Love in the Time of an Epidemic

March 11, 2020

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton A friend of mine recently posted a passage written by Eusebius, an early historian of the church, which I wish to share with you. At the peak of the Cyprian Plague, which ran from about A.D. 249 to 262, there were as many as 5,000 deaths per day throughout the Roman…

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I accidentally fell in love with a married man

March 11, 2020

Question: Hello, I just want to ask for some advice because I am struggling right now. I am a woman who is single. And I met a married man. We accidentally fell in love with each other. I tried everything to avoid him because I know he is married. But even as hard as I…

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Teaching Love

February 23, 2020

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Teaching-Love.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 13:11-14   I.         I received a complaint several years ago. After reading an article on why sex outside of marriage is sin, the reader complained, “I wish you guys would pay more attention to the golden rule, ‘love thy neighbor,’ than all the homophobic and ‘sex is sin’ stuff.”…

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For God so Loved the World

February 10, 2020

by Matthew W. Bassford John 3:16 is surely the most well-known verse in the Bible, with even Matthew 7:1 running a close second. Most Christians are aware that the world’s understanding of the latter is dramatically off-base, but I think that even when it comes to the former, we miss the point a little bit.…

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Loving Enemies

February 9, 2020

by Doy Moyer The world can see whether or not we love one another (John 13:34-35). The world can see whether or not we are committed to unity (John 17:20-21). The world can also see whether or not we love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48). Photo by Chang Duong on Unsplash Loving enemies is one of…

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Love Is … (Sermon)

February 9, 2020

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Love-Is.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Corinthians 13:1-8   I.         Many passages are used for needlepoint samplers. A popular choice is I Corinthians 13:1-8             A.        Have you considered the meaning of the many phrases?             B.        We often associate this passage with weddings, but Paul was writing about what love between brethren is like             C.        However, it can be applied to…

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Giving Respect

February 9, 2020

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…

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What Is This Thing Called Love?

February 2, 2020

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/What-Is-this-Thing-Called-Love.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Song of Solomon 8:6-7   I.         We use the word “love” freely today. Perhaps too freely.             A.        I love to have another piece of cake.             B.        Mama loves her baby.             C.        He fell in love with her at first sight.             D.        He loved her through fifty yeas of marriage.             E.        I love my country. II.        The…

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How Do You Show Love?

December 29, 2019

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/How-Do-You-Show-Love.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Corinthians 5:6-21   I.         It seems that today, showing another person love means never telling them they are wrong or criticizing them any way             A.        People claim to be offended if other person disagrees with them or points out a flaw in their behavior                         1.         Islamaphob! Homophob! Etc.                         2.         To take a…

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How Could a Loving God Send Me to Hell?

October 9, 2019

by Tanner Campbell The very thought of Hell is terrifying. Such a thought is an intense provoker for many to repent of their sins and revere the word of the Lord. However, others think little of Hell. For example, you may have heard someone say something like “how could a loving, kind, and merciful God…

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Redeemed by a Loving God

June 16, 2019

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Redeemed-by-a-Loving-God.mp3 by Raymond Warfel

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Using Love as an Excuse

May 17, 2019

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/UsingLoveAsAnExcuse.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Corinthians 13:4-7   I.         Love is a wonderful attitude             A.        God is love and we should imitate our Father – I John 4:16             B.        But people pervert what love ought to be and use a claim of “love” as a cover for permitting sin II.        Love as an excuse to do wrong…

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These Are Our Times

May 16, 2019

by Doy Moyer Abusive. Heartless. Brutal. Slanderous. Reckless (read II Timothy 3:1-5). These are our times. These are times in which people will brutally kill a child in the womb, then slander and curse those who would oppose it. These are times in which people will be reckless in behavior, crude toward those who differ,…

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You Can Be Loved But Not Yet Accepted

December 11, 2018

by Terry Wane Benton God loves the lost and seeks to save them. They are not saved and accepted just because God loves them. Love longs for reconciliation, but just because God loves us it does not mean we are reconciled to God. God demonstrated His love by giving His only Son for us (John…

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For Those Who Love God

December 2, 2018

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/ForThoseWhoLoveGod.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 8:28-30   I.         Jesus said that the greatest command is to love God – Matthew 22:37-38             A.        It is the greatest command because it is the foundation for all other commands                         1.         It opposes all idolatry, the complete rejection of God (atheism), and sins directly against God                         2.         But it also demands…

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Church Issues and Love

October 25, 2018

by Edward O. Bragwell Throughout church history, divisive issues have arisen among Christians, even to this present day. While this should concern us, it should not cause excessive alarm. They are to be expected. After all, the apostle Paul wrote in the First Century: “For, in the first place, when you assemble as a church,…

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What does the Bible teach about soul mates?

