Sermon
Submission
Submission – Part 1Submission – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. How you perceive something often depends on your approach. A. Let me illustrate: A business man was interviewing applicants for the position of divisional manager. He asked each applicant the simple question, “What is two and two?” The first interviewee was a journalist. His answer…
Read MoreNoah, You Have Got to be Kidding!
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/NoahYouHaveToBeKidding.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Most are familiar with the story of Noah, the great flood, and the ark Noah had to build A. However, Noah was also a preacher of righteousness – II Peter 2:5 B. The world Noah lived in was a moral cesspool. 1. Some scholars estimate that the world’s population at that time equal…
Read MoreWho’s in Charge?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/WhosInCharge.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 21:23-27 I. Common sense ought to tell you that someone has to be in charge A. Imagine a society where there were no laws and no government. 1. What would we have? Chaos! 2. We even have a term for it – anarchy 3. The book of Judges documents the decay of…
Read MoreMust It Be Spelled Out?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/MustItBeSpelledOut.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Isaiah 8:16-20 I. We know people want to live life as they please; yet, there’s this Bible that says the things they want to do are wrong. What’s a person to do to avoid guilt? A. For some it is finding shelter behind saying that their particular sin isn’t specifically…
Read MoreThe Judge of All the Earth
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/JudgeOfAllTheEarth.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Job 34 I. Have you ever told another, “It’s not fair!” A. What is meant is that you do not think you are being treated in a just or right way. B. Justice means “what is right” and just means “a state of being right or acting in right conduct.” C. Justice…
Read MoreGod Is Love
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/GodIsLove.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I John 4:7-21 I. What is love? How would you define it? How would you know if you have it? A. It is a common question that teens have. How while I know I’m in love? B. The Bible gives two definitions: 1. Song of Solomon 8:6-8 describes the passion of love…
Read MoreGod Cannot Lie
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/GodCannotLie.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Kings 22:1-28 I. Heathen men molded their concept of their gods into their own image – Romans 1:22-23 A. We can read stories of the Greek gods and in their interaction with men they often lied and cheated to accomplish their goals. 1. The Greeks saw their gods as just…
Read MoreMy God of Mercy
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/MyGodOfMercy.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 2:1-10 I. Several years ago I taught High School math and science in a private school A. As happens occasionally, one student copied from another and turned in the assignment. 1. The school’s policy was to give zero grades to both the cheater and the one cheated from. a. It was…
Read MoreRegarding God as Holy
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/HolyIsHisName2.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Peter 1:13-19 I. Peter charges all Christians to conduct themselves in holiness – I Peter 1:15-16 A. We will not see God without holiness – Hebrews 12:14 B. And knowing that this world will end and we all must face God – II Peter 3:11 C. Holiness is the idea of…
Read MoreThe Sinner’s Prayer
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/SinnersPrayer.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 9:1-19 I. A key feature of salvation in many denominations is the praying of the sinner’s prayer. A. It is generally presented at the end of a service to tell people how they may be saved. B. Each “Sinner’s Prayer” varies in detail, but generally carry the same theme: that…
Read MoreHow We Ought to Pray
How We Ought to Pray – Part 1How We Ought to Pray – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 11:1-13 I. Being creatures of habit, we often fall into a pattern of doing certain things in certain ways. A. There is nothing wrong with a habit, so long as it is a good habit. B. In…
Read MoreYou Just Don’t Understand
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/YouJustDontUnderstand.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 119:97-104 I. Some people are confident that no other person can possibly understand what they are going through. A. “You’ve never struggled with addiction” B. “You have more money, so you can’t understand my difficulties.” C. “You grew up in the church, I didn’t.” D. “You’ve never experienced prejudice.” E. Do you have…
Read MoreGentle Cords and Bands of Love
Gentle Cords and Bands of Love – Part 1Gentle Cords and Bands of Love – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hosea 11 I. Most people’s view of love is very limited. A. “God is Love” they declare; therefore, any sin that I may be involved in doesn’t matter because “God is Love.” 1. There can’t…
Read MoreThe Flesh of Man
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/FleshOfMan.mp3 Text: I Corinthians 15:35–44 I. In attempting to train our puppy, we often found ourselves scolding the dog for chewing on everything in reach – clothing, ankles, fingers. A. Why does a dog behave as it does? Certainly mama dog did not teach him to chew on everything in sight. B. Animals do what comes natural…
