I decided to change my wardrobe
Question: Hello, I’m really grateful for the advice you gave to a lady battling with guilt and issues about whether to break up with her fiancé. I had the same thoughts today, even though we have been trusting God for our wedding next year. I felt the standards I had at first have diminished and from the…
Read MoreI want my friend to be saved but she isn’t listening
Question: Sir, Keep up the good work. I want my friend to be saved. She is falling away from Jesus Christ constantly and she is only fifteen! She knows the truth, but she just does not want to listen. She is falling away like Sodom and Gomorrah! My question is who are the two witnesses?…
Read MoreIs online worship acceptable?
Question: Good morning, I hope this email finds you well. During the national lockdowns in my country, the church moved to online worship and this was beneficial in many ways. Now national lockdowns have ceased and the building is open for members to return. Attendance within some congregations has not returned to its normal level…
Read MoreWhat happens to people who die without being baptized?
Question: Hello, I have been reading about the church of Christ and the issue of baptism. If baptism is required for salvation, what happens to people who die without being baptized? Thank you. Answer: What happens to a person who disobeys God? “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all…
Read MoreBe an Example (Tant)
by Jefferson David Tant Paul’s letters to young Timothy, his son in the gospel, and Titus, are filled with good thoughts concerning their work as those who spread and proclaim the gospel. Among Paul’s exhortation are two passages we want to consider in today’s article. “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather…
Read MoreYesterday
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Yesterday.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 90 I. Yesterday only exists in fading memories, worn out photographs, and history books A. It is a collection of, often times, imperfect records kept in imperfect medium II. Yet, it is also one of the finest learning centers available, if we are willing to go there to learn A. Paul…
Read MoreCan God only act if man permits it?
Question: Hello Mr. Hamilton, I came across a theory by the late Myles Munroe, and that is the idea that God needs our permission to act on Earth and gets this permission by way of our prayers. His premise for this theory is this: All spirits need a dirt body to act upon the Earth. Since…
Read MoreUnleavened Bread
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Unleavened-Bread.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Exodus 12:14-20 I. Sometimes you can’t wait A. When Lot invited men to spend the night at his home, he didn’t have time wait for bread dough to rise, so his feast was served with unleavened bread – Genesis 19:3 B. When it was time for Israel to leave Egypt, the…
Read MoreJamaica Patois Wisdom – Pornography
by Jefferson David Tant The Jamaican Patois dialect is colorful, unique, and humorous. It is my desire to share some of the philosophy shown in this mix of colorful phrases that are witty as well as thought-provoking. I hope the readers both profit and enjoy. In my quarter-century plus of teaching there, I have come…
Read MoreThe Wording of the King James Bible
by Tom Edwards via The Gospel Observer It was back around 1973 when I first read through all of the King James Version of the Bible. Having been originally written in 1611, its different wording also had an interesting appeal to me – the “thee’s” and the “thou’s” and the words with the “eth” endings,…
Read MoreOrigins of the Philistines
“Mizraim became the father of Ludim and Anamim and Lehabim and Naphtuhim and Pathrusim and Casluhim (from which came the Philistines) and Caphtorim” (Genesis 10:13-14). [Mizraim is the founder of ancient Egypt.] “Are you not as the sons of Ethiopia to Me, O sons of Israel?” declares the LORD. “Have I not brought up Israel from…
Read MoreHistorians Don’t Doubt Jesus’ Existence
Source: John Dickson, “Most Australians may doubt that Jesus existed, but historians don’t,” ABC Religion and Ethics, 23 December 2021. “When you apply the normal rules of history to Jesus of Nazareth, this figure is plainly a historical one not a mythical one. The early and diverse sources we have put his existence (and much…
Read More“If” or “Nevertheless”?
by Jefferson David Tant “They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; and passing by Mysia, they came down to…
Read MoreA Woman’s Contribution to the Local Congregation
by Carey Scott from several sources More often than not, women are the lifeblood of the congregation. Attention is often given to the limitations placed on women in the assemblies of the church because of what is written in I Corinthians 14:34-37 and because of what is written in I Timothy 2:11-12. Such limitations notwithstanding,…
Read MoreWhat kind of critic are you?
by Doy Moyer People are critics of others. Right or wrong, good or bad, people will criticize. We all do it. But there are good and bad ways to go about this. Not all critics are the same. Not all share the same credibility or show the same levels of concern. Think about it on…
Read MoreThe Sinner’s Prayer – Not Found
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/The-Sinners-Prayer-Not-Found.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreIt’s Going to Be OK
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Its-Going-to-Be-OK.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreIs it wrong to sing and play with unbelievers?
Question: My friend studied music in a university, graduated, and joined the state music band, which means he will always play in state events. However, He was disfellowshiped by the church on the grounds of playing instruments and singing with unbelievers. Is this right or wrong? In addition to this, I have another friend and…
Read MoreWhen is it permissible to change congregations locally?
Question: Dear Brother, I’ll get right to the point with my question, and then some brief context. When is it permissible scripturally for a member and or their family to switch local congregations? The context We live in a town with several [perceived] biblically sound congregations, of which my family and I are a part…
Read MoreHow can you add to the Word?
Question: There is a teaching that says “adding or subtracting” from God’s word is a sin. My question is how can you add to the word? My congregation teaches that if you add musical instruments to worship, you are adding to the word because the word states “to sing and make music in your hearts”. The word…
Read MoreWhen is restitution required?
Question: I’m aware that I am very scrupulous. I’ve become very very numb to God because on one end I’m entirely too obsessive and want to be perfect. Then on the other end, I become numb to avoid trying to gain perfection. I’ve quit jobs due to my religious anxiety and feeling the need to…
Read MoreWhat is your experience with marketing your church?
