How do you teach in an area that holds strong prejudice?
Question: Good day, I wanted to ask: What can I do in my local community to get the word of God out, not just about salvation, but the natural progression of the conversation about the right church? For context, I am in South Africa. This is rather significant because most churches in my local area…
Read MoreWill we reach heaven if some commands are broken?
Question: Good day,I have a rather important question that’s been bothering me. In James 2:10, it is stated that all sins are equal. Breaking one means breaking all. It is trying to get the idea across that we shouldn’t excuse sins because that might lead us to accept some sins into our lives and not…
Read MoreJustified by God
by Doy Moyer Justification is not due to a mere man making an offering to God. Justification is due to God incarnate making an offering as both the reconciler and the One with whom reconciliation must be made. That is, through Christ, God was reconciling all things to Himself and making peace by the blood…
Read MoreJoel: A Leader Who Knew What to Do Next
by Max Dawson “So, what are we supposed to do now?” I have heard that question so many times over the years. Leaders may be faced with a moral issue within the church, or maybe a budget shortfall, or possibly a disaster (like a hurricane?) has come upon them. What to do next? Joel was…
Read MoreSaving Faith Is Obedient Faith
by Dennis Abernathy Many passages could be cited to show that one must believe (have faith) to be saved. However, believing is more involved than the sole mental act. Ultimately, believing in the Lord is to do what He says, and refusing to obey His will is an expression of disbelief! The thought of “obedience” and “works”…
Read MoreJesus, the Righteous Judge
by Doy Moyer Jesus is the Creator to whom all are accountable. He has all authority, and He has all the right to judge. The Father “has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father” (John 5:22-23). He has “authority to execute judgment, because he…
Read MoreWrong Is Always Wrong
by Richard Thetford In a period of loose and sagging morals, Satan provides many rationalizations for improper behavior. Those who would live faithful Christian lives must not be ignorant of Satan’s devices. Paul said, “…Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” Wrong is always wrong despite our…
Read MoreNot By Faith Only
by Terry Wane Benton When the Bible says, “not by faith only” (James 2:14-24), why is it that you hear major denominations claiming that salvation is “by faith alone”? I would be embarrassed to hold to a doctrine that directly contradicts the word of God. If the Bible actually taught both things, it would be…
Read MoreLife’s Necessary Thing
by Jon W. Quinn Jesus had three friends who lived in Bethany. He would occasionally stay in their home when He was in Judea. Lazarus, Mary, and Martha were brothers and sisters. They lived together in the same house. Bethany was located on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives on the road linking…
Read MoreWorks, Grace, and Faith
by Doy Moyer Works won’t save us, but failure to engage in them can condemn us. Likewise, being moral won’t save us, but being immoral will condemn us (I Corinthians 6:9-10). This is a consistent message throughout Scripture. Salvation is “by grace through faith,” and faith means that we will trust God and seek to…
Read MoreThe Will of My Father
by Jefferson David Tant The words of the title of this article are taken from a familiar Biblical passage found in Matthew 7:21-23: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say…
Read MoreHosea: A Leader Who Made an Astounding Sacrifice!
by Max Dawson One of the things I have learned about leadership is that sometimes, the best leaders are those who were reluctant to be leaders. Witness the case of Moses (Exodus 3:7-4:17). I have known men who were reluctant to serve as an overseer of the church, as a deacon, or even as a…
Read MoreCharacter Matters
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/CharacterMatters.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 5:1-5 I. Suppose you needed to hire someone for a job. What would you look for? A. You probably need someone with the skills to do the job, but what other things would you look for? Given several candidates with equivalent skills, what would set one person out above…
Read MoreBlessed Assurance
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/BlessedAssurance.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 10:19-26 I. If you died at this very moment, would the Lord place you in Heaven or Hell? A. Most would answer, “I hope it would be in Heaven.” B. Yet the answer lacks confidence. They are not certain. C. But why not? Who else would know of your standing before…
Read MoreThe Cross Was an Ugly Torture Device
by Terry Wane Benton That is true, but men meant evil, while God used it for our good. How can a torture device be made for our good and bless us with forgiveness of sins? It is not the device itself, as if the physical item holds some mystical magic. It is the event of…
Read MoreWhat is your understanding of Jeremiah 4:10?
Question: I just wanted to get your understanding of Jeremiah 4:10. Answer: “Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord GOD! Surely You have utterly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, “You will have peace”; whereas a sword touches the throat'” (Jeremiah 4:10). Imagine a robber has grabbed you, and he has a knife against your throat. He…
Read MoreThe Song “Blessed Assurance”
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. This song declares the praises of our Savior A. What is meant by saying this is my story? B. The foundation of this song is II Corinthians 3:1-6 1. The Christians in Corinth were the living proof of the work of the apostle Paul. 2. They have confidence towards God, not from themselves, but from…
Read MoreWhat If I Want to Eat the Cake I Have?
by Perry Hall “You can’t have your cake and eat it too.” Well, you can’t eat your cake unless you have it in the first place, so duh! Then again, to “have” can mean to “eat” as a synonym. Why would one have a cake if they didn’t want to eat it? This would all…
Read MoreThe Need for Distinctive Preaching
by Jim Deason Biblical Insights, September 2014 In the shadow of the cross, Jesus prayed, “I do not ask on behalf of these alone (the apostles – jhd), but for those also who believe in Me through their word (me and you – jhd); that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are…
Read MoreDid My Generation Neglect the Grace of God?
