Does wearing a mask mean you don’t trust God?

Question: I am in a battle with some of my family members regarding following the CDC guidelines concerning COVID 19 (they are reckless). With the numbers going up where I live, I have chosen to follow the guidelines regarding wearing a mask in public and social distancing, and not socializing between households. My family members…

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Why does the ESV remove that God hates divorce in Malachi 2:16?

Question: Do you know why in Malachi 2:16 the ESV removes the saying that God hates divorce? Answer: “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless” (Malachi…

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Expressing an Opinion

by Doy Moyer Image by Tumisu from Pixabay Being able to recognize one’s own opinion and the effect that the stated opinion might have is important for discernment and growth in Christ. Many times I have failed and wish I could pull back on how I’ve stated some opinions. In an environment of strife, here…

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That’s Your Interpretation!

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Thats-Your-Interpretation.mp3 Text: II Peter 1:10-21   I.         When you want to read a book which was written in French, but you don’t know French, what do you do?             A.        You find an interpretation of the French book into a language you know.             B.        An interpreter copies the meaning of something from one language into another language.             C.        But can…

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Does It Matter What I Believe? (Sermon)

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Does-It-Matter-What-I-Believe.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Kings 18:25-40   I.         When Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal in I Kings 18             A.        It wasn’t that the false prophets were insincere or had no belief at all             B.        They cut themselves, danced in a frenzy, and spent a day calling on their god.             C.        If all you needed was…

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I’m worried about selling my soul

Question: I have a question for you. Over the past couple of weeks I have these thoughts that keep coming into my mind about selling my soul. I would never do that because I love Jesus and I want to live through him. Yesterday, I had these thoughts and said “Nobody will never sell their…

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Tolerance

by Ken Weliever via The Preacher’s Word Thomas Donelan, a Florida minister, offered this description of tolerance. To tolerate means I can disagree with you while still respecting you. One person is a Republican, another Democrat. We put aside our differences and get along. One person is a (Florida) Gator, another a (Florida Seminole University)…

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Being Right and Wrong at the Same Time

by Matthew W. Bassford I am quite sure that God frequently shakes His head in amazement at my foolishness. However, I hope that year by year, decade by decade, I manage to get a little bit wiser. One such hard-won nugget of wisdom has to do with being right and wrong at the same time.…

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One in Christ

by Doy Moyer Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash If all Christians are committed to be united in Christ, then the racial and ethnic boundaries that exist in culture will dissolve as all strive to live out the culture of the Kingdom of God. Our citizenship is in heaven, and this runs counter to ideas…

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What to Do When the Country Is Falling Apart?

  by Gardner Hall The prophet Habakkuk was overwhelmed with anxiety about two things: The injustice in his country (Habakkuk 1:1-4) and the resulting destruction at the hands of the Babylonians (Habakkuk 1:5-2:1). However, when the prophet turned to the Lord in prayer, his confidence grew to the point that he could rejoice in the…

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Are We Disobeying God?

Question: Good morning minister, I have a question that has been troubling my heart. Prophecies came concerning my fiancee and me that we both don’t have any issue but if we marry there’ll be a great situation that’ll be ahead of us that might lead to us regretting our union. None of them gives us…

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My daughter, whom I had from an affair, ignores me

Question: In my younger days, I met this woman and got her pregnant after a prolonged friendship. We were not ready for marriage and we went our separate ways. Later, both of us married to other people. I followed up on our daughter and even got her a job where she met her future husband.…

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Does past adultery prevent a person from getting married?

Question: Hello brother, I have been single for many years, and I have now found someone in the church I’m wanting to marry. But in my past, I was not very faithful to God in my daily living. In my past, I slept with someone who may have been married herself. I’m not totally for…

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A Debtor to Grace

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/A-Debtor-to-Grace.mp3 by Raymond Warfel

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Why was it a sin for David to count the fighting men?

Question: In I Chronicles 21, why was it a sin for David to take a census? Answer: “When you take a census of the sons of Israel to number them, then each one of them shall give a ransom for himself to the LORD, when you number them, so that there will be no plague…

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The Absolute Truth

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/The-Absolute-Truth.mp3 Text: Jeremiah 32:37-41   I.         I’m sure you have heard people who in matters of right and wrong express this belief             A.        “I feel it is wrong for me, but other people have to decided for themselves whether it is wrong for them. I can’t push my beliefs on others.”             B.        The statement is called “moral relativism.”…

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See If You Can Find a Man

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/See-If-You-Can-Find-a-Man.mp3 Text: Jeremiah 5:1-13   I.         The last days of the southern kingdom of Judah             A.        The people had become very corrupt – Jeremiah 5:20-23             B.        God purposed to severely punish His people – Jeremiah 5:26-31 II.        But there is one hope – Jeremiah 5:1             A.        Jeremiah is told to run through Jerusalem and find a man                         1.         A man who…

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How do I teach someone about the proper way to do benevolence?

