Personal Goals for 2024

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Personal-Goals-for-2024.mp3 by Raymond Warfel

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The Wrong Definition of Growth

by Paul K. Williams (deceased) John Cripps asked an elder in the United States why the church where he was a member was growing. He replied, “When we stopped pounding the pulpit on the issues we started to grow.” The elder also said that the elders were divided on the subject of divorce and remarriage,…

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Support the Weak

by Mike Johnson Paul closes the book of I Thessalonians with some very important and practical exhortations. In I Thessalonians 5:14, he “exhorts” (NASB — “urge”) the brethren to, among other things, “uphold the weak.” Christians have a responsibility to “uphold the weak.” The weak are those who are spiritually weak. Most churches have those…

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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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A Lifelong Process

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/A-Lifelong-Process.mp3 by Raymond Warfel

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By This Time You Ought To Be Teachers

by Jim Mickells “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food” (Hebrews 5:12). The author of this book is rebuking those to whom he is writing for…

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Boredom

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Boredom.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I.         The child has a room full of action figures, video games, cable TV, VCR, a huge collection of video tapes, every piece of sports equipment known to man, his own telephone, a fully loaded computer with Internet access — but he doesn’t have anything to do. He’s bored.             A.        Boredom is…

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The “Come as You Are” Method of Church Growth

by Mike Johnson Churches want to grow in number, but, sadly, many improper methods are used by churches today to increase their membership. One of these is the “Come as You Are” method. This method of growth is prevalent today in denominationalism. Slogans such as “God loves you no matter what” or “We don’t judge…

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Spiritual Maturity

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Spiritual-Maturity.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 3:8-17   I.         What is your goal in life?             A.        Life is short. You don’t have time to accomplish everything that is available to you, so what do you desire most to obtain?             B.        For Paul it was to be like Christ and obtain heaven – Philippians 3:8-11                         1.         The design of…

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Refinement

by Terry Wane Benton All that happens to us in this life is part of refining us. Like gold is purified through the harsh fires of testing, and as testing refines and strengthens our quality of faith and character, we come out in the end with a glory that looks more like the glory of…

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God Is at Work in You!

by Matthew W. Bassford A few months ago, my co-worker, Clay, examined Philippians 2:12-13 in a sermon, dwelling especially on v. 13. I’ve known for years that brethren have a bad habit of focusing on “Work out your own salvation,” to the exclusion of “It is God who is working in you.” However, Clay’s study…

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Identifying a New Testament Church

by Steve Dewhirst Sentry Magazine, December 2002 Traditionally, we gospel preachers have spoken of “identifying the New Testament church” in an effort to distinguish it from the sects roundabout. But in so doing, we have sometimes obscured the true nature of the body of Christ. We begin to preach about the church Jesus said He…

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How to Grow as a Local Congregation

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/How-to-Grow-as-a-Local-Church.mp3 by Wayne Fancher I. Teach The Next Generations Ephesians 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Joel 1:3 Tell your children about it, Let your children tell their children, And their children another generation. Acts 20:32 “So now,…

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Little by Little

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Little-by-Litte.mp3 by Wayne Fancher Exodus 23:30 Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land. Proverbs 13:11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow. I. Spiritual Growth Little By Little Ephesians 4:13 till we all come…

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I don’t seem to be improving. What can I do?

Question: Hello, I’ve been a Christian for about twenty years now and am a member of the church of Christ. I would appreciate if you could answer some questions and help me with some issues I am having. I’ve been examining myself lately, and I realize that I am a lukewarm Christian, at best. A…

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Precept Upon Precept, Line Upon Line

by Jeffrey Wilkes “The Bible is so difficult to understand,” an acquaintance recently asked. “Why is it written this way?” The Holy Spirit through Peter acknowledges that some things in Paul’s letters are hard to understand: “As also in all his [Paul’s] epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard…

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Does God have empathy with His children when they make mistakes?

