An Honorable Man: Mordecai

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/An-Honorable-Man-Mordecai.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Corinthians 13:1-10   I.         Because of Paul’s late arrival on the scene, his apostleship was at times questioned.             A.        In Corinth, though established by Paul, the church struggled with many sins.                         1.         There were some among the Corinthians less inclined to correct their problems or to heed Paul’s rebukes                         2.         Paul warned…

Read More

Honor the King

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/Honor-the-King-1.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Peter 2:13-17   I.         I Peter 2:17 – Honor the King             A.        It is getting hard to avoid the problems this country has with its leaders             B.        Everyone knows about the sins commit by some of our recent presidents and each has his own opinion on the matter             C.        But knowing that…

Read More

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…

Read More

Worthy Art Thou: An Understatement

by Terry Wane Benton “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation'” (Revelation 4:9). So, a new song comes out in…

Read More

Earthly Politics Versus the Almighty

by Terry Wane Benton “Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever” (Revelation 4:9). In John’s vision “up here” he sees the living creatures giving honor, glory, and thanks to God on the throne, and he knows that God is eternal,…

Read More

A Death, a Burial, a Resurrection

by Doy Moyer Josiah was one of the greater kings of Judah who initiated reform and called the people back to God. Sadly, his reforms did not last and the people soon reverted to evil after his death. While Josiah himself would not live to see Judah taken into captivity, his children, who did not…

Read More

Honor Your Father and Mother

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Honor-Your-Father-and-Mother.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 6:1-3   I.         One of the Ten Commandments of the Old Law is brought to the New Law intact. It is the commandment to honor our parents             A.        The word “honor” in this passage means to fix a value on something, to consider it a prized possession.             B.        The original Hebrew…

Read More

No Other Gods

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/No-Other-Gods.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Isaiah 40:12-26   I.         The Ten Commandments formed the prologue to the Law of Moses             A.        They were the foundation of the Old Law             B.        Even though the Law of Moses ended, nine of those ten commandments are still in effect today.             C.        Understanding these basic laws can help us understand the New…

Read More

Reverence

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Reverence.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 89:1-16   I.         Hebrews 12:28-29 – Offer service to God with reverence and godly fear             A.        Reverence means                         1.         “A feeling of profound awe and respect and often love; veneration.”                         2.         The word literally means “with downcast eyes” or bashfulness.             B.        Psalms 2:11 – Serve God with fear, rejoice with trembling             C.        Psalms 89:5-15…

Read More

Jamaica Patois Wisdom – Virtue

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…

Read More

Reasons to Glorify God

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Reasons-to-Glorify-God.mp3 by Raymond Warfel

Read More

With Gratitude in Our Hearts

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/With-Gratitude-In-Our-Hearts.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Thessalonians 5:12-24 Suggested song: Count Your Blessings   I.         The Ten Lepers – Luke 17:11-19             A.        I’m sure all ten were happy to have been healed.             B.        Perhaps in their joy nine rushed off to tell their loved ones, but only one returned to say “thank you.”             C.        We get so caught…

Read More

Giving Respect

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Giving-Respect.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Malachi 1:6-14   I.         The word translated as “respect” in our Bibles comes from an interesting Greek word, entrepo.             A.        The word has two, seemingly conflicting, definitions.                         1.         It can mean showing respect or honor – Hebrews 12:9                         2.         It can mean having shame – Titus 2:6-8             B.        Even our English word “respect” as…

Read More

Has God ever accepted a defective sacrifice?

Question: Has God ever accepted a spotted, unclean, defiled, blemished, blind, lame, or sick sacrifice? Answer: “Whatever has a defect, you shall not offer, for it will not be accepted for you” (Leviticus 22:20). “But if it has any defect, such as lameness or blindness, or any serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to…

Read More

Men of Honor

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MenOfHonor.mp3 Text: Philippians 2:14-18   I.         It was not long ago that people admired men of integrity. People whom you could count on to act honestly, even if it was to their disadvantage.             A.        In 1999, a prisoner escaped and the papers were tracking his movements through the state. He had robbed people, killed policemen, and still…

Read More

How do I honor my stepmother and accept her?

