Does getting a girl pregnant and promising to marry her later make us married?
Question: Hello, I was baptized in the Catholic Church. I had a girlfriend, with whom I had dry-humped. Two weeks before having sexual intercourse, I told her that I was thinking about break up with her because I didn’t feel we should be together. After a week of sexual intercourse, she told me that she…
Read MoreDo historical facts make the Bible true?
Question: Brother, How would I handle the difference between the inspired text that makes claims and a comic book that someone can use to make claims? I was told this: “For instance, I can claim the existence of Spider-Man because he is from Queens, NY, and that is a real place with real historical figures…
Read MoreShould we confess our fornication?
Question: Good day sir. By God’s grace, we are a couple who decided to get married. Our church’s marriage committee has some rules that intending couples need to follow before marriage. We have known each other since last year but things got serious towards marriage beginning to this year. We were able to abstain from…
Read MoreThoughts on Self-Control
Source: Brian Resnick, “The Myth of Self-Control,” Vox, 24 November 2016. Source: W. Hofmann, “Everyday temptations: an experience sampling study of desire, conflict, and self-control,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, June 2012, 102(6):1318-35. The author doesn’t believe self-control exists, yet oddly, he only proves that his definition of self-control is inaccurate. There is a strong…
Read MoreAngel Band
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Angel-Band.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Peter 1:12-15 My latest sun is sinking fast, My race is nearly run; My strongest trials now are past, My triumph is begun. I know I’m near the holy ranks Of friends and kindred dear— I hear the waves on Jordan’s banks, The crossing must be near. I’ve…
Read MoreBefore We Post or Share
by Doy Moyer Before we post or share something, let us ask: Does it show that we are striving to build up the people of God? (Ephesians 4:28) Will it help promote unity or will it cause unnecessary division? (I Corinthians 12:25) Does it show love for one another, love for enemies, and mostly love…
Read MoreSerpents and Doves
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Serpents-and-Doves.mp3 by Austin Hausner
Read MoreWhat If God Sent a Prophet Like Jeremiah to the United States?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/What-If-God-Sent-a-Prophet-Like-Jeremiah-to-the-United-States.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreWhose Body Is It?
by Jarrod M. Jacobs Those who favor abortions often argue something like this: “It is the woman’s body and she can choose to do with it what she pleases.” This is not a logical argument nor is it Biblically sound. Why do I say this? First, let us remember that when a woman is pregnant,…
Read MoreIs it wrong to bring coffee to services?
Question: First off, I’d like to thank you for your dedication to presenting the valuable information available on this website. I know that God will continue to bless your efforts. As for my question, it’s sort of an offshoot of the use of the building and eating in the building. I’ve been studying various topics with…
Read MoreHow do I deal with my brother-in-law dating my husband’s ex-girlfriend?
Question: Good day, I need godly advice from you. Before I married my husband, he once dated a girl for a few months. They had sexual intercourse with each other one time. All this happened several years ago. My husband and I have been married for a few years now. He is a very truthful…
Read MoreI don’t know how I ended up sleeping with my lover’s friend
Question: Alright, sir. I slept with my lover’s friend. Truth be told, I don’t know how it happened because he bothered me before and I refused. I even told my man about him and actions were taken, but I don’t know how I succumbed. Everything happened in a flash, and I’m wondering why, after refusing,…
Read MoreWhy are miracles not happening in the church?
Question: Hi! I am a member of the church. One thing I never understood is this: There are movies, such as Breakthrough, a true story about a boy falling through ice, then being pronounced dead, and then his mother prays over him and suddenly he starts breathing again, and then he is perfectly fine with…
Read MoreIs my marriage invalid because I broke up with my earlier girlfriend despite promising not to?
Question: I read a response from somebody where they were married for over 50 years, but the marriage was not valid. I am wondering if my current marriage is valid or not. Here is my situation: Before I met my wife, I made a promise to God that I would never break up with anybody,…
Read MoreShould I admit that I ignored the recruiter at my interview?