Question: Hello, I am a newer Christian and love your site. Thanks so much for making it available. While I have much growth spiritually, know that you are helping me to grow. My cousin and I do not agree on the benevolence work of an individual Christian vs. the Local Church. He wants to study…

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Should we pray for the end of the COVID-19 plague?

Question: I hope this coronavirus will end soon. What should we pray for in this crisis? I believe God knows what is happening so how should we pray and what should we pray for? Answer: Prayer is the time to tell God about our desires. Consider that Jesus knew that he would die on a…

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Do I tell my boss that I might have made a mistake?

Question: Hello, I started a job at a grocery store yesterday. Today on my way to church, all of a sudden, the thought popped up in my head that I could have caused a customer’s soda to not get scanned. Now I know at the time, I thought it was scanned. Another person was actually…

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Did Jesus receive the Holy Spirit when he was baptized?

Question: My question is about Jesus and him being baptized. Did he receive the Holy Spirit during his baptism? Answer: When Peter said, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38), he…

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How do I start being a good parent?

Question: Hello, I am a babe in Christ. I was just baptized last month. My life has changed very much since then, and I have no desire to go back to the way I was. I still have struggles, but I am trying to live a Christian life. A major problem that I have right…

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Forgiveness and Consequence

by Doy Moyer One of the fallouts of what is being called “cancel culture” is a marked lack of mercy and forgiveness. If you’ve ever said or done something that culture considers anathema, then you are done. Canceled. From this point on, you will have zero credibility with little to zero chance of redeeming yourself.…

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Racism Is Wrong

by Doy Moyer Racism is wrong. Do you know why? If you say that it is wrong, but do not ultimately know why, then all you are doing is expressing either your own personal preferences or mirroring the preferences of others. That is not acceptable, for preferences are subjective expressions, not objective moral statements to…

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Should we change congregations?

Question: Hi, We are faithful members of a smaller congregation. We have less than ten youths and three of them are ours. Our oldest is now a teen and is having trouble navigating adolescence (none his age at our home congregation). We have fellowship with surrounding sound congregations over the years for any events they…

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Just a Drop in a Bucket

by Doy Moyer I find it interesting that in the midst of a passage intended to provide comfort for God’s people, and in declaring God’s greatness, we find this (Isaiah 40:15, 17, 23): “Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales…” “All the nations…

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Black lives matter is a bigger issue than the organization

Question: Black lives matter is a bigger issue than just the Black Lives Matter organization. I’m afraid this article will be used by those who are merely tired of people saying that black lives matter, small letters, because either they don’t agree or don’t care. This is a huge issue in our country. Your other…

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Does God want me to give up everything and preach the Gospel?

Question: Hello Minister, I’ve recently been dealing with a lot of internal conflict concerning God’s individual will for my life. I’ve been in deep thought as to whether I should give up all the things that I enjoy, as well as my current life at home with my parents, in order to serve Christ and…

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Can you do videos of your information to reach other countries?

Question: Dear Sir, Your article on salvation was superb and eye-opening. I found it by accident. Have you thought of making a YouTube video or Bitchute (which is more freedom-oriented) video to share this with more people globally? I think this is a critical doctrine issue that people really need to hear, even in different…

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How do I help a mentally ill parent?

Question: Hello, Thank you for all of the work that you do to inform people about what the Bible has to say about various matters. I need some help trying to understand my role in a situation dealing with my mother. I have a 70-year-old mother who is physically disabled (she has all of her…

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Skin Color Is Temporary

by Jonathan Perz One of the great spiritual ironies of “race” (as it relates to the color of a person’s skin) is the fact that at some point, we will all be changed. Consider the words of the apostle Paul” “All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of…

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Romans 12

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Romans-12.mp3 by Raymond Warfel

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Fathers

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Fathers.mp3 by Raymond Warfel

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Black Lives Matter is no different than the Democrats or Republicans

Question: Hello Brother, First I like to start off by saying this website has been a tremendous help with my Christian walk. I am a member of the church, and I stumbled across this website roughly five years ago. I check your topics pretty much each week, and I agree with the majority of your…

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Should Christians Strike?

Text: I Peter 2:18-25   I.         Labor unions are lauded for the improvements they wrought in the workplace             A.        By encouraging employees to act as one, many concessions have been won from companies             B.        When the group appeals don’t sway an employer, strikes often will                         1.         Strikes shutdown the “life blood” of a business, preventing the production of products…

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