Why is it so important to you that Mary had other children? What difference does it make?
Question: I have always been puzzled why the members of the church of Christ are so adamant that Mary, the mother of Jesus, had additional children with her husband, Joseph. I know the Catholic teaching is that Mary was a perpetual virgin; why does it matter to the church of Christ if she had other…
Read MoreThis has not been a good year for me. I need to regain my faith
Question: Please pray with me. This year has not been good for me. I’ve had a terrible fight with my manager. I put her in an awkward place at work. I’ve bad-mouthed her and now at work, I’ve misused the money. I might lose the job. I have a two-year-old baby girl. I’ve started using…
Read MoreMy father rarely gets angry, but when he does, he gets extremely violent. What do I do?
Question: Hello, My father keeps abusing my mother. The first physical fight happen when I was two years old. My other sisters were a few years older, so they remember it better than I do. My father was very kind and treated my mother nicely, but his attitude changed after they got married. He was…
Read MoreI told my wife I had inappropriate conversations with a woman, but I didn’t mention I had sex with her. My wife thinks I’m lying. Must I tell her everything?
Question: I’ve confessed to my wife for having inappropriate conversations with a woman in church five years ago. Now what I haven’t told her is that I had a sexual relationship with her. She has asked if I kissed or had sex with her and I chose not to answer her. I’ve asked for forgiveness…
Read MoreShould Paul Have Been Embarrassed?
by Terry W. Benton Matthew wrote a book that aired the “dirty laundry”, so to speak, of his Jewish nation, just as the earlier prophets had done before, only now it was worse because God’s great “blessing to all nations” was now being rejected as a “troubler” in Israel. Matthew even shows Jesus driving some…
Read MoreThe Judge of All the Earth
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/JudgeOfAllTheEarth.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Job 34 I. Have you ever told another, “It’s not fair!” A. What is meant is that you do not think you are being treated in a just or right way. B. Justice means “what is right” and just means “a state of being right or acting in right conduct.” C. Justice…
Read MoreHow do we avoid the temptation to have sex?
Question: I am 23 years of age and a college student. I have been in a relationship for over a year now. My motive for being in the relationship is to be with my partner now and stay with her until God blesses us to marry. My problem is how do I handle my sexual…
Read MoreGod Is Love
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/GodIsLove.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I John 4:7-21 I. What is love? How would you define it? How would you know if you have it? A. It is a common question that teens have. How while I know I’m in love? B. The Bible gives two definitions: 1. Song of Solomon 8:6-8 describes the passion of love…
Read MoreWill God forgive me for not saying my prayers as I had promised?
Question: Hello, I’m 17 years old. My family has always been very secular. For a small period of time, my older sister went to a Catholic school, and I was sent to Sunday school. When I was little I was very much afraid of death and the concept of eternal nothingness. This fear led me…
Read MoreIs it a lack of faith if your prayer isn’t answered?
Question: Dear Sir, Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication to your website. I have recently started attending a local church of Christ, in part because of the wonderful Scripture-based answers on your website and the freedom and new life promised by following God’s laws rather than man-made directives. My boyfriend attends…
Read MoreThe Common Thread of the Bible
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2013Fall8TheCommonThreadOfTheBible.mp3 by Terry Wane Benton Let Me Tell You About My Jesus
Read MoreThe Victory-Giving Jesus
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2013Fall7TheVictoryGivingJesus.mp3 by Terry Wane Benton Let Me Tell You About My Jesus
Read MoreThank you so much for the sermon “Can We Trust the Text of the Bible?” on your website
Question: Thank you so much for the sermon “Can We Trust the Text of the Bible?” on your website. I am so blessed spiritually when I read this teaching. When I shared this teaching with our church many people were blessed and touched by this teaching. I really feel the presence of God when I…
Read MoreThe Hell-Fire Preaching Jesus
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2013Fall6TheHellFirePreachingJesus.mp3 by Terry Wane Benton Let Me Tell You About My Jesus
Read MoreOur congregation would be very liberal if they had the money
Question: Hi, I came across your website as I was doing research on the “One Nation Under God” effort by the church of Christ in Tennessee. I want to say I enjoyed reading your article on Institutionalism. I intend on reading more of your articles. We are attending a congregation where we moved about a year…
Read MoreMy husband doesn’t want children and insists that I get an abortion if I get pregnant. What do I do?
Question: Hello Jeff, I recently started studying the Bible, and I want to get baptized soon as I understand how it goes. It’s my wish to follow God’s commands, turn my life around, and be a good child. I am married to a non-Christian, and I would like your advice on how to address a…
Read MoreDoes an organization formed to meet the government’s requirements have any say over congregations?
Question: Greetings to you in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. How are the brethren over there? I want to thank you for the support you gave me whenever I come to you. I have always had it in mind that I will do my best to change things I’m sure are going wrong…
Read MoreThe Anti-Divorce Jesus
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2013Fall5TheAntiDivorceJesus.mp3 by Terry Wane Benton Let Me Tell You About My Jesus
Read MoreWhat is the difference between adultery and fornication?
Question: I was just wondering: I think that if someone sleeps with a married person but they are not married, they now to are committing adultery? And if that person, who was not married, sleeps with someone else later in life, who is not married, does that new person commit adultery too? Just wondering how…
Read MoreI committed adultery with a married man, now I feel guilty about it
Question: A couple of years ago I had sex with a married man. It lasted about two years and it was revealed to his wife that we were having a sexual affair. I’ve lied to her about what went on between us. I’m very ashamed and disgusted by what I’ve done and ask God to…
Read MoreI question everything I do, even though there aren’t commands against it because it might not be from faith
Question: Hello again. For a while now I have been struggling with making sure I am doing things in faith as mentioned in Romans 14:23 while not trying to stress myself out and worry about it so much. What is talked about in Ecclesiastes 7:16 seems to be what I am doing. Because I know…
Read MoreThe Temple-Cleaning Jesus
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2013Fall4TheTempleCleaningJesus.mp3 by Terry Wane Benton Let Me Tell You About My Jesus
Read MoreIf a couple divorce, and then reconcile, do they need to remarry?
