I committed fornication with my best friend. Should we marry or never see each other again?
Question: I took a quick prayer before asking this since I am quite nervous. I personally believe my situation is as complicated as it can get, but I am really hoping you can help me out. To begin with, I fornicated. I sinned against God and every time I remember, I just feel horrible. I…
Read MoreAs I grow in the Lord, I find I am struggling with my past and current sins
Question: Hello, my brother in Christ, I have been a member of the church for a number of years. I have been a faithful brother since that time and have grown tremendously over the years. As I continue to grow in the Lord, I am struggling with some things of the past, my current state,…
Read MoreWhat are greaves, cuirass, and mace?
Question: What is the difference between greaves and armor? Also the words cuirass and mace? I saw these words in the concordance of a Bible printed in 1955. Please help and thank you. Answer: I’m not certain what translation you were looking at, though these words do appear in some more modern translations. The following…
Read MoreMore Sermon Topic Ideas
by Glenn Hamilton In 1626 a pamphlet was published in London, entitled “A most Delectable, Sweet, Perfumed Nosegay, for God’s Saints to smell at.” About the year 1646 there was published a work entitled “A Pair of Bellows, to blow off the Dust cast upon John Fay;” and another called “The Snuffers for Divine Love.”…
Read MoreIf a single person is aware of sin then sin must be publicly confessed!
Question: Regarding your expose’ as to your opinion of the couple who engaged in pre-marital sex, I couldn’t disagree more with your summation that there was no need to publicly confess. One of your errors is to suggest that the act(s) occurred so closely to vows being exchanged that it would be inconclusive in as…
Read MoreShould a congregation at least partially support a local preacher?
Question: Even though an away congregation is supporting an evangelist full time because the one he is preaching for is small, shouldn’t they (the congregation he is working with) still try to provide some support for him in whatever way? Answer: If another congregation is supporting a preacher fully, then the preacher doesn’t need additional funds. While…
Read MoreMy boyfriend told me he has diabetes. Now I don’t know if I want to marry him
Question: Hello, A guy is deeply in love with me for the last several months. I like him too, but I am not sure of my feelings yet. Still, he remains the best guy I have ever met and could ever have in my life. Then the other day he told me that he has…
Read MoreYour article on the queen of heaven was excellent
Question: We are studying in Jeremiah on Wednesday nights for the next few months and I was doing research on what the “queen of heaven” might be for our preacher, who teaches the class. I’ve copied the article and given credit to La Vista Church of Christ. It’s an excellent article. I have visited your web site before,…
Read MoreHow do I forget that I committed fornication?
Question: I have participated in the act of fornication with my ex-boyfriend. I allowed myself to blindly believe that this guy was serious about marriage and wanted me as his partner for the rest of his life. Initially, we were both seeking Christ together by attending church, fellowship, and tithing; however, he eventually moved several…
Read MoreHow do you handle assignments in class that have immoral content?
Question: Regarding a problem I’m having in college: I’m in a composition class that requires me to read literature that will sometimes involve sinful situations — things that I wouldn’t read if it was up to me. As well as I’m in an art class that probably will deal with Renaissance Catholic artwork, and it’s…
Read MoreHow can it be wrong for a divorced couple to have sex since God doesn’t recognize their divorce?
Question: Hello please enlighten me further: God does not recognize divorce, only our court systems. God sees it still as one flesh under the arranged covenant. But I am confused. What’s the consequence of sexual activity between the husband and wife under God’s arrangement? Surely this is not deemed fornication, having sex before marriage, since…
Read MoreI missed an opportunity to tell someone that their life is not right with God. What do I do now?
Question: My wife ran into an old friend at a store, and they were talking. Her friend talked of how she and her fiance were living together, and my wife said something that kind of approved it. Her friend was also cussing. I walked away and sat in the car. I’m afraid because I didn’t…
Read MoreWhy doesn’t God just end the world and stop the corruption?
Question: We know, as a fact, that our God does not want anyone to perish and wants all to come to the knowledge of Him and salvation. We even deduce that he created us out of love, as He is love. At the same time, we expect that most people will not be saved, and…
Read MoreIs confession of sin only to one’s self or must it be to God?
