Posts Tagged ‘Bible’
Does the Bible Assume God’s Existence?
by Kenneth J. Wells Sentry Magazine, March 2002 “And the angel of Jehovah appeared unto him in aflame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will turn aside now, and see this great…
Read MoreThe Word of the Lord Endures Forever
by Terry Wane Benton Photo by Chris Liu on Unsplash A serious flaw in modern thinking is that you can dismiss the Bible as the authority on moral issues like adultery, fornication, homosexuality, drunkenness, etc. because the Bible has been corrupted and changed over the centuries. They make this argument, not because they looked at…
Read MoreThe Bible in English
by Jefferson David Tant One of the great blessings we have is that we have the Bible, God’s Word, in the language of the common people — English. And we are thankful for those who provided this for us at a high cost. The story behind the translation is an interesting story. The very first…
Read MoreCan We Trust the Text of the Bible?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Can-We-Trust-the-Text-of-the-Bible.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Peter 1:12-21 I. I was discussing with a gentleman about the location of a particular city mentioned in the Bible. A. He had found an old map that placed Baal Zephon on the Mediterranean Sea instead of on the edge of the Red Sea. Doesn’t this prove, he asked,…
Read MoreForeshadowing
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Foreshadowing.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Genesis 22:1-14 I. A mark of a good writer is his use of foreshadows to give the reader a hint of what is to come later in the story A. It gives a sense of unity to a book, but it is difficult to do well. Small details must be…
Read MoreHomer Sometimes Nodded
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Homer-Sometimes-Nodded.mp3 Text: Numbers 23:18-19 I. Horace (65 – 8 B.C.), a Latin poet, wrote “Sometimes even the noble Homer nods” A. Homer was a blind Greek poet of the eight century B.C. Know for the Illiad and the Odyssey. B. As accomplished as Homer was, he sometimes erred with reference to the facts of the incidents that…
Read MoreBiblical Infallibility: Arguments Against the Bible
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Arguments-Against-the-Bible.mp3 Text: I Peter 1:22-25 I. The arguments have not changed much over the years. Same given today as hundreds of years ago. II. All or Nothing A. Do we have to insist on total infallibility of the Scriptures? B. Some fear that one error would overthrow all of Christianity. C. However, if the writers of the Bible were…
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 MoreBible Stories
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Bible-Stories.mp3 Text: II Peter 1:16-21 I. “Grandpa, read me a story.” A. Children love hearing a story and so stories are selected to teach the children some lessons B. Most of us don’t grow out of the desire to hear a story. Whether from reading a book or hearing a podcast or watching a movie, stories have…
Read MoreBooks “Missing” from the Bible?
by Ethan L. Longhenry In recent times we have seen an explosion of material alleging that the Bible that we have is not complete. Many theories have been advanced that speak of all kinds of other books that were “banned” from the Bible, “taken out” of the Bible, and other such ideas, and that such…
Read MoreThe People Who Get to Understand
by Matthew W. Bassford Classical Calvinism teaches that it is impossible for the unregenerate to understand the word of God. We first must be anointed by the Holy Spirit before we can comprehend it and be saved. At first glance, Matthew 13:11 appears to support this doctrine. Here, Jesus says to His disciples, “Because the…
Read MoreIs Our Bible Text Reliable?
by Abraham Smith “The Judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward” (Psalms 19:9-11). We all ought to place…
Read MoreUnderstanding the Bible
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Understanding-the-Bible.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ezra 7:6-10 I. God has given us the truths we need A. It will make us perfect – II Timothy 3:16-17 B. It tells us how to live life and to be godly – II Peter 1:2-4 C. What is written will help us believe – John 20:30-31 II. The answers we seek…
Read MoreDoes It Matter?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Does-It-Matter.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Genesis 1 I. The teaching of evolution has made significant inroads in the beliefs of common man A. In 1999 Gallup found 1. 47% believed in a recent, special creation 2. 40% believed in a God-directed form of evolution 3. 9% believe a strictly natural-caused evolution B. In 2019 Gallup found 1. 40% believe in…
Read MoreThank you for the breakdown of the books of the Bible
Question: First and foremost, thank you for publishing this valuable tool for studying the books of the Bible. I’ve been doing some study with my parents and wanted something as a guide to breakdown each chapter and this will be a great outlook. Pray for me please, I am a member of the body trying…
Read More180 Day Bible Reading Schedule
Start Date: Finish Date: Total Number of Days: All readings should be completed in one sitting. In order to obtain the maximum benefit from your efforts, read out loud and read every day. Day 1: Genesis 1:1-6:8 Day 2: Genesis 6:9-11:26 Day 3: Genesis 11:27-19:38 Day 4: Genesis 20:1-25:11 Day 5: Genesis 25:12-30:43 Day 6:…
Read MoreIs 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,…
Read MoreWhat Is the Bible?
Question: Hi, I would like some answers to my doubts. I know you can help me with this because of everything I have read on your site. I’m happy that your teachings are exactly the same as our non-denominational church. I find them right too. Praise the Lord! My questions: What exactly is the Bible?…
Read MoreYou Must Be Born Again
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2003/08/You-Must-Be-Born-Again2.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 3:1-22 I. I had a fellow ask me if I had been born again. A. In particular, he wanted to know how I came to believe such a thing. B. When I replied with I John 2:3-6; 4:6; 5:2-3, he became quite upset C. He wanted to know how I was…
Read MoreAre parts of our Bible missing?
