Independent Thinking versus Presumptuous Thinking

by Gardner Hall Independent thinking about the Scriptures is good! The Jews in Berea weren’t satisfied with blindly accepting traditional Jewish interpretations of Scripture. Still, they listened to Paul with an open mind, searching the scriptures daily to see if his teaching was true. Those who are presumptuous in their thinking often assume the label…

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Why People Reject Christ

by Jefferson David Tant We live in a nation today that is becoming less and less “religious,” which includes an increasing number of those who reject Christ, as they may believe he is a myth, or if a real person, certainly not a divine being. Let us examine what may be behind what is happening…

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The Obsession for Notoriety in the Modern Era

by Orlando B. Gonzalez Verse: John 12:43 (NASB 2020)- “…for they loved the approval of people rather than the approval of God.”   As a young man, it’s unsurprising to say that I carry many great desires that I want to do in my lifetime.  My current main goals include becoming a professional writer, a…

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Things They Don’t Teach in School

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Things-They-Dont-Teach-in-School.mp3 Text: I Timothy 6:17-21   I.         It is that time of year again when the school bells begin to ring             A.        By the time a student graduates from high school, he will have invested about 15,120 hours in understanding a wide variety of subjects, which are considered necessary for success in this world.             B.        Many go on…

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The Sin of Self-Righteousness

by Steven Harper Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of the first century, often because they had a too-high view of themselves. When He was at the house of Simon [a Pharisee], a woman who was known to be a sinner came in and began to wash His feet with her tears, wiping them dry with…

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Grudges

by Matthew W. Bassford I hold grudges. It is one of my biggest spiritual failings. I’m not a particularly touchy person, so I don’t keep an account of light offenses. However, I do have an excellent memory, and though it is helpful in many other areas, it is not at all helpful here. When someone…

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Pearls from Proverbs: Glorying in Glory

by Irvin Himmel Guardian of Truth XXXI: 15, p. 456, August 6, 1987 “It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory” (Proverbs 25:27). A highly nutritious food, honey was often found in ancient times in trees, in holes in the ground, in crevices between…

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Pride and Preachers

by Bruce Reeves There has been some discussion lately about preachers and jealousy. Brother Tommy Peeler has pointed out that preachers are not the only ones who struggle with jealousy. I knew a man one time that told a gospel preacher that he did not think that it was fair that he had more personal…

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I Wish Someone Had Told Me

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/I-Wish-Someone-Had-Told-Me.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Proverbs 5:7-14   I.         I ran across an article by Chuck Lawless about “Ten Conversations I Wish Someone Had with Me as a Teenager.”             A.        Hindsight generally reveals that mistakes could have been avoided             B.        I constantly get told: “I wish someone had told me just how bad this could get”             C.        And…

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How Satan Divides Brethren

by Larry Rouse The Three Pillars of False Movements   I.         We should not be surprised at the tactics of Satan.             A.        When working with other men we must constantly be humbled and because of that be willing to follow the wisdom of God. (James 4:13-18)                         1.         When we trust God it becomes all about Him and we…

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Fools

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Fools.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 11:37-54   I.         We see fools all around us,             A.        But no one wants to be thought of as a fool                         1.         (1995) In Wesley Chapel, Florida, Joseph Aaron, 20, While repairing a car, found he needed to bore a hole in the pipe. When he couldn’t find a drill, he…

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Why Do Wars Exist?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Why-Do-Wars-Exist.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Isaiah 59:1-18   I.         In my youth, the Vietnam War was being fought. It was an unpopular war that generated a lot of protest songs.             A.        One song called “War” by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong exclaimed, “War! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing!”             B.        So can wars and acts of…

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The Dispensable Man

by Matthew W. Bassford There is no surer sign of being a control freak than wanting to control things postmortem. I qualify. Though some of my anxiety is directed at the prospect of dying slow and ugly, most of it is aimed at what will happen after I’m gone. What will happen to my family?…

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Yet Not with a Whole Heart

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Yet-Not-with-a-Whole-Heart.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Chronicles 25:1-16   I.         Amaziah was the son of Joash.             A.        His father started reigning at an extremely young age because his grandmother had killed all the heirs to the throne of David, except him. – II Chronicle 22:10-12                         1.         She was eventually killed and Joash was placed on the throne.…

