What made you want to preach?
Question: What made you decide to become a preacher? Some people talk about feeling called when they discovered that they wanted to preach, and some people just decide to do it. What made you want to preach? Answer: The decision to preach is one I arrived at when I was 16. It was born out…
Read MoreWhat if God told you to worship on the Sabbath?
Question: Hello, I have a hypothetical question for you. If God himself were to tell you (audibly speaking here) that your view of the Sabbath is incorrect, that it is in fact still valid (the biblical Sabbath of Friday sunset to Saturday sunset), would you take lightly to His decree, or would you humble yourself…
Read MorePredestined to Glory
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/PredestinedToGlory.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 1:3-14 I. The confusion over predestination isn’t due to understanding that it exists; rather, the questions is who was predestined and for what purpose. A. “the doctrine that God in consequence of his foreknowledge of all events infallibly guides those who are destined for salvation” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary) B. “The doctrine…
Read MoreThe Holman Christian Standard Bible
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/HolmanChristianStandardBible.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Peter 1:16-21 I. Publishers are producing more translations of the Bible, in part because a popular translation can lead to a good amount of profit from royalties. A. This means a drive to present the text of the Bible in modern terms for readability. B. In 2012 the most popular…
Read MoreDo I have to have my abusive step-father in my life and in my daughter’s life?
Question: Hello, I hope you can give me some good advice. I am a father of a young girl. My mom divorced my stepdad when I was a young teenager. He gave all of us a pretty hard life, my mom, my brothers, and sisters who are his kids. I am the only one who…
Read MoreI am Muslim and want to be a Christian, but I’m afraid my father will kill me
Question: Hello, I am a Muslim from an Islamic country. I want to convert to Christianity, but I will face some problems. I am 17 years old. My father is a leader. If he knows what I’m thinking about, he may kill me. So what should I do? Most of the people in our country…
Read MoreHow do I say no?
Question: I am having this difficulty with saying no sometimes to things like sex, partying, spending money, too much work, overwhelming myself in a way. What is the right way to say N-O to a man I am in love with without hurting his feelings? Answer: “Do not think that I came to bring peace…
Read MoreHow do I explain why I didn’t attend the wedding of my gay cousin?
Question: How do I respond to my sister regarding not attending my cousin’s gay wedding? I have been in the church for nearly twenty years. This past summer, I was invited to my cousins’ wedding. I choose not to attend. Now my cousin and his side of the family are choosing to not participate in…
Read MoreDoes God expect women to stay at home?
Question: Hi Jeff, I wanted to ask you a question about Christian women working. Do you believe the scriptures expect a woman to stay at home? I read Proverbs 31 and II Timothy 5 and they seem almost contradictory in the sense the woman works and sells and profits for her family and in the…
Read MoreI encourage you to remove “Affair-Proofing Your Marriage” from your website
Question: The article by Mark Broyles, “Affair-Proofing Your Marriage,” on your website is spreading a myth – short of being able to mind-control your spouse, there is no way to prevent an affair. One’s partner can do anything they choose to do. I encourage you to remove the article. It’s poor to see shoddy theology…
Read MoreWhat do you think of the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)?
Question: I would like to know your opinion concerning the HCSB translation as to its accuracy and what was used to arrive at the finished manuscript. I read that the Southern Baptists were instrumental in doing the translation and attempted to buy the NASB as a base translation. I use eSword on my computer and…
Read MoreShould I participate in my parents’ Hindu burial ceremonies?
Question: Dear Sir, I am from Malaysia. I and my whole family accepted Christ as our personal savior. We submitted ourselves to him and in due time we will be having our water baptism by our local church pastor. But my parents have not accepted Christ as they are Hindu. My parent both are quite…
Read MoreWhy don’t I feel God?
