Gathering Together

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2005/06/GatheringTogether.mp3 I.         When we talk of worshiping God, one aspect of that worship is our gathering together             A.        Psalm 122:1                         1.         Is this your attitude, or do you feel dragged here?                         2.         To worship God requires assembling with fellow Christians             B.        Hebrews 10:19-27                         1.         The writer of Hebrews discusses the conversion of a man                         2.         Jesus consecrated a new and living way…

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Questions About Bible Classes

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/QuestionsAboutBibleClass.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Titus 2:1-8   I.         It is apparent to me that Christians as a whole do not understand the purpose of Bible classes.             A.        It is not just locally because I have receive similar questions from Christians in other areas.             B.        I think it would be beneficial for all of us to examine…

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Clapping in Worship

by Gardner Hall Is it wrong? If so, why? The last few years have seen the introduction of handclapping in congregations of the Lord, including a few that have opposed institutionalism. Though motives are often praiseworthy, serious questions are raised by the practice. Is it presumptuous? Is it practiced because God wants it? Or rather,…

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The Worship of God

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WorshipOfGod.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Revelation 5:11-14   I.         Why are you here?             A.        Because it is what you do on Sundays? Because your parents make you come?             B.        I hope most of us will say we are here to worship. After all, we call this the worship service.             C.        Yet, most of us have only vague notions…

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Restoring God’s Religion

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/RestoringGodsReligion.mp3 Text: II Kings 18:1-6   I.         Without a doubt our society has slipped in its desire to follow God             A.        Sin and the acceptance of sinful practice has become prevalent. We have convinced ourselves as a society to be proud of our tolerance of sin.             B.        Churches are losing members.                         1.         In their panic, they look for ways…

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Pharaoh’s Compromises

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/PharaohsCompromises.mp3 Text: II Corinthians 6:14-7:1   I.         Most of here, even the little children, can tell the story of Moses and the ten plagues.             A.        It is exciting to read about the wonders God wrought against the Egyptians             B.        And even more amazing to see how stubborn a man, Pharaoh, can be despite the overwhelming evidence arrayed against…

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What is Worship?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WhatIsWorship.mp3 Text: John 4:19-24   I.         I was asked recently to address a question of what constitutes worship             A.        Defining terms, such as worship, is interesting because there is a tendency in the religious world towards vagueness.                         1.         Pentecostal beliefs emphasize the emotional experience (the spirit). Worship is not real unless you can feel it and, on the…

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Should my friend leave her husband so she can worship the Christ?

Question: Dear Brother, Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ. This question is regarding my colleague. She was born in a Hindu family but accepted Jesus in her youth. Her parents did not allow her to marry a Christian, so she married a Hindu, concealing the fact that she was a Christian. Her husband did…

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What is the difference between praise and worship?

Question: I need a lesson from you about the difference between praise and worship. What is it that we mean when we say “let’s praise the Lord” and when we say “let’s worship the Lord”? Please help me in that area. Answer: Praise “And she conceived again and bore a son and said, “This time…

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Was the collection in I Corinthians 16:1-2 really worship?

Question: The church I attend teaches that the collection in I Corinthians 16:1-2 is not part of the worship service. They say Paul commanded that to help the church in Jerusalem, not to worship by giving. What is your comment about that? Answer: The same giving is discussed in II Corinthians 8 and 9, where…

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Were only Levites allowed to use instruments in worship?

Question: Dear sir, Please help me resolve a question regarding the use of instrumental music in worship by Christians. Although it is not prohibited specifically, the fact that God specified singing ought to warrant its prohibition through the principle of “silence of the Scriptures” as indicated by Hebrews 7:14. The problem is that, under the…

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What do you do if you can’t worship with faithful brethren?

Question: I’ve read everything I could find on your page concerning worship alone. I know already that communion and singing are out of the question. So where does that leave someone who is in prison for life or far away from anyone or group that teaches and holds to sound doctrine? I’m sure you could…

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Can’t I just worship with different congregations each Sunday?

Question: Good evening Minister, I have been a member of the Lord’s church for over five years. I’ve been a faithful member; however, I had some concerns about some things that were going on in worship. I left my home-based church where I felt like I was ostracized because I’m a single woman. I began…

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Why did the Israelites add an extra week to the Feast of Unleavened Bread?

Question: Hello, I’m from a church of Christ. I, of course, believe in worshiping after the pattern in the New Testament. How would you harmonize II Chronicles 30:23 with this? This text appears to show the Israelites adding seven additional days to the Feast of Unleavened Bread with God accepting it. There is no apparent…

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What Is Idolatry?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/WhatIsIdolatry.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Isaiah 44:9-20   I.         I got into a discussion with a teenager about what exactly is idolatry             A.        He had the impression that anything you really liked was an idol, whether it was sports, cars, or girls             B.        “What is an idol? Well, it is the thing. It is the thing loved…

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Why Do We Church?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/WhyDoWeChurch.mp3 by Garry Floyd

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Is Everything We Do Worship?

by Harold Hancock A Christian should try to please God in everything he does, but everything a Christian does is not worship. For instance, a Christian may travel, work, rest, and sleep with God’s approval, but he is not worshipping God when he does these things In the New Testament, the Greek word Proskuneo is…

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Is it a sin to not offer an invitation at the end of a sermon?

