More 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…

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Are Examples Authoritative?

by Jefferson David Tant There is a school of thought among us that Biblical examples are good and instructive, but that an example is not authoritative, i.e., that we cannot bind examples today. I have seen that argument made concerning the Lord’s Supper. While one writer, a young preacher I have known for many years…

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Arguments I Used for the Use of Instrumental Music

(When I Was a Preacher for the Christian Church) by Dan Goddard Men have long been prone to go beyond the limitations of God’s word in their zeal to serve Jehovah. Zeal for God is commendable when it is coupled with a knowledge of God’s will; but when one allows his zeal to drive him…

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Necessary Inference

by Mike Johnson Three forms of Bible authority govern us today. These are direct command or statement, approved examples, and necessary inference or conclusion. Most are willing to accept direct commands or statements as forms of Bible authority. Some may question the concept of approved examples, and a growing number challenge the use of necessary…

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The Pillars of the Temple

by Jefferson David Tant In giving Solomon instructions for building the temple, God gave a somewhat unusual command concerning two pillars at the entrance. “And he set up the pillars at the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin; and he set up the left…

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Extremes

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…

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Approved Examples

by Mike Johnson What should be our attitude toward the concept of “example” as an acceptable form of Bible authority? There are three possible attitudes one might have. First, a person might say that all examples are binding. However, this attitude is unlikely, and, as we will see later, this would be a ridiculous position.…

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A Passage to Ponder: Acts 15:1-29

by Ken Weliever The Preacher’s Word Have you heard the old joke about the fellow who studied the Bible by letting it fall open and putting his finger on a verse for instruction and inspiration? The first verse he turned to was Matthew 27:5. It said, “Judas went out and hanged himself.” “Wait a minute!”…

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Does It Really Make Any Difference?

by Jefferson David Tant In our daily Bible reading, my wife and I have finished Exodus, and are now in Leviticus. Although we had read these books in years past, there are things that have caught my attention that I had not paused to think about before. That is one of the great things about…

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Where Is the Scripture?

by Jefferson David Tant In discussions about the Bible and various practices and beliefs of members of churches of Christ, sometimes, the question is asked, “Where does the Bible say that’s wrong?” Various practices prompt the question, with it often being asked concerning the use of instrumental music in our worship. When it is pointed…

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Biblical Authority and the Silence of the Scriptures: Does it Allow or Disallow?

by Jefferson David Tant For hundreds of years, believers in the Bible have discussed the question of “the silence of the Scriptures.” Does silence indicate a lack of authority, and thus whatever is not specifically condemned is permissible? Or does silence mean there is no authority for whatever practice is under consideration, and therefore it…

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Listen to Him

by Jefferson David Tant A “breathtaking” event took place in the lives of Jesus’ disciples James, Peter, and John when they went with Christ up a mountain. It was an experience they would never forget “Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a…

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Subjective or Objective?

by Kenneth Frazier Sentry Magazine, June 2000 The two terms, “subjective and objective,” are defined by the dictionary as follows: Subjective: Relating to the subject of mental states, the ego; proceeding from or taking place within the thinking subject: opposed to objective. Objective: Having independent existence or authority, apart from experience or thought. Under the…

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The Silence of the Scriptures and Why We Sing

by Edward Pratte In the New Testament, some things are required and some things are prohibited. Everything else falls into the realm of the things which are permitted. As one focuses more closely on the things that are permitted, the silence of the Scriptures soon becomes a major concern. What about the silence of the…

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Identifying a New Testament Church

by Steve Dewhirst Sentry Magazine, December 2002 Traditionally, we gospel preachers have spoken of “identifying the New Testament church” in an effort to distinguish it from the sects roundabout. But in so doing, we have sometimes obscured the true nature of the body of Christ. We begin to preach about the church Jesus said He…

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Does “abstain” mean we have the freedom to choose to follow or not?

Question: Good day brother Jeffrey, I need your help with this translation of Acts 15:20-29 because I do not have the knowledge to read this. I just came across one preacher who said the word “abstain” means to choose not to partake. We have the freedom to choose to follow or not, but I strongly…

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Who is in charge, the preacher or the elders?

Question: Hi Jeff, I’m forced to ask this question: between the ministers and the elders, who is in charge of a local congregation? Where that I am, there is a serious power tussle between the two. The ministers say, since they teach the men to become elders and also ordain them as elders, they are…

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The Authority of the Apostles

by Mike Johnson Many acknowledge the authority of God and Christ but do not accept or understand the authority of the Apostles. Some people today say we only need the words of Jesus to guide us. Some who take this position place a great deal of emphasis on the red-letter edition of the Bible —…

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Works of the Flesh: “Things Like These”

by Ethan R. Longhenry Having warned them regarding the danger of apostasy in committing themselves to the Law of Moses (cf. Galatians 1:1-5:16), the Apostle Paul reminded the Galatian Christians regarding the conflict between the desires of the flesh and the ways of God in the Spirit and exhorted the Galatian Christians to manifest the…

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That’s Your Interpretation!

