Peaceable Kingdom
by James W. Adams via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 22 No. 3, September 1996 [The following article was recently written by an 81-year-old gospel preacher who has observed what others of us are observing. The Lord’s body is being destroyed by zealots who have no love for the truth or their brethren. Nothing in this article asks…
Read MoreThe New Denominationalism
by Kenny Chumbley via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 22 No. 3, September 1996 Apostasy is an ever-present threat to God’s people. The Spirit explicitly warned that some would depart from the faith (I Timothy 4:1). In his second letter to Timothy, Paul showed that apostasy elevates the things of man over the things of God (II Timothy…
Read MoreDo the Work of an Evangelist
by Edwin Crozier Timothy’s job is to preach the word. However, he needs to be prepared for folks not to listen. No doubt, there will always be the faithful. But Paul has already told him the difficult times are coming. Clearly, if there will be people who have the appearance of godliness but deny its…
Read MoreLove His Appearing
by Edwin Crozier This final push in II Timothy 4 comes because Paul knows this imprisonment will be his last. The time has come for him to give his life for his King. He faces it with dignity and honor. He’s fought the fight, finished the race, kept the faith. He knows His King will…
Read MoreMarriage Again and Again
by Hugh DeLong Clear back in the first century, people had marriage problems. Actually, from the beginning of humanity! My wife and I have been watching more British TV shows, and it seems like everyone is in an unhappy marriage. They are unhappy being married to the person they were head-over-heels in love with, the…
Read MoreGod Is with You
by Zeke Flores “Do not be afraid of them, for Yahweh your God is with you” (Deuteronomy 20:1). Deuteronomy 20 addresses warfare, but its principle appears in Deuteronomy 20:1. Israel faced real enemies, not theoretical ones. Fear was a natural response, but Moses tells them to evaluate the situation differently. Their confidence wasn’t based on…
Read MoreComplete in Christ
by Terry Wane Benton Daily Points of Light from Heaven A denominational preacher wrote: “Paul says: ‘And ye are complete in him…’ (Colossians 2:10). Think about that. Complete. Not almost complete. Not complete after water baptism. Complete in Christ.” His argument is flawed. We are complete in Christ, no doubt, but how do we get…
Read MoreA Call for Concern
by Floyd Chappelear via Sentry Magazine, Vol 22 No. 3, September 1996 “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how…
Read MoreHe Who Has Ears, Let Him Hear!
by Sid Latham via Biblical Insights, Vol. 14 No. 8, August 2014 Jesus uttered this proclamation on the heels of the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:9). It has been said to be an invitation to give special consideration to what has been said— to listen carefully and then respond. That is certainly true. However, this…
Read MoreWhat Is Lasciviousness?
by Wayne Jackson What is “lasciviousness,” as mentioned in Galatians 5:19? The Greek word behind the English term “lascivious” is aselgeia. It occurs nine times in the New Testament. Twice it is rendered as “wantonness” (Romans 13:13; II Peter 2:18), and once it appears as “filthy” (II Peter 2:7). The other six times it is…
Read MoreSlow-Paced Favors
by Mike Johnson via Seeking Things Above Proverbs 3:27-28 says, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so. Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,’ when you have it with you.” The…
Read MorePrecious Is the Death of a Saint
by Mike Johnson via Seeking Things Above Psalm 116:15 informs us, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” What does this mean? People think of death in many different ways. A loved one’s death is one of the greatest agonies people typically face in their lives. We think of…
Read MoreTrue Prophets
by Zeke Flores “I will put My words in his mouth” (Deuteronomy 18:18). Deuteronomy 18 introduces the promise of a prophet like Moses. Israel needed reliable guidance, not guesswork or superstition. This chapter contrasts true prophets with false ones. The difference isn’t style; it’s source. True prophets speak what God says while false prophets speak…
Read MoreReligion According to Man
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Religion-According-to-Man.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Galatians 1:6-10 I. What happens when man decides to worship God in his own way? A. We see among denominations thousands of varying beliefs, yet all claim to be worshiping God and using the Bible as their guide B. Some even abandon the Bible and use other books, such…
