Was Jesus a Vegetarian?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/WasJesusAVegetarian.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Genesis 9:1-7 I. Back in 1999, the Omaha World-Herald had a hilarious article on a then new advertising campaign by PETA. [Bill Broadway, “Jesus Used in Latest PETA Ads,” Omaha World-Herald, 17 March 1999] A. They claimed that Jesus was a vegetarian. B. Their “evidence”? 1. A belief that Jesus was an…
Read MoreWhat is my calling?
Question: Dear sir, l study cybersecurity and information technology. l had a job but l quit it thinking the salary was not enough. l have since continued to applied for jobs but nothing has happened. l get jobs interviews, but l will not be called in for work. I thought it was because l didn’t…
Read MoreNotes on Calling
God’s Calling of Men John 6:44-45 Romans 1:6 Romans 8:30 Romans 9:24 I Corinthians 1:26 Ephesians 1:18 Ephesians 4:1-4 Philippians 3:14 I Thessalonians 2:12 II Thessalonians 2:14 Hebrews 9:15 I Peter 2:9 I Peter 5:10 II Peter 1:10 Calling on the Name of the Lord “In the name of …” means “acting with the authority…
Read MoreMy church is just me in my room
Question: G’day Minister, I just wanted, on impulse, to pay my respects and say what a fantastic premise you operate as a ‘church’. No frills, no nonsense, no pretensions – instead, just good old fashioned and solid focus on Scripture. I am most impressed, as I’m sure the Lord must be as well. And, yes,…
Read MoreMy boyfriend claims sex is his right
Question: Sir, Regarding your reply to the question I just read. I have a question. I am in my early twenties. I have a boyfriend. When we started dating, I insisted on not having sex until we married. Few months into the relationship we started kissing. When he first arranged our meeting place, it was…
Read MoreIf the Law was abolished, what is written in our hearts?
Question: Good sir, Please, just for clarification, I want to ask: If the law has been abolished, what laws did God promised beforehand that He will write in our hearts? Paul gave us the reason why the law (the Ten Commandments) was weak. He said, “the law was weak in that it was through the flesh.”…
Read MoreCan a preacher retain his position if his children are engaged in sin?
Question: If a minister’s daughter is pregnant with her second child and does not have a husband, can he keep his position as a minister? Answer: The qualifications of a preacher do not include qualifications for his family. See: Preachers. This man’s daughter’s behavior indicates that there was a problem in raising her. He would…
Read MoreGod’s Compassion
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Gods-Compassion.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 58 I. God has the absolute right to judge A. Some get angry that He would dare to judge B. But it is the righteous God who gets angry – Psalms 7:10-11 C. How can mankind who have shown repeated incidences of injustice sit in judgment on God? – Job 34:16-17…
Read MoreYour reasoning is flawed. Spiritual gifts have not ceased
Question: Hello, I have read articles on your site and they are pretty informative. However, your take on Corinthians 13:8-13, stating that spiritual gifts have ceased, is flawed. Verse 8: “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish…
Read MoreMiracles, Signs, and Wonders
by Jefferson David Tant Jesus’ last words to his disciples are known as “The Great Commission,” which is recorded in Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-18. Verses 17-20 in Mark’s record have been used by some denominations as proof that these miraculous manifestations are still in operation today. It is the purpose of this study to…
Read MoreIf I had sex with someone, does that mean we can’t get married?
Question: I am a born-again Christian with a history of having multiple sexual partners (main chick and side-chicks). I got saved and gave my life to Christ, though I still could not control my sexual desires; hence, I continued to practice fornication. I repented and changed but ended up having sex with one lady from…
Read MoreI got two women pregnant but neither will marry me
Question: Please, I had fornicated with two different ladies, and they both got pregnant. The first one got pregnant, and I went to pay for what her family requested. Afterward, the lady refused to marry me. The second one came into my life and also got pregnant by me. Her mother is against us getting…
Read MoreShould we post memes that contain bad language?
