Did I do something wrong in telling my ex-girlfriend that her behavior wasn’t good?
Question: My ex-girlfriend and I met a few weeks ago and discussed things and we made peace in following Matthew 18:15. We didn’t get back together, that wasn’t my interest; I just wanted to be Christian brother and sister again so we could help each other spiritually. After she added me back on Facebook I…
Read MoreIs it necessary to confess to a preacher or elder?
Question: When a person has sinned, in particular sexually immoral sins, do they repent only to God? Is it necessary to repent to a person, such as a preacher or an elder? Answer: The purpose of confession is to face the fact that we sinned — that we are not going to hide from that…
Read MoreWhat is a Congregationalist?
Question: I stumbled across a site that listed the signers of the Declaration of Independence and their respective denominations. I noted quite a number of the signers as Congregationalists. What is a congregationalist and what are their beliefs? Answer: Congregationalism has its roots in the days of Queen Elizabeth the First. There was an attempt…
Read MoreHow do I keep my spirit up when hearing my friends talk about absurd conjectures about life after death?
Question: As a Christian, you really can’t wait until you’re with Jesus after death, and it is an exciting feeling. However, I am always hearing in the news and from friends about science and false doctrines, and it is really discouraging. I am doing the best I can to live a life free of sin…
Read MoreHow do I find friends when I’m a Christian?
Question: Hello! I’m a Christian. I’m very conservative, and I act differently from other people my age. I’m in college right now and most girls my age like going drinking, partying, or having sex before marriage. I’m waiting for marriage. Anyways, lately, I have found it very difficult to make friends. Everyone is so liberal…
Read MoreDoesn’t telling children to obey their parents enable abusers?
Question: I completely disagree that you would teach obeying parents to children or people at your church. Honor does not mean “obey” and if a child or adult is being abused by their parent, they should not obey. You may want to rephrase your messages on your website unless you are enabling abusers within your congregation. Answer: See: Do…
Read MoreI can’t believe that I, of all people, had sex with a prostitute
Question: I am a young man, aged 25. I have been involved in church leadership for almost 5 years now. I got myself into the habit of watching porn more than a year ago. I would feel bad, pray to God seeking forgiveness, but I would find myself doing it again and again. I have…
Read MoreThe father of my daughter has a thing for young girls. Did I make the right decision to keep him away from my daughter?
Question: Hello, I was recently in a relationship with a woman who is married. We never had sex, or at least what I consider to be sex. All we did was masturbate together. Have I committed adultery? I have another question as well: I have a daughter. I am 17 but the father is a…
Read MoreOver a Quarter of All Teens Send Nude Photos of Themselves
Source: “28% of teens polled send nude photos of selves,” Bloomberg News, Omaha World-Herald, 2 July 2012. Source: “New Study Says Nearly 30 Percent of Teens Are Sexting,” Matthew Grant Anson, American News Report, 2 July 2012. “In a poll of nearly 1,000 students, 28 percent of teens – over one in four – admitted…
Read MoreHow can you know you are filled with the Spirit?
Question: How does a person become filled with the Holy Spirit and know they are filled? Does everyone who is filled with the Holy Spirit have the gifts that Acts speaks about? Answer: A Christian receives the Spirit by the hearing of faith. “This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the…
Read MoreAll in a Name
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2004/03/AllInAName.mp3 Text: Acts 4:5-14 I. Saved in a name A. Acts 4:8-12 – Only in the name of Jesus can we be saved II. What does “in his name” mean? A. With that one’s authority or with his approval 1. This was Peter’s answer to “by what authority” (Acts 4:7); he answered, “in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:10)…
Read MoreCan you explain God being omnipresent?
Question: I was wondering if you could go over the omnipresent power of God. Answer: Omnipresent is a word that means being everywhere at the same time. It is not a word found in the Bible, but it apply describes one of the characteristics of God. “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where…
Read MoreWow! Your website is awesome!
