Sermon
What Do You Need to Serve the Lord?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2005/10/What-Do-You-Need-to-Serve-the-Lord.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Colossians 4:2-6 I. Jesus told his disciples to serve the Lord by bringing others to him – John 4:34-38 A. He command them, and us, to go into all the world – Matthew 28:19-20 B. Each of us have this responsibility II. Yet, many find excuses to avoid the work…
Read MoreAnd Just Whose Fault Is It?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/And-Just-Whose-Fault-Is-It.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Romans 9:14-24 I. I received a note that I found disgusting A. A woman complained that her husband wasn’t giving her the affection she deserved, so she kicked her husband out and brought in a boyfriend. 1. That sin doesn’t justify sin apparently doesn’t matter to her – Romans…
Read MoreThorns and Snares
by Luiz Felipe Lima De Albuquerque Thesis: When we make room for sin and other gods, we grow distant from God and lose our identity. “And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land…
Read MoreWho Is Responsible?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Who-Is-Responsible.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Galatians 6:1-10 I. One of the issues that has divided brethren is that of doing good. A. The question is who is responsible? B. One side argues that it doesn’t matter, so long as the good is done. The other side argues that you cannot give away a responsibility…
Read MoreWhat Can Youth Do?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2003/10/What-Can-Youth-Do.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: I Timothy 4:6-16 I. It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that the Lord’s work is done entirely by grownups A. Sure, the boys help with the scripture reading and wait on the Lord’s Table. B. But what is there really for a person to do…
Read MoreReligion According to Man
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Religion-According-to-Man.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Galatians 1:6-10 I. What happens when man decides to worship God in his own way? A. We see among denominations thousands of varying beliefs, yet all claim to be worshiping God and using the Bible as their guide B. Some even abandon the Bible and use other books, such…
Read MoreSeeing Only What You Want to See
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Seeing-Only-What-You-Want-to-See.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Psalms 50 I. I would like to share a portion of a letter I received: “I am in love with this girl who loved me too. We loved each other so crazily but at one point I realized that she had been lying to me for no…
Read MoreI Have Walked in My Integrity
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/I-Have-Walked-in-My-Integrity.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Psalms 26 I. David wants to be judged by God – Psalms 26:1-3 A. Most of us want to avoid the judgment of others B. There is a risk of being condemned C. But here David asks God to judge him and it isn’t a risk in his view -…
Read MoreGod’s Word in My Heart
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Gods-Word-in-My-Heart.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Psalms 119:9-16 I. God’s Word is important to the Christian A. It tells us how to live – II Timothy 3:16-17 B. It has everything we need to know about life and godliness – II Peter 1:3 C. But it is frustrating for many when there is a passage we…
Read MorePerceptions of God’s Word
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Perceptions-of-Gods-Word-1.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Malachi 3:16-4:3 I. The prophet Malachi declared there would be a distinction between the wicked and righteous A. The rising day would burn the wicked like chaff, but serve as healing balm for the righteous. B. The same event produces two dramatically different results. C. The result did not depend…
Read MoreConsider the Source (Hamilton)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/Consider-the-Source.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: II Chronicles 24:15-22 I. A fellow preacher, whom I’ve corresponded with for several years, wrote concerned about how to address a problem. A. He had recently contacted a man who had been in a preacher’s training program and moved into the area a few months prior. Interestingly, the…
Read MoreOpen My Eyes That I Might See (Sermon)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Open-My-Eyes-That-I-Might-See.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Hebrews 5:11-14 I. Discerning good – Hebrews 5:11-14 A. I can understand a person not recognizing evil, but how does a person miss good? B. The topic under discussion was seeing that Jesus was like Melchizedek 1. This was something needful and good 2. But the audience could not see it…
Read MoreThe Work of the Church
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/The-Work-of-the-Church.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Psalm 104 I. The world is evidence of the ability of God to design perfect systems – Psalms 19:1 A. Everywhere we turn the wisdom of God is manifested – Psalms 104:24 B. This same masterful designer displayed His great wisdom in the design of the church – Ephesians…
Read MoreWithout Compromise
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2003/11/Without-Compromise.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: II Corinthians 6:14-7:1 I. Disagreeing parties are often urged to reach a compromised position. A. After all, Christians are told to live peaceably – Romans 12:18 B. We are to pursue the things that make for peace – Romans 14:19 C. Without such a pursuit of peace, we cannot see…
