Peter’s Conviction
by Terry Wane Benton Peter, another eyewitness and apostle of Jesus, was recorded by Luke regarding several of his testimonial accounts. See Luke’s impressive documentation of Peter’s presentation of the evidence of Jesus, as Luke recorded them in summary in Acts 2, 3, and 10. Luke recorded these speeches to show future generations the kind…
Read MoreIs restitution require on past taxes?
Question: Hello, I hope you’re having a blessed day! I need some advice, if you please. In the past, my sister has committed past dishonesty in her tax forms, and I was wondering if restitution is required? Should she have to make things right by admitting to it and repaying whatever she owes? And what…
Read MoreMust We Use One Loaf and One Cup?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton A few brethren contend that the Lord’s Supper must be served using one loaf and one cup that everyone shares. “Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? Since…
Read MoreWho Can Perform a Baptism?
by Samuel Matthews “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have…
Read MoreDoes God’s Love Mean We Are Automatically Saved?
by Terry Wane Benton The fallacy of the argument about God’s love is that if it means we will be eternally saved because God loves us, then no one would be lost (II Peter 3:9). However, many will be lost (Matthew 7:13-14). Loving us and accepting us are two different things. His love wants us,…
Read MoreThe Paradoxes of God’s Method to Save
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/The-Paradoxes-of-Gods-Method-to-Save.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Isaiah 55:6-11 I. Have you noticed the Bible contains one message, but that message causes conflicting responses A. One group sees the gospel as foolishness, while the other sees it as the power of God – I Corinthians 1:18; Romans 1:16 B. The difference is not in the message…
Read MoreDoes the Bible only say to flee from lust?
Question: Is it true that the only sin the Bible tells us to flee from is lust? Some Christians make the claim that I shouldn’t fight lust and that I should flee from it instead. I don’t see anything wrong with saying that Christians should fight against lust, but apparently, I am wrong for saying…
Read MoreBoasting of His Weakness
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Boasting-of-His-Weakness.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: II Corinthians 12:1-10 I. False teachers of the Jewish persuasion had entered the congregation in Corinth A. They wanted to convince the brethren that they had to follow the Law of Moses to be acceptable to God. B. The problem was dealing with Paul. 1. His teaching was clearly contradictory…
Read MoreEmploying Our Opportunities
by Greg Kline via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15 No. 2, February 2015 “Eat your food. There are kids around the world who are starving.” This may be one of the most clichéd lines a parent can give a child who is resisting their vegetables. Frankly, it is an attempt to shame their child into eating his…
Read MoreShould we use the Old Testament to bind covering our thighs?
Question: Good evening, Should we use Exodus 28:42 to bind covering our thighs all the way down to the knees? There has recently been controversy over whether the context of this verse provides a clear indication of what the Hebrew word yarek refers to. I’ve heard sermons from both sides, and I’m curious about your…
Read MoreGuardian Angels
by Mike Johnson What is a guardian angel? Many believe that God assigns people a personal guardian angel to guide and protect them from harm, providing both physical and spiritual protection. This viewpoint can be comforting. Moreover, it might be considered a great advantage for people to think of themselves as having “their angel” working…
Read MoreThe Prophetic Word Made More Sure
by Terry Wane Benton Peter said that he and the other apostles (James and John) were “eyewitnesses” to Jesus’ transfiguration (II Peter 1:16-18). But, in addition, “we have the prophetic word made more sure” (II Peter 1:19). The case is very strong, bolstered by eyewitness testimony; however, the fact that their testimony aligns so perfectly…
Read MoreWhat About Good Moral People?
by Joe Slater Comparing the “good moral man” of the world to the flawed child of God can be frustrating! Take Cornelius and Peter for one example. Even before obeying the gospel, Cornelius was a deeply religious man — one who reverenced God, prayed regularly, helped the poor, and taught his family to do the…
Read MoreThese Three Words Are the Fabric of Reality
by Doy Moyer These three words are at the heart of everything that exists — and every human being longs for them. But what happens when we try to define them without God? In this video, Doy Moyer explores why truth, goodness, and beauty can’t be grounded in human opinion, culture, or experience — and…
Read MoreIs Jesus a Fictional Character? Then So Is History Itself
by Terry Wane Benton People say, “Jesus was a made-up story for control.” Yet the same people believe Napoleon fought wars, Socrates taught philosophy, and Alexander conquered nations – all without demanding proof. So, let’s compare the evidence: Historical Double Standard Socrates never wrote a single word. Everything we know comes from Plato, written decades…
Read MoreDid Christianity Steal from Pagan Religions?