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Dealing with Diotrephes

by Jefferson David Tant If you have read III John, you are aware that the author, very likely the apostle John, mentioned a troublemaker in the church. “I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. For this reason, if I come, I…

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Better Than Self

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Better-Than-Self.mp3 Text: Philippians 2:1-11   I.         When learning another language, it helps to start with the most common words first, the ones most likely to come up in a conversation.             A.        So what is the most common word spoken in English?                         1.         One study in 1992 by Godfrey of switchboard conversations found the word “I” to appear the…

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How do I explain that I’ve changed?

Question: Hi La Vista Church and Mr. Jeff, Hope everyone and yourself are doing well. I just came to know your website while browsing today and I shared it to my social media accounts and messenger groups. I am fasting and what a great blessing to feast upon your articles and answers to different questions…

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King Saul – An “I” Problem

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/King-Saul-An-I-Problem.mp3 by Ross Ward Text: I Samuel 9-15 Looks to himself – at Gilgal I Samuel 13:5-14 – Saul offers sacrifice Samuel delayed Philistines prepared to attack Saul’s soldiers ran scared King Saul’s ‘I’ problem I saw, I said to myself, I have not, I forced myself I Samuel 12:24-25 – Samuel’s instructions for Israel…

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Discount Books

by Ed Harrell Christianity Magazine, Vol. 5, No. 8, August 1988, p.32 During a recent meeting in El Cajon, California, Gary Knight told me that he had found a copy of my book on Oral Roberts in a major local bookstore. I don’t think that I am overly vain, but I can tell you that…

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Great Merchants

by Doy Moyer Revelation 18:21-24 gives three reasons for the fall of Babylon: Merchants were great men, “nobility of the earth.” “Nations were deceived by your sorcery,” (Revelation 18:23), and “In her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all those slaughtered on the earth” (Revelation 18:24). Points 2 and 3 are…

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Is it proper to publish your prayers?

Question: Pleasant good morning, I’d appreciate some guidance, please. I have observed prayers in the comment section under news articles of tragic incidents. When tragedy strikes I could, in the privacy of my home, say a prayer for those involved, and believe that God hears my prayers. However, others are posting their prayers on Facebook pages…

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The Better Way

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/The-Better-Way.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Peter 4:1-6   I.         What is accepted and praised in the world isn’t always what is best for people             A.        Jesus’s sermon on the mount began with startling facts – Matthew 5:3-12                         1.         When you take the opposites of what Jesus states brings true happiness, you find a list of things…

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I Will Give Thanks to You Forever

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/I-Will-Give-Thanks-to-You-Forever.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 30   I.         When nice things happen, we know we ought to be thankful             A.        Yet, in our happiness we too often forget – Luke 17:12-19             B.        However, in one of David’s Psalms, David contemplates other times we might not think of being thankful to God II.        In the depths of despair…

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Rejoicing in an Evil Report

by Matthew W. Bassford The other day, a Facebook friend of mine posted the following quotation from C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity, something she apparently does annually. “Suppose one reads a story of filthy atrocities in the paper. Then suppose that something turns up suggesting that the story might not be quite true, or not quite…

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Our Allegiance

by Doy Moyer Arrogance and haughtiness do not appeal to God’s people. Rather, humility and love do, for this is what characterizes our Lord; this is the way of the cross. We must not applaud the conceit and selfish ambition of those in powerful positions lest we find ourselves bowing to the idols that are…

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The Root of Bitterness

by Matthew W. Bassford Most of us have had an experience, invariably bad, with bitter people. Something has happened to them that they have continued to resent for years or decades, and they often take out their resentment on those who are closest to them. Frequently, we turn to Hebrews 12:15 for a Biblical condemnation…

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I Quit!

