Sermon
The Message of the Cross
I. I Corinthians 1:18-24 A. The core of salvation is the fact that Jesus died for our sins. B. The center of our hope is the knowledge that Jesus arose triumphant over death. C. Yet many are unable to understand this message. 1. The Jews wanted something else. They wanted further proof from God. 2. The Greeks thought it was silly.…
Read MorePatience
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Patience.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 33:12-22 I. What do you do when things don’t go your way? A. When money becomes tight? Or someone cheats you? B. What happens when life gets difficult and you don’t have a solution? C. Or what happens when something needs to be done and you don’t have enough time? D. For…
Read MoreGod Provides
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/God-Provides.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 12:22-31 I. Imagine having an illness that left you unable to move on your own A. Suffering with this disease for 38 years! – John 5:5-7 B. And then a stranger comes up and cures your disease – John 5:8-9 C. No longer weak, no longer dependent! D. The Jews accused Jesus…
Read MoreThe Sons of Thunder
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/The-Sons-of-Thunder.mp3 Text: Mark 3:14-19 I. Often when we talk about the apostles, we focus on the notable Peter and Paul. A. There are many things we can learn from their lives, but we also can learn from the examples of the other apostles as well. B. Today I would like to direct your attention to two brothers,…
Read MoreFear
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Fear.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Kings 6:8-23 I. The prevalence of fear A. Watch a horror movie 1. The scenes start out idyllic. But in the background there are hints that something isn’t quite right. 2. The music builds with intensity. You know something is about to happen, but not what or when 3. Your heart races…
Read MoreWhen Hard Times Come
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/When-Hard-Times-Come.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 1:12-14 I. Life often goes in different in directions from what we expect. A. It had long been Paul’s desire to go to Rome to preach the Gospel – Acts 19:21 B. It seemed though that something always came up which kept him from reaching his goal – Romans 1:13…
Read MoreIn the Almighty’s Shadow
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/In-the-Almightys-Shadow.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 91 I. Where do you go when things get difficult? A. It isn’t that a Christian’s life is free from troubles 1. Jesus warned of persecution – Matthew 5:10-12 2. There will be division in families – Matthew 10:34-36 3. There will be trials to bear up under – James 1:2-4 II. Safety…
Read MoreA Worker for the Lord
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/A-Worker-for-the-Lord.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 10:16-25 I. God has not promised His children a life of ease. A. Christ warned his disciples that if men are willing to call him “Beelzebub” then we shouldn’t be surprised when they turn against us. B. Christianity is not easy because of the rejection we must face. It is…
Read MoreRestoration
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Restoration.mp3 by Wayne Fancher I. Restoration of Purpose, Zeal, and Love John 21:1-9 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself:2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in, Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His…
Read MoreFighting Sinking when We Are Hit by Sorrow upon Sorrow
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Fighting-Sinking-when-We-Are-Hit-by-Sorrow-upon-Sorrow.mp3 by Wayne Fancher Philippians 2:27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Being Hit By Sorrow Matthew 14:10-12 So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. 11 And his head…
Read MoreHow to Grow as a Local Congregation
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/How-to-Grow-as-a-Local-Church.mp3 by Wayne Fancher I. Teach The Next Generations Ephesians 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Joel 1:3 Tell your children about it, Let your children tell their children, And their children another generation. Acts 20:32 “So now,…
Read MoreSoldiers of Christ Arise and Put Your Armor On
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Soldiers-of-Christ-Arise-and-Put-Your-Armor-On.mp3 by Wayne Fancher Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,…
Read MoreSpiritual Collateral Damage and Blessings
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Spiritual-Collateral-Damage-and-Blessings.mp3 by Wayne Fancher Spiritual Collateral Damage Ecclesiastes 9:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war; But one sinner destroys much good.” Collateral Damage – Is a general term for deaths, injuries, or other damage on an unintended target. I. Those Closest To You Get Hurt First By Spiritual Collateral Damage Exodus 20:5 you shall…
Read MoreGod Who Makes the Broken Beautiful
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/God-Who-Makes-the-Broken-Beautiful.mp3 by Wayne Fancher I. The Earth from Without Form and Void to Beautiful Genesis 1:2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Genesis 1:31 Then God saw everything that He had made,…
Read MoreThe Parable of the Prodigal Son