Question: A married couple divorces, within a short time they reconcile, (in God’s eyes the wife would have been wrong, she repented and made it right with God and the church). This all happened many years ago, but they just never formally remarried, and the state in which they live it is legal for either…
Read MoreIs it right for a church to have a paid minister of music?
Question: Hello, I am a member of a Church of Christ that currently doesn’t have elders. The congregation is “run” by the minister and a few hand-picked men who basically say yes to whatever the minister wants to do. This has bothered me since this minister arrived at our congregation several years back, but now…
Read MoreDo I have to help with my parents’ business during my breaks?
Question: My parents sell consumer goods and think I am lazy because I, as a college student, prefer to study indoors than help with sales during holidays, such as Christmas break, industrial strikes, etc. What do I do? Answer: I assume that your parents are helping to finance your college studies, in whole or in…
Read MoreThe Most Challenging Jesus
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2013Fall3TheMostChallengingJesus.mp3 by Terry Wane Benton Let Me Tell You About My Jesus
Read MoreI found your “Answering a Muslim Critic” offensive
Question: I’ve noticed in your article ‘Answering a Muslim Critic’ you have made several attempts to disrespect our Prophet Muhammad SAW. Now I am not a good Muslim, nor am I a sinless human being, but to me that is wrong. You have made the Prophet sound violent and merciless whereas there are plenty of…
Read MoreLet Me Tell You About My Jesus
September 15-20, 2013 by Terry W. Benton of Gardendale, AL. Every Jesus Is Not Right (recording failed, borrowed an older copy) The Most Wonderful Jesus (recording failed, borrowed an older copy) The Most Challenging Jesus The Temple-Cleaning Jesus The Anti-Divorce Jesus The Hell-Fire Preaching Jesus The Victory-Giving Jesus The Common Thread of the Bible
Read MoreThe Most Wonderful Jesus
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2013Fall2TheMostWonderfulJesus.mp3 by Terry Wane Benton Let Me Tell You About My Jesus
Read MoreEvery Jesus Is Not Right
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2013Fall1EveryJesusIsNotRight.mp3 by Terry Wane Benton Let Me Tell You About My Jesus
Read MoreI know it’s wrong, but I do not know what happens when we are together
Question: I am writing this due to the guilt that I am having. I am born again and I minister in our church on the altar in one way or another, though I am not a preacher. I am 25 years old and last year I met with my boyfriend and we clicked. We fell…
Read MoreI just had to email you and express how excited I am over your website!
Question: Brother Hamilton, I just had to email you and express how excited I am over your website! It is a true blessing! I am 44 years old and many of the topics that you addressed, I can relate to. It is very refreshing to hear your answers are biblically based. There is no room…
Read MoreShould I stay with my fiance or go with the guy I recently met?
Question: Please bear with me as this is long. While searching for my answer I stumbled across one of your previous questions that were somewhat similar, so I decided to write you. I met my now fiance over five years ago when I was at a low point in my life. I was a drunk,…
Read MoreNotes on Alcohol
Based on a list by Dave Hart There is more Scripture condemning the use of alcoholic beverages than will be found on the subjects of lying, adultery, swearing, cheating, hypocrisy, pride, or even blasphemy. Genesis 9:20-27 – Noah became drunk; the result was immorality and family trouble. Genesis 19:30-38 – Lot was so drunk he…
Read MoreAre wedding receptions based on scripture, or is it traditional?
Question: Are wedding receptions based on scripture, or is it traditional? Answer: The Bible records the fact that wedding receptions, or marriage feasts, occurred (Genesis 29:22; Luke 14:8; John 2:1-10; Revelation 19:9). The reason for the meals likely goes back to covenants. When two parties made a covenant, they would sit down together for a…
Read MoreDid He Say That? John Calvin on Instrumental Music
by Doy Moyer Why is it that those who want to identify with Calvinism are quick to quote Calvin on matters like predestination, but don’t appear to want to quote Calvin on instrumental music in the assemblies? Here are a couple of pieces of Calvinism that modern Calvinists seem to have missed, so I’m just…
Read MoreIs the efficacy of baptism in our faith in God? Does that mean faith is more important than baptism?
Question: What is meant by Colossians 2:12, “in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead”? Is it teaching the efficacy of our baptism lies in our faith in God? If so then one of the faith only might say that “Faith…
Read MoreMy husband is living with another woman, should I divorce him?
Question: I am a member of the church of Christ. I am now battling with the decision to divorce my husband. I don’t know what to do. My husband and I have been married for about five years. He got baptized while we dated. I was born and raised in the church, but he never…
Read MoreCan you read about mythology if you don’t believe in it?
Question: Hi, Is reading Greek mythology allowed? For example, the Percy Jackson series? I think there are some verses of the Bible that talk about mythology (I Timothy 1:3-4;4:1-8; and II Timothy 4:2) But can you read about mythology if you don’t believe in it? I’m confused. Thanks! Answer: The myths condemned in the Bible…
Read MoreIs it possible to feel the presence of God when one worships Him?
Question: Is it possible to feel the presence of God when one worships Him? Answer: You ask the question in the wrong way because in the realm of possibility when dealing with God, almost anything is possible. But if you ask how God made His presence known in the past, then we find: Seen “And they…
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