Sermon – La Vista Church of Christ https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms Sun, 19 Jul 2026 23:49:46 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/cropped-LaVistaBanner-Copy-1-32x32.png Sermon – La Vista Church of Christ https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms 32 32 157465916 The Work of the Church https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/the-work-of-the-church/ Sun, 19 Jul 2026 23:49:44 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=14434

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton

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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 3:8-11

            C.        Just as man is not able to improve on the design of God’s world, man cannot improve upon God’s church, though they foolishly try.

            D.        There is just one way for the church to function, as Paul taught in all the churches - I Corinthians 4:15-17

                        1.         He does not author confusion - I Corinthians 14:33, 36-38

                        2.         Our duty is not to mold a church to our satisfaction, but to learn the design of God and follow His blueprint to the best of our ability.

II.        The church is to sound forth the Word of God - I Thessalonians 1:8

            A.        It is the pillar and foundation of the truth - I Timothy 3:15

                        1.         It does not create the truth.

                        2.         The church’s duty is to support the truth and to hold it up on display for the world to see.

                        3.         Unfortunately, many denominations are more interested in putting their buildings on display than in teaching the truth.

                        4.         Like Pilate, many are no longer certain of the truth so they must vote on their beliefs.

            B.        Churches spread the gospel by sending out evangelists

                        1.         Jerusalem sent a preacher to help a new congregation - Acts 11:20-24

                        2.         When that congregation grew, it was directed to send out preachers - Acts 13:1-3

            C.        Churches supported evangelists working in other areas

                        1.         Philippi supported Paul while he worked in Macedonia - Philippians 4:15-16

                        2.         Those who preach are expected to receive pay for their efforts - I Corinthians 9:14

                        3.         A local church generally is expected to support a preacher in their area. When they are unable to do so, other churches are expected to help - II Corinthians 11:7-9

III.       The church strengthens its members in the gospel

            A.        The assembly for worship is done to strengthen or edify the members of a church - I Corinthians 14:26

            B.        The duties within the church is to build its members into the likeness of Christ - Ephesians 4:11-13

            C.        Edification is not making each other feel good. It is not entertainment. It is learning to be obedient to God just as Jesus learned - Hebrews 5:8

            D.        It is accomplished through the word of God - Acts 20:32

                        1.         This is why we have classes, teach lessons from God’s Word

IV.      Aid to needy Christians

            A.        According to God’s plan, each family is responsible for its own care

                        1.         Each person is expected to work for his livelihood - II Thessalonians 3:7-12

                        2.         Each person is expected to care for his family members who cannot work - I Timothy 5:3-4, 7-8

            B.        The working Christian is also expected to give aid to others who are needy

                        1.         Work so as to have something to share - Ephesians 4:28

                        2.         We are to do as the opportunity arises - Galatians 6:10

                        3.         James 1:27 -Visit doesn’t mean sending a check or dropping by for tea once in a while. It means going to check on a person, learning what their needs are, and seeing that the needs are met.

                                    a.         We live in such a materialistic society that often we think that problems are solved by throwing money at them.

                                    b.         True, some needs can only be solved with financial help

                                    c.         But widows don’t need just money, they need a friend, they need someone to help them repair the back porch, help them through puzzling legal documents. Their husband is no longer there, so someone must fill the gap.

                                    d.         Orphans don’t just need money for food and clothing, they need someone to encourage them, to help them make good decisions, to listen to their hopes, dreams, and problems. Mom and Dad are no longer there, so someone must fill the gap.

            C.        Some say “That is what the church is for.”

                        1.         Let us examine the case of the widow

                                    a.         There are widows and there are widows. There are widows who still have family to watch over and care for them and there are widows who have no one left in the world - I Timothy 5:5

                                    b.         Even among true widows, the church is limited in its responsibility - I Timothy 5:9-16

                                    c.         Is the church responsible to care for every widow? The answer is clearly no.

                                    d.         When the church in Jerusalem relieved its needy widows (Acts 6:1), it was women who met these qualifications who were on the rolls.

                        2.         Churches were involved in relieving other Christians as well

                                    a.         The needy among them, as they had need - Acts 4:34-35

                                    b.         Though a famine came upon the world, relief was gathered for the brethren in Judea - Acts 11:28-30

                                    c.         Money was collected for the support of the saints - Romans 15:26-27; II Corinthians 8:1-4

                                    d.         It was seen as a service to the saints - II Corinthians 9:1, 12-14

                                                (1)       Some may say, “Wait, it says to ‘all’ in verse 13"

                                                            (a)       The word in the Greek is pantes, which means “all of the same kind.”

                                                            (b)       The word for “contribution” is koinonia which is the same word translated as a sharing or a fellowship.

                                                            (c)       Just prior, in II Corinthians 6:14, that Christians cannot become partners (the same word) with unbelievers.

                                                            (d)       Those receiving the service are praying on their behalf. Are you saying that unbelievers are praying on the behalf of Christians?

                                                (2)       What is discussed is their services to the saints in Judea and to all saints (of the same kind).

                        3.         There is a consistent pattern of the church being involved in relieving needy Christians, both within the local congregation and in other areas.

V.        Too often churches leave the design of God to add additional works to the church

            A.        It is argued that some responsibility is “a good work.”

            B.        Any objection is met with a puzzled, “What is wrong with this service?”

            C.        When asked where it is found in God’s plan, they accuse the questioner as being against those receiving this new service.

            D.        God is glorified when the church accomplishes the work God gave it.

                        1.         When man adds additional work that God didn’t speak of, then the glory goes to man and not God because it was man’s idea.

                        2.         Jesus gave glory to God by doing God’s will - John 17:4

                        3.         If you think otherwise, try it sometime on your boss at work.

                                    a.         “Hey boss, since you didn’t mention it, I decided to invest some of last quarter profits in the XYZ corporation. They had been having a rough time and really needed the cash inflow. Were they ever appreciative!”

                                    b.         Would your job last long?

                        4.         This is why Paul said not to alter God’s word - Galatians 1:6-10

            E.        Give God the glory in executing his perfect design.

]]> 14434 What Can Kill a Church? https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/what-can-kill-a-church/ Sun, 05 Jul 2026 17:03:11 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=63658

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton

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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 be alive, but the Lord declared that it was dead. Not completely dead, but it was close enough that it might as well be dead - Revelation 3:1-2

            C.        If you consider the history of the congregations around the country, you realize that there are not that many “old” churches, even though the church has been in this country for several hundred years.

