What About Good Moral People?
by Joe Slater Comparing the “good moral man” of the world to the flawed child of God can be frustrating! Take Cornelius and Peter for one example. Even before obeying the gospel, Cornelius was a deeply religious man — one who reverenced God, prayed regularly, helped the poor, and taught his family to do the…
Read MoreThese Three Words Are the Fabric of Reality
by Doy Moyer These three words are at the heart of everything that exists — and every human being longs for them. But what happens when we try to define them without God? In this video, Doy Moyer explores why truth, goodness, and beauty can’t be grounded in human opinion, culture, or experience — and…
Read MoreIs Jesus a Fictional Character? Then So Is History Itself
by Terry Wane Benton People say, “Jesus was a made-up story for control.” Yet the same people believe Napoleon fought wars, Socrates taught philosophy, and Alexander conquered nations – all without demanding proof. So, let’s compare the evidence: Historical Double Standard Socrates never wrote a single word. Everything we know comes from Plato, written decades…
Read MoreDid Christianity Steal from Pagan Religions?
by Erik Borlaug Did Christianity steal its ideas from pagan religions? Skeptics often claim that the story of Jesus—His virgin birth, His miracles, even His resurrection—was borrowed from earlier myths about “dying and rising gods.” But is that really true? In this video, Erik Borlaug examines the claim that Christianity is merely a copycat religion.…
Read MoreSearching for Meaning in Life? Start Here
by Erik Borlaug So many people are searching for meaning and purpose in life. Success, fun, family, and even good causes often leave us still feeling empty. In this video, we look at what Jesus meant when He said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” (John 7:37). Could it be that…
Read MoreThe Brothers of Jesus Did Not Believe
by Hugh DeLong This title is open to some misunderstanding – at the time that this interaction took place, they did not believe. We are not explicitly told why, but from the context, several things are possible. This one is recognized as a ‘first class’ conditional sentence which, from the speaker or writer’s point of…
Read MoreThe Backbone of the Church
by Micky Galloway In referring to the backbone of the church, I have in mind the firmness, the moral courage, the stand for truth, the spine of the church itself. There are certain “straws” that we should be alarmed about because they are breaking the church’s back. What are some of these “straws”? Sin is…
Read MoreGod’s Kingdom and the Nations
by Doy Moyer The United States, for all the good (and bad) that is found therein, is not the Kingdom of God. When we act like it is, we will almost surely misuse Scripture. I saw a post trying to parallel Israel’s covenant law against a foreigner ruling over them with leaders in the US…
Read MoreIs God Immoral for Killing the Canaanites?
by Terry Wane Benton Judge of All the Earth God is the Judge of all the earth. He does not kill anyone arbitrarily, and when He does take a life out of this world (Genesis 15:16), it is always just and right. If God commanded the killing of the Canaanites, any of them, then it…
Read MoreThe Bread of Life
by Hugh DeLong The temptation to turn rocks into bread brought the response of Jesus that man is to live not by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. God’s word is the bread of life that sustains the soul. Now in John 6, Jesus returns to this…
Read MoreHow to Suffer as a Christian
by David Gibson Since Christ calls us to suffer for Him (John 15:18-20; Acts 14:21-22; II Timothy 3:12), we do well to prepare ourselves spiritually and emotionally for this. One of the best sources for equipping Christians for suffering is First Peter. Peter writes from personal experience, having already been imprisoned and beaten for his…
Read MoreDo we have to always submit to the elders?
