While stoned, I received and gave oral sex. Does this mean I’m a homosexual?
Question: I’m a Christian and a firm believer in God. But one night I messed up and smoked weed with my roommate. I had an erection and started masturbating under the sheets. My roommate asked did I want oral sex and I gave into temptation. I then gave him oral sex for about 10 seconds…
Read MoreDidn’t you overlook the “also” in the discussion about the Nicolaitans in Revelation 2:15?
Question: I was reading your response regarding the nature of the Nicolaitans, their doctrine, and practice. Perhaps you may take the same issue with me that you do with the other commentator who did not offer an answer but rather a criticism. However, I hope you would pardon the simplicity of my question or observation. I…
Read MoreWhy did Jesus say to let the dead bury the dead?
Question: When I read Matthew 8:21-22, I felt quite confused. It says ” And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.” What does this mean? I think “honor your parents” is…
Read MoreThe Worse Lies
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/WorseLies.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Isaiah 59:1-15 I. In describing Israel’s plight, God lists out the sins in which they had been involved in Isaiah 59:1-15 A. Repeatedly through this passage lies and a lack of truth is brought up B. Lies are sinful, but more so, sinners lie 1. How does the addict attempt to avoid…
Read MoreIs there something wrong with being left-handed?
Question: What does Ecclesiastes 10:2 tell us? Is there anything wrong with left-handedness? Answer: “A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left” (Ecclesiastes 10:2). Being left-handed is far less common than being right-handed. It is unusual enough that it is mentioned as a feature of some people.…
Read MoreHow can one become a Jew?
Question: In Esther 8:17, how can one become a Jew? Answer: “And in every province and city, wherever the king’s command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday. Then many of the people of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews fell upon them” (Esther 8:17).…
Read MoreIs teaching in prisons and rehab centers worth it?
Question: Our church has been working with a prison ministry. It began many years ago by a lady who would travel many miles to the women’s prison. In that time I only know of one woman who came to be baptized, and, if my memory serves me right, when she was released she returned to…
Read MoreWas Dr. Henry Halley associated with the churches of Christ?
Question: Good day. I was reading your excellent article on Alexander Campbell. Good job. I have a question? Was Dr. Henry Halley of the famous Halley’s Bible Handbook ever associated with the churches of Christ? I read where he was once a student of J. W. McGarvey. I saw also where he was associated with the Disciples of…
Read MoreYou shouldn’t judge the Salvation Army on doctrine. See their works instead
Question: After reading your article I was rather puzzled about your thinking. I understand you are a church that focuses only on spiritual work, yet I see you are mixing, doctrine, church administration, church practice, and social work all in one comment. As a fellow Christian let me share some thoughts on this, I do certainly…
Read MoreI married a man who was divorced because of his adultery. Is our marriage ok?
Question: What do you do if you are a Christian, have a second marriage, and realize only too late that it was not the will of God? My spouse was a called man of God, but he committed adultery in his first marriage. He is no longer preaching, and I am not the other woman. I came…
Read MorePlease help me understand I Peter 4:17-18
Question: Please help me understand I Peter 4:17-18. Answer: “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come…
Read MoreDoes “not forsake the assembling of ourselves together” mean reading the Bible and learning about God and His Kingdom?
Question: Hebrews 10:23-27 said to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. Does this mean going to church, or does it mean not forsaking reading the Bible and learning about God and His Kingdom? Answer: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us…
Read MoreWho is the host for the Lord’s Supper?
Question: In a discussion, someone asked, “Who is the host for the Lord’s Supper?” We discussed some possible answers and one man thought it not fitting to argue over non-biblical terms. Is it a biblical concept to know who is the “host” for the Lord’s supper, and, if so, then would the host be the…
Read MoreGod’s Word in My Heart
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/GodsWordInMyHeart.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 119:11-16 I. God’s Word is important to the Christian A. It tells us how to live – II Timothy 3:16-17 B. It has everything we need to know about life and godliness – II Peter 1:3 C. But it is frustrating for a lot of us when there is a passage…
Read MoreHow could Jesus be the son of man, the son of David, and the son of God?
