Archive for 2016
Why Are There Denominations?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/WhyAreThereDenominations.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Corinthians 1:10-15 I. I was asked by a gentleman in Nigeria why there were so many denominations A. A denomination simply means a division. B. Among those who call themselves Christians, there are a great number of divisions 1. Even within various divisions, there are divisions 2. The Episcopals are dividing over…
Read MoreI cheated on my girlfriend and got another woman pregnant. What do I do?
Question: Good day, I have been dating the girl I love for over a year now and have cheated on her many times. Lately, I met a girl from my home town. We dated and started engaging in unprotected sex for the next eight months. She got pregnant. Now I don’t know what to do…
Read MoreAre We a Sect?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/AreWeASect.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 28:16-24 I. The Jews had difficulty understanding the church in its early days. A. It was founded by a Jewish teacher from a small, remote town called Nazareth. B. It began an flourished in their capital city, Jerusalem. C. It taught heavily from the Law, though it added new doctrine that…
Read MoreWhat is the difference between idolatry and obsessions?
Question: Hello! I just read a question answered on your website about idolatry: Is having a symbol of Christianity idolatry? In it, idolatry was defined as “anything you turn to for guidance or security.” While that makes sense, to what level of guidance and security are you describing? You see, I still sleep with my Blankie,…
Read MoreIs it true that a couple who commits fornication cannot get married?
Question: I have had sex with the girl I proposed to marry. Now we are very close to our wedding. Her pastor became aware that we have had sex by virtue of her confession. She was told that I am not her husband and as such, can not get married since we slept together. Sir,…
Read MoreThe Canon of the Old Testament – Part 1
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/CanonOfTheOldTestament1.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Deuteronomy 31:9-13 I. As the last few years of a presidency winds down, people begin to discuss the legacy of the current President. How will the future remember him? What will historians say about him? A. So what makes a President great? 1. Is greatest determined by the writings of famous historians?…
Read MoreHow could Michal have five sons when another verse said she had none?
Question: Please, I need an answer. Can you see any contradiction between II Samuel 6:23 which says Michal had no children to the day of her death and II Samuel 21:8 which says Michal had five sons? Answer: “So David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and…
Read MoreWhy I Want to Go to Heaven
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/WhyIWantToGoToHeaven.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreDoes God Require Too Much?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/DoesGodRequireTooMuch.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreDoes the language in which the Bible is read change the way we interpret certain passages?
Question: I have a question about the Bible that I’d like to ask. Does the language in which the Bible is read change the way we interpret certain passages? Answer: Translating a text from one language to another ideally expresses the same ideas in both languages. However, there are always difficulties in translating because in…
Read MoreWas Achan punished because he did not confess his sin to Joshua?
Question: Can somebody be punished for not telling their leaders about the sin they have committed, like how Achan was punished for not telling Moses about his sin until God found him out? Answer: “But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of…
Read MoreThe Day of Atonement
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2016Fall8TheDayOfAtonement.mp3 by Joe Works Studying Leviticus
Read MoreLove Your Neighbor
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2016Fall7LoveYourNeighbor.mp3 by Joe Works Studying Leviticus
Read MoreTimeless Lessons
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2016Fall6TimelessLessons.mp3 by Joe Works Studying Leviticus
Read MoreWhy is sex so bad if we are going to get married soon anyway?
Question: Hello, I have been dating my boyfriend for almost three years now. We absolutely love each other and have talked about getting married in the future a good bit. We are in no rush to get engaged yet because we are both still in school and don’t have the money for that yet. I…
Read MoreGlorify Thy Name
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2016Fall5GlorifyThyName.mp3 by Joe Works Studying Leviticus
Read MoreAcceptable to the Lord
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2016Fall4AcceptedByGod.mp3 by Joe Works Studying Leviticus
Read MoreDoes God expect us to do our part?
Question: When Simon helps carries Jesus’ cross in Mark 15:21, does it have any special meaning? I remember a pastor talking about how Jesus told Christians to deny ourselves and take up our own cross (such as in Luke 9:23), but He could not carry His own cross. Simon had to carry it for Him.…
Read MoreBe Holy for I am Holy
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2016Fall3BeHolyForIAmHoly.mp3 by Joe Works Studying Leviticus
Read MoreThe Value of Old Testament Study
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2016Fall2TheValueOfOldTestamentStudy.mp3 by Joe Works Studying Leviticus
Read MoreStudying Leviticus
2016 Fall Meeting by Joe Works The Tabernacle of God The Value of Old Testament Study Be Holy for I am Holy Acceptable to the Lord Glorify Thy Name Timeless Lessons Love Your Neighbor The Day of Atonement
Read MoreWhat do we do if our daughter tells us she is gay?
