The Spiritual Discipline of Subtraction
by Gary Henry WordPoints.com “Moses’ father-in-law said to him, ‘The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you'” (Exodus 18:17-18). In these days of extreme busyness, the very thought of deleting anything from our…
Read MoreWhy are some prophecies written in the past tense?
Question: Since Isaiah 53 is a prophecy about the coming of Christ, why is it written in the past tense? Answer: One way God emphasizes the certainty of what He declares about the future is to express it as if it has already occurred. Scholars call this the “prophetic perfect tense.” Speaking of the future…
Read MoreLove One Another
by Hugh DeLong One of the best synopses of the nature and character of ‘love’ is found in I Corinthians 13. Many preachers, myself included, have found it useful to illustrate what it means for a husband to love his wife. I will continue to do this; however, it is instructive to realize this context…
Read MoreEdification
by Hugh DeLong “Let all things be done for edification” (I Corinthians 14:26 NASB95). But what does ‘edification’ mean in practical terms? Often it is used to mean educate or teach. While it includes that, it also means simply ‘to build up’. This is said in connection with our association in a local church group,…
Read MoreIs my hobby becoming an idol?
Question: Dear Sir, I have a question about an issue I have been having and can’t figure out how to handle it. I have been doing a creative hobby, but I wasn’t doing it alone; I used AI. So it took up a lot of time and became unhealthy because I kept doing it excessively…
Read MoreThe Beloved Son
by Edwin Crozier Gabriel told Mary the Holy Spirit would empower her to conceive a child who would be called “Son of the Most High.” Thirty years later, when this infant had grown into a man, He was baptized in the Jordan. The heavens were opened. The Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove. A…
Read MoreJust and Full Weights
by Zeke Flores “You shall have a full and just weight; you shall have a full and just measure …” (Deuteronomy 25:15). This command deals with honest measurements. Dishonest scales were a quiet way to cheat customers. Moses addresses it because integrity isn’t just about big decisions; it’s about everyday transactions. Israel was expected to…
Read MorePaul and Headship
by Hugh DeLong As you read I Corinthians 11, stop and meditate on this distinction. Many people in our country today dislike the concept of headship and may even use I Corinthians 11:11-12 to deny the rest of this section, but the truth can be built on the fact that Christ is the head of…
Read MoreWho Is the Prophet?
by David Gibson Moses said, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me . . . you shall listen to him” (Deuteronomy 18:15). The Jews of the first century expected this Prophet (John 1:19-21; 6:14; 7:40). Whoever it was would be remarkable indeed, considering how great Moses was (Numbers 12:6-8). Muslims…
Read MoreMembers of One Body
by Hugh DeLong Paul began this letter by saying that there were divisions within the church at Corinth. He addresses each issue in turn. In chapter 12, he gives the underlying reason such division is a problem: there is only one body, made up of many members. When we read ‘members’, we are apt to…
Read MorePigs and Pearls
by Chadwick Brewer “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you” (Matthew 7:6). What a struggle it is to know when and how to apply this verse! How do I know whether I am being a good influence…
Read MoreLoving versus Approving
by Terry Wane Benton Daily Points of Light from Heaven One thing people have gotten confused about is the difference between love and approval. God loves sinners (Romans 5:8) but does not approve of and accept them until they repent (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30-31). God will reject many people whom He loves (Matthew 7:13-14, 21f).…
Read MoreThorns and Snares
by Luiz Felipe Lima De Albuquerque Thesis: When we make room for sin and other gods, we grow distant from God and lose our identity. “And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land…
Read MoreIs it scriptural to divorce your unbelieving spouse?
Question: Dear Brother Jeff. Good day and God bless. Brother Jeff, you answered me concerning a brother who divorced his wife, without what Matthew 19:9 taught us. This Sunday our brethren replied regarding the divorced couple. They reckon the sister in the picture divorced her first and second husbands because they were unbelievers (I Corinthians7:12-16),…
Read MoreIs there a difference between living in sin and falling into sin?
