Jesus’ Approach to Authority

by Terry W. Benton Here was Jesus’ approach to authority: The Son can do nothing of Himself (positive authority must allow the action). But what He sees the Father do (Divine precedent or example). The Father shows Him all things that He Himself does (John 5:19-20). Thus, Jesus placed a lot of emphasis upon example and the authority of…

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The Misunderstood Jesus

by Doy Moyer Understanding people is often difficult. What do they mean? How are they using phrases? Are they being literal or figurative, or both? In person, we can ask and clarify, but when we are reading what others said, we can easily misinterpret because we are not hearing the inflections or seeing their gestures.…

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Burnt Offerings

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/BurntOfferings.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 9:24-10:10   I.         The sacrifices of the Old Testament can be confusing because they are classified in different categories, such as by how they were done (heave, wave, burnt), what they were for (sin, trespass, vow, voluntary, peace), what they were (firstfruits, food, drink), or even how they smelled…

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The Words in Red

by Terry Wayne Benton Some have the impression that if we believe the words in red (in red letter editions of the Bible) are more sacred and binding than the other words delivered by the other apostles of Jesus. This reasoning is terribly wrong. First, Matthew wrote over a decade after Jesus ascended to heaven…

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Things a Blind Man Saw

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/ThingsABlindManSaw.mp3 by Raymond Warfel

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Faith in God’s Man and Method

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018Spring7FaithInGodsManAndMethod.mp3 by Raymond Warfel, Jr. Lessons from Matthew

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Does Jesus Offend You?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018Spring6DoesJesusOffendYou.mp3 by Raymond Warfel, Jr. Lessons from Matthew

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Is Jesus a Bad Teacher?

by Jeremy Crump Have you ever had a teacher that just wouldn’t give you a straight answer? I remember a math teacher I had in high school who I’d ask for help and instead of solving the problem for me, she’d give me some hints and then send me back to my seat to work…

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Why was an unclean animal used to symbolize Jesus’ tribe?

Question: Greetings, According to Leviticus 11:27, the lion is an unclean animal because of its paw. Therefore, how is it that the lion (Lion of the Tribe of Judah) is chosen as a type of Christ? Thank you. Answer: Unclean animals are a classification in regard to food. “Nevertheless these you shall not eat among…

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Does “the Lord” in Amos 7 refer to Jesus?

Question: Hey Mr. Jeffery, I noticed in the vision in Amos 7 that Amos had at two different times referred to God as the Lord (no caps and not as Jehovah). It also appears that Amos is visually seeing the Lord (no one has ever seen Jehovah fully), so could that have been Jesus holding…

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Confirmation

by Jefferson David Tant “Confirmation” is an important factor in life. We want, and need, things to be confirmed, validated, or guaranteed. We want things “signed, sealed, and delivered,” as a popular song suggests. Statements in court are to be confirmed with an oath “to tell the truth…” Certain documents may be required to be…

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Three Witnesses

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/ThreeWitnesses.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I John 5:5-9   I.         There are two readings for I John 5:7-8             A.        ”For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and…

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What does I John 5:7-8 mean?

Question: “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.” (I John 5:7-8 KJV). What does verse eight mean?…

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How could Jesus die on the cross if he had no sin?

Question: Good day, Jesus did not have any sin, and it is sin that causes death — spiritually and physically. So how is it that Jesus died on the cross? Answer: It was Adam and Eve’s sin that brought death into the world (Genesis 3:19), but a person does not have to sin in order…

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The Suffering Savior

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/2017Fall2TheSufferingSavior.mp3 by Christopher Scott Wyatt Praise to Our God

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Jesus: “Public Enemy Number One”

by Larry Hafley How do we explain the Jews’ hatred of Jesus? What motivated them to kill him? If I had been a Jewish lawyer, here is the case I would have presented. (Let the reader understand that what follows is based upon the ignorance and envy of the day (Matthew 22:29; 27:18; John 5:39).…

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Was Jesus a pacifist?

Question: First of all, I love your website because it provides me with a tremendous amount of godly information. I have a two-part question that I was unable to find on your website: Should Christians always be pacifists. There are several who claim that we should be claiming that Jesus was a pacifist. Answer: A…

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What does “the fullness of Christ” mean?

