Posts Tagged ‘church’
The Sin of Small Churches
by Mike Thomas It is not uncommon for people to measure a church’s success solely by the numbers it has in attendance. One of the first things I am asked when people learn I am a preacher is how big the church is where I attend. They will then use this as a benchmark for…
Read MoreWe feel disconnected from our congregation
Question: Hello Mr. Hamilton, Thanks for all your help. A few years ago I first wrote to you about a liberal preacher coming into our congregation and we eventually had to leave. The preacher was eventually dismissed. But we searched out and are attending a sound congregation but do not feel connected. We have tried…
Read MoreThings People Think Don’t Matter
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Things-People-Think-Dont-Matter.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreIs the Church Important?
by Jefferson David Tant Is God’s church important? Does it have any significant place in our lives, or is it just something concerning which we have a choice — to be a part of it, or do our own thing? It is pretty obvious that many in the “Christian” world today see no real value…
Read MoreGood points made!
Question: I found a sermon on the site entitled “Ten Rules for Improving the Church”. I just wanted to let you know that I found it to be very helpful, and have passed it along to others. You had really good points in there! Answer: I am glad to hear that you found it useful.
Read MoreIsn’t renting facilities for worship a necessary inference?
Question: Regarding “Necessary Inference,” I am amused at the simplicity of learning that necessary inference promotes. Necessary inference doesn’t add anything to the equation but simply brings together all of the elements whether in the stated equation or the equation as a whole. For example Lydia. If it had stated some of the people within…
Read MoreThe Gospel of the Kingdom
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/The-Gospel-of-the-Kingdom.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 2 I. An important event happened during the first century that many today have ignored or have declared did not happen A. Jesus spent time teaching that the kingdom of God was at hand – Mark 1:14-15 1. It was the good news about the kingdom – Matthew 4:23…
Read MoreThe Establishment of the Kingdom
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/The-Establishment-of-the-Kingdom.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Daniel 7:13-27 I. Few argue the importance of the Kingdom in God’s plan. A. It is not of this world – John 18:36 B. It is a spiritual kingdom – Luke 17:20-21 C. Yet there remain arguments as to when it was or will be established. 1. In part it is because people…
Read MoreShould we stay with this congregation?
Question: Having moved about, my wife and I have worshiped with many congregations that follow the New Testament pattern. Currently, we are visiting a congregation that has a part-time minister and one elder. How this came about is murky. As our options are very limited, we have visited for several months, even to the point…
Read MoreThe Importance of One Another
by Doy Moyer Christians share together a bond in Christ. We often stress the need for personal responsibility and individual accountability, yet we should also see that Christianity is built upon a “one another” model. God did not intend for us to walk alone in our journey of serving the Lord. This is demonstrated through…
Read MoreSeek First the Kingdom
by Keith Sharp Billy was 6 years old. It was springtime close to summer vacation. When school was out, he and his mom, a widow who was remarrying, were moving. He came home from school and informed his mom he wouldn’t be going back to baseball. When she asked why, he replied, “The rest of…
Read MoreLove and Respect
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Love-and-Respect.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 5:25-33 I. There are some topics that are joined such that you cannot have one without the other. A. Faith and obedience are two sides the same subject. 1. You can’t really have faith without obedience – James 2:14-18 2. And you can’t really have obedience without faith – Romans 4:2-5…
Read MoreThe “Come as You Are” Method of Church Growth
by Mike Johnson Churches want to grow in number, but, sadly, many improper methods are used by churches today to increase their membership. One of these is the “Come as You Are” method. This method of growth is prevalent today in denominationalism. Slogans such as “God loves you no matter what” or “We don’t judge…
Read MoreWhat Are You Doing for the Lord’s Church?
by Terry Wane Benton It is not what the church is doing for you, but rather, what are you doing for the Lord’s church? Jesus died and spilled His blood for the church. She is His bride, and she is special, purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28). He expects us to keep her pure,…
Read MoreThe Separation of Church and State
by Andy Sochor Copyright: © 2015 Lee Edwin Coursey, used with permission There is an ongoing debate in our society about the “separation of church and state.” Though the phrase is not used in any of this country’s founding documents, many understand it to be a fundamental principle upon which this nation was built. However,…
Read MoreCan’t Christians meet on other days of the week?
Question: In regards to “Can I attend an InterVarsity Christian Fellowship instead of a church while at college?” My first question is on “One departure from the Lord’s church that you mention is that they have services on Tuesdays, but the church meets on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:1).”…
Read MoreCan I attend an InterVarsity Christian Fellowship instead of a church while at college?
Question: Hi Jeffrey, Hope you are well. I have been a Christian for 12 years now. I am going to college this fall. I’m very excited. The college I am going to, while not a Christian college per se, has a very active Varsity Christian Fellowship complete with its own full-time pastor, full-time staff, and…
Read MoreWhat If the Lord’s Church Was up to You?
by Terry Wane Benton What if a local church of Christ in your area was totally up to you? What if the Lord was counting on you to make sure there is a sound, biblical and encouraging church that existed and continued to hold up the truth of the gospel? If it weakens or dies,…
Read MoreMeasuring Acceptability
by Whit Sasser In II Corinthians 8:12 we read, “For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.” This principle of God’s word is to be respected, as well as all others. Sadly, there seem to be many areas…
Read MoreFeeling Wanted and Needed
by Terry Wane Benton We were very young (24) when we first started preaching full time or “living of the gospel” (I Corinthians 9:7-14). God providentially put us in the right place (Berney Points in Birmingham, AL) for this early training ground. We needed to feel wanted and needed in this first attempt, and the…
Read MoreU.S. Church Membership Declines to Under 50%
Source: Jeffrey M. Jones, “U.S. Church Membership Falls Below Majority for First Time,” Gallup News, 29 March 2021. “47% of Americans said they belonged to a church, synagogue or mosque, down from 50% in 2018 and 70% in 1999.” “The decline in church membership is primarily a function of the increasing number of Americans who express no…
Read MoreLove It or Leave It
by Ed Harrell Vanguard Vol 3, No 21, November 11, 1977 It is difficult to keep one’s thinking truly un-denominational. Proud, carnal attitudes constantly make their way into spiritual affairs. The sources of jealousy and strife today are the same carnal attitudes that plagued the Corinthian church (I Corinthians 3:1-5). I think few people have…
Read MoreInto What Were You Baptized?
