I need advice about living with my girlfriend
Question: Good day sir, I read through the advice you gave a lady on your site and I was enlightened with your answers. Please sir, I also need your help in this area. I am a guy staying with my girlfriend. The problem is that we have set rules to guide us for the period…
Read MoreI liked your old format better
Question: Just to let you know I don’t care for your new format. I loved the old one. Is there any way to use that old data? Thank you for all the years I’ve used your site. Answer: It is nice to know that you liked the original design since I hand created it for…
Read MoreReclaiming John 10:28
by Matthew W. Bassford It is sad but true that often, the most emphatic refutation of doctrinal error is another error. Consider, for instance, Martin Luther’s reaction to the Renaissance Catholic practice of selling indulgences. He objected, and rightly so, to the notion that we could purchase our salvation, whether with money or with righteous…
Read MoreIs it wrong to pray the Psalms?
Question: I have an urgent question that is generating heat in my congregation. This heat is created by my wife. She prays the Psalms, and I personally do not agree with her on this. But she insists that it is the word of God. I don’t agree because we are New Testament worshipers and the…
Read MoreDid Jesus become a curse?
Question: Good day, In Galatians 3:10-13, did Jesus become a curse? Please give some insight into this verse. Thanks. Answer: “The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘All the nations will be blessed in you.'” So then those who are of faith are blessed…
Read MoreWhy Did Uzzah Have to Die?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Why-Did-Uzzah-Have-to-Die.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Samuel 6:1-10 I. David had long desired to bring the Ark of God, the very symbol of God’s presence into his capital city. A. With great fair-fare and many witnesses, the Ark was placed on a cart and led from it’s current site to Jerusalem. B. But something funny happened…
Read MoreDid Jesus die to remove God’s wrath against sin?
Question: Good day, Is there Scripture that says God’s wrath was removed for sin after Jesus died on the cross? Answer: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from…
Read MoreWere collections taken before and after the collection for the needy in Judea?
Question: Dear Jeffrey, I have a question: did the church at Corinth collect offering every first day of the week before Paul wrote to them. After Paul and his team picked what the Corinthian church donated, did they continue to take collection every first day of the week? If so, how do we know? Does…
Read MoreBeing a Christian Will Not Save You
Being a Christian Will Not Save You – Part 1Being a Christian Will Not Save You – Part 2Being a Christian Will Not Save You – Part 3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Jude 1-10 I. Why did you become a Christian? A. For most of us, we desired the promise – Ephesians 1:13-14 B. We wanted…
Read MoreTo Affect Change
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/To-Affect-Change.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Peter 2:13-17 I. Peter talked about our relationship to the government – I Peter 2:13-17 A. Submission to the government is an involuntary action. Most of us do not have opportunities to chose which government we wish to live under. Even with choice, we will always be under some…
Read MoreHe Restrained Them Not (Iverson)
by John Iverson Do you think juvenile delinquency is an evil that is peculiar to our day? If so, then you would do well to read your Bible, particularly such passages as are found in the book of First Samuel. I Samuel 2:1 Bible Illustrations by Sweet Media Eli was a judge in Israel and…
Read MoreDoes Ezekiel 14:12-23 teach that some are saved by their own righteousness?
Question: Is Ezekiel 14:12-23 a passage about these men being saved by their own righteousness? Were they perfect so they could save themselves, apart from God’s grace, since “all have sinned”? And is an inference of eternal salvation valid from this passage? I ask this because I’m convinced that you can crush this solid food…
Read MoreShould I marry a woman who had a habit of dating married men?
Question: Is it OK to marry a lady who has a past of dating married men? The majority of the men she has dated were married men. It also bothers me that she keeps her past a secret. Answer: I don’t know what kind of things you think she is keeping secret from you. Should…
Read MoreThe Problem with a Comprehensible God
by Matthew W. Bassford In my time as a preacher, I’ve had my share of conversations with people who thought they had a moral or philosophical justification for their agnosticism/atheism. They found something in the Bible they didn’t like. Maybe it was God commanding the slaughter of the Canaanite children. Maybe it was God condemning…
Read MoreWhy do you say that the 613 laws of the Old Testament are a myth?
