If Your Right Hand Causes You to Sin
by Terry Wane Benton Jesus talked about “causing” ourselves or others to sin, and in making His point cut deep, He showed that retaining sin is far more serious than cutting off a hand or plucking out an eye (Matthew 5:27-30). You can go to heaven without a hand or an eye, but you cannot…
Read MoreCan false teachers do miracles?
Question: Greeting, Recently I read about this topic from “Summarizing the Book of Acts – Miracles Confirm God’s Word” by Roy H. Lanier, Jr and want to ask your opinion about the material. “Many “Spirit-filled” claimers today contradict plain Bible teachings. Some of their doctrines violate the clear teachings of the Lord. God would not…
Read MoreWhat is the fate of a man who was involved with a sexually immoral woman?
Question: Is it good to be in a relationship that one knows will not end up in marriage? What must a lady, who made love with many men, do to be clean? What is the sin that God will never forgive? If a man, who is clean, is in a romantic relationship that results in…
Read MoreWas Timothy a Nazirite?
Question: Was Timothy a Nazirite? It appeared that he was reluctant to take the wine ( grape juice) so I know that if he was a Nazirite he would not take even grapes or grape juice for medicine. I was told that it had to be alcohol because he could drink grape juice if he…
Read MoreI feel like I’m a fake Christian
Question: Good afternoon, I’m in my thirties. I have never been intimate with a man. Last month, for the first time I actually had a hard time setting boundaries and was fingered by the man I’m seeing. I’m so upset at myself because I’ve been so steadfast my entire life to do no more than…
Read MoreRolling with the Punches
by Doy Moyer One thing about Christians in Scripture (ideally speaking) — they learned to roll with the punches no matter what was going on. If the government opposed them, they went with it and continued to glorify God. If things were going smoothly, they enjoyed the peace and they kept glorifying God. If they…
Read MoreThe Fullness of Time (Hamilton)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/The-Fullness-of-Time.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text Galatians 3:26-4:7 I. For a plan to succeed there must be preparation A. The plans of the diligent succeed – Proverbs 21:5 1. In part because he isn’t lazy about accomplishing what he plans – Proverbs 13:4 2. The lesson of the ant is that they prepare in advance of…
Read MoreStacking the Deck Against Jesus
by Matthew W. Bassford If there is anything we should take away from reading through the gospels this year, it is a deeper understanding of the skill with which the Evangelists crafted their narratives. Nothing in any of the gospels is there just because Jesus did it. As John observes in John 21:25, all four…
Read MoreFrom Saul to David, From David to Jesus
by Edwin Crozier Paul makes a subtle but profoundly powerful argument in his sermon at Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:16-41). The people, Paul explains, asked for a king (Acts 13:21). So God gave them Saul the son of Kish. As far as the worldly-minded would be concerned, Saul was a pretty good king. The Benjamites…
Read MoreShould newlyweds live with his parents?
Question: Good evening, My boyfriend and I are both members of the Lord’s church and both very faithful. We have been courting a number of months and have talked bout the future of marriage. I am so nervous about marriage because it is such a big decision and neither of us believes in divorce. We…
Read MoreCan you be saved by having the devil beaten out of you?
Question: Please do not dismiss my mail to you as it is very serious and I am honest as well as discreet, as I am sure you will be the same. I am looking to visit you at a local church, or to your ministerial home or suitable confessional venue. Firstly let me say I…
Read MoreThe Wonder of Smell
by Whit Sasser God’s design of the sense of smell is a wonder to experience and ponder. Who hasn’t experienced the sheer joy of smelling honeysuckle, freshly cut grass, brewing coffee, and hundreds of others similar? Some folks like the smell of gasoline, a new car interior, cigarettes (if a smoker), and such like. And…
Read MoreMake Me Know My End
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Make-Me-Know-My-End.mp3 Text: Psalms 39 I. Psalms 38-40 cover related themes regarding the problems caused by sin A. God has punished David because of his sin – Psalms 38:1-2 B. Between God’s punishment and the burden of the sin itself, David feels overwhelmed – Psalms 38:3-8 C. Even close friends and family avoid you when you are suffering because…
Read MoreThe Message of the Cross
I. I Corinthians 1:18-24 A. The core of salvation is the fact that Jesus died for our sins. B. The center of our hope is the knowledge that Jesus arose triumphant over death. C. Yet many are unable to understand this message. 1. The Jews wanted something else. They wanted further proof from God. 2. The Greeks thought it was silly.…
Read MoreCan you pray in your mind or with your head covered?
