Sermon
The Meekness of Moses
Text: Numbers 12:1-15 I. If a little boy came up to and announced, “When I grow up, I want to be the meekest man on earth!” What would you think? A. Oh, intellectually we know that meekness is a good thing. It is one of the fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22-23 B. But most of…
Read MoreProphets
Text: Jeremiah 23:9-40 I. At the founding of the church, Peter quotes the prophet Joel – Acts 2:14-21 A. A part of the foundation of the church were prophets – Ephesians 2:19-20 B. People in denominations claim that prophecy continues 1. Some claim they have prophets in their midst 2. Others essentially claim they all prophesy. They do not…
Read MoreAvoiding Debt
Text: I Timothy 6:6-12 Firms go out of their way to offer me credit, For which, I might say, I am deeply indebted! – Doris O’Brien – I. A large industry has developed in the past hundred years or so A. It has existed for centuries, but it was commonly frowned upon until recent decades B. Once…
Read MoreSatan (Hamilton)
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ezekiel 28:12-19 I. For a being who has plagued mankind since the beginning, it is surprising how little people know about Satan A. Some declare he really doesn’t exist. To these people, he is just the personification of evil in mankind. B. Others imagine a character with horns and a pitchfork who…
Read MoreWho is the Holy Spirit? (Hamilton)
I. Many people have vague notions about the being we know as the Holy Spirit A. Part of this comes from the descriptions of God. 1. Jesus has a name, but Spirit is more generic term. 2. God, the Father, and God, the Son, give us relationships that we are familiar with, but how does the Spirit fit into…
Read MoreSoul and Spirit
Soul and Spirit – Part 1Soul and Spirit – Part 2Soul and Spirit – Part 3 Text: I Thessalonians 5:11-23 I. Man is composed of three elements: body, soul, and spirit – I Thessalonians 5:23 A. The body is easy to define. 1. It has a physical dimension to it – Job 19:25-27 2. We understand that it…
Read MoreWhen There Are Problems in the Church
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. One way to learn how to handle various situations that arise in any congregation is to examine similar situations A. Our problem will not be exactly similar, but what was done, how it was done and why it was done can be greatly useful. B. Sometimes we think that the perfect church will…
Read MoreWhat is Prayer?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Prayer is not necessarily natural A. The disciples asked their Lord to teach them to pray – Lk 11:1-4 B. We know a lot about prayer, because we have seen others pray and we imitate them. C. But sometimes we assume things that are not true because we don’t know exactly what is going…
Read MoreSelf-Esteem (Hamilton)
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Let me tell you about a man I know A. He tells me that while he is not incapable, he is the most insignificant person in the group he associates with. Sometimes, he is ashamed to be connected with his friends because of the awful things that he has done in his…
Read MoreThe Social Church
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. As you visit various congregations, you will quickly notice that there are differing beliefs held by various groups. A. Some of these differences appear to be minor. Some quite significant. B. I have notice as time moves on that the number of fractures have been increasing. I count at least four or five…
Read MoreShould Christians Fast? (Sermon)
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Isaiah 58:1-12 I. Once in a while someone will ask if they ought to fast. A. Is it something acceptable in the New Testament, or was it only a part of the Old? B. Do you fast just to be doing, or does it serve some purpose? II. Purpose of Fasting A. Fasting was done…
Read MoreThe Scriptures Alone?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Peter 1 I. A fellow preacher received a question and he asked me what I thought about it. A. “Where in the Bible does it tell us that the Bible is the only or ultimate source of authority? I cannot find it anywhere! II Timothy 3:16 is the closest, but…
Read MoreEconomic Systems
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2005/10/EconomicSystems.mp3 Text: Luke 12:13-34 I. Many of the things we take for granted in our life are difficult for everyone to produce individually A. Imagine life where you had to produce everything yourself. 1. That car you drove to services, would you be able to put one together yourself? 2. What if that also required that you designed…
Read MoreA Right to Privacy?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 5:8-17 I. In our society the concept of a right to privacy has taken on a significant role A. A few years back, two men arrested for committing homosexual acts won their case by arguing that what was done in the privacy of their home could not be used against…
