Sermon – La Vista Church of Christ https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms Sun, 14 Jun 2026 23:54:54 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 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 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?

]]> 11699 The Wondrous Book of God https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/the-wondrous-book-of-god/ Sun, 10 May 2026 18:08:03 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=42589
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by Jeffrey W. Hamilton

Text: Psalm 119:17-24

 

I.         Eulogy of the Bible

            Many years ago, I entered the wonderful temple of God’s revelation. I entered the portico of Genesis and walked down through the Old Testament Art Gallery where the pictures of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, and Daniel hung on the wall.

            I entered the music room of the Psalms where the Spirit swept the keyboard of nature and brought forth the dirge-like wail of the weeping prophet Jeremiah: to the grand, impassioned strains of Isaiah until it seemed that every reed and harp in God’s organ of nature responded to the tuneful touch of David, the sweet singer of Israel.

            I entered the chapel of Ecclesiastes where the voice of the Preacher was heard, and passed into the Conservatory of Sharon where the Lily of the Valley’s sweet scented spices filled and perfumed my life.

            I entered the business room of the Proverbs and passed into the observatory room of the prophets where I saw many telescopes of various sizes, some pointed to far off events, but all concentrated upon the Bright Morning Star which was soon to rise over the moon-lit hills of Judea for our salvation.

            I entered the audience room of the King of Kings and caught a vision from the standpoint of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; entered the Acts of the Apostles where the Holy Spirit was doing his office work in the forming of the church; passed into the correspondence room where sat Paul, Peter, James, Jude, and John penning their epistles

            I stepped into the throne room of Revelation, where all towered into glittering peaks. I received a vision of the King seated upon his throne in all his glory, and I cried:

“All hail the power of Jesus’ name

Let angels prostrate fall.

Bring forth the royal diadem

And crown him Lord of all.”

Author Unknown

II.        God’s word contains wonderful things - Psalms 119:17-18

            A.        The desire is evident - Psalm 119:129-136

            B.        If you marked each of the verses in Psalm 119 which deal with the law of the Lord, his testimonies, his ways, his precepts, his statutes, his commandments, his judgments, his word, his work, etc. you would end up marking most of the verses of the Psalm. 171 verses of the 176 verses in Psalm 119 deal with God’s written word in some way.

III.       What is God’s Word?

            A.        It is a supernatural book. No ordinary process of could have formed this marvelous book.

                        1.         It is inspired by God. Coming from the breath of God - II Timothy 3:16-17

                        2.         It is verbally inspired. The choice of every word was selected by God

                                    a.         Every word proceeds from the mouth of God - Matthew 4:4

                                    b.         The words came from the Spirit of God - I Corinthians 2:12-13

                                    c.         This inspiration does not mean the writers were motivate to pen their thoughts as a beautiful sunset or a tragic event inspires men.

                                    d.         This inspiration does not mean that God gave men an idea which they then penned in their own words.

                                    e.         Each word came from God

                        3.         It is plenary inspired. We are not saying a part of the Bible was inspired or even most of the Bible was inspired, but that all of the Bible was inspired.

                                    a.         Every Scripture is inspired - II Timothy 3:16

                                    b.         The sum, or totality, of the Bible is truth - Psalm 119:160

                                    c.         God’s word is truth - John 17:17

                                    d.         Literally thousands of passages state that thus God spoke.

                        4.         It is a book for doing battle in the spiritual realm - Ephesians 6:10-17

                        5.         It is a living book - Hebrews 4:12

            B.        It is a book from God

                        1.         Revealed by the Spirit from Jesus who taught the Father’s will - John 14:23-26

                        2.         Disclosed to the apostles - John 16:12-15

                        3.         Within its pages God has revealed himself - Matthew 11:27; I Corinthians 2:6-13

                        4.         These things the Apostles have revealed to us - Ephesians 3:1-6

                        5.         It was witnessed, given by the Spirit - II Peter 1:16-21

                        6.         Miracles, signs, and wonders confirmed the truth of the message - Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:1-4

