Marshall Keeble

by Hugh Fulford Marshall Keeble (1878-1968) Marshall Keeble was a famous African-American evangelist among churches of Christ who began preaching in 1897 and spent the entirety of his life in evangelistic meetings all across America. He preached in most of the major cities of the U. S. –north, south, east, and west — as well…

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The Restoration Movement

by Andy Sochor via Unmasking Sophistry, Vol 4. No. 4, October-December 2024 Earlier in this series, we discussed the Reformation Movement. This movement set out to reform the Roman Catholic Church to correct the errors and abuses that had developed over the centuries. While the reformers’ intentions may have been good, the unintended result of their…

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Early House of Worship

Source: “Christians didn’t worship in houses? New study drops bombshell on religious archaeology,” StudyFinds.org, 30 August 2024. Early Christians “may have been more intentional in creating distinct sacred spaces than previously thought.” “One of the most striking findings was the removal of key features that defined Durene houses, such as the building’s cistern and food…

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Baptism in History

by Ed Harrell via Christianity Magazine, December 1984 My reading of the New Testament makes very clear the meaning and intent of baptism — it was a “burial” that put one “into Christ” and resulted in the “remission of sins” (Romans 6:3–4; Acts 2:38). Of course, we should always be willing to examine our reading…

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Church and State: Civil Enforcement of Religion

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Church-and-State-Civil-Enforcement-of-Religion.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 110   I.         By merging the church and state, the state received a “weapon” to promote loyalty int its citizens             A.        But the church also began using the state as a “weapon” to enforce its teachings             B.        Psalms 110 is a prophecy about Christ conquering the nations. I’m sure the Catholic…

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Jefferson D. Tant – J. C. McQuiddy Exchange  

by Terry Gardner comments by Jefferson David Tant III Tant was barred from the Gospel Advocate starting in 1909 for some ten years. In Tant’s biography, this is attributed to the fact that the Advocate became more “literary” with the addition of men like R. H. Boll to the staff. … The story goes that…

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The Rise of Denominationalism

by Andy Sochor via Unmasking Sophistry, Vol. 4, No. 3, July-September 2024 In the previous article, we discussed the Reformation Movement, which came when the Roman Catholic Church was a religiously and politically dominating force. Over the centuries, it became increasingly corrupt until Martin Luther challenged some of the errors and abuses of the prevailing system.…

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The Reformation Movement

by Andy Sochor via Unmasking Sophistry, Vol. 4, No. 2, April-June 2024 In terms of general “church” history, it is difficult to overstate the importance of the Reformation Movement. As we have already studied, the Roman Catholic Church dominated the world – religiously and politically. As “Christianity” became the official religion of the Roman Empire,…

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The Development of Papal Power

By Andy Sochor Unmasking Sophistry, October-December, 2023, Vol. 3, No. 4 The pope is arguably the most influential religious figure in the world today. Yet there was a time when the one who occupied this office was even more powerful than the current pope. He would not only be the highest-ranking member of the Roman…

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Choirs and Solos

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Choirs-and-Solos.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 13:12-16   I.         Satan never stops in his relentless pursuit of God’s people to lead them astray – I Peter 5:8-9             A.        In the past, we talked about the introduction of musical instruments into the worship.                         1.         We showed from scripture that the practice was not authorized by God                         2.         We showed…

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A Look at Church History

by Andy Sochor Early Persecution The Beginning of Apostasy The Council of Nicea The Reformation and the Restoration: A Tale of Two Movements The Reformation Movement The Rise of Denominationalism The Restoration Movement The Same Movement, Yet We Are Different

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The Council of Nicea

by Andy Sochor via Unmasking Sophistry, Vol. 3, No. 2 The first ecumenical council, that occurred in Nicea, was in 325 AD. It was a gathering of church leaders from across the Roman Empire who came together to discuss certain controversial issues and come to a consensus on the church’s “official” position on these matters. Before…

