Observing the Sabbath

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Corinthians 3:1-11   I.         A well-known, active group is the Seventh-Day Adventist             A.        They hold an odd mixture of beliefs:                         1.         They won’t accept medical treatment, relying solely on prayer instead;                         2.         They believe in modern-day prophecy, making many wild claims that never seem to come true;                         3.         And they hold to the idea…

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Joy in Christ

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Joy-in-Christ.mp3 by Raymond Warfel Download Audio

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The Greatest Commandment

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/The-Greatest-Commandment.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 22:34-40   I.         From among the Pharisees, a lawyer came to Jesus to put him to the test.             A.        He asked, “Which is the greatest commandment?”             B.        A difficult question, given the large number of commands found in the Old Testament.                         1.         How do you decide which is greater than…

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The Lord’s Supper

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/The-Lords-Supper.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Corinthians 11:17-34   I.         It is a covenant meal             A.        Luke 22:19-20 – The cup is the new covenant             B.        A covenant that is taken with us in the kingdom – Matthew 26:28-29             C.        Covenants were often sealed with a meal shared between the two parties.                         1.         Jacob and Laban’s covenant…

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An Introduction to the Ten Commandments

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/An-Introduction-to-the-Ten-Commandments.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Exodus 20:1-18   I.         Thousands of years ago, God gave Israel a law that has impacted the laws of mankind ever since.             A.        John Adams wrote, “As much as I love, esteem, and admire the Greeks, I believe the Hebrews have done more to enlighten and civilize the world.…

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Jesus Is God

Jesus Is GodJesus Is God – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Titus 2:11-14   I.         The religious world holds diverse views in regards to Jesus             A.        Is he a man or God? Or is it possible for him to be both?             B.        Oneness Pentecostals argue that there is only one God, and his name is Jesus.…

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Why Does John Mention that Jesus Wept?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Why-Does-John-Mention-that-Jesus-Wept.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 11:17-44   I.         Ask someone even slightly familiar with the Bible what the shortest verse is and they can tell you: “Jesus wept.” – John 11:35             A.        I was reading an article by Phil Gardner and he asked an interesting question, “Why does John show us a weeping Jesus?”                         1.         Not,…

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God Appeared in the Flesh

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/God-Appeared-in-the-Flesh.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Timothy 3:14-16   I.         Before the first century ended, several varieties of false teachings arose.             A.        One set has been referred to as the gnostics. The name derives from the Greek word for “knowledge.” – I Timothy 6:20-21             B.        These were a diverse group, but they were tied by a belief…

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God’s Servant

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Gods-Servant.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Isaiah 49:1-9   I.         Several passages in the latter part of Isaiah discuss the role that a person, referred to as “My Servant” would accomplish on behalf of God.             A.        As we read through the passages, we need to keep in mind that Isaiah was written before the Babylonian…

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The Living Intercessor

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/The-Living-Intercessor.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Hebrews 7:11-25   I.         The need for an intercessor             A.        Fear                         1.         Have you ever been so nervous that you said, “I can’t talk to him! You go and talk to him.”                         2.         Exodus 19:14-20 – When the people met the Lord God, it was a frightening experience.                         3.         So much so…

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The Glory of the Son

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/The-Glory-of-the-Son.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 16:21-28   I.         To the dismay of his disciples, Jesus began to speak of his pending death. (See also Mark 8:31-9:1 and Luke 9:21-27)             A.        They did not realize how important that death was to the plans of God, and when Peter declared that God would not allow such a…

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Christ, the Conqueror

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Christ-the-Conqueror.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 110   I.         The Jews long looked for the Messiah of God             A.        They saw him as a leader, like David, who would throw out the oppressive Gentiles and restore Israel to its glory days             B.        However, Jesus was not the conqueror they expected                         1.         They even tried to force Jesus and…

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Confession of Wrongdoing

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Confession-of-Wrongdoing.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 32   I.         Each time we gather, we offer an invitation to those who desire to become Christians to do so without delay. We also offer an opportunity for those who desire the prayers of their brethren to make that desire known.             A.        At times brethren use that opportunity to…

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Narrow-Minded Beliefs

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Narrow-Minded-Beliefs.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Micah 6:1-8   I.         At times when I study with someone, I’m told that taking a firm stance on certain matters is legalism. People believe that religion is supposed to be about accepting other people, no matter what they believe (well, within reason).             A.        When you insist that only one way…

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Take Heed

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Take-Heed.mp3 by Jeffey W. Hamilton Text: I Timothy 4:6-16   I.         The books of I and II Timothy and Titus are instruction manuals for preachers             A.        If you think a moment, there isn’t another role in the church that is discussed at such length                         1.         And this is besides the numerous comments regarding preaching that appears in the…

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With All Your Heart

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/With-All-Your-Heart.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 119:9-16   I.         It is frequently stated that the difference between the Old and New Testaments is that the Old emphasizes the physical and the New the spiritual             A.        In part, it comes from passages like                         1.         Romans 2:28-29 – The true Jew is inward, not outward                         2.         Romans 7:6 – newness…