            C.        It is a sovereign book. It holds the authority of God

                        1.         John 10:35 - The Scriptures cannot be broken

                        2.         When man put their own ideas first, it invalidates the word of God - Mark 7:6-9, 13

                        3.         It is the weapon of God - II Corinthians 10:3-6

            D.        It is a book that will survive

                        1.         Jesus’ words will not die - Matthew 24:35

                        2.         Settled in heaven forever - Psalm 119:89-91

                        3.         Abiding forever - I Peter 1:22-25

IV.      By these wondrous words we will be judged - John 12:48-50

            A.        Do you believe it?

            B.        Will you obey it?

]]> 42589 Bless the Lord, O My Soul https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/bless-the-lord-o-my-soul/ Sun, 03 May 2026 19:23:09 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=61884
Bless the Lord, O My Soul - Part 1 Bless the Lord, O My Soul - Part 2

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton

Text: Psalms 103

 

I.         Hardly a week goes by that I don’t get someone asking me:

            A.        Do you think I can be forgiven of my sin?

            B.        How can I know I’ve been forgiven?

            C.        I live in fear that I might have overlooked something and God is going to condemn me for doing something I didn’t know was wrong.

            D.        At the core of each of these question is the same misunderstanding of the nature of God.

                        1.         Each imagines God as harsh and unrelenting, just waiting for another to slip up so he can be removed.

                        2.         There is no trust or remembrance of God’s love

            E.        After talking about those who return to sin - Hebrews 6:4-6

                        1.         The writer reminds us that God wants us saved - Hebrews 6:9-15

                        2.         The fact that the world continues is a testament to God’s patience - II Peter 3:9

                        3.         God’s goal is salvation for each man - Ezekiel 18:21-23

II.        David looked at his relationship with God and found cause to sing out in praise of his God - Psalms 103:1

            A.        The benefits God gives - Psalms 103:2-5

                        1.         We try not to, but so often we forget to keep in mind why we became children of God in the first place.

                                    a.         Was it not because God offered us salvation? - Romans 5:8

                                    b.         He demonstrated love toward us - John 3:16

                                    c.         He initiated love - I John 4:18

                        2.         Pardons all our iniquities

                                    a.         The Lord has power to cleanse us from all unrighteousness - I John 1:9

                                    b.         There is no sin from which God cannot forgive or is unwilling to forgive

                                    c.         If a sin is unforgiven, then it is because man, not God, who will not let go of his sin and humble himself before his God - Romans 6:17; Hebrews 5:8-9

                                    d.         The invitation for freedom is open - Revelation 22:17

                        3.         Heals all our diseases

                                    a.         Physical maladies are not what is foremost in David’s mind, though God did design the human body and provides us with health from disease.

                                    b.         I believe here David is referring to recovery from the consequences of our sin

                                                (1)       Our sins damage us - Psalms 38:1-7

                                                (2)       God provides a cure - Psalms 107:17-22

                                    c.         He relieves us of the mental anguish that we inflict on ourselves - Psalms 147:3

                        4.         Redeems your life

                                    a.         We have sold ourselves into sin - Romans 7:14, 24

                                    b.         Worse, we willingly sold ourselves for nothing - Isaiah 52:3

                                    c.         God bought us back, paying an unimaginable price - I Peter 1:18-19

                        5.         Crowns you

                                    a.         As if the aforementioned were not enough, God has given us a crown of glory - I Peter 5:4

                                    b.         A crown of life - James 1:12

                                    c.         A crown of righteousness awaits us - II Timothy 4:8

                                    d.         God, in His mercy and compassion, has invited you and I to reign with Him - Revelation 3:21

                        6.         Satisfies you

                                    a.         The exact translation of the first half of Psalms 103:5 is disputed, but it contains the idea that God satisfies desire or brings satisfaction though our years. The later is more likely since it is being compared to youth.

                                    b.         The idea is that even as we grow older, we get younger on the inside.

                                                (1)       Psalms 92:13-15 - Fresh and flourishing

                                                (2)       Continual energy - Isaiah 40:31

                                                (3)       Outward man decays while inward man is renewed - II Corinthians 4:16

                                    c.         This is because God takes care of us

                                                (1)       Satisfied with goodness - Psalms 65:4

                                                (2)       Filled with good - Psalms 104:28; 107:9

            B.        God’s dealings with man - Psalms 103:6-13

                        1.         God takes up the task of bringing justice to the oppressed

                                    a.         God cares for even the lowest of His people - Psalms 72:4;146:7

                        2.         He teaches His ways - Psalms 19:7-11

                                    a.         We aren’t left to guess what God requires of us. He has told us.