Question: I thank you for the website. I’ve gotten a better understanding of some things. I am writing you because I don’t quite understand when the Scriptures say “the fullness of God” or “the fullness of Christ” in Colossians 2:9; Ephesians 4:13; Colossians 1:19; Romans 15:29 and John 1:16. Answer: “Fullness” means to fill up…

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Didn’t Jesus die for our sins?

Question: This is hard to wrap my mind around for some reason, but didn’t Jesus “die for our sins?” I thought that Jesus dying on the cross meant that all our sins were forgiven if we believe in him. Answer: It isn’t a hard concept, but I can see the difficulty when you grow up…

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How can God die?

Question: What if a Muslim asks you, can God die? Jesus died and was resurrected, just like the myths of the Greeks, India, Roman, and the dark ages. What will you say? Answer: The ancient myths took their inspiration from the seasons. They saw the cycles of winter and spring and created myths to explain…

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The Sin and Guilt Offerings

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/SinAndGuiltOfferings.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 13:10-16   I.         The Law of Moses featured numerous sacrifices and making sense of them can be difficult             A.        There were five categories: Sin, trespass, burnt, meat, and peace offerings                         1.         But they were also grouped in another way: Firstfruits, wave, heave, vow, voluntary, and drink offerings                         2.         They were also divided…

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Did Jesus get back his equality with God?

Question: Christ never got back His equality (Philippians 2:6) when He returned to heaven and was seated at the right hand of God. True? Answer: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but…

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Let the Beauty of Jesus Be Seen

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/LetTheBeautyOfJesusBeSeen.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Timothy 4:6-12   I.         I had someone ask if a person should be baptized if it was known that he was living with his girlfriend, but not sleeping with her             A.        If we accept that this was the actual situation, the problem remains that neighbors and friends in the world…

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Was Jesus a member of the Sanhedrin?

Question: I was told that Jesus was a member of the Sanhedrin; is that true? Answer: No, it is not true. Jesus specifically says he was not made a judge, which is the function of the Sanhedrin council. “But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” “…

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Jesus Loves Me

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/JesusLovesMe.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Mark 10:13-16   I.         “Jesus Loves Me” is a tune known the world over             A.        It was written in 1860 by Anna Bartlett Warner as a poem for her sister’s book, Say and Seal. In the story the poem is recited by Mr. Linden, one of the characters, as he comforts…

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Were Jesus and his family refugees?

Question: I’m wondering if Jesus and his family were refugees of political violence, or are these web posts lies? I’ve seen comparisons to the Syrian refugees on the web. A Google search brought me to your site. Did they flee Bethlehem to Nazareth to escape? What is the best answer to those posts? Answer: About…

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Did Christ Die in Vain?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/DidChristDieInVain.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text:   I.         Most, if not all, of us put hard work into various projects, be it a project at work, the raising of children, or implementing a favorite hobby.             A.        After hours of hard work, it is devastating to find it destroyed or never used.             B.        I remembered being asked to add…

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Was Christ’s body broken?

Question: I Corinthians 11:24 says, “And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Was his (Christ’s) body broken? Or is this referring to the bread? When leading the prayer for the Lord’s Supper I often…

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Myth or History?

by Forrest D. Moyer The Bible is either the product of God or the product of men. Christians believe that the Bible is from the hand of God and that it is to be believed and obeyed in order to have a good life now and in Heaven in eternity. There have always been those…

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It is nice to find godly, sound congregations

Question: Hello Jeff, While studying for my class tomorrow I googled: “How many people did Jesus raise from the dead.” I could only think of three and thought I’d better check. Then I found your web site.  It’s nice to do this and find other godly congregations of the Lord’s people around the country.  That…

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Who Is Jesus?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/WhoIsJesus.mp3 by Raymond Warfel

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How can Christ rule on David’s throne while in heaven?

Question: One of my students states “… that Christ has to rule on David’s throne, I didn’t know David had a throne in heaven …” Is this student coming from a Baptist line of thinking? Thanks for your help. Answer: There are numerous denominations that ascribe to a premillennial form of thinking, Baptist being one…

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If Jesus is without sin, why did he get baptized?

Question: Hey Jeff, We get baptized to wash away sins. If Jesus is without sin, why did he get baptized? Answer: “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to…

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The Lord Reigns

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/LordReigns.mp3 by Andrew Long

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