Read MoreThe Prodigal Daughter
by Rick Duggin vai Biblical Insights, Vol. 14 No. 8, August 2014 Though God wrote the Bible through human prophets, He wrote at least three times without human assistance. His finger carved the Law into stone on Mount Sinai (Exodus 31:18). The fingers of a man’s hand wrote judgment against Babylon on its palace wall (Daniel…
Read MoreEquipped for Every Good Work
by Edwin Crozier Paul says the God-breathed Scriptures profit us by teaching us, reproving us, correcting us, and training us for righteousness. What incredible benefits the sacred writings bring to us. He goes on to say that through this teaching, reproving, correcting, and training, the Scriptures make us complete and equipped for every good work.…
Read MoreThe King Must Read the Law
by Zeke Flores Moses says the king must read the law so that “… he may learn to fear Yahweh his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen” (Deuteronomy 17:19-20). Deuteronomy 17 addresses leadership, especially kings. The warning…
Read MoreHow to Teach the Same Things in Every Church
by Hugh DeLong That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church (I Corinthians 4:17). Paul did not teach different things to different churches. There is, of course, one faith (Ephesians 4:4-6). All…
Read MoreHow do I find a wife?
Question: Good day, I am 23 years old and have never been in a relationship. I want a Christian wife and a Christian family. I do not want to commit sin before getting married. I don’t want to mislead anybody, date multiple people, or become attached to someone I won’t ultimately marry. I would rather…
Read MoreAcquainted with the Scriptures from Childhood
by Edwin Crozier Sadly, I can’t tell you what you need to do as a parent to guarantee your children will grow up and be faithful to the Lord. In the same way, every Bible study prospect has free will and chooses for themselves whether to respond to the gospel; so will your children. However,…
Read MoreRemember the Hard Times
by Zeke Flores “You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt” (Deuteronomy 16:12). Deuteronomy 16 outlines Israel’s major festivals, but the point is found in Deuteronomy 16:12. The festivals weren’t just celebrations; they were structured reminders. Israel needed rhythms that kept their history in view. Remembering their past wasn’t about dwelling on trauma;…
Read MoreBoundary or Character
by Ray Warfel, Jr. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23). Have you seen the warning labels on some products and thought, “Who needs to be told that?” I don’t have any, so I can’t check, but…
Read MoreDo you have more articles by Matthew Bassford?
Question: Hello. I have discovered articles from you and other Christian men and preachers on the La Vista congregation’s website. One of the men was Matthew Bassford. He posted one entitled “Insecurity” that I very much relate to, and I wanted to know if I could find any more of his lessons. I was raised…
Read MoreGive Generously
by Zeke Flores “Give generously to him and do not let your heart be grieved when you give to him” (Deuteronomy 15:10). Deuteronomy 15 deals with generosity and release. In Deuteronomy 15:10, the instruction isn’t just about giving; it’s about attitude. Israel was called to create a community where people weren’t crushed by poverty or…
Read MoreWhat Is and What Is Not Important About Baptism
by David Gibson A tour ad stated, “Have you ever wanted to be baptized in the Jordan River?” Since Jesus was baptized there, is that the best location? In the Bible, people were baptized wherever, but all were saved by grace (Titus 3:5-7). Since salvation is so urgent (Acts 8:36-39), is flying 5700-plus miles for…
Read MorePaul as a Model Preacher
by Hugh DeLong Of course, there are some exclusive aspects of his preaching – he was an inspired apostle and had the confirmation of his message by the Holy Spirit (cp. Hebrews 2:1-4, etc.). Yet, in preaching to people with no background in Jewish history, how did Paul present this message of salvation? What I’m…
Read MoreCan We Understand the Bible Alike? (Matthews)
by Samuel A. Matthews “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7 KJV). Loved ones, various denominational preachers have affirmed on numerous occasions that it is impossible for men to understand the Bible alike. They asserted that those who believe that we can are simply entertaining…
Read MoreToo Academic?
