When Life Feels Overwhelming
by Zeke Flores “Yahweh will fight for you while you keep silent” (Exodus 14:14). Israel is trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army. Panic is rising, fear is loud, and God gives them this simple instruction: Be still. Not because the situation isn’t serious, but because God is the one who will act. Sometimes…
Read MoreIrresponsibility Crucified Jesus
by Terry Wane Benton Pilate thought he could just wash his hands of any responsibility, and while we think little of Pilate for trying to pass off his responsibility, how are we better than Pilate when we do not stand up for Jesus when we should? Is Pilate really much different from us? (Matthew 27:20-24).…
Read MoreThe Path God Selects
by Zeke Flores “Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, ‘The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt'” (Exodus 3:17). God intentionally avoided the shortest route,…
Read MoreMalachi – Pointing Men to Christ
by Keith Greer Malachi contains four chapters and 55 verses. It is the 39th and final book of the Old Testament and the last Minor Prophet. Some have called it “a bridge between the Old and New covenants.” The name Malachi means “messenger of Jehovah.” The book says nothing about the man Malachi, and our…
Read MoreDishonesty Crucified Jesus
by Terry Wane Benton The fact that the chief priests were looking for anything they thought they could get to stick as a valid reason for the death sentence for Jesus (Matthew 26:59f) shows that they were corrupt and dishonest. False witnesses are liars. Those who use lies to undermine and get rid of someone…
Read MoreIgnorance Crucified Jesus
by Terry Wane Benton Ignorance is not bliss. From the cross, Jesus said, “they know not what they do” (ignorance), and later Peter told the Jews that I know that you did it by ignorance (Acts 3). Ignorance is not knowing what is vitally important. When there are things we know we should do, but…
Read MoreCovetousness Crucified Jesus
by Terry Wane Benton The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil (I Timothy 6:10). We think little of Judas for selling Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. But is Judas worse for being there at the time, while we sell Jesus in other ways? What have we sold him for?…
Read MoreThe Elephant in the Room (Harrub)
by Brad Harrub, Ph.D. Within our society, there is a tendency to measure success using a secular material yardstick. We identify one another by jobs (e.g., “Oh, he’s a pharmacist”), neighborhoods (e.g., “Oh, they live in Woodbury Estates”), bank accounts (e.g., “Oh, we just purchased a beach house in Destin”), and even looks (e.g., “Oh,…
Read MorePrejudice Crucified Jesus
by Terry Wane Benton When we own our part in the sins that crucified Jesus, we come to see that guilt can be the beginning of the transformation we really need. First, we see that the very sins that led to Jesus being crucified were those of ourselves. Those who were there in the flesh…
Read MoreEnvy Crucified Jesus
by Terry Wane Benton Pilate knew that it was only because of envy that the Jewish leaders had brought Jesus to his judgment seat (Matthew 27:18). He thought that their envy was not so great that they would want a “notorious prisoner,” Barabbas, released instead of Jesus, but this was not so. Some religious people…
Read MoreReligion on Parade
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Religion-on-Parade.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Matthew 23:5-12 I. Jesus condemns the Pharisees many times and in our reading he condemns them for using religion as a way for people to notice them. – Matthew 23:5 A. What is a phylactery (or some translations say frontlet)? 1. It comes from passages like Exodus 13:6-9. a. The…
Read MoreThe Canon of the Bible
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Inspired Books The Canon of the Old Testament – Part 1 The Canon of the Old Testament – Part 2 The New Testament Canon False Books The Book of Enoch The Book of Jasher The Apocrypha New Testament Apocrypha – Infancy Gospels
Read MoreThe Sins that Crucified the Savior
by Terry Wane Benton The fact that the Bible says we can “crucify afresh” the Son of God (Hebrews 6:6) and “put Him to an open shame” is something that ought to weigh on our consciences. When we see how Jesus was mishandled and mistreated, it is easy to dismiss our own part in the…
Read MoreDo ‘Minor’ Issues in Scripture Actually Matter?
via InLight Media Does every issue in scripture carry the same weight? If not, how do we handle the less foundational things? Should “minor” biblical issues be important to Christians? Or should they fade into the background? In this video, we take a look at doctrines or teachings that aren’t commonly thought of as “gospel…
Read MoreAre the unsaved left behind?
Question: Are the people who are not saved left here on earth when the event in I Thessalonians 4:17 occurs? Will they be burned up according to II Peter 3? Can you help with this? Thank you. Answer: “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that…
Read MoreWalk as Wise
by Edwin Crozier Text: Ephesians 5 Outside of Christ, we Gentiles walked in the futility of our minds. That is, we followed our own think-sos, pursuing the desires of our flesh and minds (see Ephesians 2:3). In Christ, instead of walking in futility, we are to look carefully how we walk, as those who are…
Read MoreGod Can Make Use of It
by Zeke Flores “But, indeed, for this reason I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth” (Exodus 9:16). God tells Pharaoh something surprising. Pharaoh’s continued existence isn’t a sign of strength; it’s a platform for God’s glory. God is…
Read MoreHolding Grudges
by Terry Wane Benton Have you ever noticed how miserable some people are? Sometimes it is caused by being long on memory and imagination and short on love and forgiveness. In fact, most of the time that is the case. If a person chooses to remember every unkind or thoughtless word or deed, whether real…
Read MoreThe Man Who Would Not Listen
by David Gibson In Spite of … King Zedekiah had at least two positive influences in his life that should have prompted him to make wiser choices. His father Josiah was one of the most godly kings Judah ever had. And Jeremiah, God’s prophet, tried repeatedly to persuade Zedekiah to obey God. In spite of his…
Read MoreTaking Another Look at the Old Testament
by David Gibson Why It’s so Important! Although we’re not under Old Testament law, there is great value in being familiar with the 39 books that make up three-fourths of the Bible. Reading the New Testament without knowing the Old Testament is like reading a sequel without the original. The New Testament keeps pointing back…
Read MoreJesus Warns Teachers
by Hugh DeLong Text: Luke 11 Wow! What a busy day in the life of Jesus is recorded here in Luke 11! The thing that jumps off the pages is the opposition that is building against Jesus. He went about doing good – and they hated him. He told them the truth of how they…
Read MoreTemporary Attention
by Zeke Flores “But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the Lord had said” (Exodus 8:15). Pharaoh’s pattern is painfully familiar. When things get bad, he cries out. When things get better, he goes right back to his old ways. It’s easy to…
Read MoreWhen God Shows Himself
by Zeke Flores “The Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the sons os Israel from their midsts” (Exodus 7:5). God makes it clear that what He’s about to do isn’t random. The plagues aren’t just judgment, they’re revelation. God is showing Egypt, Israel,…
Read MoreAre humans superior to angels?
