Mitochondrial DNA Differences Indicate a 6,000 Year Old Human Race
Source: Nathaniel T. Jeanson, “On the Origin of Human Mitochondrial DNA Differences, New Generation Time Data Both Suggest a Unified Young-Earth Creation Model and Challenge the Evolutionary Out-of-Africa Model,” Answers Research Journal, September 2016. “Previously, I predicted that a constant rate of mutation over 6000 years would result in 20 to 79 mitochondrial genome-wide nucleotide differences.…
Read MoreScience Confirms Flood Timeline
Source: Jeffrey P. Tomkins, Ph.D., “Y-Chromosome Study Confirms Genesis Flood Timeline,” ICR.org, 17 December 2019. “In this current study, the authors note that if humans have actually been around for several hundred thousand years or more, they should have accumulated 8 to 59 times the amount of mutations that we currently observe in Y-chromosome DNA…
Read MoreIs it a sin not to get married in a church?
Question: I am in my late twenties and my fiancee is a year younger than me. We live in an African country, and we have been engaged for several years now. We have been waiting for the approval of my fiancee’s parents. They don’t want the marriage because I am a pastor and I’m not…
Read MorePortraits of God’s Leaders
A series of lessons presented by Ross Ward of Des Moines, Iowa, April 4-9, 2021 King Saul – An ‘I’ Problem Saul relies on his own will and ability, ultimately refused to accept responsibility for his actions (I Samuel 8-16) Jesus – Humble Servant King Jesus is King but not according to the world’s standards…
Read MoreHis Name Shall Be …
by George Slover “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). The names of Christ reveal the various aspects of his nature and character. By…
Read MoreFaces Surrounding Calvary: Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus
by Dave Hart We are given very little insight as to the lives and characters of these two men, but there are some things we know about them which are worthy of our attention. Joseph of Arimathea was a rich man, a member of the council or what was otherwise known as the Sanhedrin. Nicodemus…
Read MoreMusic in Worship (Hart)
by Dave Hart When people visit churches of Christ for the first time, they are often surprised to hear only singing. There are no instruments of music such as pianos, organs, drums, or guitars. Neither do they hear choirs, quartets, or solos. Every member of the congregation is encouraged to join in the singing. Why…
Read MoreAnother Chance
by Carey Scott Many people in the denominational world embrace doctrines which offer a second chance to everyone. Many realize that they will fail God, and the thought that they might get a second chance intrigues them. For some, this is all the crutch they need to just continue in their sins, for after all:…
Read MoreSeeking to Ruin a Reputation
by Floyd Chappelear Sentry Magazine, December 1999 He had seen Jesus after the resurrection (Acts 9). He had been left dead and had seen things on the other side that it was not lawful to speak about (see Acts 14:19; II Corinthians 12:4). The man was powerful, influential beyond measure. His influence must be destroyed.…
Read MoreGood News, Bad News
by Mark Chatfield Sentry Magazine, December 1999 What do you want to hear first, the good news or the bad news? Since we want to end this article on a positive note, let’s do it this way … Bad News Lately, the news has been making the news. It seems that CNN became so enamored…
Read MoreA Conversation with a Rabbi
by Jefferson David Tant As the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah approached, the Atlanta Journal ran a story, focusing on its observance by a Chabad-Lubavitch sect of the Hasidic movement. This is an ultra-conservative denomination in Judaism. I wrote a letter to the young rabbi mentioned in the article, and from that was able to set…
Read MoreWhy did God have His Son killed instead of just killing the devil and ending everything?
Question: I’ve seen this reposted on several internet platforms and I just want to know your thoughts on this: why did God have His Son killed instead of just killing the devil and ending everything? Answer: Ending Satan immediately would seem like a just response to the misery Satan has caused in this world. However,…
Read MoreDoes it make a difference that the preposition used for “in the name of” is different in various verses?
