Posts Tagged ‘preaching’
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 MoreWhat 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 MoreMy 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 MoreThe 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 MoreTrip 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 MoreThe 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 MoreIs 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 MoreAncient 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 MoreDoes 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 MoreI 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 MorePainless, 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 MoreQuoting 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 MoreDangerous Preaching
by Sewell Hall A man who accepts the task of preaching the gospel accepts a dreadful responsibility. “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment” (James 3:1). Application of these words may not be limited to what we commonly term local preachers, but they apply in…
Read MoreTrip Report – 2016 (Bali, Singapore, Malaysia)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/TripReport2016.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Romans 10:17-18 I. My trips to the South Asian islands started in 2013. A. I had been studying with a young man in the National University of Singapore for several years via Skype. He had asked me repeatedly to come hold a meeting in Singapore and things…
Read MoreContext and Exposition
by Gary P. Eubanks The burden of these remarks consists of three points: The value of (immediate) context for Bible interpretation has been overrated. This exaggerated conception of the importance of context has, in turn, been used to justify an over-emphasis on expository preaching. The over-use of expository preaching holds the potential danger of covering…
Read MoreSeeing the White Fields
Seeing the White Fields – Part 1Seeing the White Fields – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 4:5-42 I. Indulge me for a moment and consider the following situations: A. You are talking about what various church have to offer in the area with your neighbor and you take the opportunity to invite him…
Read MoreLaborers in the Vineyard
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/LaborersInTheVineyard.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 20:1-16 I. The context of the parable A. A rich, young ruler had come to Jesus asking how to be saved. – Matthew 19:16-22 1. Jesus told him to follow the law, but the young man wasn’t satisfied with this. He wanted something more. 2. Jesus told him that if he…
Read MoreSound Doctrine Produces Sound Churches Demanding Sound Doctrine
by Edward O. Bragwell via Gospel Guide, Vol. 27, No. 12, Dec. 1995. “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering…
Read MoreThe Lost Sheep
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/LostSheep.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 15:1-7 I. When people can’t fault a person, they will sometimes seek to find fault in the way someone does things. A. This is how the Pharisees and Scribes sought to degrade Jesus’ reputation. B. It wasn’t something they would do. In fact, they implied it there was something wrong…
Read MoreWhat Do You Hope to Catch?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/WhatDoYouHopeToCatch.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Mark 6:31-44 I. What you hope to catch determines the type of bait you use A. A worm may land you a fish, but it probably won’t lure a mouse into a trap B. Even in fishing, there are different baits to be used for different fish C. I’ve known young women…
Read MoreTrip Report – 2015 (Bali, Singapore)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/TripReport2015.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Romans 10:17-18 I had an opportunity to revisit the two groups I worked with last year. This time my wife, Gaye, agreed to come with me. It was the first time she has been out of the country. The church in La Vista paid my travel…
Read MorePassing the Torch
by Ethan R. Longhenry Almost two thousand years ago the Gospel of Jesus Christ began to be proclaimed: God became Incarnate as Jesus of Nazareth, went about doing good, was crucified and buried, but God raised Him from the dead; He ascended to the Father, received all authority and everlasting dominion, and will return one…
Read MoreThe Gospel of the Circumcision and the Uncircumcision
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/GospelOfTheCircumcisionAndTheUncircumcision.mp3 Text: Galatians 2:1-10 I. I suppose a casual reader could read verse 7 from our text and come away with the idea that two different messages were being taught. A. One being taught to the Gentiles and a different message being taught to the Jews. B. Yet the goal of the gospel was to unite Jews…
Read MoreYour articles are not the gospel, they only use the gospel
Question: I was happy to read your statement on your home page and hope to visit you when am in Omaha. What bothers me is “the articles you write and put on the site.” The New Testament church must and should only preach the word of God. Most, or all of the articles are not…
Read MoreHe Preached Jesus to Him
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015Spring4HePreachedJesusToHim.mp3 by Jonathan Perz Spreading the Gospel
Read MoreSpreading the Gospel
by Jonathan Perz Are You Open Minded? Traditions House to House He Preached Jesus to Him Judas Iscariot Imitating God Choices Seven Paradoxes of the Cross
Read MoreThe Teaching of God’s Word
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/TeachingOfGodsWord.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 92 I. Jesus made a comment in Matthew 16:18 that we are all familiar with A. Notice something that many overlook: What does Jesus mean that the “gates of hell will not overcome it?” 1. Many talk about how Satan’s army cannot overcome the church. 2. But read this again. Which…
Read MoreWhen I get busy in school, I lose sight of God. Is that wrong?
