A 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…

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A 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,…

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Hebrews: 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…

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Beginning to Sink

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Beginning-to-Sink.mp3 by Joe Greer Lessons to Build Your Faith

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Hold 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…

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A 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…

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Fruitful 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…

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Persecution

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…

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In 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…

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The 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…

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Mabel’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…

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Rules 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…

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But 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…

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Seeking 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…

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I’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…

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Don’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…

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Ignoring 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…

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Pressing On

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2015Fall8PressingOn.mp3 by Brace Rutledge 2015 Fall Meeting

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Keeping Your Heart

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/KeepingYourHeart.mp3 by Raymond Warfel

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Could 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,…

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How 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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