Posts Tagged ‘obedience’
I Understand, but I Have My Own Ideas
by Jefferson David Tant While talking with a young woman I had several Bible studies with, I asked whether she had read something I had given her. Her reply was, “Yes, and I understand, but I have my own ideas.” Hers is not an uncommon reaction when discussing what the Bible teaches. This kind of…
Read MoreComparing Against the Standard
by Bob Dawson via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 22 No. 1, March 1996 Several men speaking at Annandale (Virginia) have recently made a point in their lessons, warning against straying from the truth, as revealed in God’s word, in our worship of Him. They pointed out that even though we start out following the truth in our…
Read MoreWhat Are Christians to Be Doing in the World?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/What-Are-Christians-to-be-Doing-in-the-World.mp3 by Raymond Warfel Download Audio
Read MoreLoving God Leads to Loving Your Neighbor
“Again and again the message of the Old Testament is that if you choose the wrong gods you will end in social decay. Biblical monotheism, far from an abstract creed, affirms that only when God is properly honored will society be just and compassionate. Modern western society, reaping the fruit of two centuries of systematically…
Read MoreAre Actions Alone Sufficient?
by Matthew W. Bates from Salvation by Allegiance Alone, Baker Academic, 2017 Similarly, the gospel cannot be reduced to behaving in a cross-shaped manner or to social programs. Saint Francis of Assisi is often remembered to have said, “Preach the gospel at all times; use words if necessary.” This is a clever saying (although its…
Read MorePhilemon, Onesimus, and Paul
by Hugh DeLong How do you respond when you read something in the New Testament that you have trouble agreeing with, or that you’re unsure whether you would, in that situation, obey? I will not give you my list, but over the years of learning and growing as a disciple, there have been such passages!…
Read MoreMy Burden Is Light
by Terry Wane Benton When Jesus said His burden is “light”, He did not mean that all of His commands were easier in nature than those under the Law of Moses, but that His are “light” because you are first “yoked” as a team and now you can “do all things through Christ who strengthens”…
Read MoreAre people wrong to reject baptism?
Question: Dear Brother, I have a question regarding the plan of salvation. I ask this with the intent of seeking clarity rather than passing judgment on others. My question concerns the forgiveness of sins. Scripture clearly states that water baptism by immersion, rooted in faith and by grace, effects the forgiveness of sins and the…
Read MoreQuiet Obedience
by Zeke Flores “Now Bazalel made the ark of acacia wood” (Exodus 37:1). This verse seems simple, but it marks the beginning of something sacred. Bezalel isn’t just building furniture; he’s building the place where God’s presence will rest. And he starts with obedience. Quiet, steady obedience. Sometimes the most meaningful things in your life…
Read MoreGuard What Was Entrusted
by Terry Wane Benton Paul was passionate about defending the original apostolic teaching that was given by the Holy Spirit. He wept about men corrupting that original teaching and passionately appealed to the elders at Ephesus to be on guard for themselves and that of others who would creep into the flock (Acts 20:28f). Paul’s…
Read MoreMalachi – Pointing Men to Christ
by Keith Greer Malachi contains four chapters and 55 verses. It is the 39th and final book of the Old Testament and the last Minor Prophet. Some have called it “a bridge between the Old and New covenants.” The name Malachi means “messenger of Jehovah.” The book says nothing about the man Malachi, and our…
Read MoreDo All in the Name of the Lord
by Terry Wane Benton “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through…
Read MoreGod Blesses Obedience
by Zeke Flores “Now Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold, and Yahweh blessed him” (Genesis 26:12). Isaac plants crops during a famine and reaps a hundredfold. It’s such a simple detail, but it carries a huge truth: God can bless obedience even in environments that look completely unproductive.…
Read MoreGod’s Authority Is Beautiful
by Doy Moyer via InLight Media Authority in Scripture is more than rules — it’s part of the beautiful tapestry of who God is. Some bristle at the idea of meticulously following what scripture says, demonstrates, and implies, perhaps because they feel that such a practice is legalistic and out of line with the true…
Read MoreTwo Sons Show Us the Truth
by Terry Wane Benton When we hear those who read the scriptures through Calvinistic lenses tell us that Adam and Eve handed down “Total Depravity” and “Inability”, we turn our attention to two sons, each of whom should have inherited this depraved gene. Cain and Abel show us the opposite. Both brought an offering to…
Read MoreWhat are all the commands we must keep?
Question: What are all the commands that we are called to obey under Christ? In 1st John, it states that the commandments are not burdensome, and it lists two commands throughout John’s epistles. How many more commands do I need to follow? I want to make sure I’m not leaving anything out. Answer: God did…
Read MoreJesus Is Both Lord and Savior
by Scott Smelser via InLight Media Many of us have friends or family who care about Jesus, are grateful for his sacrifice, respect his word, and want to serve him, but they’ve also been influenced by common misconceptions at the core of much evangelical protestantism which ultimately paint God as accepting (not preferring of course,…
Read MoreJesus’ Dual Role in Our Lives
by Scott Smelser via InLight Media Jesus is more than just our Savior — He’s also our Lord. That’s a whole other aspect to God’s Son that has huge implications for our relationship with Him, and even for the way we live. Scott Smelser dives deep into this important topic in this video.
