Worship by God’s Design

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Worship-by-Gods-Design.mp3 by Joe Greer Lessons to Build Your Faith

Read More

How the Church May Use Its Money

by Andy Sochor “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come” (I Corinthians 16:1-2). The…

Read More

Evidence of the Resurrection

by Wayne Wells The Greatest Hoax or the Greatest Event? The resurrection of Jesus was either the greatest hoax of history or the greatest event ever.  How can we, living nearly two thousand years later, ever really know whether such an event took place?  The importance of finding the answer can be found in 1…

Read More

Your God Reigns

by Doy Moyer “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns” (Isaiah 52:7). This is the passage quoted by Paul in Romans 10, and it shows that the preaching of…

Read More

Faith Demands Action

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Faith-Demands-Action.mp3 by Joe Greer Lessons to Build Your Faith

Read More

Hear Him (Matthew 17:1-8)

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Hear-Him.mp3 by Joe Greer Lessons to Build Your Faith

Read More

Who were the mighty men of valor?

Question: Good morning, Who are the mighty men of valor in  Joshua 1:14-15? Are they special skilled forces or just faithful men of courage and mental strength, who are willing to do what God instructs them to do? Answer: “Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, “Pass through the midst of the camp…

Read More

Insecurity

by Matthew W. Bassford The other night, I dreamed about my high-school crush. This was strange; I haven’t had any contact with her for a quarter century. Perhaps my life is passing before my eyes in slow motion. It did remind me, though, of the way things went with her. She was interested in me…

Read More

Did my marriage end for the right reason?

Question: Good afternoon! I recently became aware of your ministry and have been reading your articles. I immediately loved the tone and the thoroughness of the answers to questions that people asked! I have one for you that has concerned me! I am in my fifties. I accepted Christ as my Savior decades ago. I…

Read More

What is God’s purpose in creating us?

Question: Good evening, I, lately, have been struggling with the whole idea of creation. I feel terrible for saying this, as I’m a Christian, but wouldn’t God be selfish for creating us? I just don’t see the purpose. I was never asked to be born or be created. Honestly, if I had the option and…

Read More

How do I handle a daughter who decided to become a lesbian?

Question: Brother, I have been a member of the Lord’s church since I was a teenager. I have always attended. I raised all of my children in Lord’s church. My youngest daughter has rebelled ever since her Dad divorced me. She even married another girl! She has pressed me to accept her as she strays…

Read More

You Can’t Understand the Bible Without the Watchtower!

by Jefferson David Tant The September 2007 Kingdom Ministry had a Question Box that said the Governing Body does not want Jehovah’s Witnesses to meet privately to discuss the Bible. That’s strange. For people who claim to be devoted Bible students … it seems that the leadership really doesn’t want them to read the Bible…

Read More

Love the Brethren

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Love-of-the-Brethren.mp3 by Raymond Warfel

Read More

The Wisdom of Prudence

by Doy Moyer “Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling” (Proverbs 26:27). “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it” (Proverbs 27:12). “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who…

Read More

Do I need to get baptized again?

Question: Hello, I grew up in the church of Christ. I was first baptized around age 12. I later was baptized again because I became unsure if I did it for the correct reasons the first time. I thought I did it more out of fear of hell than belief and love of God. I…

Read More

Were Adam and Eve saved?

Question: Were Adam and Eve saved and or will they go to heaven on judgment day? Answer: Judgment belongs to God. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad”…

Read More

Apatheism

by Doy Moyer According to James Sire, apatheism (a combo of “apathy” and “theism”), “a term coined in 1972 by sociologist Stuart D. Johnson, holds that whether God/gods exist is simply an irrelevant question. (Why should I care whether God exists or not? The answer to the question has no practical relevance to my life.)”…

Read More

Why I Go to Church

by Fanning Yater Tant (1908-1998) There are so many reasons why people don’t go to church, but the following are some reasons why I do go. Habit “And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read”…

Read More

When was the church established?

Question: Hello, I have a question about what year the church was established. Some are saying AD 30 but when I was converted into the church what I was taught is that the church started in Jerusalem in AD 33. Were we wrong as a church on the AD 33 date? And if we’re not…

Read More

More Than Conquerors

by Matthew W. Bassford Yesterday was a difficult day for me. I woke up without fever, breathing issues, or any of the other problems that have kept me from assembling with the saints. However, once the time came to leave, I discovered that my hand didn’t want to cooperate in steering my power chair. In…

Read More

Happiness Without Faith

by Doy Moyer “Since I’ve given up my faith, I’m now happy and at peace.” This is a common type of statement we see from those who walk away from the Lord. It seems counter to the idea that true happiness and peace are found in Christ. I do not doubt that one who leaves…

Read More

Where did the five-step plan of salvation come from?

