Are We Under “Law” or “Grace”?
by Wayne Jackson “Why do some insist that Christians are ‘under law’ today? We are not under law, but grace. The law came by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus (John 1:17).” We must respectfully point out that the question recorded above reflects a serious misunderstanding of the nature of both law and grace.…
Read MoreYour point that God baited Pharaoh is intriguing
Question: Good Morning, I am a pastor of a little country church. Our Sunday school lesson is about Moses, Pharaoh, and the Red Sea. I was looking for a graphic, a really good picture to illustrate the route when I found your site. I also was intrigued by the idea that God led them down the side…
Read MoreCan parents deny consent to their adult children getting married?
Question: I read this from your site: Do adults need to honor their parents by obeying them? I have actually read your responses and the whole Question and Answer to the end. My situation with my fiancee’s parents is almost similar to the one quoted below. “You’ll be surprised as to how many Asian parents…
Read MoreWhy is the last phrase in Matthew 19:9 missing in some translations?
Question: In Matthew 19:9, I can’t find the phrase “and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery” in my translation. Answer: “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery” (Matthew 19:9 NKJV). “And I say…
Read MoreBy What Authority? (Tant)
by Jefferson David Tant “When He entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him while He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one thing, which if you tell Me,…
Read MoreOnly an Appearance of Religion
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/OnlyAnAppearanceOfReligion.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Amos 4:1-5 I. When you look at the religious world, there are many odd ideas about what constitutes a religious person. II. Exhibitionism as Religion A. Some people judge how religious a man is by the religious things that he does in public 1. Matthew 6:1-6 – Some people make sure everyone notices…
Read MoreHow do I treat false teachers, like the Mormons?
Question: God teaches us so much through His Word, but I have a question that cannot be easily answered. Throughout the New Testament, God instructs His children (born-again Christians ) to love unconditionally; yet, I’m not sure how to act or respond to Mormons. Loving others is a commandment of God but somehow I’m not…
Read MoreIs seeing omens when I do wrong a sin?
Question: For some time I have been struggling with omens, things happening at the right time in the right way and I apply meaning to them that is not there. I might sin or think I sinned and then I happen to read a passage about Hell, see a sign that says “only 5 days…
Read MoreDo Not Love the World
by Dennis Stackhouse The fact that Christian people are to be different from those who do not follow Christ, is clearly stated for us in I John 2:15-17: “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all…
Read MoreWhat is the proper thing to say as you are baptizing someone?
Question: Hi Jeff, I read an article that asks what does someone says before they baptize someone else. It almost answered my question but not completely. I have always been taught that it is not a proper baptism unless the proper things were said. After taking their confession and then preparing them for baptism, it…
Read MoreAre arranged marriages wrong?
Question: Are arranged marriages wrong? Answer: You find a number of ways marriages came about in the Scriptures, including arranged marriages. For example, Isaac’s wife was arranged for him by his father Abraham (Genesis 24:2-9). However, you find other circumstances, such as dating, in the Scriptures as well. See Does the Bible talk about asking…
Read MoreHow do you deal with a woman who brings her dog to worship?
Question: We have a lady who has been attending worship with us for over a month. She has since placed her membership with our congregation. This morning when she entered the building she had a little Chihuahua dog in her arms. She stated that it was her service dog and he did not have any…
Read MoreIs a person allowed to miss services because of their job?
Question: Is there any proof in the Bible that forsaking the assembly of the saints is acceptable if one’s job requires him to work? I think self-employed people sometimes use this as an excuse which is wrong. But what about companies, or police, or fire, and nurses? I know the head of the family, the…
Read MoreGod’s Love for Us and Our Love for Others
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/GodsLoveForUsAndOurLoveForOthers.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreYour Influence on the World
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/YourInfluenceOnTheWorld.mp3 by Andrew Long
Read MoreCalled for Service
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/CalledForService.mp3 by Andrew Long
Read MoreThe Omnis of God
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/TheOmnisOfGod.mp3 by Clint Crosier
Read MoreOne of Those Days
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/OneOfThoseDays.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 14:1-36 I. It is easy to get a distorted view of time while reading the Bible A. We see the highlights over a 4,000+ year period of time and come away thinking that miracles and exciting events happened constantly B. But sometime we read the events in the Gospels and don’t…
Read MoreThankfulness and Remembrance
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/ThankfulnessAndRemembrance.mp3 by Clint Crosier
Read MoreSteps for Spiritual Growth
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/StepsForSpiritualGrowth.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreIf I Have to Sin
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/IfIHaveToSin.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreI had no choice. How can I find peace?
Question: Hi, I need peace and a word from God. My boyfriend of two years promised to marry me and start a family after I gave him a child. I could not conceive. I wanted to do things right and marry first, but he insisted that I live with him first, and only then would…
Read MoreI went back into sin after my baptism. Does that mean my baptism was invalid?
Question: Hello, I just had a question. I was baptized at about 19 years old. I knew what I was doing, which was to live a different life, to be baptized and turn from my old self. I thought that when I came up from the water, I would be a new perfect person, and…
Read MoreWhy does the Hebrew writer contrast Mount Sinai with Mount Zion?
