My husband left me for another woman and is doing well. Where are my benefits?
Question: Dear Minister, I need guidance. My former husband, who left me for another woman, is doing well financially. I feel so jealous and I don’t want to feel this way. The feelings of unfairness that she (now his wife) benefits from all the sacrifices that I made for the family. She is reaping what…
Read MoreI was baptized by a female priest. Was it legitimate?
Question: Hi, I was baptized a year ago. Since then I’ve been a bit worried about something. My question might sound a bit silly, but the Bible tells us that women must keep silent in church. I was baptized by a female priest. Have I been ‘officially’ baptized? Am I going to hell? Do I…
Read MoreIs it wrong to clap when giving?
Question: I have been reviewing the wealth of information that you have on your website regarding a wide array of subjects. We have several members who desire to express themselves by clapping when giving to the Lord. Is this practice okay in the Lord’s Church if it does not interfere with anything else? So far,…
Read MoreIf the rapture happens, will we still be able to marry and have children?
Question: I’ve been wondering a lot lately. Since the rapture is just around the corner, it probably won’t give most people my age who will be going to heaven during the time to get married and start a family. Do you think two people will still be able to get married when they get there?…
Read MoreMy father refuses to consent to my marriage because my girlfriend comes from the same clan, though we are only distantly related
Question: Hi, I just read a reply you made to someone about marrying without parental consent. I happen to be in a similar situation right now. I hail from a village in Nigeria where marriage within the same clan is considered taboo irrespective of how distant the relationship is. My fiancee and I are both from…
Read MoreIs the reason my life is going downhill because of my sexual sins with my girlfriend?
Question: My girlfriend and I have been sexually active for some time now. We sought out advice from our pastor, who suggested we separate to refocus and rededicate our lives to Christ so that if and when reunited we would be better equipped to fight off temptation. We didn’t follow that advice. Instead, we fled.…
Read MoreI just want a happier environment for my child and me
Question: Hello, I am currently unemployed and have been for 6 months. Four years ago I fell in love with someone else. My goal is to find another job, then my child and I will move, or whatever we as the parents decide. We had a huge argument a few days ago. He said he…
Read MoreMy mother-in-law is unable to care for herself, but we are not able to take her in
Question: Hello, I’ve read the articles available on this subject, but still have some confusion regarding taking care of parents. My mother-in-law legally separated from her husband of thirty years after discovering he created debts, spent all their retirement money, and had a previous marriage and child she didn’t know about (a situation that she…
Read MoreI got involved with a man at church. How do I overcome this?
Question: I am a woman going through a very tough time trying to raise two children making all the major decisions alone. First and foremost, I am going through a divorce for the last two years which needs to be finalized. I met a younger gentleman through the church, and we spent a lot of…
Read MoreI found out my husband is smoking marijuana
Question: I attend a church of Christ in my hometown and I am looking for direction from spiritually mature sources. Without giving unnecessary long details, since I realize how many questions you must receive, I will just get to the point: I found out about a month ago that my husband is smoking marijuana and…
Read MoreI recently discovered that my daughter is sexting with a boy
Question: I am a Christian. I just found out that my daughter, who is also a Christian and almost 19 years old, is sexting. I found very sexually explicit emails between her and a boy who is supposed to be a Christian as well. This happened a couple of years ago and the boy’s parents…
Read MoreI’m afraid my son is gay
Question: I sense my son is gay because he has never had a girlfriend. And I have caught him watching gay porn. I raised him in the church, where it is taught that that is a sin. How do I talk to him about his struggles and that his lifestyle is a sin? A sin…
Read MoreI fear Judgment, but I’m not sure God exists
Question: I am not a Christian, but I force myself to believe in God because I fear Judgment. I always shiver and cry because I don’t know if I will go to hell or heaven. My fear is so strong that I became depressed and desperate for a few weeks. My grandfather is Buddhist but…
Read MoreIt is nice to find godly, sound congregations
Question: Hello Jeff, While studying for my class tomorrow I googled: “How many people did Jesus raise from the dead.” I could only think of three and thought I’d better check. Then I found your web site. It’s nice to do this and find other godly congregations of the Lord’s people around the country. That…
Read MoreI found out my girlfriend has been lying to me
Question: I am in a relationship with my girlfriend for about a year, and for about the first 10 months she lied to me that she is a virgin. She always told me that those who lose their virginity before marriage are sinners. I started loving her for her thoughts. She is Christian and I…
Read MoreI think the person writing responses is a fraud
Question: I have read at length the questions and answers posted on your site. It appears that the person or persons writing the responses is a fraud, as he/she does not truly respond with understanding or love, as clearly directed in the Bible. Those were the teachings of Christ, not judgmental comments about people’s troubles. …
Read MoreMy father just died! Can he be in heaven?