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/The-Parable-of-the-Prodigal-Son.mp3 by Wayne Fancher I. The Prodigal Son Leaving Was His Fault Alone Luke 15:20-21 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to…
Read MoreLittle by Little
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Little-by-Litte.mp3 by Wayne Fancher Exodus 23:30 Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land. Proverbs 13:11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow. I. Spiritual Growth Little By Little Ephesians 4:13 till we all come…
Read MoreThe Adulterous Woman
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/AdulterousWoman.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 8:2-11 I. People rarely want their sins pointed out. A. It should be understandable. We want to think well of ourselves and have others think well of us also. B. The common response to rebuke is to attack the messenger – Proverbs 15:32 C. You’ll hear people inappropriately quote, “Judge not…
Read MoreThree Philosophies of Life
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Three-Philosophies-of-Life.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 10:25-37 I. Luke 10:25-37 A. A lawyer, trying to test Jesus, asked him how to gain eternal life. B. Jesus, as was his want, turned the question around and asked for his opinion first. C. The response was to love God and to love his neighbor. To which Jesus agreed. D. The…
Read MoreA Steward of God
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/A-Steward-of-God.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 25:14-30 I. Consider Psalm 24:1-2 A. What does it mean that everything belongs to God? 1. God made it, so therefore He has the right of ownership – Deuteronomy 10:14 2. Even we belong to God – Ezekiel 18:4 3. God doesn’t owe anyone because He pre-existed all things – Job 41:11…
Read MoreI Quit!
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/I-Quit.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Mark 10:35-45 I. We’ve all seen people frustrated with a task. “I quit!” they yell as they storm off. A. Funny thing … Do you remember who it was? Neither does anyone else. B. However, there are times I ought to quit. 1. I can allow myself to get into a rut.…
Read MoreTeaching Love
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Teaching-Love.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 13:11-14 I. I received a complaint several years ago. After reading an article on why sex outside of marriage is sin, the reader complained, “I wish you guys would pay more attention to the golden rule, ‘love thy neighbor,’ than all the homophobic and ‘sex is sin’ stuff.”…
Read MoreLooking for God in All the Wrong Places
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Looking-for-God-in-All-the-Wrong-Places.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Amos 5:4-9 I. God wants us to seek Him A. It is not that God is hiding or “playing hard to get.” 1. God is not found unless we are looking. 2. Example: the child who cannot find his shoes. a. He has looked “everywhere,” but he is standing in the middle of…
Read MoreLove Is … (Sermon)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Love-Is.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Corinthians 13:1-8 I. Many passages are used for needlepoint samplers. A popular choice is I Corinthians 13:1-8 A. Have you considered the meaning of the many phrases? B. We often associate this passage with weddings, but Paul was writing about what love between brethren is like C. However, it can be applied to…
Read MoreGiving Respect
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Giving-Respect.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Malachi 1:6-14 I. The word translated as “respect” in our Bibles comes from an interesting Greek word, entrepo. A. The word has two, seemingly conflicting, definitions. 1. It can mean showing respect or honor – Hebrews 12:9 2. It can mean having shame – Titus 2:6-8 B. Even our English word “respect” as…
Read MoreWhat Is This Thing Called Love?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/What-Is-this-Thing-Called-Love.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Song of Solomon 8:6-7 I. We use the word “love” freely today. Perhaps too freely. A. I love to have another piece of cake. B. Mama loves her baby. C. He fell in love with her at first sight. D. He loved her through fifty yeas of marriage. E. I love my country. II. The…
Read MoreNot Ashamed to Sin, but Ashamed to Repent
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Not-Ashamed-to-Sin-But-Ashamed-to-Repent.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Daniel 9:4-19 I. In Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe left home to be a sailor against the wishes of his parents. He soon came to regret his decision, but he would not return home because he did not want to admit that he made a mistake. He…
Read MoreTo Whom Shall We Go?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/To-Whom-Shall-We-Go.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 6:48-69 I. When Jesus feed the 5,000, his popularity was at an all time high A. Some of the people decided it was time to make Jesus their king – John 6:14-15 B. Jesus left because the people’s motivation was wrong. They were only thinking of the free food Jesus…
Read MoreUnderstanding the Bible
