Archive for 2016
There Is No Fear of God Before Their Eyes
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ThereIsNoFearOfGodBeforeTheirEyes.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 3:10-18 I. Most of us have been burnt one time or another. A. The memory of the sharp pain makes a lasting impression. As a result, we hold a healthy respect for fire and other hot things. The fear of what fire could do generates a respect for fire.…
Read MoreI want to marry my boyfriend, but he doesn’t until he can afford a nice wedding
Question: Hello, I have something major I need guidance with, and I’d like to warn you in advance that you may find my situation rather unique. I am 25, and I have two beautiful children. I came to Christ two years ago, but just this past year I prayed and asked Jesus into my life.…
Read MoreI found your advice to aspiring preachers useful
Question: Hello. I read your article on advice to aspiring preachers and found it useful. Thanks a lot. Grace to you! Answer: I’m glad you found the website useful. You might also be interested in the other articles on preaching.
Read MoreCan a treasurer use the church’s money in his personal business?
Question: Please, I want to know if one can use the church’s money in his custody to run his personal business. Answer: Absolutely not. The money is the Lord’s money. When Ananias gave money to the church but lied about the amount, Peter told him: “While it remained, was it not your own? And after…
Read MoreIf I promise on something and then break the promise, does God take away what I promised on?
Question: If I were to promise or swear to God (or even to someone else) on something and not go through with the promise, will God take that thing I promised on away from me? For example, I promise or swear on my friendship that I’ll run around the neighborhood. If I don’t go through…
Read MoreIs a marriage performed by a witch doctor legitimate?
Question: Here in Africa people go to witch doctors in order to get married, which is a sin. Now can you please tell me if people, who are married by a witch doctor, are allowed to have sex with each other because that for me is a sin? Marriage is from God, and it’s considered…
Read MoreThe Right to Choose
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/RightToChoose.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreFour Things God Provides
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/FourThingsGodProvides.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreIs using “God” as a curse word not taking the Lord’s name in vain?
Question: Hello Firstly, thank you very much for the very informative site and the work that you do. I recently had someone totally shock me by stating that “God” was a generic term and questioning whether it constituted using the Lord’s name in vain. His argument was that “God” was not God’s name and could…
Read MoreHow do I tell my boyfriend about my horrible past?
Question: I was raised in a broken family, so my mother took care of us though we were poor. I faced so many problems since I was young, like older relatives sleeping with me, but since I was young l didn’t realize how they were taking advantage of me. When I was in my twenties…
Read MoreCan deacons have multiple wives and homes?
Question: I was wondering if polygamy is wrong because a Christan polygamy site states this: “mia doesn’t mean one, it means first in I Timothy 3:2,12; Titus 1:6” Regarding idios they are saying “The word “idios” signifies actual or potential corporate possession, or “ownership” (although sometimes the two words may be synonymous, the change up in this verse is…
Read MoreYour website opened up my mind
Question: Greetings to you fellow brothers and sisters of our Lord Jesus Christ. I got to know about your web site some weeks ago. I must admit that the website has really opened up my mind. I wish my fellow brothers and sisters in the other denominations can find the truth and get set free.…
Read MoreSince only males were circumcised, how did females enter the Old Covenant?
Question: Brother, This question came up in a recent Bible study. We were covering the book of Romans, the last few verses of chapter 2. Circumcision came up. After a little discussion, a sister in Christ asked how women made a covenant with God under Mosaic Law, since circumcision was the sign of the covenant.…
Read MoreBible Truth About Baptism
by Matthew W. Bassford via His Excellent Word, November 14, 2016 I’d gotten some feedback about my recent preaching on evangelism that I felt merited sermons of its own. One of them was last week’s sermon. This week’s sermon is another. Basically, some of the ladies were asking the age-old question, “But what do I say?” …
Read MoreLabeled for Christ
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/LabeledForChrist.mp3 by Alan Feaster What are you labeled as? A label declares who a person is. Jesus was labeled, quite a few names (Revelation 19:13) “The Word of God” (Revelation 19:16) “King of kings, and Lord of lords.” (Revelation 1:5, 8) “faithful witness” “the firstborn of the dead” “I am the Alpha and the Omega”…
Read MoreWho Is Accountable?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/WhoIsAccountable.mp3 by Andrew Long
Read MoreI told God not to forgive me if I sinned again. I did anyway. Am I forgivable?
Question: The other day I was struggling with sin and I told God that if tomorrow I committed this sin and I want it to be unforgivable. I did this so I would think twice when I was tempted. In the end, I committed this sin, even though I told God not to forgive me…
Read MoreDo we carry the labels of our past sins with us our whole lives?
Question: I am having a conversation with an Independent Baptist, who claims that even after conversion, if we lie or cheat or steal, we are a liar, a cheater, a thief and we carry that label until we enter heaven. She says only in heaven is there no sin. Even if we are forgiven by…
Read MoreThank you for creating such a fabulous website
Question: I hope this reaches Jeffrey Hamilton. I have been visiting this website for a few years now. I simply wanted to reach out and say God bless you for creating such a fabulous website. I cannot begin to describe how helpful the articles and studies on this website have been for my spiritual growth…
Read MoreHow do I convince my Pentecostal parents of God’s truth?
