Posts Tagged ‘steadfastness’
David, “Old and Full of Years”
by Tol Burk We are introduced to David as a young man, too young to fight Goliath (according to man’s standards). But it doesn’t end there—David is one of the very few that we see from youth to old age. Age changed things in his life, but his faith in God never changed. We know…
Read MoreO Lord, How Long?
by Doy Moyer “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). The world makes us weary as we constantly battle, attempting to coerce us to bow to its cultural idols. With a cultish mentality, the world takes on a…
Read MoreDon’t Quit. Do It
by Zeke Flores We love our friends and family, so we want to keep them from harm. When we know a certain course will lead to hurt or injury, we do what we can to persuade them otherwise. That’s what Paul’s friends tried to do in Acts 21. A prophet warned that going to Jerusalem…
Read MoreHow to Avoid a Spiritual Failure
by Paul Earnhart In his final hours in Rome, awaiting an inevitable execution, a very lonely apostle Paul suffered some additional heartbreak. “Demas,” he wrote, “hath forsaken me, having loved this present world” (II Timothy 4:10). We are left to speculate as to the particulars — what dread fears or powerful allurements led this faithful…
Read MoreQuitters Are Needed
by Ed Smith via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 17 No. 2, 30 June 1991 The only thing I hate more than seeing somebody quit a worthwhile endeavor is quitting it myself. As a youngster, I recall always trying to persuade people not to quit activities that I found enjoyable, such as athletics, drama, music, and scouting, to…
Read MoreUncharted Territory
by Zeke Flores Christianity, for most, is a venture into uncharted territory. It’s easier to shrink back into familiar practices than it is to change mindsets and behaviors. So, far too many people do just that; instead of delving into the unknown, which promises to make them better, they cling to the comfort of the…
Read MoreNarrow-Minded Beliefs
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Narrow-Minded-Beliefs.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Micah 6:1-8 I. At times when I study with someone, I’m told that taking a firm stance on certain matters is legalism. People believe that religion is supposed to be about accepting other people, no matter what they believe (well, within reason). A. When you insist that only one way…
Read MoreA Life Full of Thursdays
by Chadwick Brewer “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James…
Read MoreA Firm and Steady Heart
by Jason Hardin via “A Firm and Steady Heart,” In God’s Image, 14 July 2024 “Praise the LORD! How blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house,…
Read MoreHebrews: Encouragement to Remain Faithful
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Hebrews-Encouragement-to-Remain-Faithful.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 10:19-25 I. The book of Hebrews interleaves evidence of the superiority of Christ, His covenant, and His church with encouragement to the brethren to remain faithful. A. After giving evidence that Jesus is God’s son, the writer said – Hebrews 2:1-4 B. Jesus was a faithful son and so must…
Read MoreBeginning to Sink
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Beginning-to-Sink.mp3 by Joe Greer Lessons to Build Your Faith
Read MoreOur Persistence
Our Persistence – Part 1Our Persistence – Part 2 by Garry Floyd
Read MoreHold to God’s Unchanging Hand
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Hold-to-Gods-Unchanging-Hand.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ecclesiastes 1:3-11 I. The world seems to be constantly changing. A. The one constant seems to be the turmoil B. The change is rarely beneficial C. Early in the last century a blind poetess, Jennie Wilson, wrote a reminder to us that the world changes but God does not II. Men are unreliable…
Read MoreA Trustworthy Statement
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/A-Trustworthy-Statement.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton II Timothy 2:8-13 I. If we died with him A. Related to Romans 6:3-7 1. In baptism we share in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus 2. Death leads to life a. New (different) life here on earth – Romans 6:4 b. A life after physical death – Romans 6:5 c. The latter is what…
Read MoreFruitful Christians
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Fruitful-Christians.mp3 by Jeffery W. Hamilton Text John 15:1-8 I. We know that Jesus’ words in John 15 concerning the vine and branches are dealing with individual Christians and not denominations. A. Jesus is the vine, each one of us are branches off that vine, and God is the vinedresser. B. But don’t get so caught up in…