Question: Why did people call Jesus as Son of David and Son of Man when he was neither born to any man or to anyone in the Davidic line? Were they fooling or flattering him, or is it true? If it is true can you give concrete answers? Who is the Son of David? Jesus…
Read MoreIf just thinking about doing oral sex with a woman is as bad as doing it, then why not just do it?
Question: If just thinking about doing oral sex with a woman is as bad as doing it, then why not just do it? Answer: To illustrate why your argument fails, let me make a similar one: “If hatred is just as bad as murder (I John 3:15), then why not just commit murder?” The answer…
Read MoreWhy are there all these new practices in the church?
Question: I am having trouble accepting new ideas within the church. Last Halloween the church sponsored a “trunk or treat” in the parking lot by putting Halloween themes in trunks of cars and giving out candy to kids coming down the street! Then at Christmas, the preacher called my house and ask if he and…
Read MoreWhat do you think about Christians watching cheerleaders at games?
Question: I read your article on dancing, and I was hopeful that you would have a complete sermon covering this topic. Our class, last night, was on Christian Strategies for Social Life. Yes, pretty much dancing was discouraged. But, and I knew it was coming, football games and cheerleading was not an issue. It was…
Read MorePlease explain John 8:34-55 to me
Question: Please give me the best-detailed description of John 8:34-55. Who is there, what, who is speaking to whom, and its meaning. Also, who is Mount Seir? Who are perpetual haters? Who is Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated? Who is Esau today? Who is Edom? Who are those who martyred the saints? Answer:…
Read MoreWhat passages of the Bible are connected to the laws of our government?
Question: It seems to me in the laws of the State there is a system of proportional justice based on the Bible. What passages can be directly connected to the laws of the State? What passages could be used to develop or support laws of the State which do not exist? Answer: Given the very…
Read MoreShould we take out a loan on unsellable land and then let the bank foreclose on it?
Question: My husband is applying for a mortgage loan and is using a piece of land he inherited from his father as collateral. We do not actually need the money. But we want to dispose of the land as soon as possible because there are already other people occupying it and we could not eject…
Read MoreWho is the shortest man in the Bible?
Question: Who is the shortest man in the Bible? Answer: There are all sorts of jokes based on this question, but I will assume you are looking for a more serious answer. We actually don’t know since height isn’t always mentioned. We know that Zacchaeus was short: “Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus…
Read MoreDid Jesus give men the right to forgive sins?
Question: I was reading “What is wrong with Catholicism?” because I was Catholic by default like you said. I had serious doubts, but what I found is that you made a big mistake. You say that man cannot grant forgiveness, but when I was reading the Bible, Jesus said that His priests, people, ministers, pastor,…
Read MoreWhy are prayers ended with “In Jesus’ name, Amen”?
Question: Why, when we pray, should we close the prayer with, “In Jesus name, amen”? Answer: The word “amen” is a transliterated word from the Hebrew language. Wilson’s Old Testament Word Studies defines it as meaning, “Let it be granted, let it be done, and unalterably confirmed.” It can be seen in Numbers 5:22 where…
Read MoreWho are the elect in the Bible?
Question: Who are the “elect” the Bible talks about? Answer: “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled…
Read MoreCan I have your permission to open a branch of your church?
Question: I am very much interested in your teachings and your church. I have therefore decided to open a branch of your church. I have been making preparation to perform and I need your authority to enable me to do it. I should, therefore, be grateful if you would kindly assist me to enable me…
Read MoreWhat are your references on John Wesley’s View of Baptism?
Question: Re: John Wesley’s View of Baptism Could you please send me the references or citations for the quotes from Wesley? Thank you for this page, it is very beneficial. Answer: The quote can be found in: John Wesley, A Preservative Against Unsettled Notions in Religion, p. 146-150, as quoted in Millennial Harbinger, Volume 1 by William Kimbrough…
Read MoreHow do you distinguish the needy from the wanters?