            D.        The letters to the churches in Asia serve as warnings as to what can cause churches to fall away.

II.        A Lack of Love - Revelation 2:1-7

            A.        Ephesus was a faithful church.

                        1.         It took strong stands against false teachers

                        2.         It had weathered difficult times and showed the ability to persevere

                        3.         It was doing all the right things, but it lacked the proper motive

            B.        Love is key to the commandments - Matthew 22:36-40

                        1.         Love is the defining element of being a Christian - John 13:34-35

                        2.         Without love for God there is no motivation to remain obedient - John 14:15

                        3.         Without love for our brethren we die - I John 3:14-18

            C.        The problem in Ephesus is much the same problem addressed in II John 4-8

                        1.         John commends their faithfulness, but reminds the chosen lady that a part of faithfulness is love for the brethren

                        2.         It is a command just like any other

                        3.         Without it, she would fall prey to the very deceivers she was standing against

            D.        Love is not an option

                        1.         Only by love of each other can we know God - I John 4:7-12, 20-21

                        2.         Only through love can we remain faithful - I John 5:1-3

III.       Pursuing Sensuality - Revelation 2:12-29

            A.        Both Pergamum and Thyatira had members following the course of this world

                        1.         Teachers had arose encouraging the acceptance of idols and sexual immorality

            B.        Becoming soft on sin, accepting things that make you feel good, is a common way for false teachers to peddle their doctrine - II Peter 2:1-3, 12-19

            C.        Desire for the world is key to the entrance of sin - I John 2:15-17

            D.        But being a Christian is marked by holiness - I Peter 1:13-16

                        1.         We are to be set apart - I Thessalonians 4:1-8

                        2.         We are to be separate - II Corinthians 6:17-7:1

IV.      Avoiding Making Waves - Revelation 3:14-22

            A.        Laodicea strove for the middle ground.

                        1.         She was neither hot nor cold in what she did

                        2.         She saw no need for improvement

                        3.         Such contributed to the death of Israel - I Kings 18:21

                        4.         Christianity is not about having it both ways - Matthew 6:24

            B.        There is an appeal to avoiding problems

                        1.         It makes it look like something good is being done

                        2.         But the truth is that nothing is being done - Psalms 123:4

                        3.         They become prideful, and cannot see destruction on the door step - Isaiah 47:8-9

                                    a.         A church that avoids problems means they are inexperienced in handling problems

                                    b.         When those problems arise, as they surely must, they are overwhelmed

            C.        The lack of zeal means there will be no true growth

                        1.         We are to be fervent in spirit - Romans 12:11

                        2.         Some groups strive for a more neutral ground

                                    a.         If we don’t make waves, more people will stay

                                    b.         If we don’t take a strong stand, people won’t become offended and leave

                        3.         But then we are not fully with Christ - Matthew 12:30

            D.        Christ found the middle ground disgusting

                        1.         On fire is what he wants

                        2.         But even cold is preferable – at least it is a more honest assessment of their true status - II Peter 2:21

                        3.         The middle ground is a lie

V.        Will this church survive?

            A.        It has been in existence since 1972, but that doesn’t mean it will continue

            B.        Without love, purity, and zeal it will die like others before it

            C.        And a few can’t prop up a dying church

                        1.         Sardis had some who were faithful - Revelation 3:4

                        2.         But they would could not stem the tide

                        3.         A preacher, elders, or a few faithful members can’t keep a church alive – not on their own.

]]> 63658 Do Warring Factions Mean Christianity Is False? https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/do-warring-factions-mean-christianity-is-false/ Sun, 28 Jun 2026 17:10:58 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=62279

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton

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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 all the fighting going on between factions.”

            B.        I had a similar argument made to me by a couple of Mormons. “Look at Christianity, it is fractured, what, three thousand different ways? Surely this cannot be God’s doing and God’s people.”

            C.        A Muslim couple want to say that there was something wrong with Christianity because it is so divided, unlike Islam, which they state was united.

II.        It is not that the charge is without merit. There have been and are numerous infightings and fractions among those calling themselves Christian.

            A.        Over the centuries, Catholics and Protestants have been killing each other, sometimes with the support of the local government.

                        1.         Even today Catholics and Protestants kill and maim each other in the province of Ulster, Ireland.

            B.        Christianity is fractured into numerous denominations with contradictory beliefs and doctrines.

                        1.         Even these denominations split over issues such as women priests, homosexuality, or even the literal truth of the resurrection.

            C.        Among our own brethren, divisions have occurred over a variety of issues.

            D.        Unbelievers see Christianity in such a sorry state that they conclude that it does not deserve continued existence.

III.       To answer this charge, we must first recognize that there are two separate charges rolled up into one.

            A.        First is the charge that there are disputes among brethren

                        1.         Disputes are not a new phenomenon.

                                    a.         The herdsmen of Abraham and Lot disputed over grazing land - Genesis 13:6-12. This led to Abraham and Lot agreeing to go separate ways to avoid future disputes.

                                    b.         Paul and Barnabas had a disagreement over taking John Mark with them to preach as he had left them before in Pamphylia - Acts 15:36-40

                                    c.         There was a dispute between brethren from Judea and those from Antioch over circumcision - Acts 15:1-2

                                    d.         The church at Corinth had internal disputes - I Corinthians 1:10-12

                                    e.         A dispute arose between Euodia and Syntyche in Philippi - Philippians 4:2-3

                        2.         Disputes occur among any group. It is not limited to Christians

                                    a.         Republicans disagree with Democrats

                                    b.         Marriages end in divorce

                                    c.         Singling out Christians as having occasional differences would be unfair. Christians acknowledge that we are all sinners and are imperfect.

                        3.         There is a big difference between Christians and other groups.

                                    a.         We expect Republicans to dispute Democrats. Our system of government is actually set up to encourage such disagreements.

                                    b.         However, Christians teach that disputes among Christians are wrong!

                                                (1)       Discord is listed among the deeds of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21

                                                (2)       Proverbs 17:14 - Abandon quarrels.

                                                (3)       Proverbs 20:3 - Honor is in ending strife.

                                    c.         Instruction is given on how to solve problems between brethren

                                                (1)       Sort it out quickly, preferably that very day - Ephesians 4:26-27

                                                (2)       Seek a solution - Matthew 5:23-26

                                                (3)       Steps to take in reaching agreement - Matthew 18:15-17

                                                (4)       Disputes should be settled among brethren and not before non-believers - I Corinthians 6:1-8

                        4.         Disputes occur, but it does mean Christianity is the cause of the disputes. It means that one or more people are not following the principles laid down in God’s Holy Word.

            B.        The second part of the charge is that there is factions among those calling themselves Christians.

                        1.         This, too, is not surprise as fractions occur in most groups

                                    a.         There was a faction between the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

                                                (1)       The Pharisees were a party among the Jews who placed great emphasis on the observance of rites and ceremonies. They saw themselves as superior to common people. Some of their beliefs were the immortality of the soul, the future resurrection of the body, and the existence of angels and spirits.

                                                (2)       The Sadducees drew members from the ruling class of Jewish society. They denied the possibility of a resurrection or the existence of angels and spirits

                                    b.         The Corinthian church was rebuked for the factions developing within them - I Corinthians 1:11-16

                                    c.         We see nations re-aligning borders, joining together, and then fractioning apart.