Question: I suspect that in the very near future my middle-aged daughter is going to tell my wife and me that she is gay. She was raised in the Church of Christ but left when she went to college, graduated, and lives in the college town. We don’t get to see her much, she does…
Read MoreAll I want to do is get married
Question: I am a 23 years old female. I am Christian but I’m struggling with sexual immorality with different partners because when things are bad I break up with one and try another one thinking that he might be the one or he might be better than the previous one. I have been trying to…
Read MoreMy daughter claims she doesn’t have to get married to have sex
Question: Hello, I came across your website and I have read several articles pertaining to the subject of premarital sex but I have a very unique situation for which I cannot find an answer. My daughter and her fiancé have engaged in premarital sex. When I confronted her about this and gently told her that…
Read MoreIsn’t the Spirit supposed to comfort me?
Question: I’m 26 but my body already seems to be falling apart. I can barely get out of bed these days. If the cause of this is heart problems or cancer or something, can I just resist treatment so I can go home and be with Jesus? I’m so depressed. I can’t be a good…
Read MoreHow do I get my dad to see that his church isn’t good enough?
Question: I have a problem I have been dealing with my father, and he simply does not understand. For many years we’ve been going to this small church. The people are nice. I would describe the church as traditional because it is Baptist. The majority of people who like to attend are seniors and a…
Read MoreHoliness: A Study of Leviticus
2016 Fall Gospel Meeting by Joe Works The Tabernacle of God https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/2016Fall1TheTabernacleOfGod.mp3 Tabernacle of God (Handout) Tabernacle of God (Powerpoint) God with Us (Powerpoint) The Value of Old Testament Study https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/2016Fall2TheValueOfOldTestamentStudy.mp3 The Value of Old Testament Study (Powerpoint) Be Holy for I am Holy https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/2016Fall3BeHolyForIAmHoly.mp3 Be Holy for I am Holy (Powerpoint) Acceptable to the…
Read MoreYour article contained the answers I was looking for
Question: Hello, I am going through some trouble right now. I have been dating my girlfriend for a year now and have been trying to ease her into the church. She has not been grounded in any denominational doctrine, but she still has some trouble accepting the truth. Recently, she had asked me to visit…
Read MoreWhy Are They Unable to See?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/WhyAreTheyUnableToSee.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 19 I. I’m sure it has happened to you. You’re talking to someone and the point is clear and obvious to you, but the other person can’t see it. A. You can see it in the apostles when Jesus stated he was going to die – Mark 9:31-32 B. Some…
Read MoreIs it ever too late to be forgiven?
Question: Is it too late to ever be forgiven and saved with Jesus Christ? I would love to move forward and let go, but sometimes I feel as if I’m too late because of my past. I feel like it’s just me saying this to myself and not what God says. I let my past…
Read MoreTrip Report – 2016 (Bali, Singapore, Malaysia)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/TripReport2016.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Romans 10:17-18 I. My trips to the South Asian islands started in 2013. A. I had been studying with a young man in the National University of Singapore for several years via Skype. He had asked me repeatedly to come hold a meeting in Singapore and things…
Read MoreI’ve been having a lot of nightmares this week
Question: I’ve been having nightmares a lot this week. Just last night I had a nightmare about a horrible dark creature behind me and looking at me. I woke up screaming! And I didn’t sleep very well after that because I had another nightmare. I guess that’s why I am kind of tired. It wasn’t…
Read MoreWhat does “This thing is from Me” mean?
Question: My sister was in jail and while there she took an interest in religion. But when she got out of jail, she no longer has any interest in Bible study or religion. That makes me sad. Only when she was locked up and away from distractions was she focused on our Lord. As for…
Read MoreMy boyfriend doesn’t want to get married and have a family, but I do
Question: My boyfriend and I have been dating for over a year now. We are still young, in our early twenties, and have different goals in our life. We both live with his parents, in separate rooms of course, but I am ready to take the next step of commitment in our lives. I told…
Read MoreIs it a sin to shave off one’s beard?
Question: Is it a sin to shave off one’s beard? I heard an argument that God gave men beards to differentiate them from women and that they shouldn’t shave them off because that’s saying to God that He made a mistake on their faces? Answer: The problem is that the argument is not one that…
Read MoreBe Ready to Give an Answer
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/BeReadyToGiveAnAnswer.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreGreat Things from Acts 2
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/GreatThingsFromActs2.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MorePride of the World
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/PrideOfTheWorld.mp3 by Andrew Long
Read MoreWhat does “the fullness of Christ” mean?
Question: I thank you for the website. I’ve gotten a better understanding of some things. I am writing you because I don’t quite understand when the Scriptures say “the fullness of God” or “the fullness of Christ” in Colossians 2:9; Ephesians 4:13; Colossians 1:19; Romans 15:29 and John 1:16. Answer: “Fullness” means to fill up…
Read MoreHow did sin spread if it was not inherent in men?
Question: Hello! I agree with your belief that the Bible does not speak of inheriting a “sin nature” from Adam. If you wrote your own version of the Bible, how would you translate Romans 5:12? Or, can you explain how death “spread” to all men, since it’s our own personal sin that brings death? How…
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