First Love
by Robert Turner A tap at the study door announced a timid and frightened young couple. Their marriage was “coming apart” — or so they thought — and since I had “performed their ceremony,” they had come to me for help. The timid approach fooled me. What should have been an easy “patch-up” job grew…
Read MoreFaithful Fathers
by David Thurman via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 56, No. 29, July 20, 2007 Our world seems to take delight in bashing men. It is not fashionable to be a man, a husband, or a father. As such, it is getting harder and harder to be a man, a husband, or a father. Fortunately, those of…
Read MoreThe Essence of Atheism
by Doy Moyer Start with nothing. From nothing, for no reason or purpose, lifeless, mindless material just came into existence. Lifeless, mindless material, existing for no reason and with no purpose, somehow, some way, through a process that has never been observed anywhere, spontaneously generated something that was living. This living thing, having come into…
Read MoreThe Church of Oprah
by Dan Gatlin For decades, Oprah Winfrey has proclaimed faith in Jesus Christ. Yet, when one examines Oprah’s Jesus, he is not the same Jesus found in the New Testament. Oprah’s Jesus is not God in the flesh, but merely a “good man.” He is non-condemning and tolerant of “alternative lifestyles.” In short, her Jesus…
Read MoreConfessing Our Faults
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/ConfessingOurFaults.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 32 I. I John 1:8-10 A. Forgiveness of our sins is not automatic. God has always required action on our part to gain His forgiveness. B. In this passage we learn that God wants us to confess our faults. II. Confession has always been required by God A. In the garden, God…
Read MoreAll Things Work Together for Good
by Cecil B. Douthitt Gospel Guardian – August 31, 1967 Romans 8:28 contains one of the most precious promises in all the Bible: “And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose.” An accurate understanding and an unwavering faith in this…
Read MoreAn Eloquent Man
by Billy Norris in Gospel Guide, May 1995 Whether in the political arena, the classroom, or the pulpit, eloquent speakers are few in number. In graduate school at the beginning of the year, I attended my first assembly. Deeply impressed by the marvelous eloquence of the visiting speaker, I looked forward to the assembly periods…
Read MoreOf course God sends people to hell, but hell doesn’t exist!
Question: Your article that God does not send people to hell falls way short of giving any real and meaningful answer. True, people have a choice to some extent and God will not force Himself on anyone, but it most certainly says in the Scriptures that no one can come to the Father unless they are chosen. Can’t…
Read MoreDoes the curse of Canaan mean we should be saving as many black people as possible?
Question: Can you send me all the information you have on the curse of Canaan? I see Ham had four sons and Canaan was the youngest. So this can’t mean all black people are cursed because it was only the descendants of one of the four children. Yet at the same time, that’s a lot…
Read MoreDid the flood kill sea life?
Question: How did the flood kill animals from the sea? And if it killed them, how did Noah fit animals from the sea in a dry ark? Answer: “And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be…
Read MoreDo we know the year Jesus was crucified?
Question: Regarding the sermon outline Three Days and Three Nights: “Amen.” Excellent work in putting this subject together. Appreciate the spreadsheet “visual” at the bottom. Three somewhat related questions: Do we know what year the crucifixion took place? Would a Jubilee year be in Jesus’ ministry years? Does Jesus’ anointed year fit with any of Daniel’s…
Read MoreSlavery in the Bible
Slavery in the Bible – Part 1Slavery in the Bible – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 6:15-23 I. At times you will run into people who attempt to discredit the Bible by stating that some aspect of its teaching was immoral or at least shady. A. The idea is that if it was…
Read MoreWhat is spiritual death?
Question: What exactly is spiritual death? Some say that spiritual death is a separation from God. But what exactly is being separated? A physical separation, personal separation, or soul separation after physical death? If it was a physical separation, then why did God continue to have a relationship with Adam and Eve by clothing them…
Read MoreHow could there be sin before Moses when there was no law?
Question: I need to understand Noah’s history. It says in Genesis 6:9 that Noah was a just man; that he walked with God. But what does it mean by “just?” I mean, there wasn’t a law at the time, Moses didn’t exist. The same about Cain killing Abel. God told him to do good when…
Read MoreThe Continuation of Slavery
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/SlaveryInTheBiblePart1.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 8:28-36 I. It is difficult to imagine, but slavery continues in the United States A. Oh, I know that slavery officially ended with the passing of the thirteenth amendment on December 6, 1865. B. Yet slavery continues to this day. C. Perhaps you are thinking, “I’m an American. I was born…
Read MoreDon’t Quit
by Bubba Carrier The first time I tried to march and play drums at the same time, I was terrible. When I concentrated on playing a steady beat, I marched out of step; when I focused on marching in line, I played off beat. After the first week, I went to the band director and…
Read MoreHow do we know that one day equals a year in Daniel’s prophecy of the seventy weeks?