                                    d.         Division is not unique to Christians.

                                                (1)       The Mormons have two major branches. One based in Salt Lake City and another based in Independence, Missouri. Estimates are that there are over 400 groups under the Mormon belief system according to a Wikipedia article.

                                                (2)       Islam is much the same. It is divided between Shia and the Sunni. Within these are over 70 different schools of thought.

                        2.         But what is important is that divisions among God’s people are condemned.

                                    a.         There should only be one body (Ephesians 4:3-6) with Christ as its head (Colossians 1:18)

                                    b.         The very term “denomination” means a dividing, a separation which should not exist.

                                    c.         God never gave approval to dividing his church.

                        3.         If Christians followed the teachings of God, then there would be no divisions. We would be united.

                                    a.         It is the altering of God’s will that causes division because these alterations are man-made.

                                    b.         If you can make a change, then why can’t I make a change. Who says your change is better than mine?

                                    c.         When many men become involved, there many divisions result.

IV.      In any group of people, there will be differences of opinion and separation into “us and them”

            A.        The church recognizes that disputes will happen, but it condemns them and teaches how to overcome them.

            B.        Denominationalism is condemned as well. Those who wear the name of Christ should not be dividing into splinter groups.

            C.        The argument against Christianity, as given, is a result of the bad practices of those who do not follow the true teachings of Christ. Christianity does not cause disputes and divisions, it teaches how to remove them.

]]> 62279 Horns of Destruction https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/horns-of-destruction/ Sun, 14 Jun 2026 23:54:52 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=62746
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 - Assyria pulled away the northern tribes

                        3.         II Kings 24:2-4 - Chaldeans, Moabites, Arameans, and Ammonites destroyed the southern tribes.

            B.        These were four horns which destroyed or scattered Judah

                        1.         Four is used to represent the compass points: North, South, East, and West

                        2.         God used the surrounding nations to destroy sinful Israel

                        3.         And then God destroyed the horns

II.        While it was the powers of the nations around Israel which pulled it down, Israel skewered itself on its own horns of destruction.

            A.        The horn of dissatisfaction

                        1.         It did not take long after being freed from slavery for the children of Israel to complain about their life - Exodus 15:22-26

                        2.         Barely one problem is solved before they continued their complaints - Exodus 16:1-3

                        3.         This is only the beginning of a long list of complaints against Moses, Aaron, and God

                        4.         In a strong sense, it was that habit of complaining, of always finding dissatisfaction with the things around them that kept Israel from entering the promised land for forty years.

                                    a.         After the twelve spies made their report, listen to what the people did - Numbers 14:1-4

                                    b.         God’s patience with such ungrateful people reached an end - Numbers 14:11-12

                                    c.         The complainers died in the wilderness as a result - Numbers 14:20-23, 26-33

            B.        The horn of doing your own thing

                        1.         The next period of Israel’s history was the time of the Judges, recorded in the book of Judges. The very end of the book sums up the period well - Judges 21:24-25

                        2.         It was a period of every man for himself.

                                    a.         Righteousness was defined in terms of what the individual thought was right.

                                    b.         The higher authority of God was ignored.

                        3.         One of the reasons for requiring the people to gather for various feasts was to prevent this attitude of being a law unto themselves - Deuteronomy 12:5-9

                        4.         Godly men disappear when man becomes his own standard - Psalm 12:1-4

                        5.         Rightly are men warned not to lean on their own understanding - Proverbs 3:5

                        6.         Because man does not fully understand - Proverbs 14:12

                        7.         The period of the Judges was filled with the conquering of various sections of Israel and their rescue by God through the Judges he raised up to save Israel.

            C.        The horn of popularity

                        1.         It became grating to Israel that they did not operate like the nations around them. Everyone else had a king. Someone to lead them. Israel thought they had no king - I Samuel 8:5-9

                        2.         The motivation was to be like the nations, but it is tempting to let your leader make all the decisions. Yet, Samuel warned the people they would be responsible - I Samuel 12:12-25

                        3.         You see, it is so tempting to continue borrowing practices from the other nations, even though those nations do not serve or even fear the Lord God.

                        4.         In time, Israel became just like the nations around her. You could not distinguish them from any other nation.

                                    a.         They worshiped idols, just like the other nations. They even borrowed their gods: Baal, Asherah, Moloch, and others

                                    b.         Why Israel fell - II Kings 17:7-18

                                    c.         Several centuries later, Judah followed Israel.

            D.        The horn of self-righteousness

                        1.         God restored Israel, but not to its former glory

                        2.         Instead of yearning for the other nations’ status, the Jews turned inward and became proud of their difference.

                        3.         They served God, but they were motivated by national pride and pride in their own righteousness. - Romans 10:2-3

                                    a.         Paul points to the root problem. They lacked faith in God - Philippians 3:9

                                    b.         They really did not trust God’s plan and God’s promises.

                                    c.         Instead they created their own law

                        4.         They thought that whatever they did must be right and acceptable to God. They saw themselves as morally superior - Matthew 23:29-36

                        5.         As a result the final destruction of Jerusalem came in 70 A.D.

III.       What has happened in the past is for our learning - Romans 15:4

            A.        It was recorded so that we might not make the same mistakes - I Corinthians 10:1-12

            B.        The church is spiritual Israel, and it has been warned not to walk in the steps of physical Israel – steps that lead to the destruction of Israel

            C.        Warnings against grumbling

                        1.         Dissatisfaction with the ways of God leave us open to sin. - James 5:9

                        2.         We ought to be dissatisfied when God’s ways are not being followed, but too often we see any dissatisfaction on our part as an indication that changes need to be made. We become judges of the law - James 4:11-12

                        3.         Despite these warnings, we have brethren whose hobby it is to find fault in their brethren. Whole publications are dedicated to ceaseless complaints.

                        4.         I remember complaints against one publication that has now ceased to exist.

                                    a.         It focused on positive things, teachings about God’s word, and refused articles where fingers were pointed at other brethren.

                                    b.         The complainers complained that it didn’t complain enough.

                        5.         Galatians 5:25-26 - Let us not challenge one another out of pride and envy

            D.        Warnings against becoming our own standard of righteousness

                        1.         Everyone thinks his own way is right - Proverbs 21:2

                        2.         We cannot be self-willed - II Peter 2:10-11

                        3.         Jude is filled with warnings - Jude 4, 8, 10. 16

                        4.         In today’s church it common to hear ideas justified because “I think.”

                                    a.         They declare it is “obvious,” yet they will not appeal to the Word, knowing their belief is not there.

                                    b.         Worse is the argument that we all do some things without justification, so there is no harm in doing other things without justification.