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The Other Side of Church History

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2006/01/The-Other-Side-of-Church-History.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: I Timothy 4:1-3   I.         When we study the history of the church since its beginnings, we tend to follow the paths of the major divisions.             A.        Thus we see the rise of Catholicism as innovation after innovation is accepted, the splits over those innovations which led to the…

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Early Christians Speak Concerning Assembling

by Ron Halbrook The early saints speak to us in both word and deed regarding their assemblies. Their narrative is rich with lessons for us today if only we have hearts to hear. Let us review and reflect upon the record of their meetings in the book of Acts in the first century, and a…

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Larimore and Tant

by F. Yater Tant Gospel Guardian, September 22, 1955 In the 1890s the beloved T. B. Larimore held a six-month meeting at Sherman, Texas, and baptized something like 250 people. His prestige there and his influence were almost comparable to Paul’s in Galatia at the time the Galatians “would have plucked out their eyes” and…

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Early Persecution

by Andy Sochor via Unmasking Sophistry, October-December 2022 As the apostles were commissioned to “make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19), this would include preparing these disciples to face persecution for the cause of Christ. Jesus warned about this in His Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you,…

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The Beginning of Apostasy

by Andy Sochor via Unmasking Sophistry, January-March 2023 As we noticed in “Early Persecution,” the early Christians openly faced severe persecution for the cause of Christ. While many abandoned their faith in order to avoid these persecutions, there were others who remained faithful even to the point of death. Because of this, the enemies of…

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What differentiates your beliefs from the heresy of Pelagianism?

Question: What differentiates your beliefs from the heresy of Pelagianism? Answer: I’m a bit curious why you would think that someone who lived some 1700 years ago has any impact on a group of Christians who focus on teaching the Bible. We follow the Bible and not the teachings of men. I’m also curious if…

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The History of the La Vista Church of Christ

The La Vista Church of Christ was established in September of 1971. There were two families living in the area and they met for a time in the home of Ken and Rita Hirshey and their children. The other family was Wally and Nellie Bates and their children. Ken worked in a government position and Wally…

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The Church of Christ in 1771

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton In a book titled, “A History of the Rise and Progress of the Baptists in Virginia” by Robert Baylor Semple, published in 1810 is a copy of this journal entry: “Wednesday Morning — Met and proceeded as follows: The church of Christ on Black Water, in Bedford, having sent neither letter…

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I Have Fought a Good Fight

by J. D. Tant (1861-1941) Sixty years have come and gone. I hope and pray that long after I cross the great divide, hundreds will read my sermons, be taught the way of life, and take up their cross and follow Jesus. I am leaving this bit of history that others may know that life…

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The Rise of Catholicism

by Julius C. Nwankwo Unmasking Sophistry, vol. 1, no. 2, July-September 2021 The history of God’s people in the Old Testament is a history of faithfulness, apostasy, and restoration. This is also true of the church. Next to a study of the Bible, church history is the most valuable study for a Christian. In this…

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The Reformation and the Restoration: A Tale of Two Movements

by Andy Sochor The New Testament repeatedly warns about drifting; in particular, drifting away from the faith. This can be done either individually or collectively. The Hebrew writer warned the Christians to whom he wrote that they “must pay much closer attention to what [they had] heard, so that [they would] not drift away from…

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Immersion, Pouring, and Sprinkling: A History

by Bruce Edwards, Jr. Truth Magazine XIX:27 (May 15, 1975), pp. 422-424 This writer can remember witnessing at the age of five the “baptism” of his infant cousin; the denominational “pastor” sprinkled drops of water upon his forehead. I wondered at the significance of that action then, but now, with an increased understanding of the…

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The Legacy of Campbell’s Error

by Steve Dewhirst Sentry Magazine, December 2000 Alexander Campbell Alexander Campbell (1788-1866) was a remarkable man, but he was just a man, subject to error even as the rest. for all of his great learning, teaching, and writing over many years, he was profoundly wrong in his understanding of one vital aspect of the New…

