A Fool’s Approach
by Gary P. Eubanks Two men are desperate to learn the answer to the same Bible question. Two men take Scripture and resort to the isolation of a park. Two men focus on particular but different texts. Two men begin a process that will take them far from the religious backgrounds in which they were…
Read MoreActs 11 does not prove we can now eat pork
Question: You said we could eat pork and pulled Acts 11 out to debate your cause, but you see that that vision was talking about the Gentiles if you keep reading on. The Bible tells us to get the conclusion of the whole matter. Answer: In “Uncleanness,” I said: “While many of the items selected…
Read MoreWhile I don’t agree with everything, I am impressed by your arguments on Buddhist philosophy
Question: I have read many of your posts and the question and answer page. I read all your thoughts on Buddhist philosophy (I’m Buddhist) and am impressed with how you put your arguments forward. I don’t agree with everything of course, but I like reading your positions on various subjects. I just wanted to say…
Read MoreWere there men, besides Paul, in the assembly where Paul met Lydia?
Question: In Acts 16:13 where the women had assembled on the Sabbath by the river, do you think that was a woman-only assembly, or were other men, besides Paul, there? Answer: Paul took Silas with him (Acts 15:41), Timothy also accompanies Paul (Acts 16:1-4), and at Troas Luke joins (the “we” in Acts 16:11). There…
Read MoreDid God tell Eve not to touch the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?
Question: I have always loved your website, but I read an article that says that God never told Eve she was not to touch the tree of knowledge, but according to Genesis 3 that’s not so. Answer: What God said: “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you…
Read MoreDid some prophecies in the Bible go unfulfilled?
Question: Hi! We live in a predominately LDS community. After six years we have had our first missionaries visit. We have asked them to come back and study, so I have been prepping. In doing so I have been studying Deuteronomy 18 about prophets and applying that to Joseph Smith’s prophesies, but in doing so,…
Read MoreOn the Relationship between Good and Evil
by Doy Moyer Evil implies good, but good does not necessarily imply evil. Some have the mistaken notion that good and evil must be necessary counterparts. That is, if there is good, then there must be evil. Some worldviews are founded on this principle, but it is not so. Good does not in itself imply…
Read MoreJudgment Day
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/JudgmentDay.mp3 by Alan Feaster
Read MoreWhen I see my old friends from before I became a Christian, it is hard to be around them because of what they talk about
Question: I’m 21, and I have some friends from high school. We grew up together, and I love them as friends. Like many, I recognized God as my Lord in word, but not in deed (living a sinful lifestyle). Last year, with the grace of our Lord, I changed. I’m turning in the right direction,…
Read MoreSelfishness and Marriage
by J. R. Bronger Divorce! This word used to call to mind “breaking up a home,” and with it trauma, unhappiness, and all manner of problems. Today, however, it is so commonplace that it rarely raises an eyebrow. There is no need to overwhelm you with statistics in order to prove that nearly half of…
Read MoreIs it scriptural for a church to use committees to make decisions for the church?
Question: Good day brother, I’m a member of the church of Christ. Is it scriptural for congregations of the Lord’s church to have committees? I mean committees like evangelism committee, building committee, edification committee, visitation committee, benevolence committee, counseling, and disciplinary committee, etc. Thanks in anticipation. Answer: In the Bible, churches did not handle problems…
Read MoreI got pregnant from fornication. I repented of it, but does it need to be confessed before the entire congregation?
Question: Hi. I recently wrote concerning confession of sin. I wrote a letter confessing my sin of fornication that resulted in pregnancy to the church elders. They called a meeting with me to discuss the letter. I was instructed to turn to James 5:16 in which they interpreted to me that in this verse James…
Read MoreCan I not marry the woman my brother had sex with in the past?
Question: Bless you sir, I must confess you are doing a great job here. I have a pressing need and I’m disturbed. Is marring a lady your brother once had sex with in the past incest? There is a lady I’ve been dating for sometime now. My brother broke the ugly news that I can’t…
Read MoreThe article on animal rights is pitiable
Question: [This note was left unedited since it offers critique of this website.] I’m shaking my head in pity because I feel such sorrow for the author of this sadly poorly unjust literature. Cognitive rehab is available. I just want to let the author know Killing wildlife as a means of cultural survival ( clothing, food,…
Read MoreI don’t want to sin anymore
Question: I was married before, when I was a young kid of 17. I was forced to marry. I didn’t know the laws of God because my parents didn’t really believe. We never had Bible studies at home, and I never was forced to go to church, so I didn’t get to know God. My…
Read MoreThe Apostles’ Creed
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ApostlesCreed.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: John 17:11-23 I. Every once in a while someone will ask what is our statement of faith. A. Back when we were home schooling, we were wanting to get involved with a local group, but they wanted us to sign a statement of faith B. Another name for a…
Read MoreDid Saul lose his salvation?
Question: Hey, I just read a great article you had about the account of King Saul’s death and how he committed suicide. But as I continued to read, you said he most likely went to hell because he murdered himself. My question is: What do you make of these inspired words spoken by King David after…
Read MoreTest Me Now in This
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/TestMeNowInThis.mp3 by Alan Feaster
Read MoreIs it proper to ask for non-miraculous signs?