Question: Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Please, I need your assistance with a clarification of I Corinthians 6:3. Are we humans superior to angels? Answer: It appears that the Corinthians were taking their personal disputes before government courts (I Corinthians 6:1-6). He had just stated earlier that Christians had…
Read MoreIn the Age of Grace
by Terry Wane Benton I talked to a gentleman today at the dentist’s office who noticed me reading my Bible, and he struck up a conversation about churches and the Bible. He said the church today is more about rules than grace. I said that is true in some cases, and in other cases, religious…
Read MoreGod and the Nations
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/God-and-the-Nations.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: John 19:10-11 I. How involved is God in the activities of the nations? A. We know that God doesn’t change, and from the teachings in the prophets of the Old Testament, we find that God was heavily involved in the governments of various nations. B. If it was true…
Read MoreThe Inheritance
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/The-Inheritance.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Revelation 21:6-8 I. The Christian’s relationship with God is described by several metaphors A. We are servants – I Corinthians 4:1 1. The emphasis is on our obeying the will of our Master B. We are priests – I Peter 2:4-5, 9 1. We are able to bring worship directly to…
Read MoreThe Moment Scientists Couldn’t Deny the Universe Had a Beginning
by Buddy Payne via InLight Media Is the universe eternal, or did it have a beginning? This is one area where scientists used to disagree with the Bible — until they realized they were wrong. In this video, Buddy Payne walks us through how scientific evidence in the 20th century—specifically astronomical evidence—changed how scientists think…
Read MoreActs 22:16
by Terry Wane Benton Acts 22:16 Links Baptism and Calling Together with Washing The grammar of Acts 22:16 strongly links baptism and the washing away of sins as simultaneous actions, both carried out while calling on the name of the Lord. The Greek Structure of Acts 22:16 The verse reads: “Anastas baptisai kai apolousai tas…
Read MoreFrustrated with God
by Zeke Flores “Then Moses returned to Yahweh and said, ‘O Yahweh, why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me? Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done harm to this people, and You have not rescued Your people at all'” (Exodus 5:22-23).…
Read MoreThe Lord’s Day
by Marvin L. Weir The devil never sleeps or fails to take advantage of any situation he can exploit. COVID-19 may turn out to be something Satan uses to lead brethren astray. Some brethren have not attended church services in over a year. Is there a special day the church is commanded to assemble together…
Read MoreThe Holy Spirit Completed His Revelation
by Bruce Reeves The religious culture that surrounds us today has chosen emotionalism and sensationalism over a passionate and substantive examination of God’s word and the application of truth to our lives. As a result, there is much confusion regarding miracles and the activity of the Holy Spirit. One of the key elements of the…
Read MoreAlcohol Is a Thief
by Jarrod M. Jacobs We might not think about alcohol in terms of “a thief,” but I would suggest that it is. Solomon said long ago, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1). Notice how absolute these words are. “Whosoever” (that includes you and…
Read MoreForty Years a Christian
by David R. Kenney July 29, 2017, marks 40 years since my dad immersed me in Christ at the Church of Christ in New Philadelphia, Ohio. My dad was the first to congratulate me, then Ralph Miller, and then other brothers and sisters in Christ who assembled that Friday afternoon. The church on Commercial Avenue…
Read MoreAre You a Liberal?
by Richard Guill Since the church of Christ today is being rent asunder by what is labeled as “liberalism,” it is not uncommon to hear a brother or sister referred to as “a liberal.” It is often used to describe preachers, but is not limited to them. What is meant by the term “liberal”? Are…
Read MoreWhy Must You Use Instrumental Music?
Author Unknown Recently, a congregation in the city where I preach decided to start using instruments in their worship assembly. Apparently, even the community realizes that among churches of Christ, this is a big deal because the local news and newspaper have done stories on it. Obviously, I love my brothers and sisters in…
Read MoreAre You the Wrong Person for the Job?
by Zeke Flores “The Moses said to the Lord, ‘Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your serant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue'” (Exodus 4:10). Moses basically tells God, “You picked the wrong guy.” He lists his weaknesses…
Read MoreEntangled
by Terry Wane Benton People with the word of the kingdom of Christ in their hearts do not need to get too entangled in the cares of this world. “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke…
Read MoreFlip-Flops, Short Shorts and Worship
by Charles Box Our dress in worship is not a “fashion show.” But, is it possible to become too casual, too indiscreet, or too revealing in our manner of dress when we gather for worship? Recently, we were visiting a Wednesday night church service, and near us sat a girl wearing flip-flops and short shorts.…
Read MoreShaped by Difficulties
by Zeke Flores “And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she named him Moses, and said, ‘Because I drew him out of the water'” (Exodus 2:10). Moses’ story starts with a mix of heartbreak and hope. His mother has to let him go to save…
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