Read MoreThere Will Be Difficult Times
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/There-Will-Be-Difficult-Times.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MorePersecution (Carter)
Jeff Carter Sentry Magazine, September 2001 In the United States, the church has enjoyed a peaceful existence. Our Federal and State governments allow us to worship freely. However, God does not promise us a carefree, painless life. Very early in his preaching, Jesus promises “Blessed ore those who have been persecuted for the sake of…
Read MoreIn the Hour of Trial
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/In-the-Hour-of-Trial.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 22:54-62 I. Without a doubt, Peter loved Jesus A. When others sat in the boat in fear, it was Peter who wanted to go out to meet Jesus – Matthew 14:28-31 B. When Jesus spoke of his abandonment on the Mount of Olives – Matthew 26:31-32 1. Specifically Jesus told Peter…
Read MoreThe Difference Between a Man and a Dog
by Jeffery Kingry Sentry Magazine, June 2000 Mark Twain once quipped, “If you find a shivering, starving dog, take him home to your hearth and make him prosperous, he will not bite you if you attempt to pick him up. This is the main difference between a man and a dog. ” Photo by Jordan Koons…
Read MoreMabel’s Story
by Tom Schmidt (abridged) The state-run convalescent home is not a pleasant place. It is large, understaffed, and overfilled with senile, helpless, and lonely people who are waiting to die. On the brightest days, it seems dark inside and smells of sickness and stale urine. I went there once or twice a week for four…
Read MoreRules for Prosperity and Success
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Rules-for-Prosperity-and-Success.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Joshua 1:1-9 I. Moses had died and Joshua now finds himself the leader of a nation about to conquer a land to claim as their own. A. God appears to Joshua and offers words of encouragement – Joshua 1:7-9 B. The advise was excellent for Joshua, but it is also useful…
Read MoreBut if not …
by Jefferson David Tant In late May of 1940, during World War II, the German army had overrun the tiny European nation of Belgium. As Hitler’s tanks and troops marched across Belgium, they pushed the defenders–British, French, and Belgian troops–toward the sea. Finally, the Allied forces of Great Britain, France, and Belgium were cornered at…
Read MoreSeeking the Things Above
Seeking the Things Above (Part 1)Seeking the Things Above (Part 2) by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Colossians 3:1-4 I. So often we focus on winning souls for Christ that we lose sight that conversion is not the goal but the first step in a life long process of change – Colossians 2:6-7 A. To stay with…
Read MoreI’m All Petered Out
by Jefferson David Tant The sun was sinking, and the day’s work was done. The farmer shut off his tractor, walked to the house, and into the kitchen where his wife had his coffee waiting for him. As he sat, he wiped the sweat off his brow and said, “I’m all petered out.” Niels Frederik…
Read MoreDon’t Go Into Egypt
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Do-Not-Go-into-Egypt.mp3 Text: Jeremiah 42:1-6 I. Imagine living during the last days of Judah A. Josiah was a wonderful king – II Kings 23:25 B. But he was killed by the king of Egypt – II Kings 23:28-29 C. But Jehoahaz, the king who succeeded him, only lasted three months – II Kings 23:31-33 D. His brother replaces him as…
Read MoreIgnoring Shemaiah
by Matthew W. Bassford Of all the leaders in the Bible, Nehemiah is one of my favorites. He confronts a wide variety of problems, but through them all, he remains steadfast in his purpose, trusts God, and eventually achieves success. One of Nehemiah’s most revealing actions, though, is something that he does not do. Nehemiah…
Read MorePressing On
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2015Fall8PressingOn.mp3 by Brace Rutledge 2015 Fall Meeting
Read MoreKeeping Your Heart
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/KeepingYourHeart.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreCould you explain Hebrews 10:26-28?
Question: Could you explain Hebrews 10:26-28? Answer: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another,…
Read MoreHow can a young man stay focused?
Question: I am interested in getting your thoughts on being focused on the goal. It is hard when you see so much of the things you want in life, that at times you feel as though that it is not meant for you. My situation appears to be going nowhere. I feel that the more…
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