Sermon
Fruitful Christians
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Fruitful-Christians.mp3 by Jeffery W. Hamilton Text John 15:1-8 I. We know that Jesus’ words in John 15 concerning the vine and branches are dealing with individual Christians and not denominations. A. Jesus is the vine, each one of us are branches off that vine, and God is the vinedresser. B. But don’t get so caught up in…
Read MoreDeath
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Death.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Job 14:1-15 I. Death is first mentioned in Genesis 2:17 as a consequence for partaking of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil A. In the punishment of Adam, death is mentioned – Genesis 3:19 B. Yet, Adam lived 930 years before dying – Genesis 5:5…
Read MoreOur Home
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Our-Home.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Corinthians 5:1-9 I. God has promised us a place of rest – Hebrews 4:1-3 A. There are days when I turn over in bed and start to think about all the things I need to get done today. 1. Even though it is earlier than I need to get up,…
Read MoreYesterday
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Yesterday.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 90 I. Yesterday only exists in fading memories, worn out photographs, and history books A. It is a collection of, often times, imperfect records kept in imperfect medium II. Yet, it is also one of the finest learning centers available, if we are willing to go there to learn A. Paul…
Read MoreUnleavened Bread
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Unleavened-Bread.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Exodus 12:14-20 I. Sometimes you can’t wait A. When Lot invited men to spend the night at his home, he didn’t have time wait for bread dough to rise, so his feast was served with unleavened bread – Genesis 19:3 B. When it was time for Israel to leave Egypt, the…
Read MoreMary’s House
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Marys-House.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 12:12-17 I. In Acts 12 we learn that the persecution of the church intensified in Judea. A. Herod had the apostle James killed – Acts 12:1-2 B. It was a popular act, and so he planned to repeat it by having Peter killed – Acts 12:3-4 C. But Peter did not…
Read MoreHospitality (Hamilton)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Hospitality.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: III John 3-8 I. Sometimes you are so familiar with a term that you never stop to examine whether your use of the term is actually correct A. Years ago, I was studying about hospitality. There are several passages in the New Testament that tells us to be hospitable 1. Romans…
Read MoreMore Noble Minded
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/More-Noble-Minded.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 17:1-12 I. Paul came to Thessalonica, a city on the coast in Macedonia, to preach the gospel A. He started out in the synagogues as was his custom. 1. After three weeks of effort he convinced a few of the Jews, but large number of Greeks who had worshiped with…
Read MoreGive Us Our Daily Bread
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Give-Us-Our-Daily-Bread.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 6:9-13 I. When God created man, he was placed in a garden that provided his needs – Genesis 2:8-9 A. But man sinned and was driven from the Garden – Genesis 3:17-19 B. The basics of sustenance was no longer provided. It had to be worked for – II Thessalonians…
Read MoreIf There Be Any Virtue
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/If-There-Be-Any-Virtue.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 7:14-25 I. One of the educational fads is “values clarification” A. Government run schools have a problem. 1. It is good for society to have morally good citizens, but the whole concept of morality assumes a standard of right and wrong that is greater than mankind. 2. How do you teach…
Read MoreChariots of Fire
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Chariots-of-Fire.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Kings 6:8-23 I. Ben-hadad, king of Syria, caused much grief for the northern kingdom of Israel A. He made many raids into Israel, but he soon ran into problems B. While his strategies were planned in top-secret, the king of Israel always seemed to know them in advance and had…
Read MoreMy Conscience
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/My-Conscience.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Corinthians 4:1-5 I. Defining your conscience A. A part of every human is an awareness of what he should do in various situations B. Your conscience does not determine what is right or wrong 1. That is what judgment is for. 2. Righteous judgment is done by God’s wisdom – Proverb 8:12-17…
Read MoreA Psalm of Penitence
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/A-Psalm-of-Penitence.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 51:10-17 I. There are several psalms which deal with sorrow over sin and repentance: Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, and 143. A. The context is given at the beginning of Psalm 51 B. David was a man dedicated to God. 1. Though he was told at an early age that…
Read MoreLessons from the Reign of Asa
