Sermon
Being Made New
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/BeingMadeNew.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Isaiah 42:1-12 I. It is that time of year when we begin thinking about the new year. A. Sure, it is just a date, a marker in the sand, but it becomes an opportunity to look at what was done and resolve to do better. B. Paul talked about that in…
Read MoreNeglect
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Neglect.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Judges 4:4-16 I. The story of Deborah and Barak is one that many remember A. In part it is because it involved a woman who was both a prophetess and a judge 1. She didn’t fight the battle, that was left to Barak, but she did travel with the army 2. Because…
Read MoreSpiritual Worship
Text: Psalm 95 I. A critical danger that happens to most Christians is approaching the worship of God by rote. A. We go through the motions of worship, but our minds are not fully engaged. 1. With their hearts not involved, worship becomes a drudgery 2. We understand intellectually that is not right, but we wonder how do we…
Read MoreDidn’t You Already Say That?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/DidntYouAlreadySayThat.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 119:9-16 I. Readers’ Digest back in 1982 release a condensation of the Revised Standard Version. The goal was to produce a more readable, shorter Bible that might attract people to the full Bible. A. It was soundly and universally rejected because the result ended up distorting the biblical message.…
Read MoreThe Straw that Broke the Camel’s Back
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 39 I. It was a rickety wagon that the man was using. He had been moving goods for many years and was quite good at it. This family needed to be moved across town, so he piled their worldly possessions onto his wagon. The last load made quite a…
Read MoreElijah
Elijah – Part 1Elijah – Part 2Elijah – Part 3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 17:1-13 I. The Bible is filled with memorable characters. Among the prophets, Elijah stands out. A. We don’t know much about his background. He just suddenly appears on the scene forecasting doom to Ahab – I Kings 17:1 B. His name…
Read MoreSelf-Inflicted Wounds
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/SelfInflictedWounds.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 7:1-5 I. I’ve mentioned to several people an interesting book by Gregory Koukl called Tactics. A. It discuss how Christians can discuss the gospel with others, especially those who might be hostile to the ideas of Christianity. 1. It is about not only presenting points, but getting the other person…
Read MoreDo Men Have a Sinful Nature?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/DoMenHaveASinfulNature.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 2:1-10 I. Romans 3:23 – Why is it that everyone sins, barring Jesus our Lord? A. A dominant teaching among the denominations is the idea that people are born sinful. 1. The Westminster Confession gives a popular view: “Our first parents, being seduced by the subtlety and temptations of Satan,…
Read MoreWho Is Responsible for Sin?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/WhoIsResponsibleForSin.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ezekiel 18:4-20 I. A number of years ago, I couldn’t find a parking space in our lot because of some school function across the street. I finally found a spot on the side of one street among many other cars and walked to the building. When I came out,…
Read MoreWere Elders Limited to the Age of Miracles? (Sermon)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/WereEldersLimitedToTheAgeOfMiracles.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 20:17-35 I. Some times I wonder where ideas about the Scriptures come from. A. The passages are clear, but it seems that some want a certain outcome, so they seek whatever means they can find to arrive at that result. B. I was asked if elders were only for the…
Read MoreAre You Weary of God?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/AreYouWearyOfGod.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Micah 6:1-3 I. Being a Christian is a commitment for life. A. Matthew 7:13-14 – Few make it. B. Few made it from Israel – Romans 9:27 C. People will want in, but don’t put in the effort until too late – Luke 13:23-30 II. It isn’t that God is trying to keep…
Read MoreThe Value of Souls
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/ValueOfSouls.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 15:1-10 I. It is far too easy to lose sight of the goal A. We look at the sin in the world around us, knowing that we are not to get caught up in it – Romans 6:1-2 B. We don’t want to be influenced by the world – I…
Read MoreA Good Name
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/GoodName.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Mark 14:3-9 I. During Memorial Day, this country sets aside time to remember those who have died before us. A. How do people remember those who have left this life? (Actual tombstones) 1. Beneath this stone, a lump of clay, Lies stingy Jimmy Wyatt. Who died one morning just at ten And…
Read MoreThe False Prophets Who Cry “Wolf!”
