Sermon Openers: The Preface and Introduction
by Clay Gentry Preachers, you invest countless hours in developing your sermons – exploring passages, mastering the text, writing memorable points, crafting powerful statements that make an impact, and setting the right tone. However, all this effort can be wasted if the congregation isn’t engaged from the beginning with a thoughtful introduction. We’re not talking…
Read MoreFour Characteristics of Faith
by David Gibson To say that faith is a significant theme of the Bible is an understatement. What better place to begin than the great Faith Chapter of the Bible, Hebrews 11. In this chapter, the noun “faith” is found 24 times, and the verb “believe” is used once. Hebrews 11 could be called “Case…
Read MoreWhat Is Apostasy?
by Kyle Pope via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15 No. 2, February 2015 The word apostasy means, “1) Abandonment or renunciation of one’s religious faith or moral allegiance… 2) By extension, the abandonment of principles or party generally” [Oxford Dictionary of the English Language, Vol. 1, p. 390]. It is derived from the Greek word apostasia, meaning “a defection…
Read MoreAn Overruling Providence
by Earl Kimbrough via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15 No. 2, February 2015 Robert Milligan, in writing about the nature of God in the Scheme of Redemption, warns the reader not to be wise above what is written, for all we can know of Him comes through revelation (Matthew 11:27). There are some things even here that…
Read MoreDon’t Be a Thief!
by Mike Johnson via Seeking Things Above, Vol. 6 No. 2, May 2025 Ephesians 4:17-32 is one of many passages in the New Testament that describe the transformation that is supposed to occur when a person becomes a Christian. The Bible tells Christians to put off the old man, i.e., our former sinful conduct, and put…
Read MoreIn Advance
by David Gibson by Judy Baxter on Flickr.com Some troubles are avoidable, some are not. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells of two builders (Matthew 7:24-27). Both build a house. A violent storm slams both houses. One house stands firm. The other falls. The difference? One had been founded on the…
Read MoreHelping Christians Addicted to Pornography
by Steve and Bette Wolfgang via “The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible: Truth Lectures for 2005,” Truth Publications, 2005, pp. 84-126; quotation from pp. 116-117. Bette and I have been speaking and writing for decades about the dangers of pornography, beginning at a time when it seemed that virtually no one else in the…
Read MoreSecond-hand Potential
by Zeke Flores I don’t like waste. I try to use up everything I buy until it’s run into the ground. Only when I’m sure I can’t get any more use out of it will I discard it. That goes a long way towards explaining why my garage looks the way it does; it’s full…
Read MoreLife Isn’t that Way
by Zeke Flores You might wish you had never had any trouble. No doubt, life would be a lot easier without any distress, affliction, or sorrow. But life isn’t that way. Because we often make dumb decisions, because many circumstances are unforeseeable, and because people are, well, people, there are bound to be uncomfortable situations,…
Read MoreWas it God’s will that I didn’t know about my husband’s sins before we got married?
Question: Greetings! I am reaching out to let you know that I think the Answers to Questions section on the church’s website is an invaluable resource, and I appreciate the very direct and truthful responses. The following are some questions that have plagued me for years, so I thought I’d pass them along and get…
Read MoreDid the Ten Commandments come through angels or God?
Question: Dear sir, Were the Ten Commandments delivered by angels or God Himself? I am somewhat confused by references such as Acts 7:53, Galatians 3:19, and Hebrews 2:2. Answer: “Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and…
Read MoreI enjoy your blog posts
Question: Hi, I really enjoyed your blog posts. So much detail and time went into them, and it’s a great ministry when there is limited counsel available online. Noting that we should ultimately seek counsel from our local elders, not online, I do really appreciate your blog. Answer: I’m glad you are finding the information…
Read MoreSatan (Gibson)
by David Gibson How much do we know about Satan? Second Corinthians has quite a bit to say about him. What does Paul say in this letter about our enemy, the devil? Knowing how Satan works is essential. “… so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his…
Read MoreA Look Behind the Fig Leaves
by Sam Dilbeck In recent years, many have claimed that society dictates what is modest. Their arguments go something like this: “During the Victorian Age, it was considered immodest for a woman to reveal her ankle or wrists in the presence of a man. Moreover, in many Middle Eastern countries, women are required to wear…
Read MoreShould I separate myself from my transgender dad?
