Sermon
The Lost Sheep
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/LostSheep.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 15:1-7 I. When people can’t fault a person, they will sometimes seek to find fault in the way someone does things. A. This is how the Pharisees and Scribes sought to degrade Jesus’ reputation. B. It wasn’t something they would do. In fact, they implied it there was something wrong…
Read MoreWhat Do You Hope to Catch?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/WhatDoYouHopeToCatch.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Mark 6:31-44 I. What you hope to catch determines the type of bait you use A. A worm may land you a fish, but it probably won’t lure a mouse into a trap B. Even in fishing, there are different baits to be used for different fish C. I’ve known young women…
Read MoreAn Eye Exam
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/EyeExam.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 11:34-36 I. There is an old saying that bad things come in threes and to a lot of people this appears to be a true statement A. Life is filled with good and bad events B. But what happens is that when something bad happens, we start focusing on the…
Read MoreFarther Along
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/FartherAlong.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 73 I. When you were young, you might have grumbled about why you had to clean your room, why were there so many chores, or why you could not stay out late with your friends. A. The adults in this room look back and realize that there were good…
Read MoreLet the Beauty of Jesus Be Seen
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/LetTheBeautyOfJesusBeSeen.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Timothy 4:6-12 I. I had someone ask if a person should be baptized if it was known that he was living with his girlfriend, but not sleeping with her A. If we accept that this was the actual situation, the problem remains that neighbors and friends in the world…
Read MoreThe 144,000
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/144000.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Revelation 14:1-5 I. The Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that the kingdom of heaven will be established after the “end times” with 144,000 faithful saints chosen by God to becomes spirits and to rule with Christ for the millennium. A. These rulers, they say, will govern the earth on which will dwell…
Read MoreTalking with a Muslim about Religion
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/TalkingWithAMuslimAboutReligion.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Titus 1:10-16 I. How do you talk with someone about religion when there is little common ground? A. A good way to start is to find something in that religion that is true and that can be used as a basis of discussion. 1. In a false religion, not everything is…
Read MoreJesus Loves Me
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/JesusLovesMe.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Mark 10:13-16 I. “Jesus Loves Me” is a tune known the world over A. It was written in 1860 by Anna Bartlett Warner as a poem for her sister’s book, Say and Seal. In the story the poem is recited by Mr. Linden, one of the characters, as he comforts…
Read MoreSalvation
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Salvation.mp3 Text: Romans 2:1-11 I. A classic comic skit is to have two people engaged in a conversation. He thinks he is talking about one topic. She thinks the conversation is about an entirely different matter. Yet, the statements said make perfectly good sense to both parties. A. I realized I was having one of those…
Read MoreFigures of Speech – Sudden Silence
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/FiguresOfSpeechSuddenSilence.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Exodus 32:15-35 I. The purpose of figurative speech is to add emphasis to what is being spoken or written. A. It might make something more memorial, such as a parable giving a story to hang a teaching upon. B. It might puzzle you or even startle you with an apparent breaking…
Read MoreMaking the Best of Bad Situations
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/MakingTheBestOfBadSituations.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 1:12-18 I. As much as we might wish it otherwise, we aren’t often in control A. Things aren’t always optimal B. Things don’t always go our way II. Better than you might think A. The Philippians had hear of Paul’s imprisonment – Philippians 4:14 1. Such would normally be a concern B. Yet Paul…
Read MorePrecious Memories
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/PreciousMemories.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 119:97-104 I. This lesson actually started out as a challenge to myself. I had read yet another article that talked about how “Precious Memories” was a poor song, lacking in scriptural foundation. A. But I could think of several applicable verses, so I decided to do a lesson based…
Read MoreHope
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Hope.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. What are the things that you hope for? A. In other words, what do you expect the future to hold for you? B. Hope is the upper limit on the things that we gain. You will not do much better than what you expect from yourself. C. The pessimist versus the optimist…
