\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload Audio\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\tText: John 7:14-24<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I. Two students enter a classroom.<\/p>\n A. One is excited about the prospect of learning this subject. Though he hasn’t\nstarted yet, he has plans on how he is going to put this knowledge to use in his\nlife. He knows it will be beneficial and he can’t wait to get started.\n B. The other drags himself to a desk. He doesn’t want to be there; it’s a stupid\nsubject anyway. He’s only there because its required. He can’t wait for the class to\nend.\n C. Two student in the same classroom with the same teacher hearing the same\nmaterial. But will they have the same result?\n
D. The only difference is attitude but one will learn far more than the other.<\/p>\n
II. The Jews heard Jesus teaching, but they weren’t excited about the lessons – John 7:15<\/p>\n
A. It wasn’t what Jesus said, or the accuracy of his teaching that irritated them. <\/p>\n
1. They were stuck on “How did this guy get so smart?”<\/p>\n 2. They weren’t willing to learn from someone who wasn’t trained by their\nbest teachers.\n B. Jesus pointed out that it isn’t about the teacher but the material being taught – John\n7:16\n C. And then the telling point: if a person wants to obey God, then he’ll recognize\nwhether Jesus is teaching God’s will or his own – John 7:17-18\n 1. In other words, their attitude impacts their ability to distinguish truth from\nerror.\n
III. Why is it that loving God is the greatest command? – Matthew 22:37-38<\/p>\n
A. Loving God naturally leads to doing His will – Deuteronomy 10:12-13<\/p>\n
1. The love of God is the keeping of His commands – I John 5:2-3<\/p>\n
2. Jesus said the same thing – John 14:15<\/p>\n
B. The problem with the Jews was a lack of love for God – John 5:39-44<\/p>\n 1. People often think of the Pharisees as being legalistic, but Jesus’ point is\nthat they weren’t obedient and they were not willing to learn because they\nlack a love for God.\n 2. Oh, they had some of the finer points of the law down, but they missed the\nmajor points – Matthew 23:23-24\n
C. A sincere love for God drives a person to learn all he can – Psalms 119:97-104<\/p>\n
D. Without a love for God, there is no real understanding<\/p>\n
1. Why some learn without coming to an understanding – II Timothy 3:6-7<\/p>\n
E. Without love for truth there is no drive to remain accurate – II Thessalonians 2:8-12<\/p>\n
IV. But along with this is the drive to put what is learned into practice<\/p>\n A. It is the ones who have their senses exercised who can distinguish good and evil –\nHebrew 5:14\n
B. You can’t just be hearers, but you must also be doers – James 1:21-25<\/p>\n 1. God’s word is to be received with meekness – it is more important than\nself – and then put into practice.\n
2. As James later says – James 4:7-10<\/p>\n
C. There is no real faith without works – James 2:14-17<\/p>\n 1. That is why Israel was called both unbelieving and disobedient – Hebrews\n3:18-19\n
D. There is no foundation without obedient works – Luke 6:47-49<\/p>\n
V. The Word of God reveals the thoughts and intents of the heart – Hebrews 4:12<\/p>\n
A. Are you eager to do as God asked of you?<\/p>\n
B. Are you willing to do His Will?<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: John 7:14-24 I. Two students enter a classroom. A. One is excited about the prospect of learning this subject. Though he hasn’t started yet, he has plans on how he is going to put this knowledge to use in his life. He knows it will be beneficial and he…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[634,54],"class_list":["post-63790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-attitude","tag-obedience"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":63260,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/personal-sacrifice-and-service\/","url_meta":{"origin":63790,"position":0},"title":"Personal Sacrifice and Service","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 10, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 2:17-18 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Paul often discussed the topic of unity in his letters to the various churches. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Unity based having the same goals and the same standards - Romans 15:5; I Corinthians 1:10; II Corinthians 13:11; Ephesians 4:1-3; I Thessalonians 5:11-15 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Paul\u2019s letter\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":91726,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/boasting-of-his-weakness\/","url_meta":{"origin":63790,"position":1},"title":"Boasting of His Weakness","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 2, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: II Corinthians 12:1-10 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0False teachers of the Jewish persuasion had entered the congregation in Corinth \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0They wanted to convince the brethren that they had to follow the Law of Moses to be acceptable to God. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The problem was dealing with Paul. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0His\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":14259,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-greatest-commandment\/","url_meta":{"origin":63790,"position":2},"title":"The Greatest Commandment","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 13, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 22:34-40 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0From among the Pharisees, a lawyer came to Jesus to put him to the test. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0He asked, \u201cWhich is the greatest commandment?\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A difficult question, given the large number of commands found in the Old Testament. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0How do you decide\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":47430,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-does-baptism-have-to-do-with-salvation\/","url_meta":{"origin":63790,"position":3},"title":"What Does Baptism Have to Do with Salvation?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 6, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Kings 5:1-14 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Leprosy is a terrible disease. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It is a bacterial infection that causes skin lesions and nerve damage \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It has only been curable since the early 1980's. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0So it is no wonder that a commander in Syria\u2019s army would go great lengths\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2250,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/when-good-men-do-nothing\/","url_meta":{"origin":63790,"position":4},"title":"When Good Men Do Nothing","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 1, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Edmund Burke once said, \u201cAll that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In the endless battle between good and evil, it is seldom the numbers that determine the outcome of each skirmish. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Many times, the side for the right\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":68138,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/amazing-grace\/","url_meta":{"origin":63790,"position":5},"title":"Amazing Grace","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 7, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 2:1-10 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0John Newton was born in England in 1725 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Before he reached the age of seven, his mother died. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0His father remarried and John was sent off to a boarding school \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0At the age of 11, John left school to become\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63790","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63790"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63790\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63790"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63790"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}