Question: Hello brother, I have a question for you. There is a teaching about living in sin and falling into sin. Living in sin is basically sin in which one continues sinning in that sin or sins. Falling is more like you are walking and you trip, you fall down, but you get back up…
Read MoreTreating Vulnerable Workers Fairly
by Zeke Flores “You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy” (Deuteronomy 24:14). This command addresses economic vulnerability. Israel was expected to treat workers fairly, especially those who had little leverage. Oppression wasn’t always loud; sometimes it was delayed wages, unfair treatment, or exploiting someone’s situation. Moses is teaching that righteousness…
Read MoreTurn Away from Them
by Bill Robinson Understanding Paul’s Command The sharpest warning Paul ever wrote sits in the middle of a thank-you list. Romans 16 is the warmest chapter he ever put on paper. He names close to thirty people. Phoebe, who carried the letter. Prisca and Aquila, who risked their necks for him. Mary, who worked hard.…
Read MoreHow do I avoid problems with a sudden increase in income?
Question: Hello Brother Jeff, Your work on the La Vista site continues to be a blessing. God has blessed me with a new job that will just about double my income. I’m wondering, in your experience as a preacher and elder, if you’ve seen people go wrong spiritually with such a big income change, and…
Read MoreWhy is God allowing me to endure this?
Question: Dear Pastor, I hope you are doing well. I am suffering from an illness and feel utterly exhausted; I have lost all hope for life. I often ask God why I have to go through this and why things aren’t happening the way I want them to. I simply do not understand why God…
Read MoreWhat do I tell someone who desires to date a weak Christian?
Question: Hi Mr. Jeff, I emailed you several years ago. I wonder if you still answer emails. A lot has happened in my walk as a Christian, and I am very thankful that I’ve seen Christ’s faithfulness more and more. May He be glorified in everything and in all things. I want to ask a…
Read MoreAre Matthew 24:30 and Revelation 1:7 referring to the same event?
Question: “This generation” in Matthew 24 makes it clear that the signs were not about the end of the world. But the phrase “all tribes on the earth shall mourn” is hard to understand. The phrase was used in Revelation 1:7 and Matthew 24:30. If it meant the destruction of Jerusalem in Matthew, then it must also…
Read MoreYour Camp Must Be Holy
by Zeke Flores “Since Yahweh your God walks in the midst of your camp … your camp must be holy” (Deuteronomy 23:13). Israel’s camp wasn’t just a living space; God was there too. That meant their environment needed to reflect order, respect, and intentionality. Holiness wasn’t abstract; it affected daily life. Moses is teaching Israel…
Read MoreIdolatry and Corinth
by Hugh DeLong The city of Corinth was a beehive of religious ideas and practices. This included the traditional Greek gods, the Roman gods and civic religion, the worship of the Emperor and imperial family, and the many differing religious practices brought by travelers and immigrants. As a result, there were many temples, shrines, altars,…
Read MoreJehovah’s Witnesses Beliefs
by Jefferson David Tant Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe Jesus Is Michael the Archangel. The Bible teaches that God has never said to any of his angels, “You Are My Son… today have I begotten Thee.” The Bible teaches that Jesus is not an angel. Hebrews 1:5 and 2:5 state, “For to which of the angels did…
Read MoreWho Is Responsible?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Who-Is-Responsible.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Galatians 6:1-10 I. One of the issues that has divided brethren is that of doing good. A. The question is who is responsible? B. One side argues that it doesn’t matter, so long as the good is done. The other side argues that you cannot give away a responsibility…
Read MoreWhat Can Youth Do?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2003/10/What-Can-Youth-Do.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: I Timothy 4:6-16 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…
Read MoreDid God command worship in the Temple every Sabbath?
Question: Was worship in the temple on every Sabbath day each week a tradition that got started somewhere along the way? I ask because I can’t find anywhere in Scripture that God established weekly worship on Saturday. The sabbath was simply a day of rest. Thank you. Answer: “Speak to the sons of Israel and say…
Read MoreDoes Acts 2:42 show that only Christians may partake of the Lord’s Supper?