Question: Hi, I had a question regarding asking God for a sign in the Bible. I was reading an article on your site about it (Should we ask for signs like Gideon did?). I’m curious about signs of a non-miraculous nature. Does God communicate with people like Jonathan in I Samuel 14:6-12? Thanks! Answer: “Then…
Read MoreI’m talking to a man who only wants to talk about disciplining children
Question: Hello Jeffrey, I hope you are fine. Please, I need your advice. I met a man online. He started initiating the conversation. He has a son and is very interested in children’s behaviors. We have been talking for several months, but he never talks about us — he only talks about children and how…
Read MoreMisquoting the Scriptures
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/MisquotingTheScriptures.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Timothy 2:14-19 I. Atheists will often use short quotes from the Bible to make it appear that the Bible is contradictory or teaches something that people would find repulsive A. But then, when you lift words from their context, you can make almost any point you want B. To be…
Read MoreFirst the Natural, Then the Spiritual
by Terry W. Benton I Corinthians 15:46 speaks of the natural body being first, and then at the resurrection, the spiritual body takes over. But, that change follows the already established principle found in the nature of the Old Testament versus the New Testament. We see a pattern form that demonstrates God’s plan and confirms…
Read MoreWhy did David prepare for a silver lampstand when the tabernacle had a gold lampstand?
Question: It says David prepared silver for the lampstand of silver, but in the tabernacle it was gold. Why does it say silver in Chronicles? Answer: “The weight for the lampstands of gold, and their lamps of gold, by weight for each lampstand and its lamps; for the lampstands of silver by weight, for the…
Read MoreIs a marriage in front of a Justice of the Peace valid in God’s sight?
Question: Good afternoon, I have been praying for several weeks for the Lord’s guidance. The questions that I have led to more questions. One day I came across one of your articles and I read. I started to cry. The article I read was: Can my girlfriend and I get married after committing fornication? Shortly after…
Read MoreCorruption in Church Organization
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/0020/01/CorruptionInChurchOrganization.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Acts 20:17-35 I. Equality of members (first century) A. The early church was marked by the equality of its members – Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11 B. As Jesus prayed, the desire was for all Christians to be one – John 17:20-21 C. There were different duties, but the people were…
Read MoreWhere Is the God of Justice?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/WhereIsTheGodOfJustice.mp3 by Alan Feaster
Read MoreWhy are we not supposed to cut the sides of our hair?
Question: Why are we not supposed to cut the sides of our hair? Answer: “You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of your beard” (Leviticus 19:27). The word that is translated as “shaved” means to strike off with violence, and the word rendered “disfigured” in this…
Read MoreIf a woman can’t lead prayer then she shouldn’t discipline or deal with finances
Question: I am currently in a discussion with my brother about women praying with their husbands. I agree with your view of the matter and what the Bible says regarding a woman leading her husband in prayer. My brother takes the opposing view and states that if that were the case, a woman shouldn’t discipline…
Read MoreDo I need to prepare myself as a priest to fit into the kingdom?
Question: I have a question regarding the practical application of royal priesthood in the upcoming kingdom of God. Recently I got to know one of the elders and preacher in the church. According to him, we are a royal priesthood (referring to I Peter 2:9) and the role of priest is to offer up Christ…
Read MoreAs Long As It Doesn’t Harm Anyone
by Doy Moyer One of the most prominent moral justifications heard today is that as long as the practice doesn’t harm anyone, then it is right and should be allowed. The primary argument this is being used for today is gay marriage, to no one’s surprise. However, it carries broader applications, and those applications aren’t…
Read MoreShould I marry this woman from another country?
Question: I am about to get married to a young woman who lives in a poor country. I love God and desire Him truly. She is an orphan and was raised in the church by a kind of missionary mother. She believes almost everything I do. We are set to marry in a few weeks,…
Read MoreAuthorized Aids
by Larry Ray Hafley The Bible does not state that Noah used hammers, saws, and axes in the construction of the ark. However, such instruments were authorized by the command, “Make thee an ark” (Genesis 6:14). Without the instruction to build the ark, the tools would have been unauthorized. The Bible does not mention church…
Read MoreTeach Your Children
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/TeachYourChildren.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreI struggle because I have never experienced or felt my religion
Question: My question is about Christianity itself. I go to one of those big non-denominational churches you see in the metropolitan areas. I have kind of been struggling with actually experiencing God or feeling any presence. I’m not even sure if I’m a Christian. To clear any pre-misconceptions I never say profanity. I’m not against God…
Read MoreMy girlfriend promises that we won’t have sex, but every time she comes over we do it again
Question: Please I need some advice. I am a Christian. I have a girlfriend who is not a Christian and I have committed fornication with her. Whenever I commit the act with her I feel guilty. I am not at peace and I ask God to forgive me. The worst part of it is that…
Read MoreYour website led me back to Christ after twenty years
Question: I wanted to send a personal email and thank you for your teachings on your website. I was a member of the church of Christ my entire life. In my middle 20s, I was briefly married and divorced with the cause not being adultery. My ex-spouse went to prison for a felonious crime. I…
Read MoreIs Lust Fornication?
by Wayne Jackson The word “fornication” derives from the Greek term porneia, one of a cognate group of five words that together occur fifty-five times in the New Testament. The noun form is found twenty-five times, predominately in the letters of Paul. The word is generic in scope in that it refers to a variety of…
Read MoreThe Dispersion
by Alan Jones via Truth Magazine, May 4, 2000 “Has Ezekiel gone mad?” This may have been the reaction of some after they watched Ezekiel shave his head and beard, weigh the hair, divide it into thirds, and then burn a third, strike a third with a sword, and scatter the remaining third to the wind.…
Read MoreBy Many or By Few
by Irvin Himmel The situation looked grim. Saul’s men had dwindled to only about six hundred. The army of the Philistines numbered into the thousands. Saul’s men were poorly armed. Since all the smiths were among the Philistines, Saul’s soldiers had neither sword nor spear. There was much trembling among the Israelites. Some were hiding…
Read MoreHow do I tell my sister that my son is not demon-possessed?
Question: I have a son that has been diagnosed with major depression and other issues. My sister, who I think means well, is convinced that he has a demon in him. How do you even talk to a person that keeps trying to make you and your child believe this? Answer: Many people don’t really…
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