Question: Wow! Your website is awesome! In this day and age, seeing so many denominations make false claims is one thing, but when churches of Christ fall into the same category as any denomination, well, that’s just sinful. I love your statement on your home page. You make it very clear what the purpose of…
Read MoreI wanted to let you know about a healing that happened to me
Question: First of all, I have found some great resources on your site. Even though we differ in opinion on some things, I can respect your beliefs. I wish I could have had someone like you to share some of the information with me from your book about growing from a boy into a man.…
Read MoreI committed adultery to force my husband to admit to his adultery and then I left him. Would God forgive me of my sin and restore my marriage?
Question: Hello, I am writing to you because it’s been now several years that I sought God in regards to the restoration of my marriage. It’s really difficult to keep believing God wants the marriage restored, and in these “deserts” I feel that there’s still one missing part in my understanding of God’s Word that…
Read MoreBefore I became a Christian, I had promised to marry a woman, but now that I’m a Christian I don’t think it will work out. What do I do?
Question: Hello, By the grace of God, I am saved and was baptized last year. And by His mercy, I am able to continue the race that is set before me with patience. Before my salvation, I made a promise to a girl that I would marry her. At that time I was hurting from…
Read MoreWhat is prevenient grace?
Question: In a conversation with a Methodist, the term “Prevenient Grace” came up. What does this mean? Is this type of grace founded on Scripture? Answer: “Prevenient Grace” was coined by John Wesley, who founded groups like the Methodists and the Church of the Nazarene. The word “prevenient” is archaic; in modern English, we would say…
Read MoreAre promises only binding when spoken aloud?
Question: I used to let my mouth get the best of me. I have learned to watch what I say very closely. The problem I have is this: because I’m trying to be so careful with what I say, I constantly think about whether I promise or vow something. My mind runs away from me…
Read MoreWhere are Gentiles commanded to be saved by baptism?
Question: I had not visited this site in a while, and ran upon it, along with our correspondence, recently. I noticed that your last comment has an interesting conclusion, and I quote “You claim that the Philippian jailer was not baptized”. This claim never was, nor ever has been made by me. I conclude that he…
Read MoreThe web site has influenced me to leave my bad habit, and try to please God
Question: Hi Mr. Hamilton, I just want to say thank you to you and all the people behind the website. The website has influenced me to leave my bad habit, and try to please God. I wish you and the website team, all the best. God bless you all. Answer: I am thrilled to hear…
Read MoreWhy was David condemned for having sex with Bathsheba when he already had multiple women?
Question: Hello, This is a question that came to mind in response to a post about King David. King David had the daughter of Saul and also the widow of the rich man as his wives. My question is why was he only condemned for adultery after he had sex with Bathsheba? He had already…
Read MoreHow could Christ die for sinners if we don’t inherit sin from Adam?
Question: Hi, I came across your website doing a bit of research regarding sin and the choices we make. I am a little confused by your statement that we are not born sinners. I am under the understanding that sin has been passed on through Adam and Eve, e.g. irrational sin. If we are not…
Read MoreHow can someone in Christ fear death?
Question: How can someone in Christ fear death? Answer: It would depend on the strength and growth of their faith. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalms 23:4). “Inasmuch then as…
Read MoreHow do I find opportunities to do good?
Question: How do I find opportunities to do righteousness when I’m either at home studying or at college or school studying? I mean I need opportunities to practice Christian skills. Should I ask God to help or should I really sort myself out as a Christian and then scour the streets like a modern-day superhero…
Read MoreDoes an unborn baby have a soul?
Question: I have a coworker who was telling me his girlfriend had a miscarriage, and that’s why he doesn’t believe in God. I tried to comfort him by telling him that the baby could not have sinned, thus had to be in heaven. He seems like he may be interested in God, it seems we…
Read MoreCould God’s prophets really tell my boyfriend that we would have an unhappy marriage?
Question: Hi, I would like to address an issue that’s troubling my heart. First of all, I am a Christian who has recently repented because I sinned against God through fornication. I am trying to get right with God and change my ways for good. Recently my boyfriend of nearly four years has ended our…
Read MoreWhy do I feel guilty over everything I do?