Question: In the discussion “Should congregations practice closed communion?” you say that “No passage indicates that the Lord’s Supper must only be offered to Christians. It only has meaning for Christians, but we don’t add rules God didn’t give. If a non-Christian wishes to partake of the Lord’s Supper, it doesn’t change his status before…
Read MoreWas helping the tribe of Benjamin find wives wrong?
Question: I just finished the Book of Judges, and I have a question: Was helping Benjamin by sending wives to the remaining men wrong? Answer: During the days of the Judges, the tribe of Benjamin allowed homosexuality to exist within their borders. This upset the rest of Israel so greatly that they attacked Benjamin and…
Read MoreYou Are Only Young Once
by Jefferson David Tant Well, that’s obvious, isn’t it? I’ve never heard of anyone going through their youth twice. So, what are the implications? What is the importance of this fact? The reality is that in our young years, we set the course for our lives. We start on the course we will follow for…
Read MoreIs it wrong to partake of the Lord’s Supper when you can’t attend services at a church?
Question: A discussion recently came up along the lines of Brother Eubanks’ article on the Lord’s Supper. I agree that one should not purposefully forsake the assembly and take the Lord’s Supper at home or elsewhere when a congregation is available. We have met in small groups during ice storms or flooding when the congregation could…
Read MoreIs it wrong to attend football games where alcohol is served?
Question: I have a question about whether I should give up on something. Over the last 20 years or so, I’ve gone to college football games about once a year. A lot of nonsense takes place at those events (I’m sure you know). My primary concern has become all the alcohol consumption that is taking…
Read MoreLove Your Enemies
by Gary McDade The gentle Savior pled with the human family to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27). And in this, His teaching was, and still is, revolutionary today. Revolutionary: “involving or causing a complete or dramatic change.” Emerging from Old Testament teaching was the concept of being saved from your enemies, or delivered…
Read MoreHis Winnowing Fan Is in His Hand
by Terry Wane Benton Daily Points of Light from Heaven “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand,…
Read MoreAn Ancient Heresy Is Back
by Dr. Thaxter Dickey via InLight Media Some of today’s most popular spiritual ideas are actually just ancient ideas wearing new clothes. In this video, we explore the connection between ancient Gnosticism and modern spirituality—and why the New Testament warns Christians about ideas that elevate private spiritual experience, secret knowledge, intuition, and inner enlightenment above Scripture,…
Read MoreBy Degrees
by David Gibson When I started working in the college cafeteria, two things bothered me: the heat of the freshly washed dishes I stacked, and the high-decibel noise of the kitchen. Soon my hands adjusted to the heat, and my ears to the racket. I got used to it. Getting used to evil? As our…
Read MoreBring the Books
by Edwin Crozier Text: II Timothy 4 Paul concludes his letter with a series of requests connected with “Do your best to come to me soon.” Paul knows his time is limited, but he doesn’t know the exact day he will depart. “Come soon, Timothy,” Paul tells him, and he tells him about the other…
Read MoreI Hope to See You
by Warren E. Berkley Yes, I know. As I write and post this, I know mine is only one voice in a growing chorus. Still, putting these thoughts into words will help me—and perhaps encourage greater vigilance among those who read them. These concerns have deepened as I have studied and taught the book of…
Read MoreThe Danger of Overcorrecting
by Clay Gentry Imagine you’re driving down the highway and getting distracted for just a few seconds. Suddenly you hear and feel it – the noise of the rumble strip and the violent jolt as your right-side tires leave the asphalt. In that moment of sudden panic, human instinct takes over. You white-knuckle the wheel…
Read MoreFixing What Is Broken Around You
by Zeke Flores “So you shall remove the guilt of innocent blood from your midst, when you do what is right in the eyes of Yahweh” (Deuteronomy 21:9). This verse comes from a section dealing with unsolved murder. Israel was responsible for maintaining justice even when the offender wasn’t known. The community had to take…
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