Why Does John Mention that Jesus Wept?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Why-Does-John-Mention-that-Jesus-Wept.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 11:17-44 I. Ask someone even slightly familiar with the Bible what the shortest verse is and they can tell you: “Jesus wept.” – John 11:35 A. I was reading an article by Phil Gardner and he asked an interesting question, “Why does John show us a weeping Jesus?” 1. Not,…
Read MoreThings We Are to Find
by Floyd Chappelear via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 16 No. 2, June 30, 1990 The kingdom of God is likened unto a treasure hidden in a field, or to a lost coin whose owner searched diligently till she found it. Indeed, there is preciousness associated with the kingdom that warrants our seeking that we might find it.…
Read MoreThoughts on “Sinful Nature”
Author Unknown (Labeled “Guest Editorial”) via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 16 No. 2, June 30, 1990 Sinful natures exist. It would be foolish for any serious individual to deny it. How this comes about in a person’s life and just who has a sinful nature are other matters. Please consider a few thoughts on the subject, which…
Read MoreGod Appeared in the Flesh
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/God-Appeared-in-the-Flesh.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Timothy 3:14-16 I. Before the first century ended, several varieties of false teachings arose. A. One set has been referred to as the gnostics. The name derives from the Greek word for “knowledge.” – I Timothy 6:20-21 B. These were a diverse group, but they were tied by a belief…
Read MoreCan someone with Down Syndrome lead a prayer?
Question: Can or should a person with severe Down Syndrome lead a prayer? Answer: Leading a prayer requires the ability to communicate one’s thoughts to others and to God. People with Down Syndrome understand language well but are often delayed in developing the skills to express themselves verbally. “Delayed” is a keyword here. Communications skills…
Read MoreThe Christian and Gambling
by Dudley Ross Spears via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 16 No. 2, June 30, 1990 More States in our Union are adopting state-operated lotteries to increase revenue. Every citizen of every state, especially Christians, must understand the issues involved. This is not being written to influence anyone politically but rather to urge readers to investigate some of…
Read MoreReligion in Germany
by Hans H. Waetjen via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 16 No. 2, June 30, 1990 Floyd asked me some time ago to write an article on the state of religion in Germany. With all the latest political developments in East Germany, this information may be even more relevant now. So, I will try to describe today’s religion…
Read MoreSaying Goodbye to a Dear Friend
by Adam Litmer It won’t be long now. The binding in my Bible is coming undone, and pages are starting to tear and fall out. Tape and glue are no longer getting the job done. I’m going to have to purchase a new Bible. Honestly, it nearly brings a tear to my eye. I suppose…
Read MoreDa Cai Xiao Yong
by Jeffery Kingry via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 16 No. 1, March 31, 1990 In the middle ages, the famous Chinese poet Xin Oiji (Shin Chee-gee) pleaded with the emperor to withstand the Kin invaders, but it was a generation of appeasement and indulgence. The emperor’s ministers advised him to wait, not recover lost territories, and consolidate…
Read MoreBiblical Law
by Lynn Trapp via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 16 No.1, March 31, 1990 For several months now, I have agonized over the question of biblical law. Three factors have led to my consideration of this subject. First, having read Walther Eichrodt’s Old Testament Theology (Vol. 1), I began to perceive that how I had explained the relationship…
Read MoreHow to Draw Near to God
by George Hutto via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15 No. 1, January 2015 “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:7-8). James said, “Draw near to God and…
Read MoreBy This We Know Love
by Michael Sullivan via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15 No. 1, January 2015 “I love you.” We live in a world that drains these words of their power. Even for many who claim to follow Christ, “love” has come to represent strong emotion and warm feelings toward those who are likeable, those with something to offer. Christians…
Read MoreWords Hurt, Words Heal
by Doy Moyer “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Proverbs 12:18). Words can hurt. They can be like sword thrusts, cutting deeply and hurting people in ways we may not even consider. Because “what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart”…
Read MoreThe Burden of Proof
by Terry Wane Benton We sometimes hear someone say “prove it is a sin,” with the idea that unless the Bible says “this is a sin,” it is acceptable to the Lord. But, the criteria is that for something to be acceptable to the Lord, one must “prove it is acceptable” (Romans 12:1-4). If you…
Read MoreAlways with Grace
by David Gibson It was about 4:00 a.m. in the ICU. There had been a change of shifts, and a nurse entered Chub Lambert’s room whom he had not met before. “Good morning!” Chub said. “How are you doing today?” She didn’t respond at first. After a pause, she said, “I don’t know how to…
Read MoreSongs of the Saints: Tullius C. O’Kane
by Wayne S. Walker A name which may be a little more familiar, or at least recognized, than Skene but still not as well-known as Campbell or Stone is Tullius Clinton O’Kane, who was born in Fairfield County, in the vicinity of Lancaster, Ohio, on March 10, 1830, and educated at the Ohio Wesleyan University…
Read MoreYour articles are always helpful
Question: Brethren: I just wanted to send you a “thank you” for all of your work on your Web page. Your articles are always helpful. Answer: I’m glad we have been able to help you in some small way.