                                    b.         II Peter 1:3 - everything pertaining to life and godliness

                        3.         His character is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and merciful

                                    a.         This is a quote from Exodus 34:6-7

                                                (1)       It is repeated many times through the Old Testament

                                                (2)       The children of Israel sinned by worshiping the golden calf while Moses was on Sinai getting God’s law for the people.

                                                (3)       God was ready to wiped the people out and restart with Moses - Exodus 32:9-10

                                                (4)       But Moses interceded and God relented - Exodus 32:14

                                                (5)       And when the tablets were replaced, God revealed why He put up with the Israelites.

                                    b.         But not to the point of doting

                                                (1)       It would be dangerous to misinterpret God’s longsuffering and compassion for someone who overlooks all faults like a dotting grandfather.

                                                (2)       Exodus 34:7 emphasizes that the guilty will not be let off the hook

                                                (3)       But neither does He give up on us

                                                            (a)       Else we would not survive - Isaiah 57:16

                                                            (b)       He delights in mercy - Micah 7:18-19

                                    c.         He gives us less than we deserve

                                                (1)       Else again, we would not survive - Psalms 130:3

                                                (2)       Punishment is given, but lighter than deserved - Ezra 9:13

                                    d.         He is very merciful to those who fear Him - Ephesians 2:4-7

                                    e.         He has removed our sins far from us

                                                (1)       How far is east from west? No matter how far you go, it is still further.

                                                (2)       How thoroughly does God forgive us?

                                                            (a)       Sins won’t be found - Jeremiah 50:20

                                                            (b)       It is no longer remembered - Isaiah 43:25

                                                            (c)       Jesus’ blood cleanses us from all sin - I John 1:7

                                    f.         He treats us with compassion as a father his children

                                                (1)       God is willing to spare - Malachi 3:17

                                                (2)       Illustrated in the parable of the prodigal son - Luke 15:21-22

            C.        The permanence of God’s love - Psalms 103:14-19

                        1.         God knows the frailty of man

                                    a.         We don’t last long - Psalms 78:39

                                    b.         We are like wild flowers - Isaiah 40:6-8

                                    c.         We are a morning mist - James 4:14

                        2.         In contrast, God’s compassion is permanent

                                    a.         Not an unqualified, unconditional love

                                    b.         An everlasting love - Jeremiah 31:3

                                    c.         God doesn’t give up like men do. His is a continual mercy - Psalms 100:5

                                    d.         A just righteousness - Romans 3:21-25

                        3.         It is given to those who keep His covenant - Psalms 25:8-10

                                    a.         He taught us His ways - Psalms 119:9-11

                                    b.         We are to walk in them - I Thessalonians 4:1

                                    c.         We are to be steadfast as God - I Corinthians 15:58; Colossians 1:23

                        4.         God’s reign is permanent and He is in control

            D.        The response of all - Psalms 103:20-22

III.       David answers those questions

            A.        Do you think I can be forgiven?

                        1.         A resounding “YES!”

                        2.         God could do no less for you and remain faithful to His character

            B.        Is God going to condemn me if I missed something?

                        1.         If you are living by His teachings, and learning day by day

                        2.         When you come across wrongs and you confess them and correct them

                        3.         Then God knows you. He knows what you understand. He knows your limits, and He is rich in compassion and mercy

                        4.         I John 1:5-2:2

            C.        How can I know I’ve been forgiven?

                        1.         Because you can see all the effort God has expended to secure your forgiveness

                        2.         I John 2:3-6

            D.        Where is your faith in the God of all creation?

]]> 61884 The Change Starts With Me https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/the-change-starts-with-me/ Sun, 26 Apr 2026 17:20:18 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=61965

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton

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Text: Psalms 64

 

I.         Years ago, I was reading the posts from a discussion

            A.        As it tends to happen, the topic strayed from the discussion group’s stated purpose. The area the discussion strayed into was hotly contested.

