Posts by Jeffrey Hamilton
Paul’s Instructions
by Hugh DeLong Paul includes many instructions on living as a disciple. Some we tend to emphasize more than others, but they are all inspired by God. I find the most difficult ones to follow are the ones that don’t fit my personality or abilities. I know I am not alone in this, for most…
Read MoreDifficult Years
by Zeke Flores In Genesis 47:9, Jacob tells Pharaoh, “Few and difficult have been the years of my life.” This is not self-pity; it’s honesty shaped by experience. Jacob has walked through conflict, loss, fear, and hardship, yet he stands as a man preserved by God. This teaches us that a life of faith is…
Read MoreWhat Does Godly Leadership Look Like?
by Doy Moyer In short, it looks like the love the Lord shows. The husband is to love his wife “just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her” (Ephesians 5:25). Leadership that does not do this is not godly, but selfish. Godly leadership is not tyrannical. It is not abusive, controlling, or…
Read MoreI Will Go with You
by Zeke Flores In Genesis 46:3-4, God tells Jacob, “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt … I will go down with you.” This is a powerful reminder that God’s presence is not tied to geography. Jacob is leaving the land of promise, yet God assures him that His presence travels with His…
Read MoreWho Administers Baptism?
by Louis Rushmore The late David Lipscomb is attributed with saying, “There is no more propriety in calling baptism the work of the man baptized than there is in calling the burial the work of the person buried.” Stop and think about that analogy for a moment. The dead neither dig the hole in which…
Read MoreStarting Point of Reference
by Terry Wane Benton If I start with the premise or foundational belief that there is no Creator and Judge, then my outlook would lead me to believe that we got here by accident and that morals are just what we want them to be. Nothing absolute, and no accountability to anyone higher than ourselves.…
Read MoreFaith Takes Work
by Terry Wane Benton The argument that baptism is a “work” but faith is not is not sound. There is far more work involved in faith than in passively letting someone immerse you in water. Think about it. Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). Think of the mental work involved in…
Read MoreWhen Jesus Marveled (Hamilton)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2003/11/When-Jesus-Marveled.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio 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…
Read MoreScrolling
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Scrolling.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: II Timothy 3:1-7 I. Maya sits down. She just needs a quick break before getting back to work. A. She pulls up her social media on her phone, and her thumb naturally begins the familiar, rhythmic motion of scrolling the content upward. B. Soon, she has looked through 20…
Read MoreLife Has No Guarantees
by Doy Moyer I follow a few pages and sites for those with Parkinson’s and their caregivers (usually a spouse). One of the things I’ve been impressed with (for the good) is the commitment that so many spouses have. It’s not easy for them, and they know this is a “rest of life” matter that…
Read MorePersuasive Arguments
by Hugh DeLong We are drowning in a sea of false information. The internet can be useful, but it appears to me to overwhelmingly contain bad and misleading information. If you do a quick search for almost anything, the titles that are present for you to read contain countless hyperboles: “This destroys all…”, This changes…
Read MoreWas It Any of Lot’s Business?
by Terry Wane Benton I got a note from someone telling me that the LGBTQ causes do not and should not concern me. That is like saying, what they are promoting in schools and through political causes does not concern me. Well, it does! You see, sin is a spiritual disease that spreads by people…
Read MoreThe Story of Redemption
by Jeff Grisham There are some narratives in Scripture that are not exactly what we would call “family-friendly.” In other words, if some of the biblical narratives were televised, we would probably not let our children watch them. Let’s look at a couple of examples. The first is found in Genesis 19 at the end…
Read MoreMay a Woman Ever Teach a Man?
