Can We Know God?

by Terry Wane Benton We must “believe that He is” (Hebrews 11:6) and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him, but knowing He exists and knowing Him are still two different things. I can know you exist without knowing you. The second is deeper in significance than the former. Knowing you exist is a…

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Is not taking God’s name in vain just about swearing?

Question: I also would like to ask if you think this commandment refers only to oaths or if it may refer to saying the name of God without purpose, like “God willing…” without God in mind. Thanks in advance! God bless your work. Answer: This particular commandment is focused on men treating God with honor…

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God Does the Seemingly Impossible

by Zeke Flores God seems to delight in doing the impossible. Aside from the glorious power of creation itself, He has done the unimaginable again and again. From an old man and an old woman, he brought forth a son who would be the child of promise for a nation. Centuries later that nation would…

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Reminder of Sinai

by Terry Wane Benton When John saw the vision of Revelation, there seems to be a reflection that reminds us of Sinai. “And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God” (Revelation 4:5). We recall thundering, lightning, and voices…

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There’s a Rainbow

by Terry Wane Benton “And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald” (Revelation 4:3). He who sat on the throne “was like” jasper and a sardius stone in appearance. How was He like that? We…

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God Conscious

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/God-Conscious.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 139   I.         A truly godly man lives with a constant realization of God’s divine presence             A.        He is God conscious             B.        When he awakes in the morning, there is God.             C.        As he dresses for work, there is God.             D.        As he goes in to breakfast with his family, as he drives…

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Our Immutable God

by Louis Cook Know God Series Immutable: “unchanging in His being, purpose, perfection, and promises.” “For I, the LORD, do not change” (Malachi 3:6).  If He changed even in the slightest, He would not be self-existent, self-sufficient, eternal and He would not be God. He does not grow old, or tired, get weaker or grow…

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Three Gods or One God in Three Persons?

by Dudley Ross Spears via Unmasking Sophistry, Jan-Mar 2024, vol. 4, no. 1 Originally published in Gospel Truths, Vol. IV, Number 6, June 1993, pp.13-14 The Bible teaches there is only one God. “Have we not all one father? Hath not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother,…

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Before Jesus Was Born

by Doy Moyer The Gospels of Matthew and Luke both speak to various details concerning the birth of Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Mark says nothing about these details but rather jumps right into the work of John and then immediately to the baptism, temptations, and beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. The Gospel of John…

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God’s Existence Doesn’t Depend on Me

by Perry Hall In Megan Rappinoe’s last game, she injured herself by tearing her Achilles tendon. She is the women’s soccer team captain and outspoken advocate for LGBTQT+. She immediately said afterward, “I’m not a religious person or anything and if there was a god, like, this is proof that there isn’t”. Let’s examine her…

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Did God purposely make the rulers unable to understand?

Question: Praise the Lord. In I Corinthians 2: 7-8, it says, “No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” Lord…

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The Acts 17 Approach to God

by Doy Moyer Acts 17 provides a framework for some basic understanding of God. Think especially about the phrase in verse 25: “as though He needed anything.” In that phrase is found the essence of who God is. God needs nothing more to be complete or to function with the highest possible reason and power.…

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Holy Is His Name

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Holy-Is-His-Name.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 99 I.         Near the end of his life Joshua told the people of Israel – Joshua 24:14-24             A.        After their declaration to serve God, it seems strange for Joshua to tell them that they are unable to serve because He is holy.             B.        What is it about holiness that makes God…

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Pagan Ideas of God

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/PaganIdeasOfGod.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Micah 7:15-20   I.         Through the ages man has had difficulty grasping the concept of God             A.        As Christians, we understand that God is a Spirit – John 4:24             B.        But for the common man, without the knowledge of the Scriptures, that idea is too vague. So God is remade in their…

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Why Call Jesus Good?

by Doy Moyer Mark 10:17-31 tells of a rich, young ruler who approached Jesus and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He was interested enough to seek and find the right source for answers, but the issue was whether he was ready to listen and act. There is something important…

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The Valley of Dry Bones

by Matthew W. Bassford We all know the song. In fact, many people who aren’t religious know the song. It is easily the most familiar concept from the book of Ezekiel, even though I think most people don’t know that the content of the song comes from the book. Stripped of its context and meaning,…

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What did the prodigal son’s father do?

Question: I am curious about the parable of the “prodigal son”, probably one of the best-known of all parables. Nothing is said about what the father does or does not do after his son leaves and goes to a far country. He seems very comfortable with giving his son his inheritance.  As many instances as…

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The God Seen in Nothing

by Matthew W. Bassford I love that God thinks so differently than we do. Because His ways are not our ways, He consistently reveals Himself to us using means that we never would have chosen. We prefer straight lines and straightforward propositions, but God works in subtlety and paradox. These things are His signature, His…

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There Is No Partiality with God

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/There-Is-No-Partiality-With-God.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 2:1-11   I.         People tend to be biased.             A.        We have our viewpoints. We have our favorites. We understand that being unbiased is a better position, but biased views always creep into our decisions.                         1.         Listen to a radio commentator. It doesn’t take long to figure out wether he is conservative…

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I Have a Closed Mind

by Fanning Yater Tant, Vanguard Magazine, January 25, 1979 This editorial is being written on my birthday (December 30). I have now attained my three score and ten, and have reached a point in life where I am neither ashamed nor afraid to say some things which would have been ranked heresy at a younger…

