I Ordain in All the Churches

by Terry Wane Benton Text: I Corinthians 7:17 There was no such thing as each church making up the rules for themselves. From the very beginning, they “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42), and when the apostles taught something, it was meant for “all the churches” to teach the same thing and practice…

Read More

The Doctrine of the Nicolaitans

by Terry Wane Benton Revelation 2:15 mentions the doctrine of the Nicolaitans and says that God “hates” that doctrine. Whatever it was, the church at Pergamos had members that taught this doctrine as well as the doctrine of Balaam (Revelation 2:14). Because of these doctrines in the church, God had “a few things against you.”…

Read More

Godliness in Conflict

by Matthew W. Bassford The book of James has the reputation of being the most practical book of the New Testament, but Paul’s epistle to Titus surely must be considered in the same light. Titus is only three chapters long, but all three chapters are light on abstraction and heavy on concrete application. Especially in…

Read More

A Salvation Issue

by Bobby Graham In more recent years some have responded in this way with increasing frequency to our insistence upon adherence to the Scriptural pattern:  “Well, it’s not a salvation issue.”   It might be a matter of the organization of the local church, the use of women in roles of leadership, or the use of…

Read More

Doctrinal Matters

by Doy Moyer When we think of “doctrinal” issues, we tend to think of matters like marriage and divorce, the work of the church, baptism, etc. We work hard to try to get these right, and there are often sharp disagreements over the nature of these “doctrinal” matters. “Doctrine” means teaching, and anything we teach…

Read More

Does ‘this form of doctrine’ in Romans 6:17 refers to a type?

Question: Good day, Does ‘this form of doctrine’ in Romans 6:17 refers to a type? This means things we do now will only get their true meaning in heaven. Answer: Good to hear from you! “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that…

Read More

Abijah’s Brief Reign

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/AbijahsBriefReign.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Chronicles 13   I.         Abijah succeed Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, as king of Judah – II Chronicles 13:1-2             A.        This same king is call Abijam in I Kings 15:1-8.                         1.         Not much is mentioned of him I Kings other than there was constant war between Abijah and Jeroboam, the king…

Read More

Not the Plan But the Man

by Larry Ray Hafley Guardian of Truth XXXIX: No. 24, p. 16-18 December 21, 1995 Forrest L. Keener is a well-known Baptist preacher and author. In his paper, The Baptist Watchman, he wrote an article entitled, “God’s Man Of Salvation” [March 1995, p. 1-3]. While this is not intended to be a review of that article,…

Read More

Sound Doctrine Produces Sound Churches Demanding Sound Doctrine

by Edward O. Bragwell via Gospel Guide, Vol. 27, No. 12, Dec. 1995. “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering…

Read More

Different Doctrines

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/DifferentDoctrines.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Timothy 1:3-11   I.         All of us have friends and family who have vastly different beliefs from our own. It is hard to think of them possibly not reaching heaven.             A.        This desire is exploited by false teachers who have no desire to be bound by God’s laws – II…

Read More

The Gospel/Doctrine Distinction

By Tom M. Roberts Guardian of Truth XXXVIII: 12, p. 13-14 June 16, 1994 Guardian of Truth XXXVIII: 13, p. 16-18 July 7, 1994 Guardian of Truth XXXVIII: 14, p. 3-4 July 21, 1994 Bred in Infidelity One would have to be totally ignorant of the Bible to deny that Jesus Christ is both the center…

Read More

Are there five doctrines of angels?

Question: I told someone in our Bible study recently that “eternal security” is a doctrine. She said no, that doctrines are doctrines of angels, about five or so in number. What do you think about this? Answer: Doctrine means “teachings.” “For I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law” (Proverbs 4:2). There is…

Read More

Fuzzy Doctrine

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/FuzzyDoctrine.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 28:16-20   I.         God did not author confusion – I Corinthians 14:33             A.        But there are people running around today insisting that He did             B.        In July, 2012, the Episcopals approved transgender clergy and members, along with a service for blessing unions of homosexuals.                         1.         “We are entering into a time of…

Read More

Notes on the Message Preached

The Faith General References Acts 6:7 Acts 13:8 Acts 14:22 Acts 16:5 I Corinthians 16:13 Galatians 3:23 Ephesians 4:13 Colossians 1:23 Colossians 2:7 I Timothy 1:2 I Timothy 3:13 I Timothy 4:1 I Timothy 5:8 I Timothy 6:10,12 Titus 1:2, Titus 1:13 Titus 3:15 I Peter 5:9 Jude 3 Word of Faith Romans 10:8 One…

Read More

Abiding in the Doctrine

by James R. Cope via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 6, April 1952. Some who have had a great deal to say about “fellowship” have sought to lessen the force of II John 9-11 by giving it a meaning out of harmony both with its context and other plain Bible teaching. The passage reads: “Whosoever…

Read More

Gospel, Word, Truth, Seed, Doctrine

by Carl A. Allen The denominational world has tried to seek unity by teaching we are to believe the Gospel and not enforce “doctrine.” According to them we should not divide over baptism, the Lord’s Supper, instruments of music, tithing, marriage, and divorce, etc. because all of this falls into “doctrine,” and we have no…

Read More

The Importance of Doctrine

by Steve Klein via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, August 26, 2007 This past week, I noticed that the sign in front of the Presbyterian Church in Rogersville said, “Love God. Love others. The rest is doctrine.” The message was plain. Loving God and loving others are essential things, but doctrine…

Read More

Doctrine

A person will not reach heaven if they advocate a doctrine different from God A person who changes God’s teaching is condemned – Galatians 1:6-10; I Timothy 6:3-5; Revelation 22:18-19 Men are to be instructed not to teach different doctrines – I Timothy 1:3-4 We are commanded to reject a person who causes division by…

Read More

Preaching the Crucified Christ

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Corinthians 1:17-31   I.         What does it mean to “preach Christ crucified”? – I Corinthians 1:23             A.        The message of the cross is the power of God – I Corinthians 1:18             B.        The message of the cross is God’s means of salvation – I Corinthians 1:21             C.        Therefore, it is the gospel (good…

Read More

Teaching Unpopular Doctrine

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Some questions are difficult to answer, not because the Bible is unclear on a matter, but because there is a strong bias against the correct answer within the culture. Today, we have no difficulty speaking against idolatry. Even non-Christians understand that worshiping an idol is a worthless effort, just as God…

Read More