Read MoreCan a symbol be used to identify Christians?
Question: I thoroughly appreciate your congregation’s work on the many articles and topics. I use them myself to continue learning and answer some of my questions about certain topics. I do have a question regarding Christian symbolism. I understand that we should not make graven images or symbols per the apostles’ teachings. These material things…
Read MoreLetter from an Inmate
by David Gibson In a file folder labeled “Hypocrisy,” I found some correspondence I had forgotten all about. It was a letter from an inmate and my reply to his questions. The inmate’s letter: There is a whole bunch of guys here who read their Bible and go to church and even the prayer circle,…
Read MoreDo We Have a Flawed Theology?
by Perry Hall Studying Job, we find two conclusions his friends repeatedly made concerning Job, which are theologically flawed. This is because they believed in an unyielding law of retribution from God: Sinners are cursed and, therefore, suffer; the righteous are blessed and, therefore, live a life of ease. This led Job’s friends to: Condemn…
Read MoreThe Anointing
by Terry Wane Benton “But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie–just as it has taught you, abide in him” (I John 2:27 ESV). The anointing his…
Read MoreGender Roles Within the Sacrificial System
by Perry Hall Gender requirements were specified in the Mosaic sacrificial system. We will reveal how this is important to our topic of gender roles within the church. Before that, let’s examine the gender specifications. The priesthood and the Levitical ministers were all males. This is undisputed and must be meaningful since pagan religions had…
Read MoreThe Human Life of God
by Steve Klein via Guardian of Truth XXXV: 14, pp. 419-420, July 18, 1991 One of the most ticklish of all religious controversies since the time of the apostles has been over the nature of the deity that Jesus possessed as a man. Historian Philip Schaff observed that in the years before 325 A.D., “the…
Read MoreGod Was Manifest in the Flesh
by Tim Coffey via Guardian of Truth XL: 5 p. 8-9, March 7, 1996 Paul proclaimed, “Great is the mystery of godliness, God was manifest in the flesh” (I Timothy 3:16). For those who saw Jesus in the flesh, the difficulty was not in believing that he was man, but in believing he was God.…
Read MoreHow do I handle someone objecting to “Precious Memories”?
Question: I enjoyed your online message based on the hymn Precious Memories. After having led this hymn in worship for almost sixty years, the preacher where I attend said if Precious Memories was sung, he would walk out and not sing it because it is unbiblical. He says angels do not have specific messages for…
Read MoreHow Do I Make Someone Change
by Wilson Adams “How do I make someone change?” You won’t like the answer. Are you ready? You can’t. People change only when they’re ready to. All the pushing, prodding, needling, and nagging will not bring change. Why? It’s a fundamental law of human nature—you push, and they push back. All this pushing creates gridlock…
Read MoreIs There a Standard for Our Worship?