Question: Hey Mr. Jeffrey, Does God have empathy for His children if they make mistakes or if they’re growing slowly, or does He just want us to be mature and not make any mistakes at all right off the bat? If a child of God desires to grow but allows distractions and other things to…

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Has La Vista’s site helped the congregation’s visibility?

Question: Hi Brother, I really like La Vista’s website and have been trying to convince our men that, in order to increase our visibility and effectiveness in the area, we should do something similar. I’ve suggested we include God’s word on subjects such as baptism and various sins in general, and then invite those who…

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Starving Spiritually

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/StarvingSpiritually.mp3 by Raymond Warfel

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Growth

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Growth.mp3 by Alan Feaster

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How do I grow as a Christian? How do I handle my abusive father?

Question: I’m 18 years old. I’m new to religion and seeking wise words and maybe some answers to where to start. I have a girlfriend who, after a while, convinced me to become religious. She lives far away, so she can’t really teach me much. There is also a small language barrier because what she…

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Could you explain Hebrews 6:1-2?

Question: I do have a question about Hebrews 6:1-2, “Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal…

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Open My Eyes That I Might See

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/OpenMyEyesThatIMightSee.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 5:11-14   I.         Discerning good – Hebrews 5:11-14             A.        I can understand a person not recognizing evil, but how does a person miss good?             B.        The topic under discussion was seeing that Jesus was like Melchizedek                         1.         This was something needful and good                         2.         But the audience could not see it because their…

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The Importance of Bible Study

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2015Fall4TheImportanceOfBibleStudy.mp3 by Brace Rutledge 2015 Fall Meeting

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Spiritual Growth

by Brace Rutledge The Meaning of Life Growing Up in Christ Every Member Working Together The Importance of Bible Study The Need for Prayer The Necessity of Bearing Fruit A Matter of Perspective Pressing On

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Growing Up in Christ

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2015Fall2GrowingUpInChrist.mp3 by Brace Rutledge 2015 Fall Meeting

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Growing as Disciples

by Clint Crosier Disciple: A learner, pupil, or follower devoted to the teachings of a master. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.”  Jesus holds the key to heaven and our salvation, and we can only be with…

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How can I discern God’s voice?

Question: What is the key to living right with God? How can I discern God’s voice? How can I grow spiritually in Christ? Answer: John said, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep…

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How can I strengthen my faith?

Question: My faith is really low, and I feel empty. I pray as often as I can but I haven’t been going to church for quite some time, but I’m going to start going this coming Sunday. My questions are: How do I strengthen my faith and form a strong relationship with God? I have…

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Learning to Think for Ourselves

by Rick Liggin via Think on These Things If you really want to grow up in Christ, then you’re going to have to learn to think for yourself! You’re going to have to come to understand the word of God … for yourself and develop your own faith, a faith that will motivate you to use…

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What if I don’t know I’m sinning?

Question: Are you saying we are not judged based on our ignorance or things we don’t know are sin? If so that doesn’t apply to those outside of Christ does it? Can you give me some Scriptures so I can get a better grasp? Answer: “For there is no partiality with God. For as many…

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Will God condemn a new Christian who still has a lot to learn?

Question: Will God condemn a newborn babe in Christ who is striving with every fiber of his being to grow and mature as the Bible commands? This babe in Christ realizes the urgency of studying to rightly divide God’s word, and every time he learns he is guilty of sin, he repents.  But because he…

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Growth — The Good and the Bad

by Gilbert Alexander The growth of true New Testament Christianity is good, even vital, because it means that souls are being saved from eternal condemnation, and lives of promise and hope are being embraced. What makes one a Christian makes him free from guilt and condemnation for his past sins (Romans 6:17,18), makes him a…

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What can I do to grow?

Question: How should I be confessing Jesus with my mouth? What kind of works can I do to please God? Right now, I feel like the guy who is given one talent in the parable of the talents. What can I do to increase that what God has given me? I was baptized last year,…

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