I Desire Mercy

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/IDesireMercy.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 9:9-13   I.         In honor of Jesus, the new apostle, Matthew, who was also known as Levi, held a dinner. He invited the people he knew. They weren’t the best in Jewish society: other tax collectors and people involved in various sins.             A.        Mark 2:16-17             B.        The Pharisees saw these people…

Read More

Purity

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Purity.mp3 by PJ Anderson

Read More

Spiritual but not Religious

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/SpiritualButNotReligious.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 10:1-3   I.         The paper had an article discussing how denominations were wrestling with a growing dissatisfaction with religion. In particular the focus was on people viewing Christmas as purely a secular holiday, but what caught my eye was this statement:             A.        “… many young people these days consider themselves…

Read More

Submission

Submission – Part 1Submission – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I.         How you perceive something often depends on your approach.             A.        Let me illustrate: A business man was interviewing applicants for the position of divisional manager. He asked each applicant the simple question, “What is two and two?” The first interviewee was a journalist. His answer…

Read More

Two Trips and Suffering

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/TwoTripsAndSufferings.mp3 by Scott Smelser

Read More

Noah, You Have Got to be Kidding!

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/NoahYouHaveToBeKidding.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I.         Most are familiar with the story of Noah, the great flood, and the ark Noah had to build             A.        However, Noah was also a preacher of righteousness – II Peter 2:5             B.        The world Noah lived in was a moral cesspool.                         1.         Some scholars estimate that the world’s population at that time equal…

Read More

Who’s in Charge?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/WhosInCharge.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 21:23-27   I.         Common sense ought to tell you that someone has to be in charge             A.        Imagine a society where there were no laws and no government.                         1.         What would we have? Chaos!                         2.         We even have a term for it – anarchy                         3.         The book of Judges documents the decay of…

Read More

Must It Be Spelled Out?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/MustItBeSpelledOut.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Isaiah 8:16-20   I.         We know people want to live life as they please; yet, there’s this Bible that says the things they want to do are wrong. What’s a person to do to avoid guilt?             A.        For some it is finding shelter behind saying that their particular sin isn’t specifically…

Read More

People of Thankfulness

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/PeopleOfThankfulness.mp3 by Brett Bowen

Read More

Persecution (Hausner)

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Persecution.mp3 by Austin Hausner

Read More

The Judge of All the Earth

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/JudgeOfAllTheEarth.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Job 34   I.         Have you ever told another, “It’s not fair!”             A.        What is meant is that you do not think you are being treated in a just or right way.             B.        Justice means “what is right” and just means “a state of being right or acting in right conduct.”             C.        Justice…

Read More

God Is Love

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/GodIsLove.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I John 4:7-21   I.         What is love? How would you define it? How would you know if you have it?             A.        It is a common question that teens have. How while I know I’m in love?             B.        The Bible gives two definitions:                         1.         Song of Solomon 8:6-8 describes the passion of love…

Read More

The Common Thread of the Bible

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2013Fall8TheCommonThreadOfTheBible.mp3 by Terry Wane Benton Let Me Tell You About My Jesus

Read More

The Victory-Giving Jesus

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2013Fall7TheVictoryGivingJesus.mp3 by Terry Wane Benton Let Me Tell You About My Jesus

Read More

The Hell-Fire Preaching Jesus

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2013Fall6TheHellFirePreachingJesus.mp3 by Terry Wane Benton Let Me Tell You About My Jesus

Read More

The Anti-Divorce Jesus

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2013Fall5TheAntiDivorceJesus.mp3 by Terry Wane Benton Let Me Tell You About My Jesus

Read More

The Temple-Cleaning Jesus

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2013Fall4TheTempleCleaningJesus.mp3 by Terry Wane Benton Let Me Tell You About My Jesus

Read More

The Most Challenging Jesus

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2013Fall3TheMostChallengingJesus.mp3 by Terry Wane Benton Let Me Tell You About My Jesus

Read More

Let Me Tell You About My Jesus

September 15-20, 2013 by Terry W. Benton of Gardendale, AL. Every Jesus Is Not Right (recording failed, borrowed an older copy) The Most Wonderful Jesus (recording failed, borrowed an older copy) The Most Challenging Jesus The Temple-Cleaning Jesus The Anti-Divorce Jesus The Hell-Fire Preaching Jesus The Victory-Giving Jesus The Common Thread of the Bible

Read More

The Most Wonderful Jesus

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2013Fall2TheMostWonderfulJesus.mp3 by Terry Wane Benton Let Me Tell You About My Jesus

Read More

Every Jesus Is Not Right

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2013Fall1EveryJesusIsNotRight.mp3 by Terry Wane Benton Let Me Tell You About My Jesus

