Posts Tagged ‘preaching’
Higher Learning
by Bryan Matthew Dockens A common question visitors seem to think appropriate of preachers, at least in this writer’s experience, is “Where did you go to school?” But folks just never seem to know how to react when I tell them about my year at Moorpark College, the community college near my hometown. They expect…
Read MoreIs God preparing me to be a preachers’ wife?
Question: I have been in the body of Christ for nearly a decade. Struggling through it all, I have learned to deny my own will and go with God’s plans for my life and that has made me successful. I had heard the call that anything I do with my career, I do it for…
Read MoreGiving Up on the Little Church
by Robert E. Speer via Think on These Things, April-May-June, 2011, Volume 42, Number 2 Many years ago — Ouch! Has it really been that long? — my family and I responded to a plea from another family to join them in a work they were trying to establish on the southern shores of Lake Superior.…
Read MoreWhat should be done if a visiting speaker starts teaching falsely?
Question: If an elder at a congregation puts a visiting speaker in the pulpit who has no business being there, and you have a lot of visitors in the audience, what should the preacher do or say about that? I might add that the elder’s knowledge is nowhere close to where it should be to…
Read MoreShould I quit preaching to find a wife?
Question: I have been a minister now for almost 30 years. My wife left me after nearly 30 years of marriage. However, I need a helpmate. I want to date but all women are scared of dating a preacher. I understand that too. I don’t want to cause a “Black Eye” on the church so…
Read MoreIs it appropriate to have PowerPoint presentations during sermons?
Question: Is it appropriate to have PowerPoint presentations during services? Personally, I find it very helpful in keeping up with Bible verses during the sermons, but I wonder if God approves it. I don’t know how the brethren feel. This is something I have been wondering about since I began going to the church. Answer:…
Read MoreDo you not know how to treat people?
Question: Do you not know how to treat people? I’ve read many of these answers and you get most of them right, but they all seem so mean! Like I was reading the ones about suicide and you would tell them what they were doing wrong, but you had no love! You didn’t show any care…
Read MoreHow do I preach the gospel?
Question: How do I preach the gospel? Meaning, where should I do it and what should I say? If I do it at work, I would probably get fired. Do I just go up to complete strangers on the street, in stores, etc? I have severe anxiety, and I’m not articulate, but those are not…
Read MoreBeing able to read the sermon outlines has helped my studies
Question: I just wanted to say I’ve been looking over the church website from La Vista and it is very helpful to be able to read sermons online. It is also very encouraging and uplifting to be able to read these sermons. Of course, I’ve been doing studies of the Bible outside on my own,…
Read MoreThe Value of Souls
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/ValueOfSouls.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 15:1-10 I. It is far too easy to lose sight of the goal A. We look at the sin in the world around us, knowing that we are not to get caught up in it – Romans 6:1-2 B. We don’t want to be influenced by the world – I…
Read MoreYour website has helped me a lot in putting together lessons
Question: I felt compelled to write and thank you and any others that may be contributing material to your website. Your sermon outlines and lessons have been very helpful to me these last several months. You see, my brother-in-law, who preached for the small congregation that meets here passed away recently, and as the congregation…
Read MoreYour article on the silence of the Scriptures helps me to understand the issues better
Question: Hello sir. I was born and raised in the church. Just read your article on the silence of the Scriptures and really enjoyed it. I have been faced with some of the “dogmatic” congregations for the first time in my life, and it really raised some questions in my mind as to if I was attending…
Read MoreEvangelism (Anderson)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Evangelism.mp3 by PJ Anderson
Read MoreTwo Preachers: Amos and Amaziah
by Mark White The Old Testament prophet Amos was a shepherd turned preacher. The crowd to whom he preached was the upper class of Israel, including the King himself. He was not their choice of a preacher, however. They did not choose him — God chose Amos for them. His oratory was not refined eloquence.…
Read MoreShould we just preach the gospel?
Question: Recently one of our members complained to me that one of the men I have been teaching and giving tips on how to present a sermon, often mentions in the Bible classes he teaches and sermons that he preaches, the ungodliness and immorality that a lot of our political leaders are guilty of as well as many…
Read MoreTactics for Defending Our Faith
Tactics For Defending Our Faith Part 1Tactics For Defending Our Faith Part 2 by Taylor Ladd Influence and Evangelism
Read MoreThe Purpose of Our Calling
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2011Spring3ThePurposeOfOurCalling.mp3 by Taylor Ladd Influence and Evangelism
Read MoreLearning to See Souls
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2011Spring2LearningToSeeSouls.mp3 by Taylor Ladd Influence and Evangelism
Read MoreGod’s Captivated Captives
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2011Spring1GodsCaptivatedCaptives.mp3 by Taylor Ladd Influence and Evangelism
Read MoreInfluence and Evangelism
by Taylor Ladd April 17-20, 2011 God’s Captivated Captives Learning to See Souls The Purpose of Our Calling Jesus Heals the Man Born Blind Tactics for Defending Our Faith
Read MorePaul’s Tentmaking
by James Shewmaker I have come to the conclusion that a lot of people have a misunderstanding of Paul’s tentmaking. When Paul left Berea due to an “invasion” by Thessalonican enemies, his companions stayed behind. Those brethren who escorted him to Achaia returned home, leaving Paul all alone. At the time that Paul met Aquila…
Read MoreAre we to preach the kingdom of heaven or to preach Christ crucified as Paul instructs us?
