Posts Tagged ‘obedience’
Being a Christian Will Not Save You
Being a Christian Will Not Save You – Part 1Being a Christian Will Not Save You – Part 2Being a Christian Will Not Save You – Part 3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Jude 1-10 I. Why did you become a Christian? A. For most of us, we desired the promise – Ephesians 1:13-14 B. We wanted…
Read MoreLord, Lord
by Matthew W. Bassford There are many pointed questions in Scripture, but perhaps the most pointed of them all appears in Luke 6:46. Here, Jesus exposes the great contradiction of (self-described) Christianity—the millions upon millions of people who call Jesus Lord but don’t do what He says to do. It is as though they see…
Read MoreDoes God accept wrongly done worship if the heart is right?
Question: Hello, I understand that God does not accept vain worship (Matthew 15:8-9), that we are to worship the way the Bible teaches (John 4:23-24), and that God punishes those who worship in their own way (Leviticus 10:1-2). But does II Chronicles 30, where the Passover was held not in accordance with the Law of…
Read MoreTeaching Love
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.”…
Read MoreLooking for God in All the Wrong Places
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Looking-for-God-in-All-the-Wrong-Places.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Amos 5:4-9 I. God wants us to seek Him A. It is not that God is hiding or “playing hard to get.” 1. God is not found unless we are looking. 2. Example: the child who cannot find his shoes. a. He has looked “everywhere,” but he is standing in the middle of…
Read MoreIf HOW We Worship Doesn’t Matter …
by Terry Wane Benton Then it should not have mattered that Cain brought a different offering from Abel as long as he brought something (See Genesis 4). Then it should not have mattered what source of fire that Nadab and Abihu used as long as it was in their heart to offer God something (See…
Read MoreRead, Hear, and Heed
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Read-Hear-and-Heed.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreTo Whom Shall We Go?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/To-Whom-Shall-We-Go.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 6:48-69 I. When Jesus feed the 5,000, his popularity was at an all time high A. Some of the people decided it was time to make Jesus their king – John 6:14-15 B. Jesus left because the people’s motivation was wrong. They were only thinking of the free food Jesus…
Read MoreWhere Do You Want the Lord to Find You?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Where-Do-You-Want-To-The-Lord-To-Find-You.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreWhy are people who want a personal relationship with Jesus against religion?
Question: I hear many folks, seemingly of the denominational world, speak of having a “personal relationship” with Jesus or God. They tend to pit this against religion as if they take offense to the notion of religion. Can you speak to the “personal relationship” idea as I can’t seem to fully understand what the attempt…
Read MoreIt’s Not How You Feel
by Aubrey Belue Does it “feel good?” Does it feel “right?” If so, today’s culture says, “go for it!” Thus, we make “right” what our feelings say it is, rather than what it really is. Somehow, we have reached the point in contemporary reasoning that most say that one can pursue his individual dream without…
Read MoreIf I obey God even though I don’t want to, is that proof that I love God?
Question: Good day, When I do something because it’s a commandment from God, and even if I don’t want to, is that not proof that I love God? So there are things I don’t like to do but because I love God I do it anyway. And on the other hand, there are things difficult…
Read MoreRemember Shiloh
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/RememberShiloh.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Jeremiah 7:1-15 I. Around the country we have many memorials and historical sites established to remind us of our victories. Yet, we keep several sites to remind us of our losses. A. I was able to see the Alamo in San Antonio. Only the mission still stands, but it is…
Read MoreIs it wrong to obey even though you don’t really want to?
Question: Good day, I know everything we are to do for God and for our fellow man has to be done willingly and with love. Is it wrong to be obedient because you are growing in a command (forgiving) and do not really want to do it? Answer: What if I reverse your question? Is…
Read MoreHow do I not give up?
Question: Have I become like the church at Ephesus? I liken myself to the rich young ruler. I kept all these things from my youth but I can’t seem to get over some of the other things Christ wants me to do and it’s frightening. Maybe I’ve reached the point where I have allowed the noise…
Read MoreDistinguishing Faith and Feelings
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/DistinguishingFaithAndFeelings.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 11:1-6 I. Many in the denominational world are told that faith is this feeling you have inside that you are doing what is right. A. Mormons in selling Mormonism will ask you to pray and that the Holy Spirit will give you a feeling inside regarding whether what they…
Read MoreRestoring God’s Religion
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/RestoringGodsReligion.mp3 Text: II Kings 18:1-6 I. Without a doubt our society has slipped in its desire to follow God A. Sin and the acceptance of sinful practice has become prevalent. We have convinced ourselves as a society to be proud of our tolerance of sin. B. Churches are losing members. 1. In their panic, they look for ways…
Read MoreNotes on Things that Accompany Salvation
Hear Believe Repent Confess Be Baptized Obey Commanded Acts 16:31; Hebrews 11:6 Commanded Acts 2:38; 17:30; 26:20 Commanded Acts 10:48 Commanded Philippians 2:12 To come to God John 6:45 To please God Hebrews 11:6 To gain times of refreshing Acts 3:19 Brings joy in heaven Luke 15:7 To be confessed before God Matthew 10:32-33 To…
Read MoreIn Word and Deed
In Word and Deed – Part 1In Word and Deed – Part 2 Text: Colossians 3:12-17 I. There needs to be a consistency between the things we say and the things we do A. “You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?” 1. People understand that it is one thing to talk about something,…
Read MoreCleaning Out the Barn
by Mark McCrary Growing up, this was the job I hated the most (and, hate is not too strong a word). Three times a week I had to clean out the feed room in the barn. That includes everything you think would be included. It was a stinky, unpleasant job. I did it because it…
Read MoreWhat is Malachi 3:16-18 saying?