Question: Hello, I just read your article: “How detailed does a confession of sin have to be? Do you need to list out all that you’ve done wrong?” We have been discussing this subject for over two months with no end in sight. One side holds to the understanding that one needs only to repent…
Read MoreIf a brother had an affair for five years and says he repented, should he be used in service to God?
Question: A brother had a five-year affair. His wife didn’t know about the affair. He says he has repented. Can he work in the worship service and be one of the spiritual leaders? What does he need to do? Answer: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins…
Read MoreIf you say one thing in a joking manner, but then do the opposite, is it still a lie just because the other person missed the joke?
Question: I was wondering about lying. Let’s say my wife tells me just want to look at my hobby and my response is no, but I say it in a very playful way — a way that she knows that I am playing and that I really mean that yes I was wanting to look…
Read MoreWould self-examination for physical signs of a problem be a sin?
Question: Hello, I am an unmarried woman, sorely tempted in the flesh and I have fallen many times in the past. Last year I fell yet again and had sexual contact with a man whom I have since left. Every time this happens I am petrified, from a medical perspective, and request all kinds of tests…
Read MoreMy girlfriend committed suicide and I miss her so much!
Question: Why can’t I meet my girlfriend? I want to talk with her once more. I want to say “I’m sorry” to her. I want to feel her once more. My eyes are eager to see her. Can’t I see her just once? Can’t God show some mercy on me and allow her to meet…
Read MoreIs a person to keep a sinful promise?
Question: I want to know if someone made a sinful promise to God, what happens then? Is the person to keep that promise still? Are we to keep our promises no matter what? Answer: “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he…
Read MoreDo we have to confess our fornication that was repented of before our marriage?
Question: My boyfriend and I committed sexual immorality. We have repented and not done it again. We are planning on getting married, but do I have to confess my sins to my pastor and my parents before we get married? Answer: The purpose of confession is to face the fact that we sinned — that…
Read MoreIs saying that I’m not available on Sundays and Wednesday nights keeping me from being hired?
Question: I’ve been applying for jobs at fast food places around my area. I realize I need to be supporting my family, and I know I need more than financial aid to be doing so. However, when I apply, they usually give me a time frame of when I’m available to work. I always make…
Read MoreDealing with Criticism (Thomas)
by Michael Thomas We’ve all been told unpleasant things. “You’re not doing this right.” “You could’ve done this better.” You’re not as good at this as he is.” Criticism justified or not, is a part of life, so how can we benefit from it? Listen to It As painful as it is to hear our…
Read MoreIs it a sin to celebrate the New Year?
Question: Is it wrong to celebrate January 1st as being New Year’s day? I recently saw a video stating that January 1st isn’t New Year’s day and the video goes as far as to imply that the whole global community celebrating January 1st as New Year’s is sinning. If this is true, what makes celebrating…
Read MoreWhy don’t people who have non-marital sex face immediate consequences?
Question: Hello, I have a question or two: The first one is: Why is it that people who have non-marital sex do not face consequences at that moment? And my second question is: How can I overcome my anger and sadness whenever I hear or see people having sex? I’m a female, in my early…
Read MoreI use you often. Thanks, many times over
Question: I use you often. Thanks, many times over. Somebody is well educated in the Word. Keep up the very good work. Answer: Thank you for the kind encouragement.
Read MoreDid Jesus’ spirit leave his body and go to Hades?
Question: I have a general question that I’m hoping you can help me find supporting scriptures. Somebody challenged me that he doesn’t believe that the spirit left Jesus’ body when he died and went to Hades. His argument is that Jesus is God and he’s in control of even Hades so that his spirit would…
Read MoreWas God sexist in punishing Eve?
Question: Is God in Genesis 3:16 talking to Eve specifically, or all women in general? If so, how isn’t God being the modern term of a sexist? Answer: “To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; your desire shall be for your…
Read MoreI think I found the man to marry, but we slipped up and had oral sex. Are we meant to be?
