Why does Ecclesiastes say our spirits return to God, but Jesus says the spirits go to hades?
Question: Why does the Bible say that when we die our spirit returns to God (in Ecclesiastes) and we read the story of the rich man and Lazarus that seems to be in a different location? Answer: “Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher…
Read MoreWhat do I do? My husband gambles and my son is an addict
Question: I am reaching out for advice from you. I am just at the end of my rope. I am in a situation that I do not know what to do. I have talked to many many people in the church where I go. Everyone that knows me knows my situation, and I have no…
Read MoreHave Miracles Ceased?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/HaveMiraclesCeased.mp3 Text: John 9:14-34 I. Several denominations teach the continuance of miracles A. Proofs offered are based on emotional feelings and indirect evidence (I know a person who heard a person claim they saw …) B. The standard appealed to is what a person thinks is right C. To oppose is taken as the same as calling the…
Read MoreMiracles in the New Testament
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/MiraclesInTheNewTestament.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I. Many claim to have miraculous gifts, just like those given in the New Testament A. It doesn’t matter that you or I can show verses that state such gifts were temporary and were going to end. B. It doesn’t matter that most of the big time preachers claiming such abilities…
Read MoreSalvation Is Neither Deserved nor Earned
by Doy Moyer Salvation cannot be earned for the simple reasons that: If deserved, it isn’t salvation. We deserve what we are saved from, not what we are saved to. If deserved, it isn’t grace. Grace grants something good that we don’t deserve. Sin makes it impossible to earn or deserve salvation (Romans 3:23; 6:23),…
Read MoreIf God made all animals equal, then why are some extinct?
Question: We had a neighborhood gathering at my house, I got into a heated debate with a college student. I was defending the Bible well, then he said that if God made all animals equal, how come there are extinct animals. Then everything got very quiet as they were about to cut a cake. I’m…
Read MoreMy parents won’t approve of my marriage. What do I do?
Question: Please, I am 23 and my girlfriend is 21. We are both Christians and do not do any silly thing that God is against. My parents are not Christians and uneducated but have put in all efforts for me to get a formal education. My problem is that they won’t endorse my relationship with…
Read MoreHow can Jesus say no man ascended to heaven when Enoch and Elijah did?
Question: If John 3:13 states that no man ascended to heaven except Christ, then how come both Enoch in Genesis 5:24 and Elijah in II Kings 2:1 ascended? Answer: “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven” (John 3:13). The…
Read MoreWe are already living together, so what do we do until the wedding?
Question: I have enjoyed reading the information on your site. I’m having a similar situation, but I still haven’t received the answer that I’m looking for, even after reading your site. Both my fiancé and I have been living together for almost a year now, and we are getting married. We both have strong believers…
Read MoreReasoning from Scripture
by Doy Moyer No reasoning takes place without drawing conclusions from implications. Just try it. Statements and examples often come with the expectation that we draw further conclusions. The point of reasoning and discerning is that we are capable of taking what is explicitly given, then reasoning to conclusions that are, in fact, necessary. For…
Read MoreYou don’t know everything, so you can’t say denominations are wrong
Question: I am responding to your slander against other churches. It is pretty sad that you talk about things you don’t really have all the answers to. Some of the things you talk about I do agree with, but other things you need to get the facts because your facts are wrong. Here is what…
Read MoreAre ring species evidence of evolution?
Question: I read an e-mail exchange where you were answering a question posed by an ex-Christian, where you stated: Daily Evolution? “If you have evidence of evolution taking place daily, I know a lot of scientist who would like to talk to you. What is usually touted as “evidence” is variation within a species. The existence…
Read MoreRevelation 14 and the Harps
by Doy Moyer I’m dealing here with a very narrow aspect of the question of instruments in worship. In support of the use of instruments in worship, we often hear Revelation 14 brought up. Because this passage is used positively, and because it involves the use of instruments, then this is supposed to prove that…
Read MoreI need to look for another job, but the ones in this area require working every other Sunday. What should I do?
