Archive for 2003
Does belief include anything more than trust?
Question: Does belief include anything more than trust? Answer: Belief or faith is of primary importance to a follower of God. The writer of Hebrews state, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who…
Read MoreShould baptism be done only in Jesus’ name?
Question: For many years the churches of Christ have used Matthew 28:19 as a baptism that adds to the church that was built by the word of the Lord that went forth from Jerusalem, a baptism that was not present when Israel was told to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.…
Read MoreIndwelling
Text: Psalm 139 I. The concept of indwelling, specifically the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, is interesting because there are so many misconceptions given that a simple answer is commonly rejected. II. Who is the Holy Spirit? A. The religious world holds many ideas regarding the Spirit of God 1. Some believe it is just another reference to…
Read MoreHezekiah’s Comforting Words
by Lewis Willis via Truth Magazine Vol. XLIV: 6 p. 14, March 16, 2000 Bible students are aware of that time when the nation of Israel divided into the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Samaria was the capital of Israel, and Jerusalem was the capital of Judah. Israel was very wicked, living defiantly against God. The Assyrian…
Read MoreCan the church sponsor the growing of tobacco to raise funds?
Question: Some people depend on raising tobacco for income. Is it good for the church to use the Lord’s money to sponsor this kind of agriculture? Answer: I found this question particularly intriguing because of the underlying assumptions. In order to answer the question well, I need to address several related issues. How may a…
Read MoreDancing in the Bible
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton We will divide the discussion of dancing in the Bible into two sections. The first section will include those Scriptures where dancing is spoken of in a favorable setting. The second section is where dancing is associated with wickedness. We will note the things that are similar within each section and…
Read MoreCan a hall used by a church for worship also be rented for a potluck by members?
Question: Our congregation meets in a rented hall. Would it be wrong to make use of the facilities available for a potluck gathering? I understand that the church doesn’t have authority to own a kitchen, but I was wondering why we couldn’t rent the facility where we happen to meet for a meal that is…
Read MoreDoes the Bible talk about asking a father for his daughter’s hand in marriage?
Question: Is there any biblical background to making sure someone who is dating or is going to marry someone must have the father’s permission of the daughter? Answer: In the course of recording the lives of various people, the Bible does mention how men and women came together to be married. Several of these did…
Read MoreDoes Acts 20:7 refer to a common meal?
Question: Do you think that Acts 20:7 was talking of a common meal? Why or why not? Answer: The text in question states, “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight” (Acts 20:7).…
Read MoreDid You Ever Wonder Why …
by Floyd Chappelear … people who make astrological forecasts don’t get rich by shrewd investing in the stock market? It would seem that if they can truly foretell future events they should be able to do quite well. … people who believe in the “science of healing of the mind” wear glasses? It would seem that…
Read MorePraying in a heavenly tongue
Question: Would you discuss the idea of praying in a heavenly language where the person is edified even though others don’t know what they are saying? Answer: The mention of the language of angels is only found in I Corinthians 13:1 where Paul states that speaking in any language is without benefit if it is not accompanied…
Read MoreHow is Abraham famous? What did Abraham care about most?
Question: How is Abraham, or Abram, famous? What did Abraham care about most? Answer: Many, many years ago God promised a man named Abram, “I will bless you and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2). The blessing was conditional on Abram’s willingness to leave his home country and…
Read MoreDoes Mark 16:16 say that someone not baptized is lost?