Question: Hi! I came across your site and subsequent Bible studies while trying to research the subject of giving but not in the traditional sense. Since my on-line searches are not producing the answers I am looking for, and since I noted that you are a preacher, I thought I might ask you for a…
Read MoreCan I purify my soul after looking at pornography?
Question: Hello sir. Before reading the article, “A Look at Pornography,” I had not gotten involved with prostitutes or anything of that sort. I recently was frustrated with academics and as a refreshment, I watched some porn. At some point I thought of going to a prostitute, but, sir, now I have decided after reading your…
Read MoreDo you believe you can only be saved by immersion in water? What about someone who can’t be immersed?
Question: How does one get saved who cannot physically be submerged? I didn’t look up your references, but is seems to me (by skimming through your article of why you left the Church of the Nazarene) that the main reason you left is you believe you are saved by baptism by submersion only? Am I…
Read MoreDo Methodists understand we are not under the Old Law?
Question: I am about to begin a study of why Christians no longer keep the Old Testament Laws with a very special lady, soon to be my wife, who is a lifetime Methodist. My mention that the Law is no longer kept piqued her interest. She expressed she would like to see that in Scripture. …
Read MoreCan I have sex with my ex-husband before our reconciliation?
Question: My husband divorced me, but not for biblical reasons. We are working on restoration. Neither of us has had an adulterous relationship. My question is can we have a sexual relationship before remarrying each other through the court? Answer: “Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is…
Read MoreAre our sins completely wiped away or will they be remembered at Judgment in some way?
Question: In II Corinthians 5:10, it reads: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” Then in Hebrews 8:12, it reads: “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their…
Read MoreThe Justice of God
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/JusticeOfGod.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Habakkuk 1:1-4 I. The prophet Habakkuk was upset with God A. Wickedness and violence abounded in the world around him. 1. Jeremiah asked much the same question: Why do the wicked prosper? – Jeremiah 12:1-4 2. It is an old question. Job asked it – Job 21:7-15 3. Asaph too was troubled by…
Read MoreDoes God put a yearning in our hearts for Him?
Question: Does God place a yearning for him in our hearts so that we seek Him? Is this yearning misunderstood by us and we start trying to fill this void with worldly things? Why is it that some people know early in life what that yearning is, and seek Him right away while the others, either never find…
Read MoreIs the reference to a new earth given so we can understand heaven better?
Question: The new heaven and the new earth in Revelation is being taken literally by my friend. I know it’s referring to the spiritual earth. My grandson and I studied this scripture last night (Revelation 21:1-2). He brought up the fact that in Rome, the Christians were oppressed and God is promising them, in this…
Read MoreAre we limiting God by saying miracles don’t happen today?
Question: I have a friend who believes, like many people, that spiritual gifts still exist. He says to believe that they don’t is limiting the Holy Spirit. I told him that I see that as the opposite being true. To say that some have the gift of healing today and many many others don’t is…
Read MoreIs it wrong to question God?
Question: In Habakkuk 1:2-4, especially verse 3, Habakkuk questioned the wisdom of God. Is it wrong to do so? I believe the correct attitude toward God is to trust and obey; what do you think? Also in Genesis 18:23-32, Abraham plead to God not to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. I think it is wrong for…
Read MoreHow can Obadiah 21 speak of saviors when there is only one Savior?
Question: I have a question about Obadiah verse 21, in the King James Version the second word is “saviors”. And I know it does not mean Jesus, and it is a plural form. But who can be called savior except for Jesus Himself? I don’t understand the verse. Can you help me explain this? Thanks…
Read MoreYeah, Yeah, I’ve Heard It Before!
by Zeke Flores While at the dentist’s office some time ago for a routine cleaning, the hygienist asked if I had been flossing, just as she did each and every time I went. I mumbled something about “Not as much as I should” (It’s hard to speak intelligibly when someone has a sharp instrument in…
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