Posts Tagged ‘Jesus’
Jesus Wept at Human Pain and Hurt
by Terry Wane Benton He saw and cared deeply about how His disciples hurt over Lazarus’ death (John 11). Jesus cared so deeply that He wept with them. He suffered with them, and He knew the larger plan would be to raise Lazarus so that more good could come out of all this pain. More…
Read MoreThings Foretold
by Terry Wane Benton Peter drove a point home to the Jews who did not believe in Jesus but gave lip service to believing their scriptures. It is impossible for them to actually believe the Old Testament scriptures, the scriptures the Jews claimed to believe because the Old Testament scriptures are “those things which God…
Read MoreJesus, the Rock
by Doy Moyer Rocks play an important role in Scripture. For example, when the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea, God cared for their thirst by providing water from a rock (Exodus 17:1-7). Though they had tested God’s presence, God provided and demonstrated He was there. On the mountain, Moses asked to see God’s…
Read MoreJesus, the Bridegroom
by Doy Moyer God created Adam and Eve to be husband and wife, cleaving to each other in faithfulness (Genesis 2:24). Here is the beginning of marriage, but marriage was not meant to be an end in itself. Marriage is intended to point to something even greater: God and His people in a covenant relationship…
Read MorePut Jesus on Trial
by Perry Hall When talking with atheists, I like to tell them to put Jesus on trial. How do we do this? Practical: Examine Jesus’s Teachings: What do you think of Jesus’s teachings? Are Jesus’s teachings indicative of a wise man, a conniver, or a lunatic? How do Jesus’s teachings compare to others? Is Jesus…
Read MoreJesus, the Great Redeemer
by Doy Moyer To be redeemed is to be set free from an oppressive circumstance, generally by payment of a ransom price. Scripture tells a story of redemption, where people are set free from sin, purchased by the blood of Christ, and made again into a new creation fit for God’s service. Many passages claim…
Read MoreJesus, Our Mediator and Intercessor
by Doy Moyer When we consider what Jesus does for us as His people, two terms are used to help us understand why it is so important to trust Him. Scripture teaches that Jesus is both our Mediator and our Intercessor. Let’s consider these terms. Jesus Is Our Mediator “For there is one God, and…
Read MoreJesus, 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…
Read MoreJesus 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…
Read MoreHeavenly Places in Christ
by Terry Wane Benton I pointed out that Christians are presently “in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3,7), and one preacher, in disbelief, asked, “What is it like in heaven?” He thought he had me stumped for claiming we are presently in “the heavenly places.” His question reveals a disturbing misunderstanding. It is disturbing…
Read MoreJesus, the King of Kings
by Doy Moyer The scriptural concept of kingship starts in Genesis 1. God is the sovereign Creator who made male and female in His image and gave them dominion over the creation (Genesis 1:26-29). The idea is that humanity rules with God according to His will. In the garden, we find God dwelling with Adam…
Read MoreThe Outward Appearance of Jesus
by Doy Moyer Jesus “had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2). Elsewhere, we have discussed the true beauty of Jesus, but here we are going to consider another facet of what the appearance of Jesus implies for our standing with God.…
Read MoreThe Beauty of Jesus
by Doy Moyer We sing, “Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.” What is the beauty of Jesus? While we often connect beauty to outward appearance, that is not the sense in which the beauty of Jesus draws us, for “he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and…
Read MoreJesus and Baptism
by Doy Moyer On the third day of creation, God separated the dry land from the waters, and life came through the water (Genesis 1:9-13). This pattern was seen again when life came through the waters after the flood (Genesis 8:6-12). Again, it was seen when the children of Israel passed through the Red Sea…
Read MoreThe Deity of Christ While on Earth
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Deity-of-Christ-While-on-Earth.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 2:5-8 I. A debate arose among brethren concerning the nature of Christ several decades ago A. I watched the debates rage. It is easy to see that both sides stretch the position of the other as they attempt to justify their belief. 1. It does not affect a person’s salvation…
Read MoreWhy Christ Is Worthy of Praise
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Why-Christ-Is-Worthy-of-Praise.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 1:1-14 I. Christ has been appointed heir of all things A. Everything belonging to the Father are Christ’s – John 16:15 B. The nations were given to him as an inheritance – Psalms 2:8 C. All things are gathered together under his rule – Ephesians 1:10 D. All Christians are his inheritance…
Read MoreWhat Shall We Do with Jesus?