Question: I have sad news, my father just died of an overdose! Are there any verses that you can point out to me that say he can be in Heaven! I’m so scared he is in hell because he said he was mad at God and all. Answer: I am really sorry to hear about…
Read MoreThe Teaching of God’s Word
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/TeachingOfGodsWord.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 92 I. Jesus made a comment in Matthew 16:18 that we are all familiar with A. Notice something that many overlook: What does Jesus mean that the “gates of hell will not overcome it?” 1. Many talk about how Satan’s army cannot overcome the church. 2. But read this again. Which…
Read MoreYour answer on circumcision and how it relates to baptism and covenants made it clear to me why baptism is necessary for salvation
Question: Someone asked about the law of circumcision and your answer was so helpful to me, especially in how it relates to covenants between man and God, then and now, with baptism. Now I understand how it can be symbolic of salvation, as the Baptists claim, and be a step in salvation, as the churches of Christ…
Read MoreI’ve lost focus and have been involved in sexual sins. How do I return to Christ?
Question: I am 22, a student, and a Christian. I was raised in a very good Christian home. Somewhere along the line, I lost focus and fell into sexual sin. I have fornicated several times with about eight men. Since then, I feel too ashamed to go before Christ again. I have asked for forgiveness…
Read MoreDoes God hate me?
Question: Hello sir, I’ve often thought of this but would like some clarity if that is OK. I have been looking at the advice you give others online, and you give really good and useful advice! I guess my question is, why does God make me suffer? Does he hate me or something? I know…
Read MoreDid Titus desert Paul?
Question: Hello, I hope this finds you doing well. I just wanted to let you know that I love your site. It helps me a lot in my studies of God’s Word. I heard a radio minister say that Titus deserted Paul. He used II Timothy 4:9-11 as his proof text. “Be diligent to come…
Read MoreI want to get baptized but my partner doesn’t want to separate from me
Question: I am a single Christian parent, but my partner (a non-Christian) never wants to separate from me. I wanted to get baptized, but he keeps coming back only to stay a few days and goes away for a while for work. During his few days with us, I pray for forgiveness. I wanted us…
Read MoreDoes it matter if the man you are dating is a virgin or not?
Question: Good day, sir, Please, I have always wondered if when an individual starts dating if whether the man is a virgin or not is something to look into. Should a female Christian virgin be worried if her partner isn’t a virgin? I know there’s a lot of emphasis on women staying virgins and not…
Read MoreI’m so mad! I’m afraid someone is going to get killed!
Question: I’m a Christian, I’ve had the born-again experience. I know that we all slip sometimes, but I’ve done more than slip. I have ruined my testimony to my family, which I’m sure doesn’t matter to them anyway. They’ve all been in church their whole lives and treat Jesus like he’s a fairy tale. I…
Read MoreHow do I stop the curse of women in my family not marrying?
