Preacher’s Wives
by Doy Moyer My wife has been a “preacher’s wife” for a long time. She doesn’t see it as a burden; she doesn’t complain. She doesn’t see herself as being in an elevated position and doesn’t worry about being in the spotlight. I’ve seen her take things in stride far better than I have. But…
Read MoreA 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…
Read MoreThe Time of Reformation
by Terry Wane Benton The Book of Hebrews makes the argument that we had, in the past, been using carnal, earthly things in service to God (Hebrews 9:1-11) but would, from the Old Testament perspective, see a “time of reformation” (Hebrews 9:10) in which we would put down the carnal, earthly types and shadow things…
Read MoreWhy Do Genes Care?
by Perry Hall I’m currently reading The Moral Animal by Robert Wright on New Darwinism. I just started, and there seem to be so many built-in assumptions. One is under “sexual selection,” which strives to explain the attraction between males and females, mainly by males, to perpetuate their species. What is the assumption? It strives…
Read MoreThe Work of Preaching
by Doy Moyer Over time, a typical preacher will have preached hundreds of times (thousands once you figure in decades). He will have taught even more classes, again into the thousands. Don’t judge a preacher or teacher by one or two sermons or lessons. There is no way to cover the full ground of a…
Read MoreGod’s Relationship with His People
by Zeke Flores Marriage and its accouterments are often used in Scripture to describe God’s relationship with His people. “I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks…
Read MoreDo I need to confess everything I did wrong constantly?
Question: I have a question that I am struggling to find an answer to. A few days ago, I confessed to my family about my past sins. We were able to pray, and we are now in the process of healing. Lately, I have remembered some other things I have done, like listening to worldly…
Read MoreYou Can’t Go Back
by Terry Wane Benton I visited the place where I grew up, Union Springs, Al., to see how things had changed after 30 years. The house was still there, the fence was gone, most of the rental houses to the left were gone, and the big Weeping Willow tree next door was gone. Fences were…
Read MoreA Sense of Humor
by Doy Moyer A sense of humor is a gift from God. Some take themselves and others far too seriously, so much that they cannot laugh at themselves or enjoy a good chuckle at life’s awkward moments. There is a “time to laugh” (Ecclesiastes 3:4), and “A joyful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22). Tensions…
Read MoreSpiritism versus Spirituality
by Terry Wane Benton Spiritism is occultic, feeling and mood-based, and imagination-based, whereas “spirituality” is revelation and scripture-based. Those who are truly “spiritual” will acknowledge that the things Paul wrote are the commandments of the Lord (I Corinthians 14:35f). Spiritism is trying to contact the dead, spirit world through imagination and feeling-based seances. Here, you…
Read MoreThe Power in God’s Word
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Power-in-Gods-Word.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreWhat if we can’t always find a congregation to worship with?
Question: Hello My son plays travel baseball, and we travel almost every weekend. However, we do find a congregation in the town we are in. If it conflicts, we do Zoom. Is this an issue? I get a lot of flack from the congregation I attend. Answer: Personally, I’m of the mind that the worship of God…
Read MoreWhat if a person lied about his past marriage?
Question: Greetings, I have enjoyed reading your studies and answers for many years. I have two questions if you could answer them please. So far I have only been able to find an answer in necessary inference. If a Christian in good standing unknowingly marries a person who lied about his marital status, when the…
Read MorePreach the Word
by Jefferson David Tant “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not…
Read MoreCongregational and Individual Goals
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Congregational-and-Individual-Goals.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreCan you explain I Corinthians 6:16-17?
Question: Good day I have a question and would like some advice. A bit of background leading to the question: I was a fake Christian, committed fornication, and knew it displeased God, but I didn’t really know Christ at the time. But someone came and preached repentance. I decided to believe in Christ, give my…
Read MoreLove versus Trust
by Terry Wane Benton Jesus loved everyone, including the Pharisees, but Jesus did not entrust Himself to everyone He loved. Otherwise, He would not have exited their presence those several times they wanted to capture and kill Him. Dying was on Jesus’ schedule when the time and place were right. Therefore, He loved and wanted…
Read MoreI feel like I failed God, and He is angry with me
Question: Good day, I hope you are well. I love God, but I fear displeasing Him. I want to do right for Him. I’m a Christian. I am in my mid-twenties now. I was baptized at 12, but I got tangled in sin at 21 for about a year. I committed fornication, drinking, cursing, lying,…
Read MorePainful Truths
by Zeke Flores Sometimes, the truth hurts. You’re losing your hair. (Ouch!) You’re a little overweight. (Double ouch!) You’re in sin. (OOOWWW!) We’ve heard it said, “The truth hurts.” Who hasn’t been stung when the truth is critical to us personally or contradicts us in some way? The truth can tend to expose our deficiencies…
Read MoreKept by the Power of God
by Terry Wane Benton Peter makes a wonderful comment about how Christians are “kept by the power of God” (I Peter 1:4). However, the statement goes on to say that this keeping is “through faith.” So, God’s power to keep us is through this channel of connection. We can cut off this channel or connection…
Read MoreJesus and Baptism
by Doy Moyer On the third day of creation, God separated the dry land from the waters, and life came through the water (Genesis 1:9-13). This pattern was seen again when life came through the waters after the flood (Genesis 8:6-12). Again, it was seen when the children of Israel passed through the Red Sea…
Read MoreDissipation
by Terry Wane Benton Paul mentions that drinking wine involves dissipation and that instead of doing that which dissipates good moral judgment, one should instead be “filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:17-18). Being filled with the Spirit is the opposite of what alcohol or drugs do to the sober thinking part of our brains. One…
Read MoreAccepting God’s Work
by Doy Moyer God doesn’t need our defense (as though He needed anything (Acts 17:25)). When we accept God in total — that, for example, He is all-knowing, all-wise, all-understanding, all-powerful, all-loving, all-just, all-gracious, all-righteous, all-good, owner of life and death, etc. — then we won’t feel like He owes us explanations for everything He…
Read MoreHow was Zacchaeus’ family saved with Zacchaeus?