by Doy Moyer Jesus does not allow us to be neutral about Him. We are not left with the option of just calling Jesus a good man while denying His claims. If He was not who He claimed to be, He was delusional at best and a lying manipulator at worst. Or if, as some…
Read MoreTwo Reasons to Follow Jesus
Text: Hebrews 1-2 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Two-Reasons-to-Follow-Jesus.mp3 by Don Bunting One (or Two) Chapter Lessons
Read MoreWhat Christianity Is All About
Text: Ephesians 1 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/What-Christianity-Is-All-About.mp3 by Don Bunting One (or Two) Chapter Lessons
Read MoreReasons to Believe in Jesus
Text: Matthew 1-2 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Reasons-to-Believe-in-Jesus.mp3 by Don Bunting One (or Two) Chapter Lessons
Read MoreJesus, the Master Teacher
by Doy Moyer Teaching is hard work. Trying to determine the best approach to teaching a variety of people from diverse backgrounds brings many challenges. What appeals to one group might not appeal to another. Some will hear what others will not, and Scripture anticipates this (e.g., Isaiah 6:9-10). Add to this the ample warnings…
Read MoreJesus, Alive Forevermore
by Doy Moyer “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades” (Revelation 1:17-18). This is how Jesus described Himself after John saw the great vision of “one like…
Read MoreJesus, the Good Shepherd
by Doy Moyer One of the great figures for the Messiah is that of the Good Shepherd. Jesus refers to Himself as the “door of the sheep,” but He is more than that. “I am the good shepherd,” He claimed (John 10:11). We will consider more in that context, but let’s back up a little.…
Read MoreJesus, the Righteous Judge
by Doy Moyer Jesus is the Creator to whom all are accountable. He has all authority, and He has all the right to judge. The Father “has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father” (John 5:22-23). He has “authority to execute judgment, because he…
Read MoreLet this Cup Pass from Me
by Terry Wane Benton What did Jesus mean when He prayed three times in the Garden of Gethsemane to “Let this cup pass from me?” (Matthew 26:39). It is a metaphor for having to experience something very dreadful. When we experience something bitter and horrible to our senses, we could metaphorically say that we have…
Read MoreJesus, the Lord of Sabbath
by Doy Moyer The gospel accounts highlight the fact that Jesus worked miracles on the Sabbath. This, of course, was intentional on His part, but it also brought much criticism. For example, he was asked, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” The text says they asked this “so that they might accuse him”…
Read MoreJesus, the Great High Priest
by Doy Moyer When God brought Israel out of Egypt and established a covenant, He also established a priesthood through the levitical family of Aaron. Aaron and his sons were anointed and consecrated through sacrifice, with Aaron as the first High Priest. The tent of meeting was made so that God would meet with the…
Read MoreTwo Testimonial Testaments to Jesus
by Terry Wane Benton Paul “reasoned” with the Jews for three Sabbaths (Acts 17:2f) from the Scriptures (their own Scriptures). Thus, he started with what both sides agreed was true. The Scriptures had long been settled as true and authoritative to both sides participating in the discussion. The Scriptures would have to be handled accurately.…
Read MoreJesus, the Way
by Doy Moyer “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). Jesus declared Himself to be “the way,” but the way to what? “To the Father” is the immediate answer. That is, fellowship with God can only be attained through the path…
Read MoreJesus, the Bread of Life
by Doy Moyer The Passover feast was at hand, and thousands were visiting the area. A large crowd was coming to Jesus and the disciples were concerned about how they could be fed. This led to the great miracle of Jesus feeding the five thousand (John 6:1-14). Jesus more than amply provided for the needs…
Read MoreReasoning
by Terry Wane Benton The exercise of thought upon ideas to sort the true from the false, the stronger idea from the weaker idea. It is thinking through the available evidence to reach a conclusion. The book of John sets forth a propositional statement that says God came in human flesh, then reasons from one…
Read MoreJesus the Living Water
by Doy Moyer by Nathan Anderson via Unsplash Jesus came into Samaria to a town called Sychar, where Jacob’s well was situated between mounts Ebal and Gerazim. Here a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus simply said, “Give me a drink.” The woman was taken back because Jews and Samaritans had no dealings…
Read MoreWho Deserves Your Heart?
by Terry Wane Benton “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and…
Read MoreGod 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…
Read MoreWorthy 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 MoreJesus, the Only Way
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Jesus-the-Only-Way.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreJesus the Divine Temple
by Doy Moyer John’s gospel begins by affirming that Jesus is the divine logos, the Word through whom all things were made. In Him is life and light. Life comes from Him, and He, the light of the world, came to this earth to overpower the darkness so that all who come to Him would…
Read MoreJesus, the Amen and the Beginning
by Terry Wane Benton “These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God” (Revelation 3:14). The Amen Jesus is the Amen, the One who validates us. When we say “amen” at the end of a prayer, we are validating our support for that prayer. Jesus validates us.…
Read MoreSalvation in No One Else
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Salvation-in-No-One-Else.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 4:5-12 I. In April, 2011, Time Magazine listed their 100 most influential people, among whom was Rob Bell, a preacher who founded a church called “Mars Hill.” A. It isn’t connected with any denomination. Time reveled in calling Mr. Bell and his church “evangelical,” but it isn’t an accurate…
Read MoreJesus, the Ruler Over the Kings of the Earth
by Terry Wane Benton “And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:5). Jesus is “the Ruler over the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1:5) and…
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