Question: I have been talking to someone about the Facebook memes they post that contains offensive language. I was telling them that it’s not right as a Christian, but he says things like, “Well, sometimes you have to to get the point across” and “Just ignore that part.” He doesn’t use foul language when talking,…
Read MoreIs Satan winning?
Question: I have a question: Is Satan winning? The world is so terrible. Sin is everywhere. Faithful Christians are a drop in the bucket compared to the population. Isn’t this exactly what Satan wants is for all of these people to go to hell and that’s where most people go? “Few” will make it to…
Read MoreMy boyfriend and I have been falling into lewd behavior and we trying to stop it
Question: Hello. Good day to you. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to read my email. My boyfriend and I have been dating for a few months. He is sure of me, saying I am what he wants in a woman and in a wife. I feel the same about…
Read MoreIf I obey God even though I don’t want to, is that proof that I love God?
Question: Good day, When I do something because it’s a commandment from God, and even if I don’t want to, is that not proof that I love God? So there are things I don’t like to do but because I love God I do it anyway. And on the other hand, there are things difficult…
Read MoreShould I tell my wife that when I was young I might have fathered a child?
Question: Hi, Nearly 30 years ago, I may have gotten my girlfriend at that time pregnant, and she gave birth to a child. I was young and ashamed and didn’t want to have anything to do with her when I found out. Later on, I got married to another girlfriend, and I was ashamed to…
Read MoreWe keep falling into fornication
Question: I have been having sleepless night concerning my state now. I feel ashamed after several times of disobedience by committing fornication. I really don’t know what to do telling my pastor would worsen the whole issue. I have called off relationship because I don’t want to give in to sex again. I am restless…
Read MoreAre You Changing the World?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Are-You-Changing-the-World.mp3 by Brad Morgan
Read MoreLocation
Location (1)Location (2) by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 119:153-160 I. The Bible doesn’t contain fillers. Every word exists in its text for a reason – I Corinthians 2:11-13 A. That doesn’t mean we are always aware of the reason but we should acknowledge that God does know His purpose B. The four gospels only mention 25…
Read MoreOut of Context
by Andy Brenton II Opinions 4:13 Philippians 4:13 is one of the most well-known New Testament verses, but it’s also notoriously misused. After telling his audience that he’s experienced both poverty and affluence, the Apostle Paul writes these well-known words: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Many of us have seen…
Read MoreWhy did God allow my husband to destroy my life?
Question: Hello. I came across information about separation due to drug use on your site. I am in a situation to which I am seeking Godly counsel. Currently, I am a born again believer for almost three years now. God took my husband out of my life back in 2016, just long enough for me…
Read MoreWhy Baptize Infants?
by Whit Sasser “Baptizing” infants is practiced in the Roman Catholic church and some of the Protestant denominations as well. But why would one need to subject a baby to such? They are not sinners. Sin cannot be inherited (Ezekiel 18:20). Sin is not passively received but a violation of God’s will (I John 3:4).…
Read MoreWhat Is the Bible?
Question: Hi, I would like some answers to my doubts. I know you can help me with this because of everything I have read on your site. I’m happy that your teachings are exactly the same as our non-denominational church. I find them right too. Praise the Lord! My questions: What exactly is the Bible?…
Read MoreWill all Jews receive Christ?
Question: I’ve been reading Hebrews and in chapter 8 it seems there is a prophecy about before Christ comes again, “all” Jews will know and believe in him and ultimately receive salvation. Am I reading something more than it says into this? This is the first time I’ve really seen this and don’t recall it…
Read MoreWhat prophet objected to anointing a wicked man as king but was told to do it anyway?
Question: Good day. Can you please give me the name of the prophet who cried to the Lord not to let him anoint a man king because he was a wicked man but the Lord instructed him to do it anyway. Please let me have the book, chapter and verse this relates to. Thank you,…
Read MoreMy son’s wife left him after only three weeks. Does that mean he can’t marry again?