Question: Dear Brother Hamilton, What does Luke19:1-10 mean when it says Zacchaeus’ whole household was saved when he (Zacchaeus) was saved? Answer: “And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that…
Read MoreIs it wrong to ask for forgiveness?
Question: Good day, I hope you are well, My question here is twofold. First, I was taught that we shouldn’t ask for forgiveness; instead, we should thank God for his forgiveness. This, though, feels both right and wrong. This confuses me a bit because nowhere in the Scripture does it say we need to say…
Read MoreWe Need a Proof-text, Don’t We?
by Terry Wane Benton Some may misuse a text, and if that text is not carefully examined, it becomes a “proof-text” that sounds, on the surface, to support the user’s point, and that is not good because they have used the Bible to legitimize a point not made or implied by that particular text. So,…
Read MoreReligion
by Terry Wane Benton I keep hearing people talk about “religion” as a bad thing. I hear some say things like, “I believe in God but not religion,” or “I accept Jesus but reject all religion.” It’s as if they have a concept of “religion” that is all negative, but Jesus is all positive. There…
Read MoreThe Deity of Christ While on Earth
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Deity-of-Christ-While-on-Earth.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Philippians 2:5-8 I. A debate arose among brethren concerning the nature of Christ several decades ago A. I watched the debates rage. It is easy to see that both sides stretch the position of the other as they attempt to justify their belief. 1. It does not affect a person’s salvation…
Read MoreWhy Christ Is Worthy of Praise
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Why-Christ-Is-Worthy-of-Praise.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 1:1-14 I. Christ has been appointed heir of all things A. Everything belonging to the Father are Christ’s – John 16:15 B. The nations were given to him as an inheritance – Psalms 2:8 C. All things are gathered together under his rule – Ephesians 1:10 D. All Christians are his inheritance…
Read MoreIs it right to say your own prayer while someone else is praying in worship?
Question: Good day, First, I find great biblical knowledge on your Facebook page! It is a very valuable resource for Bible questions and answers. I want your assistance regarding some questions that I have. Is it appropriate or biblically correct to pray aloud (in a hushed but audible voice) while someone is praying during service?…
Read MoreUnapproachable Light
by Chadwick Brewer “Who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen” (I Timothy 6:16). Millions of people will stop their daily lives to go and stare at the spectacle of an eclipse. Yet, they will do this…
Read MoreIs I Corinthians 7:9 talking about unfulfilled desires?
Question: I was wishing to ask a question about I Corinthians 7:9. Is it okay to say that it is better to marry than to burn with unfulfilled desire? Answer: “Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner,…
Read MoreHard Words
by Doy Moyer Somewhere along the line, our culture has been convinced that insulting people is the way to win others to their way of thinking. Harsh words that disparage intelligence coupled with character-destroying insinuations have become embedded in our arguments and disagreements. This is the way of the world, a path lacking grace and…
Read MoreAs the Holy Spirit Says
by Terry Wane Benton When the topic of “inspiration” (breathed of God) is brought up, some will argue that we don’t know how the Scriptures are “breathed of God,” but we do know that the words of the Scriptures were delivered from God’s mind to the mind of the writers of the holy Scriptures. Whenever…
Read MoreIs it wrong for a married couple to give up their child for adoption?
Question: Hello, I hope you are well! If a married couple (who got pregnant after marriage) is willing to give the baby up the baby for adoption because they don’t have the money to keep it, is this a sin? Answer: Adoption is not wrong, though it may not always be the best option. Our…
Read MoreHow do I move forward from a breakup?
Question: Good evening, I’m relatively new to this website, but I have found it particularly helpful for hearing Q&A’s specifically related to Christian life. I’m a freshman college student who dated a girl for around 4-5 months when college started. It has been almost three months since she broke up. I’ve been slowly getting better,…
Read MoreWhat Kind of Life Do You Want?
by Dennis Abernathy I recently read this observation about today’s society: “Modern society wants entertainment instead of enrichment and a ‘good time’ rather than a ‘good life.'” Sadly, we see this played out in many people’s lives, and none of us are immune to the temptation to want the same. Instead of being spiritually enriched,…
Read MoreNot Peace but a Sword?
by Terry Wane Benton What did Jesus mean here? Does it contradict other verses that show He came to bring peace on earth? “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father,…
Read MoreCan a person who committed fornication marry someone else?
Question: Good day. I have a question concerning your answer: Do I have to marry the man I committed fornication with? My question for you is: Can the lady who asked the question get married to another person? If yes, won’t that count as adultery for her and the man she marries? Thank you. Answer:…
Read MoreYour Taste Buds
by Frank Jamerson The word taste is used in many different ways. It may refer to sampling (I’ll taste your dessert), preference (that house fits my taste), ability to recognize (she has a taste for men’s clothes), or to experience (he had a taste of freedom). The context in which it is used often determines…
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