by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. I cannot understand how so many of the younger generation of preachers (sometimes encouraged by a few older ones) can talk about how woefully the generation before them neglected to tell people about the grace of God. They boldly speak about it as though it was a settled fact of…
Read MoreThe Shield
by Terry W. Benton In all the armor of God, there is a piece of protection called “the shield of faith” with which “you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:15). That is a powerful thing to have and use. Another way of saying that is, “nothing Satan tries to…
Read MoreRulers and Authorities
by Doy Moyer All things were created by, through, and for Jesus, including all “thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities” (Colossians 1:16). Paul elsewhere calls these not only rulers and authorities but “cosmic powers over this present darkness” and “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” These are the ones against whom we…
Read MoreIt Is Well with My Soul
by Michael Hickox “Therefore we do not faint, but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory; while we do not look at the things which are…
Read MoreJudging Sin and Saying So
by Terry Wane Benton Jesus commanded us to “judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24) and to not judge unfairly or hypocritically (Matthew 7:1-3), but to address our own sins “first” and then help others with their need to remove sin also. The church at Corinth was rebuked for failing to judge the need to judge and…
Read MoreThe new Topics section is very helpful
Question: Hello Mr. Hamilton,I have been meaning to tell you that I really appreciate your efforts with the website. The new “Topics” category is very, very helpful.Sincerely. Answer: I’m glad you found the addition useful.
Read MoreEvery Child Has Something to Say
by Jefferson David Tant It is patently obvious that children have needs, beginning at the time of birth. They need food. They need clothing. They need to have their diapers changed. And they need to be held. But beyond these necessities for their life and well-being, there are other needs that are just as vital and…
Read MoreSlinging Mud on the Bride of Christ
by Mike Richardson An Unthinkable Image Imagine attending a wedding. The bride is arrayed in a beautiful white wedding gown, ready to go down the aisle to be presented to the groom. As she walks down the aisle, people on both sides of her begin to throw mud at her. She ducks down, but the…
Read MoreLet this Cup Pass from Me
by Terry Wane Benton What did Jesus mean when He prayed three times in the Garden of Gethsemane to “Let this cup pass from me?” (Matthew 26:39). It is a metaphor for having to experience something very dreadful. When we experience something bitter and horrible to our senses, we could metaphorically say that we have…
Read MoreWhen Tragedy Strikes
by Doy Moyer What exactly does one say to another when tragedy strikes? We all wish that we had the perfect words that would appropriately capture what everyone is feeling, words that would comfort and encourage even the most downtrodden. We want to come up with profound statements about how “this is life” and “here…
Read MoreWhat Constitutes Obedience? (Hamilton)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/What-Constitutes-Obedience.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 21:28-32 I. When is obedience truly obedience? A. People seem to have varying ideas about what obedience actually means. 1. Perhaps not by words, but definitely by what is done. II. Inadequate obedience A. Inaction 1. Matthew 21:28-32 – The one son claimed he would obey, but did nothing 2. In essence this is…
Read MoreLegalizing Drugs Led to Massive Increase in Drug-Related Deaths
Source: “Oregon 1st state to decriminalize possession of drugs,” AP News, 1 February 2021. “Police in Oregon can no longer arrest someone for possession of small amounts of heroin, methamphetamine, LSD, oxycodone and other drugs as a ballot measure that decriminalized them took effect on Monday. Instead, those found in possession would face a $100 fine…
Read MoreMarital Needs
by Perry Hall In premarital counseling, I always ask what the number one need of a man fulfilled in marriage is, and what the number one need of a woman fulfilled in marriage is. Even when these couples are not religious, their own self-awareness teaches them the correct answer. When they say they don’t know,…
Read MoreFour Ways to Desire Being an Overseer
by Perry Hall So much, and I’d say too much, weight is placed on whether a man desires to serve as an elder. I’d say “too much” because it is too often used for a man to disqualify himself – “I don’t desire it.” Could it be that we need to better – and by…
Read MoreWhat Kind of Soil Are You?
by Doy Moyer Mark 4 presents what we call the parable of the sower. What has recently struck me is how the entire chapter stays with the same essential point concerning the power of God’s word. Here are a few thoughts: The parable’s point is not whether we are sowing the seed as much as…
Read MoreLessons from a Leper
by Zack Lee Naaman was a very successful man. He was commander of the Syrian army, held in high esteem in the eyes of his king, a victorious general, and a mighty man of valor. However, he had leprosy. His story can be found in II Kings 5. Naaman heard through a young slave girl that…
Read MoreStudy to Show Yourself Approved
by Hugh Fulford “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15 KJV). The preceding verse as cited from the King James Version of the Bible has been what I sometimes refer to as an “anchor text” among those committed…
Read MoreWhat Made Hezekiah Great?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/WhatMadeHezekiahGreat.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Kings 18:1-6 I. Our reading tells us that Hezekiah was a great king of Israel. A. There was no king like him before in Judah. II. The question, though, is what made Hezekiah great? A. It wasn’t his father, Ahaz 1. Ahaz was a wicked man – II Kings 16:2-4 2. Later we…
Read MoreDo marriages really end at death?
Question: Marriage vows say, “Until death, do we part,” is this the truth? If so, I am so sad about this. I need to understand. Though, I cannot find a definite answer. I know there are things that we are not to know. Also, I understand that I am human. I am searching for a…
Read MoreCan one congregation withdraw from another congregation?
Question: Can a church withdraw from Christians who are not members of the local congregation? 1. Mark those who cause division and hindrances – Romans 16:17 2. Philippians 3:17 – Mark those who are good examples 3. Galatians 5:15 – Don’t bite and devour each other. C. Can a church withdraw from another church? Hey Brother Hamilton! God bless. I’ve read almost…
Read MoreOne article was an answer to my prayer
Question: I have turned to your website many times to find specific answers, but today was not for that reason. However, it turned out to be very helpful at this particular time. The article written by Doy Moyer, ‘Beyond Our Strength,” was the answer to a prayer.My husband of 55 years passed away recently and…
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