Read More

God Cannot Lie

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/GodCannotLie.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Kings 22:1-28   I.         Heathen men molded their concept of their gods into their own image – Romans 1:22-23             A.        We can read stories of the Greek gods and in their interaction with men they often lied and cheated to accomplish their goals.                         1.         The Greeks saw their gods as just…

Read More

My God of Mercy

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/MyGodOfMercy.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 2:1-10   I.         Several years ago I taught High School math and science in a private school             A.        As happens occasionally, one student copied from another and turned in the assignment.                         1.         The school’s policy was to give zero grades to both the cheater and the one cheated from.                                     a.         It was…

Read More

Regarding God as Holy

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/HolyIsHisName2.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Peter 1:13-19   I.         Peter charges all Christians to conduct themselves in holiness – I Peter 1:15-16             A.        We will not see God without holiness – Hebrews 12:14             B.        And knowing that this world will end and we all must face God – II Peter 3:11             C.        Holiness is the idea of…

Read More

The Sinner’s Prayer

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/SinnersPrayer.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 9:1-19   I.         A key feature of salvation in many denominations is the praying of the sinner’s prayer.             A.        It is generally presented at the end of a service to tell people how they may be saved.             B.        Each “Sinner’s Prayer” varies in detail, but generally carry the same theme: that…

Read More

How We Ought to Pray

How We Ought to Pray – Part 1How We Ought to Pray – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 11:1-13 I.         Being creatures of habit, we often fall into a pattern of doing certain things in certain ways.             A.        There is nothing wrong with a habit, so long as it is a good habit.             B.        In…

Read More

What Is Your Faith?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/WhatIsYourFaith.mp3 by PJ Anderson

Read More

You Just Don’t Understand

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/YouJustDontUnderstand.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 119:97-104   I.         Some people are confident that no other person can possibly understand what they are going through.             A.        “You’ve never struggled with addiction”             B.        “You have more money, so you can’t understand my difficulties.”             C.        “You grew up in the church, I didn’t.”             D.        “You’ve never experienced prejudice.”             E.        Do you have…

Read More

Gentle Cords and Bands of Love

Gentle Cords and Bands of Love – Part 1Gentle Cords and Bands of Love – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hosea 11   I.         Most people’s view of love is very limited.             A.        “God is Love” they declare; therefore, any sin that I may be involved in doesn’t matter because “God is Love.”                         1.         There can’t…

Read More

The Flesh of Man

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/FleshOfMan.mp3 Text: I Corinthians 15:35–44   I.         In attempting to train our puppy, we often found ourselves scolding the dog for chewing on everything in reach – clothing, ankles, fingers.             A.        Why does a dog behave as it does? Certainly mama dog did not teach him to chew on everything in sight.             B.        Animals do what comes natural…

Read More

Standards (Hamilton)

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Standards.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Kings 17:7-23   I.         How do determine what is right or wrong?             A.        How does your neighbor decide? Or your co-workers?             B.        We all base our behavior on standards that we have accepted as authoritative, but those standards vary.             C.        What makes a good standard?                         1.         It needs to be fixed                                     a.         A standard…

Read More

Have Miracles Ceased?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/HaveMiraclesCeased.mp3 Text: John 9:14-34   I.         Several denominations teach the continuance of miracles             A.        Proofs offered are based on emotional feelings and indirect evidence (I know a person who heard a person claim they saw …)             B.        The standard appealed to is what a person thinks is right             C.        To oppose is taken as the same as calling the…

Read More

Miracles in the New Testament

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/MiraclesInTheNewTestament.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text:   I.         Many claim to have miraculous gifts, just like those given in the New Testament             A.        It doesn’t matter that you or I can show verses that state such gifts were temporary and were going to end.             B.        It doesn’t matter that most of the big time preachers claiming such abilities…

Read More

Fired Up, But Only Half-Baked

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/FiredUpButOnlyHalfBaked.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hosea 7:1-10   I.         We admire those driven by a passion for the things that they do.             A.        Radio and TV shows that feature people passionately defending their views are popular.             B.        In religion as well, people are drawn to groups that display rich emotions.             C.        Passion is wonderful if it is directed…

Read More

On Faith

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/OnFaith.mp3 by Andrew Long

Read More

We Can Know the Truth

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/WeCanKnowTheTruth.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton   I.         Objectivity is not a strong point in our society             A.        Objective means the existence of something outside of oneself.             B.        Our society prefers things to be subjective – belonging to one’s own mind – especially when dealing with matters of right and wrong.                         1.         “It doesn’t really matter what I believe, as…

Read More