Question: My son married a foreign girl, but they never even got to live together. She said her mother got cancer and she had to go back to her country to care for her. She could not come back, so they got divorced. He begged her to try and work it out, but she was…
Read MoreBrotherly Love (Warfel)
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Brotherly-Love.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreWhy did Elijah send the servant back seven times?
Question: Did Elijah pray seven times or was he putting his servant through a test of faith for rain? (I Kings 18:41-45) Answer: “Now Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of the roar of a heavy shower.” So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah…
Read MoreDid Israel all speak the same language?
Question: Was Israel of one language? Did the nation of Israel all speak the same language? Thank you. Answer: Israelites spoke Hebrew. After the captivity, Aramaic was spoke a good bit and portions of the Old Testament are written in Aramaic. During Jesus’ day, Aramaic was the common language and Hebrew was the “religious” language,…
Read MoreHow do I find someone to spank my teenage son?
Question: Hello, I have a question. I’m a single mother of a 16-year-old boy and I don’t want to spank him, though he needs it and nothing else seems to work. Any recommendations or ideas of who I could reach out to who might be willing to mentor him? Because I am single, I do…
Read MoreHow could the law be a dividing wall if other nations could become Israelites?
Question: Exodus 12:48-49 tells us that someone from another nation (a Gentile) could be circumcised and keep the Passover (in other words obey God) and become part of Israel (a Jew). Verse 49 says that there’s one law for everyone. Jew or Gentile must obey the same law. It seems that both Jew and Gentile had…
Read MoreAn Ideal Life
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/AnIdealLife.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 128 I. We often speak of our longing for heaven, our home where the cares and troubles of this life will not exist. A. We know that heaven is a blessing reserved for the followers of God, but all rewards for following God are not consigned to the next…
Read MoreAm I under a curse because of my sexual sins?
Question: Good day sir, Please, sir, I was involved in a series of sexual sins in the past. I have fornicated and had four abortions. Sir, I stop having sex since last year and I have asked God for forgiveness. Just this morning, I was about to pray and I remember one this sexual sin…
Read MoreIs make-believe gambling in a game still wrong?
Question: There is one game I like to play which is a completely free game. There is a new feature called lottery where I am guessing you pay with game points for a chance to win something. Is that considered a sin in that case? It is impossible for a person to pay money for…
Read MoreI feel I will commit adultery if I divorce my husband
Question: I grew up in the church and was baptized. I got married and my husband was baptized as well after we were married a couple of years later. My husband left me, well abandoned me, and does not go to the church anymore. I have been studying Scriptures. I want to file for divorce,…
Read MoreHow can a person with no teeth partake of the Lord’s Supper?
Question: Would a person end up in hell for not partaking of the bread at the Lord’s Supper if the person has no teeth? Because if a person eventually loses all their teeth which is common among the older folks, would that mean that if a person is old enough to lose their teeth, they…
Read MoreCan we worship at home because it is more convenient?
Question: Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Is home worship acceptable on Sunday by a family if they were unable to get to church? Can it continue for convenience? Answer: If a family wishes to establish a church in an area that doesn’t have a church nearby, that would be…
Read MoreI Don’t Feel Forgiven
by Whit Sasser Everyone keeps telling you that you need to learn to forgive yourself; but the truth is, you need to learn to trust God. If God says you are forgiven, then you are forgiven. “But, I don’t feel like I am forgiven.” My friend, forgiveness is a promise of God, not a feeling of…
Read MoreGenetic Links to Homosexuality?
Source: Andrea Ganna, “Large-scale GWAS reveals insights into the genetic architecture of same-sex sexual behavior,” Science Magazine, 30 August 2019 The claim is that they found five possible influences toward homosexual behavior in DNA, but at the same time the report is full of qualifiers. “In aggregate, all tested genetic variants accounted for 8 to 25%…
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