by Chadwick Brewer Why are some Christians so academic in their approach to Scripture? When you make your study academic, don’t you miss the big picture of loving God and rejoicing in the Spirit? Don’t academic pursuits rob us of the heart of a true worshiper? Careful study is not fundamentally opposed to heartfelt worship,…
Read MoreLike Them
How slow they were to get it! So often they missed the point of their Master’s teaching, and at times they displayed attitudes unworthy of a disciple. Yet Jesus “loved them to the end” (John 13:1). What did He see in these disciples? They were willing to leave all to follow Him (Matthew 19:27). Not…
Read MoreYour Identity
by Zeke Flores “You are a holy people to Yahweh your God” (Deuteronomy 14:2). Deuteronomy 14 begins with identity. Everything that follows, including dietary laws and tithing practices, flows from that identity. Israel wasn’t supposed to mimic the nations around them; their distinctiveness was intentional. The point isn’t about food; it’s about being set apart.…
Read MoreOllie Harrell Jones
Author Unknown via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 22 No. 1, March 1996 Mommy, Mother, Grandma, Aunt Ollie Eighty-nine years ago, September 10, 1906, a great woman was born in a humble Christian home near Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, to Moses Leroy Harrell and Martha Ida Gray. Ollie was the youngest of eight children—five girls and three boys —all…
Read MoreSafe Sex: A Message of Madness
by Floyd Chappelear via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 22 No. 1, March 1996 Humanistic social planners are promoting the concept of “Safe Sex” (i.e., condom use) for America. Such is a course of madness for a number of reasons. Consider: Condoms have a remarkably high failure rate in preventing life (pregnancy); only the most uninformed think they…
Read MoreThe Corinthian Church
by Hugh DeLong The Corinthians heard, believed, and were baptized into Christ. Thus, by the Spirit they were baptized into one body. They were washed, sanctified, and justified (cf. I Corinthians 6:9-11). Paul could write to them as the ‘saints in Corinth’. Yet, they had problems. They began as we all do, as ‘babes in…
Read MoreWas the man casting out demons doing so by Christ’s authority?
Question: Hi, In Luke 9:49–50, did the man who was casting out demons actually have the power to do so? The apostles couldn’t cast out a demon in Luke 9:40, so how was this man able to cast them out? Was he doing it by Christ’s authority, even though he was not one of the…
Read MoreWhere was the one taken?
Question: In Matthew 24:40-41, where is the one taken, and why is the other one left? Thank you. Answer: “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the…
Read MoreGrace Alone?
by Terry W. Benton Daily Points of Light from Heaven Grace is the only reason we can be restored to good fellowship with God, for sin on our part means that we have broken the fellowship and cannot remove that sin by meritorious works on our end. Sin must be removed, and we can’t pay…
Read MorePreach the Gospel to All Nations
by Hugh DeLong Really? All? Even those from the country of ……..? Yes. All. This goes back to the very beginning – the mother of all living and the promise that her seed would bruise the head of the serpent, the devil. What followed was a list of all her offspring – some good (Enoch, Noah)…
Read MoreLoyalty to God
by Zeke Flores “You shall follow Yahweh your God and fear Him, and you shall keep His commandments” (Deuteronomy 13:4). Deuteronomy 13 addresses loyalty to God directly. The context is about false voices, even familiar ones, pulling people away from God. The chapter is blunt because the danger is real. Israel wasn’t threatened only by…
Read MoreSeeing Only What You Want to See
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Seeing-Only-What-You-Want-to-See.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Psalms 50 I. I would like to share a portion of a letter I received: “I am in love with this girl who loved me too. We loved each other so crazily but at one point I realized that she had been lying to me for no…
Read MoreThose Who Rewrite the Bible
by Luther W. Martin via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 22 No. 1, March 1996 Just as we now encounter citizens who would rewrite the history of the Second World War, so we also have individuals and organizations that are actually attempting to rewrite Holy Scripture! Earlier in 1995, I prepared an article illustrating how the Judean Version…
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