Question: Dear Minister, I have family problems and need advice from a neutral person. I’m 15 years old. Last Sunday, my older siblings (who are in their early to mid-20s) came home for church and dinner. We spend every Sunday together, along with their spouses and children, since they live in our neighborhood. After dinner,…
Read MoreDwelling in the Spirit
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Read MoreDid baptism end after Jesus went to heaven?
Question: Good day, Pastor, Kindly throw light on this issue: Did baptism end after Jesus Christ went into heaven? Is water baptism still relevant to be a true Christian? I am of the opinion that it is no longer necessary, but I would appreciate it if you could kindly explain it to me in your…
Read MoreHusbands and Wives
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Husbands-and-Wives.mp3 by Raymond Warfel Download Audio
Read MorePreach It Anyway!
by Phillip Brannon I have come to the conclusion that when it comes to preaching the Word of God, some people cannot be pleased (this is also true in other areas). It is not possible to please everyone every time one preaches. Someone will be offended. If one preaches loud enough for everyone to hear,…
Read MoreWorship in Spirit and Truth
by Terry Wane Benton While it is true that worship must be in spirit (sincere and involving our hearts) and in truth (truly yielding to what God’s word says, not following the commandments of men), the text in John 4:20-24 seems to point to something more. The discussion with the woman at the well was…
Read MoreBelieve!
by David Gibson “Believe” is the main keyword of the Gospel of John. From the 12th chapter of John, let’s see what we can learn about what it means to believe: Many believed (John 12:10-11). A large number of those who witnessed Lazarus’ resurrection came to believe in Jesus (John 11:45). This is as it…
Read MoreIs it good to get advice about a problem?
Question: Hi Mr. Hamilton, Thank you again for your time and thoughtful answers. I’ve read through everything you shared, and I’m doing my best to trust the truth over my feelings, even though it is tough for me. I have another question— if that’s alright? Do you believe I’ve obeyed Scripture in seeking godly counsel…
Read MoreHow can I gain true repentance?
Question: [Note: This is an abbreviated version of the long letter I was sent.] How can I find true repentance? It is what I seek. I confess my sin to God, but I fall again. I made many mistakes before. In my ignorance, I thought I would offer sacrifices to God for my forgiveness. I…
Read MoreCan I break a deal I made with God?
Question: Hello, Last year, I promised God some things in exchange for Him healing or freeing me from OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). I promised to stop watching a series that I watched a lot, horror movies, and anime. Well, now I am in psychiatric treatment and I still have OCD, but the thing is that in…
Read MoreHow do I handle being engaged to a member of a denomination?
Question: Hello, I need your advice on my personal life. I am a born-again, baptized Christian. But I backslid for about two years. In those years, I got engaged to an unbeliever. Now I’m trying to return to Christ, and I’m not sure what to do. She is from an Orthodox background. She is willing…
Read MoreDivision and Animosity
by Zeke Flores The devil loves division and animosity among brethren. So, he does his best to keep it stirred up, and, of course, one of his best tools is sin. If he can get a Christian to sin, he can get another Christian to be convinced that that sinning brother can never rise above…
Read MoreLove, Service, and Obedience
by Doy Moyer We serve what we love, and we obey what we serve. What does that mean? It is possible to be coerced into obedience, but this is not love. However, when we love something or someone, we serve, and in serving, we obey. I believe the word “obey” and its cognates say more…
Read MoreRedemption of the Body
by Terry Wane Benton We were redeemed from sin and condemnation by the blood of Christ when we were baptized into Him (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-6). But, now we are waiting for “the adoption, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:23). Paul’s soul was already “adopted.” “We received (past tense) the Spirit of adoption” (Romans…
Read MoreThe Two Poles of the Second Commandment
by David Gibson It was Jesus Himself who identified loving God and loving neighbor as the first and second commandments (Matthew 22:36-40). It’s worth noting that the second commandment, like a magnet, has both a positive and a negative pole. The Negative Pole: “For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder,…
Read MoreGod Talks to God but Not to Himself
by Terry Wane Benton How can God talk to God but not be talking to Himself? God is triune (three in one), which is what He revealed about Himself. In the beginning, God said, “Let Us (plural) make man in Our (plural) image (singular)” (Genesis 1:26). Who was God talking to? And why is the…
Read MoreAre nativity images wrong?
