The Authority of the Church
by Dan Gatlin What is your attitude toward the church? For many sectarians, a foundational belief is that the church has all authority. Whatever the church says to believe and practice, that is what must be done without question. This is the basic attitude of the vast majority of Roman Catholics. They are taught…
Read MoreWhat Silence Says
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2006/03/WhatSilenceSays.mp3 by Jeffrey Hamilton I. You can say a lot by not saying anything A. You just spilt your milk and your mother gives you one of those “I told you to keep your glass away from the edge of the table” stares. 1. Not a word has to be said. 2. You know exactly what is being said.…
Read MoreMusic in Worship
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. As we look at the denominations around us, we find that the vast majority use musical instruments in their worship services. A. Oddly, we don’t. Why not? What harm would there be in using them? Why can’t we be like those around us? B. I heard a similar reasoning before – I Sam.…
Read MoreCan Musical Instruments be Used to Worship God?
I. One of the distinguishing marks of our worship is the fact that we do not use instrumental music in our worship. A. It is certainly different among the denominations where almost all use instruments. B. Lately, I been hearing of numerous congregations deciding to add instrumental music to their worship. 1. The reasoning that was so well known…
Read MoreFinding Liberty in Silence (Article)
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton It was one of those interesting coincidences. In the same week I received two correspondences dealing with separate issues, but both seeking to justify their beliefs in the same manner. The first was in an article. It contained a quote from Gary Mattingly, a preacher for the Christian Church who had…
Read MoreYou know nothing about the Bible
Question: You know nothing about the Bible, so be quiet. Answer: “When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth” (Acts 7:54). While I’m not in Stephen’s league in presenting the Scriptures, I see that God’s word continues to affect people in the same way.…
Read MoreYour ideas on child rearing are sick
Question: Just in reading over your website and all your perverted, sick thoughts on child-rearing, I don’t think you have a clue about love and compassion. Read the New Testament, you ignorant, sick person. Answer: The above comment was edited to remove the profanity within. I find it amazing that a person who criticizes my…
Read MoreHow to Use the Book of Mormon
by Dudley Ross Spears The “Book of Mormon” is one of several alleged “revelations” the followers of the late Joseph Smith, Jr. accept as divinely inspired. While they give some credence to the Bible, “as far as it is translated correctly” (Articles of Faith, # 8), the Book of Mormon is their mainstay. They never…
Read MoreThe Meekness of Moses
Text: Numbers 12:1-15 I. If a little boy came up to and announced, “When I grow up, I want to be the meekest man on earth!” What would you think? A. Oh, intellectually we know that meekness is a good thing. It is one of the fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22-23 B. But most of…
Read MoreShould We Talk About Ethical Issues?
by Richard Mansel Forthright, May 3, 2005 Many believe it is a waste of time to study ethical issues such as abortion, euthanasia, homosexuality, cloning, etc. Is this a valid complaint? As Christians, we are in a time of extraordinary challenges, both ethically and morally. These ethical issues all involve sin. Euthanasia, Abortion, and Cloning…
Read MoreShould We Criticize Others?
by Kent Heaton The nature of truth is that it exposes error. In a world fueled by a politically correct presentation of non-offensive language, criticism is not accepted. This is especially true when this criticism speaks of religion. Challenging the teachings and beliefs of others is perceived as a personal attack upon the moral character…
Read MoreServices Canceled Due To Christmas!