Question: Good day and may God bless you. Please, I want to know why I am always feeling guilty over virtually everything I think or do. For example, if I look at somebody’s car and feel that the car is not beautiful, instantly I will begin to feel guilty and start saying to myself, in…
Read MoreDo churches of Christ register with the government as a whole or each congregation independently?
Question: I am a member of the church of Christ in Malawi. I would like to find out how the churches of Christ in the USA register with the government. Is it that every congregation registers independently? or is there one registration for all congregations of the churches of Christ? How do are disputes between…
Read MoreIs sinning permitted if it serves a greater purpose?
Question: How do we reconcile Hosea 1:2, and I Corinthians 6:15-18? Is sinning permitted if it serves a greater purpose? e.g. Robin Hood scenario, etc. What makes something a “sin outside the body” compared to “against own body”, e.g. gluttony, etc. Answer: You appear to be assuming that Hosea sinned in marrying a prostitute. First,…
Read MoreShould a church have time in worship for members to pray quietly?
Question: I am a member of the Church of Christ in a local congregation. Of late, when we pray in the church, we do allow individual members some time to say their prayers adding that we should not speak loud. I am perplexed now. Answer: I don’t blame you for being perplexed. Such prayers would…
Read MoreIs there any non-biblical evidence that proves the prophecies in the Bible?
Question: A friend and I talked for a little while tonight regarding Bible evidence, and when we talked about prophecy, he raised the argument that prophecies from the Bible verified purely from within the Bible can’t be used to prove the Bible. Is that a fair argument? And are there non-biblical evidence of prophecies coming…
Read MoreThe Bible, Science, and Skepticism
Text: Psalm 33:4-11 I. A literal reading of the Bible tells us that God created the world, that the universe was created in six days, and the world is about 6,000 years old. A. Yet the literal reading is often rejected, not on the basis of Scriptural teachings, but because it does seem “scientific.” B. So, they…
Read MoreHow do I forgive a husband who doesn’t seem to be changing?
Question: How do I forgive my husband who keeps committing the same sins against me and God repeatedly? He claims to be a Christian but it is hardly seen in him in anything he does outside of the church. He neglects his family by being very mean, selfish, and angry all the time, and he…
Read MoreI’m moving out because I don’t want to commit fornication any more
Question: My boyfriend and I have been together for over two years. We love each other very much. This is not really a question, but a declaration. I’m leaving him to move into my own place or back with my mother because I truly want to serve the Lord and flee from fornication. He wants…
Read MoreCan a short service be held in a shut-in’s home?
Question: I have a dilemma. Our elders have recently approved of an “abbreviated service” on Sunday afternoons at the home of one of our members who is home-bound and dying. This includes singing, prayer, and the Lord’s Supper. They are encouraging other members to join them for this service. We have other members who are…
Read MoreTotal Hereditary Depravity and Ezekiel 18:20
by Bryan Sharp “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” (Ezekiel 18:20). Guilt is never transferred from one…
Read MoreWhy did God make Hannah wait so long before having a child?
Question: Today we read about Hannah finally giving birth to Samuel. Why did it take so long? Why did God close her womb until Samuel? Answer: We aren’t told why God had Hannah wait. “Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!” (Psalms…
Read MoreWhere does it say that Salome was James and John’s mother?
Question: Where does it say that Salome was James and John’s mother? Answer: “And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons” (Matthew 27:55-56). “There were also women looking…
Read MoreWhy did she say she forgave me if she stopped talking to me?
Question: I met a girl online about a year ago. She lives in a different state where she was attending a Bible college. We talked all the time and became good friends. I became interested in her and tried to pursue her, but she insisted on staying friends because of the distance. A few months…
Read MoreSalome’s Request
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/SalomesRequest.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 20:17-28 I. We don’t know much about Salome, other than that she was the wife of Zebedee and the mother of the apostles James and John. A. She made a request of Jesus that he turned down – Matthew 20:20-22 B. Jesus later tells the disciples that they can ask…
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