Read MoreWhat Is Your Foundation?
by Doy Moyer via InLight Media What’s your life built on? The way you answer this question makes all the difference when things get rough — when you get hit with hardship, stress, sickness, or even death. Doy Moyer invites us to consider our foundations and recognize that a life founded on God’s Word is…
Read MoreDoes Cleaning the Conscience by Jesus’ Blood Come Before Any Obedience?
by Terry Wane Benton Hebrews 9:14 says that He “offered Himself without spot to God,” and this was to “purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” Does Jesus purge our conscience before we hear the gospel, believe it, repent of sins, and are baptized in His name “for remission of sins”…
Read MoreToday’s Application of Parables
by Olly Harmon via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 19 No. 1, March 1993 The other day, I took a good look at my surroundings and the house I have been left with, which had not been touched for over three years. Oh, yes, I had painted the outside and whacked off things that got in my way…
Read MoreWhat God Wants Us to Know
by Joe Works God wants us to know what He wants us to know! Obvious? Maybe. And yet we are tempted to focus on what He has not revealed and become disinterested in what He has revealed. Remember, Deuteronomy 29:29 has two parts, and it would greatly benefit us to accept both. “The secret things…
Read MoreAccording to the Rules
by Terry Wane Benton Paul said that in athletics no one is crowned unless they “compete according to the rules” (II Timothy 2:5). Being “strong in the grace” that is in Christ (II Timothy 2:1) means we are diligent to operate our lives of faith “according to the rules” unless we don’t care if we…
Read MoreThe Two Evils
by David Gibson Isn’t it sad? The way people seek after what proves counterproductive, totally illogical, and ultimately defeating. “Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate,…
Read MoreYou Can’t Tell Me What to Do!
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/You-Cant-Tell-Me-What-to-Do.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Colossians 1:3-12 I. It is generally the cry of the unhappy A. “You can’t tell me what to do!” B. I don’t recall ever hearing this in response to something agreed upon. It always comes with a disagreement. II. “I have the right to live my life as I see…
Read MoreWilling to Do His Will
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Willing-to-Do-His-Will.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: John 7:14-24 I. Two students enter a classroom. A. One is excited about the prospect of learning this subject. Though he hasn’t started yet, he has plans on how he is going to put this knowledge to use in his life. He knows it will be beneficial and…
Read MoreSave Me, That I May Observe Your Testimonies
by Edwin Crozier Sometimes you just need to talk about Scripture with other people. This past week, I was involved in a Bible study with several men in the area discussing Psalms 119:145-149. I was absolutely stunned by what I learned. The psalmist wanted to do right. According to Psalms 119:145-146, this psalmist wished to…
Read MoreDo You Know Jesus?
by Zeke Flores Do you know Jesus? Or do you know about Jesus? Those are two very different things. Lots of people know about Jesus the same way they might know someone by reading their biography. It may include many of their interesting personal characteristics or incidents from their lives. But it’s not the same…
Read MoreConditional Statements
by Hugh DeLong In John 15, Jesus speaks with the Apostles, and in what he says, we see many ‘if’ statements and conditional sentences. Note the list: “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and…
Read MoreWhen God Washed Men’s Feet
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/When-God-Washed-Mens-Feet.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: John 13:1-17 I. Jesus’ mission was drawing to a conclusion A. It was the night that Jesus would be betrayed B. Judas had already made a deal with the Jewish leaders to betray Jesus C. Jesus had gathered with his disciples to eat one last Passover meal and to give…
Read MoreOn Making the Father’s Will Preeminent
by Garry Henry WordPoints.com “I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me” (John 5:30). Doing the will of His Father was the ultimate, overriding priority for Jesus. To Him, nothing…
Read MoreThe Issue of Authority
by Randy Robinson John Mellencamp lamented in song over twenty years ago, “I fight authority; authority always wins.” Indeed, authority is a powerful force with which to be reckoned. In the case of this songster, his perspective is easily noted as one who is rebellious against authority, as indicated by his lyrics, “I’ve been doin’…
Read MoreThe Restrictive Nature of Submission
by Zeke Flores Submitting to the authority of God’s will is not only serious business, it’s also very restrictive. Because of its very nature, those who submit to authority can only operate within its bounds. What passes for Christianity in America, and across the world, really isn’t because it goes beyond the authority of Scripture. The…
Read MoreNot My Will
by Doy Moyer Jesus prayed in the garden, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). Jesus had no desire to suffer. He desired to save humanity from sin, and this was the necessary path to do so, but He was not enjoying…
Read MoreCommandment Keeping
by Kevin Cauley There are those in the religious world today who ridicule the idea of keeping commandments. They claim that keeping God’s commandments has nothing to do with our salvation today. If someone objects and says that we must keep God’s commandments to be saved, the charge of legalism is leveled against him. Is…
Read MoreHow to Personalize Your Bible
by David Gibson Perhaps you own a Bible with your name engraved in gold on the cover. Or maybe you received your Bible from a relative or friend who wrote a meaningful inscription to you on the flyleaf. Certainly, this makes your Bible more personal than those of the same edition in boxes on the…
Read MoreThe Man Who Would Not Listen
by David Gibson In Spite of … King Zedekiah had at least two positive influences in his life that should have prompted him to make wiser choices. His father Josiah was one of the most godly kings Judah ever had. And Jeremiah, God’s prophet, tried repeatedly to persuade Zedekiah to obey God. In spite of his…
Read MoreThen What Shall I Do with Jesus?
by David Gibson The choice he made The governor was in a dilemma, and he was aware of it. As Caesar’s official, it was Pilate’s responsibility to deal with those brought to him for judgment. Never had Pilate dealt with anyone like Him. He knew Jesus was innocent of the charges so vehemently made against…
Read MoreLove, Service, and Obedience
by Doy Moyer We serve what we love, and we obey what we serve. What does that mean? It is possible to be coerced into obedience, but this is not love. However, when we love something or someone, we serve, and in serving, we obey. I believe the word “obey” and its cognates say more…
Read MoreThese You Ought To Have Done
by Heath Rogers “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone” (Luke 11:42). Imagine the time and patience it took to measure the herbs that one had…
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