Finding Grace (Hamilton)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Finding-Grace.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Genesis 6:1-8 I. Each time we choose to sin, we are rejecting the one who tells us not to sin. A. It is something God has seen throughout man’s history 1. Numbers 14:11 – Israel’s rebellion 2. I Samuel 15:23 – Saul’s rebellion 3. II Kings 17:15 – Israel’s rebellion 4. It is why…
Read MoreWhat Does Your Clothing Say?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2005/07/What-Does-Your-Clothing-Say.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 22:2-14 I. Take a look at these pictures and tell me what you think. A. Men 1. Who is the most rebellious? 2. Who works hard? 3. Who doesn’t care what others think? 4. Who is the most practical? 5. Who is the most studious? 6. Who is the most fun loving? 7. Who is most…
Read MoreI Am Debtor
by Jarrod M. Jacobs When the apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, he said, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise” (Romans 1:14). What did that mean? How could he have been a “debtor” to them when he had not seen them yet…
Read MoreChristmas, Brought to You by Jesus!
by Larry Ray Hafley Our title was on a sign I saw south of St. Louis. Doubtless, it was placed there by people with the noblest of intentions. I am sure they meant nothing but the best for the religion of Jesus Christ! However, they could not prove that statement if their lives depended on…
Read MoreI Can’t Get No Satisfaction
by Rick Lanning Ecclesiastes: Solomon’s Masterpiece Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones fame, both turned 80 years old this year. They have been singing rock-n-roll hits for 60 years. Back in 1972 Dick Cavett interviewed them on his TV show and asked them when they were 29 years old, “Do you think…
Read MoreJamaica Patois Wisdom – Clothing
by Jefferson David Tant The Jamaican Patois dialect is colorful, unique, and humorous. It is my desire to share some of the philosophy shown in this mix of colorful phrases that are witty as well as thought-provoking. I hope the readers both profit and enjoy. In my quarter-century plus of teaching there, I have come…
Read MoreChristmas
by Paul Earnhart This is the time of year that the world has set apart for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. All Christians should rejoice that Jesus did come into the world as recorded in the Bible. At this time of year, two things are always amazing to observe. The first is that…
Read MoreA Resource for Grace and Peace
by Terry Wane Benton “Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1:4-5). The…
Read MoreWere we created to die?
Question: Your website is a huge blessing! Thank you for all the work you do to keep it up. My question is, why do babies die if they are born without sin? I recently heard a debate between a gospel preacher and a Primitive Baptist, and this question was brought up. The response from the…
Read MoreBecause Jesus Was Born
by Doy Moyer “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4-5). While the Gospels of Matthew and Luke give considerable space…
Read MoreOn Enemies
by Terry Wane Benton They made up their mind not to like me for no good reason, but God loves me greatly for deep reasons. Who do I trust? They undermine me, but God upholds me! Who matters to me the most? They choose to keep me out, but God chooses to keep me near.…
Read MoreWorshipful Music
by Robert F. Turner Plain Talk, July 1969 Recuperating from surgery, I lay bedfast, half-hearing the radio. Suddenly I realized that the instrumental number being played was the very old and beautiful hymn, Near To The Heart of God, and that I was brought into a worshipful attitude as I listened. The shocking aspect of…
Read MoreI’m stuck in a cycle of shame and guilt
Question: Dear sir, I have visited prostitutes in the past. I repent each day to our Lord for my fallacies. I never plan or think about paying for sex again in my life nor of falling back into the pornography trap. I seem to be stuck in a cycle of shame and guilt. I am…
Read MoreWhat if the innocent party isn’t so innocent?
Question: Good morning brother, In Matthew 19:9, the Scripture teaches that a person can divorce another if the other person has committed adultery. My question is: Could the person trying to divorce the other not be able to go through with a divorce if they aren’t innocent? For example, me and my wife are going…
Read MoreWhere the Blame Actually Belongs
by Terry Wane Benton Humans have a terrible habit of shifting blame. We saw it in the Garden of Eden when Adam blamed the woman and God who gave her to him, and we saw it in the people of Jeremiah’s day. God brought the truth before their consciences, saying, “Your ways and your doings have…
Read MoreMy People Are Foolish
by Terry Wane Benton I find it remarkable that the Old Testament Bible was written by Jews for Jews, but does not compliment these people. It calls them stiffnecked and displays a long history of disobedience to God, and yet people today want us to think that they just “made it up.” What? If I…
Read MoreA Heart of Stone or a Heart of Flesh?
by Jarrod M. Jacobs Twice in the book of Ezekiel, God spoke about the fact that He would take the people and remove their “stony heart” so they might have a heart of “flesh” (Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26). In context, the “stony” heart describes the person who has been disobedient and obstinate against God. The heart…
Read MoreThe Extent of God’s Grace
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/The-Extent-of-Gods-Grace.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreGrace and Faith
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Grace-and-Faith.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreDeath Is Yours!
by Paul Earnhart via Christianity Magazine, 12(7), 10 (1995) Solomon warns of the folly of building life on youth because it slips away like the morning mist and the once vital body turns frail and slips its earthly moorings (Ecclesiastes 11:9 to 12:7). I remember my first intimate contact with death. As a young and…
Read MoreLuke and the Birth of Jesus
by Doy Moyer Luke’s intent to “compile an account of the things accomplished among us” as handed down by eyewitnesses begins with the birth of John the Immerser. John’s role would be to “turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God” by going “as a forerunner before Him in the…
Read MoreSet a Mark
by Jarrod M. Jacobs Ezekiel 9 continues the record of Ezekiel’s vision from chapter 8. Here, he sees God calling men, specifically executioners, to Him, for they were going to execute those who had gone astray into idolatry. Remember, this is a highly figurative vision, but these men in the vision stood for the execution…
Read MoreThe Blood of Christ
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/The-Blood-of-Christ.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Peter 1:18-21 I. The blood of Christ is strongly connected with the concept of salvation from sin. A. It has been in the plan of God that Christ should die for mankind 1. Isaiah 53:5 – He was wounded for our transgressions. 2. Zechariah 13:1 – A fountain opened for sin…
Read MoreHow do I pray for someone I do not have anything particular to request?