Question: Dear Minister, My father and mother are pastors of a Pentecostal church. I do not agree with what they believe — relying on experience and emotions rather than being fully grounded on the Word of God. I do not want them to stay in that belief forever. I want them to be brought into…
Read MoreRedeeming the Time
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/RedeemingTheTime.mp3 by Alan Feaster Text: Ephesians 5:1-21 Definition of redeemed Vines Pertaining to Salvation: λυτρόω lytroō “to release on receipt of ransom” (akin to lutron, “a ransom”), is used in the Middle Voice, signifying “to release by paying a ransom price, to redeem” (Deuteronomy 15:15; 24:18) God Redeemed Israel. (Titus 2:14; I Peter 1:17-19) Christ has…
Read MoreHastening the Day of the Lord
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/HasteningTheDayOfTheLord.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Peter 3:3-15 I. When there is an event coming up that you really look forward to, it seems that time just drags. A. Christmas when you were little, graduating from High School, going off to college, your wedding day, etc. B. But then in other ways you realize that there…
Read MoreAre you required to keep promises that you think about?
Question: Hi, I’m wondering if promises that randomly pop up in your head are considered valid. Are you required to keep the promises, even though they’re just thoughts? I have OCD and get these thoughts constantly. They cause me a deal of anxiety. Also, in order to treat OCD, am I allowed to purposefully think…
Read MoreSometimes we lose focus regarding our primary mission
Question: Dear Brother Hamilton, Thank you for all of the good Bible lessons you and others have written and put on your website. It seems that every time I am searching online for Bible study materials, I always end up on your website and find something I like. I have sent links to your website…
Read MoreHistorical References to Jesus Christ
by Scott Smelser
Read MoreArchaeological Evidence of Biblical Figures
by Scott Smelser
Read MoreLed by the Spirit
by Scott Smelser
Read MoreI’m engaged, but another girl seduced me and I got her pregnant. What do I do?
Question: I am in a serious relationship with the one I want to spend the rest of my life with, but I am faced with a serious problem right now. A girl forced herself on me, became pregnant, and had a baby by me. I accepted the baby, but I can’t marry the girl. It…
Read MoreMy boyfriend doesn’t want to get married
Question: Hey My boyfriend and I are in a relationship for almost five years. We had sex in the first year of the relationship but then decided to wait until we were married to have sex. We got baptized and went without sex for over two years then we had sex again. I told my…
Read MoreTwice Adopted
by Jefferson David Tant Those familiar with Branson, Missouri’s entertainment mecca may know the musical “Twice Adopted,” featuring ten adopted children who share their singing talent with thousands. Their story touches the heart. Randy and Linda Koenig were childless until they adopted a child from Guatemala. One thing led to another, and another, and another…
Read MoreWhy did she leave me if God sent signs that we should be together?
Question: I have a girl who I have dated for a year. I have gone through a lot with her. She is a good person, always wanting the best for me. She made me stop drinking alcohol. When we quarrel it takes prayer for her to come back, and every time I ask God to…
Read MoreHow could someone become a mass murderer and not feel bad about it?
Question: Hello, I have a question regarding evil. Are people born evil or does life make them that way? I ask because I was reading this case of a serial killer in Ukraine who killed 52 people. How does someone become this twisted and not feel bad about it? I know it’s not right to…
Read MoreShouldn’t there be 12 children in Genesis 32:22?
Question: Good morning, I am working on my Bible class lesson for my Bible class tonight. While reviewing Jacob’s children up to this point in Genesis, he should have 12 children: 11 sons and 1 daughter. However, Genesis 32:22 says that Jacob sent his two wives, two maids, and 11 children across the Jabbok. I…
Read MoreDoesn’t Psalms 91 promise protection from harm?
Question: Hi, Thank you for this opportunity to send in questions. I read through another question on your site, one about why God allows suffering, innocent children to die, etc. Your response was enlightening. Thank you. I would like to find out if you know why God actually allows the suffering (let’s say a child being…
Read MoreI wouldn’t have chosen to be born, if I knew the struggles and temptations I would be facing
Question: Hello, I’m writing in response to the question sent in in regards to choices. I was a little confused by the response: “Nor can you claim that life is unfair because you now decide that you don’t what to live by your choices. It is the same as the child who refuses to help in…
Read MoreBlasphemy
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Blasphemy.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 12:22-37 I. What is blasphemy? A. A transliteration of a Greek word, blasphemia 1. It is a compound word: hurt and speech B. It means to speak evil of someone or to slander someone 1. Contained in it is the idea that a third party is involved 2. It is one person telling…
Read MoreHow can I avoid panic attacks?
Question: I have recently read the thread on your page about OCD-religion and have a few questions. I have recently developed this disorder. Though never diagnosed, I’ve struggled my whole life with anxiety. I grew up a Christian (saved at a very young age) and attended a Christian school where I was taught God’s Word daily. I…
Read MoreMaking Known His Glory
by Andrew Hamilton A section of Romans caught my attention during a recent Bible study. As a quick reminder of the context, Paul spends quite a bit of Romans explaining the righteousness of God. Partway through an analysis of Israelite history, he inserts a sort of question-and-answer section to make a few points clear. “What…
Read MoreWhat is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?
Question: I was wondering what exactly is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Could you please help me with this? Answer: What Is Blasphemy? Blasphemy is a transliteration of a Greek word: blasphemia. Literally, it combines the Greek words for hurt and speech. It means to speak evil of someone or to slander another person. It contains…
Read MoreShould I go to a Thanksgiving dinner hosted by my homosexual sister?
Question: My sister is homosexual and before that, she was baptized but turned her back on God and now is “married” to another woman. Am I allowed to go visit with her like when she holds family dinners and things? Or where exactly do we draw the line? I have some family that says I’m…
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