Why the first holy communion?
Question: Why the first holy communion? What is confirmation after the first holy communion? Answer: The “first communion” is the name Roman Catholics give to the first time a person partakes of the eucharist. “Confirmation” is also a Roman Catholic term for teaching someone how to be a Roman Catholic. Neither phrase is found in…
Read MoreWhat are the first five books of the Bible called?
Question: What are the first five books of the Bible called? Answer: “Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me”” (Luke…
Read MoreWhat does it mean that you will receive power?
Question: In Acts 1:8 when Jesus says that after the Holy Ghost has come upon you, you shall receive power. Does that mean power over my sins, over my thoughts power to talk right, or does it mean just what the Bible says? Answer: When Jesus said, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense…
Read MoreThe Working of the Holy Spirit
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/WorkingOfTheHolySpirit.mp3 by Bruce Irwin
Read MoreThe Invited
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/TheInvited.mp3 by Garry Floyd
Read MoreHow do I stop treating my wife so badly?
Question: We’ve been together for nearly ten years and for the past several years I’ve been treating my wife very badly. I say bad things to her and we just don’t feel happy around each other anymore. She seems like she’s afraid of me. I still love her and I know I can’t live without…
Read MoreAre God’s blessing physical or spiritual?
Question: I’ve heard so many times from my friends saying I’m so blessed that I have gotten good grades and a good job. What about those who believe in God but are not getting any jobs or are poor in studies. What is the actual meaning of blessings from God? Is it physical or spiritual?…
Read MoreWhat does the Bible say about accountability between friends?
Question: Where in the Bible does it say that one should have a good group of friends to keep him accountable? I had a friend who said I should stop seeking my friends’ help for accountability and just ask God. If that is true, why does God talk about the church and community? I think…
Read MoreYour page caused me to rethink about modern Israel’s place in God’s plans
Question: I saw your web page “Is the Modern Nation of Israel Important?” I was trained to view modern Israel as Falwell described it, but I’ve been rethinking that and you make some good points. Do you know of any books or resources available that go into this topic more? Answer: I’m glad you found…
Read MoreJohn Wesley’s View of Baptism
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton John Wesley is most noted as the Methodists and several denominations, including the Church of the Nazarene, derive their beliefs from his writings. While no mere man’s writings establish the truth, it is interesting that his view of baptism was quite different from the denominations we find today. “By baptism, we…
Read MoreIf God doesn’t show favoritism, then why was Abel’s sacrifice accepted and Cain’s was rejected?
Question: The Bible says that God does not show favoritism toward anyone. So how is it that He favored Abel over Cain, and accepted Abel’s offering while rejecting Cain’s? Answer: By saying that God is impartial (Romans 2:11), what is being said is that God doesn’t favor one person over another based on external attributes.…
Read MoreThanks for publishing Abraham Smith’s writings
Question: I just wanted to thank you for publishing Abraham Smith’s work on your web site. He is an incredibly gifted writer! I think it’s amazing how he correlates modern issues with biblical scripture. Thank you for putting it out there for all to see! Answer: It is always a pleasure to publish good material.…
Read MoreHow can Christians gather and not be the church?
Question: We have addressed several people on the subject and I went to the computer and found different ones saying the same thing. My problem was I just couldn’t figure out how we could not leave the building and still not be assembled. The church is the called out and when we are gathered in…
Read MoreI found lots of useful material on marital relationships on your site
Question: I live in the Philippines and am a devout Catholic Christian. I am writing this to thank you for your web site. I accidentally found it. I was looking for an article or materials to be used in my presentation related to relationships specifically between a husband and wife. There is a lot of very useful…
Read MoreWhy was I lied to about finding a wife?
Question: I see that you are of the Church of Christ. I don’t know much about the Church of Christ. I was raised Baptist and for the last ten years, I have been in the Pentecostal faith. Of course, I love all my brothers and sisters in the Lord. My story is a unique one,…
Read MoreMy research says that Matthew mistranslated “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?”
Question: I am sorry I am going to have to agree with the guy who questioned you on “Could Jesus have said “My God, my God, for this I was kept?”. Yeshua, the Son of God, AKA Jesus Christos, Jesus Christ spoke Aramaic and while Matthew was a Greek scholar, he merely recorded the words of…
Read MoreWhat do you do about helping the downtrodden?
Question: Hi, I noticed something through your home page description and the social gospel question answered that makes me have a question for you: What do you do about feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting sick and imprisoned? (Matthew 25:31-46) And what do you do about selling your possessions and giving to the poor (Luke 12:33) and the…
Read MoreShould the poor be helped if it makes our life harder?
Question: I have a penchant for helping the poor. But I came across an article titled “Lifeboat Ethics: the Case Against Helping the Poor” and it was really interesting. Here is an excerpt: “If we divide the world crudely into rich nations and poor nations, two thirds of them are desperately poor, and only one…
Read MoreShould my friend pursue a relationship with a boy who had sex in the past?
Question: This question is for my friend’s situation: A boy recently started to pursue more-than-friends moves on my friend. She’s liked him on-and-off for three years, but in those three years, he’s had a girlfriend. She just found out that the boy had sex a few times several months ago with his girlfriend. Since that…
Read MoreHow can I help my boyfriend with his sexual desires?
Question: I’m 25 years old and a Christian. I am in my first relationship as a Christian. My boyfriend is a backslider. We had sex once. I know it was wrong. I repented and I believe God has forgiven me. I am not going to do it again until we are married. I have downloaded…
Read MoreIs God’s greatness just as unsearchable as the number of His years?
Question: I have a question for you. I am researching a passage and I would like your input. “Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out” (Job 36:26). Is Job’s friend, Elihu, telling us here that God’s greatness is just as unsearchable as the number of…
Read MoreHow do I make my relationship more God-centered?