Question: Dear Jeffrey, I have a couple of questions about prayer. Is it OK to pray in your mind if you are someplace where it is not convenient to do so by speaking the words? Is it wrong to pray with a cap on your head (if you are a man)? Answer: When dedicating the…
Read MoreIs Felix Manalo the last messenger of God?
Question: Good day, I am a member of the Lord’s church here in the Philippines, I have a question regarding Isaiah 46:11 and Isaiah 43:5-7. A religious group called Iglesia ni Cristo claims that their “Sugo” or messenger, Felix Manalo, from the islands mentioned in Isaiah 24:15; 59:19 and Psalms 113:1-3, which they claim the…
Read MoreThank you for the information on when Paul left Titus in Crete
Question: I am a member of the Lord’s church and I am studying the letter to Titus. I was looking at references in the New Testament, trying to figure out when Paul would’ve left Titus in Crete. I Googled for help and got your explanation. It was very helpful! I wanted to tell you that…
Read MoreHow do you respond when introduced to someone clearly living in a sinful relationship?
Question: Hello, I appreciate the scriptural information you share on your site and have a question. What is the best way to respond when introduced to someone who is clearly in a sinful relationship? For example, you run into two ladies at the store, one of whom you know as she works at the same…
Read MoreI love reading your articles
Question: Hi, I’m a member of the Lord’s Church. I’ve always loved to read articles from your sites, and I am always blessed with your writings. It has helped me a lot. I just want to say, thank you and God richly bless the La Vista Church of Christ. Answer: It is always good to…
Read MorePatience
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Patience.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 33:12-22 I. What do you do when things don’t go your way? A. When money becomes tight? Or someone cheats you? B. What happens when life gets difficult and you don’t have a solution? C. Or what happens when something needs to be done and you don’t have enough time? D. For…
Read MoreWhere do witchdoctors get their ability to do magic and to heal?
Question: Hello brother, I would like to ask where do witchdoctors get their magic or ability to heal? Answer: First, we have to consider whether witchdoctors actually have any power or abilities, such as to heal. Like the so-called faith healers and people who claim to be witches, there is no true evidence that any…
Read MoreWas Paul concerned about losing his salvation or being rejected by men?
Question: In the verse where Paul says he could be disqualified, is he referring to being disqualified from having a home in Heaven, or from ministry? Some writers and commentaries think when he refers to being disqualified, that he’s concerned about being disqualified from doing ministry work, instead of being disqualified from salvation. “I myself…
Read MoreHard Sell Evangelism
by Ethan R. Longhenry For good reason, people prove skeptical about salespeople in general. We know they get paid to sell us things, and many of them will make a lot of promises, apply a lot of pressure, and engage in all kinds of manipulative practices to get us to sign on the dotted line.…
Read MoreThe Root of Bitterness (Bassford)
by Matthew W. Bassford Most of us have had an experience, invariably bad, with bitter people. Something has happened to them that they have continued to resent for years or decades, and they often take out their resentment on those who are closest to them. Frequently, we turn to Hebrews 12:15 for a Biblical condemnation…
Read MoreLet it Shine, Let it Shine, Let it Shine . . .