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Lessons-from-the-Reign-of-Asa-1.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Kings 15:8-24 I. Asa’s reign was the third in Judah since the great division of Israel during the reign of Rehoboam A. His father, Abijam, only reigned three years. 1. Abijam was not a good king as the Lord counts goodness – I Kings 15:3 2. In fact, the most notable…
Read MoreSpiritual Maturity
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Spiritual-Maturity.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 3:8-17 I. What is your goal in life? A. Life is short. You don’t have time to accomplish everything that is available to you, so what do you desire most to obtain? B. For Paul it was to be like Christ and obtain heaven – Philippians 3:8-11 1. The design of…
Read MoreHard Sayings
Hard Sayings – Part 1Hard Sayings – Part 2 Text: Hebrews 5:5-14 I. There are hard sayings in the Bible A. When Jesus was followed by a crowd looking for free food, he began explaining that they needed to seek spiritual food that only he could offer – John 6:35 1. Eventually Jesus said something hard to…
Read MorePeople Paul Knew
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/People-Paul-Knew.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 16:1-15 I. Certain sections of the Bible are difficult to read, such as the genealogies with all the unfamiliar names A. The beginning of Romans 16 is similar, even though it is a list of personal greetings to people Paul knew in Rome B. Too often we skim right through…
Read MoreClaims of Contradictions in the Resurrection Accounts
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Claims-of-Contradictions-in-the-Resurrection-Accounts.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I John 1:1-4 I. People who don’t want to hear a message will try to find some way to discredit either the messenger or the message A. If there is a perceived flaw, then they feel justified in tossing out everything they don’t want to accept B. Atheists and Muslims do…
Read MoreObligations of Grace
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Obligations-of-Grace.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 18:21-35 I. Every person is important! A. “Well, of course!” You might be thinking. “I’m glad someone sees my worth.” B. But Jesus told a parable – Matthew 18:12-14 1. When one person gets himself into trouble, it is God’s will that he be rescued, if possible. 2. And that will mean…
Read MoreChanging My Mind
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Changing-My-Mind.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 7:15-20 I. Solomon observed about the miser that it wasn’t the man’s words or his actions that made him a miser, but his thoughts – Proverbs 23:6-7 A. People too often say things that they don’t mean B. Given motivation, they may do things that they would rather not do…
Read MoreBecause of the Sins of Jeroboam
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Because-of-the-Sins-of-Jeroboam.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 5:13-16 I. Few credit the influence we have on the lives of those around us. A. The things we do and say impact the lives of those we come in contact. B. Sometimes our influence spreads to people we may not have seen. II. The example of Jeroboam A. Following the death…
Read MoreBiblical Paradoxes: In the World, But Not of the World
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Biblical-Paradoxes-In-the-World-But-Not-of-the-World.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 17:6-16 I. A paradox is a true statement that either is contrary to conventional wisdom or is seemingly absurd A. Paradoxes can be a useful tool in teaching because it requires you to think more carefully about what is being said. 1. Most people, when they first hear a paradox,…
Read MoreBetter Than Self
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Better-Than-Self.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 2:1-11 I. When learning another language, it helps to start with the most common words first, the ones most likely to come up in a conversation. A. So what is the most common word spoken in English? 1. One study in 1992 by Godfrey of switchboard conversations found the word…
Read MoreKindness
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kindness.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 12:9-21 I. When a person walks as the Spirit directs, it produces a fruit that has many attributes – Galatians 5:13-25 A. We will focus on one of those attributes today: kindness. B. chrestotes is a form of the word for usefulness. It means kindness, goodness, or honesty C. God is…
Read MoreBeing a Conversationalist
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Being-a-Conversationalist.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Romans 12:10-18 I. A young lady wrote and asked, “How can you be a good conversationalist? I’m so boring. I don’t know how to strike up an interesting conversation.” A. It is a good question because talking to people is something we just take for granted. II. Start by…
Read MoreFriends
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Friends.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 119:57-64 I. You can tell much about a person by the friends he keeps A. “Wait a minute! I’m my own person!” B. Perhaps, but outside our family, our friends hold a strong influence in our lives C. You can’t choose your family, but the people you choose to be your…
Read MoreThe Day of the Lord
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Day-of-the-Lord.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 2:14-24 I. In Peter’s first sermon, he quotes the prophet Joel who warns of the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. A. As we read the warnings of God through the prophets, repeatedly we find references to “the day of the Lord” or “the day…
