I would like to encourage those who suffer from OCD-Religious or scrupulosity
Question: Hi, I’ve been poking around the Internet. I was actually trying to find an OCD support group online but without any luck. However, I was fascinated to read the postings and questions of the individual with OCD-Religious or scrupulosity because I have gone through every single thing that individual has gone through, but I am…
Read MoreMust a prayer be said before eating a meal?
Question: Is it good to say grace before eating a meal whether it be big or small? Would it be a sin if I don’t give thanks to God before eating? Answer: Being thankful to God is important. We need to express in prayer your recognition of where our blessings come from. “Giving thanks always…
Read MoreExcellent article on cheerleaders and modesty, brother
Question: Excellent article on cheerleaders and modesty, brother. Answer: I’m glad you found the article useful. I guess someone recently rediscovered it after it was originally posted in 2006. It has been read over 11,500 times in the last eight days.
Read MoreIs there any difference between the messenger in Malachi 3 and Elijah the prophet in Malachi 4?
Question: Is there any difference between the messenger in Malachi 3 and Elijah the prophet in Malachi 4? Answer: Both passages are referred to in the New Testament as applying to John the Baptist. Malachi 3:1 is referred in Matthew 11:10; Mark 1:2; Luke 1:76; 7:27. Malachi 4:5 is referred to in Matthew 11:14; 17:11; Mark…
Read MoreWhat should a woman do who suspects her husband’s prior divorce was not for scriptural reasons like he originally claimed?
Question: I have a very dear friend of mine who is afraid she may be in an unscriptural marriage. We are both members of the Lord’s Church so we both understand what this means. She divorced her first husband due to adultery and remarried her current husband, who is a Christian also, a couple of…
Read MoreShould a church not hire a preach because he and his fiancée are different skin colors?
Question: Dear brother, I am facing a dilemma in the congregation with which I worship. We are in the process of searching for a minister and are not under the guidance of an eldership. We have interviewed several candidates and have found one in particular that interests us. He has preached and taught for us…
Read MoreCan I be forgiven for fornication?
Question: I am 21 years of age and recently got baptized. Before I got baptized, I was in a relationship for over five years and still am. A short while after my baptism, my boyfriend and I went to a wedding and then ended up having sexual relations. We both weren’t in the right state…
Read MoreDid my sins prior to my marriage cause my husband to commit adultery after our marriage?
Question: I was at church yesterday and the topic was “Root Causes of Sin.” My marriage didn’t start well. Prior to getting married, I fornicated with another man. When I found out that my ex-husband was having an affair, he said he had affairs because of what happened prior to our marriage. Now that I’ve heard a sermon on the…
Read MoreDo I become a doctor or run a shop?
Question: I really need your advice. Since I was maybe seven or younger I always wanted to be a surgeon, most likely neurosurgery or probably orthopedic surgery. It was an inspiration or motivation I got when I saw lots of kids with more severe medical problems than me. I said to my parents I wanted…
Read MoreHow do we deal with our son who committed adultery?
Question: I am a Christian. I try to follow the Bible best to my ability. I am a member of a conservative church of Christ. My question is about my son. He grew up in church and was baptized before he joined the service. He is no longer faithful. He married and has a child.…
Read MoreHow do you keep your weaknesses from distracting you?
Question: Maybe not as much now but I am sure when growing up as a Christian: How did you deal with your weaknesses distracting you? I have just really realized that my weaknesses have really been exploited to distract me from what I actually want to do and should do. In the Bible, it says…
Read MoreHow can I stop doing all these sins and have Jesus enter my heart?
Question: Hey, How can I stop doing all these sins and have Jesus enter my heart? Please help. Answer: Both ending sin and being saved from sin are each large topics. Start with: What Must I Do to be Saved? Ending sin is two-fold. It is a decision to no longer sin and a filling…
Read MoreHow do I convince my mother to stop paying people for prayers?
