The 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…
Read MorePaul’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…
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