Posts Tagged ‘attitude’
There Are Bees in that Book
by Terry Wane Benton First Peter is a wonderful, inspired book with about 10-11 “be” admonitions buzzing around throughout it. Be sober (I Peter 1:13; 5:8) calls upon us to be clearheaded and unimpeded in our focus on our spiritual and eternal mission. Needless to say, people choose to impair clear thinking with alcohol, drugs,…
Read MoreThe Gall of Bitterness
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2004/09/The-Gall-of-Bitterness.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Reading: Acts 8:14-24 I. Hebrews 12:14-15 A. Bitterness is “characterized by animosity; harshly reproachful, caustic, disagreeable; to have a ‘sour’ disposition toward others over things that happened, whether real or imagined.” B. Few people want to be bitter, but many slide into it over the years. II. Causes of bitterness A. Pride and arrogance…
Read MoreA Tender Heart
A Tender Heart (Part 1)A Tender Heart (Part 2) by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Kings 22:14-20 I. The heart of Josiah A. Those were dark days in the kingdom. For 55 years his grandfather had harshly ruled over Judah – a reign of evil and terror – II Kings 21:1-2, 6 1. So terrible were his…
Read MoreThings to Bring to Worship
by Mike Wilson It’s another Sunday morning, and you are fighting to get everything and everyone ready on time. The kids are screaming, and someone is honking the horn. Most families know the feeling. As you come staggering to the car at the last second, did you forget anything? Do you have a checklist of…
Read MoreThe Things I Can Control
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Things-I-Can-Control.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 6:25-34 I. People spend a lot of anxious time over things that are really out of their control A. A lot of teenagers worry about how tall they will be as an adult – Matthew 6:27 B. Older adults begin to worry whether gray hairs are appearing – Matthew 5:36…
Read MoreOn Being Spiritually Minded
by Jefferson David Tant “The need of Gods’ people has ever been, for spiritual power. The emphasis and tendency too often is, and has been, toward power that comes with prestige, numbers, money t h e power of weight. The Bible emphasis is on power of a spiritual nature, operation through the inward man.” (Homer…
Read MoreOn the Other Side of the Fence
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/On-the-Other-Side-of-the-Fence.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 4:4-9 I. It is so easy, so tempting to look at what someone else has accomplished and think “That could have been me.” A. When you are in school, have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I can’t wait until I have a job. None of this homework business for…
Read MoreHow to Stay Positive in a Negative World
by Hugh Fulford Christianity is both positive and negative. There are two gates: the wide and the narrow. To be saved, we must enter the narrow and avoid the wide (Matthew 7:13-14) There are two ways: the broad and the narrow. To be saved, we must walk in the narrow and stay out of the…
Read MoreBoredom
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Boredom.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. The child has a room full of action figures, video games, cable TV, VCR, a huge collection of video tapes, every piece of sports equipment known to man, his own telephone, a fully loaded computer with Internet access — but he doesn’t have anything to do. He’s bored. A. Boredom is…
Read MoreSet Your Mind
by Doy Moyer How Christians think and what they think about are critical in determining how they live. Once we decide that we will live for Jesus and sanctify Him as Lord in our hearts (I Peter 3:15), we are making a priority out of thinking about things that are excellent and worthy of praise…
Read MoreBeing a Conversationalist
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 listening – really listening A. The biggest mistake…
Read MoreAttitude
by Jefferson David Tant The word “attitude” has different meanings. Two of the meanings are critical and are related to this writing. (1) “Disposition or state of mind,” and (2) “the orientation of a vehicle … relative to the horizon, the direction of motion, etc.” Bad attitudes, in either case, bring bad results. A fairly…
Read MorePerceptions of God’s Word
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Perceptions-of-Gods-Word.mp3 Text: Malachi 3:16-4:3 I. The prophet Malachi declared there would be a distinction between the wicked and righteous A. The rising day would burn the wicked like chaff, but serve as healing balm for the righteous. B. The same event produces two dramatically different results. C. The result did not depend on the event but on the…
Read MoreAttitudes
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Attitudes.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 3:7-16 I. Many Christians understand that acts of immorality will keep them out of heaven, but many don’t realize that our attitude or disposition is important in determining our outcome as well. A. What is your attitude? 1. Sometimes we hear someone say “he has an attitude!” 2. I use to…
Read MoreSometimes There’s No Applause
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 17:7-10 I. What do you do when no one pats you on the back? A. You work hard, yet no one seems to notice your effort. B. Why clean when you know the kids are just going to make a mess of it in a short while? C. Why give that extra…
Read MoreRestoring God’s Religion
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/RestoringGodsReligion.mp3 Text: II Kings 18:1-6 I. Without a doubt our society has slipped in its desire to follow God A. Sin and the acceptance of sinful practice has become prevalent. We have convinced ourselves as a society to be proud of our tolerance of sin. B. Churches are losing members. 1. In their panic, they look for ways…
Read MoreTraits of the Unhappy
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/TraitsOfTheUnhappy.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 27 I. Back in 2014 I ran across an article by Tamara Star, titled “Seven Habits of Chronically Unhappy People”. A. The author’s conjecture is that unhappy people establish habits that keep them miserable. B. These aren’t one time or infrequent events but the ways they basically view life II. A…
Read MoreThere Is No Fear of God Before Their Eyes
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ThereIsNoFearOfGodBeforeTheirEyes.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 3:10-18 I. Most of us have been burnt one time or another. A. The memory of the sharp pain makes a lasting impression. As a result, we hold a healthy respect for fire and other hot things. The fear of what fire could do generates a respect for fire.…