Question: Hello, This might be confusing, but I’m going to try to explain this the best I can. I apologize in advance. Recently I have been searching for jobs. I have had two businesses interested in me (we will call them Companies A and B). I chose B over A because company A wanted me…
Read MoreReceiving the Kingdom
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Receiving-the-Kingdom.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 12:25-29 I. Sometimes terminology can interfere with our understanding A. When you’ve been a part of something for a while, we develop jargon. But newcomers don’t understand the jargon B. It happens in business, but it also happens in the church. 1. There are different terms for the church: body, kingdom,…
Read MoreThe Lord’s Supper with a Twenty-Gallon Cup — How Long Did You Say that Would Take?
by Jeff Smelser I do not look down on congregations in which saints share one cup in partaking of the Lord’s Supper. When I have occasion to assemble with brethren whose practice is such, I happily share in the one cup. However, there are points to be made from Luke 22, Matthew 26, I Corinthians…
Read MoreInstitutionalism: A Virulent Cancer
by Harry W. Pickup, Jr. via The Gospel Guardian, 24 September 1964 Any error which touches either the nature of God or the nature of the Church is most fundamental and basic. Institutionalism is such an error because it touches the nature of the Church. The supposed conversion of Emperor Constantine, resulting in the “Christianizing” of…
Read MoreA Friendly Letter on Benevolence
by Irven Lee (1914-1991) April 1, 1958 A good friend that I have known and appreciated a long time sent a letter of inquiry which prompted this answer. Since so many are wondering about the same problems, I am making a few copies of the letter [that I wrote in response] with the hope…
Read MoreAre raffles wrong?
Question: Good evening, I have a concern. As far as I know, I am completely sure that games like lottery, bingo, casinos, etc. are incorrect as are all kinds of raffles or sales sponsored by the church, since it is not authorized by the New Testament for the church to raise funds, in addition to…
Read MoreCan a man who lived for many years with a woman be baptized?
Question: This happened over 20 years ago. A husband and his wife, who were idol worshipers and uneducated day laborers, who lived in a slum with their little children. Suddenly the husband left his wife and married another girl. Seeing the state of the woman, a young man who was not married and who also…
Read MoreCan a person be baptized who is living with someone but not having sex?
Question: Can a person be denied baptism if he is living with his fiancée but isn’t committing fornication because they saw the error of their ways Answer: Paul declared “that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance” (Acts 26:20). If a person realizes that fornication is sinful, then why is…
Read MoreBlooming Where You Are Planted
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/BloomingWhereYourePlanted.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Revelation 3:1-6 I. I was reading an article by Hiram Kemp titled, “Six Ways to Thrive in a Weak Church” A. The points were good, but it also had me thinking about the difficulties we face in this region. 1. There are not many faithful churches and most struggle. 2. Some are…
Read MoreWill Bagels and Coffee Improve Our Worship?
by Ken Weliever “During our years of church planting, we tried to change people’s perceptions about what the Sunday worship would look like,” wrote Michelle Lazurek, in a recent Crosswalk.com article. “We took out pews and replaced them with pub tables and chairs, added lights and a stage and most importantly,” the award-winning author and…
Read MoreDid Jesus ever require someone to quit a marriage or walk away from family?
Question: He was married and his wife was going to leave him for a man who just got out of prison. He begged her to not leave. He figured they had sex but was not certain. She reluctantly came back to him. Several years later, his drinking and mental abuse plus he cheated caused her…
Read MoreIs it a sin to own a luxury handbag?
Question: Hi, I’ve been reading your articles about modesty, and recently I got myself into some heated arguments with a few sisters about owning luxury handbags. Some felt that these are considered as things of the world, and we shouldn’t pursue it, while some felt that owning them will likely invite jealousy. However, the irony…
Read MoreIs it by God’s grace that a person survives a near death situation?
Question: Good day, I have heard people saying after a near-death situation that “It is by the grace of God he is alive.” How biblical is that? Thanks Answer: “Grace” is a favor given, even though it is not deserved. We usually use it to talk about salvation, but consider: “For I am the least…
Read MoreWhat proof is there that Jews returned with Nehemiah?
