Sermon
Love 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…
Read MoreA Good Example
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SettingAGoodSample.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Jeremiah 35:1-19 I. People learn in a variety ways. Some ways make a bigger impression on a person than others. A. People don’t learn how to be a Christian just from reading or listening to the Bible, though that is a major method. B. Preachers must understand that people also learn…
Read MoreWhy Were They Baptized so Soon?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Why-Were-They-Baptized-so-Soon.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 16:25-33 I. When you read through the book of Acts, an odd fact seems to stand out — everyone is in a big hurry to be baptized. A. They don’t wait for another meal, or sleep on the idea, or wait for another day to go by. B. Those who…
Read MoreFinding Our Purpose from the Past
Old Testament Images of New Covenant People November 3-7, 2019 presented by Andy Cantrell of Champlin, Minnesota Click on the lesson titles to listen to each message. Opened Eyes and Burning Hearts Born Again by the Word of God A Covenant Like David’s David, Peter, and Me Abigail’s Shadow Children of Light in the Armor…
Read MoreBaptisms of the New Testament
Baptisms of the New TestamentBaptisms of the New Testament – Part 2Baptisms of the New Testament – Part 3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 4:1-6 I. How is it that Paul talks of one baptism in Ephesians 4:5 when the New Testament speaks of more than one? A. Baptism means immersion 1. You can have different…
Read MoreThe Mission of Christ
Text: Matthew 5:17-20 I. There is hardly a denomination in existence that does not appeal to the Old Testament for portions of their practices. A. Many of the rituals in the Catholic church find their roots in the Old Testament, such as the burning of incense. B. Protestants are not beyond dipping into the Old Testament. The…
Read MoreDoes the Nice Guy Always Finish Last?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DoesTheNiceGuyAlwaysFinishLast.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text Psalm 37 I. I’m sure you have heard the statement before, it is well ingrained in our society’s thinking: “Nice guys finish last.” A. Its more modern than you might realize. A baseball player and manager, Leo Durocher, is the one who said it. 1. He also said, “Winning requires toughness,…
Read MoreConsidering the Context
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ConsideringTheContext.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Timothy 2:14-18 I. My wife and I have done it numerous times and I’m sure it has happened to you as well. We’ll be talking about someone we know and then a comment is made that leaves you totally puzzled. So-and-so doesn’t have a relative by that name; at…
Read MoreWas Jesus a Vegetarian?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/WasJesusAVegetarian.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Genesis 9:1-7 I. Back in 1999, the Omaha World-Herald had a hilarious article on a then new advertising campaign by PETA. [Bill Broadway, “Jesus Used in Latest PETA Ads,” Omaha World-Herald, 17 March 1999] A. They claimed that Jesus was a vegetarian. B. Their “evidence”? 1. A belief that Jesus was an…
Read MoreGod’s Compassion
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Gods-Compassion.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 58 I. God has the absolute right to judge A. Some get angry that He would dare to judge B. But it is the righteous God who gets angry – Psalms 7:10-11 C. How can mankind who have shown repeated incidences of injustice sit in judgment on God? – Job 34:16-17…
Read MoreLocation
Location (1)Location (2) by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 119:153-160 I. The Bible doesn’t contain fillers. Every word exists in its text for a reason – I Corinthians 2:11-13 A. That doesn’t mean we are always aware of the reason but we should acknowledge that God does know His purpose B. The four gospels only mention 25…
Read MoreAn Ideal Life
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/AnIdealLife.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 128 I. We often speak of our longing for heaven, our home where the cares and troubles of this life will not exist. A. We know that heaven is a blessing reserved for the followers of God, but all rewards for following God are not consigned to the next…
Read MoreCalling on the Name of the Lord (Hamilton)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Calling-on-the-Name-of-the-Lord.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 2:14-21 I. Most linguist will tell you that one difficulty in translating between two languages is dealing with idioms A. An idiom is a phrase that doesn’t mean what is literally said, but native speakers understand them without much thought B. Examples from English are” 1. “It’s raining cats and…
Read MoreDo You Want the Truth?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Do-You-Want-the-Truth.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreReflecting on the Day
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Reflecting-on-the-Day.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreThey that Mourn
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/They-that-Mourn.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ecclesiastes 7:1-6 I. Some statements in the Bible present a paradox – seemingly conflicting ideas that are both true. A. Such is present in Matthew 5:4 1. To be blessed is to be given cause to be happy. 2. To mourn is to be sad II. Jesus was not talking about every person…
Read MoreAngel Band
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Angel-Band.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Peter 1:12-15 My latest sun is sinking fast, My race is nearly run; My strongest trials now are past, My triumph is begun. I know I’m near the holy ranks Of friends and kindred dear— I hear the waves on Jordan’s banks, The crossing must be near. I’ve…
Read MoreReceiving the Kingdom
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Receiving-the-Kingdom.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 12:25-29 I. Sometimes terminology can interfere with our understanding A. When you’ve been a part of something for a while, we develop jargon. But newcomers don’t understand the jargon B. It happens in business, but it also happens in the church. 1. There are different terms for the church: body, kingdom,…
Read MoreBlooming Where You Are Planted
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/BloomingWhereYourePlanted.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Revelation 3:1-6 I. I was reading an article by Hiram Kemp titled, “Six Ways to Thrive in a Weak Church” A. The points were good, but it also had me thinking about the difficulties we face in this region. 1. There are not many faithful churches and most struggle. 2. Some are…
Read MoreThe Charismatic Movement
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CharismaticMovement.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: I Corinthians 14:6-12 I. As we continue our tracing of how various denominations came to be, A. We examined how the Pietiest influenced the beliefs of John Wesley and the Methodist societies that he established. 1. In particular was an emphasis on the need for a personal experience to…
Read MoreThe Thrill of Salvation
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/TheThrillOfSalvation.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 15:1-10 I. Luke 15:10 – When someone responds to God’s message, there is excitement that reaches all the way to heaven! A. Each and every person, no matter how high or low stationed in life is important to God. B. Ezekiel 33:11 – God doesn’t look forward to punishing the…
Read MoreRemember Shiloh
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/RememberShiloh.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Jeremiah 7:1-15 I. Around the country we have many memorials and historical sites established to remind us of our victories. Yet, we keep several sites to remind us of our losses. A. I was able to see the Alamo in San Antonio. Only the mission still stands, but it is…
Read MoreYou Must Be Born Again
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2003/08/You-Must-Be-Born-Again2.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 3:1-22 I. I had a fellow ask me if I had been born again. A. In particular, he wanted to know how I came to believe such a thing. B. When I replied with I John 2:3-6; 4:6; 5:2-3, he became quite upset C. He wanted to know how I was…
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