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Understanding-the-Bible.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ezra 7:6-10 I. God has given us the truths we need A. It will make us perfect – II Timothy 3:16-17 B. It tells us how to live life and to be godly – II Peter 1:2-4 C. What is written will help us believe – John 20:30-31 II. The answers we seek…
Read MoreWhere Do Sermon Ideas Come From?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Where-Do-Sermon-Ideas-Come-From.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Timothy 4:6-16 I. It is hard to come up with ideas to write about constantly. We speak of “writer’s block.” A. A preacher typically gives about 100 lessons per year plus teaches classes. B. But finding and selecting topics can be hard, even if all you need is an idea…
Read MoreGive Attention to Reading
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Give-Attention-to-Reading.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Timothy 4:1-16 I. Timothy was told to give attention to reading, exhortation, and teaching (I Timothy 4:13) A. You cannot teach without knowledge about the subject you are teaching B. You cannot encourage people to go the right direction if you don’t know where you are going. C. So let’s focus…
Read MoreHow Do You Show Love?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/How-Do-You-Show-Love.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Corinthians 5:6-21 I. It seems that today, showing another person love means never telling them they are wrong or criticizing them any way A. People claim to be offended if other person disagrees with them or points out a flaw in their behavior 1. Islamaphob! Homophob! Etc. 2. To take a…
Read MoreAn Overview of the Old Testament Prophets
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/OverviewOfOldTestamentsProphets.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hosea 14 I. The Old Testament is divided into three major sections: the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets – Luke 24:44 A. The Law refers to the first five books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy B. The Prophets or teachings were divided by the Jews into two sets: 1. The…
Read MoreOnce is Enough
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Once-Is-Enough.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Micah 2:1-5 I. I was giving a young pre-teen some instruction in Tae Kwon Do. I told her how the move was to be done, I showed her how it was done, and I explained why this method worked better. Exasperated with me, she put her hands on her hips…
Read MoreThe Purpose of Fear
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/The-Purpose-of-Fear.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Lamentations 3:39-66 I. It started out as an observation in Bible class: “Temptation comes because fear is removed.” A. How true that is! B. God had warned that death would come if the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was eaten – Genesis 2:16-17 1. But Satan…
Read MoreA Soul Set Free
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/A-Soul-Set-Free.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 32 I. Every person is guilty of sin – Romans 3:10-23 A. Therefore, we all need forgiveness from God 1. It is found in Jesus Christ – I John 2:1; Ephesians 1:7 B. Only with forgiveness can we enter into God’s presence – Revelation 21:27 II. How blessed is a forgiven man…
Read MoreEnjoy What God Has Given You
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Enjoy-What-God-Has-Given-You.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 50 I. Have you given a gift that wasn’t appreciated? A. “That’s nice, but it wasn’t what I hoped to receive.” B. “Thanks, but it would have been better if you also included …” C. Or worse, it just sits there, not being used D. It’s frustrating to the giver. E. But consider…
Read MoreWho Put You in Charge?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Who-Put-You-in-Charge.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 7:20-39 I. David had asked for some provisions for his men after having protected Nabal’s herds – I Samuel 25:5-8 A. But Nabal’s response was “Who is David?” – I Samuel 25:10-11 B. Nabal shows he did know who David was, but he thought he wasn’t worth recognizing. C. But it…
Read MoreWhy Do They Not Repent?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Why-Do-They-Not-Repent.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Jeremiah 8:4-22 I. Israel was in deep trouble because of her sins. Despite repeated warnings, she did not change. A. Punishment would come so severely that people would prefer to die – Jeremiah 8:3 B. But what God asks is: Why don’t the fallen get back up? – Jeremiah 8:4 1. After…
Read MoreThe Anointing of the Spirit
Text: I John 2:18-29 I. The other day, one of my boys needed help with a math problem, so I asked him to show me the problem. He brought in his paper on which he was working. A. “No,” I said, “I need to see the original problem in the book.” B. “But I copied just as…
Read MoreMeekness
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Meekness.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: James 4:1-10 I. One aspect of the fruit of the Spirit is meekness – Galatians 5:22-23 A. Few view meekness as a desirable trait 1. Instead, people take assertiveness training 2. We are conditioned to be aggressive, to watch out for our own interests. B. Rudeness is in, consideration for others seems to…
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