Your site helped convince my sister that Jesus is God
Question: Hi Mr. Hamilton, I wanted to share one of the best moments in my life. I have a sister. She’s really smart and well educated, but since her youth, she has always been suspicious about God and decided to believe that God did not exist. I told her about your site and prayed for…
Read MoreThis battle against pornography is bigger than I thought
Question: I know we had this talk before, but unfortunately, I fell again. The trigger this time was a perverted thought about dresses and skirts. I acted on it and I.. well, I fell. I’m going to try again of course, but there was something else I have to get off my chest. I noticed…
Read MoreDid God limit man’s life to 120 years? How many clean animals were taken on the ark?
Question: In Genesis 6:3, God said that, in the future, normal lifespan will be no more than 120 years. I read on the Genesis bible study that this referred to amount of time it will take from then to the start of the flood. However, In Genesis 5:32, it say’s that Noah was 500 years…
Read MoreWere some blessings meant only for the Jews?
Question: Sir, Many say that some blessings in the Bible are meant only for Jews. If so what are those verses? Answer: They don’t exist, unless you are talking about specific promises to the nation of Israel given in its past, such as the promise to give them the land of Canaan. “”Indeed He says,…
Read MoreIf I married a girl with a mental illness, would my children inherit her problems?
Question: Here is my question to you about my ex. She behaves like a child sometimes when she gets happy, stressed, angry, etc. During this phase, her behavior changes. She makes me play with her and makes an imaginary world around her like birds flying and acting like rabbits. She wants me to join her…
Read MoreI lied to my preacher about having committed fornication. Do I have to tell him?
Question: Hi, I started a relationship with a man about a month ago. One thing led to another and we had sex. I felt bad about it and asked for God’s forgiveness, but didn’t break it off with him. A few days ago I got a call from my pastor stating someone was at a…
Read MoreAre music videos with half-naked women not sinful because they are so common?
Question: Most music videos have half-nude women. They are aired almost non-stop every day, and we can’t escape such, at least not when in a public place. Are they sinful in themselves? Answer: There is a marvelous gizmo on devices called a “power button.” Press it and you don’t have to watch what is on…
Read MoreI’ve been living with a man while my divorce was going through, but now he is reluctant to marry me
Question: Hi, We have lived together for 7 years. We probably would’ve been married long ago, but I was going through a divorce for 6 of those years, and hospitalized due to medical illnesses for about a year or something like that, on and off. We are utterly and completely in love but don’t have…
Read MoreI stumbled onto your website and got lost in it
Question: Hello, I stumbled onto your website and got lost in it. I was looking for basic scriptures that explained why the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was put in the Garden of Eden, I found the answer on your site, and got lost in many of the other lessons that you…
Read MoreI find myself wanting to go back to a man who hasn’t been good to me
Question: Hi, I just came across this site. It seems very helpful, but I need some answers myself. I am really struggling. I have been through a recent breakup because the guy was always breaking up with me and then coming back wanting everything to be fine. In trying times in our relationship, he would…
Read MoreHow We Ought to Pray
How We Ought to Pray – Part 1How We Ought to Pray – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 11:1-13 I. Being creatures of habit, we often fall into a pattern of doing certain things in certain ways. A. There is nothing wrong with a habit, so long as it is a good habit. B. In…
Read MoreYour site is the first place I visit to prepare lessons for Bible classes
Question: Hello, I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for all of the excellent material you have made available on the Internet. I’ve found that your site is the first place I visit when preparing lessons for Bible classes. Thanks for all the hard work and your willingness to make it available.…
Read MoreGood balance between seclusion from and immersion in the culture
Question: Good word in “In the World, But Not of the World”! You did a great job of helping us hold that tension that comes between seclusion from and full immersion in the culture. Thanks for emphasizing both our calling to be holy and to be instruments of grace to hurting people. Keep up the good work.…
Read MoreIs stealing OK if one is starving?
Question: I am preparing for Bible class that I am teaching this evening during our regular midweek services and need to be prepared in case I am challenged by one of our members who might have the idea that stealing is okay if one is starving. Your response? Answer: “People do not despise a thief…
Read MoreHow do we keep from going too far?
Question: My boyfriend (21 years old) and I (20 years old) have been going out for almost 3 years now and were best friends for 2 years before that. Both of our parents have decided that marriage is out of the question until we finish our degrees, so we have about 6 more years until…
Read MoreWhen was the gospel preached in Africa?
Question: My question is: What of Africa? Was the gospel preached there? Because I can still trace back to the times when the Gospel first came to these lands, and it wasn’t in those times. Answer: Among the visiting Jews who heard the first gospel sermon were people from Egypt, Libya, and Cyrene (Acts 2:10),…
Read MoreI can’t figure out when Jesus ate the Passover meal
Question: Before last night I was convinced that Thursday was the date of the crucifixion. But after discussing it with another preacher, I’m not so sure. Knowing that you also take the Thursday crucifixion date position (I’ve seen your articles and charts), I want to inquire of you so I can come to the best understanding…
Read MoreWhy Should I Believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/WhyShouldIBelieveInTheResurrectionOfChrist.mp3 by PJ Anderson
Read MoreWhat Is Your Faith?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/WhatIsYourFaith.mp3 by PJ Anderson
Read MoreIs it wrong to feed my reptiles live insects?
Question: I was happy to find your answer: “God used bugs to annoy the Egyptians.” This eased my conscience a bit but, my question is this: I am feeding my reptiles and frogs live crickets and meal worms specifically bred as reptile food. Recently when I watch the crickets run and scramble as if they…
Read MoreDo I need to confess my use of pornography to my preacher?
