The Joys of Leading a Soul to Christ

by Jeff McCrary via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15 No. 2, February 2015 “One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus” (John…

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Why bother teaching those in denominations?

Question: Brother Jeffrey, I’ve recently thought that when talking to people of different denominations about the truth, we do have a responsibility to a certain extent. However I also believe that in this country, particularly in the southern United States, we may not be held as highly accountable especially to people of the denominations because…

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A Comment Worth Remembering

by David Gibson Something Jeff Hogan said years ago has stuck with me. The sermon that day was on some specific sin. Jeff commented that if we don’t preach on things like that, the members will think it’s OK to do them. He was right! From time to time, we need to be reminded of…

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When a Loved One Is Making a Terrible Mistake

by Heath Rogers What are we to do when a loved one is making a terrible mistake? We often feel helpless as we must stand on the sidelines and watch the approaching disaster unfold before our eyes. Is there anything we can do? Does the Bible offer guidance in such situations? Jesus gives us a…

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Keep It Simple!

by Jarrod M. Jacobs The above statement is the “mantra” of a friend of mine. When it comes to preaching and teaching God’s word, he often tells me, “Keep it simple.” This sentiment was further impressed upon my mind when a sister in Christ told me, “The main problem that high school students have today…

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Picking up Elijah’s Mantle

by Terry Wane Benton Elijah did what he could to keep truth alive in a generation of Israelites that forgot God’s law and were into the latest fads and popular religions of their day. Baal had become the sensation, and God’s order had become boring in the eyes of the Israelites. Elijah seemed like an…

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What Percentage of People Obey the Gospel?

by Ronald D. Gilbert The day of Gospel meetings is not over! Don’t give up, brethren! Your preaching and teaching may be more effective “percentage-wise” than on the day of Pentecost. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41).…

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Talking About the Gospel

by Zeke Flores Have you ever tried to share the gospel with someone? Maybe your family, friends, or co-workers? If you have, you know it can be a little intimidating. If they reject it, it can be downright disappointing. But who knows what will later come from the seed you’ve planted? In his letters to…

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The Prize

by Perry Hall “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. …

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Coercive Christianity

by Doy Moyer Christians desire to see people do what is right. We look at a society that has lost its way and wonder, with echoes of Habakkuk, how long this will continue before God acts in righteous judgment. We want to see people come to Jesus and submit to His will. Yet if we…

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The Growth of the Church in Jerusalem

by Dudley R. Spears via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 16 No. 4, December 31, 1990 No period in the history of the Lord’s church records a greater numerical growth than the first century. There are repeated references to the reason why such phenomenal growth occurred. Men of faith claim the reason was the preaching of the apostles.…

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What Was so Different About His Teaching?

by David Gibson “No one ever spoke like this man!” So said the officers sent by the Pharisees to arrest Jesus, but who came back without Him. After hearing Him teach, they could not bring themselves to take Him into custody. Many people noticed Jesus’ teaching differed because He spoke with authority (Matthew 7:28-29; Mark…

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What Our Church Assemblies Are Designed to Do

by David Gibson When we gather on the Lord’s Day or other occasions, our assemblies have vertical and horizontal dimensions. Vertically, we raise prayers and songs of praise to God. Horizontally, we teach and encourage one another. Let’s focus on the latter. Edifying/Encouraging/Exhorting/Teaching “Let all things be done for building up” (I Corinthians 14:26), which…

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Take Heed

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Take-Heed.mp3 by Jeffey W. Hamilton Text: I Timothy 4:6-16   I.         The books of I and II Timothy and Titus are instruction manuals for preachers             A.        If you think a moment, there isn’t another role in the church that is discussed at such length                         1.         And this is besides the numerous comments regarding preaching that appears in the…

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Lifestyle Evangelism

by Terry Wane Benton A good way to live is by the golden rule. Do unto others as you would have them to do unto you. (Matthew 7:12) Would you want others to treat you as worthless? Don’t treat others as worthless. Would you want to be ignored and never included? Shunned? Of course not!…

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Love of the Truth

by Terry Wane Benton Everyone does not want to hear God’s word. Jesus lets each person determine their destiny and therefore lets each person pick his own interest in truth or error. He did not waste time “casting pearls before swine” (Matt.7:6). When a person reveals that they have no inclination to hear the truth…

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A Challenge

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/A-Challenge.mp3 by Raymond Wafel Download Audio

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The Work of the Lord’s Church

by Terry Wane Benton It was not to eradicate poverty. The church had no silver and gold for the beggar in Acts 3, yet it was taking care of its own members in Acts 2. Their mission was to get to the heart of man’s problem, and that is sin. You heard that right. Sin…

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Evangelism, Converts, and Bearing Fruit

by Andy Sochor “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, that they are white for harvest. Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who…

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Be Not Dismayed

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Be-Not-Dismayed.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton   I.         Jeremiah came in the worse days of Judah’s history             A.        Corruption was everywhere – Jeremiah 6:13-15             B.        Jeremiah was told from his youth to preach the truth – Jeremiah 1:4-8             C.        But that didn’t make it easy. Jeremiah was opposed most of his life                         1.         After a prophecy in the Temple…

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Feed My Sheep

by Terry Wane Benton Photo by Tanner Yould on Unsplash If you love Jesus, you must tend His sheep (John 21:15-17). This is what Jesus told Peter. You cannot love Jesus without caring for Jesus’ church, who are His sheep. Jesus is inseparable from His church. You cannot have one without the other. You cannot…