by Edward O. Bragwell Our title is a line from a very familiar song to little folks who participate in Bible classes. Seeing them marching around, holding the imaginary light high with one hand, is a joy. The idea ultimately goes back to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount: “Ye are the light of the world.…
Read MoreI lied to my pastor about sleeping with her daughter
Question: Please, sir, there is something I want to discuss with you. I lied to my pastor and since that time I have been thinking about it. I am in a relationship with her daughter. We are planning to marry. I slept with the lady and the church members found out that I am going…
Read MoreThe People Who Get to Understand
by Matthew W. Bassford Classical Calvinism teaches that it is impossible for the unregenerate to understand the word of God. We first must be anointed by the Holy Spirit before we can comprehend it and be saved. At first glance, Matthew 13:11 appears to support this doctrine. Here, Jesus says to His disciples, “Because the…
Read MoreGod Provides
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/God-Provides.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 12:22-31 I. Imagine having an illness that left you unable to move on your own A. Suffering with this disease for 38 years! – John 5:5-7 B. And then a stranger comes up and cures your disease – John 5:8-9 C. No longer weak, no longer dependent! D. The Jews accused Jesus…
Read MoreIs “If a man dies, shall he live again” a question or a statement?
Question: “If a man dies, shall he live again …” Is that a question or a statement? Thanks. Answer: “For there is hope for a tree, when it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and its shoots will not fail. Though its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in…
Read MoreYour answer on David’s age was helpful
Question: I was preparing for a children’s class and came across an article you had written about the age of David when he took on Goliath and found it to be helpful. Thanks. I came upon your site by accident and glad it happened. I am an elder at a church of Christ. Our meeting…
Read MoreI have problems with my mom
Question: I have problems with my mom. She and my dad have issues, and she’s taking it out on me. Every intention I have to make things better between us is bad to her. She pushes me away and doesn’t want to talk to me nor see me. Please help me. I know I need…
Read MoreShould I just leave my family problems behind?
Question: Hi, I’ve been trying to figure out what I should do with my mom. We aren’t in good terms for almost two years now due to some differences we have in life and decision making. Last year, I decided to move out and want to live independently since I don’t think she really cares…
Read MoreHow do I handle an out-of-control nephew?
Question: I have a family problem I would like advice on. Several years ago, my nephew forged my mother’s name as a co-signer on some student loan documents. Throughout the years he paid very sporadically. Meanwhile, he married and had a family. He had trouble staying employed. Throughout the years my elderly mother has had…
Read MoreThe Wonder of Hearing
by Whit Sasser God’s design of hearing is such a wonder of the human body and our ears in particular. “The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both” (Proverbs 20:12). Our world is full of sound—sirens, traffic, thunder…songbirds, music, voices, etc. Thank God, we can hear! I have read that…
Read MoreCan elders be paid a salary?
Question: Do elders of the church take a salary? Is it biblical for an elder to take a salary if he chooses to? Thank you. Answer: Most elders today aren’t paid because they are often drawing retirement income. However, it is proper for elders to be paid. “The elders who rule well are to be…
Read MoreIs the mustard seed the smallest of all seeds?
Question: I have a Bible question, sir. In Matthew 13:31-32 and in Mark 4:30-32, does Jesus say that the mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds? I have read that the orchid seed is the smallest seed. I’m a little confused. Can you please tell me what Jesus meant when he said that the…
Read MoreDid I make the right choice in returning to my old boyfriend?
Question: Good day! I have a long time boyfriend. I’m a Christian, and he is not. That he is not a Christian is a big deal for me. Even though he has been my boyfriend for almost five years, I keep praying to God to give me a godly man. A man who is actively…
Read MoreAre We Trusting God or Testing God?
“Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike…
Read MoreThe Sons of Thunder
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/The-Sons-of-Thunder.mp3 Text: Mark 3:14-19 I. Often when we talk about the apostles, we focus on the notable Peter and Paul. A. There are many things we can learn from their lives, but we also can learn from the examples of the other apostles as well. B. Today I would like to direct your attention to two brothers,…
Read MoreShould Christians apply for unemployment or look for another job?
Question: Dear Sir, Should a Christian apply for unemployment if they are laid off from a job or just look for another job? Answer: Why is this an either-or question? Unemployment is offered so that a person can pay their bills while looking for another job. The purpose of unemployment insurance “is not to guarantee particular…
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