Read MoreA Popular Sport – Unfortunately
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Judges 16:23-30 I. In our text, the Philistine lords and ladies were getting their jollies from having a captured enemy “amuse” them. A. Exactly what Samson was doing, we don’t know B. But here was a man whom they had gouged out his eyes and used as an ox to run a…
Read MorePaul’s Imprisonment
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 2:17-30 I. We all have a tendency to make assumptions about what does not appear A. Those assumptions help us to organize what we do know B. We do this whether we are trying to determine why someone walked by without saying “Hi!” or when we read the Bible. C. Yet, at…
Read MoreThe Lord Is a Jealous God
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Nahum 1:2-8 I. In describing love – Song of Solomon 8:6-7 A. The Hebrew word is qin’ah means to be jealous, to be envious, or to be filled with zeal. 1. The root is from a word that means “to become red,” as in a person’s face turning red when angry. 2. It…
Read MoreLacking Compassion
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2005/09/Lacking-Compasion.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio I. Compassion is the deep awareness of the suffering of another and the desire to relieve the suffering. A. Jesus illustrated compassion 1. Matthew 14:14 – it was compassion that led Jesus to heal the sick 2. Matthew 20:30-34 – the healing of two blind men 3. Mark 1:40-41 – Jesus was moved…
Read MoreKing of Kings
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 47 I. The Babylonian conquer, Nebuchadnezzar, was a mighty ruler A. In his first year of reign, he destroyed the Assyrian Empire, and took over all its territory. B. He then proceeded to expand his empire conquering the mighty merchant city-state of Tyre and the ancient kingdom of Egypt. C. Daniel rightly…
Read MoreHow Did Jericho Fall?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Joshua 6:6-20 I. The record of the fall of Jericho is familiar to many people. A. It was an impressive victory for the people of Israel who had recently entered the land. B. Despite the fact that the city was heavily fortified – Joshua 6:1 C. It was completely destroyed – Joshua 6:21…
Read MoreHands that Shed Innocent Blood
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. The First Murder A. When do you think the first murder took place? B. Most people would guess Cain and Abel. C. Actually, it was earlier. Satan in the form of a serpent tempted Adam and Eve to sin. With that sin, they died. Gen. 2:17. D. Jesus remarked that Satan was a murderer from…
Read MoreGod’s Promises Are Sure
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 6:9-20 I. The Bible contains many promises of an eternal home in heaven A. How can we be sure it is really there? 1. None of us get to visit it before hand. It is not like a hotel where you might check out the beds or see if the view…
Read MoreGiving
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. We talk about giving of our best to the Master A. I tried to show that such an idea was not about physical appearance, but spiritual service. 1. We need to give the best of our time, the best of our effort, to God. 2. We need to also support the church in doing…
Read MoreFrom Whence Comes Quarrels?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Reading: James 4:1-12 I. You all have heard it before, two brothers have a disagreement and soon one accuses the other of being contentious. A. At times, it may be true, but I suspect most don’t understand the charge they are making. B. There have been times when I think it was the…
Read MoreFamilies Under Attack
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. We know that Satan is always looking for ways to destroy the works of God (I Peter 5:8) A. Sometimes his attacks are direct, but often they are subtle, so subtle that we often cannot pinpoint when the change took place and we started to stray from God’s path. B. Satan doesn’t attack…
Read MoreA Heart that Devises Wicked Plans
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton A. Eph. 4:17 – Don’t walk like the Gentiles do, in the vainity of their minds. B. They have their own teachers telling them that everything is fine – Jer. 23:7 C. A carnal, or wordly, mind is at odds with God’s purpose – Rom. 8:7
Read MoreEli and Being Soft on Sin
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. There are many things to admire about the man Eli A. He judged Israel for 40 years; during which time he was God’s spokesman. B. We find no record of any outward evil or sin in his life. C. When Eli learns that Samuel will take his place, Eli does not rebel, grow bitter,…
