You Wouldn’t Have Liked John The Baptist If…
by David Diestelkamp via Think on These Things Magazine, Vol. 56 No. 3, July-September 2025 If you struggle to listen to a preacher because of the way he dresses, you wouldn’t have liked John the Baptist. His clothing was rough and was neither stylish nor formal (Matthew 3:4; 11:8). If you don’t like a preacher…
Read MoreIsn’t saying that Jesus suggests buyings swords for self-defense an assumption?
Question: Years ago, I discovered your helpful website, but I stopped using it. Recently, I re-discovered your website. I appreciate the tremendous amount of work you have put into the material found there. I have only gone through a small portion of it and found some great resources there. However, I disagree with many of…
Read MoreWithout Me, You Can Do Nothing
by Terry Wane Benton “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Without Jesus, we cannot be saved from a useless and aimless life. With Jesus, we can. Without Jesus, we cannot…
Read MoreWhat is meant by “secret things?”
Question: Good afternoon, In Deuteronomy 29:29, what is meant by “secret things”? Is it referring to unrevealed things not found in the Bible? Is it referring to things that the Bible, specifically the New Covenant, doesn’t speak about at all? I hope my wording is understandable. Thanks. Answer: “The secret things belong to the LORD…
Read MoreBeyond Our Strength (Hamilton)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Beyond-Our-Strength.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Corinthians 1:3-11 I. After Gideon crushed the Midian and captured two of its kings: Zebah and Zalmunna – Judges 8:12 A. After admitting that they were involved in the killing of the men of Tabor, Gideon reveals that they had killed his brothers, and then orders their execution -…
Read MoreInferiority
by Terry Wane Benton I know that many people struggle with their self-worth. As many struggle with pride and arrogance, some struggle with the opposite problem: a feeling of worthlessness or inferiority. Let me speak to you for a moment. God does not make junk. You are of special value to God, and He does…
Read MoreRunning with the Horses
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Running-with-the-Horses.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Jeremiah 11:1-17 I. Proverbs 14:10 A. Each of us carry burdens in this life – problems which are difficult to bear. 1. They cause us anxiety and disturb our sleep if we dwell on them. 2. We try to put them out of our mind, but suddenly a seemingly unrelated event will…
Read MoreShould We Believe the Book of Mormon?
by Paul Smithson Should we believe that God told Joseph Smith that we should all be a part of the Mormon Religion? Members of the ‘The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ claim the Book of Mormon is of divine origin. They believe it to be a book more important than the Bible, for…
Read MoreKeep It Simple!
by Jarrod M. Jacobs The above statement is the “mantra” of a friend of mine. When it comes to preaching and teaching God’s word, he often tells me, “Keep it simple.” This sentiment was further impressed upon my mind when a sister in Christ told me, “The main problem that high school students have today…
Read MoreNavigating Disagreements
by Dylan Stewart When we find ourselves in the middle of a disagreement with someone, it is important that we maintain the correct attitude during these challenging situations. If we are not careful, we can escalate what started as a minor problem and turn a disagreement into something far more destructive. Whenever we disagree with…
Read MoreRoot of Bitterness
by Terry Wane Benton “Pursue peace with all men…lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled” (Hebrews 12:14-15). Negative experiences must be kept in perspective. If not handled well, we can allow those negative experiences to turn into resentment and hatred, which can be a root of bitterness.…
Read MoreThe Meaning of Freedom
by Doy Moyer Freedom has long been a cherished ideal, and people typically are willing to pay a high price for its benefits. We celebrate freedom in many ways—through memorials, cookouts, music, fireworks, and other traditions. People have lived and died for freedom, and this should certainly be appreciated; we should be thankful for the…
Read MoreHow do we deal with a rebellious teenage daughter?
