Sermon
What is Man?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/WhatIsMan.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 8:3-9 I. Job faced a severe trials as Satan tried to get him to turn against God A. It wasn’t just the suffering that Job wrestled with. B. Trying to understand what lead to his plight also caused Job to raise other questions as well. C. One that Job asked is…
Read MoreBiblical Figures of Speech: Ellipsis
Text: Galatians 4:21-31 I. In our everyday speech, we employ figures of speech constantly and rarely think about what we are doing. A. Figures of speech are important tools because they make points standout in a statement. B. When we recognize that a figure of speech in use, it helps us understand what is being said more…
Read MoreRemember to Magnify His Work
Text: Job 36:24-33 I. In outlining the sins of the people of the world, Paul noted that the Gentiles could be justly charged with sin – Romans 1:18-23 A. No one has the excuse of not knowing that God exists. B. He and even His nature can be seen in the things God has made, leaving all…
Read MoreThe Christian’s Reign
Text: Psalm 2 I. Paul makes an interesting statement – II Timothy 2:11-12 A. We often talk about being with Christ after our death, but Paul talks about our reigning with Christ. B. He’s not the only one to make this point. John also mentions it – Revelation 3:21 C. It is a reign that will last through all…
Read MoreThe Sufficiency of the Bible
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/SufficiencyOfTheBible.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 3:1-12 I. Do we need anything beyond the Bible to know God’s will for us? A. If the Bible is all sufficient, then we would not need any church, priest, or religious leader. B. If the Bible is sufficient then we would be responsible to find the truth for ourselves…
Read MoreSpeaking in Tongues
Text: Acts 2:1-11 I. I received several questions in recent days regarding speaking in tongues A. People wanting to know what it was, what is the heavenly language, what is the unknown tongue B. But probably more than anything else, they want to know if you must have the gift of tongues as evidence of having the…
Read MoreBy One Spirit (Hamilton)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/ByOneSpirit.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Corinthians 12:1-13 I. How does one become a Christian? A. You’ll find a wide variety of answers in the world. You could even be left with the impression that there isn’t really a single way at all. B. John 14:6 – There is only one way to God the Father…
Read MoreOf Prophecy and Football
I. We all know that there are fairly wild predictions concerning the future. A. The prophecies in the Bible are often used to support these off the wall claims. B. One of the reasons why we have been studying Revelation is so you know what the Bible actually says. II. Consider this page from a web page by Jack…
Read MoreThe Apostles (Sermon)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/Apostles.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Corinthians 11:1-15 I. I Corinthians 12:28-29; Ephesians 4:11-13 A. The world contains many strange ideas regarding apostles. B. The Mormons and some other denominations claim their organization is more truly like the first century church because they have apostles. C. I have had some strong discussions with men who claim the…
Read MoreThe Authority of the Apostles (Hamilton)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/AuthorityOfTheApostles.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 2:41-47 I. An argument that you frequently hear is “Jesus never said ____ was wrong.” A. It doesn’t matter if the issue is thoroughly discussed in the New Testament, the focus is directed solely on whether Jesus directly made a statement on the subject. B. The implication of the argument…
Read MoreA Defense of Marriage
DefenseOfMarriage(1)DefenseOfMarriage(2) by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ecclesiastes 9:2-9 I. A recent article in Newsweek was brought to my attention. It is the cover story, called “Our Mutual Joy” by Lisa Miller, published 12/15/2008. [https://www.newsweek.com/gay-marriage-our-mutual-joy-83287] A. It claims that those who use the Bible to oppose gay marriages are dishonest. B. The article itself is a hodge-podge of…
Read MoreUse of the Lord’s Money
Text: II Corinthians 9:1-15 I. I received an interesting question from a brother in the Philippines, he wrote: “Here in our country brethren depend on planting tobacco for income. One brother has asked me if it is good for the church to use the Lord’s money to grow tobacco in order for the church to…
Read MoreIt’s Time To Grow Up
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/Its-Time-to-Grow-Up.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: I Peter 1:22-2:3 I. It seems every parent at some point tells their child, “Why don’t you just grow up?” A. In one sense, that is what they are doing; but what the parents want is for the child to stop acting so much like a child and…
Read MoreHow to Grow
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/HowToGrow.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 5:6-14 I. Each of us started life as a cell so small it would take a microscope to see you. A. But we don’t stay that size, we grow – and rapidly – into a small infant born into this world, we become toddlers, children, adolescents, and eventually adults.…
Read MoreJust Justices