Question: Hi Brother Jeffrey, We have a preacher from a sister congregation teaching about God’s leadership structure for the Church. He was discussing submission and that even if you don’t agree with the Elders’ decision-making, you should still follow through, giving the example of the Elders running a food bank at his congregation, a group…
Read MoreShare Your Faith Without Having All the Answers
by Erik Borlaug Do you ever feel nervous about evangelism—afraid you won’t have the right answers when talking with skeptics? You’re not alone. Many Christians avoid spiritual conversations because they feel unprepared. But here’s the good news: effective evangelism doesn’t start with having all the answers—it starts with asking good questions. In this video, Erik…
Read MoreOne Word to Transform Your Parenting
by Scott Smelser Parenting can feel exhausting and confusing. How do you train your child in a way that works—and reflects biblical wisdom? The answer may be simpler than you think. It starts with teaching your child to respect one small but powerful word: “No.” In this video, Scott Smelser explains why teaching your kids…
Read MoreAre Our Devices Keeping Us from Real Life?
by Scott Smelser Technology, social media, and AI have blurred the lines between what’s real and what’s fake. From fake friends to fake intimacy, today’s world is full of illusions that keep us from living the life God actually designed for us. Phones, games, and the internet aren’t evil—but they can easily become traps. Many…
Read MoreIs it wrong for a woman to teach on a social media platform?
Question: Hello, Thank you for taking the time to view my question. My question is in regards to the topic of women teaching. I completely understand it is not a woman’s right to lead any assembly in terms of worship or to try and exercise authority over men in the church. I know women can…
Read MoreMy wife has become a hyper-charismatic
Question: Dear Jeffrey, I hope you are doing well and that your weekend was good. I would like to ask for your thoughts on a situation. To make a long story short, my household is of different beliefs. Both my wife and I are members of the church, but over time, through personal experiences and…
Read MoreThe Samaritans and Jesus
by Hugh DeLong If you study the history of the Samaritans and the Jews, particularly noting the events leading up to the time of Jesus, you will see the great animosity between them. John simply adds an explanation to help clarify this animosity in John 4:9: “For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.” This story…
Read MoreLove Your Neighbor (Moyer)
by Doy Moyer Jesus taught that the two greatest commandments are first, to love God with all the heart, soul, strength, and might, and second, to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:36-40). These commandments are the basis for everything else God commands. It’s not hard to see in the structure of the Ten Commandments…
Read MoreHow Should We Treat Those Who Have Been Withdrawn From?
by Kyle Ellison This is a question that receives much attention, concern, and even debate at times. However, when considering a question like this, we are not left without guidance from Scripture. First, we must treat them with love, care, and compassion. We should never look down on anyone who has fallen, nor should we…
Read MoreWhat It Means to Be a Christian
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/What-It-Means-to-Be-a-Christian.mp3 by Raymond Warfel Download Audio
Read MoreHalf of Americans no longer see traditional sins as wrong
Source: Chris Eyte, “Half of Americans no longer view most traditional sins as wrong, Barna study finds,” Christian Daily International, 23 October 2025. “… most Americans now say that they only consider half of 12 specific behaviors presented to them and traditionally considered sinful, as actually sinful.” “Some behaviors, such as drinking, gambling, and working on…
Read MoreIs Baptism a Work?
by Vicky Buckwalter It is not uncommon to hear some insist that baptism is not a work. Yet I fear that, in responding to criticism from denominational voices who accuse the Lord’s church of legalism, we have grown hesitant to admit that baptism is indeed a work—specifically, a work authorized by God. Some have reasoned…
Read MoreThe Risk of Small Amounts of Alcohol
Drinking in Moderation Is Not Harmless by Andy Sochor via Plain Bible Teaching for Today It is not uncommon to hear or see debates on whether it is permissible for Christians to drink alcohol in moderation. That is an important discussion. However, it is also interesting to take note of reports and studies from secular…
Read MoreEven a Caveman Can Do It
by Zeke Flores Remember the old insurance commercials that claimed to be so simple, “even a caveman can do it”? We had become so “politically correct” that no one wants to insult anyone else, so Geico came up with a victim they were sure we could poke fun at with impunity, since there are no…
Read MoreChrist Redeemed Us from Law?
by Terry Wane Benton A brother argued to me that Galatians 3:13 says, “Christ redeemed us from law.” Actually, the verse says that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, and the context tells us that it was the Law of Moses (Galatians 3:19). But He did not redeem us from His righteous…
Read MoreBut God . . .