June 6, 2018

Question: Good evening, I’m trying to understand what the Bible teaches on the matter of “soul mates.” Could you offer some guidance? A coworker of mine asked me today if I believe in soul mates. She’s been married before and divorced for what I understand are unscriptural reasons. She is now dating a man she…

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Is It Love or Lust?

February 3, 2018

by Robert H. Farish Gospel Guardian – October 19, 1967 The English word “love” is one of the most used and worst abused words in the language. For many people, love is identified with lust. People who do have not the remotest idea of what love is according to God are heard speaking enthusiastically of…

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Perfected in Unity

January 7, 2018

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/PerfectedInUnity.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 17:13-26   I.         In Jesus’ final prayer to the Father before his arrest, Jesus expressed his desire that his followers be united, just as he and the Father were one – John 17:22-23             A.        That “one” is not numerical, but a unity in purpose and action. II.        Through this unity we…

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To me, love proves there is free will

October 7, 2017

Question: Dear Mr. Hamilton, Thank you for your lessons in reference to the determinist or Calvinist’s point of view vs. the view of choice or free will: There Is No Partiality With God The Role of Obedience in Salvation Is Our Fate Predetermined? If one takes the Calvinist’s view that only the elect are called…

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What Is the Hardest Command?

October 6, 2017

by Jefferson David Tant From time to time, we see articles written about love. We remember a lawyer asking Jesus a question, “trying him: Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and…

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Do I have to be nice to liars and the profane?

September 8, 2017

Question: Hey Jeffrey, I have a question: I try to be a friendly person all the time, but some people’s personalities I don’t mesh with, or I’m not a big fan of how they do things or treat people. Some people lie all the time and make light of it and one guy constantly curses…

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Let Love of the Brethren Continue

June 21, 2017

by Jefferson Davis Tant Gospel Guardian – June 1, 1967 The most enduring quality in this world is that of love. The great apostle who suffered so much at the hands of false brethren, who was repeatedly imperiled by the elements, who was savagely persecuted by misguided zealots, who was forsaken by fellow workers, who…

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I thought I loved a man, but I don’t. How do I break up?

May 25, 2017

Question: Sir, Unknowingly I fell in love with a guy who is divorced. He is more than ten years older than I am. He divorced his ex because she was an unbeliever. She wanted to separate from him. The guy is near my home. He has struggled a lot in his life. I was attracted…

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A Father’s Reply

March 30, 2017

by Dave Beckley Long ago, my husband wrote the following to one of our sons. To our many sons and daughters today, please read, for he longs the same for each of you. Joanne Beckley Dear son, Your letter was very revealing and open, a reflection of your honesty and confidence in us. We are…

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How Have You Loved Us?

December 4, 2016

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/HowHaveYouLovedUs.mp3 by Alan Feaster

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Love Your Neighbor (Works)

October 6, 2016

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2016Fall7LoveYourNeighbor.mp3 by Joe Works Studying Leviticus

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The Love of God

June 12, 2016

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/LoveOfGod.mp3 by Raymond Warfel

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Love Finds a Way

April 4, 2016

by Sewell Hall All Christians want to bring the lost to Christ. But each of us has some handicap that causes us to feel limited in our ability to do so. It may be a weakness of knowledge or difficulty in expressing ourselves. Perhaps it is a personality deficiency or even a lack of transportation.…

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Loving the Brethren

March 20, 2016

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/LovingTheBrethren.mp3 by Raymond Warfel

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Will God understand that I have trouble loving people?

February 6, 2016

Question: I am really messed up. I was subjected to severe sexual, emotional, and physical abuse as a child. I do not love myself, do not really like myself. As I age, I keep more and more to myself, only doing shopping as needed, and going to church. I was baptized about 36 years ago…

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Jesus Loves Me

December 6, 2015

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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Open My Eyes That I Might See (Sermon)

November 22, 2015

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/OpenMyEyesThatIMightSee.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 5:11-14   I.         Discerning good – Hebrews 5:11-14             A.        I can understand a person not recognizing evil, but how does a person miss good?             B.        The topic under discussion was seeing that Jesus was like Melchizedek                         1.         This was something needful and good                         2.         But the audience could not see it because their…

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