Question: Hello, I’m 15 and I have accepted Christ. You see I always say I’m sorry for my sins. But my friend told me that when he repented he could feel God in him like all of him was being hugged like a warm feeling. I don’t understand. Why haven’t I felt that? I always…
Read MoreI just found out my girlfriend lied about being a virgin. I forgave her, but I find it difficult to forget
Question: I am a 22-year-old guy and have been dating a lady for the past two years. Two days ago she notified me that she lost her virginity three years ago. To me, this came as a deep shock in that I had trusted her and had asked her if she had had sex before,…
Read MoreHow long does it take to get over finding out your husband committed adultery?
Question: I could use help. My husband confessed he had a one-night stand while in another country. He told me six months later after he has been back, so it’s been a month now since I’ve known and it’s been horrible. I’m trying but then I have these moments when I want questions to be…
Read MoreIs your definition of tekna consistent?
Question: In light of the position you take with regard to Elders and the number of children they should have, I would like to know your thoughts with regard to the following scriptures. We are in the process of studying deacons and elders at the congregation I attend, and I am trying to further prepare for…
Read MoreGood Faith Desire
by Sam Stinson “For, ‘Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.’ But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have…
Read MoreParenting Two and Three-Year-Olds: Limits Tested
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ParentingTwoAndThreeYearOldsLimits.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 12:3-14 I. What parent hasn’t been warned about the terrible twos and threes A. The cause of trouble 1. No longer completely dependent on parents 2. Children can efficiently move about — run, climb, manipulate objects — but they haven’t learned safety. 3. They can now express their desires, but they haven’t…
Read MoreWhy did Noah curse Ham’s child just because Ham saw Noah naked?
Question: Hi, I could not understand why Noah issued a curse on Ham just because Ham saw Noah naked in Genesis 9:22-27. Q1. Was there a law of the land regarding seeing someone naked and Ham did not follow it? Q2. What’s wrong with Ham telling his brothers? (If I was the youngest and saw…
Read MoreHave you heard about the World Mission Society Church of God?
Question: Hi Brother Jeff, On my way out of my apartment today, two ladies talked to me about “God our Mother” and pointed to Galatians 4:26 as evidence. I did some research on the belief and found out that they’re most likely from the World Mission Society Church of God. They want to have a…
Read MoreUnderstanding Islam
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/UnderstandingIslam.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 9:51-56 I. Defenders of Islam have been quick to announce that terrorist actions have nothing to do with Islam A. The people involved are extremists who misapply the Qur’an to accomplish their own aims. B. Islam is about peace they insist. The militant are confusing literal and symbolic passages. C. People…
Read MoreAdolescent Alcohol Use
Source: David Murphey, et al., “Alcohol Use,” Adolescent Health Highlight, Child Trends, Publication 2012-34, November 2012. Though continuing a downward trend, alcohol use remains a problem among teenagers despite the fact that the minimum drinking age is 21 throughout the United States. 40% of high school seniors, 27% of high school sophomores, and 13% of eighth-grade…
Read MoreWhy can’t I feel repentance?
Question: Hello, I am in a similar situation as the man who asked you “How do I repent of adultery when I don’t feel sorry for doing it?” After reading your response, I am still confused about what to do. According to you, I feel sorrow but not repentance. I believe God exists, so honestly,…
Read MoreWhy are some churches using “bassing” in their worship?
Question: What is your opinion on one song leader bassing into the microphone (or beatboxing as I call it) while the other lead songs? It seems like a lot of our churches of Christ are starting to feel comfortable with this practice. I thought sing means singing. And if we are all supposed to be singing…
Read MoreCan God accept a couple who committed fornication in the past?
Question: I accepted Christ three years ago, and I was committed to submit to him and to remain pure. After a while, I started flirting with temptation and eventually sinned. My boyfriend was in the same position. We both served God and we both have our own testimonies, but we fell into fornication. At this point, I feel spiritually…
Read MoreCould Gentiles have been saved prior to Cornelius?
Question: In Acts 2, the Lord’s church was established. It’s my understanding that in Acts 10, the Gentiles were officially ushered into the church (with the conversion of Cornelius). My question is: if a Gentile wanted to be saved prior to Acts 10, what was his option? Could a Gentile be baptized and the Lord…
Read MoreAm I Jewish, Hebrew, or Gentile?
