Temptation of Jesus
by R.L. Whiteside Annual Lesson Commentary, 1939, Gospel Advocate Co., page 246. Temptation is the act of tempting or of being tempted. In studying this lesson, it is well, therefore, to consider some of the meanings and uses of the word tempt. To tempt a person does not always mean to stir up in him…
Read MoreThe Price of an Affair
by Philip Martin Proverbs 6:32 says whoever commits adultery “destroys his own soul.” The Hebrew word here is striking. Mashchît means to bring ruin upon yourself, to act as your own destroyer. This is not about making a mistake. This is about choosing devastation. Lucas Cranach the Elder, David and Bathsheba (1526), Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche Museen…
Read MoreThe First Beatitude in Psalms
by Warren E. Berkley The book of Psalms opens with a beatitude. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful,” (Psalms 1:1). This is a description of a life centered on God. Those who live…
Read MoreStrike the Rock?
The children of Israel were desperate for water and were crying out to Moses, “Why have you brought us out here to die of thirst?” God told Moses to take his rod and “strike the rock,” and “water will come out of it, that the people may drink” (Exodus 17:3-6). Did God do this just…
Read MoreAnother Addiction
by David Gibson Getting Hooked It’s amazing how many different ways Satan has to enslave us: drugs, alcohol, tobacco, overeating, gambling, etc. Our adversary knows how to get us hooked and keep us hooked. Satan has been entrapping even more with another highly addictive practice, using Internet pornography. How many thought when they started where…
Read MoreThe Last Days
by Ron Boatwright The apostle Peter says in Acts 2:16-17, “But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘ And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall…
Read MoreOvercoming Doubt
by Mark McCrary Text: Matthew 11:1–12 Ted was a faithful Christian. He served in the church, raised his kids to love God, and prayed with conviction. But when his child was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, the inner questions began. Why would God allow this? Is He really good? Over time, Ted’s solid belief began…
Read MoreMy wife abandoned us and took all my money
Question: Good Afternoon, Brother Hamilton, My wife and I were baptized into Christ and added to the Body. Last fall, my wife rushed to get dressed for a meeting. I asked her when the dementia medication for my Dad would arrive. It had already been several weeks. This led to an argument where we both…
Read MoreBaptism and Jesus Blood
by Dub McClish Despite the most explicit statements of Scripture to the contrary, most Protestant denominations deny that baptism is a condition of God’s forgiveness of our sins. Some reason that acceptance of such would equal salvation by one’s own works. Others reject the necessity of baptism because of their erroneous dictum of salvation by…
Read MoreDoes Heaven Really Hear?
by Dan Gulley Charles Swindoll tells about a Ziggy cartoon. “Ziggy is standing, looking up at a mountain. The sky is dark, and there’s one cloud up there. Ziggy says, ‘Have I been put on hold for the rest of my life?’ ” Swindoll continues, “Sometimes prayer feels like that, doesn’t it? ‘Will You ever…
Read MoreSermon Openers: The Preface and Introduction
by Clay Gentry Preachers, you invest countless hours in developing your sermons – exploring passages, mastering the text, writing memorable points, crafting powerful statements that make an impact, and setting the right tone. However, all this effort can be wasted if the congregation isn’t engaged from the beginning with a thoughtful introduction. We’re not talking…
Read MoreFour Characteristics of Faith
by David Gibson To say that faith is a significant theme of the Bible is an understatement. What better place to begin than the great Faith Chapter of the Bible, Hebrews 11. In this chapter, the noun “faith” is found 24 times, and the verb “believe” is used once. Hebrews 11 could be called “Case…
Read MoreWhat Is Apostasy?
by Kyle Pope via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15 No. 2, February 2015 The word apostasy means, “1) Abandonment or renunciation of one’s religious faith or moral allegiance… 2) By extension, the abandonment of principles or party generally” [Oxford Dictionary of the English Language, Vol. 1, p. 390]. It is derived from the Greek word apostasia, meaning “a defection…
Read MoreAn Overruling Providence
by Earl Kimbrough via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15 No. 2, February 2015 Robert Milligan, in writing about the nature of God in the Scheme of Redemption, warns the reader not to be wise above what is written, for all we can know of Him comes through revelation (Matthew 11:27). There are some things even here that…
Read MoreDon’t Be a Thief!
by Mike Johnson via Seeking Things Above, Vol. 6 No. 2, May 2025 Ephesians 4:17-32 is one of many passages in the New Testament that describe the transformation that is supposed to occur when a person becomes a Christian. The Bible tells Christians to put off the old man, i.e., our former sinful conduct, and put…
Read MoreIn Advance
by David Gibson by Judy Baxter on Flickr.com Some troubles are avoidable, some are not. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells of two builders (Matthew 7:24-27). Both build a house. A violent storm slams both houses. One house stands firm. The other falls. The difference? One had been founded on the…
Read MoreHelping Christians Addicted to Pornography
by Steve and Bette Wolfgang via “The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible: Truth Lectures for 2005,” Truth Publications, 2005, pp. 84-126; quotation from pp. 116-117. Bette and I have been speaking and writing for decades about the dangers of pornography, beginning at a time when it seemed that virtually no one else in the…
Read MoreSecond-hand Potential
by Zeke Flores I don’t like waste. I try to use up everything I buy until it’s run into the ground. Only when I’m sure I can’t get any more use out of it will I discard it. That goes a long way towards explaining why my garage looks the way it does; it’s full…
Read MoreLife Isn’t that Way
by Zeke Flores You might wish you had never had any trouble. No doubt, life would be a lot easier without any distress, affliction, or sorrow. But life isn’t that way. Because we often make dumb decisions, because many circumstances are unforeseeable, and because people are, well, people, there are bound to be uncomfortable situations,…
Read MoreWas it God’s will that I didn’t know about my husband’s sins before we got married?
