Posts by Jeffrey Hamilton
Are You a Liberal?
by Richard Guill Since the church of Christ today is being rent asunder by what is labeled as “liberalism,” it is not uncommon to hear a brother or sister referred to as “a liberal.” It is often used to describe preachers, but is not limited to them. What is meant by the term “liberal”? Are…
Read MoreWhy Must You Use Instrumental Music?
Author Unknown Recently, a congregation in the city where I preach decided to start using instruments in their worship assembly. Apparently, even the community realizes that among churches of Christ, this is a big deal because the local news and newspaper have done stories on it. Obviously, I love my brothers and sisters in…
Read MoreAre You the Wrong Person for the Job?
by Zeke Flores “The Moses said to the Lord, ‘Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your serant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue'” (Exodus 4:10). Moses basically tells God, “You picked the wrong guy.” He lists his weaknesses…
Read MoreEntangled
by Terry Wane Benton People with the word of the kingdom of Christ in their hearts do not need to get too entangled in the cares of this world. “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke…
Read MoreFlip-Flops, Short Shorts and Worship
by Charles Box Our dress in worship is not a “fashion show.” But, is it possible to become too casual, too indiscreet, or too revealing in our manner of dress when we gather for worship? Recently, we were visiting a Wednesday night church service, and near us sat a girl wearing flip-flops and short shorts.…
Read MoreShaped by Difficulties
by Zeke Flores “And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she named him Moses, and said, ‘Because I drew him out of the water'” (Exodus 2:10). Moses’ story starts with a mix of heartbreak and hope. His mother has to let him go to save…
Read MoreI Know You
by Dennis Strickland We all know someone. It’s good to know someone, perhaps several folks with whom we interact as we traverse this life. In fact, some seek to know, or be known by, as many as possible, as if this makes them more popular. I’m not sure how it works, but some even make…
Read MoreIf You Fell Away from Christ’s Church
by Terry Wane Benton It is easy to get caught up in a cycle of negativity and pull away from a scriptural church of Christ. It is also possible to go back and correct things both with God and His people. Jesus died for His church (Acts 20:28). He asks us to help His church…
Read MorePressured to Grow
by Zeke Flores “But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out, so that they dreaded the sons of Israel” (Exodus 1:12). There’s something strangely encouraging about this verse. Israel is being crushed under Pharaoh’s fear-driven oppression, yet God quietly flips the script. The very pressure meant to…
Read MoreRestricted by Your Own Affections
by Terry Wane Benton There were some at Corinth that did not like Paul for one excuse or another. Perhaps they did not like his appearance, his style of oratory, or skill in the same, but whatever was the excuse, they were not thinking correctly. There were carnal members who were not spiritually minded (I…
Read MoreBy Bread Alone
by Hugh DeLong We all have our favorite scriptures and concepts that we ‘religiously’ follow. We also all have some aspects of Jesus’ teaching that, because of our dispositions and/or situations, we ignore or set aside. In such situations, most of us ‘justify’ our actions. Read this first temptation again as Luke records it! Jesus…
Read MoreA Little Folly
by Chadwick Brewer “Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor” (Ecclesiastes 10:1). When I was a child, I was told the parable of the ship’s mast. The main mast in a ship might take well over a hundred years to grow to the right…
Read MoreThe A.D. 70 System of Kingism
by Garland M. Robinson via Seek the Old Paths The task before me in this series of articles is to examine the fallacies of the “Max King Doctrine.” Some may yet be unaware what the “Max King Doctrine” is. Briefly stated, it is the fanciful theory (heresy) that all the things for which we look…
Read MoreSome Obvious Shadows of Jesus in Exodus
by Terry Wane Benton Exodus is rich in foreshadowing Jesus. A mark of divine wisdom is in the embedding of the shape and form of Jesus long before He arrived in the flesh, showing a wisdom too great for human wisdom alone to account for it. Moses is a lot like Jesus in his unusual…
Read MoreRed Letters
by John Guzzetta I’m sure you’ve noticed that in many editions of the Bible, maybe even the one you are holding, the editors have printed the words of Jesus Christ in red ink. The first red-letter edition was conceived and printed by Louis Klopsch in 1899, first titled (in the long-winded style of the day)…