            E.        Warnings against imitating the world

                        1.         Luke 16:14-15 - The Pharisees justified themselves by the praise of men.

                        2.         Their religion sought the praises of men - Matthew 23:5-11

                                    a.         I find it spreading in the church men who seek titles “Director of Education,” “Outreach Minister,” “Youth Minister,” etc.

                        3.         Peter compromised the truth because of what others thought - Galatians 2:11-14

                                    a.         The early church fought the pull of imitating the Jewish religion - Galatians 5:1-4

                        4.         We cannot imitate the world

                                    a.         I Peter 1:14-15 - Don’t be conformed to former lusts

                                    b.         Not to live for the lusts of men - I Peter 4:1-2

                        5.         Yet today, brethren see no harm in adding instrumental music, like everyone else or establishing organizations to carry out God’s work like the denominations.

            F.        Warnings against self-righteousness

                        1.         Luke 18:9-14 - People have a tendency to trust in their view.

                        2.         They think themselves as being something - Galatians 6:3-5

                                    a.         To do so will set ourselves for a fall - I Corinthians 10:12

                        3.         Their standard of righteousness is being better than others - II Corinthians 10:12-13

                        4.         It saddens me to see this so prevalent in the church

                                    a.         The idea of “church of Christ” beliefs instead of the “Lord says”

                                    b.         An infinite number of divisions

                                                (1)       Just the other day, I was corresponding with a preacher who said he heard a particular curriculum was unscriptural. I pointed out to him that he knew a large number of brethren who used the curriculum, so why would he assume that these brethren would use something they knew to be unscriptural.

                                                (2)       His response was, you know a lot of brethren are involved in unscriptural practices.

                                    c.         The search for reasons to divide fairly takes my breath away.

                                                (1)       Yes, sin exists, but our goal is to unite people under the truth, not to isolate ourselves from the so-called “unclean”

                                                (2)       I Corinthians 1:9-13 - Christ is not divided!

                                                (3)       Yet brethren search for division. “You talk to brother so-and-so, so I can’t talk to you.”

                        5.         Errors exist and they must be exposed and dealt with, but the goal is to bring all into the unifying doctrine of Christ and not the isolating idea of our own self-purity - III John 9-10

IV.      Israel was destroyed by the nations around her for her sins. We too will be destroyed if we follow her ways.

]]> 62746 The Disease of Sin and Its Cures https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/the-disease-of-sin-and-its-cures/ Sun, 14 Jun 2026 17:26:45 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=62217

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, it has characteristics which allow us to recognize the problem. Let us consider five of them.

II.        Some Characteristics of Sin

            A.        A Love to Sin

                        1.         Most people do not like being sick. As soon as they start having serious symptoms, it is off to the doctor to find a cure.

                        2.         Sin is not like that. Many people who have sin don’t see it as a problem; in fact, they enjoy their wickedness. - II Thessalonians 2:9-12

                                    a.         Notice the source of the enjoyment: their choice to believe lies; they do not love the truth.

                                    b.         The love of sin is rooted in a problem of unbelief.

                        3.         Some people love sin so much, they are not satisfied with leaving it alone. They have to drag it behind them. - Isaiah 5:18

                        4.         The Israelites loved to wander from God. - Jeremiah 14:10

                                    a.         They did not control themselves; not that they couldn’t help themselves, but they didn’t want to resist sin.

                                    b.         Even the leaders of Israel loved evil and hated good - Micah 3:1-2

                        5.         However, God provided a remedy for the love of sin. Remember the source of the problem is choosing to believe the wrong things.

                                    a.         Psalms 52:1-4 - Some love evil more than good. They prefer lying. They enjoy causing harm with their words.

                                                (1)       Psalms 52:7 - Why? They trust their own selves and their riches. There is that idea of a misplaced belief again.

                                                (2)       Psalms 52:8 - The cure for a love of sin is a love of God.

                                    b.         Proverbs 2:12-15 - The wicked enjoy evil. They delight in the perverse deeds of others.

                                                (1)       The cure? Proverbs 2:10-11 - The wisdom, knowledge, and understanding from the Lord

                        6.         When people put their trust in God., when they believe He exists, when they believe they must answer to Him for the deeds they do, then there is no longer a delight in mischief.

                                    a.         People love evil because they think they can get away with it.

            B.        Which brings us to the next symptom. Sin is practiced by the wicked.

                        1.         Matthew 7:15-20 - You know them by their fruits, by the things they practice and the results of their deeds.

                        2.         There is a cure for this disease as well. We call it repentance.

                                    a.         As the early Christians were taught - Acts 26:20

                                    b.         Through repentance, our sins are removed - Acts 3:19

                                    c.         Isaiah 1:16-17 - Purify self. Put away evil. Cease to do evil.

                                    d.         Romans 6:12-13 - Do not let sin reign in your bodies

                                    e.         I Corinthians 15:34 - Awake to righteousness and do not sin.

                                    f.         Only if the wicked will forsake his way will he live - Ezekiel 18:21

            C.        You see, God views sin as a state of being. It is where you choose to live.

                        1.         There is a way out of this state — baptism.

                        2.         Acts 2:38 - Baptized for the forgiveness of sin

                        3.         Acts 22:16 - Baptism washes away (removes) sin

                        4.         Romans 6:4 - Baptism takes us out of our life of sin and puts us into a new life.

                        5.         In fact, Paul goes on to say that baptism frees us from the bondage of sin - Romans 6:5-7

            D.        This leads us to another characteristic of sin. When people see the sin in their lives, it brings to them a heavy burden of guilt.

                        1.         Psalms 40:11-12 - David found his sins too heavy to bear, so he begged mercy from God.

                        2.         Therein is the cure for the guilt of sin — God’s merciful pardon.

                        3.         Ezra 9:5-15 - Ezra saw that Israel’s sins caused their bondage (Ezra 9:9, 13). Not just a physical bondage, but also a spiritual one, which could only be release by God’s mercy (Ezra 9:9)

                        4.         Have you ever heard someone say, “I can’t be a Christian. I could never be as good as them.” That is the chains of guilt speaking! They see their sins, but it has them bound.

                        5.         But God promised in the new covenant to give mercy - Hebrews 8:12

                        6.         Ephesians 2:1-8 - God’s grace has saved us from our sins.

                        7.         Isaiah 43:25 - God can remove our sins.

                        8.         Micah 7:18-20 - Who is like our God, who willingly pardons our iniquities?

            E.        Sin, uncured, leads surely to death - James 1:14-15

                        1.         Romans 6:23 - The wages of sin is death, but God has provided a cure — his gift of eternal life.

                        2.         Romans 5:12-21 - All sin and so all die, but through Christ all may have life.

                        3.         I Corinthians 15:21-26 - Christ will destroy death that we may rise and live with him.

                        4.         II Timothy 1:8-10 - It is so sure, it is spoken of in the past tense. Christ has abolished death, and has brought life and immorality to light through the gospel.