Question: I understand there is a sin of omission, James 4:17. I attend a congregation where the preacher never preaches the gospel, hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized for the remission of sins. He preaches the truth and is very scriptural in all of his lessons; however, he very rarely, if ever, extends an…

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Why Worship?

by Matthew W. Bassford via His Excellent Word There has literally never been a time in my life when I wasn’t regularly attending worship services with the Lord’s people.  Even when I was a little kid, even when my parents were members of a little congregation in New Jersey that was lucky if it broke 20…

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Should someone who says he is gay lead singing in a congregation?

Question: Yesterday my husband was disheartened to hear that one of our song leaders at our church of Christ is a confessed gay man who came out on social media and declared he has tried all kinds of treatment but just can’t feel differently.  We both wish the best for all people in seeking their…

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How do you deal with a woman who brings her dog to worship?

Question: We have a lady who has been attending worship with us for over a month. She has since placed her membership with our congregation. This morning when she entered the building she had a little Chihuahua dog in her arms. She stated that it was her service dog and he did not have any…

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How should prayers be offered in worship?

Question: Where I need help is with prayers. Is it scriptural to pray saying “In Jesus’ name” several times in between the prayer before concluding? Does it not count as vain repetitions? Is it scriptural to raise prayer points while everyone prays until the person leading will ask everyone to round up and stop eventually?…

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Can a non-Christian lead the congregation?

Question: I’m in charge of scheduling the worship leaders for a small church of Christ. Recently I was approached by an unsaved regular attendee, who wished to participate in leading our body in different aspects of our Sunday morning worship service — prayer, reading, communion, etc.  I approached our elders for guidance, as it just…

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Can non-Christians worship God?

Question: Should a Christian invite his neighbor (who is not a Christan) to “come and worship with us”? I believe I can and should invite him to come and attend with us, but a person who is not a Christian can not worship God as the Bible commands. A person must first obey the Gospel…

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Praise the Lord!

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/PraiseTheLord.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 113   I.         What, exactly, is meant when someone says, “Praise the Lord!”?             A.        Do you go around saying “Praise the Lord!” once in a while?             B.        When something nice happens to a friend, do you respond with “Praise the Lord!”?             C.        Often words and phrases are used with little thought as…

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How do we praise God?

Question: Mr. Hamilton, I hear a lot of people talking about what they do to praise God, so my question is: How do we praise the Father according to His word? Thank you. Answer: In the Old Testament, one common word that is translated as “praise” is tehillah, which literally means “to cause to shine.”…

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Can women help in serving the Lord’s Supper?

Question: I recently worshiped at a congregation where they allowed women to assist in serving the communion. The women stood alongside the men in front of the congregation while one man read Scriptures and prayed, then the women helped to serve communion with the men. Is this in violation of I Timothy 2:12 or any…

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Can a brother committing fornication be used in church worship?

Question: Good day, Brother Jeffrey, I need your help on this. There is a brother committing fornication. He stopped worshiping. The reason why he doesn’t want to wed is that his sister, who is living abroad promised him to help him work abroad. If he gets married, he may not have a chance to work…

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Is having members quote memory verses during worship proper?

Question: Good day, Brother Jeff, During our worship on Sunday, we sing (Ephesians 5:19); we have teachings from the Bible (or a Bible study part), since we have not allotted a day for our Bible study but only on Sunday; we pray; we have the “collection of the saints” (I Corinthians 16:1-2); and the Lord’s…

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Is it scriptural to go to church via the Internet?

Question: I have a friend who “goes to church” via the Internet. Is that a scriptural way of worshiping and meeting? Thank you as always. I am very appreciative of the work you’ve been doing for so long! Answer: No, it is not a scriptural way to worship. In doing so he cannot: Assemble: “And…

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Can a Christian’s worship be hindered if he is in sin?

Question: Good morning, Can a Christian’s worship be hindered if they are in sin? Does God expect Christians to be completely holy when we worship Him? Answer: “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that…

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Is it possible to feel the presence of God when one worships Him?

Question: Is it possible to feel the presence of God when one worships Him? Answer: You ask the question in the wrong way because in the realm of possibility when dealing with God, almost anything is possible. But if you ask how God made His presence known in the past, then we find: Seen “And they…

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Is it wrong to make recordings during worship?

Question: God bless you, brother Hamilton. There is something that kind of bothers me and I would like to hear what you think the Bible says on it. The trend now is for everyone to make recordings during church services. They may be taking pictures or recording it Do you think is OK or not…

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What do you think about area-wide services?

Question: Hi! There is a new movement starting here which has me troubled. One of the local congregations is organizing an area-wide morning worship service to replace the normal worship service in the local congregations. My husband has tried to point out Hebrews 10:25, but one of the preachers involved said there is no forsaking…

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Should I visit congregations that are changing how things are done?

Question: My question concerns the Sunday order of service and slightly different services. I was added to the body about two years ago. Sometimes I like to visit the services of other churches of Christ. After one such visit, I mentioned to someone that the church I visited had communion after Bible class. I felt…

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Worship as Entertainment

by Mark Roberts via Abundant Life Romans 1 challenges us with its chilling words “they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man” (vv. 22-23). Man has the propensity to change God and the worship of God into what he desires. Instead of doing what the Lord…

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