Read MoreThe “Genocide” Accusation Against the Bible—And Why It Fails
by Brad Harrub, Ph.D. Every semester, thousands of college students sit in classrooms where the Bible is ridiculed or reduced to a caricature. One of the most common accusations they hear is this: “If God is real, why did He command genocide?” For many young Christians, that question lands like a punch to the gut.…
Read MoreDraw Near to God
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). Join us for a series of lessons on April 8-12, 2026, presented by Brent Paschall of Roanoke, Virginia. Wednesday 7:00 pm Made for Relationship Thursday 7:00 pm Desire for Relationship Friday 7:00 pm Communication Saturday 10:30…
Read MoreSpirit Away: From Empty to Spirit-Filled Kingdom Builders
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Spirited-Away.mp3 Download Audio by Garry Floyd Text: Proverbs 11:24–31 Theme “Wind” Week-3 Focus – “Empty”: Without God, life becomes a chase after the wind. But when we are born of the Spirit and centered on God, our lives gain weight, direction, and eternal significance. Introduction— When Life Feels Like a Strange World The animated film…
Read MoreWind Chasers
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Wind-Chasers-1.mp3 Download Audio by Garry Floyd How & Why We Inherit Wind’s Emptiness — and What We Can Do About It Text: Ecclesiastes 5:16 “Exactly as a man is born, thus will he die. So what is the advantage to him who toils for the wind?” The Problem: Humanity Becomes Wind Chasers The writer of…
Read MoreWhere Are the Elders?
by Brad Harrub, Ph.D. Walk into many congregations today and ask a simple question: “Do you have elders?” Far too often, the answer is the same: “No…not yet.” Sometimes that answer has been given for 10 years…20 years…even 40-50 years. But that should cause us to pause and ask a very serious question: How did…
Read MoreWhat the Bible Actually Says About the Church
by Andy Diestelkamp via InLight Media One of the most pervasive questions in Christianity is, “If Christ is not divided, why are there so many denominations?” While we can go back through history and trace the development of each denomination, maybe there’s a root issue that causes this division, or denominational way of thinking, even…
Read MoreThe Truth About Having a Personal Relationship with Jesus
by Andy Diestelkamp via InLight Media A personal relationship with Jesus can’t stay private. The truth is, the Bible talks about all kinds of ways a personal relationship with Jesus connects us to others and changes the way we interact with believers and non-believers alike.
Read MoreScience Can’t Rule Out God
by Buddy Payne via InLight Media Has science really proved that God does not exist? Many people assume modern science has made belief in God obsolete—but is that actually true? In this video, Buddy Payne examines the limits of the scientific method and asks an important question: Can science prove that God does—or does not—exist?…
Read MoreThe Biggest Misunderstanding About Evolution
by Buddy Payne via InLight Media For over 150 years, Darwinian evolution has been considered the best explanation for the diversity of life on Earth. But does modern science actually support the idea that natural selection and random mutation can explain the origin of all life forms? In this video, we explore the biggest misunderstanding…
Read MoreThe Truth About God and Science
by Buddy Payne interviewed by Andy Diestelkamp via InLight Media Are faith and science in conflict? Does science disprove God? And can you believe in both Christianity and modern science without compromising your faith? In this long-form interview, we sit down with Dr. Buddy Payne, a Harvard-educated science professor, to explore the relationship between science…
Read MoreWithout God, Can You Trust Your Mind?
by Doy Moyer via InLight Media Can we really trust our own thinking? Every argument — every conversation — assumes we can think, reason, and understand. But have you ever stopped to ask where that ability comes from? In this video, Doy Moyer explores a profound challenge facing the naturalistic worldview: if human thought is…
Read MorePreacher, Why Does New Testament Christianity Scare You So?
by Floyd Chappelear via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 20 No. 4, December 1994 The enemy was formidable, so a sizeable army needed to be assembled to ensure victory. Even so, how could an army of 32,000 conquer the host of Midian, Amalek, and the other eastern peoples whose number exceeded 120,000? Although one would wonder, the Lord…
Read MoreDo “All Things” Mean “All Things”?