Question: How can I convince my mum that paying people for prayers is not right, she is just being ripped off? She does not want my brother to go back to prison so she believes paying people to pray for my brother — and I mean a lot of money — will prevent him from…
Read MoreHow can I know that I’m serving God?
Question: OK, simple question: I want to know what I can do to just serve God and know it’s Him I’m serving. Answer: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing,…
Read MoreI found out the man I’m dating is living with his ex-wife. Should I wait until he moves out before marrying him?
Question: Hi, This man approached me, I had never seen him before and he worked next to the building I worked at. Well, one day, he stopped me and asked me out. I went and we started dating. He told me he was divorced and lived alone. Well, I believed him. Later on in this…
Read MoreThe Path I Choose
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/PathIChoose.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Galatians 5:19-23 I. In the book of Galatians, Paul has severely chastised the brethren for attempting to bind the Old Law on Christians A. It was a different gospel, not what they were taught – Galatians 1:6-9 B. Paul has stood opposed to such trends – Galatians 2:11-14 C. To live under…
Read MoreWhy doesn’t the church sell everything it owns to give to the poor?
Question: The church in Acts had people who sold their possessions and gave to those without. Why doesn’t the church do that today? Is it a sin to deny someone something because you want to use it? Answer: An example of the selling of the possessions that you referenced in Acts 4:32 – 5:11 there…
Read MoreA Lesson from History
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/LessonFromHistory.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Peter 1:1-9 I. The year — A.D. 64 A. A major fire breaks out in the city of Rome. Coincidently, the fire centered in the poorer sections of the city. B. Many suspected Nero of ordering the burning to clear space for improvements and to remove untoward elements. However, Nero…
Read MoreHow do we make a stand against homosexuality?
Question: Hello! First, I would like to say thanks for the website. My question is: how can we show others that homosexuality is wrong? Our country will not hear any religious claims that marriage between two of the same sex is wrong. I know we are to love everyone, but how do we show that…
Read MoreWe want to marry, but we will have to live apart for the first year. How can we have a strong marriage?
Question: I am truly in love with him and he is with me. We talk about God a lot and we stay communicating at all times. He has brightened my world. He asked me to marry him, and we would have to have a long-distance marriage for now. I just wanted to know if our…
Read MoreI was sexually abused as a child and now the idea of sex with a man scares me. What do I do?
Question: Hi, I first want to say that I think it is awesome that you guys are answering questions like this. Anyway, I kind of have two questions and they require a little bit of back story. When I was about 8, I was involved in this group that we called truth or dare. In…
Read MoreWhat about the lineage of Esther?
Question: What about the lineage of Esther? Know anything about that? Answer: “In Shushan the citadel there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite. Kish had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been captured with Jeconiah…
Read MoreYour question and answer on homosexuality really helps
Question: Hello, I just wanted to say that I appreciate the Q&A section of your website, which I found today during a google search for church of Christ responses to homosexuality. Because many of my friends are gay, and those who aren’t are non-Christian and, therefore, supportive of the gay equality movement, I am trying to…
Read MoreWhat was Naomi’s lineage?
Question: What was Naomi’s lineage? Answer: “The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion-Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there” (Ruth 1:2). Ephrath is the old name for Bethlehem (Genesis…
Read MoreI enjoyed the outline “Sons of Thunder”
Question: I read your article about the “Sons of Thunder” and it really blessed me, thanks! Answer: You’re welcome.
Read MoreDoes God care about all the surgeries I’m going through?
Question: I was an evangelical Christian over five years ago. I am still a believer. I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I don’t do drugs or anything like that. I don’t have a girlfriend. I stopped going to church about two years ago. It was because I had surgery (Palatal Expansion). I was born with…
Read MoreBefore becoming a Christian, I committed fornication many times. My preacher says I need to wait before getting married. Isn’t it better to marry now?
Question: Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ. I write this e-mail with great shame over myself. I committed fornication with a girl who was not my girlfriend and got her pregnant. The girl whom I got pregnant knew that I already had a girlfriend whom I was planning to marry and had already paid…
Read MoreIf a person is divorced because of adultery, can he remarry his ex-spouse?