Question: Greetings! I am reaching out to let you know that I think the Answers to Questions section on the church’s website is an invaluable resource, and I appreciate the very direct and truthful responses. The following are some questions that have plagued me for years, so I thought I’d pass them along and get…
Read MoreDid the Ten Commandments come through angels or God?
Question: Dear sir, Were the Ten Commandments delivered by angels or God Himself? I am somewhat confused by references such as Acts 7:53, Galatians 3:19, and Hebrews 2:2. Answer: “Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and…
Read MoreI enjoy your blog posts
Question: Hi, I really enjoyed your blog posts. So much detail and time went into them, and it’s a great ministry when there is limited counsel available online. Noting that we should ultimately seek counsel from our local elders, not online, I do really appreciate your blog. Answer: I’m glad you are finding the information…
Read MoreSatan
by David Gibson How much do we know about Satan? Second Corinthians has quite a bit to say about him. What does Paul say in this letter about our enemy, the devil? Knowing how Satan works is essential. “… so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his…
Read MoreA Look Behind the Fig Leaves
by Sam Dilbeck In recent years, many have claimed that society dictates what is modest. Their arguments go something like this: “During the Victorian Age, it was considered immodest for a woman to reveal her ankle or wrists in the presence of a man. Moreover, in many Middle Eastern countries, women are required to wear…
Read MoreShould I separate myself from my transgender dad?
Question: Dear Minister, I have family problems and need advice from a neutral person. I’m 15 years old. Last Sunday, my older siblings (who are in their early to mid-20s) came home for church and dinner. We spend every Sunday together, along with their spouses and children, since they live in our neighborhood. After dinner,…
Read MoreDwelling in the Spirit
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Read MoreDid baptism end after Jesus went to heaven?
Question: Good day, Pastor, Kindly throw light on this issue: Did baptism end after Jesus Christ went into heaven? Is water baptism still relevant to be a true Christian? I am of the opinion that it is no longer necessary, but I would appreciate it if you could kindly explain it to me in your…
Read MoreHusbands and Wives
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Husbands-and-Wives.mp3 by Raymond Warfel Download Audio
Read MorePreach It Anyway!
by Phillip Brannon I have come to the conclusion that when it comes to preaching the Word of God, some people cannot be pleased (this is also true in other areas). It is not possible to please everyone every time one preaches. Someone will be offended. If one preaches loud enough for everyone to hear,…
Read MoreWorship in Spirit and Truth
by Terry Wane Benton While it is true that worship must be in spirit (sincere and involving our hearts) and in truth (truly yielding to what God’s word says, not following the commandments of men), the text in John 4:20-24 seems to point to something more. The discussion with the woman at the well was…
Read MoreBelieve!
by David Gibson “Believe” is the main keyword of the Gospel of John. From the 12th chapter of John, let’s see what we can learn about what it means to believe: Many believed (John 12:10-11). A large number of those who witnessed Lazarus’ resurrection came to believe in Jesus (John 11:45). This is as it…
Read MoreIs it good to get advice about a problem?
Question: Hi Mr. Hamilton, Thank you again for your time and thoughtful answers. I’ve read through everything you shared, and I’m doing my best to trust the truth over my feelings, even though it is tough for me. I have another question— if that’s alright? Do you believe I’ve obeyed Scripture in seeking godly counsel…
Read MoreHow can I gain true repentance?
Question: [Note: This is an abbreviated version of the long letter I was sent.] How can I find true repentance? It is what I seek. I confess my sin to God, but I fall again. I made many mistakes before. In my ignorance, I thought I would offer sacrifices to God for my forgiveness. I…
Read MoreCan I break a deal I made with God?
Question: Hello, Last year, I promised God some things in exchange for Him healing or freeing me from OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). I promised to stop watching a series that I watched a lot, horror movies, and anime. Well, now I am in psychiatric treatment and I still have OCD, but the thing is that in…
Read MoreHow do I handle being engaged to a member of a denomination?
Question: Hello, I need your advice on my personal life. I am a born-again, baptized Christian. But I backslid for about two years. In those years, I got engaged to an unbeliever. Now I’m trying to return to Christ, and I’m not sure what to do. She is from an Orthodox background. She is willing…
Read MoreDivision and Animosity
by Zeke Flores The devil loves division and animosity among brethren. So, he does his best to keep it stirred up, and, of course, one of his best tools is sin. If he can get a Christian to sin, he can get another Christian to be convinced that that sinning brother can never rise above…
Read MoreLove, Service, and Obedience
by Doy Moyer We serve what we love, and we obey what we serve. What does that mean? It is possible to be coerced into obedience, but this is not love. However, when we love something or someone, we serve, and in serving, we obey. I believe the word “obey” and its cognates say more…
Read MoreRedemption of the Body
by Terry Wane Benton We were redeemed from sin and condemnation by the blood of Christ when we were baptized into Him (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-6). But, now we are waiting for “the adoption, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:23). Paul’s soul was already “adopted.” “We received (past tense) the Spirit of adoption” (Romans…
Read MoreThe Two Poles of the Second Commandment
by David Gibson It was Jesus Himself who identified loving God and loving neighbor as the first and second commandments (Matthew 22:36-40). It’s worth noting that the second commandment, like a magnet, has both a positive and a negative pole. The Negative Pole: “For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder,…
Read MoreGod Talks to God but Not to Himself
by Terry Wane Benton How can God talk to God but not be talking to Himself? God is triune (three in one), which is what He revealed about Himself. In the beginning, God said, “Let Us (plural) make man in Our (plural) image (singular)” (Genesis 1:26). Who was God talking to? And why is the…
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