by Floyd Chappelear Sentry Magazine, March 2000 Which came first? Admission into the church universal or the local church? To some, baptism is an ordinance of the church (that is, the local church). From that perspective, one is baptized into the local church. The truth of the matter is, however, that one is baptized into…
Read MoreWorking with the Smaller Groups
by Mike Davis Since 1975, God has blessed me to work “full time” with His children and to seek and save the lost. During these several years, God has permitted me to speak the gospel to large crowds (the most was over 200 at one time), and to speak the gospel in several states other…
Read MoreWe Are Not a Religious Non-Denomination
by Terry Campbell Sentry Magazine, September 2001 “Denominationalism” denotes a group of people devoted to a specific religious belief system who assemble under the name of a person, or concept, as their focus within a formal organizational environment governed by those of prominence that hold to that belief system. They have creeds and by-laws that…
Read MoreReligion that Lives in the Past
Author Unknown Sentry Magazine, December 2001 (Editor’s note: I would love to give credit to the author of this excellent piece but there was no name attached to the article. There may have been one on the envelope but when it was detached from the article it became impossible to give proper credit. I wish…
Read MoreIdentifying 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…
Read MoreThe Church’s Purpose
by Bill Hall What is the purpose of the Lord’s church? Is it to eradicate poverty, disease, social injustice, illiteracy from among men? Is it to bring about a cessation of war and conflict? Is it to campaign for a temptation-free society for Christians to live in? If the church had as one of its…
Read MoreDenominationalizing the Work of the Lord
by Jerry F. Bassett Sentry Magazine, March 2003 To denominate is “to give a name to: designate,” according to Miriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. This same source defines a religious denomination as “a religious organization uniting local congregations in a single legal and administrative body — denominational” being the adjectival form of this term. A local…
Read MoreWhen the Number Is Few
by Terry Wane Benton We often show a lack of faith when we compare a small church to a large church. Some want to hide in a large crowd and they fail to grow spiritually. Jonathan had the right quality of faith. Jonathan and his armorbearer attack the Philistines I Samuel 14:12-14″Then Jonathan said to…
Read MoreWhat Is It?
Flavil L. Colley Firm Foundation, January 20, 1948, p. 3 “Now, a denomination— what is it? I think the following will prove true: A denomination is a religious organization larger than any local church on earth and yet smaller than all the Christian people on earth. Think of the statement thus made. What is a…
Read MoreWhy is the church both the body of Christ and the bride of Christ?
Question: Please, why is the church called the body of Christ and at the same time called the bride of Christ? Thanks. Answer: People are known by a variety of names and titles because one name doesn’t completely describe a person or his relationship with other people. I’m known as “Jeff” to friends, but in…
Read MoreWhat do I do about a leading member living with a woman?
Question: What should an individual member do when faced with a leading member, teacher, and song leader is living together with a woman of the church. It seems that the entire church is trying to ignore it. I talked to the preacher and he gave a lengthy explanation, saying the member is impotent and that…
Read MoreThe Church Is Still the Church
by Doy Moyer “Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory” (Psalms 63:2). David wrote that while on the run in the wilderness. While the temple had not been built, David would have thought of the tabernacle and perhaps imagined what a future temple would look like. Thinking…
Read MoreHow to Grow as a Local Congregation
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/How-to-Grow-as-a-Local-Church.mp3 by Wayne Fancher I. Teach The Next Generations Ephesians 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Joel 1:3 Tell your children about it, Let your children tell their children, And their children another generation. Acts 20:32 “So now,…
Read MoreShould there be only one eldership per country?
Question: Hi Mr. Hamilton, greetings. Please, I need your views on this idea that is being taught by a very influential brother in Ghana. According to the brother, all the churches in one country were under just one eldership. His argument is that the churches in the apostolic age were persecuted churches, which met in…
Read MoreGiving Respect
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Giving-Respect.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Malachi 1:6-14 I. The word translated as “respect” in our Bibles comes from an interesting Greek word, entrepo. A. The word has two, seemingly conflicting, definitions. 1. It can mean showing respect or honor – Hebrews 12:9 2. It can mean having shame – Titus 2:6-8 B. Even our English word “respect” as…
Read MoreWhy Congregations Dwindle
by Connie W. Adams “Empty Pews” by Carol Von Canon on Flickr It is not uncommon to see congregations that once were large and active in the Lord’s work gradually dwindling. The natural question is, “Why?” I believe the following reasons must be considered. People moving away Sometimes workers are transferred, or lose jobs and…
Read MoreDear Neighbor
Adapted from a flier sent out by the Church of Christ at Appleton, Wisconsin Are you looking for a more genuine relationship with Jesus? Do you long for a deeper sense of peace and hope in your life? Perhaps the Christians at Elm Grove can help. We don’t claim to be perfect or have all…
Read MoreHow does God view switching congregations?
Question: Good morning, Mr. Jeffrey! My husband and I have decided to switch our church membership to another local body of believers. God says that He places each member how He sees fit (I Corinthians 12:18), but I cannot find a biblical reference to how God moves people to different churches after they joined their…
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