Question: I have often tried to tell people that “in the name of” in Acts 2:38, means or is “by the authority of.” When I was looking at the Greek, it has the word “epi” in Acts 2:38 for the word “in” which means “on, upon”, and the usage is “on, to, against, on the…
Read MoreU.S. Church Membership Declines to Under 50%
Source: Jeffrey M. Jones, “U.S. Church Membership Falls Below Majority for First Time,” Gallup News, 29 March 2021. “47% of Americans said they belonged to a church, synagogue or mosque, down from 50% in 2018 and 70% in 1999.” “The decline in church membership is primarily a function of the increasing number of Americans who express no…
Read MoreHow do I stop committing fornication?
Question: Good evening, I’m in my thirties. I have been in a relationship for a number of years, Prior to my current relationship, I had two other sexual partners. I am currently sexually active with my current partner, though we are not married. My relationship with the Lord has been on and off. I have…
Read MoreI feel guilty about my past
Question: Hello, I’m 16 years old. I became a Christian several years ago. I’m writing to you today because I’ve been recently feeling guilty about something I did when I was younger. My family and I were in a store and I went into the aisle and saw a pack of candy open, so I…
Read MoreA Case Study in Contentment
by Jefferson David Tant “Contentment” is a word that may not well describe many people. There are many causes of discontent in this 21st Century — family discord, health issues, job stress, financial concerns, government corruption, joblessness, worries about the threat of Islamic terrorism, and sometimes church problems. These are struggles that most all of…
Read MoreAll Servanthood Is Not Equal
by Terry Wane Benton There is slavery by force, started by kidnapping (Exodus 21:16; Deuteronomy 24:7). Thus, this slavery is not equal to the poor loaning themselves out voluntarily for 7 years or until the 50th (Jubilee) year in Israel to pay their debts. Slavery by force and kidnapping was forbidden in Israel, and therefore…
Read MoreHow do I advise someone who claims to have gender dysphoria?
Question: Good day! I hope you are doing well. I have a friend who’s a transgender atheist, though she did not surgically alter her body (since she’s barely a teenager). She inwardly feels that she is a he. She has even demanded us to call her by a male name, as her sort of new…
Read MoreRenewed
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Renewed.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Colossians 3:1-11 I. At times we stop and sigh. Wouldn’t it be nice to return to the days of childhood, when we didn’t have a care in the world? When we were ignorant of all the problems in the world and unacquainted with sin? – Matthew 18:3 A. In our…
Read MoreHow do I know that a slip was not due to a lack of repentance?
Question: Since repentance doesn’t necessarily mean that we won’t commit the same mistakes after becoming a Christian, how does one know when their slip-ups are due to weakness and struggling with old sins or habits? If they really are trying to overcome those sins and then repeat mistakes, how do they really know they haven’t…
Read MoreDiscount Books
by Ed Harrell Christianity Magazine, Vol. 5, No. 8, August 1988, p.32 During a recent meeting in El Cajon, California, Gary Knight told me that he had found a copy of my book on Oral Roberts in a major local bookstore. I don’t think that I am overly vain, but I can tell you that…
Read MoreWas Timothy’s father a Christian?
Question: I have a comment on one online question about whether Timothy’s father was a believer or not. Philippians 2:22 seems to indicate that Timothy’s father was a believer and co-worker with Paul and Timothy. Answer: “But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be…
Read MoreWhat do altars in the Old Testament foreshadow in the New Testament?
Question: Good day, In the Old Testament, offerings were made on altars and at times God can ask someone to erect an altar as a remembrance. How do altars relate to Christians? Do we become altars or do we put our prayers and worship to God on the altars of our hearts figuratively? Answer: “Do…
Read MoreThe Disaster of Relativism
by Shane Scott Sentry Magazine, March 2000 Philosophers refer to cur present era of intellectual history as the postmodern period. This means that we are beyond the modern period when the scientific method ruled. As hostile to Christianity as scientific modernism is, there is one crucial area in which both Christians and modernists agree. Both…
Read MoreHow do I overcome the foul language in my mind?
