Why is there a conflict between Acts 7:15-16 and Genesis 50:13?
Question: Hello, I have some questions about the New Testament, which I hope you can clear for me. I became very interested in the New Testament, and I saw some verses in the Bible which seem to contradict the Old Testament. For example Acts 7:15-16 says, “Then Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and…
Read MoreWhy do some use King James English in their prayers?
Question: Why do some men, in their public prayer, use King James English? In their minds do they think it shows reverence or holiness? Answer: The King James Version was a popular translation for almost 400 years, so its language has stuck in people’s minds as religious or biblical language. But at the time it…
Read MoreI am highly impressed with the depth of information available on this site
Question: Dear Mr. Hamilton, I am a member of the Lord’s Church. I am highly impressed with the depth of information available on the La Vista Church of Christ website. God bless you for the good work being done. I landed on your website as I searched for information on church hymnals. Keep up the…
Read MoreWhat is the bema judgment?
Question: I enjoy your website. I have been reading what you have on there about the rapture. It helped me to answer one of my student’s questions. Now he has asked me about the Bema judgment. I never heard of it. I looked it up on the net, but I need to know the truth…
Read MoreWhat does it mean that grace and truth came by Jesus?
Question: Hello Jeff, I came across these beautiful words from John 1:16-17 “And from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” Can you explain, what does it really means that grace and truth came through Jesus Christ? These beautiful…
Read MoreHow do you stop saying bad words?
Question: Okay, I read Careful What You Say, and I have to ask: what do we say when we can’t say any of those words? What if I’m trying to stop, but it’s such a habit it slips out sometimes, out loud and even in my head? I say it even if I don’t mean to.…
Read MoreI haven’t been respectful to my parents in the past. Am I condemned because of this?
Question: Greetings to you. I thank God and the Lord Jesus Christ for His unending love and His grace and mercy that has saved me and had given me life, making me experience the greatness of His love and His righteousness in me. All the glory and honor and praise and thanksgiving belong to Him…
Read MoreWhat is “the hope of His calling”?
Question: Dear brother, Thank you for your web site. It has been most helpful to me as I struggle to share with a person who believes in “Once Saved Always Saved.” Can you enlighten me as to what it means in Ephesians: “the hope of His calling”? Does it refer to heaven? Our resurrection on…
Read MoreWhat is “the hope of His calling?”
Question: Dear brother, Thank you for your web site. It has been most helpful to me as I struggle to share with a person who believes in “Once Saved Always Saved.” Can you enlighten me as to what it means in Ephesians: “the hope of His calling”? Does it refer to heaven? Our resurrection on…
Read MoreIs it wrong to read books like Fifty Shades of Grey?
Question: Hello. I have a question about books like Fifty Shades of Grey. Though I have no interest in reading them, I have a few friends and family members who do. I was wondering if reading things like that would be wrong? and if so how could I tell them that it is wrong? Are…
Read MoreHow can I check my own understanding if I misunderstand the Bible?
Question: How can I check my own understanding in comparison to the Bible, if I misunderstand the Bible itself? Answer: “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17). The first point to realize is that the Bible is understandable. Yes, people do twist the teachings of God,…
Read MoreDo I talk to my former daughter-in-law about her sins, even if it may mean I’ll lose access to my grandchildren?
Question: My former daughter-in-law divorced my son after affairs with other men. Both my son and she are members of the church. The man she is currently involved with lives in another state, as does my son. She recently told me she has him stay in her home when he visits her. This past weekend,…
Read MoreI just found out my husband committed adultery while he was overseas
Question: I’ve been married for about five years. My husband just returned from another country after being there for a year. We had rough spots, and while he was there, he started drinking and partying a lot, which he said he did to pass the time. I stayed in my country with our kids and…
Read MoreShould homosexuals adopt children?
Question: What does the Bible teach on gays adopting and raising children? Answer: The question, knowingly or not, attempts to balance sin with righteousness. Homosexuality is a sin, see Notes on Homosexuality for a list of verses proving this point. An adoption is a righteous act. Our relationship, as a Christian, with God is described…
Read MoreI keep going back into my old sins. Do I need to be baptized again?
Question: Hi, I was recently baptized for a second time because I felt that my first baptism was invalid because I wasn’t truly converted and turned back to my old ways too quickly. But with this baptism, I feel that I didn’t repent before I was baptized because I went back to my old ways…
Read MoreI can’t accept that my girlfriend is not a virgin. What can I do?
Question: I can’t accept my girlfriend because she isn’t a virgin. I know her past because she told me everything. I have also done sexual things. it is not fair that I can’t accept her. I am also addicted to pornography. I have tried so much to get out. Each time I fall I get…
Read MoreYou all have done marvelous work with your website and have excellent material
Question: Hello, my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, You all have done marvelous work with your website and have excellent material. It’s always good to see a church of Christ being steadfast in delivering the true word of God. There are many churches of Christ that have fallen away from the Gospel. I have…
Read MoreCould I have gotten my girlfriend pregnant when my penis touched her vagina?
Question: Yesterday I just touch my penis against my girlfriend’s vagina. I don’t think there was any sperm out from my penis, and I did not try to put it into her vagina. So, I want to know: is there any possibility of her becoming pregnant? Answer: The problem is that when a man is…
Read MoreCan you have sex before marriage if you are in a committed relationship?
Question: Some Christians, such as myself, do believe in sex before marriage if in a committed relationship. Answer: Jesus asked, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). Here you are directly violating the Lord’s command, and pretending that you are following Christ. “Do you…
Read MoreWhere is a passage that says the innocent can remarry?