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Expanding the Family

by David Gibson I knew a wonderful family in Pennsylvania who lived in a big house on Flagstaff Mountain—a great place for kids. This Christian home opened its doors to those with special needs, and several of the children were adopted. For centuries, God’s family consisted of His covenant people, the descendants of Jacob. Tragically, many…

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Disciple People

by Ross Ward, Jr. “Therefore, as you go, disciple people in all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. And remember, I am with you each and every day until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20…

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Mercy to Enemies

by Zeke Flores “Ah, sword of Yahweh, how long will you not be quiet? Withdraw into your sheath; be at rest and stay still. How can it be quiet? Yahweh has given it a command; against Ashkelon and against the seacoast — there He has assigned it” (Jeremiah 47:6-7 LSB). While God’s judgment is certain…

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Passed Values

by Zeke Flores Families with strong value systems tend to pass those values on to succeeding generations. So do families with poor value systems. It’s not the only reason, but it’s one reason why you see some families stuck in poor cycles (poverty, alcoholism, etc) and others navigating life more successfully. If you want to…

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Why Churches Die

by Mike Riley The following are this writer’s observations over forty years as to why churches die. I’m certain that we can all relate to at least one of the categories listed below: Churches Die at the Tables of Compromise When the church fights worldly influences such as sin and false doctrine — asking no…

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Enthusiasm for Evangelism

by Bubba Garner Southside Church of Christ, 2008 I am a huge Star Wars fan. I still have all the action figures, spaceships, and accessories I got while growing up. Sometimes, I bring them down from the attic and let my kids play with them. Under close supervision, that is. But I enjoy watching other…

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Seeking a Church

by Jefferson David Tant So, you are moving to a new town, and you have various decisions to make. Where is a nice neighborhood? Are there any houses there that I can afford? Where is the nearest shopping center? How close to my job do I want to live? Is the traffic bad on the…

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The Purpose of the Church

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/The-Purpose-of-the-Church.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Timothy 3:14-16   I.         Have you paused to consider why the church exists?             A.        It appears to me that many of the problems faced by congregations stem from a lack of understanding the purpose of the church             B.        I looked at material from various denominations.                         1.         One, after getting a…

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Thank you for the insight your website brings

Question: Hi Jeff, I have been teaching a course on the prison epistles in a Bible college to student preachers and leaders. I am emphasizing the need for the church of Christ to focus on its core purpose, which is the proclamation of the manifold wisdom of God to the powers and authorities in the…

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How do I deal with a person with strange beliefs?

Question: I had a conversation with a person of interesting beliefs. Their beliefs were: The Holy Spirit gave us the name “God” to comprehend him. Aliens and other life forms have different religions, like having a different Christ, as we have. The Holy Spirit didn’t mean everything literally, like in Genesis. I go with whatever…

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Is talking to people about the gospel once a week enough?

Question: I have a question about sharing the Gospel Truth. Is it okay to make attempts to share the Gospel every Saturday, or am I to make attempts to share the Gospel daily? I did try to share the Gospel daily with strangers, but then I felt as though I wasn’t doing enough because I…

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Two Sincere Men Want to Evangelize

by Gardner Hall Biblical Insights 14(9) September 2014 The First Man The first emphasizes “the true church,” and when evangelizing, he begins his conversations with others by asking, “How many churches did Jesus build?” Later, he quotes Matthew 16:18 to show that Jesus built only one. It wasn’t the Baptist Church, the Methodist Church, the Mormon Church,…

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Evangelism Is Fundamental

by Ken Weliever via The Preacher’s Word In the comic strip “Peanuts,” Lucy tells her brother, Linus, that she has “converted” a school classmate to her way of thinking religiously. Linus is surprised, especially knowing how Lucy operates! “How did you do it?” Linus asked. “I told him everything I believe and asked him if…

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A Pebble in the Shoe

by Wilson Adams When Mormons knock at your door… 70,000 Mormon missionaries, with shirts, ties, and name tags, go door-to-door seeking converts to the Mormon Church. Reality: you aren’t going to convert them on their “mission.” There are too many checks and balances. Think of it like walking into a Ford dealer and trying to…

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God’s People in an Ungodly World

Text: Matthew 7 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Gods-People-in-an-Ungodly-World.mp3 by Don Bunting One (or Two) Chapter Lessons

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Perilous Times in the Last Days

Text: II Timothy 3 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Perilous-Times-in-the-Last-Days.mp3 by Don Bunting One (or Two) Chapter Lessons

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How do I teach my family?

Question: Good day, Minister, I have been subscribed to La Vista Church of Christ emails for a while now, and I’ve really benefitted from it. But now I have a problem of my own. I’m the youngest child of several siblings, and my siblings are all boys. I turned 18 recently, but I became a…

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Jesus, the Master Teacher

by Doy Moyer Teaching is hard work. Trying to determine the best approach to teaching a variety of people from diverse backgrounds brings many challenges. What appeals to one group might not appeal to another. Some will hear what others will not, and Scripture anticipates this (e.g., Isaiah 6:9-10). Add to this the ample warnings…

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Four Challenges of Evangelism

by Andy Cantrell There are countless reasons why Christians struggle with evangelism, but I believe the following four categories cover most, if not all, of those reasons. They are Care, Consciousness, Courage, and Craft. Most of the excuses we are willing to vocalize come from the last three areas. We are willing to admit we…

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