Question: I understand how they came up with the 483 years in Daniel 9, but how do we know from scripture that the 69 weeks is supposed to mean 69 weeks of seven years? Why do they do this or are they just figuring this backward and then saying well it must have meant years…
Read More“The Letter to Laodicea” really refreshed my spirit
Question: I want to thanks your words in “The Letter to Laodicea.” They really refresh my spirit with joy. We should have more ministers sharing our thoughts with each other. Especially the last paragraphs commenting about Apostle Paul’s motive for Philemon’s epistle and his ways to ensure the right thing was done. It’s so needed…
Read MoreDon’t Muzzle the Ox
by Sam Stinson “For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the…
Read MoreConspiracy Theorists
by Gardner Hall via Gospel Power, Vol. 14, No. 36, Sept. 9, 2007. “Richard Nixon is a communist!” the man told me with certainty. “Why do you say that,” I asked. “He went to China to talk to them. Must be one of ’em,” was the response. Another man told me something to the effect that…
Read MoreGod Is Speaking to You
by Clem Thurman via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 58, No. 49, Dec. 4, 2009. One person claims that God revealed to her in a dream what she was to do with her life. A man says that God spoke to him, openly, telling him what he was to do religiously. Yet another sees signs in the…
Read MoreHow can I come across as sincere in my apologies?
Question: It seems that when I apologize to people, they refuse to accept. I understand that the majority of apologies come across as insincere. If this is the case, how can I be sincere in my apologies to people? Answer: An apology is an expression of regret for having done something that should not be done. So…
Read MoreDoes the New Testament Teach that the Wicked Will Be Punished Eternally in the Lake of Fire?
by Irvin Himmel via Truth Magazine XIX: 11, p. 162, January 23, 1975 It is asserted sometimes that God punished the wicked in Old Testament days, but that He is shown to be loving. and compassionate in the New Testament; therefore, the Old Testament concept of punishment for sin is thought to differ from the…
Read MoreDoes the Gospel Sanction the Use of Beverage Alcohol in Different Countries According to Local Customs?
by Jim E. Waldron In our approach to the word of God, we must not assume that modern definitions of words are those which are found in the word of God. Words in the Scriptures must be used in the context in which they were used at the time they were written. A well-known mistake…
Read MoreWhy warn a person against blaspheming the Holy Spirit if he won’t seek forgiveness anyway?
Question: I have read the stuff on blasphemy on your site, but I don’t read it in the Bible that it says a blasphemous person refuses to come to God. If that is true, why would the passages on blasphemy against the Spirit be in there? If a person won’t seek forgiveness why the warning? I…
Read MoreWhy bother praying?
Question: If what you say is true, then why bother praying at all? You are more or less saying that God will do whatever He wants to do no matter what you pray for. If you are right, then please explain. Answer: I don’t know which page you are referring to. I suspect you either…
Read MoreDidn’t Jesus die on Wednesday?
Question: I just got done reading your Jesus’ crucifixion page: “Three Days and Three Nights,” which is contrary to scripture. First off, if Jesus was crucified on Thursday, then 72 hours later would be 3 pm Sunday. This would not be three days, as God teaches. Jesus’ crucifixion was prophecied in Daniel 9:27 to take…
Read MoreShould I tell the leadership in my old church that I committed fornication with one of their leading men?
Question: I have a question. I know it may seem silly or absurd. I recently became involved with a man who is an ordained minister at a megachurch. He serves as armor-bearer to his pastor and plans on starting a church himself. For two years we talked and eventually went out. This man and I…
Read MoreDoes I Corinthians 16:1-2 Apply to Us Today?
by Clem Thurman via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 25, June 20, 2008. Let us first note what the passage says: “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye. Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by…
Read MoreThe Despised CENI
by Dale Smelser There is a concept being promoted that God’s will is transmitted by commands only, and thus relative to the Lord’s Supper it is neither confined to nor necessarily observed on, the first day of the week. Before getting to the kernel of controversy, I recalled all this on Sunday morning as I did…
Read MoreIf you repented of past sexual sins, is it wrong to wear a purity ring?
Question: If you have had “relations” with someone, but have asked forgiveness and seen the errors of your ways and want to rededicate yourself to God, would it be considered wrong to wear a purity ring or something along those lines? Answer: If you are doing so to make it appear that you are something…
Read MoreWhy Believe in God?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/WhyBelieveInGod.mp3 by Bruce Irwin
Read MoreIt Is What It Is
by T. Doy Moyer via The Jackson Drive Reporter, Jan. 10, 2010 A friend of mine, wise and astute beyond his years (so he tells me), has shared his newly discovered motto with me: “It is what it is.” Ok, so I have thought that a few times before, but it is one of those simple…
Read MoreStudying Prayers
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2010Fall6StudyingPrayer.mp3 by Skip Sebree Communication Between God and Man
Read MoreImproving Our Prayers
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2010Fall5ImprovingOurPrayer.mp3 by Skip Sebree Communication Between God and Man
Read MoreUnderstanding the Word
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2010Fall4UnderstandingTheWord.mp3 by Skip Sebree Communication Between God and Man
Read MoreThe Learning Triangle
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2010Fall3TheLearningTriangle.mp3 by Skip Sebree Communication Between God and Man
Read MoreBecoming Careful Readers
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2010Fall2BecomingCarefulReaders.mp3 by Skip Sebree Communication Between God and Man
Read MoreBecoming Better Readers
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2010Fall1BecomingBetterReaders.mp3 by Skip Sebree Communication Between God and Man
Read MoreThe Crucifixion of Christ Incorrectly Portrayed?
by Larry Ray Hafley PARIS (AFP) – The image of the crucifixion, one of the most powerful emblems of Christianity, may be quite erroneous, according to a study which says there is no evidence to prove Jesus was crucified in this manner. Around the world, in churches, on the walls of Christian homes, on crucifixes…
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