Do You Confess Jesus?
by Terry Wane Benton To confess Jesus does not mean you are ashamed, but need to own up to this shameful belief you have been hiding. Confessing Jesus means that you know and approve the name that all men should know and approve. It is the name above all names. No one is higher in…
Read MoreNot Who But What
by Albert Gardner “It is not who is right—but what is right, that counts.” The crowd does not make a thing right or wrong. If something is wrong, it remains wrong even if everybody does it. If it is right, it is still right even if nobody does it. Moses said, “Thou shalt not follow…
Read MoreLines of Separation
by Doy Moyer (Note: for starting points about what to do when we differ, you can see “When We Differ.) Christians are taught to walk in love and unity. Paul wrote, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,…
Read MoreSocial Drinking
by David McPherson Most folks are clear on the fact that drunkenness is condemned throughout the pages of the Bible. What some are not as clear on is that social drinking is also condemned. “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth…
Read MoreThen What Shall I Do with Jesus?
by David Gibson The choice he made The governor was in a dilemma, and he was aware of it. As Caesar’s official, it was Pilate’s responsibility to deal with those brought to him for judgment. Never had Pilate dealt with anyone like Him. He knew Jesus was innocent of the charges so vehemently made against…
Read MoreThere Was No Room
by Terry Wane Benton The couple was about to give birth to the Son of God. They could find no place to stay due to the influx of visitors coming to register for the census, which was imposed by the Roman government. This was the hometown of many people who had moved away but came back…
Read MoreDoing the Same
by Zeke Flores Paul had pointed out the wickedness of the Gentiles, and his Jewish readers must have loved it. “Yeah! Let ‘em have it, Paul!” they must have thought. Their glee will be short-lived because Paul will quickly lower the boom on them, too. But Paul wasn’t merely trying to point out each group’s…
Read MoreEmphasizing Basics
by Roger Hillis If the Lord’s church is to survive and prosper, it must never depart from the basics of the gospel. A wise and experienced elder once told me, “I’ve never known a church to grow that didn’t emphasize the basics. If a church is struggling, they just need to get back to first…
Read MoreWhat is an “instrument” in Romans 6:13?
Question: What is an instrument in Romans 6:13? The Thayer’s Greek lexicon and Strong’s dictionary didn’t help me understand this word. Answer: “Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and…
Read MoreMake It Your Ambition
by David Gibson Does the expression “the quiet life” strike you as appealing or dull? Paul urges Christians “to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands” (I Thessalonians 4:11 NASB). Addressing Christians who have too much time on their hands—lazy busybodies—Paul urged them…
Read MoreEternal Security
by Terry Wane Benton The writer of Hebrews talks about “full assurance of faith” and warns about developing “an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.” Therefore, a Christian can be assured of their salvation and “make their calling and election sure” (II Peter 1:5-12), while acknowledging that they can still fall…
Read MorePhilippians 1:2-11
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Philippians-1-2-11.mp3 by Raymond Warfel Download Audio
Read MoreIn Times of Trouble
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/In-Times-of-Trouble.mp3 by Raymond Warfel Download Audio
Read MoreLife’s Challenges
by Zeke Flores Paul’s honesty in his telling of the “thorn in the flesh” that caused him such distress is relatable (II Corinthians 12:7-10). Whatever it was that caused Paul such pain, we’ve all been there. After all, who hasn’t struggled with some circumstance, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, that hasn’t driven us to our…
Read MoreWhen We Differ
by Doy Moyer Working with people is challenging because we often have differences that extend beyond preferences in styles and tastes. We sometimes differ over what we deem significant matters, and we need to know how to approach not only the issues but also the fact of our differences and the attitudes we exhibit. If…
Read MoreI’ll Keep On Until They Quit
by Alan Smith There was once an older man who went out for a jog. He was running around a track that circled the high school football field while the team was conducting its practice. When the football players began running their sprints up and down the field, the man said to himself, “I’ll just…
Read MoreInseparables
by David Gibson Some things are meant to go together. Only one sock or one glove is next to useless. One cannot do the work of two. For good health, we need a balance of work and rest. Good communication involves both speaking and listening. Not either/or This is also true in the spiritual realm.…
Read MoreBulverism
by Brandon Edwards In an era of constant debate, arguments, and discussions, I have noticed a fascinating trend that has become embedded in these moments – namely, Bulverism. Now, you may have never heard of the term, and that is absolutely fine; however, I guarantee that you have likely experienced it firsthand. It’s a sneaky…
Read MoreEmotional Needs
by Zeke Flores Too often, we can let our emotionally perceived needs dictate what we do rather than what we should do. In a local church, a member may feel his needs are not being met, and so he moves on to another congregation or falls away altogether. In this way, “what I want for…
Read MoreJohn’s Proposition and Proof
by Terry Wane Benton The gospel of John is very unique in that it sets forth a proposition as in a debate, and then seeks to present evidence to prove the proposition is true. The proposition is stated in the first 18 verses that Jesus was actually God with God from the beginning of creation,…
Read MoreShould I insist that my boyfriend confront his parents about his change in religion?
Question: Dear Brother, I accepted Jesus Christ a few years ago. I come from a Hindu family. I like a guy, and he was a Hindu too. As I kept on talking to him about Jesus, one day he accepted Jesus Christ. He said he can no longer view his old religion the way he…
Read MoreWhat does “without natural affection” mean?