Question: I think I have a parallel that explains Mark 16:16. Suppose I state, “All people who are enrolled and live in the dorm are students in the college. If John is enrolled but doesn’t live in the dorm, does that mean he is not a student?” Similarly, Mark 16:16 says “He who believes and…
Read MoreWithout Compromise
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Corinthians 6:14-7:1 I. Disagreeing parties are often urged to reach a compromised position. A. After all, Christians are told to live peaceably – Romans 12:18 B. We are to pursue the things that make for peace – Romans 14:19 C. Without such a pursuit of peace, we cannot see God – Hebrews…
Read MoreWill the Earth Remain?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 37:1-22 I. I believe that all here understand that the earth was never created to be a permanent home to mankind A. In contrast to Jesus’ words, the earth and its heaven will cease – Mark 13:31 B. God is eternal, but the world He made will wear out and be…
Read MoreWhy We Don’t Follow The Old Testament
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 7:1-6 I. Our Bibles are composed of two major parts: an Old Testament and a New Testament A. Why are they called “testaments”? 1. A testament is a legal document declaring a person’s wishes. 2. Thus, calling the Bible a testament is to say these are the commands (the legal requirements) that…
Read MoreWhen Jesus Marveled
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 8:5-13 I. Even the seemingly small things within the Bible are significant. A. I find it puzzling that people claim that the Bible is inspired, as we are told in II Timothy 3:16-17, but then turn around and want to modify it. 1. In June of 2006 I ran across an…
Read MoreWhat Thomas Missed
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 20:19-29 I. We aren’t told why, but when the disciples gathered after Jesus’ death, Thomas wasn’t there at a very notable time. A. What was it that Thomas missed by not being there? II. What did Thomas miss? A. He missed the joy of seeing the Lord – John 20:20 1. Jesus knew…
Read MoreWhat happened to the letter to Laodicea mentioned in Colossians 4:16?
Question: What happened to the letter to Laodicea mentioned in Colossians 4:16? Answer: Near the end of Paul’s third journey, Paul visited churches and gathered funds for the relief of brethren in Judea suffering from a famine (I Corinthians 16:1-9). Several of the churches sent representatives to travel with Paul, not because they did not trust…
Read MoreWhat is Heaven Like?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Some things are just hard to describe A. When asked to describe her husband, Shulammith answered – Song 5:10-16 1. We understand that this is not a precise, scientific description 2. Rather, the unknown is described by the familiar. Somehow we know the real thing is better. 3. Each illustration shows a characteristic. It is…
Read MoreWhat Can Youth Do?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that the Lord’s work is done entirely by grownups A. Sure, the boys help with the scripture reading and wait on the Lord’s Table. B. But what is there really for a person to do other than wait to grow up? II. Jesus -…
Read MoreWe Don’t Do Religion
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. A young lady called, asking if I would consider conducting her wedding. A. I tell them that I’m willing, but I have certain restrictions. If either had been divorced, it had to be because of sexual immorality (that eliminates most of the calls right there). I also require that they take a…
Read MoreWe are Going Down the Valley
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Let us read I Cor. 15:50-58 II. In our song books there is a spiritual song written by Jessie Brown Pounds A. She lived from 1861 to 1921 in Hiram, Ohio. Both she and her family were members of the Lord’s church. B. We sing many songs that are based on her poems: 1. The…
Read MoreWe are at War!
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Few Christians realize that their country is at war A. No, I don’t mean the U.S. B. I mean the country every Christian in the world belongs to, the church of our Lord and God. 1. Phil 3:20 – Our citizenship is in heaven 2. Eph. 2:19 – You are fellow citizens 3. Few Christians realize…
Read MoreWas It His Time to Go?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 39 I. So many things in this life are beyond our grasp to comprehend. A. We attend a funeral to see that someone who was once full of life and energy is now still, lying in a casket. Why did it happen? B. We want explanations that sometimes can’t be given.…
Read MoreCan adultery be forgiven? Should I tell my spouse?