Read MoreWhat Can Kill a Church?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/What-Can-Kill-a-Church.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Revelation 3:1-6 I. The certainty of life is that it will eventually be followed by death – Ecclesiastes 9:5 A. And it is not just people who die, churches die as well. 1. Unlike people, churches don’t have to die, but they do. B. The church at Sardis appeared to…
Read MoreDo Warring Factions Mean Christianity Is False?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Do-Warring-Factions-Mean-Christianity-Is-False.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: I Corinthians 11:17-22 I. You hear all sorts of excuses when you attempt to talk to others about Christianity. A. “Well, I can’t take that Christian stuff seriously. You folk are all suppose to worship the same god, love your neighbor, and things like that, yet look at…
Read MoreHorns of Destruction
Horns of Destruction (1)Horns of Destruction (2) by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Zechariah 1:18-21 I. Zechariah, at the end of Judah’s captivity, was given a vision of four horns A. Horns are used symbolically to represent power. 1. In particular, the horns represented the power of the nations around Judah (see verse 21) 2. II Kings 18:11-12 -…
Read MoreThe Disease of Sin and Its Cures
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/The-Disease-of-Sin-and-Its-Cure.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ezra 9:5-15 I. Ever since Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, sin has been a big problem for mankind. A. We just can’t seem to get away from it. You could almost look at it as a disease — a spiritual disease of the heart. B. Like any disease,…
Read MoreOverconfidence and Doubt
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Overconfidence-And-Doubt.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Romans 14:22-23 I. Several correspondence that I have had contained similar questions: A. A woman who engaged in acts in the past that she knew were wrong said, “I have asked God for forgiveness and am trying to further my relationship with him, but I don’t feel I…
Read MoreThe Problem with Saying ‘Gone Too Soon’
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/The-Problem-with-Saying-Gone-Too-Soon.mp3 by Orlando Gonzalez Download Audio Introduction: Back on April 19th, Lindee, Ryan, and I went down to Kansas City to attend the NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400 at Kansas City Motor Speedway. The day was hot, the stands were packed, and the vibe was unmatched; there was nothing like seeing 37 cars, each…
Read MoreTake Care How We Behave
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Take-Care-How-We-Behave.mp3 Download Audio by Garry Floyd Scripture Reading: I Peter 2:12–25 Central Theme As believers in Christ, we are called to humble ourselves, examine ourselves, and behave ourselves so that our conduct glorifies God and does not become a stumbling block to others. Introduction The world watches how Christians live. Our conduct either draws…
Read MoreRemembering the Cost of Freedom
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Remembering-the-Cost-of-Freedom.mp3 Download Audio by Garry Floyd Scripture Reading: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” — The Gospel of John 15:13 Introduction Read the Story of Lt. (SEAL) Michael P. Murphy More than 1.2 million U.S. military members have lost their lives in the line of duty since…
Read MoreThe Scriptures
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/The-Scriptures.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 24:33-49 I. How do you look at the Bible? A. I’ve talked to people with wide opinions concerning the things written 1. One person seems to take great pleasure in locating and pointing every apparent inconsistency he can find in God’s Word. a. It is obvious to all that…
Read MoreThe Wondrous Book of God
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/The-Wondrous-Book-of-God.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 119:17-24 I. Eulogy of the Bible Many years ago, I entered the wonderful temple of God’s revelation. I entered the portico of Genesis and walked down through the Old Testament Art Gallery where the pictures of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, and…
Read MoreBless the Lord, O My Soul
Bless the Lord, O My Soul – Part 1Bless the Lord, O My Soul – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 103 I. Hardly a week goes by that I don’t get someone asking me: A. Do you think I can be forgiven of my sin? B. How can I know I’ve been forgiven? C. I…
Read MoreThe Change Starts With Me
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/The-Change-Starts-With-Me.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Psalms 64 I. Years ago, I was reading the posts from a discussion A. As it tends to happen, the topic strayed from the discussion group’s stated purpose. The area the discussion strayed into was hotly contested. 1. Some people became annoyed that everyone didn’t agree with their view.…
Read MoreWhat is God’s Will for Me? Part 4: Making a Decision
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Proverbs 16:1-9 I. What makes a decision a good one? A. Is every decision a moral choice? 1. Should I have chocolate or strawberry ice cream? B. How do I tell when a choice is personal and when it is moral? C. Jesus said that all of God’s laws fall into two categories -…
Read MoreWho Is God?