Question: God bless. I have been a Christian for many years, but I was addicted to porn and I committed fornication against myself (my body). I never had sex with anybody, just myself. I have repented from that sin, and I recognize my sin, so do I need to confess my sin to God only…
Read MoreIs it wrong to make recordings during worship?
Question: God bless you, brother Hamilton. There is something that kind of bothers me and I would like to hear what you think the Bible says on it. The trend now is for everyone to make recordings during church services. They may be taking pictures or recording it Do you think is OK or not…
Read MoreThanks to a good friend I discovered your site today
Question: Mr. Hamilton, Thanks to a good friend I discovered your site today. I have been going through the site slowly and it is very helpful, and as far as I can tell sound. Thank you so much for that. I look forward to reading more. Answer: I’m glad you are finding the information useful…
Read MoreHow do I tell my girlfriend’s father that I’m sorry for disrespecting him by having sex with his daughter?
Question: Okay, my girlfriend’s parents found out we had sex. They said they don’t hate me, but I don’t know how to explain to her dad how I’m sorry I disrespected him. Answer: Disrespected him? It is your girlfriend whom you treated with disrespect. You used her for your own pleasure, even though she was…
Read MoreHow can I build up my confidence?
Question: Hi there, At a young age, I did not care what people said about me. In fact, I did not even take note of it. However, it feels as if I put other people’s opinions about myself over my own opinions. I think this started when I started to take rude remarks seriously. Right…
Read MoreHow can I change my life around?
Question: How can I change my life around? It’s like everything is falling apart for me. I pray repeatedly, but I find myself doing the same sin over again – drinking, smoking cigarettes, looking at porn, lusting, cheating, and everything else that’s worldly. I don’t want to do any of these things anymore. I just…
Read MoreThanks for putting up the article on yoga
Question: Just read the article you did on yoga. Thanks for putting it out there. I work at a wellness center and we have yoga. It has always disturbed me in an eerie kind of way, especially some of the dialogue that is said by our yoga instructor during the meditation. She claims that there is…
Read MoreIs it wrong for my mother to complain about other people’s seemingly undeserved luxuries?
Question: Hi Jeff, I hope you’re doing well. I would like some advice on whether my mom’s actions are okay or not. She works very hard. In my opinion, she’s the hardest-working member of the family, but she has a habit of grumbling when other people enjoy seemingly undeserving luxuries. For example, one of my…
Read MoreYou’re Right! You Don’t HAVE to Be Baptized.
by Jason Smith I have had many discussions about the subject of baptism with people, and it never fails that sometimes, during the discussion, they just deny what the scriptures say about the topic. They at times just say, “I deny what you are saying about baptism,” ignoring the fact that all I am doing is…
Read MoreOn Thinking We Are Right
by Doy Moyer One of the consequences of postmodern thinking is that we can think whatever we want, but we aren’t allowed to think that we are actually right. In other words, there is no capital T in “truth.” To think we are right is to commit one of the gravest mistakes of our day,…
Read MoreWhere did you find that the duties of the ruler of the wedding feast included discouraging drunkenness?
Question: I have a study this evening with another young man about drinking. I was going over your answers to questions about social drinking and came across What is wrong with drinking, so long as it is done in moderation? In this question, you referenced that the governor had the duty of trying to discourage drunkenness by…
Read MoreWhat is exactly meant by works?
Question: I am a member of the Missouri Synod denomination, although I really don’t like to see the denominations as “separations.” I like to see us all as Christians — just Christians with different ideas. Anyway, I had read that faith without works is dead. Which I do agree with. I have always been taught…
Read MoreQuoting Men
by James P. Needham via Truth Magazine, October 1958 A great deal of confusion prevails among us today on the subject of quoting men. Some brethren quote outstanding preachers and scholars, both dead and alive, for various reasons. Others condemn quoting men in such a broad, sweeping way that the impression is left that quoting men…
Read MoreIs it a sin to marry after having sex?
Question: I have one question for you because I’m really confused about what to decide. Please help me. My question is that my girlfriend and I plan to marry next year. We are both Christian, but we have already been having sex. I never had sex with another woman and she has only had sex…
Read MoreOn Principle and Inference
by Doy Moyer If you believe in principle, then you accept implication and inference. A principle is a fundamental truth from which other laws or behaviors are derived. Upon understanding a principle, we recognize a variety of applications that derive from it. Yet the applications themselves might be unstated and we must figure out the…
Read MoreI deceived myself into thinking I was saved when I was lost
Question: Dear Minister, I have been in a state of utter despair for the past 1.5 years. I feel like I am in a horrific state of having rejected the gift of Jesus and now finding myself with no place for repentance. I had deceived myself into thinking that I was saved when I was…
Read MoreWhy do women so often say they are not interested in sex?
Question: Just recently I started recognizing in our communities statements about sex that are weird, and they come out from women. When the issue of sex comes up, the wives response would be something like “don’t dream of it tonight (though it might sound sarcastic, yet they manage to say it out)” or “this is…
Read MoreIs the “day” in Hebrews 10:25 Sunday or the day Jesus returns?
Question: Is the “day” in Hebrews 10:25 Sunday or the day Jesus returns? Answer: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the…
Read MoreYou Can’t Say That in My State!
Source: Matthew Barakat, “Rosemond sues board targeting his columns,” Omaha World-Herald, July 17, 2013. John Rosemond has been writing a syndicated newspaper column on parenting since 1976. He takes a conservative, no-nonsense approach that dismisses modern psychology — pointing out the children have been successfully raised for thousands of years with simple techniques that until recently…
Read MoreI don’t know what to believe anymore
Question: I do not know what to believe anymore. I have been a Christian all my life. My prayers have never been answered. The Westboro Church calls themselves true Christians and you say that you are a true follower, but your beliefs go against theirs, so who’s right? My mind cannot handle this stress of…
Read More