Question: Can you please point me to the area of teaching that shows the 613 laws are a Jewish myth? I would like to study this too. Answer: The claim that there are 613 laws in the Old Testament first appeared in the third century A.D. when a Jewish Rabbi, named Simlai, mentioned it in…
Read MoreThanks for the article on gambling
Question: Thanks for the article on gambling. It’s well done! Answer: You’re welcome. I’m glad you found it useful in your studies.
Read MoreDo you take an open view of God?
Question: Good day, Brother Jeff, I have gotten very satisfactory answers from you since I started using your site. You answer like a real teacher. I’m just shuffling off progressivism from my life and neither do I want to be an extremist to the left or right in any matter. I just want the truth.…
Read MoreWhy did Jesus stay around for forty days after his resurrection?
Question: Good day, Brother Jeffrey, I am asking for your help regarding this question: Why did Jesus stay around for 40 days, after He came back from the grave, instead of going immediately into Heaven? I know you are busy answering hundreds of emails every day so I am sorry for adding another burden on…
Read MoreHe Showed Himself Alive by Many Proofs
I. The bodily resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of Christianity A. If it is not true, then our religion is a hoax B. I Cor. 15:12-19 C. Our faith stands or falls on whether not the resurrection actually occurred. II. Objections to a resurrection A. “It’s unscientific” 1. The Soviet Encyclopedia The concept of a resurrection “is found to be the…
Read MoreShould I tell my boyfriend that I’ve had sex with my cousin?
Question: Hello, I need help. I am a young lady. I have a good obedient boyfriend. He is loyal, faithful, and respects me. We have dated for five years now. He has not asked me for sex, for which I am proud of him. The problem now is that my cousin lives with me at…
Read MoreCan non-believers join you for worship?
Question: Hi, I have two questions for now from reading your web site, I am sort of looking for the why and wherefore from you and God’s word. With your invitation to join the congregation for Sunday worship and Bible study; do you have any restrictions on who can and cannot join you for worship…
Read MoreDo we forgive even though the elders refuse to change?
Question: “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him” (Luke 17:3-4). After reading this passage, it causes me…
Read MoreBible Stories
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Bible-Stories.mp3 Text: II Peter 1:16-21 I. “Grandpa, read me a story.” A. Children love hearing a story and so stories are selected to teach the children some lessons B. Most of us don’t grow out of the desire to hear a story. Whether from reading a book or hearing a podcast or watching a movie, stories have…
Read MoreI prayer your website never ends
Question: Greetings: I don’t remember if I have contacted you in the past or not, but I have always wanted to. I am a member of a conservative congregation. I have learned so much from our current minister. However, before he came, I went to your website for all my answers and found your site…
Read MoreIs the first day of the week Monday in some countries?
Question: I am confused over the first day of the week. Why is Sunday is the first day of the week in America but it is Monday in the UK? Does that make Monday a day of worship there? Answer: The world has always had multiple calendars in use. The one used in the United…
Read MoreA Tribute to Miss Bernice
by Royce Bell I’m so deeply saddened, yet rejoice in the victory, in mentioning the passing of Bernice Boyes, of Lake Elsinore CA, at 105 years. She was the single best evangelist with whom I’ve been associated in my near 50 years of preaching. Berry Kercheville worked with sister Boyes as a young preacher, and…
Read MoreI get lost with all the “he”s in Isaiah 37:8-9. Can you explain who is who?
Question: Hi Jeff, I have a question about these verses. The wording is a bit strange and I’m not sure I understand it right: “Then Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, for he had heard that the king had left Lachish. When he heard them say concerning Tirhakah king of Cush, “He has come…
Read MoreIs conditionalism a possibility?
