The Shield

by Terry W. Benton In all the armor of God, there is a piece of protection called “the shield of faith” with which “you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:15). That is a powerful thing to have and use. Another way of saying that is, “nothing Satan tries to…

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They Weigh Too Much for Me

by Jefferson David Tant Have you ever heard of Samuel Plimsoll? He was a member of the British Parliament back in the 1860s and 1870s. During this time there were some serious problems in the shipping industry. Numerous ships carrying loads of cargo were sinking in the ocean when they encountered severe storms. Plimsoll took…

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The Way

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/The-Way-1.mp3 Text: Isaiah 35   I.         At times I will be studying and a verse sticks in my mind.             A.        In Isaiah 35 is a prophecy. It is obviously talking about the time when Jesus walked on this earth – Isaiah 35:4-6             B.        What struck me was the description of a highway – Isaiah 35:8-9                         1.         Such an interesting…

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Christ, Our Shepherd

Text: John 10 We live in a fearful time. Most other people in most other times would think it strange that Americans today are as afraid as they are. After all, we live in the heart of the territory controlled by the greatest military power of all time. There has not been a war here…

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Metaphors for God

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Metaphors-for-God.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 18:1-19   I.         Figures of speech have long been used in communicating ideas.             A.        Prior to the modern usage of font styles, the content of the text itself called the reader’s attention to what was important.             B.        Figures of speech grabs your attention because they depart from the usual rules of…

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In the Midst of Evil

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/In-The-Midst-Of-Evil.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Peter 1:3-9   I.         Abraham was told that his descendants would be strangers and slaves in a land before being brought back out 400 years later – Genesis 15:13             A.        That nation, Egypt, was one of the more wicked places on earth, totally given over to idolatry                         1.         It became one…

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Never Alone

by Barbara Foster In 1993 I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Over the course of a year, I became increasingly disabled. Through it all, I was never alone. When I was temporarily blind, Christ led me through the darkness. When I was unable to walk, God took away the fear. When my world was turned…

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I Have Put My Trust in God

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/I-Have-Put-My-Trust-in-God.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 56 I.         It is far too easy to read the stories in the Bible and not think about the feelings of the people involved.             A.        Joshua was chosen to follow Moses as leader of Israel, but he must have been very nervous – Joshua 1:2,9             B.        We think of the boldness…

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Does Isaiah 54:17 apply to us today?

Question: Does Isaiah 54:17 apply to us today? I hear people use it a lot. Thanks. Answer: “‘In righteousness you will be established; you will be far from oppression, for you will not fear; and from terror, for it will not come near you. If anyone fiercely assails you it will not be from Me.…

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Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand

by Jefferson David Tant In many of our songbooks, there is a song by the title of this article, and the words were written by Jennie Wilson. The song’s first stanza says, Time is filled with swift transition Naught of earth unmoved can stand Build your hopes on things eternal, Hold to God’s unchanging hand.…

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Does wearing a mask mean you don’t trust God?

Question: I am in a battle with some of my family members regarding following the CDC guidelines concerning COVID 19 (they are reckless). With the numbers going up where I live, I have chosen to follow the guidelines regarding wearing a mask in public and social distancing, and not socializing between households. My family members…

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In the Almighty’s Shadow

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/In-the-Almightys-Shadow.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 91   I.         Where do you go when things get difficult?             A.        It isn’t that a Christian’s life is free from troubles                         1.         Jesus warned of persecution – Matthew 5:10-12                         2.         There will be division in families – Matthew 10:34-36                         3.         There will be trials to bear up under – James 1:2-4 II.        Safety…

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God, Our Stronghold

by Matthew W. Bassford Never in my lifetime have I seen an event have as significant effect on daily life as the coronavirus epidemic. I remember the fall of the Berlin Wall and 9-11, but in both cases, it was business as usual almost everywhere. Not so with the coronavirus! Indeed, it even has affected…

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Children of Light in the Armor of God

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2019Fall6Children-of-Light-in-the-Armor-of-God.mp3 by Andy Cantrell Finding Our Purpose from the Past

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Do we experience God in a present way or only in the past tense?

Question: Good day, Is the church not to experience God in a “present way,” or does it only need to be in a past tense manner through the Bible? Thanks. Answer: I had difficulty with your question because it was worded vaguely. The meaning changes depending on how you define the terms. God is ever…

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Doesn’t Psalms 91 promise protection from harm?

Question: Hi, Thank you for this opportunity to send in questions. I read through another question on your site, one about why God allows suffering, innocent children to die, etc. Your response was enlightening. Thank you. I would like to find out if you know why God actually allows the suffering (let’s say a child being…

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God’s Care

by Dennis Stackhouse How often have we wondered if God really cares for us, even those of us who are Christians?  We may be in situations where we think that God has forgotten us, or even worse, that He has abandoned us.  Countless Christians, through the years, have wondered this very thing.  That being the…

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State Court Recognizes Unborn Children as People

Source: John-Henry Westen, “Alabama Supreme Court: ‘unborn children are persons with rights that should be protected by law’,” Life Site News, 11 January 2013. “The ruling states, “The decision of this Court today is in keeping with the widespread legal recognition that unborn children are persons with rights that should be protected by law.” “Today,” the…

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Your sermon was a blessing to me and my church

Question: Thank you so much for the sermon “The Lord is My Help and My Deliverer” on your church’s website. I am so blessed spiritually when I read this teaching. When I shared this teaching in our church many people were blessed and touched by this teaching. I really feel the presence of God when…

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The Lord is My Help and My Deliverer

Text: Psalm 40   I.         Evil exists in this world, and God is concerned about our welfare – Psalm 121             A.        With God on our side we have no fear of man – Hebrews 13:5-6             B.        Yet many wonder why troubles beset us when the Almighty has promised us protection. II.        We often don’t recognize God’s protection             A.        Perhaps a…

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Why doesn’t God prevent innocent children from being harmed?

Question: A man was baby sitting the seventeen month old son of his girlfriend when he struck and killed the infant for acting like a girl. The man is charged with first-degree manslaughter after he allegedly hit the boy “several times throughout his body with closed fists.” Apparently, he then grabbed the infant by the…

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The Armor of God

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ArmorOfGod.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 6:10-18 Rome was the mighty governing power in the days the New Testament was written. Its strength was in its military, which constantly was on guard Josephus, a Jewish historian, observed that Roman soldiers always carried their weapons with them, even in times of peace. “Every soldier is…

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Notes on Protection

God’s Protection for His People Exodus 22:22-24 – Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan.  If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless. Deuteronomy…

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How did David and Jonathan show their love for each other?

Question: How did David and Jonathan show their concern (love) for one another? Can we act like them too? Answer: “The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (I Samuel 18:1). They made a covenant with each other “Then Jonathan and David made a…

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Where was God’s protection for those caught in the September 11th tragedy?

Question: I recently read a piece lauding the blessings of the people who were supposed to be at the World Trade Center the morning of September 11, 2002, but in small ways, they were detained by the mishaps of life, faulty alarms, children dallying, traffic, etc. These people were saying how good and protective God…

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Hezekiah’s Comforting Words

by Lewis Willis via Truth Magazine Vol. XLIV: 6 p. 14, March 16, 2000 Bible students are aware of that time when the nation of Israel divided into the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Samaria was the capital of Israel, and Jerusalem was the capital of Judah. Israel was very wicked, living defiantly against God. The Assyrian…

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