I get so mad at my former boyfriend that it is affecting my life
Question: Hello, I am a member of the Lord’s church. I have been going through a rough cycle of hurt, anger, and unforgivable times with my daughter’s father. After we broke up a few years ago, it started to be rough with co-parenting with him. I called off my relationship with him because I knew…
Read MoreIs it wrong for a congregation to sell land it no longer needs?
Question: If a congregation sells a plot of land (that was originally intended to build a building), is it unscriptural if it makes a profit? Answer: The congregation purchased the land for the intent of building a building and for whatever reason the plan did not work out (as sometimes happens). Since the land is…
Read MoreIs it possible to have sinned so much that I won’t be saved?
Question: I am a baptized believer. I try my best to be obedient. I try to pick up my cross and follow Christ daily. I fail a lot! Is it possible to have sinned so much that I won’t be saved? Thanks. Answer: God isn’t looking for perfect people because there are none. He is…
Read MoreThank you for your article on Theophostic Prayer
Question: Thank you for your article on Theophostic Prayer. I have been searching for ministries that could give a biblical explanation of what this actually is. Believe it or not, out of the dozen inquiries I made, I did not have one response. So thank you again for your courage and conviction in telling the…
Read MoreAm I removed from the Book of Life each time I sin?
Question: Hey Mr. Jeffrey, How can we know we’re in the Book of Life? What if I commit a sin (drive over the speed limit, think an evil thought, etc.)? Is my name erased from the Book of Life? How does one get into and stay in the Book of Life? Answer: “But you have…
Read MoreI was pressured into adultery and gave in. Can I be forgiven?
Question: I have a few questions. I am a Christian and committed adultery. Although there was an element of consent, this occurred in a high-pressure situation where there was intense coercion. My Christian therapist (psychologist) believes my past, with its complex trauma, and mental health condition has put me in a position where I was…
Read MoreI want out of my marriage
Question: Good morning, I have serious problems with my marriage. I’m married to a pastor, who was a man of God. Recently I have found out that he has been searching for pornography with his phone. He also flirted with women on social media. It has been going on for a long time. I confronted…
Read MoreAre gay people going to hell?
Question: Is it true that gay people go to hell? I’m not gay, but a lot of people are, and it’s not out of choice. They are just born attracted to men. So if it’s not an option, why should they get punished for it? Answer: “Attraction” just means what you find appealing. Some people…
Read MoreDid prophecy have an immediate application or only a future fulfillment?
Question: Good day, When a prophet was making a prophecy (e.g. Isaiah 55:1, the invitation) did it have a solution or an answer for the listeners (Israel) at that time, or did they have to look at it only as something in the future? Answer: That would depend on what the prophecy was about. Some prophecies…
Read MoreDo You Expect to Go to Heaven?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/DoYouExpectToGoToHeaven.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Should God save you? A. Paul was able to say, “Yes, I did the Lord’s will.” – II Tim. 4:6-8 B. Can you say that about your own life? C. How did you become a Christian? 1. Converted from a denomination or from out of the world? 2. Raised in the church? D. All are the…
Read MoreFashioned Not According to the World
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/FashionedNotAccordingTheWorld.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Corinthians 6:14-7:1 I. At times it isn’t easy to take a stand for the truth and it appears to be getting harder with the passing years. A. People are social creatures. We want to think that other people are like us. But when we are forced to see differences,…
Read MoreNew Heavens and a New Earth
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/NewHeavensAndANewEarth.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Isaiah 65:17-25 I. A frequent mistake made in reading the Scriptures is to recognize the meaning of a phrase in one area of the Bible and then assume that the phrase has the same meaning everywhere it is used. A. An example of this is found in Isaiah 65:17. 1. Some…
Read MoreI met an old boyfriend and now I feel guilty
Question: I have been happily married for about five years now. We have a child, who is two years old. My husband takes care of me really well. I have no complaints. He has been overseas for about a year now. I had a pretty good job and recently resigned. Now I am sitting at…
Read MoreWhen I have days where I don’t read or pray as much as I usually do, does that mean I won’t reach heaven?