by Zeke Flores Much is said this time of year about Christmas. Some scream about “putting the Christ back in Christmas,” while others bemoan the fact that retail stores are “pushing Christmas out” by replacing the term “Merry Christmas” with “Happy Holidays” in their ads. Still others grumble about the increasing “secularization” of Christmas as…
Read MoreSeeking to Establish Their Own Righteousness
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton A series of articles came across my desk that caused me to realize that our society is not just abandoning the teachings of Christ. People realize that society needs moral standards in order to function, but without the standards of God to guide them, society is turning to guidelines of its…
Read MoreThe Security of the Believer
by Robert F. Turner via Guardian of Truth, October 1985 There seems to be a resurgence of interest in “security” perhaps due to emphasis upon “grace” and both subjects are worthy of our consideration. Because of earlier battles with Calvinists on grace, faith only, and “once saved, always saved,” certain prejudices adhere to the very words…
Read MoreSealed in Death
by Kent Heaton There is a remarkable thing that happens at the moment of death. When the spirit leaves the body and returns to Him who made us (Ecclesiastes 12:7) everything about our life is sealed permanently. There is no second chance for anything when death strikes. All of the accomplishments of life are ended.…
Read MoreProof that Israel wasn’t afflicted for 400 years?
Question: I have been studying about the duration of the Israelites’ bondage in Egypt, and I have found that most of them say there could be generation skip, such as “How Long Was the Egyptian Bondage?”. The problem is Bible scholars don’t take into account certain verses which are very important to this study. We…
Read MoreThe “Right” Church
by Robert F. Turner A brother told me his friend asked if the church of which he was a member was the true church. The brother is an honest, conscientious man, and he said he couldn’t tell his friend the church of which he was a member was perfect. He knew, and the friend knew,…
Read MoreIf a person doesn’t want to live, why is suicide wrong?
Question: My friend took her own life six years ago when we were both 17. She left me a note that said, “I have so many things I want to tell you, but I don’t know how to say. If we can meet each other in this world again, I think at that time, we…
Read MoreShould a preacher be referred to as “reverend?”
Question: Very often here preachers are referred to as reverend. Is it correct to refer to a preacher, minister or elder as reverend? Answer: The word reverend indicates that a person is worthy of adoration or reverence, entitled to respect mingled with fear and affection. Such a description would apply to our attitude toward God.…
Read MoreReverend Is His Name
by Kent Heaton The book of Psalms is a powerful testimony to the majesty, praise, glory, and awesome power of Jehovah God. Isaiah wrote the words of the Lord, “To whom would you liken Me and make Me equal and compare Me, that we would be alike . Remember the former things long past, for…
Read MoreRepentance Leading to Salvation
by Bryan Matthew Dockens God “commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30), and Jesus’ purpose on earth was to call “sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32). Repentance is necessary to receive the remission of sins (Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38); the alternative being death (Luke 13:3, 5). Repentance simply means to change one’s mind. The word…
Read MoreRemember the Duck
Author Unknown There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target. Getting discouraged, he headed back inside for lunch. As he was walking back, he saw his grandmother’s pet…
Read MoreRemembering His Resurrection Annually?
by Richard Thetford The calendar reads “Easter Sunday.” As a result, many people throughout the world will be attending the “church of their choice” to remember the resurrection of Jesus. It won’t be the “normal” service, but rather a “special” service of remembering the resurrection of our Lord that no doubt will include different plays,…
Read MoreReasons to Discipline
by Bryan Matthew Dockens God commands Christians to discipline their brethren (Romans 16:17; II Thessalonians 3:6), yet many neglect to do so. Revealing the proper reasons for discipline may motivate the reluctant. We Discipline for Love Love is always the correct motive for fulfilling the Lord’s will (John 14:15), and so it is with discipline…
Read MoreReal Men
by Randy Blackaby Real men are becoming a lost commodity. Men who know their role in the family, in society, and in the world are harder and harder to find. The feminist movement, which has entered its second generation, has failed utterly in its mission to liberate women but has caused many men to lose…
Read MoreReady to Fly?
by Steve Klein It is spring, and the birds around the Klein plantation have been busy building nests, laying eggs, and rearing young. We even have a nest full of baby birds in the wreath that hangs on our front door. But sadly, not all baby birds will make it to adulthood. This past week,…
Read More“Christian” Situation Ethics
by Dan Gatlin In Matthew 12:1-8 (and its parallel in Mark 2:23-28 and Luke 6:1-5) we have recorded a confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees concerning the Sabbath: “At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. And…
Read MoreIs God limited?