Question: Hey Jeffrey, Can you please help me understand what’s going on in Malachi 3:16-18? Is this text saying God is pleased with those who think about Him and meditate about Him? Is it saying He rewards those who do so and fear Him? Answer: “Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another,…
Read MoreHow much obedience does the Lord demand of me?
Question: Hey Jeffrey, I have a problem understanding the nature of obedience to God’s laws. I read and hear that obedience is required for salvation, but no man (besides Jesus) has obeyed perfectly, so please help me understand the nature of the obedience required to please God and enter His eternal abode. Is part of…
Read MoreNeither of us has been good, but now that my girlfriend is trying to improve her faith, she is pulling away from me
Question: My girlfriend and I have been together for six months. We have a past as well. We are both believers in the Lord and have been for a while. We both have children from past relationships, prior to becoming believers. We are currently struggling with our relationship, in part because we both have backsliding…
Read MoreNameless
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Nameless.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Kings 13:1-10 I. This is a story about two men, who remain nameless. One young and another old. A. Both are prophets. One is a good man and the other is a liar. B. One was selected to carry a message and the other was not. C. One dies, but not…
Read MoreFollowing the Lord Fully
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/FollowingTheLordFully.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Joshua 14:6-14 I. God describes for us the character of various men by referring to them by certain phrases A. Abraham was called a friend of God – James 2:23 1. Because that is how God referred to him – II Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8 2. Perhaps that gives greater weight to…
Read More“May I?” or “Must I?”
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/MayIOrMustI.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Genesis 4:1-12 I. Romans 15:4 A. As we read through our Bibles, it doesn’t take long notice how differently the Old Law is presented in comparison to the New Law. 1. The Old Law contains many regulations that spell out, some times in detail, what a person could and could not do.…
Read MoreFaith 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
Read MoreWill faithful Christians face judgment on Judgment Day?
Question: Hello, I am a member of the church of Christ. Will faithful Christians face judgment on Judgment Day? If yes, is giving an account and being judged the same thing? Answer: Judgment is based on both the good and the bad that we have done. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat…
Read MoreDoes It Make a Difference?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/DoesItMakeADifference.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreFully Obedient
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/FullyObedient.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreWhat Is the Hardest Command?
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…
Read MoreLaw and Legalism
by H. E. Phillips via Guardian of Truth – January 6, 1994 Law is: “A general rule of action or conduct established or enforced by a sovereign authority; as, a law of Caesar; a law of God” (Webster’s Twentieth Century Dictionary, Unabridged). Webster says of legalism: “Close conformity to law.” Law and legalism are not the same.…
Read MoreStand Still and Keep Silent
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/StandStillAndKeepSilent.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Exodus 14:5-31 I. Israel has been freed from the bondage of slavery by a series of miracles from God. A. But even as they were moving out of the Egyptian lands, Pharaoh changed his heart and came after his former slaves with an army. B. The people of Israel found themselves…
Read MoreDoes God Require Too Much?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/DoesGodRequireTooMuch.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreDoes God expect us to do our part?
Question: When Simon helps carries Jesus’ cross in Mark 15:21, does it have any special meaning? I remember a pastor talking about how Jesus told Christians to deny ourselves and take up our own cross (such as in Luke 9:23), but He could not carry His own cross. Simon had to carry it for Him.…
Read MoreFoundations
Foundations – Part 1Foundations – Part 2Foundations – Part 3Foundations – Part 4 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 61 I. When we are teaching others, it is important not to just address the issues raised, but to think about why a person has come to the wrong conclusions. A. When a person claims to be…
Read MoreIs Christianity Rules or a Relationship?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/2016Summer3IsChristianityRulesOrARelationship.mp3 by Tommy Peeler God Has a Plan
Read MoreI don’t think my walk with God is going well
Question: Hi, I’m worried about my walk with God, and I don’t think it’s going well. I hardly read my Bible and I always forget to pray. When I do pray I’m worried God is not listening. I know He is, but I can’t shake this feeling. My question is: how can I make my…
Read MoreObeying God
by Dennis Stackhouse On one occasion King Saul had been given a direct command from God to utterly destroy Amalek, including men and women, children and infants, as well as all the livestock (I Samuel 15:3). However, Saul and the people spared Agag, the king of Amalek, along with the best of the sheep, the…
Read MoreWhy do I fail every time I try to serve God?
Question: Dear sir, I am writing from a very small city. I was first called by God on His mission, but I refused it due to my family’s financial situation. Now I am again starting His service, but I am not able to serve it fully. Satan always puts me in places where I always…
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