Read MoreStandards (Hamilton)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Standards.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Kings 17:7-23 I. How do determine what is right or wrong? A. How does your neighbor decide? Or your co-workers? B. We all base our behavior on standards that we have accepted as authoritative, but those standards vary. C. What makes a good standard? 1. It needs to be fixed a. A standard…
Read MoreHave Miracles Ceased?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/HaveMiraclesCeased.mp3 Text: John 9:14-34 I. Several denominations teach the continuance of miracles A. Proofs offered are based on emotional feelings and indirect evidence (I know a person who heard a person claim they saw …) B. The standard appealed to is what a person thinks is right C. To oppose is taken as the same as calling the…
Read MoreMiracles in the New Testament
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/MiraclesInTheNewTestament.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I. Many claim to have miraculous gifts, just like those given in the New Testament A. It doesn’t matter that you or I can show verses that state such gifts were temporary and were going to end. B. It doesn’t matter that most of the big time preachers claiming such abilities…
Read MoreFired Up, But Only Half-Baked
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/FiredUpButOnlyHalfBaked.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hosea 7:1-10 I. We admire those driven by a passion for the things that they do. A. Radio and TV shows that feature people passionately defending their views are popular. B. In religion as well, people are drawn to groups that display rich emotions. C. Passion is wonderful if it is directed…
Read MoreWe Can Know the Truth
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/WeCanKnowTheTruth.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Objectivity is not a strong point in our society A. Objective means the existence of something outside of oneself. B. Our society prefers things to be subjective – belonging to one’s own mind – especially when dealing with matters of right and wrong. 1. “It doesn’t really matter what I believe, as…
Read MoreThree Roads to Learning
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. There are three roads to learning, whether we talk about school work or Bible study A. Prov. 2:6 – The Lord gives wisdom, knowledge, and understanding B. Prov. 24:3-4 – Compared to a house 1. Knowledge is the comprehension of facts. It fills our minds with pleasant and useful things 2. Understanding is the reasoning…
Read MoreWisdom
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. What would you consider valuable? A. Money, home, job, a good life? B. Yet there is something more valuable; more important C. Today we will talk about wisdom II. What is wisdom? A. Can you name something that is wise? 1. Many say an owl is. But it is just a bird 2. It’s traits are those…
Read MoreWhy Get Married?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/WhyGetMarried.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Genesis 2:18-24 I. Society’s attitude toward marriage has changed drastically over the last few decades. A. Fewer people are marrying while at the same time homosexuals are demanding the right to marry. B. I’ve been told in recent years: 1. “My parents divorced. I don’t want to put my kids through that,…
Read MoreHow Long Was the Egyptian Bondage?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/HowLongWasTheEgyptianBondage.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Exodus 12:30-41 I. As Christians, we need to be prepared to make a defense – Jude 3; I Peter 3:15 A. People don’t want to follow God’s word, so they figure if they can cast doubt in one area, they can ignore the Bible in all areas. B. One way is…
Read MoreConverting a Soul
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/ConvertingASoul.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Colossians 2:1-7 I. When dealing with people, it should not surprise anyone that there will be disagreements. A. Being people, each individual has his own mix of ideas and desires. B. The true difficulty comes in getting others to do what needs to be done when they aren’t inclined to do…
Read MoreThe Resurrection of Jesus (Hamilton)
The Resurrection of JesusThe Resurrection of Jesus – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 13:16-41 I. Central to every Christian’s belief in his salvation is the resurrection of Jesus – I Corinthians 15:12-19 A. If Jesus was not raised, . . . 1. Then every preacher has been teaching falsehoods 2. Our faith in the Bible…
Read MoreThe Truth About Jesus’ Birth
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. The world, at this time of year, turns its attention to the birth of Jesus A. The secular world sees opportunity to profit B. The denominations moan about how their holiday is being secularized C. And the real problem is that almost no one is interested in the truth II. From the beginning of the…
Read MoreA Good Testimony
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/GoodTestimony.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: III John I. The book of III John is not very long, but it teaches us many things concerning our example. A. There is the bad example of Diotrephes, but there is the excellent example of Demetrius – III John 11-12 B. People spoke well of him, but John mentions that…
Read MoreWhen God Forsook Jesus