Question: How do I honor my stepmother and accept her? What are our places now in the family? I am just looking around in all sorts of places for answers, so I hope this is something that is appropriate to ask you. Recently my family has grown as my dad has remarried. My mother passed…

Read More

How can we conclude that a person is glorified?

Question: I’d like to know how to define “glorify.”  How can we conclude that a person is glorified?  By what sign? Answer: The word “glorify” means “to give glory to”.  Glory can mean honor, praise, or devotion, but it is usually considered a much more intense word than any of these.  Thus, to glorify God…

Read More

Vessels Unto Honor and Vessels Unto Dishonor

by L.A. Stauffer via Son Rays, Vol. 30, No. 23, Sept. 7 2008 Paul writes to the young preacher, Timothy, and urges him to flee immorality so that he might be a “vessel unto honor.” His reference is to Timothy’s person or body and how he should engage in honorable conduct (II Timothy 2:20-21). The…

Read More

Is it wrong to send a note honoring a man on his birthday?

Question: A brother in Christ is having a birthday this coming Sunday. His wife has planned a surprise party to be held in the church building after the evening worship. She has asked that we should all write a message to be included in an “honoring note” to her husband. The preacher is collecting these…

Read More

Am I loving God and giving Him glory?

Question: A few days ago, I was reading I Corinthians 10:31, the passage about “do all to the glory of God.”  Although I’m still not 100% clear on the exact meaning, the passage really made me think hard about myself in relation to God.  The entire time I have been a Christian (or so I…

Read More

Respect

by Carey Scott “In that day a man will look to his Maker, and his eyes will have respect for the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 17:7). A quality that is lacking in our society is respect. I think everyone would acknowledge such, but few think about it. Many wish it would return to our society,…

Read More

What does it mean for a husband to not honor his wife?

Question: “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered” (I Peter 3:7). I have some questions about this verse: If a husband is not honoring his wife, does that…

Read More

Where in the Old Testament does it say to honor others more than yourself?

Question: Where is it said in the Old Testament about honoring (or a similar word) the other more than oneself? Also, what are similar words to “honoring?” Answer: In the New Testament you can find, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let…

Read More

What does “honor” mean in I Peter 2:17?

Question: Does the word honor (spelled “honour” in the King James Version) as used in I Peter 2:17 instruct followers of Christ Jesus to honor all men, implying that we are to separate the wrong that we maybe aware that a person does from the person and then honor the person but not the wrong…

Read More

What are honor and respect?

Question: What are honor and respect? Answer: Honor is used in two different senses. We can speak of a person’s honor and we can talk about giving honor to another person. A person’s honor is his integrity. It is the idea of doing what is right in all situations. “Repay no one evil for evil.…

Read More

Reverend Is His Name

by Kent Heaton The book of Psalms is a powerful testimony to the majesty, praise, glory, and awesome power of Jehovah God. Isaiah wrote the words of the Lord, “To whom would you liken Me and make Me equal and compare Me, that we would be alike . Remember the former things long past, for…

Read More

Lest We Forget

by Steven Harper Many a monument has been erected with those words somewhere engraved on its surface in the hopes that those who see it will be reminded of the sacrifices made and the lives lost for the cause [whatever the cause may have been]. It is usually found on some sort of war memorials, but…

Read More

Worship

I.         At times I am amazed at the vagueness that has entered our beliefs             A.        I’m sure the wishy-washy-ness of the denominational world has much to do it.                         1.         To define something crisply means you are dividing people into two groups — those who are right and those who are wrong.                         2.         And “Heaven forbid, if we actually charge…

Read More

How do I repair a damaged marriage?

Question: This is the third time I have written to you and I thank you for your previous replies, they have helped me a lot. I have a “What should I do now?” question. My wife and I have had a terrible year. Last year around this time I quit my job and we started to…

Read More

What is the purpose of praise and worship?

Question: What is the purpose of praise and worship? Answer: The word “worship” means to honor and give respect to a divine being or supernatural power. God claims worship as His exclusive right. “For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” (Matthew 4:10). And yet through…

Read More

Honor Your Father and Mother

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton The command to honor your parents was carried over into the law of Christ intact. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on…

Read More