by Dave Hart How shall we decide what should and should not be a part of our worship? A quick look at the religious world reveals many distinct worship practices and customs. Some hold that the activity of worship is not as important as the attitude of worship. Others maintain that activity and attitude are…
Read MoreTwo Sources of Temptation
by Perry Hall Two frightening sources of temptation used by Satan, according to James 1 and Romans 7, are me (James 1:14) and God (Romans 7:7-12). We see both in the first temptation in Genesis 3. Satan uses Eve, but notice how the possessed serpent only tempts Eve with the Pride of Life. Then she…
Read MoreWhat’s Your Choice?
by David Gibson Many are avid baseball fans, but others care nothing about it. Some love to sit in a fishing boat hour after hour; this bores others stiff. Opera has its devotees; others can’t stand it. Probably most would agree that baseball, fishing, and opera are not matters of life and death. If you…
Read MoreMy adultery has ruined my marriage. Do you have any advice?
Question: I would like you to advise me, please. I cheated on my husband. I committed adultery once, and he forgave me when I confessed it to him. But today, I see I did not repent; I only pained my conscience. After forgiving myself, I did it again after a few weeks. I have kept…
Read MoreGod’s Servant
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Gods-Servant.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Isaiah 49:1-9 I. Several passages in the latter part of Isaiah discuss the role that a person, referred to as “My Servant” would accomplish on behalf of God. A. As we read through the passages, we need to keep in mind that Isaiah was written before the Babylonian…
Read MoreTheir Face, Our Heart, Your Body
by Oliver Watts via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 16 No. 1, March 31, 1990 In the King James and American Standard Versions, “your” is always plural. It means belonging to more than one person spoken to. Unlike how we talk now, when “belonging to one person spoken to” was meant, the word “thy” was used. This fact…
Read MoreMemory
by Kenneth Frazier via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 16 No. 1, March 31, 1990 “Then spake the chief butler unto Pharoah, saying, I do remember my faults this day” (Genesis 41:9). The butler had a good memory. After two years, he could remember what had taken place in a jail where he and the chief baker had…
Read MoreFaith in the Unseen
by Jeff May via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15 No. 1, January 2015 Christians must have vision far greater than 20/20. They must, by faith, be able to see the unseen. Their faith must go where their eyes cannot. This is the grand message of Hebrews 11, which was written to backsliding Jewish Christians. They were tempted…
Read MoreSend Those Grudges Away
by L. A Stauffer via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15 No. 1, January 2015 One of the New Testament words for “forgiveness” (aphiemi) literally means “to send away” and means to “dismiss” or “leave behind.” It is used in its literal sense by Jesus when he “sent the multitude away” (NKJV) after a long day of…
Read MoreBalaam’s Talking Donkey
by Michael Ray Baggett Have you ever watched the movie Francis the Talking Mule? Have you ever watched the old TV classic Mr. Ed about a talking horse? These were entertaining shows, even though they were unrealistic. But hold on! The Bible tells us about a prophet whose donkey really did talk to him. Do…
Read MoreThe Living Intercessor
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/The-Living-Intercessor.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Hebrews 7:11-25 I. The need for an intercessor A. Fear 1. Have you ever been so nervous that you said, “I can’t talk to him! You go and talk to him.” 2. Exodus 19:14-20 – When the people met the Lord God, it was a frightening experience. 3. So much so…
Read MorePharisaism in the Way
by Frank Jamerson (Lecture: Florida College 1990 Lectureship; reprinted with the permission of the author) via Sentry Magazine, Vol 16 No. 1, March 31, 1990 The practice of “bashing” Pharisees has become a fad. If you dislike how someone teaches, call him a Pharisee. If you do not like his doctrine, call it Pharisaism. The sad…
Read MoreCan I give on Sunday instead of Wednesday as my church leaders want?
Question: Dear sir, Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ! Am I not unified with the church if I contribute to the church on Sunday instead of Wednesday during our midweek devotional? Our church leader wants us to give our contribution during our midweek devotional and not on Sunday, and he wants us to be…
Read MoreThe Test of Love
by Terry Wane Benton The Lord allows the false teachers to test your heart. Have you ever thought about it that way? Maybe you are supposed to love the Lord your God enough to check behind every teacher and preacher to see if they are telling the truth, and your job is to have enough…
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