Question: My husband and I separated because he committed adultery. A few months later I too committed adultery one time because I was stupid and lonely. I am closer to the Lord now and I knew it was and know it is wrong for what I did too. Will He forgive us? Can we still…
Read MoreUncleanness
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 5:1-8 I. Under the Old Testament, there is a series of rules dealing with unclean things A. I am finding that people are condemning as unclean things that God never mentioned. B. The rules confuse people, mostly because they do not understand what uncleanness was about. C. Uncleanness predates the Law of…
Read MoreThe Lord’s Supper
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Cor. 11:17-34 I. It is a covenant meal A. Luke 22:19-20 – The cup is the new covenant B. A covenant that is taken with us in the kingdom – Matt 26:28-29 C. Covenants were often sealed with a meal shared between the two parties. 1. Jacob and Laban’s covenant – Gen 31:46,54…
Read MoreAren’t the references to baptism just symbolic?
Question: When looking at Galatians 3:27 or the Romans passages, doesn’t it make better sense to understand the word immerse or immersion literally? I am immersed into Christ, immersed into death in spiritual realms. I am clothed with Christ in a spiritual realm, not putting on holy vestments. I am arguing that to say that…
Read MoreShould Christians Support the Salvation Army?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II John 5-11 I. Would you consider it right to drop money in a Catholic church’s collection box? Would you send monthly tithes to a Methodist church? A. For Christians following the New Testament, the answer is a strong “No.” B. We don’t agree with the teachings of these denominations, so why…
Read MoreStrictness Not According to Knowledge
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 15:1-14 I. In our zeal to live as God requires, we will at times take on more restrictions than God has placed upon us. A. Ecclesiastes 7:15-16 1. A confusing verse. Is Solomon saying don’t follow God’s laws strictly? Have a little sin in your life? 2. The answer is a few…
Read MoreShowing Submission
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. We have spent a good deal of time showing the fact that Christians are to be in submission to various authorities. A. Some of these relationships are voluntary, some are involuntary, but in all cases submission must be shown. B. However, how is submission shown? How do place yourself in submission? II. Submission is…
Read MoreShould Denominations Be Refuted?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 119:97-104 I. Some brethren are, well, squeamish when denominations are publicly refuted A. There is a fear that visitors, their friends and relatives, will be offended by such plain language B. In the end, there is more allowance for sin to continue unchecked. C. Is it possible that we do not mind…
Read MoreScientology
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Peter 2:1-19 I. There are times that I run into ideas that leave me completely puzzled. People seriously believe these things? A. I was asked to do a lesson on Scientology since it had been in the news recently B. The things I learned about it were so strange that I…
Read MoreSalvation by Grace Through Faith
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 2:1-10 I. When we read Ephesians 2:8-10, there are four important words which stand out: grace, saved, faith, and works. A. The gift mentioned in verse 8 is the gift of salvation given to us by God’s grace. 1. Grace is an unmerited favor. a. It is an action distinguished by justice.…
Read MoreRoles in Salvation
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 2:1-10 I. There are many misleading claims in the denominations regarding salvation A. Most of the misconceptions come because people only look at some of the verses regarding salvation. B. They find verses which says we are saved by God’s grace and then trumpet that salvation is solely by God’s grace.…
Read MoreResolutions from Hebrews
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 3:8-16 I. As one year draws to a close and another dawns new, people make resolutions that the new year will not be like those in the past A. There are resolutions to lose weight, to exercise more, break bad habits and to establish good habits. B. The writer of Hebrews…
Read MoreRemember Your Creator
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:7 I. Have you made something? (No, no, besides that mess in your room.) Something that originated in your own mind and formed with your own hands. A. As creative as we are, man only takes exiting things and joins them in new ways. B. The ancient language of Hebrew contains…
Read MoreReligion on Parade
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 23:5-12 I. Jesus condemns the Pharisees many times and in our reading he condemns them for using religion as a way for people to notice them. – Matthew 23:5 A. What is a phylactery (or some translations say frontlet)? 1. It comes from passages like Exodus 13:6-9. a. The sign or monument…
Read MoreReasons for Missing Services
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Kings 18:22-39 I. People come up with some fairly bizarre reasons for being anywhere else but at services. A. They need to be at work, attend school events, sporting practices, sporting events. B. Some are just plain tired or don’t feel well – nothing specific mind you – just a vague…
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