Question: Dear Minister: I am a married woman in the church. As much as I want to not work or work part-time, it is not what my husband wants me to do. I currently have a job that allows me to be off on Sundays. This job will no longer be available soon, and I…
Read MoreI know that there are bad people in churches and being in church won’t save them, but why does God threaten to punish the good people who don’t worship Him?
Question: I am a religious Catholic, who has never been swayed by any sort of religious persecution or negative commentary, whatsoever. I believe that we should not judge other people because that is not our job to do. We are taught to live as good people on this Earth, no matter how ill many people…
Read MorePsallo
by Dan King via Truth Magazine, May 15, 1980 In all likelihood, the most difficult and confusing aspect of argumentation for or against the inclusion of the instrument in worship is that which surrounds the Greek verb psallo. This is true for a number of reasons, but one of the most obvious is the fact that most…
Read MoreCan you answer some questions about my coming out as a homosexual?
Question: I had contacted you once about this. I don’t know if you didn’t get it yet or are too busy to respond or just not interested in being a part of this kind of thing, but here is a little bit about my project to give you more of a feel of what’s going…
Read MoreHow can God kill people and steal their stuff?
Question: As a new Christian, I’m now studying the Old Testament. I am struggling with all the killing and death that God either does himself or makes his people do. I find it extremely difficult to wrap my head around the fact that he sent Moses up the hill and gave him the 10 commandments…
Read MoreHow can prophecy cease when people claim to be prophets today?
Question: First, I’d like to thank you for taking the time to address my questions because it has been bothering me for a while now. I am a born-again Christian and still relatively young in faith. I read on this site that an end to all prophets was declared by apostle Paul in Corinthians. This…
Read MoreDo I have to remain separated from my husband for the rest of my life?
Question: Mine is a difficult question. I am a Christian and have been separated for over 10 years. My husband and I are both Christians actually, I am faithful he is not. Our marriage has been terrible. Alcoholism, drug abuse, neglect left me alone for the first several years which ended up with me committing…
Read MoreHow far should I go in helping a family living in sin?
Question: My father-in-law is in poor health and is moving up here with us so we can help take care of him, and he can spend some time with his grandchildren during his remaining time here. Unfortunately, he’s not a Christian. He was originally going to move in with us but then decided against it,…
Read MoreIs it a good idea for both the husband and wife to work full-time when there is a small child?
Question: Hi brother Jeffrey, I have a full-time job and my wife would like to work outside the home and let our 3-year old child be taken care of by a maid. But I read Titus 2:5 that women are to be keepers at home. Are we sinning if we proceed with our plan that…
Read MoreI’ve improved since I fell into fornication, but how do I make sure it doesn’t happen again?
Question: I would like to seek your advice on some personal issues. I have been able to overcome some of them in recent months, but I still have some and I decided this should come first. About four years ago I attended college in my state. I am really likable, so I have so many…
Read MoreWhy is Proverbs frequently quoted and applied today?
Question: Why is Proverbs frequently quoted as applying today when it is in the Old Testament? Wasn’t the Old Testament done away with? Answer: “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4). Count the number of times…
Read MoreFired Up, But Only Half-Baked
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/FiredUpButOnlyHalfBaked.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hosea 7:1-10 I. We admire those driven by a passion for the things that they do. A. Radio and TV shows that feature people passionately defending their views are popular. B. In religion as well, people are drawn to groups that display rich emotions. C. Passion is wonderful if it is directed…
Read MoreProfessional Christians
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/ProfessionalChristian.mp3 by Andrew Long
Read MoreOn Faith
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/OnFaith.mp3 by Andrew Long
Read MoreI got drunk and had sex. I don’t know what to do now.