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/I-Quit.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Mark 10:35-45   I.         We’ve all seen people frustrated with a task. “I quit!” they yell as they storm off.             A.        Funny thing … Do you remember who it was? Neither does anyone else.             B.        However, there are times I ought to quit.                         1.         I can allow myself to get into a rut.…

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Love Is …

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Love-Is.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Corinthians 13:1-8   I.         Many passages are used for needlepoint samplers. A popular choice is I Corinthians 13:1-8             A.        Have you considered the meaning of the many phrases?             B.        We often associate this passage with weddings, but Paul was writing about what love between brethren is like             C.        However, it can be applied to…

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Not Ashamed to Sin, but Ashamed to Repent

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Not-Ashamed-to-Sin-But-Ashamed-to-Repent.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Daniel 9:4-19   I.         In Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe left home to be a sailor against the wishes of his parents. He soon came to regret his decision, but he would not return home because he did not want to admit that he made a mistake. He…

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Is it a sin to own a luxury handbag?

Question: Hi, I’ve been reading your articles about modesty, and recently I got myself into some heated arguments with a few sisters about owning luxury handbags. Some felt that these are considered as things of the world, and we shouldn’t pursue it, while some felt that owning them will likely invite jealousy. However, the irony…

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The Ignorance of the World Around Me

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IgnoranceOfTheWorldAroundMe.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 14:4-13   I.         I started to drive home the other night and the radio happened to be tuned to the show of a commentator whom I really can’t stand. He has a nasally, whiny voice that gets on my nerves, but the irritation is nothing compared to his views.…

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Lacking Arrogance

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/LackingArrogance-1.mp3 by Jeffrey Hamilton Text: Psalms 131   I.         Psalms 131 is one of 15 psalms which are titled “Song of Ascent.”             A.        It is commonly believe that these were pilgrimage songs, sung while the people journeyed up to Jerusalem for the major feasts.             B.        This particular psalm was written by David and expresses the attitude a worshiper…

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The Poor in Spirit

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/PoorInSpirit-1.mp3 by Jeffrey Hamilton Text: Isaiah 61:1-3   I.         The good news is a message to the afflicted – Isaiah 61:1             A.        This is the passage Jesus chose to read in his hometown – Luke 4:16-21             B.        When John began to doubt Jesus, Jesus again referred to this passage – Luke 7:22-23             C.        Jesus declared that the kingdom, the…

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Is it wrong to refer to an elder as “brother”?

Question: Good day, We have a duty roster which I draw up monthly. One month I listed one of the elders as “brother,” which he was not happy with. Is it really such a violation to call you a brother and not an elder? Answer: Actually, the violation is on the elder’s side. Consider that…

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Are award ceremonies wrong?

Question: Good Evening Brother, I have been thinking about award ceremonies recently, and I’ve been having mixed feelings about them. One part of me is saying that they are good and are used to recognizing good hard-working people who don’t get enough appreciation as they should. But another part of me thinks that award ceremonies…

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I’m such a hypocrite. I fell into sexual immorality

Question: Hello, I really need help as I feel totally hopeless. I gave my life to Christ in college after God saved me from untimely death. I have been so hot for God, going about doing evangelism and, by the grace of God, many people have come to know Christ through me. However, recently I…

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Pride of the World

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/PrideOfTheWorld.mp3 by Andrew Long

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Overconfidence and Doubt

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/OverconfidenceAndDoubt.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 14:22-23   I.          Several correspondence that I have had contained similar questions:              A.         A woman who engaged in acts in the past that she knew were wrong said, “I have asked God for forgiveness and am trying to further my relationship with him, but I don’t feel I deserve to…

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Only an Appearance of Religion

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/OnlyAnAppearanceOfReligion.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Amos 4:1-5 I.         When you look at the religious world, there are many odd ideas about what constitutes a religious person. II.        Exhibitionism as Religion             A.        Some people judge how religious a man is by the religious things that he does in public                         1.         Matthew 6:1-6 – Some people make sure everyone notices…

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Jamaica Patois Wisdom – Arrogance

by Jefferson David Tant The Jamaican Patois dialect is colorful, unique, and humorous. It is my desire to share some of the philosophy shown in this mix of colorful phrases that are witty as well as thought-provoking. I hope the readers both profit and enjoy. In my quarter-century plus of teaching there, I have come…

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