Question: Hey Mr. Jeffrey, I have resolved to walk in all of God’s ways, and I’ve been faithfully doing as best as I can. I’ve been behaving, but when I see places where Jesus says to strive to enter into narrow gate because many seek to enter, but will not be able to. Also, He…
Read MoreIs it a sin to continue having sex with my girlfriend, who already has a baby with me?
Question: Please, … uhm … is it a sin to continue having sex with my girlfriend, who already has a baby with me? Answer: Let me ask you a question as well: Would it be all right to continue stealing from your neighbor because you stole from him before? I would hope the answer would…
Read MoreIs it right for my parents to reject my fiance?
Question: Hello Minister, I started praying to God for a wife and stated the qualities I wanted each time I prayed. My prayer used to go like this: “Dear Lord, give me a woman who has a heart for you, one who would love me and be loyal, and increase my hunger for you. Make…
Read MoreIs the heart the same thing as the mind?
Question: The brethren here have been asking about the mind and heart in reference to salvation. When one believes from the heart, is it the same thing as the mind doing it? Some passages say the heart does something and other passages say the mind does them. Answer: “Jesus said to him,” ‘You shall love…
Read MoreThe girl I love is being given in marriage to someone else by her family
Question: There’s this Muslim girl I love so much. While I was dating her, her parents found out and gave in her marriage to her cousin, who lives in another country. I don’t know what to do now because we still love each other so much. She has accepted Jesus as Lord of her life.…
Read MoreBaptized but Not Converted
by Fred Shewmaker Years ago in a home Bible study, the couple with whom we were studying complained that the words I was using were too big. Being somewhat inexperienced in home Bible studies, I was surprised by their complaint. The words about which they were complaining were all words found in the Bible. I…
Read MoreWhat do you think about listening to Joel Osteen for his motivation, even though you know his teaching is wrong?
Question: Hi, I am a member of the church of Christ. Before morning service this past Sunday the TV happened to be on the station with Joel Osteen. I have never really watched him speak before. I must say it was a good message, as far as being motivational. I feel it wasn’t anything that…
Read MoreWill my Hindu grandparents go to heaven if they don’t follow Christianity?
Question: My grandparents are Hindu and very religious. They pray every day for 30 minutes and on the weekends they go to their church and stay there for hours. They are good-hearted, kind people. But can they still go to heaven if they don’t follow Christianity? It’s not like they don’t believe in Jesus, they…
Read MoreWhat is the reasoning behind infant baptism?
Question: There is a Catholic whom I talk to and he told me that the reason for baptizing infants is for the opportunity for them to put on the body of Christ if they were to pass away before reaching the age of accountability. They also say that Paul went into the households and baptized…
Read MoreCan you give me more insight into Mary’s sister?
Question: The Bible talks about Mary having a sister who is the wife of Clopas whose name is also Mary. The Bible states that this Mary had kids and in an article that you wrote you stated her kids were James and Joses. But when we look at Matthew 13:55, it says that James and Joses…
Read MoreElisha’s Commitment
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/ElishasCommitment.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Kings 19:19-21 I. Elijah had despaired that his work had been for naught – I Kings 19:14 A. God told him that he had work to do – I Kings 19:15-17 B. Elijah thought he was alone, but now he learns Hazael and Jehu are to be God’s appointed leaders…
Read MoreCan someone despise himself?
Question: Can someone despise himself? Doesn’t Ephesian 5:28-30 tell us that we all love ourselves? Please, more insight on this issue will be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Answer: Despising Trials and Pain Job despised his life because of his trials. “Afterward Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. And Job said, “Let…
Read MoreYour church uses a website and a Facebook page, so why can another church have a fellowship hall?