Question: Are we to preach the kingdom of heaven or to preach Christ crucified as Paul instructs us? Answer: There is no difference. Paul told the Ephesians, “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more” (Acts 20:25). And he…
Read MoreHow do you prepare for missionary work?
Question: Recently I’ve really been wanting to die to self and my dream desire is to live in a really poor area, hopefully in China — not the U.S. It’s hard to be an evangelizing Christian in the U.S. where it’s so wealthy and most people already know Christ. However, I don’t know how to…
Read MoreShould I wait to teach until after my wife is converted? Is blogging a substitute for going into the world to teach the gospel?
Question: Thanks for all your scriptural answers to questions. They helped me a lot! My questions are: Is it wrong to wait for a while to teach (or preach) to other people while I’m still teaching my wife to become a Christian? I feel like a hypocrite to teach others without my wife becoming a…
Read MoreIf I Don’t Preach on Hell
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IfIDontPreachOnHell1.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Corinthians 9:16-23 I. It won’t take you long to find out that the topic of Hell is not popular among the denominations of the world A. The Jehovah’s Witnesses declare that it doesn’t exist. Nor do the Episcopals, Methodists, and some Baptists want to discuss the matter. B. A survey…
Read MoreWhy do you feel the need to say that other religions are wrong?
Question: Hi, I’m just wondering why do you feel the need to tell everyone else that their religions are wrong? How are you so sure yours is right? You don’t have any more proof then other religions do. I just think it’s ridiculous that you and other people feel it’s up to them to change…
Read MoreWhy do some people accept the gospel but others reject it?
Question: My son had a question I am not sure how to answer. The question is: Why is it that some people respond to the hearing of the gospel by accepting the gospel, and others respond by rejecting it?” It is the same Holy Spirit that will convict of sin, righteousness, and judgment; so why does…
Read MoreWe Preach Christ Crucified
by Joe R. Price The Apostle Paul II Timothy 4:6-13 “We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness” (I Corinthians 1:23). Let there be no mistake: Preaching “Christ crucified” is gospel preaching. The “word of the cross” is the power of God to save the lost (I Corinthians…
Read MoreIs teaching in prisons and rehab centers worth it?
Question: Our church has been working with a prison ministry. It began many years ago by a lady who would travel many miles to the women’s prison. In that time I only know of one woman who came to be baptized, and, if my memory serves me right, when she was released she returned to…
Read MoreJesus Shows Us How to Evangelize
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/2010Spring3JesusShowsUsHowToEvangelize.mp3 by Frank Walton Christ, the Only Way
Read MoreGo Unto All the World
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/GoUntoAllTheWorld.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton
Read MoreA Prosperous Journey
by Walton Weaver via Truth Magazine Vol. XLIV: 10 p19 May 18, 2000 Paul had a great desire to go to Rome. He knew however that if such an opportunity presented itself, God would have to open up the way. His prayer that God might do this for him is given to us in Romans 1:10: “Making…
Read MorePreacher Pitfalls: An Article for Young Preachers
by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. The Reflector – August 2009 via Ed’s Sermons and Things Paul references Isaiah in declaring that the feet of those that preach the gospel are beautiful (Romans 10:15; Isaiah 52:7). I know of no higher calling for a young man to pursue than that of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. While…
Read MoreOffering an Invitation
by James Shewmaker We may offer encouragement at any time to respond to the summons of Jesus, but the summons belongs to Him and not us. If a person expresses a desire to respond to the Savior’s summons, I do not wait till the end of services. For example, a family contacted me about 40…
Read MoreDoes the whole church need to hear the whole sermon?
Question: Is there some biblical passage where it is mentioned that in the primitive church all listened to the preacher and all were present during the whole worship? Answer: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in…
Read MoreAn Idea for a Sermon Topic
by Jefferson David Tant Sometimes preachers are hard-pressed to come up with a good sermon topic. In reading some of my father’s old church bulletins from Norman, Oklahoma, (April 1946), he wrote of a famous preacher in London many years ago who announced his sermon for the next Sunday – “A Reaping Hook Well Tempered…
Read MoreHow could a just God put a man in a place where he is unable to hear about Jesus and then send him to hell?
Question: From your sermon “The Lost Who Never Heard the Gospel”: “If people could be saved without going through Christ, then why would God have sent him to die?” Then is it safe to say that this God you say is a just God of love would create a human being, place him in a location where…
Read MoreWhat questions should brethren ask of a man wanting to preach for them?
Question: We have a couple of other men here who fill in with the preaching service occasionally and have asked me for suggestions that might help them improve. One of them has expressed an interest in possibly looking for a preaching job. So, I believe a “preacher training class” would be in order. The question I want…
Read MoreIs the point of life seeing the fruit of your labors?
Question: For a while, I was going through King Solomon’s view of realizing how pointless life is. I was struggling with that for a couple of weeks. But I am doing better now. Just really meditated on it and what Solomon said and a realization of life in itself. It is kind of interesting but…
Read MoreAscetic Vows vs. Scriptural Liberties
by Bryan Matthew Dockens Members of religious orders of the Catholic, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox churches, most prominently priests and nuns, commit themselves to particular ascetic vows. Asceticism, by definition, is extreme self-denial. Self-denial, of course, is enjoined upon all those who would follow Christ (Luke 9:23-24). However, the Lord never placed such restrictions as…
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