Sermon
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,…
Read MoreGod 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…
Read MoreGod’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…
Read MoreThe 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…
Read MoreThe 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…
Read MoreChrist, 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…
Read MoreSatan’s Devices
by Floyd Chappelear via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 15, No. 2, June 30, 1989 Introduction The Devil is real and out to get us (I Peter 5:8). His will not be a frontal assault; he will get us with his tools and his devices of deception. He does have devices (cf. II Corinthians 2:11). It will…
Read MoreRepentance: The Power of a Contrite Heart
by Terry Wane Benton Few churches today preach repentance, and fewer people who attend churches are actually repenting. It is more like people are joining clubs (called “churches”) but not actually repenting toward God and repenting of sins. The Lord preached repentance and expects His church to preach repentance and actually repent in their heart…
Read MoreConfession 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…
Read MoreNarrow-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…
Read MoreTake 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…
Read MoreWith 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…
Read MoreThe 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…
Read MoreThe 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…
Read MoreQuit 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…
Read MoreSin 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…
Read MoreSpiritual 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…
Read MoreWell, 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…
Read MoreShifting 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…
Read MoreGod’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…
Read MoreIndwelling
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…
Read MoreWhy 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…
Read MoreYour 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…
Read MoreGod 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…
Read MoreMiraculous 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,…
Read MoreConviction
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…
Read MorePersonal Sacrifice and Service
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Personal-Sacrifice-and-Service.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 2:17-18 I. Paul often discussed the topic of unity in his letters to the various churches. A. Unity based having the same goals and the same standards – Romans 15:5; I Corinthians 1:10; II Corinthians 13:11; Ephesians 4:1-3; I Thessalonians 5:11-15 B. Paul’s letter to the Philippians is…
Read MoreBe Not Dismayed
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Be-Not-Dismayed.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Jeremiah came in the worse days of Judah’s history A. Corruption was everywhere – Jeremiah 6:13-15 B. Jeremiah was told from his youth to preach the truth – Jeremiah 1:4-8 C. But that didn’t make it easy. Jeremiah was opposed most of his life 1. After a prophecy in the Temple…
Read MoreStand Up, Stand Up for Jesus
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Stand-Up-Stand-Up-for-Jesus.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 10:32-39 I. Allen Webster tells the following story, A. “The municipal auditorium was full. The speech by the noted atheist was powerful. After a bombardment of the Bible, there came a moment of choice. If you still believed in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, stand…
Read MoreWhich Church Is Right?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 4:4-6 I. How do we measure “right”? A. We must settle on a standard. B. If God is the only God and the Bible is His teachings 1. Then truth and error are as distinct as light and dark – I John 1:5; James 1:17-18 2. The same source tells us that we…
Read MoreMeditation
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Meditation.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 119:145-152 I. It is one of those minor points brought out by the Bible; a seemingly incidental detail that you almost overlook – Genesis 24:63 A. Isaac took a stroll in the evening in a field to meditate. 1. We are given a hint as to why in…
Read MoreLearning from God
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Habakkuk 2:20 I. If God is the only true God and the Bible is His teachings A. Then truth and error are as distinct as light and dark – I John 1:5; James 1:17-18 B. We will face our God to be judged – Romans 2:6 II. Can we then decide what parts…
Read MoreThey’re Out to Get You!
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Theyre-Out-to-Get-You.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Isaiah 8:9-15 I. A while ago, when popular opinion was shifting against the then current president, the president’s wife blamed the shift on the presence of “a vast right-wing conspiracy.” A. The world is filled with people who fear that secret societies or groups are colluding to manipulate…
Read MoreControlling Our Emotions
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Controlling-Our-Emotions.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Mark 7:18-23 I. From the heart comes the emotions which affect all aspects of our life – Proverbs 4:23 A. We can poison the well with evil thoughts – Mark 7:20-23 B. We can sweeten it with righteous ideals – Philippians 4:4-9 C. It affects our outlook on life – Proverbs 15:13…
Read MoreUncleanness
Uncleanness (Part 1)Uncleanness – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 5:1-8 I. Under the Old Testament, there are a series of rules dealing with unclean things A. I am finding that people are condemning as unclean things that God never mentioned. B. The rules confuse people, mostly because they do not understand what uncleanness was…
Read MoreWhy Blood?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Why-Blood.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Hebrews 9:15-22 I. Let’s look at Hebrews 9:22 A. Have you considered, “Why blood?” 1. If I wanted to clean something, blood is not the first thing that I would think of using. Blood stains are often difficult to remove. B. How is it that remission of sin requires the…
Read MorePreaching
by John Iverson Introduction Even those who have a vague idea of what the Bible teaches know preaching is ordained of God (Titus 1:1-3) Some of the greatest men who have ever lived were proclaimers of God’s Word. Noah (II Peter 2:5) Solomon (Ecclesiastes 1:1) Paul (I Timothy 2:7) Jesus (Luke 4:18-19) Some of…
Read MoreGod’s Remedy for Sin
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Gods-Remedy-for-Sin.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Isaiah 58:1-11 I. In our Scripture reading, God has Isaiah loudly proclaim the sins of His people. A. A fact that surprises the Israelites. 1. They delight in knowing God. They consider themselves righteous and followers of God’s Word. 2. They delight in the nearest of God, but God doesn’t…
Read MoreWhy Israel Fell
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Why-Israel-Fell.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Isaiah 9:1-7 I. The prophet Isaiah told the people that the Messiah was coming. A. He would bring righteousness to all the nations and remove the burdens of sin B. He would establish a new government, one that would last forever C. The people of Israel foolishly thought that the…
Read MoreRoles in Salvation
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2003/10/Roles-in-Salvation.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Ephesians 2:1-10 I. There are many misleading claims in the denominations regarding salvation A. Most of the misconceptions come because people only look at some of the verses regarding salvation. B. They find verses which says we are saved by God’s grace and then trumpet that salvation is solely…
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