Read MoreHastening the Day of the Lord
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/HasteningTheDayOfTheLord.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Peter 3:3-15 I. When there is an event coming up that you really look forward to, it seems that time just drags. A. Christmas when you were little, graduating from High School, going off to college, your wedding day, etc. B. But then in other ways you realize that there…
Read MoreThe Heavenly Mindset
by Dennis Stackhouse In writing the church at Colossae, Paul said this in Colossians 3:1: “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” We know the apostle is addressing baptized believers, as these people had been raised up with Christ,…
Read MoreMaking the Best of Bad Situations
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/MakingTheBestOfBadSituations.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 1:12-18 I. As much as we might wish it otherwise, we aren’t often in control A. Things aren’t always optimal B. Things don’t always go our way II. Better than you might think A. The Philippians had hear of Paul’s imprisonment – Philippians 4:14 1. Such would normally be a concern B. Yet Paul…
Read MoreOffense
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Offense.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text Matthew 15:21-28 I. We live in a society with a chip on its shoulder A. People are looking for reasons to complain and to blame. B. Say the wrong word and you will find your job in jeopardy, close friends will split, or long standing members of the church will leave…
Read MoreA Matter of Perspective
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2015Fall7AMatterOfPerspective.mp3 by Brace Rutledge 2015 Fall Meeting
Read MoreHow to be Happy
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/HowToBeHappy.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 4:1-7 I. Are you happy? Truly happy? A. For many people the answer is “I would be happy, if …” 1. If something changed, then I could be happy. 2. Sometimes the change is something simple. “Once I lose another ten pounds, I’ll be happy.” 3. But too often the demand is…
Read MoreJamaica Patois Wisdom – Attitude
by Jefferson David Tant The Jamaican Patois dialect is colorful, unique, and humorous. It is my desire to share some of the philosophy shown in this mix of colorful phrases that are witty as well as thought-provoking. I hope the readers both profit and enjoy. In my quarter-century plus of teaching there, I have come…
Read MoreOur Attitude Toward God
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/2012Fall1OurAttitudeTowardGod.mp3 by Rob Speer God and I
Read MoreA Day of Small Things
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DayOfSmallThings.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Haggai 2:1-9 I. As Israel began to return from seventy years of captivity, there was great excitement A. Zerubbabel lead the first wave of less than 50,000 people back to Jerusalem. 1. There was a lot of work to do because Jerusalem was completely destroyed. 2. But worship restarted immediately – Ezra…
Read MoreWilling to Do His Will
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/WillingToDoHisWill.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 7:14-24 I. Two students enter a classroom. A. One is excited about the prospect of learning this subject. Though he hasn’t started yet, he has plans on how he is going to put this knowledge to use in his life. He knows it will be beneficial and he can’t…
Read MoreMistakes of a Rich Man
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/MistakesOfARichMan.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 12:13-21 I. Someone approached Jesus, asking him to settle a dispute over an inheritance. A. Jesus declined, stating that it wasn’t his occupation B. But he pointed out the root problem between the brothers – greed 1. We know this without even knowing the facts in the case. 2. Whether it was…
Read MoreOrdinary People Doing Extraordinary Things
by Jerry D. Curry via The Sunny Hill Bulletin, Vol. 5, No. 8, April 15, 2001. God’s people have always been called upon to take action. As Joshua made his farewell speech he exhorted Israel, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve” (Joshua 24:15). Haggai exhorted Israel, “Go up to the mountain, and bring…
Read MoreThe Ten Commandments on How to Get Along with Each Other
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/TenCommandmentsOnHowToGetAlong1.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Introduction A. No man is an island 1. We cannot exist alone. We are in constant need of contact with other people. 2. In order to get along in this world, we must get along with others. B. As Christians, our main purpose should be to bring more souls to Christ 1. How can we…
Read MoreDisappointment
by J. D. Williams We are all familiar with the story of Job. The loss of all his material wealth not only affected him but his wife as well. Notice the question she asked him, “dost thou still hold fast thine integrity? Renounce God, and die” (Job 2:9). What prompted her to respond this way?…
Read MoreIt Is My Life and I’ll Do What I Want With It!
by Dick Millwee Rather a bold, confrontational, in-your-face kind of statement isn’t it? Generally, it is made by individuals who try to defend their lifestyle when it is called into question. However, the concept of the statement is a biblical one. Consider with me the statement found in Psalms 119:109, “My life is continually in…
Read MoreHow Can I Keep from Singing?
by Robert Lowry, 1860 My life flows on in endless song; Above earth’s lamentation I hear the sweet though off hymn That hails a new creation: Through all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing; It finds an echo in my soul — How can I keep from singing? What though my…
Read MoreDiscouragement
by Steven Harper Some disciples have an erroneous idea that it is somehow sinful for a follower of God to be discouraged, even for a moment. This idea is probably a result of so much teaching and preaching on the idea that Christians should not be discouraged, or that we have so many blessings, we don’t…
Read MoreWhat Are You Looking For?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton “‘Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.’…
Read MoreResolutions from Hebrews
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 3:8-16 I. As one year draws to a close and another dawns new, people make resolutions that the new year will not be like those in the past A. There are resolutions to lose weight, to exercise more, break bad habits and to establish good habits. B. The writer of Hebrews…
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