III.       Sin is a subtle and fatal disease. It kills and those who have it don’t even realize they are dying!

            A.        But God has provided a cure. Like any medicine, it will not help you if you don’t partake of it.

]]> 62217 Overconfidence and Doubt https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/overconfidence-and-doubt/ Sun, 07 Jun 2026 17:14:11 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=48889

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton

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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 deserve to be cleansed.”

            B.        A young man who engaged in sinful acts said, “My big problem is I don't want to go to hell, for crying out loud! I want to search for God, find God, and follow all of His commandments. I want to do what He asks because I'm scared of Him, and I do love him. I don't want to go to Hell! Will He forgive me if I start doing what He asks, seek him, and repent? Please, I'm scarred!”

            C.        A teenage girl wrote, “I have accepted Jesus Christ and have given my life to him and accepted his death as a payment for my sins. Isn't that the way to get into heaven? I have prayed for forgiveness for my homosexuality so will I go to heaven? I have had sleepless nights over this. I mean, if I was born this way why should he not let me go to heaven? I want to go too! I don't want to suffer forever.”

            D.        A teenage boy wrote, “I had a thought go passed my head, making me think I was gay or bisexual and I know I'm not. But it seemed to be because I thought of myself being a girl and ... yeah ... anyway, too deep. Well, I'm trying to block all of those thoughts. Will God forgive me? I need to know because I know He hates homosexuals, but I know I'm not a homosexual; I've just been though stuff. Never touched a guy, though I had thoughts. Please, I know maybe you don't understand fully, but I don't want be a sinner. I need help. I don't want go to hell.”

            E.        In yet another note from a teenage boy, “So you're for sure God will forgive me? Because I want to feel safe. I guess I've been hanging out with myself a lot and have became a low life ever since my girlfriend went back home.”

            F.        All of these came within a few days of each other.

                        1.         So how was your week?

                        2.         The closeness of these notes got me thinking about their similar traits.

                        3.         Each person had realized they were in the wrong and started making changes in their lives. Some better than others, but changes none the less.

                        4.         But they are each fearful that it won’t be enough. They are scared and don’t know which way to move.

II.        Confidence in God

            A.        The example of Paul

                        1.         A young man named Saul was extremely zealous for God. When a new religion came on the scene, Saul was at the forefront to see that this was opposed. - Acts 8:1-3

                        2.         It took a vision from Jesus to get Saul to reexamine his faith - Acts 22:3-11

                                    a.         God send Ananias to Saul to teach him the truth

                                    b.         It is the way God chose, to have people learn the truth from other people - I Corinthians 1:21

                                    c.         Saul was invited to wash away his sins - Acts 22:16

                        3.         But that forgiveness didn’t wash away Saul’s, now known as Paul’s, memory of what he did - I Timothy 1:12-15

                        4.         Despite his past, Paul had confidence - II Timothy 1:12

            B.        Paul was amazed that such a vile sinner as he was saved, but he had full confidence in God that he was saved.

                        1.         Not because he had confidence in himself

                        2.         But because he had confidence in God and the certainty of God’s promises

            C.        As Paul told Timothy - II Timothy 1:7

III.       But there is danger is overconfidence - Romans 14:22

            A.        We can have faith and confidence in things that do not come from God.

            B.        The key to confidence is knowing we are doing what God asked of us - I John 3:21-22

            C.        Conducting ourselves according to the grace of God - II Corinthians 1:12

            D.        Striving to give no offense to God or man - Acts 24:16

            E.        The problem is that we can do things without checking to see if God approves

                        1.         Israel wanted to conquer Canaan after God said “No.” - Deuteronomy 1:41-42

                        2.         Joshua’s first attack at Ai, never knowing that God was opposed - Joshua 7:1-5

            F.        It is no different when people just know God will accept the things they came up with, though they never consulted His Word - Matthew 7:22-23

            G.        Take heed, lest you fall I Corinthians 10:12

            H.        “Happy is the man who is not condemned in what he approves.”

IV.      The subtle snare of doubt - Romans 14:23

            A.        Think back to those we mentioned at the beginning.

                        1.         Though they were attempting to make changes in their lives, doubt settled in.

                        2.         It is not hard to understand. I’ve taken tests, and though I would say that I knew the material well, I would be plagued with doubts about whether my grade was good enough until I saw the actual results.

                        3.         We don’t get direct feedback from God. God tells us what He expects from us, and we might see that we are doing it, but until that final result comes in ...

            B.        Doubt is a subtle weapon of Satan

                        1.         He’s used it from the beginning - Genesis 3:1-5

                                    a.         He got Eve questioning what she heard and what she knew

            C.        Doubt makes us unstable - James 1:5-8

                        1.         Thus we are vulnerable to attack

                        2.         We can fall - II Peter 3:17

            D.        Doubt means we have insufficient faith - Matthew 14:26-31

                        1.         Peter was doing well, until he opened the door of doubt

            E.        We need to recognize the danger of doubting - Mark 9:17-24

V.        Be steadfast - I Corinthians 15:58

            A.        Not stubborn or stiff-necked, but acting according to knowledge.

            B.        Knowing what we have learned and from whom we have learned - II Timothy 3:14

            C.        It is not blind overconfidence but a knowledgeable trust in our Master

            D.        Don’t let doubts take you down, be confident that God knows and means what He says.

]]> 48889 The Problem with Saying ‘Gone Too Soon’ https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/the-problem-with-saying-gone-too-soon/ Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:57:31 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=95868

by Orlando Gonzalez

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Introduction: 

 

  1. 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. 
  2. The day was hot, the stands were packed, and the vibe was unmatched; there was nothing like seeing 37 cars, each with 670 hp, racing around a mile-and-a-half track at nearly 200 MPH. 
    1. It was truly an awesome experience. 
  3. However, what I didn’t expect was to hear, a month later, the most shocking news about a driver we saw race that day. 
    1. That driver was no young newcomer who barely anyone knew, nor a highly successful journeyman who proved to have skill but no interesting personality.
    2. No, this man was known for a villainous persona, which he embodied: hyper-competitive, aggressive, blunt, unashamed of his unfiltered opinions, and at times so short-tempered that he wrecked his opponents out of pure anger. 
    3. But at the same time, though, he was also incredibly passionate about his craft. He gave younger, emerging drivers solid guidance, had high standards for NASCAR, himself, and his own teams, and always loved to win, even if it meant getting booed by fans.
    4. And in his personal life, he was a loving husband to his wife, Samantha, and a present, hardworking, supportive father to two beautiful children, Brexton & Lennix.
    5. He was not just one of NASCAR’s best drivers, but one of motorsport’s best family men. 
  4. This man was Kyle Busch, and on May 21st, 2026, he was publicly declared deceased in Charlotte, North Carolina. 
  5. Cause of death: Sepsis caused by pneumonia. 