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/JustJustices.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 10:22-38 I. Many times Jesus faced a mob set to stone him for his words. A. In our reading, the thing which upset them was Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God. B. They understood that this was not a light claim, but one of a direct relationship. They…
Read MorePolitical Issues
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/PoliticalIssues.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Peter 2:13-17 I. Should Christians be involved in the issues surrounding elections and the operation of our government? A. I’m not talking about a congregation endorsing a particular candidate or financing someone’s campaign. B. But should stands be made regarding issues which government officials debate? 1. For example: abortion, contraception for unmarried…
Read MoreEternal Security (Hamilton)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2004/08/EternalSecurity.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I John 2:1-6 I. A large number of denominations follow a set of teachings popularized by John Calvin in the 1400’s A. His teachings were not new. They actually date back to man named Augustine who lived in the 400’s. Augustine’s teachings were very influential in the formation of the…
Read MoreWho Is Lost?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/WhoIsLost.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Thessalonians 1:3-10 I. Whenever I’ve published material which is read by people who claim to be Christians but are not living by God’s word, I’ve received complaints. A. “Why are you bothering with this issue? You should be seeking the lost instead. All you are doing is causing division…
Read MoreFrankness
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2004/09/Frankness.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Proverbs 28:23 I. Most of us desire the esteem of those around us. We don’t want people to think bad of us; instead, we want the respect of people. A. It is that basic desire that Satan exploits – James 1:13-16 B. Behind “pride of life” is the simple desire of…
Read MoreRemember (Hamilton)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/Remember.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ecclesiastes 12:1 I. At times I get teased about my memory. A. A researcher at Johns Hopkins noted the things people most often forget. 1. Names – 83% 2. Where something is – 60% 3. Telephone numbers – 57% 4. Words – 53% 5. What was said – 49% 6. Faces – 42% 7. Whether you’ve just…
Read MoreAids to Remembrance
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/AidsToRemembrance.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Corinthians 11:23-25 I. A major objective in partaking of the Lord’s Supper is to remember Jesus’ death – I Corinthians 11:23-25 A. It is often our intent to keep his death in mind, but worldly distractions impose themselves in our minds at time. 1. We might worry about finances…
Read MoreWho’s Who of the New Testament
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/WhosWhoInTheNewTestament.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 9:1-8 I. Reading some parts of the New Testament becomes difficult because several people have the same name. A. Keeping them straight is sometimes worse than a logic puzzle B. In our society we use multiple names with a surname as an attempt to distinguish people from each other. C. In…
Read MorePsalms 119
Psalm119-1Psalm119-2Psalm119-3Psalm119-4Psalm119-5Psalm119-6 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Proverb 4:10-17 I. How do you learn? What do you need to learn? A. The evil decay, but a child of God must learn – II Timothy 3:13-17 B. It is important for all aspects of life – II Peter 1:3 C. Your parents have invested a lot in you, so has…
Read MoreJealousy
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/Jealousy.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. We started this morning trying to understand the concepts of envy and jealousy II. What is jealousy? A. “Vigilant guarding of a possession.” B. Zelos – It literally means “heat” (Deut 4:24), sometimes translated as zeal. C. The desire to hold on to what is yours for your own personal use. D. Sometimes jealousy is…
Read MoreHaman
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/Haman.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. One of my favorite books in the Bible is the book of Esther. A. It is not a very long book and it is very easy to read. Its story is so compelling that I will be looking for a passage in Esther and before I know it, I’m caught up…
Read MoreWhen Good Men Do Nothing
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/WhenGoodMenDoNothing.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Edmund Burke once said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” A. In the endless battle between good and evil, it is seldom the numbers that determine the outcome of each skirmish. B. Many times, the side for the right has beaten overwhelming odds…
Read MoreEnvy
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/Envy.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Most of us understand that it is wrong to be envious. A. Though most of us have only a vague idea what envy means. B. Often we confuse it with jealousy. II. The meaning of envy A. “To look with ill-will, to look against.” B. “Chagrin or discontent at the excellence or good fortune of…
