God Is Good All the Time (2)

by Zeke Flores God is good! That pithy phrase pops up in my newsfeed several times a day, usually in a comment where someone reports something good in their life. It could be favorable results from a medical test, the arrival of a new baby, a financial windfall, the purchase of something new, or one…

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The Almighty

by Terry Wane Benton John describes Jesus as “the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8). Isaiah predicted the “child” who would be born and later called “Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6-7). The Hebrew of the Old Testament refers to “El Shaddai” (God Almighty). The term emphasizes God’s ability to handle any situation that confronts God’s people. It is first…

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God and Good

by Terry Wane Benton Have you ever noticed how the book of Genesis begins and ends? It begins with God creating everything and “it was good” (Genesis 1). After man chose to let sin in the world, it was cursed (Genesis 3). But God wanted to get back to “blessed” with man and God back…

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Does God need us?

Question: Someone asked me a question: “If God needs us in heaven, why did He create us here on earth and not directly in heaven? Answer: Based on what passage does the person conclude that God needs us? “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and…

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You Matter to God

by Zeke Flores Remember the old song: “What’s it all about, Alfie?” (Yeah, I’m showing my age) I don’t know about Alfie, but people still ask themselves the question in different ways: “Why am I here?” “Where am I going?” “Do I matter?” People seek significance and meaning for their lives in what they do…

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Just the Hem

by Terry Wane Bentom Bleeding woman desired to touch Jesus’ garment (Matthew 9:21) She had spent many years going to different doctors trying to find a cure for her issue of blood. It had plagued her life so much. But she had a wonderful opportunity when the Man who miraculously healed so many others came…

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John’s Proposition and Proof

by Terry Wane Benton The gospel of John is very unique in that it sets forth a proposition as in a debate, and then seeks to present evidence to prove the proposition is true. The proposition is stated in the first 18 verses that Jesus was actually God with God from the beginning of creation,…

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Like Father

by David Gibson My finite mind soon reaches the end of its tether when I try to comprehend God, the eternal, invisible, all-powerful, all-knowing Maker of all things. By observing the wonders of His handiwork in nature, we get glimpses into His wisdom and power (Romans 1:18-20), To learn more, we turn to the Old…

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God Talks to God but Not to Himself

by Terry Wane Benton How can God talk to God but not be talking to Himself? God is triune (three in one), which is what He revealed about Himself. In the beginning, God said, “Let Us (plural) make man in Our (plural) image (singular)” (Genesis 1:26). Who was God talking to? And why is the…

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Skewed Views of God

by David Gibson The Book of Psalms records several wrong views of God: No God “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt; they do abominable deeds . . .” (Psalm 14:1). How can someone say there is no God, in view of all the evidence to the contrary? “Design…

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The Transcendence of God

by Tommy Peeler “Thus says the LORD, Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool, Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? For My hands made all these things, Thus all these things came into being, declares the LORD. But to…

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God Is One

by Doy Moyer God is one, united in triune nature, and never broken. From the Father eternally proceeds the Son and Spirit, co-equally divine, perfect, and committed in love and faithfulness. Because of who God is, we can trust that He will always act in our best interest, treat us with true justice, and invite…

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Remember Your Creator

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2003/10/Remember-Your-Creator.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:7   I.         Have you made something? (No, no, besides that mess in your room.) Something that originated in your own mind and formed with your own hands.             A.        As creative as we are, man only takes existing things and joins them in new ways.             B.        The ancient language…

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God’s Proof of His Existence

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Gods-Proof-of-His-Existence.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Exodus 3:1-6   I.         Perhaps you have heard statements to the effect that the Bible doesn’t try to prove that God exists. It simply assumes the existence of God.             A.        At the beginning of the Bible we read “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis…

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Evidence of a Creator

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Evidence-of-a-Creator.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Romans 1:18-22   I.         There are so many hints present in this world that it is surprising that they are often overlooked.             A.        But people have this tendency to only see what they expect to see             B.        And we have a school system that pushes agendas instead of teaching students…

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Why Is Your God the One?

by Terry Wane Benton Many gods have been claimed and worshipped all over the world. Why is your God the One? Isaiah gives good reasons to dismiss all the gods invented by human desire and imagination and settle on one true and living God. Take a look at Isaiah’s God: Isaiah said there is none…

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Eternal Existence

by James Sanders via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 16 No. 4, December 31, 1990 The Words of John 1:1 Nothing shatters—nothing startles like the sound of thunder. Its voice is unmistakable. And nothing seizes our attention like thunder. Whatever we may be doing when the crash of thunder interrupts, we stop immediately and listen. Thunder cannot be…

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Jesus Is God

Jesus Is GodJesus Is God – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Titus 2:11-14   I.         The religious world holds diverse views in regards to Jesus             A.        Is he a man or God? Or is it possible for him to be both?             B.        Oneness Pentecostals argue that there is only one God, and his name is Jesus.…

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The Wrath of God

by Terry Wane Benton God showed His wrath (Romans 1:18) against sin and unrighteousness by destroying the earth with a flood (Genesis 6-9). The markings of that flood are still around to remind us of the wrath of God. Sodom and Gomorrah were burned up with fire and brimstone to remind us of the wrath…

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Grieving God

by David Gibson How must God feel when He freely offers His great salvation, purchased at such dreadful cost, but the vast majority are not interested, too busy doing their own thing to care? A Recurring Theme “I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your…

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God HAS Spoken

by Terry Wane Benton “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His…

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Is God a Narcissist?

by Richard Blackford I participate periodically in discussions on a website that atheists run. The accusation has been made frequently that God is a narcissist. He is depicted as a self-centered tyrant absorbed in himself who wants everyone groveling at His feet and needs constant attention. I believe this is a misunderstanding. Some fail to…

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Did the patriarchs know God by the name of YHWH?