 

Examining the Saying “Gone Too Soon”

 

  1. Not even a full week had passed when Kyle won his last race at Dover Motor Speedway in the Craftsman Truck Series. 
    1. He proved that he still had it at age 41, despite suffering from what simply looked like a sinus infection, but six days later, his body was on its way to the morgue. 
    2. It’s hard to fathom how a middle-aged, two-time Cup Series champion, who had 234 overall wins under his belt, two Rookie-of-the-Year awards, and a successful truck-series team, could die so suddenly, and still have much of his life ahead of him.
  2. As the NASCAR fanbase, staff members, and Kyle’s family mourn and pay tribute to this impressive and rowdy man, I’ve seen several fans online express their anguish by saying he was “gone too soon.” 
    1. “Gone too soon” - An empathetic expression used to describe someone who had died prematurely, unexpectedly, or never reached their full potential. 
  3. I can understand why there would be people who believe that this wasn’t a fitting death for him at all.
    1. He was only a father for over a decade, and he eagerly wanted to race with his boy in the near future. 
    2. It’s completely natural to feel shock, loss, and pain when someone so vibrant is gone, but we as Christians must always pause and take note of these kinds of phrases, because once we analyze them, we can quickly see that they don’t have any Biblical support. 
    3. In the case of the phrase “gone too soon”, it sounds like it is criticizing God’s decision-making skills over when an individual dies. 
  4. As we all know, God is the one who has the ability and the right to decide who gets to be born in this world, and who will taste death at a certain time (Job 14:5, Ecclesiastes 3:1,2)
    1. No one has the natural, divine ability to decide when they themselves or someone else dies. 
      1. But we all wish we could see our hopes, dreams, and aspirations come to fruition. 
      2. The life that God gave to us is one full of great opportunity and endless possibilities: We can be able to come to know God, see and feel His wonderful works, form relationships with our fellow man, partake in meaningful roles, gain solid reputations, learn profound lessons, and experience life-changing events that will shape us to become better people. 
  5. I think all of us want to see what we can do with this thing called “life”. 
    1. This innate, great desire, whether it be driven by good or evil motivations, leads us to develop a form of short-sightedness that makes us feel like we’re owed a full human life.
    2. We’ve seen so many good and even decent people live seemingly long and fulfilled lives well past their 70s, and that causes us to think that we can achieve a similar life so long as we have the drive, support, motivation, purpose, and clear goals to make it happen. 
    3. If the world thinks this, I can certainly believe that we Christians can be susceptible to believing that our positions would guarantee us an additional 30, 40, or 50 years to our lifespan. 
    4. This is an internal struggle with accepting God’s timing, rooted in what psychologists call the “Illusion of Control,” the “Optimism Bias,” and the “Just-World Bias.” 
      1. Illusion of Control -  A strong desire to control the events of an outcome without acknowledging the limits of what one can do, leading to an overestimation of influence and, eventually, failure and suffering from the numerous errors one has made. 
      2. Optimism Bias - The tendency to believe that positive events and results will very likely happen to you and that negative ones will be very unlikely to happen to you, based on one’s natural desire to preserve oneself. 
      3. Just-World Bias - The belief that people are guaranteed to get what they deserve based on the actions they take and their character, creating an illusion of order, personal safety, and control. 
  6. All of these lead to the ill-founded assumption that a long life will happen to us, but Kyle’s death completely contradicts this, and it is exactly what God warned us about.
    1. Read Luke 12:13-21
    2. Some people will become so successful that they think their lives are set and that nothing extremely bad will happen to them until they get to old age and die naturally, but in reality, God already marked the date down, and for one reason or another, He’ll make sure we die on that day to complete his will (Job 42:2). 
  7. I can guarantee you that Kyle thought that he would be racing in Charlotte next week. 
    1. I can guarantee you that every NASCAR fan thought that Kyle Busch was going to make it to the end of this 2026 season.
    2. And I can also guarantee you that Brexton thought he would one day race alongside his dad in NASCAR.
      1. And yet, here we are today. 
  8. The Lord understands that we all want to live life to the fullest and avoid the dark aspects that come with it as much as humanely possible, but when He has different plans, we ought to respect them in both our speech and our minds. 
    1. I can’t tell you why He decided to have Kyle’s life end right then and there. 
    2. I can’t tell you why He thought it was fitting for his family to experience what is quite possibly the worst feeling in the world.
    3. I can’t even tell you why He allowed Kyle to go on to win that last race in Dover right before he died. 
    4. But what I can tell you is that we still have to trust in Him with all our hearts and not give in to our emotions (Proverbs 3:5-6). 
  9. God has these things happen for a good reason. 
    1. Deaths like Kyle’s show us that you can’t assume that people’s lives are all set for them, no matter how high up they are on the ladder. 
    2. Neither should you expect yourself, as a Christian, to experience the same common stages of life that others experience.
    3. Your whole life isn’t owed to you - your life is owed to God, with whatever time you have left. 
    4. Why? Because He decided to save you from Hell, that’s why! (I John 4:10).
  10. It’s foolish to assume that your desire to be right with God will give you a storybook happy ending to your life. 
    1. That’s not how that works. That’s not how that ever worked. 
      1.  Read Ecclesiastes 9:11
    2. The proper perspective to take is that there is a time, place, and purpose for everything, and that God will use us or even our lives to bring out good results in this world. 
    3. This should be a very comforting thought, and what’s even better is that the trials we face, or even the tragic events that we hear on the news, will make us stronger, not weaker (James 1:2-4). 
    4. In the meantime, before those moments come, let us enjoy and take advantage of the opportunities that lie before us, for, as Kyle said after being asked why he never got tired of winning races, “Because you never know when the last is.”
]]> 95868 Take Care How We Behave https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/take-care-how-we-behave/ Wed, 27 May 2026 21:57:57 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=95795
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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 people toward Christ or pushes them away from Him.
  • Peter reminds believers to live honorably among unbelievers, even in difficult circumstances.
  • Christianity is not merely what we profess with our mouths, but what we display through our behavior.

Key Thought:
Before God can use us publicly, we must submit ourselves privately.

  1. Humble Yourself

Key Scriptures

  • Matthew 18:1–4 — “Who is the greatest?”
  • Matthew 18:5–6 — Protecting the “little ones.”
  • Luke 17:1 — Temptations will come
  • Luke 17:1 — “Woe to the one through whom they come.”
  • Luke 22:22 — Judas’ betrayal
  • I Corinthians 8:9–12 — “But take care...”