Question: I’m not even saying I want to have or like having a fellowship hall, but given your stance that the Bible does not specifically provide for it, why do you have a website and email for your church? Also, why do you have a Facebook page? Is not a Facebook page, if used the way…
Read MoreThe Holy Spirit and My Feelings
by Doy Moyer It’s not good theology to attribute to the Holy Spirit that which the Holy Spirit never attributes to Himself. Doing so results in both faulty and contradictory claims, and this is exactly what we often see. Feelings get attributed to the Spirit, which are then contradictory to the feelings of others who…
Read MoreYour class on Song of Solomon was one of the most awkward and painful classes I attended, and I really appreciate it years later
Question: Your work constantly impresses me. As a foster parent, I have discovered that there is a large group of brethren that dislike the nitty-gritty situations that come with helping people who are still of the world. It is sort of the “How can you eat with tax collectors and sinners” perspective. We have introduced…
Read MoreWho is Melchizedek?
Question: Who is Melchizedek in the Bible? Some argue he is the pre-incarnate Christ, others believe the Hebrews author is speaking figuratively. If he wasn’t Jesus, then how did he rank spiritually higher than Abraham to the point of Abraham giving him tithes? Answer: “Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it…
Read MoreIs it wrong to read and adopt certain philosophies of life?
Question: Hey Mr. Jeffrey, I have this book on stoicism, and some of the principles in it teach things such as: Don’t become so overly worried with things outside of your control (such as the weather, traffic, others’ opinions, etc. ) and also speaks about how my judgment on an event could be totally different…
Read MoreThe Kingdom of God Is Within You
by Bryan Matthew Dockens According to Jesus, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). Contrary to popular theory, the establishment of God’s kingdom would not be a visible event. The coronation of Christ…
Read MoreIsn’t a baptized person a member of the local congregation?
Question: I am a bit confused. My understanding has always been that if an individual were visiting us, and they obeyed the gospel while here, I would direct them to a sound church in their area. They would not be a member of the local church here, although they obeyed the gospel here. If I…
Read MoreHow to Be Content
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/HowToBeContent.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreContentment and Happiness
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/ContentmentAndHappiness.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreDid we really get married?
Question: Hello, I have an issue that has been weighing on my mind. Like many of your questions, it has to do with sexual activity. Six months ago, I met an amazing, wonderful girl whom I fell in love with. We have spent so much time with each other (after we began our relationship in…
Read MoreWhat did Jesus mean by the kingdom being near in Luke 21:31?
Question: Hello, I had a question regarding the kingdom of God. From my understanding, the kingdom of God is another term for the church. However, after reading the gospel accounts, I found a problem with Luke 21:31. “So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.” My…
Read MoreDo I need her mother’s permission to get married?
Question: Greetings in the name of God! I’ve read through your response to a mail from somebody whose fiancée’s parents denied them consent to become one. Mine is a bit similar, except that my fiancée’s father is deceased and the mother is insisting her daughter cannot marry me. Initially, she was in full support of our…
Read MoreHas La Vista’s site helped the congregation’s visibility?
Question: Hi Brother, I really like La Vista’s website and have been trying to convince our men that, in order to increase our visibility and effectiveness in the area, we should do something similar. I’ve suggested we include God’s word on subjects such as baptism and various sins in general, and then invite those who…
Read MoreCleaning Out the Barn
by Mark McCrary Growing up, this was the job I hated the most (and, hate is not too strong a word). Three times a week I had to clean out the feed room in the barn. That includes everything you think would be included. It was a stinky, unpleasant job. I did it because it…
Read MoreIf Paul thought long hair was bad, why did he take a Nazirite vow?
Question: Thanks for the website. I read it all the time. I have a question concerning men and long hair. I know that I Corinthians 11 talks about that. The first part of the chapter is written off by many as cultural, but I disagree with that view; however, in verse 14, it states it…
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