Question: I’ve been discussing with a friend about his belief in God, Jesus, and the Bible. He believes in all three, but in regards to the Bible, he does not believe everything in it. He also believes that some parts of the Bible are missing, saying it’s in history that some parts of the Bible…
Read MoreHow We Know We Have All the Bible, with No Books Added and No Books Lost
by Willie Ramsey The Bible is God’s plan of salvation for mankind (John 17:17; 8:31-32; Mark 16:15-16; Romans 1:16). Its place in our lives is therefore eternally important. God warns us that no one is ever allowed to “add to” or to “take away” (Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18-19), or in any way to “pervert” (i.e., “change” — Galatians 1:7-9), what…
Read MoreHow could Peter say that God has given us everything through the Bible prior to the Bible’s completion?
Question: Was the New Testament written prior to A.D. 70? I realize scholars claim the book of revelation was written around A.D. 95, but if that were so, does it pertain to life and godliness? I Peter 1:3 says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and…
Read MoreDoes the Holy Spirit only work through the Word?
Question: Hey brother, I know God and Christ work today, I read an article from Truth Magazine in regards to the Spirit. They used scripture to defend the Spirit only works by the word. Does the Spirit only work by the Word? Is He active in regeneration, renewing, and divine intervention? I realize He does…
Read MoreHearing the Spirit
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/HearingTheSpirit.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Proverbs 30:5-6 I. Many people are convinced that the Holy Spirit directly speaks to them A. Yet, these same people will claim things contrary to the teachings of the Bible B. And they rarely agree with each other II. The Bible is the product of the Spirit A. It is not a product…
Read MoreThe Spirit Speaks
by Terry W. Benton The Spirit speaks completely through the scriptures. The Spirit gave the Scriptures so that we would know what the apostles knew (Ephesians 3:3-5). We can know all that the Spirit revealed to Paul, read it, and then know all he knew. That is no small matter because the Word of God…
Read MoreMust the Old Testament be taken as symbolic?
Question: Hello! I’m a former atheist who recently found God again, but I have one thing I’m really struggling to get, and that is how I can weave together science and the Bible, in particular the Old Testament. I have, after reading different approaches, personally come to the conclusion that it must be read as…
Read MoreThe Insufficiency of the Bible Alone
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/InsufficiencyOfTheBibleAlone.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreWhat does I John 5:7-8 mean?
Question: “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.” (I John 5:7-8 KJV). What does verse eight mean?…
Read MoreThe Need for Book, Chapter, and Verse
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/NeedForBookChapterAndVerse.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Do we really need book, chapter, and verse? A. Frequently practices are justified by the absence of Scripture. “It doesn’t say not to.” B. The argument is taken so far as to say, “There is no book, chapter, and verse for having book, chapter, and verse.” C. The point of saying we need…
Read MoreCan I Trust the Bible?
by Ethan Longhenry via de Verbo vitae By far, the most popular book in our culture is still the Bible, and for the Christian, the New Testament in particular. It is a text that is about 1,900 years old, and for some reason, we see many misconceptions about its textual validity. Common misconceptions, which I hope…
Read MoreArchaeological Evidence of Biblical Figures
by Scott Smelser
Read MoreWhy does James say we will be judged by the law of liberty?
Question: I’m having some difficulties understanding James 2:8-13. When he talks about the royal law in verses 8-11, it clearly refers to some of the ten commandments. But I get confused in verse 12 “So speak and so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.” How does this verse…
Read MoreFoundations
Foundations – Part 1Foundations – Part 2Foundations – Part 3Foundations – Part 4 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 61 I. When we are teaching others, it is important not to just address the issues raised, but to think about why a person has come to the wrong conclusions. A. When a person claims to be…
Read MoreIf the Lord only speaks through the Bible, why was the Spirit promised in John 16:13?
Question: So the Lord only speaks through the Bible and not through the Spirit? I’m kind of confused now. Just wanted to see if you could clear this up for me: “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he…
Read MoreDo We Have a Right to Our Own Opinions?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/DoWeHaveARightToOurOwnOpinion.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Peter 1:16-21 I. When two disagree, one will say “Well, everyone has a right to their own opinions.” A. It is a statement saying, “I disagree with you, but that is okay. Your thoughts are just as good as mine.” B. In some sense this is right. We may be…
Read MoreOur Changing Attitude Toward the Bible
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/OurChangingAttitudeTowardTheBible.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Peter 1:22-25 I. A new translation of the Bible came out last month, called “As Good as New: A Radical Retelling of the Scriptures.” A. Actually, “translation” is not a good description of it. As my wife commented, it doesn’t even make a good paraphrase. B. Several examples were given…
Read MoreIs the Bible fallible because it was written in human languages?
Question: Dear Jeffrey, I am sorry that I have to turn to you for help, but this is why I am currently studying to be a preacher because people like you and many others inspire me to be able to teach. Unfortunately, I have wasted away much of my life after vain things, such as…
Read MoreWhich book should be first, Job or Genesis?
Question: I’m confused. A brother mentioned what I understood to mean that Job was to be the first book in the Bible and not Genesis. Since then I have done my own research and am now seriously confused. The way I see it is “Does it really matter?” There are considerably good points brought up…
Read MoreAren’t there inspired books that we’ve lost?
Question: Do you mean to tell me not one of these documents (below) did not exist or ever existed? I would like to read these ‘lost books & or documents.’ How could not one or two documents make it to existence today? Exodus 24:7 – Book of the Covenant Numbers 21:14 – Book of the…
Read MoreI am impressed with your summary of the Bible
Question: Wow, I am so impressed with your website in particular the index summary and analysis of Genesis and other Bible chapters. Not to mention your Facebook. But most importantly your view of taking care of the Body of Christ without compromising to worldly views. Keep running the course of faith. Answer: Thank you for the encouragement.…
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