Main Points

  1. Greatness in God’s Kingdom Requires Humility
  • Matthew 18:1–4 The disciples sought status; Jesus pointed to childlike humility.
  • Spiritual maturity is not measured by prominence but by surrender.
  1. Our Behavior Affects Others
  • Matthew 18:5–6 Jesus warned against causing “little ones” to stumble.
  • Luke 17:1 Temptation exists in the world, but we are accountable for how we influence others.
  1. Judas Is a Warning Example
  • Luke 22:22 God’s sovereign plan did not excuse Judas’s sinful choices.
  • Judas’ downfall was fueled by:
    • Greed
    • Selfish ambition
    • Hypocrisy
    • Emotional isolation
  • Sin tolerated internally eventually manifests externally.
  1. Christian Liberty Must Be Governed by Love
  • I Corinthians 8:9–12 “Take care” how you use your freedom.
  • Wounding another believer’s conscience is ultimately a sin against Christ Himself.

Application Questions

  • Is my behavior helping others toward Christ or away from Him?
  • Have pride or selfish ambition quietly entered my heart?
  • Am I careless with the spiritual influence God has given me?

Transition Question: If humility guards our outward behavior, then what guards our inward condition?

  1. Examine Yourself

Key Scriptures

  • II Corinthians 13:5 — “Examine yourselves.”
  • Lamentations 3:40–42 — “Test and examine our ways.”
  • Galatians 6:3–4 — Testing one’s own actions
  • Galatians 6:7–8 — Reaping and sowing

Main Points

  1. Self-Examination Is a Spiritual Discipline
  • 2 Corinthians 13:5 The Christian life requires honest reflection.
  • Lamentations 3:40–42 God calls us to evaluate our faith, motives, and actions.
  1. Pride Distorts Self-Perception
  • Galatians 6:3–4: We often compare ourselves to others rather than to God’s standard.
  • Galatians 6:7–8 Spiritual arrogance blinds us to personal weakness.
  1. What We Sow Determines What We Reap
  • Sin has consequences.
  • Spiritual investment produces spiritual fruit.
  • Fleshly living eventually produces corruption.
  1. Examination Leads to Restoration - Lamentations 3:40–42
  • Lamentations calls people to examine themselves so they can return to God.
  • Conviction is not condemnation; it is an invitation back to fellowship.

Application Questions

  • What spiritual habits am I sowing into daily?
  • Am I more focused on others’ faults than my own growth?
  • Is there anything in my life that needs repentance and restoration?

Transition Question: After humbling ourselves and examining ourselves, what should transformed living actually look like?

III. Behave Yourself

Key Scriptures

  • I Timothy 4:12 — “Set the believers an example.”
  • Titus 2:7–8 — “Model of good works.”
  • I Peter 2:6–9 — Believers vs. unbelievers
  • Romans 10:8–11 — “Be not ashamed.”

Main Points

  1. Believers Are Called to Be Examples
  • I Timothy 4:12 Christianity is visible.
  • Our speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity should reflect Christ.
  1. Godly Conduct Silences Opposition
  • Titus 2:7–8 Titus teaches that sound behavior puts opponents to shame.
  • Integrity is one of the strongest testimonies a believer possesses.
  1. Christians Are Distinct People
  • I Peter 2:6–9 Peter describes believers as:
    • A chosen generation
    • A royal priesthood
    • A holy nation
  • We are called out of darkness to display God’s marvelous light.
  1. Never Be Ashamed of the Gospel – Romans 10:8–11
  • The Word must be in both our hearts and mouths.
  • Bold faith requires consistent behavior.
  • A compromised lifestyle weakens gospel witness.

Application Questions

  • Would others see Christ through my daily conduct?
  • Does my speech strengthen or weaken my testimony?
  • Am I boldly living for Christ without shame?

Conclusion

Three Calls for Every Believer

  1. Humble Yourself — Guard against pride and becoming a stumbling block.
  2. Examine Yourself — Honestly, evaluate your spiritual condition.
  3. Behave Yourself — Live as a visible example of Christ.

Closing Challenge

The Christian life is not perfected overnight, but believers must continually take care in their behavior. The world may never read the Bible, but they will read the lives of those who claim to follow Christ.

Closing Scripture

I Peter 2:12
“Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable…”

]]> 95795 Remembering the Cost of Freedom https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/remembering-the-cost-of-freedom/ Wed, 27 May 2026 21:42:32 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=95790
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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 1775.
    • This includes over 646,000 who died in combat and more than 539,000 who died from other causes, such as disease and accidents, while in active service.
  • Memorial Day is a day of remembrance, gratitude, and sober reflection.
  • We honor those who willingly stood in harm’s way for others.
  • The warrior ethos—courage, sacrifice, discipline, loyalty—can reflect biblical virtues when surrendered to God.

Key Question: What does Scripture teach about the heart of a righteous warrior?

  1. God Recognizes the Calling of the Warrior
  • Ecclesiastes 3:1, 8 – “To everything there is a season… a time for war, and a time for peace.”

Supporting Scriptures

  • Romans 13:4 — governing authority “does not bear the sword in vain.”
    • Scripture does not glorify violence, but it recognizes the necessity of protection.
  • Luke 3:14 — John the Baptist speaks to soldiers without condemning honorable service.
    • Warriors can serve as defenders of the innocent.
  • I Samuel 17 — David confronts Goliath to defend God’s people.
    • Courage is not aggression; courage is obedience despite fear.

Application

  • Honor veterans and fallen service members without idolizing war itself.
  • Pray for military families and those carrying invisible wounds.
  1. The Biblical Warrior Ethos: Strength Under Control

Micah 6:8 - “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”

Supporting Scriptures

  • Proverbs 16:32 “Better a patient person than a warrior…”
  • James 1:19-20 “Be quick to HEAR, slow to SPEAK, and slow to ANGER
    • A godly warrior is disciplined — strength restrained by character.
  • II Timothy 2:3–4 “Endure hardship… like a good soldier.”
    • A godly warrior is faithful — committed to duty and truth.
  • Ephesians 6:10–18 — Armor of God.
    • Compare earthly armor with the Armor of God:
      • Helmet protects the mind → salvation.
      • Shield protects the body → faith.
      • Sword → God’s Word, not hatred.
  • Nehemiah 4:14 – A godly warrior is protective — defending the weak and vulnerable.
  • I Samuel 17: 47 – A godly warrior is humble — aware that ultimate victory belongs to God.
  • John 15:12-13 – A godly warrior is sacrificial — willing to serve others at personal cost.

III. Christ Redefines Victory

Philippians 2:5–11 – Jesus demonstrated the greatest warrior ethos through sacrificial love.

Supporting Scriptures

  • Isaiah 53:1-8 — the suffering servant.
    • The cross looked like defeat but became an eternal victory.
  • Revelation 19:11-16 — Christ as righteous King.
    • Christ conquered sin not through domination, but sacrifice.
  • Matthew 5:9 – “Blessed are the peacemakers…”
    • The highest form of strength is love willing to suffer for others.