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The Gall of Bitterness

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2004/09/The-Gall-of-Bitterness.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Reading: Acts 8:14-24   I.         Hebrews 12:14-15             A.        Bitterness is “characterized by animosity; harshly reproachful, caustic, disagreeable; to have a ‘sour’ disposition toward others over things that happened, whether real or imagined.”             B.        Few people want to be bitter, but many slide into it over the years. II.        Causes of bitterness             A.        Pride and arrogance…

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The Fall of Zedekiah

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/The-Fall-of-Zedekiah.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Jeremiah 52:1-11   I.         The fall of Jerusalem and the end of the kingdom of Judah was a sad time period.             A.        Josiah was the last good king of Israel, but the kings that ruled after him did evil in the sight of God.             B.        King Jehoiachin began his reign at the…

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Quit Horsing Around

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Quit-Horsing-Around.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 32   I.         The Bible is filled with reminders to look at the world around us and learn from the examples we find.             A.        The ant is an example of industry and not procrastinating – Proverbs 6:6-11             B.        Job recommended – Job 12:7-10             C.        There is wisdom to be learned in observation…

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Sin Is Always Wrong

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Sin-Is-Always-Wrong.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Proverbs 28:13   I.         Satan’s goal has been to lead God’s children away from him.             A.        So how do you accomplish this? How do you get people to do those things that are harmful to their souls?             B.        One way is to minimize the result of sin. To say it is not…

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Spiritual Israel

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Spiritual-Israel.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Galatians 6:12-18   I.         I ran across someone claiming that there is no spiritual Israel, that all references to Israel are to the physical nation.             A.        From this position, he claimed that the kingdom was postponed because of Israel’s unbelief.             B.        He claims that physical Israel doesn’t exist today but…

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Well, Nobody’s Perfect

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Well-Nobodys-Perfect.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: I John 2:1-6   I.         At times a person sins and is caught. He has no regrets about his particular sin, except the embarrassment of being caught. He offers the illogical argument, “Well, nobody’s perfect.”             A.        It is illogical because it insists that sinning can be acceptable since everyone…

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A Challenge

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/A-Challenge.mp3 by Raymond Wafel Download Audio

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No One Stands Alone

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/No-One-Stands-Alone.mp3 by Raymond Warfel Download Audio

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Shifting Blame

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2004/10/Shifting-Blame.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Genesis 3:6-13   I.         People generally avoid blaming themselves for their own mistakes.             A.        We fill our conversations with excuses for why things must be the way they are.             B.        “I can’t help myself” or “It’s just the way I am.”             C.        However, we know that we can do anything with…

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God’s Invitation

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Gods-Invitation.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Isaiah 1:16-20   I.         As mentioned in the text, God offers invitations to people to examine what He is able to provide             A.        Jesus gave a similar invitation – Matthew 11:28-30 II.        No one has to be lost             A.        Everyone sins – Romans 3:23             B.        And the result is that we die…

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Indwelling

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2003/12/Indwelling.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Psalm 139   I.         The concept of indwelling, specifically the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, is interesting because there are so many misconceptions given that a simple answer is commonly rejected. II.        Who is the Holy Spirit?             A.        The religious world holds many ideas regarding the Spirit of God                         1.         Some…

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Why Pray for the Sick?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Why-Pray-for-the-Sick.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Acts 3:1-11   I.         We have talked about the purpose of miracles earlier             A.        Purpose                         1.         To reveal the truth – John 16:13                         2.         To confirm the truth                                     a.         Hebrews 2:3-4 – God shows his agreement with the speaker                                     b.         Mark 16:20 – Confirmed the word spoken                                     c.         Acts 2:22 – Jesus was attested…

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Changed by God

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Changed-by-God.mp3 by Raymond Warfel Download Audio

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Your Faith Has Made You Well

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Your-Faith-Has-Made-You-Well.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 18:35-43   I.         While looking at some of the miracles of Jesus in order to answer a question, I noticed something that I had not seen before             A.        If you look at the various miracles, you soon realize that faith on the part of the person being healed…

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God Created

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/God-Created.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Isaiah 45:9-13   I.         The ancient language of Hebrew contains two words for making something:             A.        The word ‘asah refers to what we do with our talents. We make things from what already exists.             B.        But there is another word, bara, that is used in connection with God. It is…

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Miraculous Gifts

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Miraculous-Gifts.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 3:1-11   I.         For decades many of the traditional denominations have been in decline.             A.        The more liberal the beliefs, the larger the decline. Those espousing conservative views show some growth. But the ones showing strong growth are the charismatic groups             B.        Name the largest groups in a region,…

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Thankfulness and Gratitude

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Thankfulness-and-Gratitude.mp3 by Raymond Warfel Download Audio

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Love for the Brethren

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Love-for-the-Brethren.mp3 by Raymond Warfel

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Conviction

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Conviction-1.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 11:37-54   I.         We live our lives avoiding disagreements             A.        We don’t like being told we are wrong             B.        We avoid causing other people to be upset with us                         1.         A Nebraska superintendent made the national news because she forbade references to Christmas in her school so as to not…

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