You Make This People Trust in a Lie

by Terry Wane Benton Text: Jeremiah 28:15 Jeremiah confronted some popular teachers of his time and rebuked them for getting people to trust in lies. It has happened since the Garden of Eden that people trust in lies. There are plenty of preachers willing to give false assurances. Religious leaders can be bought, or they…

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Do You Swallow Anything?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Do-You-Swallow-Anything.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Jeremiah 14:10-16   I.         Sharks are notorious for swallowing just about anything.             A.        People have found books, bottles, tablecloths, and nails inside sharks             B.        Clearly sharks have large appetites and indiscriminate tastes             C.        There is a small fish known as the Sea Hedgehog or Urchin Fish.                         1.         This small fish has spikes all around…

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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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Hiding Behind the Truth

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Hiding-Behind-the-Truth.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Corinthians 4:1-6   I.         One basic principle of logic is that if you start with a false idea, you can prove anything             A.        False doctrine could be justified if you started with a false idea as evidence                         1.         Premise: Presidents of the United States must be younger than 35                         2.         Premise: Joe…

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Have You Been Bewitched? – Galatians 3:1-5

by Thomas Thornhill In these verses, Paul calls the Galatians “foolish” and “bewitched” for being deceived by Judaizing false teachers. He doesn’t believe in such superstition but uses it as sarcasm to make them think. How did they receive the Spirit that brought justification and salvation? Paul is deeply distressed that the Galatians were so…

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Christ, Our Shepherd

Text: John 10 We live in a fearful time. Most other people in most other times would think it strange that Americans today are as afraid as they are. After all, we live in the heart of the territory controlled by the greatest military power of all time. There has not been a war here…

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The Work of the False Teacher

by Matthew W. Bassford In an epistle that contains a number of negative descriptions, Romans 16:17-18 is the last. Here, though, Paul is not concerned with degenerate Gentiles or hard-hearted Jews. Instead, he focuses on troublemakers within the Christian community. They have the following four characteristics: They Create Division Disciples of Christ are supposed to…

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Difficult Times and Difficult People

by Doy Moyer Predators prey on gullible people when they think they spot an opportunity. This is one of the points of II Timothy 3:1-9. The difficult times in this context, though spoken of as future, included the time in which Paul was writing (note the present tense in II Timothy 3:6). These difficult times…

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Prove What Is Acceptable

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Prove-What-Is-Acceptable.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Thessalonians 5:16-24   I.         I doubt it has escaped your notice, but there are people around us who don’t always do what is right             A.        How do you know who to trust?             B.        People claim to be Christians, but we know people can and do lie             C.        For that matter, how do…

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My parents have become heretics. Should I cut them out of my life?

Question: My mother and father have latched onto what I consider to be a heretical theology with fervor. My father, who is the reason I am a Bible-believing Christian today, has become a Full Preterist. He is radical, aggressive, and has tried to convert everyone he knows. Both my parents believe that Satan, Hell, and…

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False Teaching and Fellowship

by Frank Jamerson Sentry Magazine, December 2000 The issue of false teaching and fellowship is not a new one. The following is approximately two pages from an eleven-page article, published in January 1975, that I commend for your consideration. “All of us must accept the fact that we have fellowship (live and work and worship with)…

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What do you think of Pat Robertson now?

Question: So what do you think of Pat Robertson’s 2007 predictions now with all this violence going on in the U.S. and the world? He may have missed the year but he didn’t miss the action! You are not to be followed! Answer: “But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which…

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Rhetoric in the Propaganda Wars

by Terry Wane Benton It is interesting how the rhetoric used in truth vs. propaganda often turns to prejudicial phrases. Elijah was called a “troubler” in Israel, by the wicked king (I Kings 18:17). Who really was the troubler? Was it not those who grew to accept immorality and idolatry? But Ahab used the word…

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Can false teachers do miracles?

Question: Greeting, Recently I read about this topic from “Summarizing the Book of Acts – Miracles Confirm God’s Word” by Roy H. Lanier, Jr and want to ask your opinion about the material. “Many “Spirit-filled” claimers today contradict plain Bible teachings. Some of their doctrines violate the clear teachings of the Lord. God would not…

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Is Felix Manalo the last messenger of God?