by Jimmy Ferguson There is much error taught and practiced in the brotherhood today regarding women teaching men. In some places, women are allowed and even encouraged to speak in public assemblies and to teach classes where both men and women are present. Some brethren have swung far to the right and contend that a…
Read MoreI wanted to let you know your work is not in vain
Question: Hello, I hope you are doing well. I’m reaching out just to say thank you. I’ve been a born-again believer living in a Buddhist country for several years now, and I spend a lot of my time studying the Bible. Today was the third time I’ve gone through the Gospel of John, and when…
Read MoreImmodesty-Temptation of Conforming
by Keith Greer In a few weeks, summer will arrive. The cold days of winter and the rainy days of spring will be behind us, and we’ll be enjoying warm sunny days. Seasonal change is a wonderful part of God’s creation (Genesis 8:22). Unfortunately, summer brings with it the problem of immodest apparel. Let’s first…
Read MoreUncovering Guilt
by Zeke Flores In Genesis 44:16, Judah says, “God has uncovered your servants’ guilt.” He isn’t referring to the silver cup. He’s referring to the sin they committed against Joseph years earlier. Judah recognizes that God is bringing hidden things into the open. This is a significant moment in the brothers’ spiritual journey. They finally…
Read MoreMore Righteous Than I
by Zeke Flores In Genesis 38:26, Judah says, “She [Tamar] is more righteous than I.” This confession is significant because it marks the beginning of Judah’s transformation. He moves from self-protection to repentance. Judah had been living with hidden sin, hypocrisy, and moral compromise. Tamar’s boldness exposes him, and instead of doubling down, he humbles…
Read MoreGuilty Consciences
by Zeke Flores In Genesis 42:21-22, Joseph’s brothers say, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother.” Their guilt surfaces immediately when trouble hits. This reveals a deep truth about the human conscience: God has woven moral awareness into us. Even when people try to bury their wrongdoing, the conscience remains active. The brothers…
Read MoreRunning the Race
by Hugh DeLong Text: Hebrews 12 Paul uses a lot of ‘life illustrations’ – body, temple, army, and sports. The writer of Hebrews now engages one of the sports illustrations – running. Personally, I dislike running (I prefer biking or other sports instead). But through the years have had to run. In running, particularly anything…
Read MoreThe Bad Guy Is Sometimes Actually the Good Guy
by Terry Wane Benton A child left to himself brings his mother to shame. The unappreciated role is the one spoken of in disrespectful tones (the mother) because she dared to love enough to do the unappreciated tasks of correction and discipline. She is treated as the bad guy, but she is actually the good…
Read MoreMay God Almighty Grant You Mercy
by Zeke Flores In Genesis 43:14, Jacob prays, “May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man.” This is the first time in the Joseph story that Jacob appeals directly to God’s character. The name he uses — El Shaddai — emphasizes God’s power and sufficiency. Jacob is finally entrusting what he fears most to…
Read MoreDivine Hiddenness—an Answer to the Skeptics
by Brad Harrub, Ph.D. It’s an issue most parents have wrestled with—even if they’ve never heard the formal term for it: Divine Hiddenness. At its core, the argument asks a simple but emotionally powerful question: If God truly exists, why doesn’t He make Himself unmistakably obvious? Those who raise this objection contend that if God…
Read MoreMistakes in the Bible
by Allen Dvorak “Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem” (II Kings 8:26). “Ahaziah was forty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem” (II Chronicles 22:2). Bible critics love to point to such numerical discrepancies and conclude that the Bible…
Read MoreNotes on Light
by Terry Wane Benton “The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?” (Psalms 27:1). “Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous” (Psalms 112:4). “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalms 119:105). “The…
Read MoreFallacies About Singing
by Roger D. Campbell When it comes to singing songs of praise to the Lord God, our concepts of such need to be based on the teaching of the New Testament. Sometimes, though, when it comes to singing spiritual songs, Christians accept ideas that simply are not true. Since such fallacies often influence others’ mindsets…
Read MoreBridle That Tongue!
by Mike Johnson via Seeking Things Above Many are familiar with Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 15:8-9, where He says we can make our religion vain by “teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. However, there is another way we can make our religion vain, which people may not be as familiar with. James 1:26 says,…
Read MoreWorship in Reverence
by David A. Cox via Market Street Messenger “By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified” (Leviticus 10:3). It is easy to come to worship without thinking deeply about why we gather. For many, attending services has become second nature—we come because…
Read MoreIs it wrong to gain interest from a bank?