Question: Hello, I have a serious unanswered question that’s been bugging me since I was asked to seek the truth. I used to work for a company where there was a man. We had a few talks and pleasant conversations when we had time. I tried to help out when I could. Not long before…
Read MoreHow do I get freedom from a spanking fetish?
Question: Dear Sir, I realize that spanking children during childhood establish a spanking fetish in them. I have this problem. On the Internet, I know many girls and boys who masturbate after being spanked by their parents. They also masturbate when they see their parents spank their brothers. I know a teacher who satisfies herself…
Read MoreI want to repent. Can you tell me what I need to do?
Question: I am a sinner. I have suffered too much in this life. I have committed too many sins. The reason why I am writing to you is that I want to give my life to God. I love my boyfriend so much, and I told him my darkest secret, but I am scared that…
Read MoreParenting Newborns: Learning Patience
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/ParentingNewbornsLearningPatience.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Peter 5:6-11 I. Many changes comes to a family when a child is born A. Preparation is made for the coming years B. With a newborn, it is the parents, not the child who have much to learn C. We could speak of love, devotion, but the lesson needed most is…
Read MoreMy boyfriend and I can’t stop sleeping together.
Question: I have my ex. He is a strong believer. He was actually called to be a minister of God’s word. I also want to be a minister of God’s word. The thing is we had sex, got a baby and I aborted it. Now we can’t stop sleeping together. I love God most and…
Read MoreWho raised Obed?
Question: I just finished Ruth. In Ruth 4:16, it states, “Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap, and became his nurse”. There is a footnote in the NASB that says the term, “laid in her lap” is an example of taking “as her own”. So, did Naomi or Ruth raise Obed? Answer:…
Read MoreGovernment Argues Businesses Are Secular
Source: Steven Ertelt, “Obama Admin Tells Court: Hobby Lobby Must Obey HHS Mandate,” LifeNews.com 01 November 2012. The government continues to push for change by insisting that businesses pay for birth control pills and “morning after” pills as a part of their employee’s insurance plans, even if the owners of the company object to such…
Read MoreIs it wrong to divorce my wife if she moves out?
Question: I found out less than six months ago that my wife of two years was seeing another man. My wife and I had been together for over five years before I asked her to marry me. Before we were married she was in a short relationship with her boss who is married with kids. …
Read MoreCan I overcome pornography by myself?
Question: Hi, I’m 20. You are the first to know what I’m about to say here: When I was in high school, I used to be teased for being very naive. This was because I often didn’t understand those dirty jokes my friends were talking about, sexual terms, etc. So one day I decided to…
Read MoreI’m dating a non-Christian, but what if she never becomes a Christian?
Question: All right, I am in a relationship with a non-Christian who I am trying to reach out to. She loves me, and I love her. We have a lot in common. Her parents love me. I am pursuing possibly going into youth ministry. Right now I’m taking general classes. The problem I am having…
Read MoreI recently caught my son masturbating. What advice can I give him?
Question: Hello, I recently caught my son masturbating. I wasn’t aware that he had begun to do something like that. I talked with him about it, and he does feel it’s wrong to do it. He feels he is doing it too much and has difficulty resisting it. He has also looked at pornographic material…
Read MoreA man got me pregnant and now won’t marry me or support the child. What do I do?
Question: Good day sir, I am a single lady, in my late twenties, who was impregnated by a man in his early thirties. Initially, when he found out I was pregnant, he accepted responsibility and promised to marry me. But shortly afterward he changed his mind saying he never planned to marry me. However, my…
Read MoreHow many times do you have to have a baby?
Question: How many times do you have to have a baby? Answer: There has never been a requirement for having children beyond God’s general command to mankind to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 9:7).
Read MoreAm I an exception to the rule? Has God forgiven me?
Question: I needed some guidance for a particular situation I have put myself in. To be blunt, it is on the hot topic of adultery. Now before anyone judges me for my horrible sin, let me give you some background. I have been raised in an amazing Christian family and grew up in a wonderful…
Read MoreKnowledge: The Key to Security in Christ
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/2012Fall6KnowledgeTheKeyToSecurityInChrist.mp3 by Rob Speer God and I
Read MoreWhy I am a Predestinarian
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/2012Fall5WhyIAmAPredestinarian.mp3 by Rob Speer God and I
Read MoreIs Paul talking only about unequal yoking in II Corinthians 6:14?
Question: I must question slightly your discourse about II Corinthians and marriage. I am pleased that you do not recommend anyone marry an unbeliever. And you are correct that many will ignore that advice. The part I question is that you read something into the scripture that isn’t there and have overlooked your own quote of…
Read MoreWhat does it mean to commit your plans to God?
Question: What does it mean to commit your plans to God? Does it simply mean just tell God what you plan in prayer and, of course, making sure your plan is in accordance with His will? Since God directs our steps, then whatever good we do benefits the whole church. What does that mean exactly?…
Read MoreAn Unconditional Faith
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/2012Fall4AnUnconditionalFaith.mp3 by Rob Speer God and I
Read MorePersonal Worship
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/2012Fall3PersonalWorship.mp3 by Rob Speer God and I
Read MoreLiving With Guilt
by Dan Gatlin Do different sins carry different consequences? Well, that depends on how we look at it. From a spiritual perspective, the answer is no. The Bible tells us that all sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). Though man distinguishes between “big sins” and “little sins,” the New Testament does not. James writes,…
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