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The History of the Institutional Controversy

by Jefferson David Tant Those who have a general knowledge of churches of Christ today are aware of the fact that a division took place during the last half of the 20th Century. This division took place over doctrinal issues concerning the organization, work, and mission of the Lord’s church. In many respects, this division…

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A Friendly Letter on Benevolence

  by Irven Lee (1914-1991) April 1, 1958 A good friend that I have known and appreciated a long time sent a letter of inquiry which prompted this answer. Since so many are wondering about the same problems, I am making a few copies of the letter [that I wrote in response] with the hope…

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The Charismatic Movement

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CharismaticMovement.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: I Corinthians 14:6-12   I.         As we continue our tracing of how various denominations came to be,             A.        We examined how the Pietiest influenced the beliefs of John Wesley and the Methodist societies that he established.                         1.         In particular was an emphasis on the need for a personal experience to…

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The Holiness Movement

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/The-Holiness-Movement.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: I Thessalonians 5:16-28   I.         Pietism took off during the 1600’s with Philipp Jakob Spener (1635-1705)             A.        Eventually a denomination form that was referred to as the Moravian church             B.        From here we skip ahead to the early 1700’s II.        John Wesley (1703-1791)             A.        He was raised in the Church of England…

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Pietism

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Pietism.mp3 by Jeff Hamilton Download Audio Text: II Corinthians 11:1-4   I.         In the late 1300s lived a man named John Wycliffe in Oxford, England, where he taught in Balliol College.             A.        He was a theologian and a lay preacher, strongly advocating evangelism.             B.        This man found many things wrong with Roman Catholicism                         1.         The Bible was the supreme…

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Where Did They All Come From?

Where Did They All Come From? – Part 1Where Did They All Come From? – Part 2Where Did They All Come From? – Part 3Where Did They All Come From? – Part 4 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Timothy 4:1-11 I.         Christ founded but one church – Matthew 16:18             A.        It belongs solely to him. It…

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Christians in First Century Corinth

by Hugh DeLong We live (lived, past tense, as our world is quickly changing), in a time when Christianity (the basic principles) is the majority belief. The concept of one god is accepted. Such was not true back in the first century. The pagan world was full of gods. Such were woven into the very fabric of the lives…

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The Church in Crisis

by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. I have a sermon titled “Crises in the Jerusalem Church” that I preach from time to time. It is based on notes that I took on a sermon I heard brother Clinton Hamilton preach many years ago. It points to several crises faced by the first congregation of Christians ever.…

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The Split of the Catholic Churches

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/SplitOfTheCatholicChurches.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Matthew 23:1-12 I.         Very shortly after the first century, one elder in the church became the chief elder and took on the title of bishop to distinguish himself from the other elders.             A.        Even though elder and bishop refers to the same duty – Titus 1:5,7             B.        By the third…

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The Apostles’ Creed

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ApostlesCreed.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: John 17:11-23   I.         Every once in a while someone will ask what is our statement of faith.             A.        Back when we were home schooling, we were wanting to get involved with a local group, but they wanted us to sign a statement of faith             B.        Another name for a…

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Corruption in Church Organization

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/0020/01/CorruptionInChurchOrganization.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Acts 20:17-35   I.         Equality of members (first century)             A.        The early church was marked by the equality of its members – Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11             B.        As Jesus prayed, the desire was for all Christians to be one – John 17:20-21             C.        There were different duties, but the people were…

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How Did Christianity Survive?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/2016Summer6HowDidChristianitySurvive.mp3 by Tommy Peeler God Has a Plan

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Infant Baptism

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/InfantBaptism.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Romans 7:7-25 I.          Historians will admit that infant baptism did not appear in the church until the second or third century              A.         Roman Catholics                           1.          “There is no express mention of the baptism of infants in the New Testament” [Question Box, page 23].                           2.          “It is difficult to give strict proof…

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