Question: Am I Jewish, Hebrew, or a Gentile? My mother was a German Christian. Her grandparents immigrated and were from Germany. What is known is that my father the son of his mother, who was the daughter of her mother, who was the daughter of her father, an Orthodox German Jew. Although I knew great-great-grandmother,…
Read MoreWorship as Entertainment
by Mark Roberts via Abundant Life Romans 1 challenges us with its chilling words “they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man” (vv. 22-23). Man has the propensity to change God and the worship of God into what he desires. Instead of doing what the Lord…
Read MoreI want to go to a good university, but my reputation as a student is poor
Question: Hello, I want to get into a good university but my reputation in college is terrible. I am sure the teachers will predict low grades for me and all of them do not think of me as a good student. Now I am trying to behave as a Christian should do, but how can I ever…
Read MoreDoes the Ouija board actually work?
Question: Does the Ouija board actually work? Answer: James Randi, a magician and fraud buster, points out that when blindfolded, Ouija board operators are unable to produce intelligible messages [James Randi, An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural]. Magicians Penn and Teller performed a similar demonstration in which the operators moved…
Read MoreDo I have to kick my boyfriend out now that I’ve become a Christian?
Question: I am 21 and I have been in a relationship and living with my boyfriend for seven years. I have recently become a Christian. What are God’s views on sharing a bed together? So far, since becoming Christian, I have stopped any sexual activity with my boyfriend. He isn’t Christian but is willing to…
Read MoreDid those who were killed by the angel know there was a God?
Question: My husband wants to know if the 70,000 killed by a plague by an angel knew there was a God? Answer: You are referring to those who died as a result of David’s sin in numbering the men of war in Israel. “So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel from the morning till…
Read MoreHow long do I pray for a cure for my TMAU?
Question: I clearly understand that Jesus Christ is absolutely under no obligation to heal anyone. He owes us nothing in the way of healing, health, prosperity, or posterity. If Jesus decides to heal anyone, He does so because it’s His will. I remember Paul’s thorn in his flesh. He prayed to God to remove this…
Read MoreIt is clear that masturbation is sinful. Why are you saying it is not?
Question: If you truly search the heart and mind of God and the Scriptures it is clear that masturbation is a sin. Sex outside of marriage is a sin. Period. That’s how the Word of God defines it. Go a little deeper, please! Just because the Bible does not mention not to do something does…
Read MoreImprinting On Christ
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ImprintingOnChrist.mp3 by Brett Bowen
Read MoreI just can’t take it anymore
Question: My husband and I are both in the church of Christ. I have been emotionally and financially abused for almost thirty years. My two sisters gave up on trying to be there for me, although when I could I was there for them in every way no matter how long it took. I have…
Read MoreHow do I move on?
Question: Please help me. I was wondering if you could help me out I been with my partner for over five years. We are both near thirty. That time has been a real long journey. The problem is I feel like our love is burnt. He changed into a total jerk — looking up porn,…
Read MoreI’m rebellious but I want to follow God and I don’t know what to do
Question: I have been dealing with a medical condition and going through a lot since the year 2006; even prior to the year 2006. First and foremost I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son Of God; that’s what I want to believe. I was baptized several years ago. Currently, I no longer attend church. …
Read MoreYour site has been helpful to me in preparing for a talk on sexual perversion
Question: I’ve found your site so helpful when I wanted to know more about sexual perversion, a topic given to me to share in a youth conference in my area. It’s amazing to see the rate at which it’s growing in this generation. May God help us to live and also teach others to live uprightly.…
Read MoreImpulsive Scandals
Source: Frank Bruni, “Protection while online only illusion,” New York Times, 21 November 2012 Mr. Bruni points out that many people recently caught misbehaving through electronics, such as Anthony Weiner and David Petraeus, would never do what they did in public, yet things sent out over electronics are a form of public display. Nor do they…
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