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/FalseProphetsWhoCryWolf.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text:: Ezekiel 13:3-9 I. It was 6pm on May 21 and thousands learned that they were duped into believing that Judgment Day had come. A. So many were saying before the day 1. Well, I’m certain it will happen, but even if it doesn’t, I rather be prepared just in case. 2. Well,…
Read MoreThe Temple of the Lord
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/TempleOfTheLord.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Corinthians 6:14-7:1 I. What is a temple? A. In warning Christians not to bind themselves with unbelievers, Paul reminds us that we are the temple of God – II Corinthians 6:16 1. It is the place where God dwells – I Corinthians 3:16 2. Both on an individual scale as well…
Read MoreThe Immorality of Atheism
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ImmoralityOfAtheism.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 1:28-32 I. Atheism is a religion of destruction A. Its adherents try to destroy the belief system of any contrary belief system 1. It demands proof from others while believing that giving no proof of its own is somehow “proof” 2. As an example, “Prove there is a God” is never…
Read MoreDoes Science Refute the Bible?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/DoesScienceRefuteTheBible.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Satan throws doubt on the God’s word through various means A. "The early parts of Genesis are just a myth. Everyone knows that evolution has been proven." B. Yet, evolution has never been proven. There exists more evidence to show that the evolution as described by Darwin cannot exist. II. Why is it…
Read MoreHow Old Is the World? (Sermon)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/HowOldIsTheEarth.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Job 38:1-11 I. The assumption that our world is billions of years old appears everywhere in our culture. A. It is so prevalent that few stop and question whether it is true. B. But as God pointed out to Job, man wasn’t there at the beginning (Job 38:2). Everything we have…
Read MoreJabez’s Prayer
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/JabezsPrayer.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Chronicles 4:9-10 I. In a long list of names, under the family of Judah is brief mention of a person named Jabez. A. We learn that his name means “he will cause pain.” Though what kind of pain he caused, outside of childbirth we do not know. B. He is…
Read MoreWhy Did God Have Children Killed?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/WhyDidGodHaveChildrenKilled.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Samuel 15:1-9 I. Some questions, by their very nature are difficult topics to take up. The things discussed make us queasy. A. Yet, you will find that those opposed to Christianity will often attack with these same topics for the very reason that they know it makes you uncomfortable.…
Read MoreThe Sacrifice of Isaac
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/SacrificeOfIssac.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Genesis 22:1-14 I. There are stories that cause some concern because they involve the concept of sacrificing a human being to God. A. They cause concern because the Bible is very clear about God’s opinion on human sacrifices. B. The slaying of humans invokes a death sentence – Genesis 9:5 C. False…
Read MoreThe Lord is My Help and My Deliverer
Text: Psalm 40 I. Evil exists in this world, and God is concerned about our welfare – Psalm 121 A. With God on our side we have no fear of man – Hebrews 13:5-6 B. Yet many wonder why troubles beset us when the Almighty has promised us protection. II. We often don’t recognize God’s protection A. Perhaps a…
Read MoreThe Book of Jasher
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/BookOfJasher.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Samuel 1:17-27 I. It is no mystery that people are not happy with God’s word. Through the ages people have sought ought various reasons to modify it. A. No long ago, Dan Brown wrote a fictional book called The DaVinci Code. At the core of this book was the…
Read MoreMarriage Covenants
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/MarriageCovenants.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 5:22-33 I. We’ve all talked about the changes in society we have seen during our lives A. One aspect is the rapid change in people’s view of marriage B. The number of divorces has sky-rocketed. 1. Marriages today can be terminated just because one person wants to end the marriage. No…
Read MoreAre Non-Christians Subject to the Laws of God?