Question: I saw your web page Q&A regarding how many waves of people were taken to Babylon. You also list three return groups. Is there any scriptural support for any Jews returning with Nehemiah? Answer: The list of those who returned with Zerubbabel is found in Ezra 2:2-67. The total was 42,360 male Israelites plus…
Read MoreI’m impressed with your website
Question: Dear Jeffrey W. Hamilton, I’m impressed with your website. It seems quite full of sound teaching. You’re fastidious about trying to get references and support for your statements. I was impressed with the article on John Wesley’s View of Baptism and the follow-up. I was glad you debunked that Bible Code hogwash. Folks are…
Read MoreThe Charismatic Movement
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/CharismaticMovement.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: I Corinthians 14:6-12 I. As we continue our tracing of how various denominations came to be, A. We examined how the Pietiest influenced the beliefs of John Wesley and the Methodist societies that he established. 1. In particular was an emphasis on the need for a personal experience to…
Read MoreThe Thrill of Salvation
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/TheThrillOfSalvation.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 15:1-10 I. Luke 15:10 – When someone responds to God’s message, there is excitement that reaches all the way to heaven! A. Each and every person, no matter how high or low stationed in life is important to God. B. Ezekiel 33:11 – God doesn’t look forward to punishing the…
Read MoreRemember Shiloh
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/RememberShiloh.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Jeremiah 7:1-15 I. Around the country we have many memorials and historical sites established to remind us of our victories. Yet, we keep several sites to remind us of our losses. A. I was able to see the Alamo in San Antonio. Only the mission still stands, but it is…
Read MoreDoes I Corinthian 11:33 allow fellowship meals at the church building?
Question: Dear Brother in Christ, I read your answer to Why is eating in the building an issue? concerning eating in the building and have a few questions. First, you quote I Corinthians 11:17-22 where Paul is remonstrating the Corinthians for leaving some hungry and for some getting drunk asking, “Don’t you have homes…
Read MoreThe Sponsoring Church Arrangement: What Was the Issue?
by Bill Hall I can’t say enough about the encouragement it is to me to see your continued interest in this effort that we’re putting forth. Your willingness to come and study with us — it means so much to me. When this was planned, I thought we could educate those who come as…
Read MoreChurch-Supported Orphans’ Homes: What Was the Issue?
by Bill Hall It was a difficult time. I don’t know that I could in any way picture for you if you didn’t live then, just how difficult that time was. Back somewhere in the mid-50s, in the pages of the Gospel Advocate, a quarantine was called for against all those who preached the gospel…
Read MoreKitchens and Fellowship Halls: What Was the Issue?
by Bill Hall I don’t know how to thank you enough for the opportunity to come and deliver these lessons on these Sunday afternoons. It has been a very challenging experience for me, and I hope the lessons have been challenging for you. To see the number of people who have come each Sunday…
Read MoreScriptural Silence and the Burden of Proof
by Matthew W. Bassford In my life, I’ve had training in logic from two main sources: the church and my secular education. The further I progressed, the more I realized that the same principles were taught in both settings. I used the same canons of logic in formal debate and law school that I saw…
Read MoreThe Preacher Has a Problem
How Uncommitted, Unfaithful Christians Make Me Feel by Victor M. Eskew It has been a challenge since I first began preaching. It has been one of the difficulties that must be faced in every congregation wherein I have preached. It is not unique to me and my experiences. Every preacher has had to face this…
Read MoreWhat about a person who doesn’t repent until after his baptism?
Question: Dear brother, Thank God for your good work. Please, if an unrepented person who concealed his sin then gets baptized and he later comes to his senses, what must he do? Or when the church finds out, what must the church do? What I understand, based on the steps to salvation, Acts 2:47 and…
Read MoreJesus’ Baptism
by Terry Wane Benton Jesus had no sins, and John was baptizing people who needed their sins washed away. When Jesus requested that John baptize Him, John “tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” Baptism is for sinners who want their sins remitted,…
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