Question: Good evening, I wanted to ask you something that came to my mind recently. I am trying to get better at praying for others; specifically, people who have not given me any ways that I can pray for them. How can I pray for someone if I do not know exactly how to pray…
Read MoreAt Peace with God
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/At-Peace-with-God.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamiton Text: Romans 5:1-11 I. How do you know that God has actually forgiven you? A. It is a frequent question. People make mistakes, fall into sins, and though they struggled back out of those sins, they still wonder whether God could ever forgive such a sinner as themselves. Perhaps God has…
Read MoreMatthew and the Birth of Jesus
by Doy Moyer Matthew describes the birth of Jesus succinctly and factually: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way” (Matthew 1:18). This is after he has spent time on the genealogy of Jesus, showing that He is the rightful King descended through the line of David. He is expressly called “the…
Read MoreChrist Sent Me Not to Baptize
by Terry Wane Benton In I Corinthians 1:17 Paul said, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.” The assumption that denominational people make is that Christ did not send Paul to baptize because…
Read MoreAm I being judgmental?
Question: I had a dear friend who used to preach in the Lord’s Church. When his daughter was married, he had an open bar at the reception. I was so upset and shocked. I was told I was judging. Is this something we should warn those we love about? The appearance of evil? Answer: “Do…
Read MoreWe have problems with people wanting to do mass prayers
Question: We have a problem with some Christians imitating the Pentecostal’s mass prayers where many people pray out aloud at once. I need your help with the Bible refutation. Answer: People tend to gravitate to things that are exciting and novel. A large noisy party is exciting. A lectureship in comparison is dry. Yet, in…
Read MoreWhat Is the Law? (Garrison)
Original Author Unknown edited by Michael Garrison Have you wondered just what “the law” refers to in the New Testament? It does not always refer to the Ten Commandments. Note the following: Genesis is called the law. Galatians 4:21-23 refers to Genesis 16:15; 21:1-3. Exodus is called the law in Romans 7:7 which refers to…
Read MoreWhen Jeremiah Wanted to Quit Preaching
by Terry Wane Benton It wasn’t just mental fatigue and having to deal with obnoxious attitudes, but having to constantly deal with brethren undermining him and working against him, some even looking for ways to get rid of him for good! It got to where he dreaded preaching the needed message of repentance. It was…
Read MoreYou Never Know What’s Going to Stick
by Zeke Flores A while back, one of my daughters was going through a box of her papers that we had stored in our attic. She ran across a paper she had written and given to me in her teen years that listed 10 reasons why I should let her get her belly button pierced.…
Read MoreThe Seriousness of Teaching
by Jarrod M. Jacobs Twice in Ezekiel, God warns him about how serious it is to teach God’s truth and warn people when they are in sin. Ezekiel 3:17-21 and 33:2-9 make it clear that Ezekiel served as a “watchman” for the Lord. As such, he had the duty to warn people about sin and the…
Read MoreThey Shall Know a Prophet Has Been Among Them
by Jarrod M. Jacobs When Ezekiel was called to be a prophet, God made certain things very clear to him. God made it clear that these people were a “rebellious house” (Ezekiel 2:3). God does not mince words regarding His people! He lets Ezekiel know the kind of people he will be facing. At the…
Read MoreA Hard-Headed Prophet
by Jarrod M. Jacobs Ezekiel 3:4-11 describes for us God’s intent for the prophet Ezekiel. He was sent to a specific group of people, the house of Israel (Ezekiel 3:4). He did not go to foreigners or those who had never heard, but to those who had heard again and again and refused to obey…
Read MoreCan a wedding include cultural singers and dancers?
Question: Good day sir! A minister of the Lord’s church made a post claiming that it is a sin to invite cultural singers and dancers to a wedding ceremony. He quoted the verse which says “in words or deeds do all in the name of the Lord.” With this, he claims there’s no authority for…
Read MoreDoes baptism give continual cleansing?
Question: Hello, I hope you are well. I have a question for you. I was baptized several years ago and when I was baptized I felt like my heart was not into it completely. I went into the baptism knowing that there were sins that I was not going to give up and was going…
Read MoreThe Teaching of Grace
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/The-Teaching-of-Grace.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Titus 2 I. When you talk to people in the denominations, much is made about the Grace of God A. Emphasis is place on God’s grace – Ephesians 2:8-9 B. To the point that if any mention is made of men needing to accept the offered gift, then strong objections are…
Read MoreThe First and the Last
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/The-First-and-the-Last.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 13:22-30 I. A friend that I correspond with once asked me about Luke 13:30. He wanted to know what Jesus meant by his statement. A. The context shows that some of his audience realized that not everyone would be saved. In fact, relatively few would be saved. – Luke…
Read MoreDoes having a dream involving sin mean we have sinned?
Question: I am a member of the church. Lately, my soul has been in spiritual turmoil, and I could hardly find the strength to do anything but try to pray and study. I recently opened up to my husband about why, and I started to feel better after I opened up to him. However, I…
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