Question: I know romantic relationships should be God-centered, but I’m having trouble doing this with my boyfriend. He’s a Christian, but not too strong of a Christian. I tried to put God into our relationship by suggesting reading a Bible chapter together each day. We read only two times. I wanted to pray with him…
Read MoreWhy is the Hebrew word for “bless” in Job 1:5 translated as “curse?”
Question: My Bible has a footnote on Job 1:5 that says the word “curse” in this passage is actually the Hebrew word for “bless.” I don’t understand this. Answer: “So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the…
Read MoreI have concerns about the Catholic church’s teachings on celibacy for priests, women’s status in the church, and the condemnation of homosexuality
Question: Perhaps I can ask you about one more thing that troubles me. I have always been rooted in the mercy of Jesus and his compassion toward others. I will call attention to behaviors but do not pass judgment on others. That said, I recently came back to more fully embracing my Catholic faith. However, I…
Read MoreHow long did Job suffer?
Question: During our midweek services the question was asked; “How long did Job suffer?” According to Job 2:13, it lasted for 7 days and 7 nights. But then I read Job 7:3 and the implication is months. What are your thoughts? Answer: We don’t know. Job 7:3 says, “So I have been allotted months of…
Read MoreHow do I let go of remembering my sins?
Question: Last year I went through some trials and became discouraged. I had a led a fairly solid Christian life until I turned away from Christ and the Jesus I knew for a period of time. There were serious illnesses and disorders in my family and knew three young people who died recently, one by…
Read MoreWhat do you say about guilt by association in regards to fellowship?
Question: What do you say about guilt by association in the fellowship problem? We have some friends who worship in a congregation that had someone at their lectureships, although they do don’t support marriage with intent, and when he speaks they didn’t go to support him. Now we do not believe this person’s doctrine, but…
Read MoreWhat do you think about people praying in front of schools?
Question: Some of my friends, during the holidays, are going to colleges and praying in front of the colleges. Is there any use in doing this? Answer: “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that…
Read MoreWhat prompted you to start your question and answer section?
Question: I am a regular follower of your site and have learned a lot by seeing how you answer the questions. If you don’t mind me asking, what prompted you to start such a question and answer format? I’ve never run across anything quite like it. Answer: The question and answer section began when I…
Read MoreWas Isaiah born in Jerusalem?
Question: I was told that Isaiah was born in Jerusalem but cannot find the passage to verify it. Is it true? Answer: We know that Isaiah lived in Jerusalem because the places he was sent to and those who were sent to Isaiah all were in the area of Jerusalem (Isaiah 7:3; 22:15; 37:2). We…
Read MoreDoesn’t sex create a marriage?
Question: Hello, it’s me, the same girl who had sent you a message before asking about sex without marriage. I know God’s laws, and I know he made them in order to keep us safe and happy. The thing is, the person and I have already done it, we’ve had sex. Now Jesus said that when…
Read MoreWhy don’t you quote noted animal rights activists?
Question: Upon reading some of the content on your website (admittedly, not the majority, as it’s quite voluminous), I focused primarily on the animal rights content and the Roman Catholic Church Demonination section. I am curious because, upon doing a search, I couldn’t find any listings for Dr. Albert Schweitzer. His “Reverence for Life” philosophy would seem to be…
Read MoreHave you been able to convert people from liberal churches?
Question: I was wondering, have you had any luck converting those who use their buildings for recreation? I have a lot of friends who attend liberal churches of christ and I just wondered if you had any advice on how to correct. Thanks. Answer: Several of the current members at La Vista came out of…
Read MoreHow do I recover from pre-marital sex?
Question: I was reading your articles about waiting for marriage and why sex outside of marriage is wrong. Your advice is something I wish I had understood sooner. Unfortunately, I have already sinned sexually. Now I am trying to discern God’s will so that I may do what is right in His eyes. I have a girlfriend…
Read MoreDoes God require Christians to wear white, to not wear jewelry, and to not have facial hair?
Question: I have been going through your articles and was inspired by your teachings; the firm stands that you have taken on the Lord and to walk only in the Bible’s teaching and its ways and not to sway with customs and traditions. I believe, the Lord has kept this promise for you “And thine…
Read MoreWhat were the three things mentioned in the Bible that God wrote upon?
Question: What were the three things mentioned in the Bible that God wrote upon? Answer: “Now the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God engraved on the tablets” (Exodus 32:16). “But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the…
Read MoreWhat do you think about the Catholic view of divorce?
Question: I read your web site today concerning divorce and the Bible. Clearly, God considers divorce a serious matter, possibly a sin. However, for years Catholics had strict rules about divorce and remarriage. It seems that Catholics were unfairly targeted as being too unforgiving or strict when it came to the laws of marriage. Actually,…
Read MoreShould a person go to deliverance services?
Question: What’s you take on deliverance? Do you think it’s advisable for a person to go to deliverance services? Once someone gives their life to Christ do they need deliverance? I am asking this on behalf of my friend. Answer: Deliverance services are not mentioned in the Bible, which should begin to give you a…
Read MoreA Thief Named Sin
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/AThiefNamedSin.mp3 Text: Psalm 38 I. Somewhere between 1 in 8 and 1 in 7 people will experience a robbery, either of their property or their person (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2008) A. Loss of property is a violation of the person 1. You lose more than just valuables 2. You lose your feeling of safety 3. You lose your…
Read MoreWhat was Jephthah’s sin?
Question: What was Jephthah’s sin? Answer: If someone wanted to give a short answer to that question, his flaw was his rashness. “Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore let your words be few” (Ecclesiastes…
Read More