                        1.         Some people became annoyed that everyone didn’t agree with their view.

                        2.         Others became angry that the off-topic discussion was allowed to go for so long.

            B.        A few stated their desire to leave the group because it wasn’t encouraging enough.

            C.        This grabbed my notice.

                        1.         A person who is a part of the group complains that it wasn’t encouraging.

                        2.         That may have been true, but it was also self-condemning.

                        3.         That person was a part of the group who wasn’t encouraging!

            D.        It struck me once again how often people complain about others doing the very same thing they are doing.

II.        The Jews of Paul’s day complained heavily about the sinfulness of the Gentiles - Romans 2:1-8

            A.        Paul told them that in condemning the Gentiles they were condemning themselves.

            B.        Their judgement of the Gentiles was accurate, but they did not see that the same judgement applied to their own lives. - Romans 2:2-3

            C.        The Jews were not wrong in condemning the sins of the Gentiles. Their sin was thinking they were not a part of the problem - Romans 2:17-24.

                        1.         If stealing is wrong, then all thievery is wrong.

                        2.         If adultery is wrong, then all adultery is wrong.

            D.        Paul proved that all had sin - Romans 3:23

III.       The thing is that we are no better today.

            A.        Oh, we all acknowledge we are sinners, but so often we condemn the sins of others by condemning ourselves.

                        1.         How often have you heard someone say that a congregation is not friendly enough, that they do not show enough hospitality, or that there is not enough love?

                        2.         Yet the one making the charge is supposed to be a part of the congregation.

                        3.         That means that person is not friendly, isn’t hospitable, and doesn’t show love.

            B.        This is why Jesus warned that before making judgment, we must first examine ourselves - Matthew 7:1-5

                        1.         The judgment is not wrong, but understand that if you know something is wrong, then God is just in condemning you for doing what you condemn in others.

                        2.         David illustrates this well in his anger over a story the prophet Nathan presented to him - II Samuel 12:1-9

                                    a.         David demonstrated that he understood right and wrong in this matter when he condemned the taking of a poor man’s sheep.

                                    b.         In his condemnation of another, he condemned himself.

                        3.         The Jews of Jesus’ day built memorials to the prophets of old

                                    a.         By doing so, they showed their belief that the prophets were righteous men bringing the message of God.

                                    b.         Yet, these same prophets were killed by their own ancestors. It wasn’t intended, but Jesus said they condemned their fathers as murderers of the righteous - Matthew 23:29-35

                                    c.         They demonstrated that they knew that what was done to the prophets of old was wrong.

                                    d.         Yet these people killed the prophet, John the Baptist.

                                    e.         They opposed the teachings of Jesus

                                    f.         It all showed that they were no different from their ancestors.

                                    g.         Soon they would kill the Son of God and persecute God’s people.

                                    h.         The destruction of Jerusalem was justice and they knew it.

                        4.         Recall the parable of the talents.

                                    a.         The man who only had one talent, hid his master’s money - Luke 19:20-21

                                    b.         The master said his own words condemned him - Luke 19:22-23

                                    c.         He accurately knew the requirements of his master, but he did not act in accordance to that knowledge.

IV.      The words of the fool snares them

            A.        The tongue is hard to control - James 3:2

            B.        Therefore it is not surprising that the evil will often make mistakes with their words - Proverbs 12:13; 18:7

            C.        Their own tongue is against them - Psalms 64:8

            D.        It is done by talk that is not matched by associations or actions - Psalms 50:16-21

            E.        They call on the Lord but are not obedient - Luke 6:46-49

            F.        You know them by what they produce - Matthew 7:15-20

            G.        This is why a factious man, one who willfully separates himself from the teachings of Christ, is self-condemned - Titus 3:10-11

V.        Near the end of college, my brother Darrell and I took a trip into New England. On a Wednesday evening we visited a congregation in Bangor, Maine. It was obvious that something was wrong. People were visibly distraught. Even though we were visitors, no one shook our hands or bade us welcome. Darrell looked at me and said, “Perhaps we should do something.” I agreed. We went up to people and began introducing ourselves as if we were the locals and they were the visitors. We asked them what they did. I asked about jobs in the area and the local industry. Before long the ice was broken and people were chatting away. We found a family who were close friends of a member in our home congregation. We ended up being invited over for lemonade and had a wonderful evening.

            A.        Sure, we could have left and rightly said that the congregation wasn’t friendly.

            B.        But if we did, we would have also shown ourselves as unfriendly.

            C.        The responsibility for improvement falls on my shoulders because I recognized the problem.

            D.        To complain and do nothing is to mark myself as a fool.

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