Question: Can we open a Fixed Deposit with a bank? Because in the Bible, taking interest is said to be wrong, but in the New Testament, according to Matthew 25:27, it seems acceptable. Please tell me what I should do. Should I invest in an FD? I am very confused. Please help me so that…
Read MoreAcknowledging God
by Zeke Flores In Genesis 41:16, when Pharaoh asks Joseph to interpret his dream, Joseph replies, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh the answer.” This is a profound statement about the source of wisdom. Joseph stands before the most powerful man in the world, yet he refuses to claim credit for the insight…
Read MoreDealing with Doubt
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Dealing-with-Doubt.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: John 20:19-31 I. Is it wrong to have doubts? When those moments come when you wonder if God really exists or you run across an idea that makes you wonder if you really understood the Bible correctly, have you sinned? A. Look at characters in the Old Testament…
Read MoreIs Not Having the Original Manuscripts a Serious Problem?
by Terry Wane Benton It is not a problem at all. Unless all the copies and quotes are so contradictory and diverse that we need the original documents to settle the matter, the numerous quotes and copies provide enough certainty that we do not need the original autographs. In comparing what you do have, you…
Read MoreThe ABCs of Sin
by David Gibson A—The Attraction of Sin: Pleasure. There is pleasure in gossip, pornography, fornication, alcohol, drugs, etc. Isn’t that why sin is so tempting? Satan really knows how to bait a hook! He doesn’t want us to know that sin is deceptive (Hebrews 3:13), its pleasures are passing (Hebrews 11:25), and its momentary pleasures…
Read MoreWhither Our Children
by Gary Henry via WordPoints.com “And I will take every care so that you may have a clear memory of these things after my death” (II Peter 1:15 BBE). In regard to the principle of restoration, what about our legacy? If we believe the principle is valid, will we teach our children its importance —…
Read MoreI Would Like to Buy $3.00 Worth of God
by Gary Henry via WordPoints.com “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me” (Matthew 15:8). Many people would like to have a little religion in their lives, but not too much. If we’re honest, we may see more of ourselves than…
Read MoreTwo Individuals Are Greatly Affected by Traditionalism
by Gardner Hall Before thinking of any issue or determining how to proceed, the first person asks either, “What have my parents taught me?” or “What is my religious tradition, and what has it always taught?” The answer to those questions will determine how he lives. For example, if the first individual has been brought…
Read MoreWhen We Assess Other People, What Is Revealed?
by Gary Henry via WordPoints.com “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24). When we’re evaluating other people, we need to be careful. Jesus spoke to this issue when He said, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” We owe it to those around us to…
Read MoreTwo People Listen to Paul
by Terry Wane Benton You get out of a sermon or Bible lesson what you put into it. This is illustrated by two groups of people toward the same preacher. The first group was from Corinth. They were not “open” to Paul (II Corinthians 6:11-13) and justified their lack of interest in anything he said…
Read MoreFour Reasons Why I Cannot Believe the A.D. 70 Doctrine
Author Unknown Some good brethren in the church have become obsessed with the A.D. 70 doctrine to the point of making it a hobbyhorse. Simply stated, the A.D. 70 doctrine teaches that all prophecies were fulfilled by A.D. 70. This means that the second coming of Jesus, the resurrection, and the Day of Judgment happened…
Read MoreWho Created God? (Hall)
by Perry Hall In “The God Delusion”, Richard Dawkins asks the question, “Who created God?” This is a favorite “gotcha” question of atheists. This is ironic because atheists often believe in abiogenesis, the scientific theory that life originated from non-living matter through natural chemical processes. I say ironic because theists can simply return the volley…
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