Read MoreThe Corruption of Money (Sermon)
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Timothy 6:3-10 I. In any discussion of false teachers you have to address the issue of money. Money is often the motivation for compromising the truth – I Timothy 6:10-11 A. Teaching for the money they can make – Titus 1:10-11 B. II Peter 2:3 – Some make merchandise of the…
Read MoreThe Book of Enoch
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2005/08/BookOfEnoch.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I John 4:1-3 I. I received a letter that objected to a lesson in one of the workbooks posted on our website. A. There was an explanation of Genesis 6:4 that this person found objectionable. 1. “Sons of God” can refer to angels (Job 1:6) or to the righteous (Hosea 1:10)…
Read MoreThe Conscience as a Guide
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 22:22-23:5 I. Teaching the difference between right and wrong A. Young children have no knowledge of good and evil – Deuteronomy 1:39 1. As a result, they are not very concerned with matters of right and wrong. 2. Mom and Dad handle those issues and let you know. B. But somewhere along the…
Read MoreClothed with Christ
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Galatians 3:26-29 I. Certain phrases are used so often that we forget the meaning of them. A. Not until someone asks does it take us back and then we have a hard time expressing what we know B. That is why young children’s questions of “why is the sky blue” or “how…
Read MoreThe Deification of Mary
Text: Luke 11:27-28 I. Many of the world’s denominations share common beliefs. They do not accept all beliefs; each has its own unique mix, but there are many common threads found in the denominational world. A. The Roman Catholics, largest of the world’s denominations, does have a belief that is unique to itself – the glory…
Read MoreChristianity by Force
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. We live in a country where the choice of one’s religion is freely made. A. It is not that way in all countries, nor has it always been like this II. The Catholic church had a long history of compelling membership A. In his book, WHAT LOVE IS THIS, Dave Hunt writes and quotes:…
Read MoreThe Kingdom: Past, Present, and Future
Text: Hebrews 11:8-16 I. God had foretold the coming of a kingdom like no other A. It was a kingdom that would not end – Daniel 2:44 1. Every kingdom of the world has ended at some point 2. Mighty kingdoms, such as Assyria 3. Ancient kingdoms, such as Egypt 4. The world has never seen an invincible kingdom B. Its…
Read MoreExploring the Nature of God in the Old Testament
Text: Deuteronomy 6:1-6 I. The nature of God is admittedly both a large subject and a difficult one A. Large because the God who holds the universe in his hand would be greater than mortal man bound to a single world – Isaiah 40:12-17 B. Difficult because all we know of God is what God has chosen…
Read MoreAmos
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Amos was a herdsman from the city of Tekoa (about 12 miles south of Jerusalem) A. Tekoa was a small town on the edge of the wilderness. B. During the reigns of King Uzziah in Judah and King Jeroboam in Israel, he was given a vision. C. He when went from a humble shepherd…
Read MoreWorship
I. At times I am amazed at the vagueness that has entered our beliefs A. I’m sure the wishy-washy-ness of the denominational world has much to do it. 1. To define something crisply means you are dividing people into two groups — those who are right and those who are wrong. 2. And “Heaven forbid, if we actually charge…
Read MoreThe Nature of Sin, Temptation, and Lust
I. The pathway to death – James 1:13-16 (handout) A. Desire 1. Each of us is born with a normal, natural set of desires. 2. Those desires are the consequences of the operation of our bodies. a. What is the purpose of thirst? Hunger? b. Does sexual desire have a purpose? B. Temptation 1. Satan tries to place us in situations where it…
Read MoreThe Lord’s Supper
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Cor. 11:17-34 I. It is a covenant meal A. Luke 22:19-20 – The cup is the new covenant B. A covenant that is taken with us in the kingdom – Matt 26:28-29 C. Covenants were often sealed with a meal shared between the two parties. 1. Jacob and Laban’s covenant – Gen 31:46,54…
Read MoreWhat is Wrong with Mixed Swimming?
Text: Ephesians 4:17-24 I. Let’s first define the issue. 1. It is not whether boys and girls can participate in the same activity. a. There are plenty of sports and other activities where both men and women participate. b. Often, as adolescence is reached, boys and girls will separate, mostly because men and women have different levels of…
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