Question: “Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful” (Romans 1:31 KJV). What is natural affection? Answer: “Without natural affection” (astrogous) means “Being without the natural love between parents and their children.” Seneca, a Roman philosopher, used the word in “justifying” for killing unwanted children. It is a person without the natural affection for…
Read MoreIs having a song during a sermon out of order?
Question: Dear Sir, I have a question that requires clarification. In I Corinthians 14:40, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” (NKJV) Will it be wrong or inappropriate for a brother delivering a sermon and in the process of delivering it, he pauses and lets the congregation sing a song relating to his message,…
Read MoreAdventure
by Zeke Flores Perhaps the most effective employment ad was also one of the most bizarre and unlikely. It reportedly read, “Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger. Safe return doubtful.” You wouldn’t think there would be men lining up for that job, but the employer…
Read MoreWhat do saint and blameless mean?
Question: Does saint mean to be morally blameless? Strong’s says: “From hagos (an awful thing) (compare hagnos, thalpo); sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated) — (most) holy (one, thing), saint.” Answer: I suspect that the difficulty is understanding the meaning of “blameless.” We tend to assume it means “without fault” or “sinless.” However, various…
Read MoreCommunication
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton A profound shift has occurred in the way we communicate. At one time, a speaker had something to say and would relay it to a listener. Basic communication, I know. “Teaching, in its simplest sense, is the communication of knowledge.”(1) There has to be a source (the speaker), a target (the…
Read MoreA Voice in the Wilderness
by Terry Wane Benton The Pharisees and Sadducees had the larger, more luxurious places to indoctrinate people with their corrupt doctrine. John the Baptist had to find secluded areas in the countryside where he could preach and baptize people. His was a voice in the wilderness, but word spread that he was even calling the…
Read MoreGod Is Good All the Time
by Zeke Flores The things I see people complain about remind me that we live very pampered lives. A rude cashier, a wrong food order, no WiFi, etc., are all mere inconveniences and reminders of how good life usually is. And -shame on me- I’ve been guilty of it too. Then some find themselves in…
Read MoreBlessed Risk-Takers
by David Gibson High Praise! The leaders of the Jerusalem church referred to Barnabas and Paul as “men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 15:26; see II Corinthians 11:23-28). Paul appreciated risk-takers like himself, such as Priscilla and Aquila, “who risked their necks for my life” (Romans…
Read MoreHow has the power to delay God’s answers?
Question: Dear brother, We read that God answered Daniel’s prayer the very first day. How then was it delayed, or who has the power to delay God’s answer? Thanks and regards. Answer: “Then he said to me, ‘Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding…
Read MoreLike Father
by David Gibson My finite mind soon reaches the end of its tether when I try to comprehend God, the eternal, invisible, all-powerful, all-knowing Maker of all things. By observing the wonders of His handiwork in nature, we get glimpses into His wisdom and power (Romans 1:18-20), To learn more, we turn to the Old…
Read MoreWhen Money Means Everything
by Zeke Flores I know a guy to whom money means everything. He’s not rich, but he is very well off and has everything he wants – a nice house, new cars, a beautiful family, and lots of toys – but he doesn’t have Christ. His reasoning is, “I have everything I want; what can…
Read MoreBraided Hair
Author Unknown I still remember someone telling a teenage girl that her braided hair was wrong. He cited the scripture in I Timothy 2:9. I remember going home to look at that passage to see if that is what it really says. Sure enough, here is what it says. “Likewise, I want women to adorn…
Read MoreModernizing the Bible
by Michael Ray Baggett When King Jehoiakim of Judah heard the writings of Jeremiah read to him, he destroyed the scroll. The King did not simply disagree with what he heard but took his penknife and cut off three or four pages and threw them in the fire until the entire scroll was destroyed (Jeremiah…
Read MoreThe Legacy of Dorcas
by David Gibson We don’t know much about her—she is mentioned in only one brief passage in the New Testament (Acts 9:36-42). But everything we know about Dorcas is good. She was a disciple. The word disciple means learner. She had learned to live the life of a Christian. She was not simply someone who…
Read MoreThe Second Coming of Christ
by Terry Wane Benton The first time He came was personal. He came to offer Himself “to bear the sins of many” (Hebrews 9:28). To those who eagerly wait for Him, He will appear a second time for salvation. The first time was to save us from sin and condemnation. So, what does it mean that He…
Read MoreThe Temptations of Jesus
The Temptations of Jesus: Changing Stones into BreadThe Temptations of Jesus (Part 2)The Temptations of Jesus (3) The Pinnacle of the Temple by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 4:1-13 I. We all face temptations – I Corinthians 10:13 A. But Satan’s power to tempt is limited. He only has so many tricks to use. B. Consider the…
Read MoreThey Helped
Author Unknown The prophet Isaiah, declared by the inspiration of God, “They helped everyone his neighbor: and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage” (Isaiah 41:6). In times of crisis, especially, cries for help are frequently heard from every corner of the earth. Victims of floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters reach…
Read MoreLooking to His Holy Temple
by Seth Mauldin via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15 No. 2, February 2015 For me, the book of Jonah has always been something of a depressing book. Of course, there are positives to be found; we’ll always have the good example of the Ninevites who threw themselves into the task of repentance. But when I look to…
Read MorePrevailing Winds
by Edward Smith via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 17 No. 4, 31 December 1991 It is amazing how “leading economic indicators” can point in so many directions: ask ten economists which way the wind is blowing, and you’ll get twelve answers. It’s no wonder that so many people show little confidence in the economy. Unfortunately, Christians often…
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