by Erik Borlaug Did Christianity steal its ideas from pagan religions? Skeptics often claim that the story of Jesus—His virgin birth, His miracles, even His resurrection—was borrowed from earlier myths about “dying and rising gods.” But is that really true? In this video, Erik Borlaug examines the claim that Christianity is merely a copycat religion.…
Read MoreSearching for Meaning in Life? Start Here
by Erik Borlaug So many people are searching for meaning and purpose in life. Success, fun, family, and even good causes often leave us still feeling empty. In this video, we look at what Jesus meant when He said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” (John 7:37). Could it be that…
Read MoreThe Brothers of Jesus Did Not Believe
by Hugh DeLong This title is open to some misunderstanding – at the time that this interaction took place, they did not believe. We are not explicitly told why, but from the context, several things are possible. This one is recognized as a ‘first class’ conditional sentence which, from the speaker or writer’s point of…
Read MoreThe Backbone of the Church
by Micky Galloway In referring to the backbone of the church, I have in mind the firmness, the moral courage, the stand for truth, the spine of the church itself. There are certain “straws” that we should be alarmed about because they are breaking the church’s back. What are some of these “straws”? Sin is…
Read MoreGod’s Kingdom and the Nations
by Doy Moyer The United States, for all the good (and bad) that is found therein, is not the Kingdom of God. When we act like it is, we will almost surely misuse Scripture. I saw a post trying to parallel Israel’s covenant law against a foreigner ruling over them with leaders in the US…
Read MoreIs God Immoral for Killing the Canaanites?
by Terry Wane Benton Judge of All the Earth God is the Judge of all the earth. He does not kill anyone arbitrarily, and when He does take a life out of this world (Genesis 15:16), it is always just and right. If God commanded the killing of the Canaanites, any of them, then it…
Read MoreThe Bread of Life
by Hugh DeLong The temptation to turn rocks into bread brought the response of Jesus that man is to live not by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. God’s word is the bread of life that sustains the soul. Now in John 6, Jesus returns to this…
Read MoreHow to Suffer as a Christian
by David Gibson Since Christ calls us to suffer for Him (John 15:18-20; Acts 14:21-22; II Timothy 3:12), we do well to prepare ourselves spiritually and emotionally for this. One of the best sources for equipping Christians for suffering is First Peter. Peter writes from personal experience, having already been imprisoned and beaten for his…
Read MoreDo we have to always submit to the elders?
Question: Hi Brother Jeffrey, We have a preacher from a sister congregation teaching about God’s leadership structure for the Church. He was discussing submission and that even if you don’t agree with the Elders’ decision-making, you should still follow through, giving the example of the Elders running a food bank at his congregation, a group…
Read MoreShare Your Faith Without Having All the Answers
by Erik Borlaug Do you ever feel nervous about evangelism—afraid you won’t have the right answers when talking with skeptics? You’re not alone. Many Christians avoid spiritual conversations because they feel unprepared. But here’s the good news: effective evangelism doesn’t start with having all the answers—it starts with asking good questions. In this video, Erik…
Read MoreOne Word to Transform Your Parenting
by Scott Smelser Parenting can feel exhausting and confusing. How do you train your child in a way that works—and reflects biblical wisdom? The answer may be simpler than you think. It starts with teaching your child to respect one small but powerful word: “No.” In this video, Scott Smelser explains why teaching your kids…
Read MoreAre Our Devices Keeping Us from Real Life?
by Scott Smelser Technology, social media, and AI have blurred the lines between what’s real and what’s fake. From fake friends to fake intimacy, today’s world is full of illusions that keep us from living the life God actually designed for us. Phones, games, and the internet aren’t evil—but they can easily become traps. Many…
Read MoreIs it wrong for a woman to teach on a social media platform?
Question: Hello, Thank you for taking the time to view my question. My question is in regards to the topic of women teaching. I completely understand it is not a woman’s right to lead any assembly in terms of worship or to try and exercise authority over men in the church. I know women can…
Read MoreMy wife has become a hyper-charismatic
Question: Dear Jeffrey, I hope you are doing well and that your weekend was good. I would like to ask for your thoughts on a situation. To make a long story short, my household is of different beliefs. Both my wife and I are members of the church, but over time, through personal experiences and…
Read MoreThe Samaritans and Jesus
by Hugh DeLong If you study the history of the Samaritans and the Jews, particularly noting the events leading up to the time of Jesus, you will see the great animosity between them. John simply adds an explanation to help clarify this animosity in John 4:9: “For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.” This story…
Read MoreLove Your Neighbor (Moyer)
by Doy Moyer Jesus taught that the two greatest commandments are first, to love God with all the heart, soul, strength, and might, and second, to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:36-40). These commandments are the basis for everything else God commands. It’s not hard to see in the structure of the Ten Commandments…
Read MoreHow Should We Treat Those Who Have Been Withdrawn From?
by Kyle Ellison This is a question that receives much attention, concern, and even debate at times. However, when considering a question like this, we are not left without guidance from Scripture. First, we must treat them with love, care, and compassion. We should never look down on anyone who has fallen, nor should we…
Read MoreWhat It Means to Be a Christian
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/What-It-Means-to-Be-a-Christian.mp3 by Raymond Warfel Download Audio
Read MoreHalf of Americans no longer see traditional sins as wrong
Source: Chris Eyte, “Half of Americans no longer view most traditional sins as wrong, Barna study finds,” