How God Stretches Our Understanding
by David Gibson Moving beyond what we know God designed our minds so we can absorb new insights much more easily if we can connect them with something we already know. So often, Christ drew parallels between common things in everyday life and less familiar spiritual concepts, using figures of speech such as similes (“The…
Read MoreFrom the Womb of the Morning
by Terry Wane Benton “The LORD said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’ The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! Your people shall be volunteers in the day of Your power; In the beauties…
Read MoreServing In My Senior Years
by Robert Harkrider I well remember how disappointed I was when, as a young preacher, I was told that one of our elders was “retiring” as an elder. I thought, “How could any Christian of any age ever retire?” Aren’t we responsible to do like Paul, who wrote, “I press toward the goal for the…
Read MoreIt’s Not About the Sign
by Doy Moyer A well-known restaurant chain, which shall remain nameless, recently was in the news for changing a long-standing sign and logo. The backlash was strong, and they ultimately reversed their decision. I’m not concerned about the particulars of that controversy, but I do want to note one thing. Some characterized the controversy as…
Read MoreDid Paul start the teaching that Jesus died for our sins?
Question: It’s taught in Mid-Acts Dispensationalism that the gospel before Paul was simply that Jesus is the Son of God, not that He died for our sins, until Paul preached this. The Ethiopian in Acs 8 said he believed Jesus is the Son of God, not that he died for sins like Paul’s Gospel in…
Read MoreEquipping the Saints
by Floyd Chappelear via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 18 No. 1, 31 March 1992 Were one to try to identify the single most important imperative for the gospel preacher, one might choose II Timothy 4:5: “do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” Doing such work so that one can make full proof…
Read MoreThe Hand: A Special Gift from God
by Charles Box Many times, we enjoy blessings from God and never thank God for those blessings. Have you ever thanked God for the blessings of your “hands?” The terms “hand” and “hands” are used frequently in our King James Bible. The word “Hand” is in 1,411 verses, and the word “Hands” is in 458…
Read MoreGood Things Happen When We Teach the Lost
by Roger D. Campbell What child of God would not agree that it is “good” to teach the Gospel to those who are lost outside of Jesus? Surely no member of the Lord’s church would be opposed to the idea of teaching the lost. The “glad tidings of good things” (Romans 10:15) is God’s message…
Read MoreSeeker-Friendly Churches
by Perry Hall “How can we get the unchurched to come to church?” This important question was asked by a certain soon-to-be “mega-church” Pastor. His answer came from listening to the radio. Soon, his church was modeling its worship services after what the world liked in music. Their attendance grew. This method became the practice…
Read MoreWas Jesus “Retrofitted” onto the Prophecies of the Old Testament?
by Terry Wane Benton If the gospel writers just made the story of Jesus fit the Old Testament, what were the secular historical accounts doing? Tacitus (c. 56–120 CE), the Roman historian, in his final work Annals (written around 115 CE), wrote about Emperor Nero’s persecution of Christians following the Great Fire of Rome in…
Read MoreNot Far
by David Gibson Almost there! Once a scribe asked Jesus, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered that loving God with all your heart comes first, followed by loving others as yourself. The scribe heartily agreed, adding that love of God and others “is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” “When…
Read MoreIn Truth
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2003/09/In-Truth.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: II John I. Truth is Jesus Christ – John 14:6 A. The book of II John expands on this idea B. The book is written by the Apostle, and Elder, John C. To whom it is addressed has been debated 1. Some see “elect lady” as a symbol of the church,…
Read MoreWhy Are You Waiting?
by Zeke Flores In Chapter 2 of his prophetic book, Joel foretells the events related to Pentecost in Acts 2. His concluding statement from that prophecy was that “it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be delivered” (Joel 2:32). To “call on the name of the Lord” sounds…
Read MoreChanges in the Storm
by Charles Box This lesson requires us to answer the question, “Exactly what is a miracle?” The term “Miracle” is used far too loosely and frequently in our society. “A miracle is a divine operation that transcends what is normally perceived as natural law; it cannot be explained upon any natural basis.” Some miracles involved…
Read MoreAbortion and the Question of God
by Lawrence Kelley The defining characteristic of the modern secular age is the same characteristic that asserted itself at the very beginning of the world. After Eve had listened to the cunning lies of Satan, she found the forbidden fruit desirable because it would make her wise (Genesis 3:6). Yes, the fruit appealed to her…
Read MoreAre You Tired of This World?
by Robert Dodson I do not have to tell any of you that we live in an evil world. We are all quite aware of the sorrow, heartache, misery, suffering, and death in our world. Some are angry at God about it. It raises questions and doubts in our hearts, causing some to wonder if…
Read MoreOf Visitors, Floaters, and Members of the Flock
by Terry Wane Benton I Peter 5:1f shows an elder-flock relationship. The elders know how many people are in the flock and who is just a visitor and who is an uncommitted floater. This verse attests to the autonomy or independence of the local church. It also implies that a local church is a flock.…
Read MoreBruised
by Terry Wane Benton “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel” (Genesis 3:15). The very first prophecy of “the seed of the woman” bruising the head of the Serpent and…
Read MoreO Lord, How Long?
by Doy Moyer “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). The world makes us weary as we constantly battle, attempting to coerce us to bow to its cultural idols. With a cultish mentality, the world takes on a…
Read MoreIs using the names of the week wrong?
