Meditation

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Meditation.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 119:145-152   I.         It is one of those minor points brought out by the Bible; a seemingly incidental detail that you almost overlook – Genesis 24:63             A.        Isaac took a stroll in the evening in a field to meditate.                         1.         We are given a hint as to why in…

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Learning from God

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Habakkuk 2:20   I.         If God is the only true God and the Bible is His teachings             A.        Then truth and error are as distinct as light and dark – I John 1:5; James 1:17-18             B.        We will face our God to be judged – Romans 2:6 II.        Can we then decide what parts…

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Who Gets the Most Out of It?

by David Gibson A student joked, “You know, school wouldn’t be half bad if it weren’t for the tests and term papers!” He knows, of course, that such requirements are not just busy work. They are necessary to maximize learning. Easy Does It? If a student chooses to audit a course, he can attend class…

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Grandmother’s Bible

by John Shafer One day, a mother told her daughter that she would be spending time at her grandmother’s house. The little girl told her mother how excited she was, because of how great grandmother’s Bible was. “Why is it so great?” her mother asked. The little girl told her all the stories and people…

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Wisdom in Learning God’s Commands

by Doy Moyer The ethics of Christians fall under the category of virtue. Virtue ethics is grounded in the attributes and character of God, for all virtue flows from Him. While there is an obligation of following rules (God’s commandments), there is a significant and vital component of learning wisdom. Why? Because, for the most…

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Spiritual Education

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Spiritual-Education.mp3 by Raymond Warfel

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More Noble Minded

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/More-Noble-Minded.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 17:1-12   I.         Paul came to Thessalonica, a city on the coast in Macedonia, to preach the gospel             A.        He started out in the synagogues as was his custom.                         1.         After three weeks of effort he convinced a few of the Jews, but large number of Greeks who had worshiped with…

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Growing Deeper

by Ken Green “Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; all Your waves and billows have gone over me” (Psalm 42:7). The 17-18th century Scottish novelist, playwright, and poet, Sir Walter Scott wrote of the Bible: “The most learned, acute and diligent student cannot, in the longest life, obtain an entire knowledge…

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What Bible Reading Can Do

by Jefferson David Tant Since God’s plan included the Scriptures, which were divinely inspired, it should be obvious that he had a purpose in mind for revealing his will for us so we could read and understand. So let us consider a few things that are revealed as to how we are profited by reading…

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How do I explain that I’ve changed?

Question: Hi La Vista Church and Mr. Jeff, Hope everyone and yourself are doing well. I just came to know your website while browsing today and I shared it to my social media accounts and messenger groups. I am fasting and what a great blessing to feast upon your articles and answers to different questions…

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Three Aspects of Learning

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Three-Aspects-of-Learning-1.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Proverbs 24:3-6   I.         There are three aspects to learning, whether we talk about school work or Bible study             A.        Proverbs 2:6 – The Lord gives wisdom, knowledge, and understanding             B.        Proverbs 24:3-4 – Compared to a house                         1.         Knowledge is the comprehension of facts. It fills our minds with pleasant and useful…

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Knowledge

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Knowledge.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Colossians 1:3-12   I.         There was a period in world history known as the Dark Ages.             A.        After the collapse of the Roman Empire, society decayed for centuries             B.        Compared to the earlier periods, very little was written.             C.        Very little advancement in knowledge and ideas were made.                         1.         Education of the populace, as…

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Lessons from Children

by Jefferson David Tant In reading through the Bible, it is worth noting that we find no rebukes, criticisms, or condemnations of children. On the contrary, children are presented to us as models for us to imitate and follow. Consider some words Christ and Peter said concerning children. “At that time the disciples came to…

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What Is Teaching?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/What-Is-Teaching.mp3 Text: Hebrews 5:6-6:3   I.         Teaching is a duty within the church             A.        Ephesians 4:11 – Listed with apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors.             B.        Acts 13:1 – Antioch had prophets and teachers             C.        I Corinthians 12:28-29 – Listed among apostles and prophets.             D.        Romans 12:6-8 – Teaching is a gift to be exercised to our best ability             E.        Paul performed…

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A Good Example

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/SettingAGoodSample.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Jeremiah 35:1-19   I.         People learn in a variety ways. Some ways make a bigger impression on a person than others.             A.        People don’t learn how to be a Christian just from reading or listening to the Bible, though that is a major method.             B.        Preachers must understand that people also learn…

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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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Starving Spiritually

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

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Three Roads to Learning

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I.            There are three roads to learning, whether we talk about school work or Bible study               A.          Prov. 2:6 – The Lord gives wisdom, knowledge, and understanding               B.          Prov. 24:3-4 – Compared to a house                             1.           Knowledge is the comprehension of facts. It fills our minds with pleasant and useful things                             2.           Understanding is the reasoning…

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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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I just can’t seem to keep God’s teachings in my mind

Question: I came across your site about a week ago, and I found it to be very helpful. By God’s grace, I am a Christian. There is something that’s bothering me. I don’t know whether to call it forgetfulness or loss of memory. For instance, the Lord may reveal something to me either by His…

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Studying Prayers

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2010Fall6StudyingPrayer.mp3 by Skip Sebree Communication Between God and Man

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Understanding the Word

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2010Fall4UnderstandingTheWord.mp3 by Skip Sebree Communication Between God and Man

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The Learning Triangle

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2010Fall3TheLearningTriangle.mp3 by Skip Sebree Communication Between God and Man

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Becoming Better Readers

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2010Fall1BecomingBetterReaders.mp3 by Skip Sebree Communication Between God and Man

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Becoming Careful Readers

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2010Fall2BecomingCarefulReaders.mp3 by Skip Sebree Communication Between God and Man

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Communication Between God and Man

by Skip Sebree, Fall Gospel Meeting, 2010 God Speaking to Us Becoming Better Readers Becoming Careful Readers The Learning Triangle Understanding the Word Our Speaking to God Improving Our Prayers Studying Prayers

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Is it a sin to change what I believe?

Question: Is it a sin to change what I believe? Or what if I am just neutral? Answer: Growth means you are going to change your mind about things. “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may…

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There’s too much to learn. How can you not sin?

Question: In my frustrated life, I began to search for answers and clues and anything that could lead me to answer what on earth am I here for and found your website.  I found it insightful and thought-provoking.  My question to you is how can you be sure to know God’s plan for your life…

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What is the philosophy of true education?

Question: What is the philosophy of true education? Answer: At its core, education is the process of transferring knowledge, understanding, and wisdom from one individual to another. John Milton Gregory, in his book The Seven Laws of Teaching, said, “Teaching is arousing and using the pupil’s mind to grasp the desired thought or to master the…

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