Sermon
Claims 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…
Read MoreYou Must Rule Over It
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/You-Must-Rule-Over-It.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Genesis 4:1-12 I. Ask a person why they gave into a particular sin and the most common rely is: “I don’t know. I couldn’t help myself.” A. Losing control in the face of temptation has been around since the beginning. 1. God even warned Cain that he had to master his…
Read MoreHave We Forgotten Our Shame?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Have-We-Forgotten-Our-Shame.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 44 I. It is surprising the odd ideas people have about forgiveness A. Forgiveness is the dismissal of any debt or obligation to me 1. I cannot forgive someone’s sin. a. This is only something God can do, because our sins incur a penalty, which God – not you or I…
Read MoreSometimes the Best Thing to Do is Run!
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Sometimes-the-Best-Thing-to-Do-Is-Run.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Colossians 3:1-15 I. Timothy was admonished to fight the good fight – I Timothy 6:12 A. We are in a battle for our lives, and we must have the courage to do battle – Ephesians 6:10-18 B. We cannot be passive against sin – James 4:7 C. But a person trained in…
Read MoreWhat Are Mothers Made Of?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/What-Are-Mothers-Made-Of.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Proverbs 31:27-30 I. To prepare the children for making a sweet Mothers Day card, the elementary school teacher asked her class some questions that she thought would cause them to appreciate their mom’s more, then they could think of something sweet to write when it came time to make…
Read MoreHow to Ruin Your Influence
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/How-to-Ruin-Your-Influence.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 14:34-35 I. Your reputation, your ability to influence others is valuable A. Ecclesiastes 7:1 – Better than expensive perfume B. Proverbs 22:1 – Better than great wealth C. Christians are expected to influence the world – Matthew 5:13-16 D. But if we ruin our ability to influence others, what good are we?…
Read MoreExactly Who is Influencing Who?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Exactly-Who-Is-Influencing-Who.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Chronicles 13:4-12 I. Most Americans tend to have an independent streak. A. We would like to think that we think for ourselves. B. As Christians, we aim to influence those around to do good. C. But influence is not a one-way street. II. Our thoughts are shaped by many things A. Parents 1. Seth…
Read MoreWhy Water?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Why-Water.mp3 Text: John 3:1-12 I. Jesus stated that unless one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven – John 3:5 A. We understand, despite efforts by many to avoid it, that Jesus refers to baptism when he said one must be born of water B. Today, I would like to…
Read MoreWhen I Grow Up
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/When-I-Grow-Up.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Lamentations 3:19-38 I. Have you noticed how the world sets up different standards for children and adults? A. You can’t smoke until you’re a certain age B. You can’t drink until you have reached 21 C. In some ways it makes sense, we want to protect our children while they are young…
Read MoreYou Are Enough
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/You-Are-Enough.mp3 by Garry Floyd I want to communicate the importance of self-worth. Scripture Reading: Psalms 139:1-6 Forward Upon what should our self-worth be based? What gives us value as human beings? How can we focus on inner beauty in a culture seemingly obsessed with physical beauty? Is it possible to find our worth in God…
Read MoreI Have Put My Trust in God
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/I-Have-Put-My-Trust-in-God.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 56 I. It is far too easy to read the stories in the Bible and not think about the feelings of the people involved. A. Joshua was chosen to follow Moses as leader of Israel, but he must have been very nervous – Joshua 1:2,9 B. We think of the boldness…
Read MoreHow Noah Was Saved
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/How-Noah-Was-Saved.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Peter 3:18-22 I. In our reading, Peter draws on the account of Noah’s salvation to illustrate how the Christian is saved. A. Many people object to the straight forward reading of I Peter 3:21 because it stands contrary to what they have accepted. 1. To many people, baptism is simply…
Read MoreJonah – Wrath of Man / Mercy of God
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Jonah-Wrath-of-Man-Mercy-of-God.mp3 by Ross Ward We all know the story, but have we really gotten the point? Story The book is about Jonah Not gentile city Outline of book Ch 1 – Jonah runs from God Ch 2 – Jonah’s salvation Ch 3 – Nineveh’s salvation Ch 4 – God’s mercy on Jonah Jonah’s faults Wrath…
Read MoreDavid – A Man After God’s Own Heart
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/David-A-Man-After-Gods-Own-Heart.mp3 by Ross Ward Text: I Samuel 13:14 The Story II Samuel 11:2-5 – sin with Bathsheba A time when Kings go to war Bathsheba was very beautiful David inquires about her David summons her Has a relationship with her A child is conceived Progression of sin Saw Dwelt on her Inquired about her Summoned…
Read MoreDavid – A Child’s Faith
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/David-A-Childs-Faith.mp3 by Ross Ward Text: I Samuel 17:32-37 David’s Faith David Overcame Vs. 33-35 – bear and lion 33 – a youth 34 – shepherding 34-35 – lion and bear take a lamb David caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him 37 – The Lord that delivered me… will deliver me…
Read MoreRuth – A Woman of Virtue
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Ruth-A-Woman-of-Virtue.mp3 by Ross Ward Text: Ruth 3:11 Defining Virtuous Brown Driver & Briggs – strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army Strong’s – probably a force; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength Army 56x Man of valor 37x Host 29x Forces 14x Valiant 13x Strength 12x Riches 11x Wealth 10x Power 9x Substance 8x Might 6x Strong…
Read MoreBarnabas – The Encourager
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Barnabas-The-Encourager.mp3 by Ross Ward Text: Acts 4:31-37 Barnabas’ work in Acts Acts 4:31-37 – gave of himself Acts 9:26-30 – advocated for Saul in Jerusalem Acts 11:19-24 – qualities as a servant Acts 11:25-26 – advocates for Saul Acts 15:35-41 – advocates for John Mark Being a Barnabas Barnabas sacrificed himself Giving of his property…
Read MoreThe Mind of a Servant
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/The-Mind-of-a-Servant.mp3 by Ross Ward Text: I Timothy 6:15 We are to have a mind of a servant – Luke 22:24-30 Mind of a servant Desire for preeminence Jew’s culture Matthew 23:5-12 – Scribes and Pharisees Matthew 6:1-18 – rebuking works that are performed to be seen of men Apostles Luke 22:24-30 – arguing over who…
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