Are You Discouraged?

by Jefferson David Tant Whit Sasser, a friend who preaches up in Appleton, Wisconsin, recently had a short piece in the church’s weekly bulletin titled “Measuring Acceptability.” His good comments have encouraged me to add some thoughts of my own, as well as to build on some writing I have done on the matter of…

Read More

Don’t Throw Your Heart to Dogs

by Raymond Gonzalez Sentry Magazine, March 2001 “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” (Matthew 7:6). Not in my wildest dreams as a babe in Christ, did I think to apply this proverb to brethren. The wording…

Read More

Working with the Smaller Groups

by Mike Davis Since 1975, God has blessed me to work “full time” with His children and to seek and save the lost. During these several years, God has permitted me to speak the gospel to large crowds (the most was over 200 at one time), and to speak the gospel in several states other…

Read More

“Go Ye” Means “Go Me”

by Jefferson David Tant This is written with some reluctance. I feel as Paul must have felt as he tried to make a point to help his readers. “Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little” (II…

Read More

The Wisdom of Winning Souls

by Charles N. Spence, Jr. Sentry Magazine, December 2000 and March 2001 “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). How does winning souls demonstrate wisdom? When Christians involve themselves in this task, they understand that they are doing that which the Lord has…

Read More

And Then I Prayed

by Forrest D. Moyer Sentry Magazine, March 2002 I really thought there were material things in this life that were important. I saw people living in luxurious furnishings. I saw their fine cars and their exclusive clothing. That seemed important, for a moment at least. Then I saw something else. I saw that so many…

Read More

God’s Distribution Plan

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Gods-Distribution-Plan.mp3 Text: I Corinthians 1:18-31   I.         God promised a kingdom that would never fall             A.        Daniel 7:13-14 – One that would never be destroyed             B.        Not so with human kingdoms                         1.         Every empire of the past has collapsed at some point                         2.         It has been noted that democracies tend not to last more than 200 years or so                         3.         People…

Read More

Whose Job Is It to Help Wash?

by Jefferson David Tant And just what job am I writing about? Washing cars? Washing dishes? No, I”m writing about something infinitely more important than earthly tasks. I”m writing about “washing souls.” Paul wrote in Titus 2:11, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men …” We are aware that “Christ…

Read More

Negativism

by Floyd Chappelear Sentry Magazine, December 2002 I have always sought to write so as to be understood. My friend James Needham, however, frequently published his stated desire to write so clearly that one cannot be misunderstood. I didn’t always appreciate the wisdom of the advice but did admire its clarity. James may well have had…

Read More

When the Number Is Few

by Terry Wane Benton We often show a lack of faith when we compare a small church to a large church. Some want to hide in a large crowd and they fail to grow spiritually. Jonathan had the right quality of faith. Jonathan and his armorbearer attack the Philistines I Samuel 14:12-14″Then Jonathan said to…

Read More

We Met at the Bus Station

by Jefferson David Tant Former bus station in Anniston, AL When I first saw her, she was standing with her sister and brother-in-law, bidding farewell after a visit. After they left, we discovered the bus would be delayed perhaps two hours in the small town of Anniston, AL. I was traveling by bus from Birmingham…

Read More

Fire in My Bones

by Jefferson David Tant The prophet Jeremiah faced many difficulties in his life. God assigned him to speak to the nation and warn them of things to come, and implore them to repent and serve God, but Jeremiah was persecuted and vilified. This prompted him to just shut up and not bother to speak anymore.…

Read More

Five Imperatives in Evangelism

by Royce Bell Trust God’s Power Ever remember: For all we do, at whatever cost and in whatever numbers, the positive results of any effort are attributable to God and Him, Alone. For example, note the words of Paul, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth” (I Corinthians 3:6). Set Your Heart…

Read More

Spreading the Word: Is Noah Our Last Resort?