Question: Now I’m back in school and it’s getting busy again. But in the classroom, I always get distracted thinking that I am doing something wrong when I’m doing the work. I obviously know that homework is not a sin, but it feels like when I get busy with work I just lose sight of…
Read MoreShould I support people who are shouting fire and brimstone on campus?
Question: I wanted to ask you one more thing though, on my University campus today there is a preacher that stands in an area with heavy foot traffic and preaches to the campus walking by. Many of the students are very annoyed by him, and he is heavily ridiculed, but I don’t know what to…
Read MoreThe Church Ain’t Doing Nothing
by Raymond Elliott How often have we heard that statement from a brother in Christ? And it is to be admitted that we often fail in fulfilling the many obligations that God has given us. But there are some pertinent observations that need to be made relative to this broad statement. First of all, we…
Read MoreHow do I tell people I’m not interested in preaching?
Question: Hello, Hope you can answer a question of mine that I need a biblical answer to. What to say to people who come up to you and ask you, “Why don’t you preach?” I tell them not everyone is meant to be a teacher, and like it says in Bible not everyone is meant…
Read MoreYour sermon outlines are very helpful to me as I prepare sermons
Question: Thank you and your congregation for your web site. Your sermon outlines are very helpful to me as I prepare sermons. I wanted to make sure your efforts are appreciated. Answer: Why thank you very much. I’m glad the information is being put to good use.
Read MoreI have a good-paying secular job, but what I really want to do is preach
Question: Hello, I am a recent college graduate, and I currently have a secular job with a high salary. I don’t know, but I always feel sad whenever I’m going to work, thinking that this is not the world I wanted to be in, this is not the job I wanted to do. In short,…
Read MoreThe Work of an Evangelist
by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. I got to thinking about evangelists and evangelism in general. An evangelist (Gr. euaggelistes) is a preacher of good news (the gospel – Gr. euaggelion) and evangelism is what an evangelist does – preaches that good news. An evangelist preaches the gospel to the world to save it from sin. Philip was…
Read MoreTrip Report – 2014 (Singapore, Bali)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/TripReport2014.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton
Read MoreIs it bad that most members in our church were raised in the church?
Question: Dear Mr. Hamilton, I’ve been emphasizing how important truth is in the Bible to one of my friends. She has been very receptive to the truths I’ve shown her in God’s Word. I’ve taken her to the church I attend and she enjoys it but she says it’s not her thing. Now I tell…
Read MoreWhat authority do you have to teach on the Internet?
Question: If every example of preaching in the first century was done in person by mouth to those that could hear, and the direct command was to go and preach, where is your Bible authority to preach on the Internet? Answer: Here is an example of artificially restricting a command. Communicating by writing is a form of…
Read MoreYou’re right. Christians need a healthy fear of hell
Question: During the five years I attended a church in my area, I never heard the preacher once mention Hell or God’s wrath, or the fact that Christians need a holy fear of God. Your “If I Don’t Preach on Hell” summary was excellent. Is a church that doesn’t preach the full counsel of God…
Read MoreIs missionary work scriptural?
Question: Mr. Hamilton, What is “missionary work” and is that scriptural? Does God call us to a particular occupation, such as God has “called me” to this career or that career? Is all this scripturally sound? Thank you. Answer: Missionary work has come to mean going to foreign countries to teach the gospel. Sometimes it…
Read MoreAre you saying that it is OK for a preacher to tell jokes behind the pulpit if they are of a clean sort?
Question: So in regards to Ephesians 5:4, joking and jesting. Are you saying that it is OK for a preacher to tell jokes behind the pulpit if they are of a clean sort? Answer: “But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish…
Read More