Text: II Thessalonians 1:3-10 I. Without a doubt people make a mess of their lives A. One of the hardest things about studying with people these days is the tangle they create in their families 1. You have people who have married and divorced serval times 2. They have kids by multiple partners, some to whom they never…
Read MoreThe Importance of Covenants – Part II
The Importance of Covenants – Part 3The Importance of Covenants – Part 4 Text: Jeremiah 31:31-34 I. Covenants play a major role throughout the Scriptures. A. These are not promises, such as to be somewhere next week. Nor are they just solemn oaths. B. Covenants create a binding relationship between people, much like a treaty. II. Parts of…
Read MoreDrinking in the Bible
Grapes Matthew 7:16 Old Testament Sermon with Audio: Drinking in the Old Testament Article: Old Testament Beverages New Testament Sermon with audio: Drinking in the New Testament Article: New Testament Beverages
Read MoreThe Importance of Covenants – Part I
The Importance of Covenants – Part 1The Importance of Covenants – Part 2 Text: Genesis 9:9-17 I. People have lost their understanding of covenants. People really don’t understand them or their importance. A. In part, it is because we don’t honor our word as we once did as a people. 1. Like New Year resolutions, they only…
Read MoreWhen It’s All About Me
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/WhenItsAllAboutMe.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 12:13-21 I. Peter once tried to hide the fact that he followed Jesus. A. Despite repeated accusations that he was seen with Jesus, he denied the truth. B. But one servant called his bluff, pointing out “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you” (Matthew 26:73).…
Read MoreSelfish Christians
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/SelfishChristians.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 18:23-35 I. Some people are quick to tell you what you need to do, but they can’t see anything that needs improvement in their own lives at the moment. A. I had a phone call that had me thinking about this. 1. A woman was looking for a haircut for…
Read MoreCan We Know?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/CanWeKnow.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 24:36-44 I. A massive advertising campaign has started claiming that Jesus’ second coming and the Judgment Day will be on May 21, 2011. A. Different billboard proclaim slogans, such as “The wise men knew, we can know” or “Noah knew, we can know.” B. Most of us understand that this…
Read MoreSelling Yourself
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2005/07/SellingYourself.mp3 Text: I Kings 21:1-26 I. Have you heard the old phrase that someone had sold his soul to the Devil? A. Unfortunately, it is not just some mythological idea. It has some biblical basis. B. Elijah, in I Kings 21:20, accuses Ahab of selling himself when he took possession of Naboth’s vineyard. 1. Notice though that Ahab…
Read MoreConfessing Our Faults
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/ConfessingOurFaults.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 32 I. I John 1:8-10 A. Forgiveness of our sins is not automatic. God has always required action on our part to gain His forgiveness. B. In this passage we learn that God wants us to confess our faults. II. Confession has always been required by God A. In the garden, God…
Read MoreSlavery in the Bible
Slavery in the Bible – Part 1Slavery in the Bible – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 6:15-23 I. At times you will run into people who attempt to discredit the Bible by stating that some aspect of its teaching was immoral or at least shady. A. The idea is that if it was…
Read MoreThe Continuation of Slavery
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/SlaveryInTheBiblePart1.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 8:28-36 I. It is difficult to imagine, but slavery continues in the United States A. Oh, I know that slavery officially ended with the passing of the thirteenth amendment on December 6, 1865. B. Yet slavery continues to this day. C. Perhaps you are thinking, “I’m an American. I was born…
Read MoreIf I Don’t Preach on Hell
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IfIDontPreachOnHell1.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Corinthians 9:16-23 I. It won’t take you long to find out that the topic of Hell is not popular among the denominations of the world A. The Jehovah’s Witnesses declare that it doesn’t exist. Nor do the Episcopals, Methodists, and some Baptists want to discuss the matter. B. A survey…
Read MoreIs the Papacy Biblical?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 16:13-20 I. The world was fascinated with the process the Roman Catholic Church used to pick a new pope. A. We were given detailed accounts of all the traditions surrounding a pope’s selection B. We were shown the events step by step. C. But in all the hoopla, how many wondered where…
Read MoreFalse Teachers and Lying Prophets
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/FalseTeachersAndLyingProphets.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. As long as God has had teachers and prophets in the world there have been those who taught falsely. A. Jeremiah complained about the false prophets – Jeremiah 5:30-31 B. Paul had problems with teachers binding the Old Law – Acts 15:1-2 C. Paul warned the Ephesian elders that false teachers would…
Read MoreDaniel’s Seventy Weeks (Sermon)
Seventy WeeksSeventy Weeks Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Daniel 9:20-27 A. Many ideas have been attributed to what was predicted by Gabriel in this prophecy and when these things would take place. B. I will not claim to be an expert on these matters, but I would like to examine this prophecy in detail so that…
Read MoreIt Is Not for You to Know
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/ItIsNotForYouToKnow.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 1:1-11 I. How would your decisions change if you knew what would happen tomorrow? A. Without a doubt we are curious people. We don’t like being kept in the dark. 1. You can see it in any child: “Are we there yet?” 2. But it remains present in adults: “Do you…
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