Question: Please help. I look forward to hearing from you soon. I thank you in advance. I feel trapped or going in a bad direction. My boyfriend and I are both Christians. We met at a training school. We kept bumping into one another, and he eventually asked me to go to church with him when…
Read MoreMighty Men
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/MightyMen.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Genesis 10:8-9 I. What makes a man stand out among his peers? A. What makes him noteworthy? B. What is the source of his strength? II. Men mighty in wickedness A. Genesis 6:4-6 1. When the righteous intermarried with the wicked, the results were mighty men, not in stature, but in wickedness. 2. Every thought…
Read MoreAm I considered an adulteress because I left my husband for another man?
Question: I married when I was still a teenager. During the first few months, things started changing. He is in the military and deployed. I convinced him beforehand that maybe we should have a one night stand with other people since he kept turning me down but then watched porn. While he was gone I…
Read MoreHow long did Noah build the ark before his sons were born?
Question: How long did Noah build the ark before his sons were born? Answer: In Genesis 5:32, we are told that Noah was 500 when his sons were born. In Genesis 6:3, God said He would destroy mankind in 120 years. Since this was in Noah’s records, Genesis 6:9 being the closing line of that…
Read MoreWhile waiting for my divorce to be final, I made out with a woman. Do I have a right to remarry?
Question: My wife cheated on me last year and I gave her the opportunity to return to me and keep our family together, but she did not want this. She is still seeing the other man. I filed for divorce roughly nine months ago, but the divorce is not final yet. Recently, I went on…
Read MoreHow do you love a neighbor who doesn’t want you in their life?
Question: I’ve lost my way. How do I get my life right with God again? I was raised up to believe in God and I still do. Right now I believe that I have lost my spiritual compass along with my relationship with God. One thing I will never forget from God’s word is “to…
Read MoreMy wife asked me if I thought about cheating on her. I didn’t handle it well. What should I do?
Question: I’m a fairly new Christian. My wife asked me if I’d thought about cheating on her. I had sadly committed adultery at heart, but I told her I hadn’t thought about it. I had lied. I have repented of this, and am on constant guard to keep those thoughts out, but should I tell…
Read MoreI was born with a foot fetish. Is that a sin?
Question: Hi, I am a believer and I read all that you wrote about the subject masturbation. I am glad that your answers are right and correct and according to the Holy Bible, but I have this problem and I could use some help because I don’t know what to think anymore. Here is the thing:…
Read MoreMy life is a misery
Question: I have been living in Africa since I lost my dependable job due to political or governmental changes. I think God has left Africa because of the poverty, destructions, killing, famines, homelessness, and many more which is happening here. Now it seems the whole world is against me because I have reached out to…
Read MoreMy husband admitted to being a homosexual. I didn’t divorce him because of the expense. Now I’m with another man. Does that mean we cannot have sex?
Question: After nearly twenty years of marriage, my husband told me he was gay, has always been gay, and had been participating in homosexual acts. Our marriage had been a troubling one from the beginning. We were young, not well prepared for our first child. There was mental abuse and physical abuse. I strayed outside…
Read MoreBoys Do Better When Raised by a Traditional Family
Source: Graeme Paton, “Boys raised by traditional families ‘do better at school’,” The Telegraph, 3 January 2012 Source: Marianne Bertrand and Jessica Pan, “The Trouble with Boys: Social Influences and the Gender Gap in Disruptive Behavior,” National Bureau of Economic Research, No.17541, October 2011 A study has found that the structure of a boy’s family has a significant impact…
Read MoreWhy are singing, praying, communion, and giving called worship?
Question: I have been doing a study on worship in the New Testament and although there are about 75 references with the word, none of them are tied in with singing, praying, communion, or giving. So, I was wondering if you knew of a historical notation where, for the first time, worship is described as…
Read MoreShould a person be baptized again if he was baptized for the wrong purpose?
Question: Good day sir. Well done on your website. I just finished reading the “Baptism: Necessary for Salvation” posting. and quickly browsed your other links. I was encouraged by your website and the fact that you used scripture to back up what you were stating when it came to salvation. I also appreciated when you…
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