Question: Hello, I just read your sermon on “The Eternal God.” I have some questions that I hope you can answer for me. I am a Christian and I believe that Christ died for my sins. I believe that the Bible is God’s word to us. My problem is I have a hard time worshiping…
Read MoreQuestion and Answer About Church Socials
by Leslie Diestelkamp Two questions have been asked: (1) Why doesn’t the church have more socials? and (2) Why can’t we have parties in the basement of the church building? The New Testament authorizes every act and activity of the church. It provides us with all that pertains to life and godliness (II Peter 1:3).…
Read MoreI think Jesus did defend David in Matthew 12:4
Question: In reference to Christian Situation Ethics by Dan Gatlin: “The example of David. Jesus responded by pointing out what David did when he was fleeing from Saul (I Samuel 21). The bread that David requested had been offered in the tabernacle and was only for the priests to eat (Leviticus 24:5-9). Jesus clearly states…
Read MorePunishment Doesn’t Help
by Mark Roberts Journalist Betsy Flagler writes the syndicated “Parent to Parent” column that asks readers to write in with parenting problems and then tries to get expert help for those troubles. A mother in California recently wrote in that her first-grader has been pushing and hitting, has been kicked out of the library, and…
Read MorePresumptuous Sins
by Carey Scott Take a few minutes to read Psalm 19. Our focus will be on verse 13: “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me; then shall I be upright and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.” To presume something is to have our minds…
Read MoreThe Point of No Return
by Tom Wacaster A plane, flying across the ocean, will eventually reach the “point of no return.” It is a real and definite point, beyond which it is better, in case of mechanical problems, to proceed than to attempt a return to the origination point. In the mind of the pilot, it is impossible to…
Read MoreIf a Mormon or a Jehovah’s Witness comes to the door, should I shake their hand?
Question: Do you know of any articles that address the true dangers of teachers from outside the church vs. those that are respected teachers from within the church, that teach false doctrines? It seems that there are some who are teaching that one can not even shake the hand of a person who arrives at…
Read MoreWhat does God do if you make a deal with Him and don’t keep it?
Question: What does God do if you make a deal with Him and don’t keep it? What does He do to you? Answer: God is not like your best friend of whom you can ask a favor and then promise to something for him in return. Imagine going up to the leader of a country…
Read MorePerseverance of the Saints and II Peter 2:17
by Bryan Sharp In II Peter 2:1, Peter warns of false teachers from within the Church “who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.” In II Peter 2:17 Peter says these same people “are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them…
Read MoreDid Jesus know he would die by crucifixion in advance?
Question: Did Jesus know he would die by crucifixion in advance? Answer: Yes, he did know. He spoke of being “lifted up” which was an allusion to crucifixion where a person is lifted up on a cross. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be…
Read MorePeople Change
by Donnie V. Rader via Guardian of Truth XL: No. 19, p. 6-7, October 3, 1996 When General Motors came out with the new aerodynamic style Chevy Caprice (1990) I said that I would never have one of those “ugly” things. When cellular phones started getting popular, I thought it was dumb to carry your phone with…
Read MoreProphets
Text: Jeremiah 23:9-40 I. At the founding of the church, Peter quotes the prophet Joel – Acts 2:14-21 A. A part of the foundation of the church were prophets – Ephesians 2:19-20 B. People in denominations claim that prophecy continues 1. Some claim they have prophets in their midst 2. Others essentially claim they all prophesy. They do not…
Read MorePatience: The Art of Persevering in this Life
by Forrest D. Moyer As Peter continued to list the characteristics that one must add, he named “patience” as being essential in our lives to keep us from falling and to insure us a part in the “everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior” (II Peter 1:5-11). James wrote: “Indeed, we count them blessed who…
Read More