

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  • Creator
    Southside Church of Christ
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    Southside Lexington Podcast