How can trials be counted as joy?

Question: I struggle with the idea of being joyful during trials. I know James said, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4),…

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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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Lessons from Illness

by Jefferson David Tant Some years ago, while recuperating from two emergency room admissions and two subsequent surgeries, there was been plenty of time to think and reflect on some lessons that such experiences can teach us. Lesson #1 – Life Is Uncertain We all have plans for great things we are going to do…

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Christians Regardless

by Doy Moyer Christians ought to see themselves as living out the story of Jesus. Since He suffered, we should be willing to suffer. As He gave Himself for others, we ought to be willing to give ourselves for others. As He submitted, so ought we to submit. As He loved, so should we love.…

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Understanding Your Purpose

by Doy Moyer “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” (I Peter 2:21). We have been called to a purpose, but unless we understand Christ’s purpose, we will not understand our purpose. When Jesus asked the disciples…

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The Meaning of Life: Why Are You Here?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/The-Meaning-of-Life-Why-Are-You-Here.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Timothy 6:6-21   I.         What is it that you are looking for out of life? What are you expecting?             A.        So many people never find contentment with their lives because they are expecting things that life cannot deliver.             B.        They decide they can’t be happy with life unless something changes                         1.         I’m…

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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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Lord, Do You Not Care?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Lord-Do-You-Not-Care.mp3 by Wilson Adams Faith Over Fear

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Rolling with the Punches

by Doy Moyer One thing about Christians in Scripture (ideally speaking) — they learned to roll with the punches no matter what was going on. If the government opposed them, they went with it and continued to glorify God. If things were going smoothly, they enjoyed the peace and they kept glorifying God. If they…

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When Hard Times Come

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/When-Hard-Times-Come.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 1:12-14   I.         Life often goes in different in directions from what we expect.             A.        It had long been Paul’s desire to go to Rome to preach the Gospel – Acts 19:21             B.        It seemed though that something always came up which kept him from reaching his goal – Romans 1:13…

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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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A Worker for the Lord

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/A-Worker-for-the-Lord.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 10:16-25   I.         God has not promised His children a life of ease.             A.        Christ warned his disciples that if men are willing to call him “Beelzebub” then we shouldn’t be surprised when they turn against us.             B.        Christianity is not easy because of the rejection we must face. It is…

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Fighting Sinking when We Are Hit by Sorrow upon Sorrow

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Fighting-Sinking-when-We-Are-Hit-by-Sorrow-upon-Sorrow.mp3 by Wayne Fancher Philippians 2:27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Being Hit By Sorrow Matthew 14:10-12 So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. 11 And his head…

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The Church Is Still the Church

by Doy Moyer “Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory” (Psalms 63:2). David wrote that while on the run in the wilderness. While the temple had not been built, David would have thought of the tabernacle and perhaps imagined what a future temple would look like. Thinking…

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A Present Distress

by Doy Moyer “I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is” (I Corinthians 7:26). Christians faced struggles and persecutions peculiar to their profession as Christians. Paul was dealing with a situation in which there was a “present distress.” We don’t know exactly what…

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Survival

March 15-20, 2020 presented by Wayne Fancher of Searcy, Arkansas Click on the lesson titles to listen to each message. Little by Little Lessons from the Prodigal Son God Who Makes the Broken Beautiful Spiritual Collateral Damage and Blessings Soldiers of Christ Arise and Put Your Armor On How to Grow as a Local Congregation…

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From Bad to Good

by Mike Johnson Text: Philippians 1:12-14 Paul Arrives in Rome in Chains Acts 28:15-16 Paul wrote the book of Philippians while in prison. His trial had probably already taken place, and he seemed to be waiting for the verdict. It appears he expected to be released but was uncertain about it. Paul, no doubt, did…

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Abigail’s Shadow

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2019Fall5Abigails-Shadow.mp3 by Andy Cantrell Finding Our Purpose from the Past

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David, Peter, and Me

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2019Fall4David-Peter-and-Me.mp3 by Andy Cantrell Finding Our Purpose from the Past

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Born Again by the Word of God

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Born-Again-By-The-Word-of-God.mp3 by Andy Cantrell Finding Our Purpose from the Past

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Where Is God When Mass Murder Strikes?

by David Dann The psalmist poses the following question: “Why do You stand afar off, O LORD? Why do You hide in times of trouble?” (Psalms 10:1). As he describes the wicked man in the same passage, the inspired writer goes on to say, “He sits in the lurking places of the villages; in the…

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Why Do Bad Things Happen?

by T. Sean Sullivan How often is your life visited with a bad day or bad news? How often do we suffer in this world? One specific area that I know visits every family at one time or another is sickness. Yes, ailments come and sometimes they bring an end to a loved one’s life.…

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How do I help my son, whose wife is dying of MND?