Question: Did the patriarchs know the proper name of God as “YHWH”? Or did He reveal Himself only to Moses and the Israelites? Answer: The name YHWH first appears in Genesis 2:4, so the name YHWH has been known since creation. Abram called on the name of the LORD (YHWH). “The LORD appeared to Abram…

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Is Jesus Equal to or Lesser than the Father?

by William J. Stewart Question: In John 10:30, the apostle pens the words of Jesus, “I and My Father are one.” Again, Jesus’ words are recorded in John 14:28, “Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said,…

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Does God make some lose faith?

Question: Hello there! How are you? Does Romans 11:19 mean that God makes some lose faith or be blinded so that others gain faith? Doesn’t that contradict His desire to save all? Why cannot both believe? Thanks. Answer: “But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted…

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God Seems so Mean!

by Zeke Flores One of the objections many have against God is that He seems so … mean.  Indeed, throughout a reading of the major prophets, God has consistently warned about the catastrophic devastation He would bring not only upon His own people but also upon pagan nations. Again and again, He denounced their behavior,…

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The Power of Adjectives

by Terry Wane Benton One of my favorite verses on prayer is Ephesians 3:20. Notice the adjectives used. Taking out the adjectives, Paul said, “God is able to do…all we ask or think.” Putting in the adjectives one at a time: God is able to do above all we ask or think. Then, “God is…

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Accusing God of Murder

by John N. Clayton Skeptics in the media constantly attack the Bible and the biblical concept of God. Writers in The New Yorker, The New Republic, and The Atlantic write as if they were authorities on the Bible while accusing God of murder and condemning Him as being immoral. Taking a Bible passage out of…

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Sin and God’s Glory

by Doy Moyer The problem of sin is sometimes difficult to assess because of our perspective. We see what we consider a “small” sin and then react strongly when the punishment does not seem to fit the crime. Because we tend to minimize the sin, we may under-appreciate the consequences. Some will then think badly…

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God’s Remedy for Sin

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Gods-Remedy-for-Sin.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Isaiah 58:1-11   I.         In our Scripture reading, God has Isaiah loudly proclaim the sins of His people.             A.        A fact that surprises the Israelites.                         1.         They delight in knowing God. They consider themselves righteous and followers of God’s Word.                         2.         They delight in the nearest of God, but God doesn’t…

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Is God All Loving?

Question: Is God all loving? This might be a strange question for a new Christian, but this is legitimately important. The reason I questioned this is because of God saying that these people are abominations, mainly (Leviticus 18:22) and (Deuteronomy 22:5). But as I wrote this, I realized the potential that maybe it was up…

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I was ready to fight at first, but by the end, I agreed

Question: I just wanted to express my appreciation for your response to this question: Why doesn’t God prevent innocent children from being harmed? I’ll admit, I was ready to fight at first, but by the end of the entire response, I felt that you detailed and answered all of my grievances that not only that person…

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The God of Happiness

by Chadwick Brewer “‘Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke’… so I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. And on the next morning I did as I was commanded” (Ezekiel 24:16,18). It has become common…

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Why does the Bible talk of other gods?

Question: Good evening! I have been wondering about certain things in the Bible, specifically the “Divine Council.” There are many different verses I can use, but I want to focus on three: The first being Psalm 82:1: “God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.” I generally don’t accept that…

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The Rock of Israel

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/The-Rock-of-Israel.mp3 Download Audio by Raymond Warfel

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The Wrath of God

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/The-Wrath-of-God.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 10:26-31   I.         Romans 1:18 warn of the wrath of God being revealed. How is His wrath revealed? II.        God directly takes action             A.        God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah in His wrath – Deuteronomy 29:23             B.        When people grumbled against Moses, God sent a plague – Numbers 16:42-46 III.       God allows…

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Jesus, the Perfect Image of God

by Doy Moyer God made human beings, male and female, in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27). There are many thoughts about what that entails. We might think about our spiritual nature, moral nature, free will, the ability to reason, and the capacity to love. We can continue, but human beings have several contact points…

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Jesus is the “I AM”

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Jesus-Is-The-I-AM.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I.          Many religions cast doubts on the deity of Jesus              A.         Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that Jesus is the first creation of God.              B.         Muslims see Jesus as nothing more than a significant prophet, much like Moses.              C.         Probably the best analysis of who is Jesus is found in the book of John. II.         The evidence…

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God’s Glory in Concealed Things

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Gods-Glory-in-Concealed-Things.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 97   I.         When men wish for the glory of other men, they highlight the things that they do             A.        When we want a promotion or a pay raise, we present to our bosses lists of how we benefitted the company. We make sure the boss notices the good things…

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Accepting God’s Work

by Doy Moyer God doesn’t need our defense (as though He needed anything (Acts 17:25)). When we accept God in total — that, for example, He is all-knowing, all-wise, all-understanding, all-powerful, all-loving, all-just, all-gracious, all-righteous, all-good, owner of life and death, etc. — then we won’t feel like He owes us explanations for everything He…

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