Technicalities and Taking Sides

by Andy Diestelkamp If we learn anything from what is revealed about many of the Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day, it is that there is a human tendency to justify ourselves based on technicalities, which some imagine as justifying their beliefs or behaviors … and they were wrong. In their confrontations with Christ, we also…

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The Direction of Your Life

The Direction of Your Life – Part 1The Direction of Your Life by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 6:19-24   I.         Whenever I taught someone to drive, I was reminded that people have a tendency to go in the direction they are looking.             A.        When a person first learns to drive, they tend to look at things…

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The Way

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/The-Way-1.mp3 Text: Isaiah 35   I.         At times I will be studying and a verse sticks in my mind.             A.        In Isaiah 35 is a prophecy. It is obviously talking about the time when Jesus walked on this earth – Isaiah 35:4-6             B.        What struck me was the description of a highway – Isaiah 35:8-9                         1.         Such an interesting…

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Observations on Worldliness

by George Bosworth We cannot grow spiritually when we cling to worldliness. Nothing new in that statement! But consider I Corinthians 3:3-4: “For since there is envy and strife among you, are you not worldly and behaving like mere humans? For whenever one says “I belong to Paul”, and another says “I belong to Apollos”,…

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Methods of Divisive Teachers

by Doy Moyer Deceit is nothing new. Those who subversively gain followings, start new movements, and cause divisions are masters at it. Scripture warns us of this problem, so we should consider some common elements in the methods of divisive teachers. Every element listed may not be in every divisive teacher, but these are characteristics…

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Three Reasons I Don’t Like Denominations

by Wes McAdams Radically Christian Mahatma Gandhi is quoted as saying, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” If you ask me, I’d say, “I love Christ (and I love you), but I do not like your denominations. Your denominations are so unlike Christ.” If…

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How Satan Divides Brethren

by Larry Rouse The Three Pillars of False Movements   I.         We should not be surprised at the tactics of Satan.             A.        When working with other men we must constantly be humbled and because of that be willing to follow the wisdom of God. (James 4:13-18)                         1.         When we trust God it becomes all about Him and we…

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Old Tricks From Satan’s Playbook

by Austin Hausner “Is there a thing of which it is said, ‘See, this is new’? It has been already in the ages before us” (Ecclesiastes 1:10). Solomon reminds us that there is nothing new. This is important to remember because many things that people say are new are actually the same old tricks repackaged…

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There Must Needs be Heresies

by David Edwin Harrell, Jr. Vanguard, Volume 1, #1 January 1975, pp. 21-22 After a few weeks of study at St. John’s University and Abbey, I am impressed by the perceptive Roman Catholic analysis of the weaknesses of Protestantism. They insist that Protestants are pressed between two unacceptable extremes. One extreme grows out of the…

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Doing Much Harm

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/DoingMuchHarm.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Corinthians 11:1-20   I.         An article by Michael Kruger, written back in February 2018, got me thinking about how some people leave the church             A.        The article focuses on Jen Hatmaker, a Texas author and has a TV show. She has taken public stances contrary to the Southern Baptist denomination…

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Church Issues and Love

by Edward O. Bragwell Throughout church history, divisive issues have arisen among Christians, even to this present day. While this should concern us, it should not cause excessive alarm. They are to be expected. After all, the apostle Paul wrote in the First Century: “For, in the first place, when you assemble as a church,…

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What do you think about the divisions among the churches?

Question: I wanted to ask you a question about Romans 16:17 and I Corinthians 1:10 about there being divisions in the church.  I have been a member of the church since 1960, at the age of 13, and led singing most of the years since.  My dad preached over twenty years in a central Texas…

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Divisions Must Come

David Lipscomb via The Gospel Advocate, September 4, 1941 Division in the churches is painful. It wrings the heart with anguish. But God asked: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3). This is a strange declaration that they cannot. It is true as applied to both God and man. Can you walk with…

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When a church splits, who is right?

Question: I am a Catholic. I understand that my religion is kind of looked down on by the church of Christ. I am wondering how many churches of Christ are doing what is being asked for in the Bible? Recently a church in my town split up over an issue and I can’t help but…

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Why are there different denominations?

Question: Why are there different denominations between Christians? Answer: A denomination is a division and, yes, among those calling themselves “Christian” there are a great many divisions. Even among a particular denomination, there are divisions as evidenced by the Episcopals’ arguments over their homosexual bishop, the United Methodists’ arguments on where to allow homosexual unions,…

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Isn’t it divisive to claim all denominations are wrong?

Question: I just read the article about why you left the Nazarene denomination. On the latter point of baptism, I will not comment now, but I think your first listed reason is a rational mistake. You said, “yet the Nazarene Church exists, as does any denomination, because man disregards the prayerful wishes of Christ.” This…

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