Question: Hello, I want to say that I really do like your website. I have a question about my thoughts. I am a Christian. I obeyed the gospel last year. I previously cussed like a sailor, but I’ve gotten really good at watching my language. I constantly worry that I’ll mess up and say a…
Read MoreCanceled!
by Jefferson David Tant During our recent Christmas holidays, several churches around the country canceled their Sunday services. Some of the statements made by church spokesmen probably revealed more than they realized, as they not only reflected an attitude towards the mistaken idea concerning the birth of Christ but an attitude towards the religion of…
Read MoreKnowledge (Overby)
by Ben Overby Sentry Magazine, March 2000 The Hebrew writer desired to feed his readers “solid food.” but was prevented by their inability to consume such “food,” (see Hebrews 5:12-6:3). An interesting question arises after reading this passage. What value is there in our pursuit of “solid food,” or those truths which go beyond the…
Read MoreLove It or Leave It
by Ed Harrell Vanguard Vol 3, No 21, November 11, 1977 It is difficult to keep one’s thinking truly un-denominational. Proud, carnal attitudes constantly make their way into spiritual affairs. The sources of jealousy and strife today are the same carnal attitudes that plagued the Corinthian church (I Corinthians 3:1-5). I think few people have…
Read MoreSins Against the Church
by Joe Shane Sentry Magazine, March 2000 Are there sins against the church? If so, what are those sins? Simply put, the answer to the first question is yes. The answer to the second is more complicated. Let us begin with a quote from a preacher who will remain nameless. (Since he will have no…
Read MoreSubmission (Bassford)
by Matthew W. Bassford Of all the spiritual topics in the Bible, there are few that are more difficult to discuss in our society than the subject of submission in marriage. Americans never have been particularly submissive people, to begin with, and in the decades since the Sexual Revolution, most traces of an older patriarchal…
Read MoreFanny Crosby
by Bob Buchanon If I told you that today would have been the 201st birthday for Frances Jane Crosby van Alstyne (born March 24, 1820), many would ask, “Who is she?” If I told you that I was referring to Fanny Crosby, many would then reflect on their favorite hymn from this amazing writer and…
Read MoreWhat Is a Gossip?
by Floyd Chappelear Sentry Magazine, March 2000 Too many people think that “gossip” is the communication of information. Not so. The household of Chloe told the apostle Paul about some unflattering things that pertained to the saints at Corinth (I Corinthians 1:11). Paul was given a unique opportunity to lambast them for gossip but did…
Read MoreInto What Were You Baptized?
by Floyd Chappelear Sentry Magazine, March 2000 Which came first? Admission into the church universal or the local church? To some, baptism is an ordinance of the church (that is, the local church). From that perspective, one is baptized into the local church. The truth of the matter is, however, that one is baptized into…
Read MoreHow can I find a list of topics?
Question: I have used your site many times in the past and absolutely love it but apparently, there has been a change or I am using it incorrectly. In the past, I thought, I have always gone to articles and an alphabetical list of subjects would appear. Please advise! Answer: The old design was getting…
Read MoreWho Has Changed?
by Wayne Goforth Sentry Magazine, September 2000 Someone has indeed changed! It has sometimes been argued that “The anti’s have come up a new doctrine.” Thomas B. Warren, in his book on “Lectures on Church Cooperation and Orphan Homes,” argues “If you can find anyone who taught this before 1955, you will be doing me…
Read MoreGenealogy Women
by Whit Sasser The genealogy of Jesus Christ, recorded in chapter 1 of Matthew, is interesting and educational in more ways than one. But, one item of interest has to be the women who are mentioned. Generally, it is a list of the male ancestors of Jesus beginning with Abraham, but a few women are…
Read MoreDon’t Throw Your Heart to Dogs
by Raymond Gonzalez Sentry Magazine, March 2001 “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” (Matthew 7:6). Not in my wildest dreams as a babe in Christ, did I think to apply this proverb to brethren. The wording…
Read MoreThe Secret of Contentment
by Kenneth W. Ledbetter Sentry Magazine, March 2001 I want to take a moment to pass along a realization that has helped me in times of great distress and personal trials … found in the words of the apostle Paul. Paul said something in Philippians 4 that has always amazed me. In verse 11 he…
Read MoreWhy can a broken vow to God be forgiven but remarriage remains adultery?
Question: If God can forgive someone who breaks a vow to Him, although we know that vows should never be made, then why is remarriage possibly considered adultery when they’re breaking a vow of marriage? What is the difference between a vow to God and a vow made for marriage? Answer: All sins that are…
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