Question: Good day, I am a member of the Lord’s church here in the Philippines, I have a question regarding Isaiah 46:11 and Isaiah 43:5-7. A religious group called Iglesia ni Cristo claims that their “Sugo” or messenger, Felix Manalo, from the islands mentioned in Isaiah 24:15; 59:19 and Psalms 113:1-3, which they claim the…

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Attendance is not commanded!

Question: Hello, I am a minister and teacher of Christ Jesus. A Christian brother brought to my attention your teaching about attending church and Bible study, so I could comment on it. It is on your page titled “Are you telling me I won’t make it to heaven because I have to work?” I also reviewed…

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The Boy Who Didn’t Come Back from Heaven

by Wayne Greeson The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven came out in 2010 and sold more than 1 million copies and spent months on the New York Times’ bestseller list. Kevin Malarkey and his six-year-old son Alex were driving home from church in Huntsville, Ohio, on a Sunday morning in November 2004, when they…

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What is my calling?

Question: Dear sir, l study cybersecurity and information technology. l had a job but l quit it thinking the salary was not enough. l have since continued to applied for jobs but nothing has happened. l get jobs interviews, but l will not be called in for work. I thought it was because l didn’t…

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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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Is a Christian who teaches error still a brother in Christ?

Question: A big fire started after our morning services this morning! One of our members here adamantly disagreed with me when I mentioned that when a brother sins by teaching doctrinal error, he must repent, and if he refuses to repent he is “a brother in error.” Until he does repent, we are no longer…

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The Passing of Billy Graham

by Dan Gatlin Billy Graham passed away today. Some may not be familiar with what he taught. He said, “I believe baptism is important, and I have been baptized. But I think we violate the Scriptures when we make baptism the prime requirement for salvation … Paul’s central theme was Christ and His saving power.…

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Can giving a warning about a false teacher be gossip?

Question: I was reading an article written by someone on your website about the subject of gossip. Gossip was condemned by the person who wrote the article. But, what about if you’re exposing a false teacher, whether they’re well known by others or not? I believe that we should raise awareness of a wolf in sheep’s…

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Does a lack of unity and integrity affect the preaching of the gospel?

Question: Does the lack of unity and integrity in the ministry affect the people to whom we are reaching out? Is this a problem only due to egos or is there some other reason for this? Answer: “For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle?” (I Corinthians 14:8). In…

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Should I leave this church where the pastor drives a luxury car?

Question: Hello. Thank you so much for taking the time to consider my question. I’ve struggled with the decision of whether to leave my church. The congregation is very loving and over the past two years, I have developed several good friendships. My dilemma is with the pastor. She is a very gifted speaker and…

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Misquoting the Scriptures

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/MisquotingTheScriptures.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Timothy 2:14-19   I.         Atheists will often use short quotes from the Bible to make it appear that the Bible is contradictory or teaches something that people would find repulsive             A.        But then, when you lift words from their context, you can make almost any point you want             B.        To be…

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How do I treat false teachers, like the Mormons?

Question: God teaches us so much through His Word, but I have a question that cannot be easily answered. Throughout the New Testament, God instructs His children (born-again Christians ) to love unconditionally; yet, I’m not sure how to act or respond to Mormons. Loving others is a commandment of God but somehow I’m not…

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False Teaching 101

by Steven Harper In the religious realm, there are some men who would have us believe they are speaking the truths of God’s Word but would be more properly identified as the “false teachers” they are. I know that is a ‘label’ that some individuals do not like to hear, but it is a Scriptural one…

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Have you heard of Cecil Hook and his book Free in Christ?

Question: Asked a question of previous Williams Road Church of Christ why they removed the “church of Christ” and now just refer to themselves as the Williams Road Church. The short answer referred me to Cecil Hook and his book Free in Christ. What would the explanation be without me reading and how far off…

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Do I have to marry my brother’s widow?

Question: Please help. My pastor told me that God spoke to her that I should marry my elder brother’s widow with four children. I have a fiancee whom I dearly love but my pastor says she is being used by devil worshippers to capture me. My dad joined in devil worship a long time ago…

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My pastor told me that God wanted me to be his wife

Question: When I was 35 years old I was introduced to this church where the pastor is also a prophet. He is married and we called him daddy and his wife mommy. I was going through a lot at that time and I was helped through that man of God to find peace again in…

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