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Why Doesn’t God Prove Himself?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Why-Doesnt-God-Prove-Himself.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Isaiah 43:8-13   I.         “If God is real, why doesn’t He just give concrete evidence?”             A.        It is a question that preachers frequently run into.             B.        If I don’t personally see the evidence, then I don’t think adequate proof exists – John 20:25 II.        God has given evidence             A.        The Creation speaks of God’s…

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I Will Not Forsake You

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/I-Will-Not-Forsake-You.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Deuteronomy 31:1-6   I.         Moses was approaching the end of his life. The time of his departure was at hand.             A.        Understandably, the children of Israel would be nervous. He has been their leader for 40 years. Moses faced down Pharaoh and led them out of slavery. He is the one…

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The Hound of Heaven

by Rick Lanning Do you remember this quote? “No one is good but God.” Most readers will immediately think of Jesus’ reply to the rich young ruler who had run to the Lord, fell on his knees, and asked, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” Christ jolted…

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The Truth About God’s Love

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/The-Truth-About-Gods-Love.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 5   I.         The world is filled with varying and confusing ideas about how God loves us.             A.        Typically the emphasis is placed so heavily on God’s love that many think that God is incapable of a negative thought against anyone.             B.        Others see God as so remote and unapproachable that…

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Does God direct our lives?

Question: I have appreciated your website and the answers you share from the truth of God’s word.  I thought maybe you could help me with this: A friend is telling me that God reveals things to us about what to do about jobs, health, etc. In the sense that God directs our path, I suppose…

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Reverencing the Name of God

by David Gibson I once overheard an older woman ask a middle-aged man as he entered the post office, “Are they closed?” “Lord, no!” he said. “They ain’t closed.” In a Dallas hospital waiting room, several women were passing the time in conversation. One of them mentioned that a certain man they knew was 38.…

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The Proper Source of Authority

by Heath Rogers “Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, ˜By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?'” (Matthew 21:23). The chief priests and elders who confronted Jesus were asking legitimate questions.…

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Expecting the Impossible

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Expecting-the-Impossible.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 19:16-26   I.         With God, all things are possible – Matthew 19:26             A.        Even the saving of a wealthy man, if he desired to be saved.             B.        Yet, we must understand that some things are impossible for even God                         1.         It is impossible for God to lie – Hebrews 6:17-18                         2.         He cannot…

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Are We Asking the Right Question About God and Evil?

by Perry Hall I have been studying and teaching “The Problem of Evil and Theodicy.” The main question usually asked is, “If God is good, why does God allow evil in this world?” The question needs to change. Change is needed because I am not sure that question is plainly asked and answered in the…

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I Need God

by Doy Moyer “I need God because I am a sinner in need of forgiveness.” This is true, but if we are not careful we might tend to think that were it not for the fact that we have sinned, we really wouldn’t need God all that much. This presents a faulty view of God,…

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Contending with the Almighty

by Doy Moyer The book of Job is not as much about Job and his faith as it is about God and how He operates. Job was being tested, to be sure, but God even more so. Does God bless Job for nothing? Is God being unfair and unjust? Is God the true adversary? Does…

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Things to Remember

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Things-to-Remember.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ecclesiastes 1:3-11   I.         There are so many things to remember!             A.        Need to tie a string around my finger, but then I wouldn’t be able to bend it – there would be so many strings tied there.             B.        Then there are organizers: paper and electronic, for the technically inclined, which work…

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Knowing God

by Terry Wane Benton Just because one person does not know God, does not mean that nobody really knows God. The atheist and the skeptic do not know God, and they assume nobody can know God, but that is just their assumption based upon their own ignorance. Just because they don’t know God does not…

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Belief in God Continues to Decline

Source: Anugrah Kumar, “Number of Americans who believe in God dips to new low: Gallup,” The Christian Post, 20 June 2022. The number of Americans who say they believe in God: 1940s-1960s – 98% 2011 – 92% 2013-2017 – 87% 2022 – 81% “Belief in God has fallen the most in recent years among young adults…

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Thinking of Beauty

by Doy Moyer “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” There is some truth to this as is evidenced by the different tastes people have in art, music, decor, fashion, etc. However, “beauty” as a deeper concept must have a foundation that is more objective and not merely subjective desire. When we say that…

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Seeking God

A series of lessons presented by Doy Moyer of Temple Terrace, Florida. May 22-25, 2022 Develop Your Mind for God Resurrection and the Christian Submission in Jesus (Ladies Class taught by Laurie Moyer) Truth about Truth Knowing the Will of God Trembling at God’s Word As Though He Needed Anything

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Metaphors for God

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Metaphors-for-God.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 18:1-19   I.         Figures of speech have long been used in communicating ideas.             A.        Prior to the modern usage of font styles, the content of the text itself called the reader’s attention to what was important.             B.        Figures of speech grabs your attention because they depart from the usual rules of…

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God Revealed

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/God-Revealed.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Revelation 15:1-6   I.         In the beginning, Adam and Eve had fellowship with God             A.        God directly interacted with His creation – Genesis 2:15-22             B.        He walked in the garden – Genesis 3:8             C.        But they had sinned and that sin – separated them from God – Genesis 3:22-24             D.        That has remained true…

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