Read MoreOffense
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Offense.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text Matthew 15:21-28 I. We live in a society with a chip on its shoulder A. People are looking for reasons to complain and to blame. B. Say the wrong word and you will find your job in jeopardy, close friends will split, or long standing members of the church will leave…
Read MoreWisdom in Picking a Mate
Text: Genesis 2:18-24 I. The importance of selecting who you will marry A. Marriage is intended by God to be a lifetime commitment – Matthew 19:3-6 B. God hates divorce – Malachi 2:13-16 C. God law has marriage lasting the life of the parties involved – Romans 7:2-3 D. It is God’s intention that the time be spent happily…
Read MoreTrip Report – 2015 (Bali, Singapore)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TripReport2015.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Romans 10:17-18 I had an opportunity to revisit the two groups I worked with last year. This time my wife, Gaye, agreed to come with me. It was the first time she has been out of the country. The church in La Vista paid my travel…
Read MoreDifferent Doctrines
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/DifferentDoctrines.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Timothy 1:3-11 I. All of us have friends and family who have vastly different beliefs from our own. It is hard to think of them possibly not reaching heaven. A. This desire is exploited by false teachers who have no desire to be bound by God’s laws – II…
Read MoreFigures of Speech
Figures of Speech – Part 1Figures of Speech – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 13:10-17 I. A common confusion in reading the Bible is understanding text when figures of speech are used A. A bit odd because all languages of men contain figures of speech, so you think that people would be used to…
Read MoreRemember Lot’s Wife (Hamilton)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/RememberLotsWife.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 17:22-37 I. In speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem, Jesus reminds his disciples of God’s past judgments on the wicked. A. In particular, he warns them not to look back when the time approaches – Luke 17:31 B. To emphasis his point he asks them to remember Lot’s wife -…
Read MoreHealing in His Wings
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/HealingInHisWings.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Jeremiah 8:4-22 I. I was reading a letter years ago from someone who tried to introduce false doctrine into the church and then left after they failed. A. The author discussed how pleased she was that these members had left. 1. She said their leaving was a sign of courage 2. That…
Read MoreDid Christ Die in Vain?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/DidChristDieInVain.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I. Most, if not all, of us put hard work into various projects, be it a project at work, the raising of children, or implementing a favorite hobby. A. After hours of hard work, it is devastating to find it destroyed or never used. B. I remembered being asked to add…
Read MoreThe Book of Life
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/BookOfLife.mp3 Text: Exodus 32:15-35 I. There are songs we sing over and over. Perhaps too often because we don’t give enough thought to what we are saying to one another. A. There is a song in our books, number 418, that is titled “Lord, I Care Not for Riches” 1. It expresses what ought to be important in…
Read MoreThe Cleansing of the Temple
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/CleansingOfTheTemple.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 2:13-25 I. Under Jewish law, all males were required to travel to Jerusalem three times a year for special feasts – Deuteronomy 16:16-17 A. Sacrifices had to be made and offerings given, but it wasn’t always practical to ship animals or food all the way to Jerusalem – Deuteronomy…
Read MoreMisplaced Confidence
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/MisplacedConfidence.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text Jeremiah 7:1-15 I. I regularly read in the papers about people who died in some natural disaster. A. Many times the death was needless. People knew the disaster was coming, but refused to heed the warnings. Though authorities told them to leave, there is always a few who decide to…
Read MoreThe Gospel of the Circumcision and the Uncircumcision
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/GospelOfTheCircumcisionAndTheUncircumcision.mp3 Text: Galatians 2:1-10 I. I suppose a casual reader could read verse 7 from our text and come away with the idea that two different messages were being taught. A. One being taught to the Gentiles and a different message being taught to the Jews. B. Yet the goal of the gospel was to unite Jews…
Read MoreDoes Inspiration Change a Man?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/DoesInspirationChangeAMan.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Samuel 6:1-12 I. A common teaching among the denominations is that a person cannot come to know God unless the Spirit of God enters in to change his outlook. A. It comes from a basic belief that man is born corrupt from the sin of Adam. He needs God…
Read MoreWhen Was Cornelius Saved?