Question: Well, here goes. My family members are Christians and when I was a kid I believed in it all. But in my late teens and early twenties, I got involved in the wrong things and hung around the wrong people. I was involved in a lot of drinking. My dad finally kicked me out…
Read MoreShould I leave my wife because I got her pregnant before we were married?
Question: I have a question about marriage. I’m going to start off on how my wife and I came together so you know the whole story. A small group of friends and I used to go out to eat after church on Wednesday nights. I met this one girl who went with us. For some…
Read MoreI’m addicted to alcohol. I want to quit, but I just can’t seem to help myself
Question: I have an addiction to alcohol. It started when mom bought wine or beer for me and my friends at 13. I’m a Christian and asked the Lord to take this desire from me time after time. I’m so sorry that I grieve Him with my behavior. I had a very bad childhood. My…
Read MoreSure, we did some things wrong, but my boyfriend broke up with me for no valid reason
Question: Hi, I’m 22. I’ve been having a hard time because my boyfriend broke up with me for apparently no valid reason. We are both Christians. We almost had sex, we didn’t go all the way, but there were a lot of physical contacts. It was wrong, and we both knew it. We talked about…
Read MoreCan you make bad things happen by speaking about them?
Question: Can you put bad things and words into the universe by saying them? My husband says in Mathew 12:35-37 it says you can. When I try to tell him his son is going to die if he keeps using drugs, he tells me I am putting that into the universe and it will happen…
Read MoreThank you for speaking the truth!
Question: Thank you for speaking the truth! God lead me to your site. It is so hard to even find a church that speaks the truth anymore without watering it down. I so appreciate your messages and am drinking them up! I so love your answers to questions and how you really just speak God’s truth.…
Read MoreI don’t like the answers you give about sexual sins
Question: Dear Sir, I was reading on your website a letter that a young woman had written to you about feeling very guilty about going too far with her boyfriend. Being that she was away from home and at college with new friends she put God out of her life and that was how it was…
Read MoreMy husband returned to his first wife and now I’m confused
Question: Good day, I have been separated for over a year from my best friend of over 10 years and my husband for less than a year, though legally we were married for over a year. He had been married once before to a woman who continuously committed adultery with multiple people every time he…
Read MoreWhy are Acts 2:16-21 and Joel 2:28-32 not word for word the same?
Question: Read Joel 2:28-32. After reading the verse check Peter’s quote in Acts 2:16-21. Does this mean Peter is not quoting Joel if he is not using the exact words of the prophet? Answer: Joel is written in Hebrew which is then translated into English. Peter quotes Joel in Greek, which is then translated into…
Read MoreI feel terrible. I had sex with a friend and damaged my relationship with my boyfriend
Question: Hello, Please answer, I don’t know who to turn to. I have questions regarding fornication. I’ve sinned, I couldn’t resist the temptation. Now I’m feeling terrible. What happened is I’m in a relationship with a guy I’ve known since high school. When I went to college I had a new friend who is about…
Read MoreYou very clearly and simply explained the time Jesus was in the grave
Question: I was questioning what appeared to me to be an inconsistency in Scripture. Knowing every word is true, I was stuck. I found your web page very clearly and simply explained the time between Jesus’ Passion and Resurrection. I appreciate your effort in posting your teaching and pray to be able to use this…
Read MoreMy girlfriend is marrying someone she claims she is not happy with. She wants me to be her lover after she marries. I’m so confused!
Question: Hi, My life is messed up because my relationship with my girlfriend is very bad. I am suffering from epilepsy, diabetes, and I lost an eye. But all of this is fine if she is with me. I’m involved in my family’s business and belong to a very rich family. She belongs to a…
Read MoreI sinned with my girlfriend. I want to marry her, but my parents don’t agree. Will God support my marriage if I marry her anyway?
Question: Dear sir, I am in a relationship with my girlfriend. We have had all types of physical sexual relations except deep penetration. I know I am sinning and have been trying to get away from it, as I am going far from God. I acknowledge that God has been kind to me in many…
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