Question: Dear Sir, I am a member of the church of Christ.  My son’s wife is dying of a motor neuron disease (MND). They still do their Bible studies and go to church as often as possible. What can I say or do to help him through all this? He says he just hopes that…

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Psalms 22

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Psalms22.mp3 Text: Psalms 22   I.         Life can get very difficult at times and we can easily get overwhelmed by the struggle. What do we do? II.        Why doesn’t God do something? – Psalms 22:1-5             A.        We not only want a solution, we also have a time in mind that we want it solved by.             B.        It might appear…

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A Song of Faith

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/SongOfFaith.mp3 Text: Psalm 23   I.         The most famous psalm is a song about faith.             A.        It weaves in a few brief words the clear message of a special relationship between man and God             B.        It speaks of trust and security in good times and bad. II.        Faith in Times of Quiet – Psalm 23:1-3             A.        The Lord is my…

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Fear or Faithfulness?

by Matthew W. Bassford From an earthly perspective, many of the prophets of the Old Testament got a raw deal. On this list, we certainly must include Jeremiah. He was forbidden to marry and have a family, he couldn’t attend parties or funerals, and he prophesied in a time that was utterly hostile to his…

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Take Up Your Cross

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/TakeUpYourCross.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 14:25-32   I.         Many people see religion as something done out of convenience.             A.        They attend when there isn’t something important going on             B.        They select a church to attend because it is close, or because of the events going on, or if there are kids for my kid to play…

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God Wants Me to Be Happy

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/GodWantsMeToBeHappy.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 128   I.         The same plot repeats through the stories of people’s lives             A.        A woman finds a man who pays more attention to her than her husband, so she divorces her husband to marry this other man because “God wants me to be happy.”             B.        Andy Diestelkamp tells this story:…

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Is there any difference between trials, temptations, and persecution?

Question: Hi Jeff, Is there any difference between trials, temptations, and persecution? Thanks. Answer: In English, a trial is any difficult situation, including temptations and persecution. Temptation is when you desire something but realize that to get what you want, you would have to break a law of God. Persecution is when others make life…

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Do we feel guilty because God is disciplining us?

Question: How do we know if God is disciplining us? When we feel guilty after sinning, is that discipline? The Bible says that God disciplines those He loves. I sometimes wonder if God disciplines me, and I find it comforting to imagine that He does because it reminds me He loves me. Answer: “You have…

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James on Trials

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/JamesOnTrials.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: James 1:1-27   I.         The book of James is written to Jewish Christians who were scattered by persecution – Acts 8:1-4             A.        This is one indication that James is one of the first books written             B.        It is that persecution that sets up the theme for the first part of the book…

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Be Not Dismayed

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/BeNotDismayed.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 1:21-2:2   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…

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Would God give us more than we can handle?

Question: Hello, I have heard the saying, “God does not give us more than we can handle” being used quite a lot. Is this biblically correct? I am a Christian and I feel like I am being crushed. I am a teenager, but I cannot enjoy my youth. I have stomach issues, so there are…

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I recently learned I have ALS

Question: I have recently been diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gerig Disease, I think it’s called in the US). I am a strong, committed, and faithful believer in God; however, I am not immune to fear of the unknown. I know I only have a very short time left on earth, and will soon be joining…

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Test Me Now in This

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/TestMeNowInThis.mp3 by Alan Feaster

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Strategies for Dealing with Problems

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/StrategiesForDealingWithProblems.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Mark 14:3-9   I.         The world is filled with problems. Some caused by others. Many that I cause myself.             A.        How do you deal with them? II.        Ignore them             A.        It is so tempting to pretend that the problems aren’t really there.             B.        Don’t forsake your friends – Proverbs 27:10             C.        Example from the Good…

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Faith Illustrated

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/FaithIllustrated.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton   I.         The great stories of the Bible never grow old             A.        We tend to idealize the characters and forget that these are ordinary people, like you and I             B.        People whose faith was tested and many triumphed over sin             C.        After discussing many people who illustrated faith, the writer of Hebrews to stand…

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One of Those Days

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/OneOfThoseDays.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 14:1-36 I.         It is easy to get a distorted view of time while reading the Bible             A.        We see the highlights over a 4,000+ year period of time and come away thinking that miracles and exciting events happened constantly             B.        But sometime we read the events in the Gospels and don’t…

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