That Your Joy May Be Full

by Terry Wane Benton Jesus prayed that those who would become His disciples would have a joy that is full (John 17:13; 15:11-13; 16:22). It would come through knowing the truth of the apostle’s eyewitness testimony of Jesus which provided the basis for the conviction that Jesus addresses our need of a cleansed and cleared…

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The Good Life

by Doy Moyer Ask people if they want a good, happy life and they will say, “Yes. Of course.” No one wants a terrible, miserable life. Yet, while we all want the good life, many will think that this is not attainable. Or, if it is attainable, it is to be on our own terms,…

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The Road to Contentment

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Road-to-Contentment.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 4:10-14   I.         For those of you who have taken classes             A.        Have you noticed that a few classes are just great?                         1.         The time just flies by.                         2.         The homework isn’t that bad.             B.        But there are those other classes which are just miserable.                         1.         A hour is twice as long in those…

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The Joy of Obedience

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Joy-of-Obedience.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Peter 1:3-9   I.         Despite the persecutions Christians faced in the first century, there was joy – I Peter 1:3-9             A.        A great joy, an inexpressible joy, was had knowing that they were saved             B.        That joy overrode all the hardships of life II.        This attitude is strange to a number of…

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Count It All Joy

by Terry Wane Benton It’s not what happens to you that matters so much as what you do with what happens to you. Who would have thought that Helen Keller would have mattered so much with all the handicaps she was dealt in life? Great people of great faith learn to turn trials into stepping…

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Things They Don’t Teach in School

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Things-They-Dont-Teach-in-School.mp3 Text: I Timothy 6:17-21   I.         It is that time of year again when the school bells begin to ring             A.        By the time a student graduates from high school, he will have invested about 15,120 hours in understanding a wide variety of subjects, which are considered necessary for success in this world.             B.        Many go on…

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The Things I Can Control

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Things-I-Can-Control.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 6:25-34   I.         People spend a lot of anxious time over things that are really out of their control             A.        A lot of teenagers worry about how tall they will be as an adult – Matthew 6:27             B.        Older adults begin to worry whether gray hairs are appearing – Matthew 5:36…

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Happiness Without Faith

by Doy Moyer “Since I’ve given up my faith, I’m now happy and at peace.” This is a common type of statement we see from those who walk away from the Lord. It seems counter to the idea that true happiness and peace are found in Christ. I do not doubt that one who leaves…

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Finding Real Happiness

by Richard Thetford Everyone wants a life filled with joy and happiness, but very few find it. One major reason man fails to find the happiness he seeks is that he is trying to obtain it through the wrong means. Millionaires who have houses, yachts, and condominiums often complain in counseling sessions that they’re so…

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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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Mara or Naomi?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Mara-or-Naomi.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ruth 1:19-21   I.         Life has its ups and downs. How do you respond?             A.        Do you rail at life and God? Do you decide life is a misery?             B.        Naomi had a hard life.                         1.         Famine caused her family to move to a foreign country – Ruth 1:1                         2.         Her husband then died…

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God Wants Me to be Happy

  by Doy Moyer This is one of the catchphrases we hear of what is sometimes called moralistic therapeutic deism. The idea is that 1) God wants us to be nice to others and 2) He wants us to be happy. For the most part, God is seen as deistic, not really getting involved in our…

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Blessed in What He Does

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Blessed-in-What-He-Does.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: James 1:21-25   I.         Sin is the breaking of law – I John 3:4             A.        Sin is universally found in mankind – Romans 5:12             B.        Thus, we cannot be surprised that rebellion (going against authority) is also widespread             C.        Obedience then is submitting to authority. It is subjecting your will to the will…

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How can trials be counted as joy?

Question: I struggle with the idea of being joyful during trials. I know James said, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4),…

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Smile a While

by Jefferson David Tant Among the many things Jamaica is known for are the many little song ditties. In working there for over 30 years, my wife and I have come to learn and enjoy them. One that we enjoy and that is often sung after the closing prayer of a church service is “Smile…

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Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand

by Jefferson David Tant In many of our songbooks, there is a song by the title of this article, and the words were written by Jennie Wilson. The song’s first stanza says, Time is filled with swift transition Naught of earth unmoved can stand Build your hopes on things eternal, Hold to God’s unchanging hand.…

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The Meaning of Life: Why Are You Here?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/The-Meaning-of-Life-Why-Are-You-Here.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Timothy 6:6-21   I.         What is it that you are looking for out of life? What are you expecting?             A.        So many people never find contentment with their lives because they are expecting things that life cannot deliver.             B.        They decide they can’t be happy with life unless something changes                         1.         I’m…

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Psalms 100

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Psalms-100.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 100   I.         There is a psalm which is specifically titled as one to be used for thanksgiving or during a thank offering, it is Psalms 100 II.        What you should do …             A.        Shout joyfully to the Lord                         1.         Some things are not meant to be kept in – Psalms 32:11;…

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Learning the Secret of Contentment

by Ken Green “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content” (Philippians 4:11, ESV). Do you find contentment to be elusive? Be encouraged. Even the apostle Paul realized being content was something he had to learn. If Paul had to pursue contentment,…

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Enjoy What God Has Given You