Question: Dear Mr. Hamilton, We wrote you a year ago with a query concerning the raising of our children. First and foremost, we would like to thank you, as our situation has substantially improved. We are, however, writing to follow up, if you would be so kind. We have gotten things under control with our…
Read MoreSlow Down and Focus
by Zeke Flores We live in a world where short attention spans are the order of the day. Information, circumstances, and opportunities come at us rapidly from every direction that if our heads could swivel completely around, they’d look like a spinning top. We’re like the dog who runs after every squirrel he sees, regardless…
Read MoreWhat Makes America Great?
by Terry Wane Benton It would not be the crimes that many have committed in the past or present, as such are always a blight on even the most remarkable ventures of freedom. It would not be the record of sexual immorality that produces unwanted children who would pay with their lives for the sins…
Read MoreHumans and Chimpanzees are Not 99% Genetically Similar
Source: Robert Carter, “Humans and chimpanzees are NOT 99% identical,” Creation Ministries International, 3 July 2025. “Yes, humans and chimpanzees do share a lot of DNA, but when you include what they don’t share, the percent identity drops significantly, into the low 80% range.” How similar are humans and chimpanzees? “about 85%” “The evolutionary model … will…
Read MoreWas there something else I could have said?
Question: I had a debate with someone about Colossians 2:11-12, specifically regarding how it was interpreted as referring to water baptism and that water baptism was a work of God. However, my opponent argued that “without hands” proved it was not water baptism since a man is involved in immersing you in water. To that…
Read MoreYour website helped me understand difficult concepts over the years
Question: Hey brother, I know that you do not know me, but I just wanted to send some encouragement your way! I just put two and two together that you write a lot of the content on the La Vista church of Christ website. I absolutely love your site! Several of your articles and studies…
Read MoreTrue Israel
by Terry Wane Benton “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof” (Matthew 21:43). Here, Jesus was speaking to physical Israelites, people who claimed physical lineage to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, that physical nation was only a temporary…
Read MoreRemembering Jesus Daily
by Richard Thetford Those of us who understand the authority of the Bible and are guided by it, because we respect what God has said to us, realize that Christians do not celebrate December 25th as the birth date of Christ. The apostle Paul wrote to the Colossian brethren and said “whatever you do in…
Read MoreIn the Hands of the Potter
by Cleve Stafford “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel” (Jeremiah 18:6). If you have ever watched an artisan potter at work, I think you will agree that it is mesmerizing. Those hands are so powerful, and yet they work so gently with the…
Read MoreWhat Is Performance Culture?
by Herb Berkley Performance culture is a mindset that measures worth, identity, and success by outward achievement, visible productivity, and continual competition. It’s a relentless cycle demanding constant validation, feeding on comparison, anxiety, and a need to prove oneself repeatedly. Within this culture, acceptance is transactional—earned by output rather than freely given. Performance culture promotes:…
Read MoreIn the Dark or the Glorious Light?
by Terry Wane Benton Jesus describes the real situation of men and men’s relationship to God and truth by comparing Himself to light that has come into the world, and that men are condemned and in the dark. The condemnation of man is that man is given a wonderful chance to come out of moral…
Read MoreDancing (Pickford)
by Michael Pickford There is considerable confusion and even some debate over the idea of dancing. Some believe dancing is a sin simply because it is dancing. However, the Bible does not condemn dancing in itself. It never says, “Thou shalt not dance.” To the contrary, the Bible says that there is “a time to…
Read MoreSin Is Never Pretty
by Zeke Flores Sin in the church is never pretty. It’s usually always a holdout from a way of life that should have been left behind. But sin is stubborn, and so are we, and we can tend to cling to it despite our best intentions. So, Paul reminds us that there is a new…
Read MoreA Cruel Lie
by Nathan Smelser An aged gentleman says, “Well, I believe in God, what else is there?” His health is dire; I had asked if he knew the Lord. Folks: Observe the disastrous consequences of “easy believism.” This gentleman had likely been assured that as long as he believed in God, all was well. There is…
Read MoreDid I react in the right way?