Memorial Day Connection

  • Fallen warriors remind us that freedom costs something.
  • Christ reminds us that salvation costs everything.
  1. Remember the Fallen — Live Worthy of Their Sacrifice

Hebrews 12:1-2 – Look to Jesus and KNOW that YOU are ABLE!

Supporting Scriptures

  • Joshua 4:1–7 — memorial stones of remembrance.
    • Remembrance should produce gratitude.
  • Psalm 33:12 – “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”
    • Gratitude should produce responsibility.
  • Galatians 5:13 – “Use your freedom to serve one another.”
    • Freedom should produce righteousness.

Application Questions

  • Are we living in a way worthy of the sacrifices made for us?
  • Are we protecting truth, family, faith, and neighbor?
  • Are we building peace in our homes and communities?

Conclusion: The Final Call

I Corinthians 16:13–14

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”

Final Challenge

  • Courage without love becomes brutality.
  • Love without courage becomes weakness.
  • In Christ, strength and compassion meet perfectly.

Suggested Closing Prayer

  • Thank God for fallen service members.
  • Pray for veterans, active-duty personnel, widows, and families.
  • Ask God to raise up men and women of courage, integrity, humility, and peace.

 

]]> 95790 The Scriptures https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/the-scriptures/ Sun, 10 May 2026 23:15:57 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=11699
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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 he has no belief and he wants no one else to believe either.

                                    b.         If he can satisfy himself that it isn’t God’s Word, then he doesn’t have to follow it.

                        2.         Consider this quote that illustrates a different attitude: “Along with this, I came to differ with the Churches of Christ whose creed is ‘to speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent.’ This creed dictated that one must have specific authorization by command, example or necessary inference from the Bible to do anything. It developed a legalistic, pharisaic mind set that sowed the seed for much dissension and division producing the factions of the Churches of Christ. For example, the whole mandate to only ‘call Bible things by Bible names’ is contradictory because the word ‘Bible’ is not even in the Bible! From the Scriptures I came to believe the opposite. I believe that we should be silent where the Bible speaks and speak where the Bible is silent. In other words, a Christian should simply obey where the Bible speaks and only speak (have opinions) where the Bible is silent. In building a life, a church or a ‘system’ for a movement, we are ‘free’ to do anything the Scriptures do not specifically, by command, by example or by necessary inference prohibit (Colossians 2:16-23). The truth seeker will always strive to be faithful to the direction and the spirit of the Scriptures.” Kip McKean, April 1992, Upside Down Magazine. Mr. McKean is the head of the International Churches of Christ, formerly known as the Boston Movement.

                                    a.         Quite an attitude with a host of errors.

                                    b.         Just as an example, the idea that the Bible doesn’t call itself the Bible.

                                                (1)       The word Bible is a transliteration of the Greek word for Book.

                                                (2)       Hebrews 10:7 - The Bible is called the Book.

                                                (3)       Nehemiah 8:1, 3, 5, 8, 18 - God’s law is called the Book.

            B.        It is really another cavalier attitude toward God.

                        1.         What do you think about a child who says to you “you didn’t say not to!”?

II.        The Bible claims to be complete

            A.        James 1:25 - The perfect (complete) law of liberty

            B.        II Peter 1:3 - Everything pertaining to life and godliness

                        1.         Is there something godly that is not found in the Bible? No.

                        2.         If something is not godly, then what is it? Ungodly or wicked.

                        3.         So things not found in the Bible are what? Wicked.

            C.        II Timothy 3:16-17 - Able to make those who follow it complete.

            D.        A person who claims the right to do something because it is not found in the Bible has no respect for the completeness of God’s word.

III.       The word “Scripture” used in II Timothy 3:16 means “writings.”

            A.        The Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms are known as Scripture - Luke 24:25-27, 44-45

            B.        The writings of Paul and others are also Scripture - II Peter 3:15-16

            C.        Yet, think about this, Jesus argued in Luke 24 that all things written in the Scriptures must be fulfilled.

                        1.         Jesus believed that God’s word had come about. Prophecy wasn’t a suggestion of what might take place, but a declaration of what must take place.

                        2.         In other words, God’s word is sure and firm. - John 10:35

            D.        This is why Jesus used the Scriptures to challenge people

                        1.         Matthew 21:42 - “Have you never read in the Scriptures?”

                        2.         Matthew 12:7 - “Had you known what this means ...”

                        3.         Matthew 9:13 - “Go and learn what this means ...”

                        4.         Jesus saw the Scriptures as authoritative. Truth is found in them and if they are ignored you will error.

            E.        The reason is simple, God is the author of all Scripture.

                        1.         Paul said all Scripture comes from the breath of God - II Timothy 3:16

                        2.         Look at Matthew 19:4-6. To whom does Jesus attribute these words? Why, God!

                                    a.         But if you look at Genesis 2:24, which is what was quoted, it is a narrative comment which isn’t attributed to anyone.

                                    b.         By attributing them to God, Jesus is testifying that God authored Genesis.

                        3.         Paul quotes the same passage and also attributes it to God - I Corinthians 6:14-16

IV.      The Scriptures were used as proof

            A.        Acts 8:35 - Philip used Isaiah to teach about Jesus

            B.        Acts 17:2-3 - Paul reasoned from the Scriptures

            C.        Acts 17:11 - The Scriptures were searched

            D.        Acts 18:28 - Apollos made a vigorous defense from the Scriptures

            E.        Why? Because the Scriptures tell us what God said.

            F.        Romans 9:17 - The Scriptures said to Pharaoh

            G.        Galatians 3:8 - The Scriptures preached to Abraham

            H.        Who spoke to Pharaoh and Abraham? Why God did!

                        1.         God’s words are Scripture.

                        2.         They are so closely linked that what God said is the same as the Scriptures (the written record) said.

V.        The Bible claims to be the written words of God.

            A.        How much respect do you have for God’s words?

            B.        Do you search for loopholes?

            C.        Do you decide that if God doesn’t forbid then He is allowing it?

                        1.         If so, the Bible doesn’t say the church can’t operate a car wash, so lets buy one and call it the “Glory to God Car Wash”

                        2.         How does doing something God didn’t say to do giving glory to Him? - Colossians 3:17

                        3.         Isn’t doing something that God didn’t say adding to His word? - Proverbs 30:6

VI.      We need respect for God’s word

            A.        I Corinthians 4:6 - Do not go beyond what is written. Beyond is the territory of what is not said, the silence of God.

            B.        II John 9 - Stay within the bounds of God’s teachings

            C.        I Corinthians 2:9-11 - No one knows the mind of God, but God Himself. What audacity to think we know what God approves when God didn’t say.

            D.        I Peter 4:11 - Speak only as the oracles of God.

            E.        Say, isn’t that “speaking where the Bible speaks?” And isn’t I Corinthians 4:6 telling us to be silent where the Bible is silent? Hmmm.

            F.        Mr. McKean and others believe the opposite. I wonder what that says?

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