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Enjoy-What-God-Has-Given-You.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 50   I.         Have you given a gift that wasn’t appreciated?             A.        “That’s nice, but it wasn’t what I hoped to receive.”             B.        “Thanks, but it would have been better if you also included …”             C.        Or worse, it just sits there, not being used             D.        It’s frustrating to the giver.             E.        But consider…

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Have Times Changed?

by Austin Hausner “For the Son of man came to seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10). When we talk with people about Christianity or anything Bible-related we find there are many objections to Christianity. Some of these objections are fairly common. We want to be able to provide a counter-argument to one of the…

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The Problem with Happy-Face Christianity

by Matthew Bassford “Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda, is he who sings songs to a troubled heart” (Proverbs 25:20). The other day, a friend of mine unburdened himself on Facebook about his struggles with depression. He talked about his confusion and fear and self-hatred.…

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How do I rid myself of anger, frustration, and resentment toward God?

Question: How do I rid myself of anger, frustration, and resentment toward God? Life isn’t, and probably shouldn’t be, heaven on earth, but I feel at times as though things are withheld (Luke 18:1). Did I not pray hard enough or long enough for something? Does God keep “score?” Perhaps I have not been faithful…

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Is life only enjoyable for the righteous when they reach heaven?

Question: Hi Jeff, I read in the Scriptures of all the good things, promises, happiness, peace, comfort and more that the righteous are told they will enjoy, but when you consider their life, it is mostly filled with misery. So I ask, is it only in heaven that they will enjoy these things? Thanks. Answer:…

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Contentment and Happiness

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/ContentmentAndHappiness.mp3 by Raymond Warfel

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Why do people seem happy living in sin?

Question: Dear brother, I write this to you ashamed, but I have to admit how I feel. I have been a Christian for many years now; however, I have struggled with sin in my life constantly. I feel as though it all stems from a rebellious attitude inside of me. It seems like the only…

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Who Wants to Be Happy?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/WhoWantsToBeHappy.mp3 by Raymond Warfel

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God Wants Me to Be Happy

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/GodWantsMeToBeHappy.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 128   I.         The same plot repeats through the stories of people’s lives             A.        A woman finds a man who pays more attention to her than her husband, so she divorces her husband to marry this other man because “God wants me to be happy.”             B.        Andy Diestelkamp tells this story:…

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The Lord Bless You

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/LordBlessYou.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Numbers 6:22-27   I.         It takes up only 32 words in English, only 15 words in the original Hebrew; yet, the blessing God instructed the priests to use is packed with rich meaning in a few words. II.        The Lord bless you and keep you             A.        A desire that God grants you…

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Traits of the Unhappy

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/TraitsOfTheUnhappy.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 27   I.         Back in 2014 I ran across an article by Tamara Star, titled “Seven Habits of Chronically Unhappy People”.             A.        The author’s conjecture is that unhappy people establish habits that keep them miserable.             B.        These aren’t one time or infrequent events but the ways they basically view life II.        A…

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Is entertainment the devil’s substitute for joy?

Question: I recently listened to a sermon where the preacher said, if I remember correctly, “Entertainment is the devil’s substitute for joy. The more joy you have in the Lord the less entertainment you need.” Is that so? Before becoming a Christian, I had these habits of reading and consuming culture for selfish reasons, now…

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Jamaica Patois Wisdom – Happiness

by Jefferson David Tant The Jamaican Patois dialect is colorful, unique, and humorous. It is my desire to share some of the philosophy shown in this mix of colorful phrases that are witty as well as thought-provoking. I hope the readers both profit and enjoy. In my quarter-century plus of teaching there, I have come…

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Maybe another man will make me happier

Question: I’m a 20 year old girl who’s engaged to a man more than 15 years older than me. He is my first boyfriend, and I’m physically and emotionally intimate with him. But I’m afraid of marriage because I have only dated him and no one else. He is a great man who is a…

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How to be Happy

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/HowToBeHappy.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 4:1-7   I.         Are you happy? Truly happy?             A.        For many people the answer is “I would be happy, if …”                         1.         If something changed, then I could be happy.                         2.         Sometimes the change is something simple. “Once I lose another ten pounds, I’ll be happy.”                         3.         But too often the demand is…

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I just want a happier environment for my child and me

Question: Hello, I am currently unemployed and have been for 6 months. Four years ago I fell in love with someone else. My goal is to find another job, then my child and I will move, or whatever we as the parents decide. We had a huge argument a few days ago. He said he…

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What can I do to find joy in Christ?

Question: Hi, I’m a young, desperate man (I am 15 years old). In my country most people are Catholic. I hold Protestant views and even though my father visits the Catholic service, I go to the Protestant service on Sunday. Since I have been saved last fall, there is a lot of struggle going on…

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Stillness and Joy

by Gary Henry “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalms 46:10). Nowadays, one reason we know so little about joy is that we know so little about stillness. In this age of the world, most of us are busy with a myriad of priorities and projects. And we pride ourselves in it. The…

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How to be Truly Happy

by Matthew Allen “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Abraham Lincoln Are you happy? Truly happy? Have you found the joy that is found in Christian living? Christianity contains the keys to true happiness during our earthly existence. It is only in a relationship with God that…

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