Read MoreHandling the Crafty
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Handling-the-Crafty.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Joshua 9:3-16 I. Some people don’t deal with others in a direct fashion A. Stating their goal would not allow them to reach their target because they know it would be rejected, so they manipulate others B. While both men and women engage in craftiness, it is often a complaint of…
Read MoreIt Was Only a Small Fib (Sermon)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/It-Was-Only-a-Small-Fib.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Revelation 21:6-8 I. I have concluded that much of the work of psychologist, psychoanalysts, and even philosophers is to help mankind remove the guilt and shame of their own actions. A. People don’t want to hear that their actions are wrong, their conscience is bothering them enough, thank you very…
Read MoreThe Living Redeemer
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Living-Redeemer.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 49 I. When we get ourselves into difficulties, most of us depend on our family to help us out A. I Timothy 5:8 – A Christian is to provide for his own. B. Proverbs 17:17 – A brother is born for adversity II. In the days of the Old Law a…
Read MoreResist the Devil
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Resist-the-Devil.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: James 4:1-10 I. When we are faced with temptation, it is a struggle to resist A. The urge to give in seems overwhelming. Even when we know we should not, too often we do it anyway – Romans 7:14-15 1. Since the action goes against what we know and want to…
Read MoreThe Sabbath as a Type
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Sabbath-as-a-Type.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 4:1-11 I. Paul, in arguing that the Old Law was not in effect, concluded – Colossians 2:16-17 A. There were reasons why the Israelites were to worship as they did. Their worship foreshadowed both things in the Christian age and in the age to come – heaven B. This is…
Read MoreThe Wiles of the Devil
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Wiles-of-the-Devil.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 6:10-18 I. Satan is a real being A. Jesus warned Peter that Satan wanted him – Luke 22:31 1. Much like Satan wanted Job – Job 1:6-12 B. Peter warned us that Satan wants to devour us – I Peter 5:8-9 C. Thus, we have to know our enemy – II Corinthians…
Read MoreProve What Is Acceptable
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Prove-What-Is-Acceptable.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Thessalonians 5:16-24 I. I doubt it has escaped your notice, but there are people around us who don’t always do what is right A. How do you know who to trust? B. People claim to be Christians, but we know people can and do lie C. For that matter, how do…
Read MoreMy Own Worst Enemy
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/My-Own-Worse-Enemy.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Esther 7 I. There is a phrase popular in our culture, “I have become my own worst enemy.” A. It is the realization that in our struggles against what we perceive as evil or wrong, we end up realizing that we are the source of our greatest problems. B. I have…
Read MoreAgainst All the Gods of Egypt
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Against-All-the-Gods-of-Egypt.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Exodus 12:1-13 I. The descendants of Jacob moved to Egypt because of a severe famine and within a short time became slaves in that land – Genesis 15:13 A. Yet, God promised to rescue them and returned them to land promised to Abraham. B. When the time came, God raised up…
Read MoreUnlike You and I
Unlike You and I (Part 1)Unlike You and I (Part 2) by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 8:12-18 I. What would you be like if you had absolute power? A. Oh, it is fun to imagine all the things you could do if you had the power to do it, but what kind of person would…
Read MoreAdvice to Young Men
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Advice-to-Young-Men.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Titus 2:6-8 I. In the Seattle Weekly, August 21, 2002, Philip Dawdy wrote an article titled “What Little Boys Are Made Of” A. The thrust of the article is that school systems are biased against the way boys generally behave. 85% of the students in the “emotionally and behaviorally disturbed”…
Read MoreExtremes
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Extremes.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ecclesiastes 7:11-22 I. In March, 2000, Mona Charen wrote an article that appeared in the Omaha World Herald under the title “Nation With No Sin” A. In it she made the point that while the nation for the most part believes in God and believes religion is important, at the…
Read MoreSafe Sins
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Safe-Sins.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Corinthians 6:9-11 I. The lengths people will go to justify their sins is sometimes amazing A. It is a rare person who will say that something they are doing is a sin and that it shouldn’t be done. B. More common is to dress up the sin so that at…
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