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/WhenGodForsookJesus.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 27:33-54 I. Assumptions can lead to wrong conclusions A. As Jesus was dying on the cross, he cried out – Matthew 27:46 B. Some claim that God abandoned Jesus because Jesus took on the world’s sins: 1. “My answer is that it was Jesus, the Man who became sin for…
Read MoreDo You Know What Is Following You?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/DoYouKnowWhatIsFollowingYou.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Timothy 5:24-25 I. I guess my wife and I are reaching another milestone in life. People we’ve known, who are our age, are beginning to pass away. A. It might sound sad, but it really isn’t. I was thinking about the passing of someone recently. He had a few…
Read MoreWhen I am Old, Then I’ll be Good
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/WhenIAmOldThenIllBeGood.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 25:1-13 I. In Jesus’ parable of the vineyard workers we learn that salvation is available to all who will come to the Lord, no matter when it is done – Matthew 20:1-16 A. Jesus in his mercy chooses to treat all alike. B. When an elderly man wrote to me,…
Read MoreA Tale of Two Women
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/TaleOfTwoWomen.mp3 Text: Proverbs 1:20-33 I. Solomon addresses the book of Proverbs to young men – Proverbs 1:8 A. And in the course of his advice on many subjects, he introduces us to two women: Wisdom and unnamed immoral woman B. These aren’t actual women but personifications of two ideas C. The question left hanging in the air is…
Read MoreParenting Grade-School Children — Responsibility Training
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ParentingGradeSchoolChildrenResponsibilityTraining.mp3 by Jeffrey W Hamilton Text: Lamentations 3:25-36 I. How quickly our children grow A. The years between five and nine seem to quickly fly by B. The children enter school. C. Relationships with people outside family develops 1. Teachers 2. Friends – usually strongly attached to same sex D. Sibling rivalry common especially with those of the opposite sex E. Growth…
Read MoreBy What Authority Do You Do These Things?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ByWhatAuthorityDoYouDoTheseThings.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 21:23-27 I. The Book of Judges discusses the ups and downs of the children of Israel in following God. A. It quickly becomes apparent that there are more downs than ups. B. Most telling though is how the book ends – Judges 21:25 C. Here was a society that didn’t follow…
Read MoreGiving and Taking a Rebuke
by Lance Blackburn Rebuke – to admonish, charge, convict; a stern correction Rebuking is a vital part of the Christian’s life This is true of giving and receiving rebukes Jesus often rebuked His disciples: Mark 8:33; Luke 9:55 Paul commanded Timothy and Titus to rebuke: I Timothy 5:20; II Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:13; 2:15 Wisdom…
Read MoreThe Prudent Person
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/PrudentPerson.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Thessalonians 5:1-10 I. The Hebrew word arum refers to a clever or crafty person. A. In a negative way it refers to a person who deceives or tricks another person, such as the serpent in the Garden – Genesis 3:1 B. But it can also refer to the person to…
Read MoreParenting Pre-School Children – Obedience Training
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ParentingPreschoolersObedienceTraining.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 6:1-4 I. Simply because limits are placed, it doesn’t mean that they are always followed A. Children of this age have a fair ability to communicate B. A source of endless “Why?” 1. It is no longer enough to know something exists, they want a reason. 2. Not so much as to…
Read MoreSpiritual Junk Food
Spiritual Junk Food – Part 1Spiritual Junk Food – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Colossians 2:8-23 I. There are always those who will try to destroy the work of God, offering up human derived philosophies to override God given truth – Colossians 2:3-4, 8 A. While sounding plausible, they are in fact empty -…
Read MoreWhy Is Evil Allowed?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/WhyIsEvilAllowed.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ecclesiastes 8:6-13 I. It has happened again. Incomprehensible horror has struck to kill innocent children. A. But we want to know why? Why did it happen? Why couldn’t it be stopped? B. I’ve seen guns blamed, drugs blamed, psychological problems blamed, schools blamed, and, yes, even God blamed – Psalms 10:1…
Read MorePredestined to Glory
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PredestinedToGlory.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 1:3-14 I. The confusion over predestination isn’t due to understanding that it exists; rather, the questions is who was predestined and for what purpose. A. “the doctrine that God in consequence of his foreknowledge of all events infallibly guides those who are destined for salvation” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary) B. “The doctrine…
Read MoreThe Holman Christian Standard Bible
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/HolmanChristianStandardBible.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Peter 1:16-21 I. Publishers are producing more translations of the Bible, in part because a popular translation can lead to a good amount of profit from royalties. A. This means a drive to present the text of the Bible in modern terms for readability. B. In 2012 the most popular…
Read More