Why did God kill the Amalekites?
Question: I was wondering, for example, when the Israelites were attacked or they attacked someone else, Moses held up his staff and it helped Joshua’s army, but if the staff was held down then the war went for the enemy. Obviously, the power of the staff came from God, so that means that God was…
Read MoreWhat if I did not repent before I was baptized?
Question: Hello, I was baptized as a teenager. It is only now, over twenty years later, that I have repented. I just “got” what repentance truly means after committing many sins! Does this mean I was not saved when I was baptized — was it in vain? Do I need to be baptized now? Here…
Read MoreWhat is a work?
Question: I’m a little confused by works. I understand that faith and works go hand in hand. But I’m the type of person who needs concrete examples. Is reading my Bible considered a work? Is, say, giving turkeys to the poor on Thanksgiving considered a work? Is praying a work? Answer: “Work” is one of…
Read MorePaul had to be married in order to judge criminal cases
Question: I read your answer and disagree. Paul was of the tribe of Benjamin and to qualify to judge criminal cases he had to be legally married to the daughter of a priest. Paul’s job under the high priest was to root out the Christians. Look at the second small paragraph in the Tractate Sanhedrin. If…
Read MoreShould I not be so open about my wanting a spiritually strong Christian for a husband?
Question: My marriage is likely to be done the old fashioned way, with an arranged marriage where the parents find a suitable prospect, the guy and girl gets introduced, and then they decide between themselves if the marriage seems likely or not. Well, even though I’ve been a Christian all my life, I should say,…
Read MoreCan someone be withdrawn from for not moving his seat during worship?
Question: This question is in a scenario form: A member of the Lord’s church was asked to move his seating in the church building during worship on several different occasions. This member refused to do so after several requests. This member was consequently brought before the congregation with the charge listed above as sowing discord…
Read MoreWhat should I say to confess my fornication?
Question: I need help with words to ask God and my church and my parents for forgiveness of my fornication. I know I have sinned. I allowed myself to get caught up and I need to ask for forgiveness. I want to write it because I can’t stop crying, and I want those who looked…
Read MoreDid God break His promise to Moses?
Question: In Moses’ time than God had promised him that he would go into the promised land right but then later when Moses strikes the rock twice and water comes out then god says that Moses will not Lead the people into the promised land because how can Moses be an example if he does…
Read MoreHow can there be a beginning if God always existed?
Question: If someone asked “where did God come from or how did he get to be” then the person asked (if a Christian) would probably say “He has always been there He still is and will always be.” Right, so if He has always been there and is eternal then how come the Bible says…
Read MoreIs abortion OK if a child has a genetic issue?
Question: What if an abortion is to save the baby and not the mother, maybe a genetic issue is at stake. For example, SS. Is it still justified? A Christian is advising so. Answer: Just because a person claims to be a Christian, it does not mean they are following Christ’s teachings. “Beloved, do not…
Read MoreThe Difference Parents Can Make
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/DifferenceParentsCanMake.mp3 by PJ Anderson
Read MoreHow can righteousness be apart from works when faith is a work?
Question: “Just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin”” (Romans 4:6-8). “Then they said to him, “What must…
Read MoreAny suggestions for obsessive worrying?
Question: I am a member of the Lord’s church and have been since my teenage years. I am now middle-aged and have kids and a husband. For many years I have dealt with unwanted and compulsive thoughts in which they have all been pretty much related to worry and fear. I know we ought not…
Read MoreDid the early church meet on any other days than Sunday?
Question: According to Hebrew 10:25, is there any example from the early churches meeting on any other days for Bible study or the like other than Sunday worship service? Answer: “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of…
Read MoreInteresting Verses
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/InterestingVerses.mp3 by PJ Anderson
Read MoreHow can non-Christians be nice people without the Spirit?
Question: I am studying the fruits of the Spirit. In fact, I am scheduled to give a talk on it this Sunday. I’m confused about something. We all know people who are not Christians and are nice people. Not the nasty, evil person that Paul talks about before going into the fruits of the Spirit. …
Read MoreWill I be handicapped in heaven?
Question: I was born with a handicap. It has since become worse. I have applied for disability but can not seem to receive it. Why was I pick for this? What did I do to deserve this? If I die tomorrow, will I be handicapped in heaven? Who should I take my anger out on?…
Read MoreOur family is having arguments over money. What do we do?
Question: We are a couple, married and staying with family. Ever since I can remember my brother was the favored one being born after several girls in a country where males are preferred. I grew up knowing I shouldn’t have been born as that would split the inheritance. Today we live as the despised ones…
Read MoreCan a church register as a charitable organization to get grants from the government?
Question: Is it scriptural for a church of Christ to register as a charitable organization? By charitable organization, I mean being exempted from tax and duties, and receiving financial grants from the government in order to fund missionary projects, etc.? Is it good for a church of Christ to venture into this system? If not,…
Read MoreMy wife divorced me. Did I cause her to commit adultery because I allowed the divorce to happen?
Question: My wife announced to me two years ago that she was done with our marriage and that she intended to file for divorce. To my knowledge, no adultery had been committed by either party at that time (certainly not by me). I initially fought to save our marriage. I suggested counseling and other solutions…
Read MoreShould I stay intimate with my separated husband now that he has a new girlfriend?
Question: My unbelieving husband and I have been separated for the last two years, but we have remained intimate throughout this time. However, I am now certain he has a girlfriend and continues to want to be intimate with me. Should I stop sleeping with him, or am I required to continue on because we are still…
Read MoreDo the laws of uncleanness mean masturbation is sinful?