Read MoreCan There Be More Than One Coming?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/CanThereBeMoreThanOneComing1.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Peter 3:1-14 I. There is a movement that has gotten popular in various churches to state that all references to the Lord’s coming refer to the destruction of Jerusalem. A. It is frequently called preterism, the A.D. 70 movement, or realized eschatology 1. “Eschatology” means the doctrine of last things.…
Read MoreThree Days and Three Nights
Text: Matthew 12:38-42 I. Jesus’ statement that he would spend three days and three nights in the grave has puzzled people through the ages. A. If Jesus died on Friday afternoon and was buried just before sundown and then arose before dawn on Sunday, that is only 36 hours. B. Some try to explain this by pointing…
Read MoreWhere Is the Kingdom?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/WhereIsTheKingdom.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 18:33-40 I. We frequently talk about the Jews’ mistaken concept of the kingdom A. They were expecting the Messiah to restore Israel to the glory it had in the days of David and Solomon. B. Despite being around Jesus for several years, the concept was so firmly rooted in the…
Read MoreDogs Don’t Go to Heaven
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/DogsDontGoToHeaven.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Revelation 22:12-17 I. When we want to illustrate a point, we often will search through life around us to find something similar. It is especially good if the audience understands the example A. Those points make a lasting impression on us because we are familiar with the illustration B. Thus Jesus’…
Read MoreThe Prayer in My Hand
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/PrayerInMyHand.mp3 Text: Luke 11:1-13 I. I ran across small article aimed at teaching young children for who they should remember to pray. A. I thought you might find it interesting as well B. Not just for teaching children, but it offers a lesson for us as well II. The prayer in my hand A. If I hold up no…
Read MoreEntering His Rest
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/EnteringHisRest.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 4:1-11 I. There are religious groups who argue that we are still under the Ten Commandments. In particular, the commandment to rest on the Sabbath Day A. One argument is based on Hebrews 4:9, which says there remains a Sabbath rest for God’s people. B. One person asked about it…
Read MoreGod Overthrows the Wicked
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/GodOverthrowsTheWicked.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Do not trust in men – Psalm 146 A. Even a high ranking man is not trustworthy B. Men die. Even with good intentions, they cannot always accomplish what they desire. C. God, however, can do all things. D. It is important to remember that men are very limited in power II. David is opposed…
Read MoreA Brief History of Mormonism
A Brief History of Mormonism (Part 1)A Brief History of Mormonism (Part 2) by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Jude 3-21 I. It is not politically correct to speak against another person’s religion. A. As a result many people don’t know much about the religion of another person – Hosea 4:6 B. But how do we deal with…
Read MoreThe Bible’s Witnesses
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/The-Bibles-Witnesses.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Isaiah 43:8-13 I. The strength of any testimony depends on the quality of the witnesses giving the testimony A. In a court of law the witnesses are grilled as heavily as the defendants. 1. An inconsistent witness is not a believable witness 2. Thus the integrity of the witness matters B. God made…
Read MoreThe Preaching of Jeremiah
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/The-Preaching-of-Jeremiah.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 11:32-40 I. As the southern nation of Judah rapidly slid into degradation, there was one bright moment before the end that came in the reign of Josiah. A. It was during his reign that God’s covenant was rediscovered – II Kings 22:8-11 B. Josiah understood what had happened and where…
Read MoreThe Marks of Jesus
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/TheMarksOfJesus.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Galatians 6:11-18 I. Paul battled much of his life with his own Jewish brethren A. They insisted on preserving the Law in many ways. B. A motivation is to be expected – Galatians 6:12 C. It appears some tried to justify it by appealing to Paul. 1. After all he had Timothy circumcised!…
Read MoreViews of the Cross
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/Views-of-the-Cross.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Galatians 6:14 I. How do you see the cross? A. What significance does it have for you? B. To Paul, it marked his separation from the world – Galatians 6:14 C. It was the focus of his preaching – I Corinthians 2:2 D. It was something many could not understand – I Corinthians…
Read MoreWhy Sex Without Being Married is a Sin
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/WhySexWithoutBeingMarriedIsASin.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Corinthians 12:19-21 I. I received the following note: “Hi! I’m a 21 year old girl from Iceland, and I found this site by accident as I was looking for answers on the Internet about … contraception. I found the answer here and want to thank you for a good…
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