Question: Greetings! I have been reading articles on your website for some time, and I recently discovered the question-and-answer section, which encouraged me to write. I need some advice. I have been going through a tough breakup for a few weeks now. I am a Christian, and I was in a relationship with someone from…
Read MoreCredit
by Zeke Flores When I was a much younger man, I wrecked my credit. I made foolish decisions, borrowed more than I should have, and made late payments. Soon, the only ones who would lend me money were the high-rate lenders, and even they were wary. It took years to restore my financial good name,…
Read MoreDo I need to go to school to preach?
Question: Mr. Hamilton, I have studied the Bible all my life. I read everything I can. I preached for three weeks a year ago in a local congregation and asked all my elders to attend, and one did. He asked me if I wanted to teach in our congregation. I said yes, and never got…
Read MorePicking up Elijah’s Mantle
by Terry Wane Benton Elijah did what he could to keep truth alive in a generation of Israelites that forgot God’s law and were into the latest fads and popular religions of their day. Baal had become the sensation, and God’s order had become boring in the eyes of the Israelites. Elijah seemed like an…
Read MoreAlexander the Coppersmith
by Wilson Adams We don’t know much about Alexander the Coppersmith except his name, profession, and the harm he did to Paul. Did he at one time co-labor with Paul in teaching the gospel? Don’t know. Personal vendetta? Unsure. At the least, they knew each other and had a connection. Something went wrong because Paul…
Read MoreZephaniah: Judgment Is Coming!
by Rick Duggin Most people have trouble finding Zephaniah’s fifty-three verses. Because of its brevity, we label Zephaniah as a minor prophet, but any student of the book can affirm that length is the only “minor matter” about the man or his message. Prophesying more than 600 years before Christ, Zephaniah traces his genealogy back…
Read MoreOne Another
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/One-Another.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Romans 12:9-13 I. We are an individualistic society, but we recognize the need to work together to achieve goals. A. We form companies to manufacture goods B. We have governments to coordinate society C. There are aspects of Christianity that I am responsible for as an individual, but it is…
Read MoreAre all Christians persecuted?
Question: I have a question about a verse that tells us that all godly Christians shall suffer persecution. II Timothy 3:12 states: “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” This verse concerns me because I’ve been a Christian since I was 12 (I’m now in my fifties), and I…
Read MoreWhy There Are No Genuine Miracles Today
by Roger D. Campbell In the New Testament, a “miracle” refers to a supernatural act of power that had observable and immediate results or effects. We should not expect God Himself to perform miracles or bestow miraculous powers upon humans today. Why not? God’s Will It is not God’s will that there be miracles today.…
Read MoreWhat About Those ‘What About’ Questions?
by Bob West “What about those who have never heard the gospel? Are they saved?” “What about the sincere believer who has never been baptized?” “What about the sincere (insert any world religion)? Are they really going to be lost?” “What about this situation?” “What about that situation?” “Is God really going to be so…
Read MoreWhat Percentage of People Obey the Gospel?
by Ronald D. Gilbert The day of Gospel meetings is not over! Don’t give up, brethren! Your preaching and teaching may be more effective “percentage-wise” than on the day of Pentecost. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41).…
Read MoreIs acting a sin?
Question: Dear Mr. Hamilton, I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to share a thought that has been on my mind lately, particularly regarding the world of acting and entertainment, and how it might be perceived within the church. It wouldn’t surprise me if one day I came across a sermon or article—perhaps…
Read MoreAre eyewitness accounts unreliable?
Question: Hello Mr. Hamilton, I have a question for you. I recently came across someone talking about St. Joseph Cupertino. They claimed that eyewitnesses had seen him levitate on several occasions. The problem I have is that one of the reasons Jesus’ resurrection is trustworthy is based on the eyewitness testimony. And then there is…
Read MoreWillfully Sinning
by Ed Smith via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 17 No. 3, 30 September 1991 Experience told me the cause of the old building’s demise as I looked over the sagging eaves: it was the result of a series of events that had progressed to this point. A leaky gutter allowed water to saturate the timber framing; damp…
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