Question: I was in Bible study on Wednesday night and my minister was teaching the class. He brought up that the 5-step plan of salvation was started by Walter Scott during the time of Stone and Campbell. He stated that is how it got started. But I disagree with him. Can you help clarify this?…

Read More

The Fearfulness of Saul

by Matthew W. Bassford Saul is one of the great tragic figures of the Old Testament and indeed of the Bible. Because of the connections between his story and the story of David, we know more about him than about any other spiritual failure. It is truly telling that his central problem was fear. Saul’s…

Read More

Learning to Fly

by Jefferson David Tant Among the many things that I have learned from my work in Jamaica are the “Lively Choruses” that they love to sing. Here is one: ‘Tis easy to smile, when life flows along like a song, but the man worthwhile, is the man who can smile, When everything goes dead wrong.”…

Read More

Daily Religion

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Daily-Religion.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 9:23-26   I.         What kind of religion do you have? How is your faith expressed?             A.        Acts 5:42 – The early Christians had a daily religion             B.        It seems today that many have a once a week, once a month, or even a once a year religion             C.        Even in the Old…

Read More

Poured Out

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Poured-Out.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 2:12-18   I.         Under the Law of Moses, there were many different sacrifices and offerings made.             A.        In fact, they can be downright confusing to sort out because their purposes overlapped each other.             B.        Under the New Law, Jesus is our one sacrifice for sin – Hebrews 10:11-14             C.        But this doesn’t…

Read More

Advice for Those Looking to Preach

by Scott Smelser Six random points, in no particular order: A powerful message from a stern and elderly Tom Butler (addressing myself and several college-aged guys many years ago): “You young guys. You come and tell me you want to preach. No, you don’t. You don’t want to preach. What you want are a pulpit…

Read More

When will the Sabbath end?

Question: Jeff, I have a quick question. Is my understanding correct in saying that in Amos 8:5 the question is asked when will the Sabbath be past (end)? A few verses later (Amos 8:9-10) God answers the question: Sundown at noon darkness in broad daylight mourning (death) of an only son. Add up the clues,…

Read More

Fight for Your Faith

by Doy Moyer “But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled and put on the armor of faith and love, and a helmet of the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether…

Read More

Love of God Poured Out in the Heart

by Terry Wane Benton You know the Holy Spirit has poured the love of God in your heart (Romans 5:5) when you have listened to what the Holy Spirit has revealed about it. When you read what the Spirit revealed to Paul (Ephesians 3:3-5), it spills over from Paul’s heart into your heart, and when…

Read More

A Look at Church History

by Andy Sochor Early Persecution The Beginning of Apostasy The Council of Nicea The Reformation and the Restoration: A Tale of Two Movements The Reformation Movement The Rise of Denominationalism The Restoration Movement The Same Movement, Yet We Are Different Division in the Restoration Movement

Read More

The Council of Nicea

by Andy Sochor via Unmasking Sophistry, Vol. 3, No. 2 The first ecumenical council, that occurred in Nicea, was in 325 AD. It was a gathering of church leaders from across the Roman Empire who came together to discuss certain controversial issues and come to a consensus on the church’s “official” position on these matters. Before…

Read More

The Deity of Christ: Refuting Some False Arguments

by Osamagbe Lesley Egharevba via Unmasking Sophistry, Vol. 3, No. 2 The very idea that Jesus was the first to be created is not only absurd, but it is inconsistent with the teaching of the Bible. Recently I met some preachers in the Lord’s church who affirm that Jesus Christ was created. By “created” they mean…

Read More

Lessons from the Bible to Build Your Faith

A series of lessons presented by Joe Greer of Taylors, South Carolina April 23-26, 2023 On This Rock (Matthew 16:18) Hear Him (Matthew 17:1-8) Faith Demands Action Worship by God’s Design Beginning to Sink Beware – Hungry Lions

Read More

Wanting Something for Nothing

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Wanting-Something-for-Nothing.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Samuel 24:10-25   I.         Have you noticed how many people want something, but are unwilling to put sufficient effort into obtaining what they want?             A.        I keep hearing about the latest lotto figures. Hundreds of millions of dollars are available, for the meager cost of a few bucks.                         1.         Millions of…

Read More

When God Reveals the Future

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/When-God-Reveals-the-Future.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 20:17-36   I.         Consider for the moment God’s words to Abram – Genesis 15:5-6             A.        At the time God made this promise, Abram had no children. So why tell him what the future would be like?             B.        Later, God also tells Abram about some of the struggles his children will endure…

Read More

Fierce and Independent

by Gardner Hall “A fierce and independent woman.” This is a popular way to describe today’s “modern” woman. How have “fierce and independent” men affected society through the centuries? Historically, “fierce and independent” men have caused much suffering. Is that what women really need? The Bible uses another term to describe the ideal spirit for…

Read More