Who Is God? (Part 1)Who Is God? – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 145 I. You run into many strange ideas in the world concerning God A. We have people stating that there is only one being called God 1. The Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that His name is Jehovah 2. There are Pentecostal sects who…
Read MoreReligion on Parade
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Religion-on-Parade.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Matthew 23:5-12 I. Jesus condemns the Pharisees many times and in our reading he condemns them for using religion as a way for people to notice them. – Matthew 23:5 A. What is a phylactery (or some translations say frontlet)? 1. It comes from passages like Exodus 13:6-9. a. The…
Read MoreThe Canon of the Bible
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Inspired Books The Canon of the Old Testament – Part 1 The Canon of the Old Testament – Part 2 The New Testament Canon False Books The Book of Enoch The Book of Jasher The Apocrypha New Testament Apocrypha – Infancy Gospels
Read MoreGod and the Nations
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/God-and-the-Nations.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: John 19:10-11 I. How involved is God in the activities of the nations? A. We know that God doesn’t change, and from the teachings in the prophets of the Old Testament, we find that God was heavily involved in the governments of various nations. B. If it was true…
Read MoreThe Inheritance
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/The-Inheritance.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Revelation 21:6-8 I. The Christian’s relationship with God is described by several metaphors A. We are servants – I Corinthians 4:1 1. The emphasis is on our obeying the will of our Master B. We are priests – I Peter 2:4-5, 9 1. We are able to bring worship directly to…
Read MoreSpirit Away: From Empty to Spirit-Filled Kingdom Builders
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Spirited-Away.mp3 Download Audio by Garry Floyd Text: Proverbs 11:24–31 Theme “Wind” Week-3 Focus – “Empty”: Without God, life becomes a chase after the wind. But when we are born of the Spirit and centered on God, our lives gain weight, direction, and eternal significance. Introduction— When Life Feels Like a Strange World The animated film…
Read MoreWind Chasers
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Wind-Chasers-1.mp3 Download Audio by Garry Floyd How & Why We Inherit Wind’s Emptiness — and What We Can Do About It Text: Ecclesiastes 5:16 “Exactly as a man is born, thus will he die. So what is the advantage to him who toils for the wind?” The Problem: Humanity Becomes Wind Chasers The writer of…
Read MoreWhen Jesus Marveled (Hamilton)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2003/11/When-Jesus-Marveled.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Matthew 8:5-13 I. Even the seemingly small things within the Bible are significant. A. I find it puzzling that people claim that the Bible is inspired, as we are told in II Timothy 3:16-17, but then turn around and want to modify it. 1. In June of 2006 I…
Read MoreScrolling
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Scrolling.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: II Timothy 3:1-7 I. Maya sits down. She just needs a quick break before getting back to work. A. She pulls up her social media on her phone, and her thumb naturally begins the familiar, rhythmic motion of scrolling the content upward. B. Soon, she has looked through 20…
Read MoreDealing with Doubt
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Dealing-with-Doubt.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: John 20:19-31 I. Is it wrong to have doubts? When those moments come when you wonder if God really exists or you run across an idea that makes you wonder if you really understood the Bible correctly, have you sinned? A. Look at characters in the Old Testament…
Read MoreIn Christ
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/In-Christ.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Colossians 1:24-29 I. What does it take to be successful? A. Earl Nightingale, in The Successful Communicator, told of a time when he was flying to a meeting to deliver a motivational speech to a group of sales people. It turned out that the man next to him on the…
Read MoreBecoming a Mature Christian
Becoming a Mature ChristianBecoming a Mature Christian (Part 2) by Garry Floyd Text: Philippians 3:15-21 Introduction: Introduction: Spiritual Maturity Defined What Spiritual Maturity is not Suppression as Strength: Mistaking the avoidance or bottling up of emotions (stoicism) for “emotional management”. Surface-Level Adulthood: Confusing the trappings of adulthood—like having a high-paying job, living alone, or buying a…
Read MoreThe Excellence of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/The-Excellence-of-the-Knowledge-of-Christ-Jesus.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Philippians 3:1-11 I. Saul was an outstanding member of the Jewish religion during his time A. He had all the right qualities – Philippians 3:4-6 B. He was advancing faster than his peers – Galatians 1:13-14 C. But he changed when he came to know who Jesus really was -…
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