Question: Is Luke 16:19-31 another parable in the series of the chapter? Does I Timothy 6:16 mean that we are not immortal? I ask because conditionalism looks very attractive, especially after reading Al Maxey’s reflections. But I have some doubts about it because if hell is not eternal, can we expect heaven to be? Also…
Read MoreBlack Lives Matter Statement
by Jefferson David Tant There is much turmoil and violence taking place in our nation over the racial problems that have become prominent in recent months. The “Black Lives Matter” movement has taken a leading role in discussions, demonstrations, and even violence in many places, including the murder of a woman who said “All lives…
Read MoreThe Biblical Teacher’s Manual
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/The-Biblical-Teachers-Manual.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreThe Words We Speak
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/The-Words-We-Speak.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 4:17-24 I. There is a Proverb that stands out in my mind – Proverbs 26:18-19 A. You cannot cover up lies with a claim that you were making a joke. B. We are judged by what we say, even the casual things said without much thought – Matthew 12:35-37 1. Why?…
Read MoreWere the Egyptian magicians able to do real miracles?
Question: I want to know if the Egyptian magicians did real miracles or did they appear to do so by the means of a tonic to immobilize the snakes? Also did the witch at Endor really summon Samuel or was it an illusion? Answer: It might seem that the Egyptian magicians were able to do…
Read MoreIs the “Cancel Culture” something Christians should be involved in?
Question: Jeff, I’ve heard some refer to “Cancel Culture” and I have read things online but I am in need of what the meaning is from a Christian’s view and what the Bible says about it. Can you help me out with this? Answer: “Cancel Culture” refers to withdrawing support for a person or company…
Read MoreAre Christadelphians Christians?
Question: Hi Jeff, I want to know if Christadelphians can be considered Christians. They preach the gospel and baptize scripturally. Just that some of their unbeliefs are frightening. Are they Christians even if they are compromised on some things? Thanks. Answer: The Christadelphians trace their roots back to a British physician named John Thomas. He…
Read MoreWas fornication not a sin under the Old Testament?
Question: Since the Old Testament had no shedding of blood for fornication, could it be considered a sin under the Old Testament? Answer: There were numerous types of offerings given to God depending on the circumstances. A sin-offering was given when the person’s sin did not have restitution included in the punishment. “Now if a…
Read MoreWays to Find the Lost
by Whit Sasser The following are some of the ways an individual can find those who are disposed of heart to become Christians; with the hope that once they hear the gospel, they will obey it, to the saving of their souls. Some of the ways require much money; some are practically cost-free. Some involve…
Read MoreShould I acknowledge the anniversaries of couples I know are in unscriptural marriages?
Question: Hello Mr. Hamilton, I send cards for different reasons to church family members as well as loved ones all year long. About 90% of my card collection contain Scriptures and faith-based messages. But the one kind that tugs at my heart is “Happy Anniversary,” for couples I care about outside the church, including family…
Read MoreQuestions about long hair, piercings, and tattoos
Question: I recently found a few questions at the back of my head: Is having long hair a sin? I am a male and have about chin-length hair. Am I in the wrong in keeping it this length, and wanting to grow it to reach my shoulders? When thinking about men and long hair, the…
Read MoreWhat Is Teaching?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/What-Is-Teaching.mp3 Text: Hebrews 5:6-6:3 I. Teaching is a duty within the church A. Ephesians 4:11 – Listed with apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors. B. Acts 13:1 – Antioch had prophets and teachers C. I Corinthians 12:28-29 – Listed among apostles and prophets. D. Romans 12:6-8 – Teaching is a gift to be exercised to our best ability E. Paul performed…
Read MoreUncommon Courtesy
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Uncommon-Courtesy.mp3 Text: Romans 15:1-6 I. Sometimes I have to wonder what happened to common courtesy. The phrase needs to be changed because it seem common courtesy has become uncommon. A. Courtesy is “the showing of politeness in one’s attitude and behavior toward others” 1. It comes from a French word meaning “courtly ideals; chivalry, chivalrous conduct; elegance…
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