Question: Hi, I am forming a team to explore how to market our church. We are only 5 years old and have about 60 members. We have a thin website and a members-only Facebook page. Please share your lessons learned on marketing your church. Thank you. Answer: We don’t have a church. We belong to…
Read MoreYou Wouldn’t Believe It
by Doy Moyer “Look, you scoffers, marvel and vanish away, because I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will never believe, even if someone were to explain it to you” (Acts 13:41). Paul quoted this from Habakkuk 1:5. In Habakkuk’s context, the sins of the people had reached a point…
Read MoreDoes it mean I’ll never marry because I have strong feelings for a married man?
Question: I have been struggling greatly recently with my feelings for a very close friend of mine. The problem is that he is married. He and I were very close to each other about five years ago. We both liked each other, but never actually dated due to long distance. We lost touch for a…
Read MoreLet God Be True
by Terry Wane Benton Romans 3:4 gives us this principle: “Let God be true but every man a liar.” What does this mean? It means that God is always far more dependable than man. God cannot lie (Hebrews 6:12). Man often lies, misunderstands, gets things mixed up, is easily deceived, etc. Therefore, when it comes…
Read MoreThose “Strange People”
by Robert F. Turner Years ago I shared a seat on the train with a “missionary” returning from work in Alaska. He told me he met some “strange people” up there who thought they could work out their own salvation. I said, “With fear and trembling; Philippians 2:12.” “No, No!” he said. “I mean they…
Read MoreKill and Eat
by Terry Wane Benton Peter’s Vision Acts 10:9-12 In Acts 10 Peter was told by God in a vision to kill and eat the animals, and there was a wide assortment, some of which God had forbidden to the Jews under the Old covenant. God explained that those unclean animals (off-limits to the Jews before)…
Read MoreIn Everything Give Thanks
by Terry Wane Benton Paul says, “this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (I Thessalonians 5:18). This is what God wants. He doesn’t want us to spend our time complaining and griping. Such a negative disposition! His will is that we spend our time “giving thanks” but doing so “in everything.”…
Read MoreDeparting from the Pattern
by Matthew W. Bassford The biblical plan for the New Testament church is simple. There are a few things we are supposed to do in our assemblies, a few more that we are supposed to do with our money, and that’s it. The scope of the Biblical pattern is extremely narrow. It is unsurprising, then,…
Read MoreThe Reality of Unreason
by Matthew W. Bassford One of the most fascinating exchanges in the New Testament appears toward the end of Paul’s defense before the Jerusalem mob, in Acts 22:17-21. The incident that Paul relates took place shortly after his conversion, after he had fled from Damascus and returned to Jerusalem, still preaching the gospel. While he…
Read MoreMeet the Preacher
by Danny Dodd You may know us, but then again you may not. Preachers have a way of hiding behind the pulpit. We can easily be stereotyped. Through experience, we often learn to become very guarded and protective of our hearts and homes. Paradoxically though we often feel obligated to give even more of ourselves…
Read MoreThe Messiah and Prophecy
by Jefferson David Tant God has not left himself without witnesses. In every age and in many ways, God has revealed his existence to man. Paul declares this in the words that followed the healing of the lame man in Acts 14:16-17: “In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their…
Read MoreShould past sexual sins be discussed before marriage?
Question: Hello, I’m a 30-year-old female Christian. My boyfriend is a few years older and a Christian as well. We have been together for several months. He is a wonderful man. However, he has a sexual past that he refuses to discuss. He says that it has no benefit and will cause jealousy and insecurity…
Read MoreMary’s House
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Marys-House.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 12:12-17 I. In Acts 12 we learn that the persecution of the church intensified in Judea. A. Herod had the apostle James killed – Acts 12:1-2 B. It was a popular act, and so he planned to repeat it by having Peter killed – Acts 12:3-4 C. But Peter did not…
Read MoreHow can a girl and boy be pure again after committing fornication?
Question: It really amazed me to cross your path this afternoon. I’m a 24-year-old youth who has been seeking the correct answer about how can boyfriend and girlfriend be clean and pure again before God after they have committed fornication. I am in a similar situation for a long time now, just as how this…
Read MoreHospitality (Hamilton)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Hospitality.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: III John 3-8 I. Sometimes you are so familiar with a term that you never stop to examine whether your use of the term is actually correct A. Years ago, I was studying about hospitality. There are several passages in the New Testament that tells us to be hospitable 1. Romans…
Read MoreAm I lost because I passed up an opportunity to teach?
Question: Since being baptized, I have been interested and active in soul winning. I taught Bible classes for children, worked with VBS, worked with a bus ministry, showed the Jule Miller Film Strips, and sent out Bible correspondence course lessons. I attend worship and Bible study three times a week. When my husband was in…
Read MoreHow do you repent of childhood sins?
Question: My brother and I do not get along. When we were kids we experimented with sexual sins. It was years ago. My mother mentioned that maybe, because of the things that I confessed had happened between my brother and me, we opened some demonic portal and need to repent. How does one repent from…
Read MoreIn the Bible or Not?
/20 169 Created on December 10, 2021 By Jeffrey Hamilton In the Bible or Not? There are many phrases in our language that we just know are in the Bible, but when we look they aren’t there. Which of the following twenty phrases are from the Bible? Each time you take this quiz a different set…
Read MoreBible Literacy Quiz
/20 0 votes, 0 avg 147 Created on December 08, 2021 Bible Literacy How well do you know your Bible? Here are 20 true/false questions. 1 / 20 Mark was called a “son of consolation.” True False Barnabas (Joseph), Mark’s cousin was called “son of consolation” (Acts 4:36). 2 / 20 “Blessed” means favored or…
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