Question: Hello, Does Exodus 20:4 teach that various kinds of man-made images of a nativity scene that are often displayed at Christmas time are a violation of God’s commandment in Exodus 20:4? Also, does Exodus 20:4 forbid having any manmade images or anything displayed as decor in your home that depicts creatures that are in…
Read MoreYou Shouldn’t Have Said That
by Josh Blackmer There are some things you’ve said that you wish you could take back. What if you told them, and they were recorded in the Bible? For thousands of years, you would be remembered as the person who said that. Let’s examine some things that shouldn’t have been disclosed and their implications. Adam…
Read MoreLove Your Neighbor (Benton)
by Terry Wane Benton The command to “love your neighbor as yourself” is a wonderful rule to live by, but even it can be misused. For example, politicians who have little to no regard for the rule of God will reach into the Bible when they think it makes a handy point they can use…
Read MoreCathetic Souls
by S.A. Thomas, R.N., B.S.N., B.B.A. via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 17 No. 4, 31 December 1991 [Editor’s Note: The following article was written by a professional health-care provider who is a faithful Christian.] Cachexia is a term used to describe a “physical fading of wholeness” and a “progressive wasting away of the body.” Medically, this condition…
Read MoreWhy People Marry
by Morris Norman via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 17 No. 4, 31 December 1991 Marriage is the greatest of all human contracts, save the covenant of grace. Marriages sometimes fail because those entering them are either inadequately prepared or are not sufficiently committed to the relationship. Some of the key elements of a successful marriage are careful…
Read MoreAre There Gray Areas?
by Floyd Chappelear via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 17 No. 4, 31 December 1991 Searching the Scriptures is a quality gospel journal with consistently thought-provoking and edifying articles. The issue for November 1991 is no different. Among the headings was “Musings” by J. Wiley Adams (p. 9), which will certainly stand on its own merits. In fact,…
Read MoreThe Profitable Way
by R. Andrew Parker via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 17 No. 4, 31 December 1991 Let’s face it: traditionally, we have been a quarrelsome people. Wherever we can find an excuse to argue, we do. If we cannot find a relatively good reason, we will be sure to split a hair or two to find one. I,…
Read MoreThe Individual Member Versus the Church
by Charles Spence via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 17 No. 4, 31 December 1991 As those who obey the gospel are added to the Lord’s church, they have a responsibility to join with disciples in their area. After his conversion, Paul sought to join the disciples who were assembling in Jerusalem. “And when Saul was come to…
Read MoreAlcohol and the Risk of Cancer
Source: “Alcohol and Cancer Risk: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory,” 2025. “This advisory highlights alcohol use as a leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States, contributing to nearly 100,000 cancer cases and about 20,000 cancer deaths each year.” “Alcohol use is very common—in 2019-2020, 72% of U.S. adults reported they consumed one or more…
Read MoreThink on These Things
by Terry Wane Benton You don’t want to get in a pattern of negativity that slowly drowns your mind in depression. So, what can you do? Turn off the negative input for a while. This can be the constant negative news on TV and social media, or it can be patterns of feeling sorry for…
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