Question: Hi Jeffrey, I hope you are doing well. I have a question regarding Hebrews 12:18-29. Why does the writer use the example of the events in Mount Sinai (verses 18-21) and contrasts them with Mount Zion and the heavenly Jerusalem and everything else in verses 22-24? What is the significance of what the writer…
Read MoreSave Yourselves
by Terry W. Benton Only because of what Jesus did for us on the cross and only through knowledge of what He did can we engage in the activity of faith that will result in our salvation. There is a common expression these days that “there is nothing you can do, Jesus did it all…
Read MoreShould I stay with my boyfriend who has cheated on me?
Question: Hello sir, I’m a lady of 27 years, who has kept her moral standard until I met my boyfriend. During the course of this relationship, I have lost a lot of my virtues including virginity. I have been trying to retrace my steps, but it has been difficult. We both claim to share the…
Read MoreThank you for your encouraging remarks on schizoaffective disorder
Question: My thanks to whoever wrote the statement to the man with schizoaffective disorder. I have a schizoaffective disorder that is often debilitating. I have psychotic episodes whenever there is a major change in my life and suffer many mood swings. More often than not, I cannot get support from many Christians. Only a select few…
Read MoreI sinned with the girl God sent to me. Can God turn this around?
Question: Hello there, I just found this site, and I’ve been reading it quite a bit. I’m not quite sure how to form my question but I need to tell the background of it first. I wasn’t a reborn Christian years ago, but I did grow up in a Pentecostal family. Back then I prayed…
Read MoreThank you for your online literature, which we use in our young adult classes
Question: Thanks for the content of your website. I use it often is preparing for my Sunday school class, which is mostly young married couples with small children. We have no standard of study (published literature) as we started a few years ago and some had no idea where the church of Christ really started.…
Read MoreHow can God die?
Question: What if a Muslim asks you, can God die? Jesus died and was resurrected, just like the myths of the Greeks, India, Roman, and the dark ages. What will you say? Answer: The ancient myths took their inspiration from the seasons. They saw the cycles of winter and spring and created myths to explain…
Read MoreAm I lost because I’m of mixed race?
Question: Hi Jeffrey, I could really need your help. I’m really struggling. I believe I am going to hell. I am of mixed race and had an intimate relationship with someone of another race. I have read in the Standard Anointed Bible that this means I am going to hell. As it states in Mark…
Read MoreShould I fear witchcraft?
Question: Hi, I’m 17 years old. I have been struggling for months with this fear that is sometimes crippling and causes me to stay up all night. For starters, I am terrified of anything that has to do with witchcraft or the supernatural. I try to stay as far away as I can. The problem…
Read MoreWas the Law of Moses applicable to Gentiles?
Question: I have a question about the passage in Colossians 2:11-14: “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the…
Read MoreIf a man marries someone who lies about her right to marry, is he an adulterer for the rest of his life?
Question: Dear Jeff, I would so greatly appreciate hearing from you. I have read the material on your website regarding marriage, divorce, and remarriage. But I have a special situation I feel unable to sort through regarding a very dear brother in Christ. He was deceived by his first wife. She lied about why she…
Read MoreHow dare you use the Bible to say out-of-body experiences are wrong!
Question: I recently read a question/answer between you and somebody who wrote to you. They told you about their OBEs (out-of-body experiences). I read your response and I was appalled, to say the least. First of all, since you don’t remember your OBEs (and believe me, you have them) you discount them. Plus, you twist the…
Read MoreWhat Does Submission Look Like?
by Doy Moyer “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Imagine a person whose normal mode is to run red lights (maybe we don’t have to imagine so much). He runs this light and the next one, but then comes upon a red light and sees a…
Read MoreAll By Myself
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/AllByMyself.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Colossians 3:12-17 I. Why do I have to go to church? A. After all, I can worship God all by myself. B. After all, all Christians are priests – I Peter 2:9 C. I can read my Bible and I don’t need anyone else – Ephesians 3:3-4 D. I can pray all by…
Read MoreWhy can’t I marry my Catholic boyfriend?
Question: God bless you, Well, I have an issue in my life. My parents and I were introduced to Christianity a few years ago. My dad already had a background in it since his childhood, so he connected and loved it right away. My mom and I didn’t feel it right away. It was a…
Read MoreShould I keep my promise of poverty that I’m not certain I made?
Question: Hello, I told God in a prayer that I give up earthly success. I think that when I said it I meant the pursuit of wealth. I am not sure because I think I was also imagining the idea of suffering like a poor person. I think the reason this situation came about was…
Read MoreCourtesy
by Morris D. Norman Whatever happened to old-fashioned courtesy? Oh, it’s still around, but it is becoming rarer and rarer, even among those who call themselves the children of God. The English word means, “courtly politeness, graceful and considerate behavior toward others.” Refined people are courteous. They have respect for the rights, privileges, and feelings…
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