Question: I’ve been reading your posts and finding them really helpful. Thanks for sharing your insights! I’m having a discussion with someone about the names of the days of the week. They argue that using names like Sunday and Saturday is unbiblical because they’re named after gods. They also claim that we worship every day,…
Read MoreFaith and Evidence
by Shane Scott Several years ago, I decided I needed a hobby. I had many interests – basketball, fantasy baseball, and music – but I engaged in all of these pastimes with members of the church where I preached, or with fellow Christians in the area. I needed a hobby that would put me in…
Read MoreInternal Issues
by Doy Moyer We cannot see what is going on inside someone. That’s obvious, but sometimes our judgments about people assume that everything should be normal for them because we can’t see anything outwardly wrong. If we see them acting in ways we would otherwise expect, we might judge them to be rude, or worse.…
Read MoreThe Problem with an “Attendance Problem”
by Joey Sparks Worship attendance can be a sensitive issue for Christians. Some are satisfied with coming only on Sunday mornings. Or Sunday evenings. Or for long enough to take the Lord’s Supper. Some are content with worshiping only on holidays. Some are only at the local assembly when facing tough times. Although some individuals…
Read MoreThe Bible Alone Is the Word of God
by Terry Wane Benton No other book is equal to the Bible. Neither the Quran nor the Book of Mormon equals the Bible in the marks or proofs of divine origin. What convinces me that the Bible alone is God’s Word? In summary, I would appeal to three areas: It claims to be the word…
Read MoreExternal Evidence of Jesus’ Miracles
by Terry Wane Benton Do secular and Jewish writings mention or explain the miracles and powers of Jesus? Secular and Jewish sources from antiquity do not mention or explain Jesus’ miracles in a manner that supports them. Still, they do provide external acknowledgment that he had a reputation as a miracle worker. These writings, however,…
Read MoreWhat does “go to” mean in the King James?
Question: “And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth” (Genesis 11:4 KJV). What does the archaic word go to mean in Genesis 11:4? Wiktionary…
Read MoreBy What Authority? (Matthews)
by Samuel Matthews “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave…
Read MoreDon’t Quit. Do It
by Zeke Flores We love our friends and family, so we want to keep them from harm. When we know a certain course will lead to hurt or injury, we do what we can to persuade them otherwise. That’s what Paul’s friends tried to do in Acts 21. A prophet warned that going to Jerusalem…
Read MoreThe Value of Good Intentions
by David Gibson When you hear the expression “good intentions,” what comes to mind? A noble desire that fizzles out? We even have a saying, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Empty promises An example of good intentions gone awry is that of the Israelites’ repeated pledge to obey God (Exodus 19:8;…
Read MorePredestined
by Terry Wane Benton “He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will” (Ephesians 1:5). Jesus was predestined to die for the sins of the world, and a church was predestined to form around the call of the gospel to come into His grace.…
Read MoreWould You Pray that Prayer?
by Jonathan Banning In Psalm 7, King David makes a shocking petition to God, “O’ Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is injustice in my hands… let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it; and let him trample my life down to the ground and lay my glory in the…
Read MoreMalachi: Do We Truly See Ourselves?
by Steve Klein Malachi lived and prophesied in Judah and Jerusalem, approximately a hundred years after the first group of Jewish captives returned to their homeland from the Babylonian captivity. In point of time, this corresponds roughly with the events of the book of Nehemiah and the latter part of Ezra (circa 440 B.C.). God’s…
Read MoreFour Problems with Worry
by Warren Berkley By “worry,” I mean the debilitating, nagging sense of doom that goes further than concern and sympathy, does not involve any remedial activity to solve a real problem, and is characterized by habitual, constant churning thoughts of despair. It is often unreasonable and a prelude to depression. Webster’s Dictionary (1913, p. 1666)…
Read MoreWhat Is Doctrine?
by Mike Riley The word “doctrine” means “teaching”, either of an individual or a group. But from what source? For example, Jesus warned His disciples about the “doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:12). Their “doctrine” or teaching originated from an uninspired source. The people were astonished at the “teaching” or “doctrine” of Christ,…
Read MoreAre We Still Looking for the Wrong Kind of Answers?
by Mike Riley While television has a myriad of programming to watch, the most entertaining offerings are the commercials. A few years back, one of the more amusing ads was the one for Toyota minivans in which Bob, the safety engineer, demonstrates to two young boys how automobiles are crash-tested. By remote control, Bob slams…
Read MoreThe Bitter Heart
by Terry Wane Benton He said something they did not like, and they did not want to admit it was the truth; from then on, nothing he said was respected. They continued to backstab him, trying to undermine him by manipulating others. There was no room for loving him and forgiving him. Even if he…
Read MoreTruth and Love
by Doy Moyer Truth and love are not at odds. Both are needed simultaneously. Truth without love can be unkind, cold, and heartless. Love without truth will be arbitrary, compromising reality, and without standards. However, together, united, truth and love will be purposeful, compassionate, and committed to what is best for all. Jesus is the…
Read MoreMaterialistic Naturalism: Is There Really a Spirit Realm?
by Terry Wane Benton To show that God has spoken (Hebrews 1:1-2) from His realm into ours, we would need words from Him that would demonstrate knowledge and power over our future. Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar of such a God who reveals secrets. (Read Daniel 2). He told Nebuchadnezzar what he dreamed and what the dream…
Read MoreBombard Your Heart with Good Things
by Terry Wane Benton If you let social media bombard your mind with all this social, political, and racial tension, soon you feel like everything good about our country and our neighbors has gone. But when you notice the birds, nature, and your surrounding neighbors, and you hear children laughing in the area, you then…
Read MoreCan a woman greet people at the door?
Question: I have a question. Can women serve as door greeters alongside men? And should young men be participating in overseeing the nursery? For years, our door greeting has been done only by men, and I think it’s odd to change that. We have a young man who participates in the nursery, and I feel…
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