by Wayne Wells via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 20 No. 4, December 1994 One of the greatest promises found in the Bible is that God can cause all things to work together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to hear brethren argue that this passage does not mean what…
Read MoreAdding to the Finished Work of the Cross?
by Terry Wane Benton Check out this statement: “I don’t have to do anything for His blood to cover my sin because I can’t add to the finished or perfect work of the Cross.” This idea of “adding something” to the “finished work of Christ” sounds appealing, and it has become quite typical of many…
Read MoreJohn’s Baptism
by Hugh DeLong The baptism of John, whence was it? This is the question Jesus asked in Luke 20:4, directed at the religious leaders of that day and carrying some alarming implications. First, “there was a man sent from God” (John 1:6). That is the biblical record of the true answer to Jesus’ question. He…
Read MoreGod Meant It for Good
by Zeke Flores In Genesis 50:20, Joseph famously tells his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” This is one of the clearest statements in Scripture about God’s sovereignty over human actions. Joseph acknowledges the reality of their sin, yet he sees God’s purpose woven through it. This teaches us…
Read MoreHow can you repent before being forgiven?
Question: Greetings! I’ve been struggling to understand repentance. I know it’s commonly taught that we must repent of all sin before we can be saved. However, as I read Romans and some of Paul’s other writings, I find that Paul talks about being made free from sin, putting to death the deeds of the flesh…
Read MoreThe Separation of Church and State
by David New via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 20 No. 4, December 1994 [David is a member of the Annandale church of Christ and, as a lawyer, represents clients who are trying to restore prayer to the public schools.] On June 25, 1962, Justice Hugo Black, writing for the Supreme Court in the landmark Engel v. Vitale,…
Read MoreThe Anti-Denominational Denomination
by Floyd Chappelear via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 20 No. 4, December 1994 Jefferson Davis Tant used to finish articles with the line, “We are drifting.” He could see in the thirties and forties what would happen in the fifties and sixties. Not by any divine gift of inspiration, of course, but because his prescience was born…
Read MoreI Never Intended to Quit
by Gus Nichols A man who had not attended a church service in four years told me he never thought of “quitting” the church. I reminded him that he had already withdrawn his presence from its services, refused to give his moral support to the activities of the congregation, and had withdrawn his financial support,…
Read MoreGod Is My Shepherd
by Zeke Flores In Genesis 48:15-16, Jacob blesses Joseph’s sons and describes God as the One who has shepherded him all his life. This is the first time God is called a shepherd in Scripture. Jacob looks back and sees that God has guided, protected, and sustained him through every season. This reveals a foundational…
Read MoreWas Christ’s sacrifice applied to all people at once, or applied as needed?
by Terry Wane Benton The sacrifice itself was once‑for‑all, complete, and never repeated. Hebrews 10:14 teaches that Christ’s offering is finished, final, and never needs to be repeated: “By one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” The atoning act is complete, final, and historically accomplished at the cross. This is the…
Read MoreWhen the Church Disappoints You
by Terry Wane Benton Jesus’ twelve apostles disappointed Him at times. Sometimes they would look at Him with a bewildered look of “what are you talking about?” as they failed to grasp the meaning and application of what He said. Sometimes, he would plainly say something simple like, “We are going up to Jerusalem, where…
Read MoreStop Trying to Neuter the God of the Bible
by Brad Harrub, Ph.D. Somewhere along the way, much of modern American Christianity decided that the best way to attract people to God was to soften Him and make everyone “feel good.” Sermons became filled with comforting thoughts, gentle encouragements, and repeated reminders that “God loves you.” Churches highlight the soothing passages. Devotionals emphasize grace,…
Read MoreHow do I deal with my daughter asking questions about homosexuality?
Question: Hi Jeff, Over the last few months, the topic of homosexuality has come up between my twins, who are almost 12 years old. They are male and female twins. My daughter has asked questions about homosexuality. She says that some of her friends claim that they are “gay” and hold hands in school. I’ve…
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