by David Gibson When troubles mount, as they often do, we need the assurance these passages offer us: “And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him and rescued him out of all his afflictions . . .” (Acts 7:9-10). “And when they had carried out all that was written…
Read MoreThe Other Ethiopian Eunuch
by David Gibson Most Bible students know the conversion story of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-39. But how many know the story of an Ethiopian eunuch named Ebed-melech? His heroic actions are recorded in Jeremiah 38:1-13; 39:15-18. Courageously countering evil Because Jeremiah was proclaiming the truth God told him to preach, his enemies threw…
Read MoreI Need to Find Myself
by Zeke Flores Remember the “I need to find myself” craze of a decade or two ago? People were off on spontaneous and sometimes irresponsible adventures to “find myself.” A cynic might have simply pointed to that person and said, “There you are, I found you!” In his book “In Search of Myself,” D. R.…
Read MoreVengeance Is Mine
by Terry Wane Benton God said that we are not to take vengeance into our own hands. Vengeance is the Lord’s. “Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time; For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them” (Deuteronomy 32:35 NKJV). God is…
Read MoreThe Fruits of Personal Evangelism
by Joe Collins In Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15-16, Jesus commanded all disciples to go and preach the gospel and teach all nations. For centuries, men have been fulfilling this commandment. Christians often become discouraged when they cannot see all of the results from their labors in personal evangelism. Perhaps the greatest success that anyone…
Read MoreWhen restoring what I took, do I need to mention my name?
Question: Hi! First, thank you so much for the questions and answers you provide. I find the information super helpful. I’ve had a chance to review questions similar to mine, but I would like to ask a few specifics. The overall theme of my question concerns repentance and restitution. For some background, I am a…
Read MoreStaying a Christian
by Don Wright Becoming a Christian is one of the easiest things you can do. It has often been said, and I think it is true, that the only thing easier than becoming a Christian is not becoming a Christian. God has made His plan of salvation simple enough for all to comprehend and obey.…
Read MoreWhat Sort of People (DeLong)
by Hugh DeLong In II Peter 3:10-12, Peter affirms that our destiny lies in new heavens and a new earth. The things of this present heavens and earth will pass away, be burned up, dissolved, melted. This new home will be the home for those who are holy and godly. Their lives are lived in…
Read MoreThat Wise Bird
by Gary Henry via WordPoints.com “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19). Our possession of two ears and only one mouth is not an accident. Since we learn more by listening than talking, listening is more valuable from a practical standpoint, but…
Read MoreWhen Your Brother Is Overtaken in a Sin
by Heath Rogers The Parable of the Good Samaritan tells of a man who is ambushed, stripped, beaten, and left for dead (Luke 10:30-37). The first people to find him are his own countrymen, but they pass him by. It is the foreigner, a Samaritan, who stops and helps. We are ready to judge the…
Read MoreIs worship acceptable if the one leading it is a hidden sinner?
Question: Dear sir, I hope this email finds you well. In reference to Romans 6:1-2 and I Timothy 2:8: If someone is leading any of the acts of worship and, unknown to the church, the person is in sin but continues to lead the service, does it hinder the church in any way? Do your…
Read MoreControl Your Tongue
by Luiz Felipe Lima De Albuquerque “From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some young men came out of the town and jeered at him. “Go away, you baldhead!” they said. “Go away, you baldhead!” He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them…
Read MoreThe Question of God Repenting or Changing His Mind
by Terry Wane Benton A skeptic thought he found a flaw in the Bible and the God of the Bible. He believes the following is a contradiction in the Bible: Does God change his mind? “For I am the Lord; I change not” (Malachi 3:6). “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither…
Read MoreCheck Your Soundness
by Terry Wane Benton To be sound is to be solid and healthy as opposed to weakened and sickly. There are six areas mentioned in the book of Titus that we need to examine in ourselves. Are you: Sound in the doctrine you believe and practice? (Titus 1:9; 2:1): Is your belief solidly built on…
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