When Was Cornelius Saved? — His PastWhen Was Cornelius Saved? — A Man of PrayerWhen Was Cornelius Saved? — Cornelius Experienced MiraclesWhen Was Cornelius Saved? — Cornelius Received the Holy SpiritWhen Was Cornelius Saved — We are Saved in the Same Manner by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 11:5-18 I. Sometimes is it useful to…
Read MoreWhen Is a Person Lost?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/WhenIsAPersonLost.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Jude 3-10 I. I sometimes find myself in a quandary A. I will present the biblical evidence for salvation and then I’ll be asked “Do you think my mother is lost?” B. The first thing that comes to mind is that even Michael would not condemn Satan in Jude 9 1. The…
Read MoreHate the Sin, But Not the Sinner?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/HateTheSin.mp3 Text: II Peter 3 I. It is common to face criticism when a strong stand is taken A. I noticed in the papers many years ago , that the Methodists and Episcopals were in a quandary. 1. The majority wanted strong stands against homosexuality, but a large element objected 2. The objection was that if you take…
Read MoreThe Death of Stephen
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/DeathOfStephen.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 7:51-60 I. The early church started in Jerusalem, during the Feast of Pentecost when many Jews were visiting from wide-spread nations. Acts 2:9-11 lists some of the representative nations. A. The church grew rapidly. Three thousand were added to the church on the first day – Acts 2:41 B. By…
Read MoreHate Speech
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/HateSpeech.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 5:10-16 I. One popular trend arising around the world is to criminalize talk that is branded as “hate speech.” A. Now we all know that “hate” isn’t good, so these laws passed quickly and easily B. But what exactly is “hate speech?” I found definitions, such as: 1. Speech that attacks…
Read MoreWho Are You?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/WhoAreYou.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Timothy 4:1-2 I. The news has been filled with people who claim to be something different than what they are. A. Bruce Jenners, claims he always felt he was a woman. Yet, he married three times and has six children (two from each marriage). His words and his action…
Read MoreTrue Love (Hamilton)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/True-Love.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Song of Solomon 8:6-7 I. A common question that I receive from teenagers and young adults is “How will I know that I’m in love? How will I know that this person is the right one?” A. It is a difficult question. How does a person with no experience in…
Read MoreDo We Have a Right to Our Own Opinions?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/DoWeHaveARightToOurOwnOpinion.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Peter 1:16-21 I. When two disagree, one will say “Well, everyone has a right to their own opinions.” A. It is a statement saying, “I disagree with you, but that is okay. Your thoughts are just as good as mine.” B. In some sense this is right. We may be…
Read MoreSaying the Things People Don’t Want to Hear
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/SayingThingsPeopleDontWantToHear.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Amos 7:1-9 I. God brings to Amos a vision of terrible destruction – the destruction of the northern kingdom, Israel – Amos 7:1-9 A. Israel had failed to measure up to God’s standard. They were no longer straight. They were no longer true. They were like a leaning wall ready…
Read MoreBlaming the Wrong Thing
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/BlamingTheWrongThing.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Proverbs 3:1-8 I. Years ago, an incident happened that makes a good illustration. An older woman bought a cup of coffee at a McDonalds, but not having a convenient place to set it, put it between her legs. As she drove off, the coffee sloshed and she ended up…
Read MoreOur Changing Attitude Toward the Bible
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/OurChangingAttitudeTowardTheBible.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Peter 1:22-25 I. A new translation of the Bible came out last month, called “As Good as New: A Radical Retelling of the Scriptures.” A. Actually, “translation” is not a good description of it. As my wife commented, it doesn’t even make a good paraphrase. B. Several examples were given…
Read MoreWhy Would God Save Me?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/WhyWouldGodSaveMe.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Timothy 2:1-7 I. God wants people saved – I Timothy 2:3-4 A. He doesn’t want to see even the wicked destroyed – Ezekiel 33:11 B. Why? 1. You are His child – Acts 17:28-29 2. He made you – Genesis 1:26-27 3. He bought you – I Peter 1:18-19 4. He chose you -…
Read MoreHow to be Happy
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/HowToBeHappy.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 4:1-7 I. Are you happy? Truly happy? A. For many people the answer is “I would be happy, if …” 1. If something changed, then I could be happy. 2. Sometimes the change is something simple. “Once I lose another ten pounds, I’ll be happy.” 3. But too often the demand is…
Read MoreCounting the Cost
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/CountingTheCost.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 14:25-35 I. If you look into history, most religious leaders consider their success based on the size of the crowd that follows their teaching. A. Jesus did not. In fact, in our reading for today Jesus explains how hard and how much is expected from a disciple. B. For centuries,…
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