by Floyd Chappelear Stand, October 15, 1993 If one were to ask what the purpose of Jesus’ coming to the earth was, what might we answer? One might say it was to establish the church and that answer would be acceptable because Jesus did come in fulfillment of prophecy; which included the establishment of the…

Read More

Young Man, So You Want to Preach

by Eddie Bragwell One of the encouraging things that I see among my brethren is the number of young men who are expressing a desire to make preaching the gospel their life’s work. Along with that the number of local churches that are willing to financially and morally support an aspiring young preacher as he…

Read More

Ways to Find the Lost

by Whit Sasser The following are some of the ways an individual can find those who are disposed of heart to become Christians; with the hope that once they hear the gospel, they will obey it, to the saving of their souls. Some of the ways require much money; some are practically cost-free. Some involve…

Read More

Does God want me to give up everything and preach the Gospel?

Question: Hello Minister, I’ve recently been dealing with a lot of internal conflict concerning God’s individual will for my life. I’ve been in deep thought as to whether I should give up all the things that I enjoy, as well as my current life at home with my parents, in order to serve Christ and…

Read More

Hard Sell Evangelism

by Ethan R. Longhenry For good reason, people prove skeptical about salespeople in general. We know they get paid to sell us things, and many of them will make a lot of promises, apply a lot of pressure, and engage in all kinds of manipulative practices to get us to sign on the dotted line.…

Read More

Must one go to school to be an evangelist?

Question: Good day, Must one go to school to become an evangelist? I ask because these guys coming from schools taught you just have to listen to them and that their take on the Scripture is final. I spoke on Ephesians 1:5 at a study that it doesn’t teach about personal elections as in Calvinism,…

Read More

Preachers and Their Demise

by Doug Dingley I recently read on a church leadership lectureship flyer that the church is losing approximately 600 preachers per year while replacing only about 300 over that same time span. Although those numbers initially seemed staggering to me (especially when you factor in that in all likelihood, a sizeable percentage of those 300…

Read More

What do you say as an “invitation” at the end of a sermon?

Question: Good morning Mr. Hamilton, Could you give me some examples of what to say as an “invitation” when I’m done with a sermon? Thank you, sir. Answer: An “invitation” at the close of a sermon is a tradition and not a requirement. Not that it is a bad tradition, but we must understand that…

Read More

Where Do Sermon Ideas Come From?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Where-Do-Sermon-Ideas-Come-From.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Timothy 4:6-16   I.         It is hard to come up with ideas to write about constantly. We speak of “writer’s block.”             A.        A preacher typically gives about 100 lessons per year plus teaches classes.             B.        But finding and selecting topics can be hard, even if all you need is an idea…

Read More

Pope Tells Christians Not to Evangelize

Source: Thomas D. Williams, PH.D., “Pope Francis Tells Christians Not to Try to Convert Nonbelievers,” Breitbart, 22 December 2019. Source: “Visit to the ‘Pilo Albertelli’ Classic High School in Rome: Dialogue of the Holy Father Francis with the Students”, Vatican Publishing House, 20 December 2019. “Pope Francis told Christian high school students this weekend they…

Read More

Why Did I Become a Preacher?

by Mark Stinnett After having preached full-time for only a few years, a good friend exclaimed excitedly at the end of a worship service, “Now, that is what I call preaching!” A visiting preacher spoke that day. My friend was not intentionally unkind, and I did not take it personally, but it did sting. I…

Read More

The Preacher Has a Problem

How Uncommitted, Unfaithful Christians Make Me Feel by Victor M. Eskew It has been a challenge since I first began preaching. It has been one of the difficulties that must be faced in every congregation wherein I have preached. It is not unique to me and my experiences. Every preacher has had to face this…

Read More

Is It Possible to Preach Christ and Not Preach Baptism or the Church?

by Donald Townsley via Guardian of Truth, December 15, 1988 From time to time men set forth the doctrine that we should “preach Christ” and leave the controversial subjects of the plan of salvation and the church alone. Some say, “just preach the man and not the plan”; others say, “preach Christ and not the…

Read More

Expository Teaching

by Joanne Beckley I find that expository preachers often do not really ask, What’s the purpose of this sermon? What should it do in people’s lives? If you say, “Why are you preaching on Romans 5?” some preachers answer, “Well, because last week I was in Romans 4. Next week I’ll be in Romans 6.”…

Read More

What Is Important in a Church?