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Thats-Your-Interpretation.mp3 Text: II Peter 1:10-21   I.         When you want to read a book which was written in French, but you don’t know French, what do you do?             A.        You find an interpretation of the French book into a language you know.             B.        An interpreter copies the meaning of something from one language into another language.             C.        But can…

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Listening to the Hard Sayings

by Matthew W. Bassford The law of Christ is not as I would have written it. There are actions that don’t bother me very much that God labels as sins, and there are things that chap my hide but are not condemned by Him. I think pineapple on pizza ought to be classed as an…

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The Failure of Moral Relativism

by Doy Moyer (By “moral relativism,” I mean in this context the idea that morals are merely human conventions and are relative, non-absolute, and changing according to our own personal or societal situation and desires. Morals are subjective, with no ultimate line or standard by which moral behavior is to be judged other than what…

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Attendance is not commanded!

Question: Hello, I am a minister and teacher of Christ Jesus. A Christian brother brought to my attention your teaching about attending church and Bible study, so I could comment on it. It is on your page titled “Are you telling me I won’t make it to heaven because I have to work?” I also reviewed…

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Is an Advent prayer processional proper?

Question: I belong to my church women’s group. I want to add an Advent candle lighting prayer processional to begin the program. Is this Advent proper? Answer: Advent is a man-made event referring to the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, which is also a man-made holiday. You will find nothing about Advent, Christmas, or…

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What did Christians use before the Bible was compiled?

Question: Hello, During the first century, the Bible was not yet compiled. So what was the basis of Christianity during that time? Thanks. Answer: “For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but…

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A Foolish Consistency

by Ken Green When I first began preaching, I was enamored by religious debates. They were declining in popularity, but there were still a few taking place. They are now extremely rare. Some debates were transcribed and published and I read all of them that I could find. I eventually participated in a number of…

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Who Put You in Charge?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Who-Put-You-in-Charge.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 7:20-39   I.         David had asked for some provisions for his men after having protected Nabal’s herds – I Samuel 25:5-8             A.        But Nabal’s response was “Who is David?” – I Samuel 25:10-11             B.        Nabal shows he did know who David was, but he thought he wasn’t worth recognizing.             C.        But it…

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Why are people who want a personal relationship with Jesus against religion?

Question: I hear many folks, seemingly of the denominational world, speak of having a “personal relationship” with Jesus or God. They tend to pit this against religion as if they take offense to the notion of religion. Can you speak to the “personal relationship” idea as I can’t seem to fully understand what the attempt…

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How do I convince a Roman Catholic that infant baptism is wrong?

Question: A Catholic and I debated the topic of infant baptism. He used the argument of “household” referring to babies as well. When I told him that households could mean teens or servants he said that he would rather follow the practice of infant baptism followed by earlier Christians 2000 years ago. He then argued…

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Is the Bible Sufficient?

by Wayne Chamberlain The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy and said, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (II Timothy 3:16-17). In a word, Paul is saying,…

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Considering the Context

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ConsideringTheContext.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text:   II Timothy 2:14-18   I.         My wife and I have done it numerous times and I’m sure it has happened to you as well. We’ll be talking about someone we know and then a comment is made that leaves you totally puzzled. So-and-so doesn’t have a relative by that name; at…

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Calling on the Name of the Lord

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Calling-on-the-Name-of-the-Lord.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 2:14-21   I.         Most linguist will tell you that one difficulty in translating between two languages is dealing with idioms             A.        An idiom is a phrase that doesn’t mean what is literally said, but native speakers understand them without much thought             B.        Examples from English are”                         1.          “It’s raining cats and…

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The Sponsoring Church Arrangement: What Was the Issue?

by Bill Hall I can’t say enough about the encouragement it is to me to see your continued interest in this effort that we’re putting forth.  Your willingness to come and study with us — it means so much to me.  When this was planned, I thought we could educate those who come as to…

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Church-Supported Orphans’ Homes: What Was the Issue?

by Bill Hall It was a difficult time.  I don’t know that I could in any way picture for you if you didn’t live then, just how difficult that time was.  Back somewhere in the mid-50s, in the pages of the Gospel Advocate, a quarantine was called for against all those who preached the gospel…

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Kitchens and Fellowship Halls: What Was the Issue?

  by Bill Hall I don’t know how to thank you enough for the opportunity to come and deliver these lessons on these Sunday afternoons. It has been a very challenging experience for me, and I hope the lessons have been challenging for you. To see the number of people who have come each Sunday…

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Scriptural Silence and the Burden of Proof

by Matthew W. Bassford In my life, I’ve had training in logic from two main sources: the church and my secular education. The further I progressed, the more I realized that the same principles were taught in both settings. I used the same canons of logic in formal debate and law school that I saw…

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Can the role of women change?

Question: I hear that women roles are changing within the group of churches as a whole. What are the roles women are permitted to do? In my congregation women now talk and teach, they read scripture, and pass communion trays. On the web, they are saying that women may do everything aside from preaching and…

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