Question: I have to start by saying this: I do not fall under the law, but I try my best to obey it as the Holy Spirit guides me, or, as I allow God to use me. I am also not trying to make you feel guilt or shame, for it is not my duty…
Read MoreMy husband and I lived a very sinful life, but now we want to change. Is our marriage still valid? Will God forgive us?
Question: I need your advice, please? My husband and I recently started reading the Bible. We were both members of our families’ churches, growing up, and had a Christian wedding. We seemed to have stopped praying along the way and stop going to church ended up with the wrong group of friends, drinking, and doing…
Read MoreThanks for making the old Bible story pictures available!
Question: Thank you so much for putting all these old Bible storybook pictures online. I just ran across them last night for the first time. Love the old-timey feel. I’ve enjoyed downloading the pictures of these rarities. This is an invaluable resource for all kinds of different uses, especially since most or all of these books…
Read MoreHow can I be sure that my wife loves only me?
Question: I’m married. My wife was the only girl in my life. However, she did love someone before she met me but it did not materialize as her parents were against the marriage. She broke away from the boy and almost gave up on life, deciding never to marry. I then walked into her life…
Read MoreWhy was a woman unclean less time after the birth of a boy than after the birth of a girl?
Question: In Leviticus 12 it says that the woman who gave birth to a boy is only unclean for seven days, but one who gave birth to a girl is unclean for two weeks. Why is that? Answer: “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘If a woman has conceived, and borne a male child,…
Read MoreWhy does Leviticus talk about four-legged insects when insects have six legs?
Question: In Leviticus 11:20-23, it says that insects have four legs instead of the six that we have always learned in school. Does the Bible have a different way of counting the legs of insects? Answer: “All flying insects that creep on all fours shall be an abomination to you. Yet these you may eat…
Read MoreWhy did Moses accept Aaron’s excuse for not eating the sacrifice?
Question: In Leviticus 10:16-20, I understand that Moses was upset with Eleazar and Ithamar because they didn’t eat the sin offering as they were instructed to. However, I don’t see why Moses was satisfied when Aaron told him that they did burnt offering and sin offering on the same day and that’s why they didn’t…
Read MoreNow that I’ve made significant progress against one sin, how do I know where to next make improvements?
Question: After many years of struggling with masturbation, with sinful thoughts, or watching sinful material, I feel like I’ve finally defeated it. All of the material on this web site has helped so much. Whenever I have urges I handle them without sinful thoughts or looking at sinful material anymore, and I feel so much better.…
Read MoreCan the adulterer remarry after his original spouse dies?
Question: If a person, scripturally married, commits adultery and ends up divorced, can the one who committed the adultery remarry if the one who was innocent dies? Answer: “For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is…
Read MoreDo Men Have a Sinful Nature?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/DoMenHaveASinfulNature.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 2:1-10 I. Romans 3:23 – Why is it that everyone sins, barring Jesus our Lord? A. A dominant teaching among the denominations is the idea that people are born sinful. 1. The Westminster Confession gives a popular view: “Our first parents, being seduced by the subtlety and temptations of Satan,…
Read MoreThe Marshmallow Principle
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/MarshmallowPrinciple.mp3 by Steve Hamilton
Read MoreWere Roman soldiers involved in the arrest of Jesus?
Question: How many Roman soldiers came to arrest Christ? Answer – None – the guard force was from the Temple guard. A Roman guard would not have taken Jesus to the High Priest’s house but to the Roman fortress to be held. Answer: “The band of soldiers (tên speiran). No word for “of soldiers” in…
Read MoreIs it bad to keep on praying the same prayer all over again?
Question: This is a question about prayer. Is it bad to keep on praying the same prayer all over again? It could be from desperation, or it can be another reason. For example, you have a problem or worry you share with the Lord and you think that you are not getting any answers. Does…
Read MoreWhy did Moses veil his face?
Question: Exodus 34:33-35 talks about Moses putting on the veil because his face was radiant after speaking with the Lord, which I read to mean that people would be scared to see a glowing face which reminded them of the fear of God, but in II Corinthians 3:13 it says that Moses didn’t want people…
Read MoreWhy do friends take advantage of you?
Question: With friends, there is a tendency to take things for granted, especially when you do favors. I have a good friend who I have helped out in the past numerous times and continue to help. I lent him transportation since he had no mode of transportation, which I later informed him I wanted to…
Read MoreAre firstborns only male?
Question: in Exodus 11:5 it says that every firstborn son in Egypt will die, does that mean if the firstborn is a daughter and the second born is a son, then the son would die but not the daughter even though she’s really the firstborn? Also in Exodus 34:19, it says the first offspring of…
Read MoreHow do we determine who is right and who is wrong when everyone claims to take his stand from the Bible?
Question: How do we determine who is right and who is wrong when everyone claims to take his stand from the Bible? For example, what is the appropriate time for holy communion? Some believe it is evening while some believe it could be any time. Does the timing determine our eternal destiny? Also, can I…
Read MoreWhat if I can’t repent?
Question: In Hebrews 12 it talks about how Esau could not repent. My life is rampant with sin, and I can’t get rid of it. I think I’m like Esau. He begged for repentance with bitter tears. My mind is more corrupt than you can imagine. He could not repent, and what if I can’t either?…
Read MoreWhat can you do when you are completely controlled by your sinful nature?
Question: Paul said that he did what he hated and that as long as he knew the law of God was good, that shows it’s the sin in him and not him that does it. But he also said if your sinful nature is controlling you, it leads to death. If you have God’s Spirit,…
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