Question: The issue I am about to ask might be foreign in your part of the world. However, if you can understand, I would like to get some help. In my family, there has been an issue of girls not being able to get married. Some of my cousins have run off with married men.…
Read MoreTroubled Over Immorality
by Connie Adams Nothing can create more havoc in a home or a congregation than immoral behavior on the part of Christians or their children. Webster defines immoral as “Inconsistent with purity or good morals.” Immorality is defined by Webster as “the quality or state of being immoral: wickedness, esp. unchastity.” It is immoral to…
Read MoreHereditary Total Depravity: Examining the Old Testament Proof Texts
by Melvin Curry via Guardian of Truth, January 1, 1987 Hereditary total depravity is generally associated with Augustinian and Calvinistic doctrine. John Calvin, following in the footsteps of Augustine, taught that all men sinned in Adam, and, consequently, every human being, except Jesus Christ, possesses from birth a totally corrupt sinful nature. Calvinists are saddled with…
Read MoreSince the Y-chromosome doesn’t activate until the fifth week, does this mean everyone starts out as female and that the first human could not be a male?
Question: There’s this meme going around that some people are trying to use against Creationism. It says, “All humans begin as female. The Y chromosome — which is only present in males — is not activated in the first 5-6 weeks of embryonic development.” Anyway, they’re trying to say that Adam couldn’t have been the…
Read MoreHow to Pray
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/HowToPray.mp3 by Steven Chetelat
Read MoreWhen I get busy in school, I lose sight of God. Is that wrong?
Question: Now I’m back in school and it’s getting busy again. But in the classroom, I always get distracted thinking that I am doing something wrong when I’m doing the work. I obviously know that homework is not a sin, but it feels like when I get busy with work I just lose sight of…
Read MoreWho Is Jesus?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/WhoIsJesus.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreHow to Ruin Our Influence
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/HowToRuinOurInfluence.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreI had sex with a coworker. I’m afraid my boyfriend will not forgive me. What can I do?
Question: I fornicated. I feel so horrible, especially the fact that it wasn’t with my Christian boyfriend. It was with someone at my job. I don’t know what to do. I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I couldn’t control myself. Now I feel horrible because I haven’t told anyone what I’ve done,…
Read MoreIs my boyfriend the reason for my nightmares?
Question: I had a boyfriend. We have been in a relationship for a while. We were involved in sexual things, but we didn’t have sex. But I had some spiritual issues, and I got delivered, but I went back to it. I had a dream that if I continued with the sins, I wouldn’t be…
Read MoreMy boyfriend doesn’t believe in complete abstinence, so we have come close to having sex too many times. What do I do?
Question: Hey, I really needed to pour out my mind to someone else, and I saw people with similar problems emailing you on the Internet. I really need help. I’m at a point in my life where I long to serve God more. I want to truly be His daughter this new year. I’m 20…
Read MoreHow do I ask for forgiveness when I paid for my girlfriend’s abortion after we had sex?
Question: I committed fornication with a friend some weeks ago. We are just friends, but we are very close. At a point in time, I observed that we were getting too close. She was the one that brought up the issue first, but I told her we can’t be more than friends, and we both…
Read MoreThe Gospel
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Gospel.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 2:1-11 I. The word “gospel” translates a Greek word that means “good news” A. The gospel is a message that is to be heralded to all the world – Mark 16:15 B. It is a message that brings hope to those who hear it – Colossians 1:23 C. It is a…
Read MoreThe Purpose of the Old Law
I. As we study the Bible, we learn that God has had three laws in effect at different periods of time – The Patriarchal, The Mosaical, and Christ’s Law. A. Much confusion has arisen because people do not distinguish between these laws B. While the laws are related, because they all derive from the same source, they are…
Read MoreDoes a person involved in fornication get spiritually connected with the one with whom he is having sex?
Question: Hello, I hope everything is okay wherever you are. First, I would like to thank you for everything you have done for us. You have helped us with so many answers regarding the Christian life. I have this issue, which I don’t understand. I want to know what happens when someone sleeps with a…
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