Question: Can a spouse who has been put away for the cause of adultery, be reconciled to the innocent party if the innocent party so desires according to I Corinthians 7:11? Answer: Of course. Jesus’ statement in Matthew 19:9 is an allowance, not a requirement. A person dealing with a spouse who is committing adultery…
Read MoreI am so tired of the hatred and violence. What can I do?
Question: Mr. Jeffrey, I really need your help with a lot of things! First of all, I know my life isn’t right and before I try to change other people I need to change myself first. I’m a Christian but yet I find myself still committing sins. I want to change this world! I want…
Read MoreCan a group split off from a church to worship in the same location at a different time?
Question: Recently a portion of our congregation (approximately 30 out of 110-120) started meeting at a separate time from the normal time but in the same building. On Sunday we meet in the morning for Bible classes and worship and then in the evening again for another period of worship. This group began meeting in…
Read MoreIs it better to accept unfair wages or stay unemployed in hopes of better wages?
Question: Should a person work for an employer who provides unjust wages, even if it’s the market rate? e.g. employer keeps 90% profit, employee 10%. In this scenario, is it better to negotiate a fairer rate or change professions? If one is unemployed, should one accept an unjust wage? Would this scenario change if one…
Read MoreI have pure OCD with uncontrollable thoughts. How can I keep my faith?
Question: I found your website because I have POCD (uncontrollable thoughts). I was searching the web and came across your site. My POCD was really bad. I thought I was crazy for a long time until after three years I found out the name for what I was feeling. However, the new thing that has…
Read MoreI knew it was wrong, but I committed adultery. Will God forgive me?
Question: Hi, I’ve been a Christian for eight years. I read my Bible and know what to do and what not to do in regards to being a Christian. Recently I committed adultery for the first time in my entire life. I’m feeling bad and guilty of such an act. Since then I have been…
Read MoreThe Real Issue Regarding Kitchens and Fellowship Halls
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/RealIssueRegardingKitchensAndFellowshipHalls.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Colossians 3:12-18 I. Over the years Christians have experienced disagreements that have led to divisions A. In the late 1800’s it was disagreements over missionary societies and instrumental music in worship. It lead to the formation of the Christian Church and the Disciples of Christ. B. In the 1940’s and 1950’s…
Read MoreIt Is Well
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/ItIsWell.mp3 by PJ Anderson
Read MoreI was sexually abused as a teen and now suffer from ADD related to those events. How do I change?
Question: I was physically, emotionally, and sexually abused by my stepfather from the age of 13 until 16. I became pregnant by him at the age of 15 and had his child when I was 16. He continued his abuse towards me even after. I finally got the urge to report it, even if it…
Read MoreCan we be forgiven if we plan to have sex before we marry?
Question: My girlfriend and I have been together for eight months now and have been discussing having sex. We do plan on getting married because we are both loyal, honest and love each other very dearly. However, we both have very strong religious backgrounds and are not sure if we could be forgiven if we…
Read MoreMust a priest, preacher, or pastor perform a marriage for it to be valid?
Question: Have a good day! I just want to ask a question: One of our pastors said it is against the Law of God if the marriage is done by a judge or by a mayor. He also said that the marriage must be done by a priest or a preacher or a pastor. Since our…
Read MoreIs abstract art and thinking abstractly diving into worldly thought?
Question: Is it OK to observe and draw abstract art because abstract art is all about changing thought patterns and perceptions of things? But I don’t want to depart in my thinking of God. I don’t want to be tricked into worldly thought patterns. Answer: Worldly thinking is focusing on things of this world, such…
Read MoreWhen my boyfriend proposed to me, he said that he had a child when he was a teenager. If I marry him, will that make me an adulteress?
Question: Hi, We are two people in love and about to marry. He proposed to me but before I gave him an answer, he said, “I have a child by my ex-girlfriend. It was a mistake. I did it when I was a teenager, but now I love you and I will never do that…
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