What is Important to a Church? – Part 1What is Important to a Church? – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 14:1-12   I.         I remember visiting a large congregation many years ago. They had asked me to do some web site work for them.             A.        While I was amazed at the size of the…

Read More

What about Topical Lessons?

by Doy Moyer A good topical lesson is not a rejection of exegetical lessons. Nor is it a rejection of the primacy of context. This is not a defense of cherry-picking pet passages, taking them out of context, or ignoring other passages that make our understanding fuller and more complete. Rather, this is an encouragement…

Read More

My parents object to my becoming a missionary

Question: Hi, I am currently a senior in high school. I have been considering the idea of becoming a preacher sometime in the future. I am considering doing some mission work before committing to the pulpit role. My parents are not in great support of the idea of mission work. They are concerned about how…

Read More

The Church in Crisis

by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. I have a sermon titled “Crises in the Jerusalem Church” that I preach from time to time. It is based on notes that I took on a sermon I heard brother Clinton Hamilton preach many years ago. It points to several crises faced by the first congregation of Christians ever.…

Read More

Trip Report – 2018 (Bali)

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/TripReport2018.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Thessalonians 2:7-13   I.         Reading from Isaiah 35:1-10             A.        Vs 3 – Encourage, strengthen             B.        Vs 8 – A highway – an easier way to travel through life II.        My trips to the South Asian islands started in 2013.             A.        I had been studying with a young man, named Minghui, in the National…

Read More

The Purpose of Preaching

Text: Nehemiah 8:1-8   I.         In the past, we have talked about various positions or duties in the church (elders, teachers)             A.        Today, I would like to address the purpose of preaching.             B.        There seems to be much confusion about what a preacher’s duty is                         1.         Many denominations refer to their ministers as pastor, but that title is suppose…

Read More

Is it a sin to not offer an invitation at the end of a sermon?

Question: I understand there is a sin of omission, James 4:17. I attend a congregation where the preacher never preaches the gospel, hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized for the remission of sins. He preaches the truth and is very scriptural in all of his lessons; however, he very rarely, if ever, extends an…

Read More

Ancient Prophets in a Modern World

by Homer Hailey via The Preceptor Vol. 1, No. 3, January 1952. One of the most, if not the most neglected portions of the Bible in our study today is that of the Prophets. No doubt the reason for this is that there has been so much speculation among modern dispensationalists, in which men of this error…

Read More

Does a lack of unity and integrity affect the preaching of the gospel?

Question: Does the lack of unity and integrity in the ministry affect the people to whom we are reaching out? Is this a problem only due to egos or is there some other reason for this? Answer: “For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle?” (I Corinthians 14:8). In…

Read More

I Can’t Compete

by Jefferson David Tant The religious world is a world of fierce competition, just as car dealerships are in competition with one another. Obviously, the dealer that sells the most cars makes the most profit and has bragging rights — “We’re the #1 Chevy dealer in the Southeast.” How does a car dealer become #1?…

Read More

Painless, Pointless, Profitless Preaching

by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. Guardian of Truth, October 19, 1995 The doctor, looking at the routine test results, announces to the patient, “Hey, man, give me five. Have I got good news for you? Your blood pleasure is super. Your pulse rate is fantastic. And, man, what a fabulous gall bladder. It is beautiful…

Read More

Quoting Scripture as Evangelism

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/QuotingScriptureAsEvangelism.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Timothy 1:3-11   I.         It is difficult to read the New Testament and not notice the number of times Jesus and the apostles make their points by directing the person to the Old Testament by means of a quote.             A.        Regarding eating grain plucked on the Sabbath – Matthew 12:3-5…

Read More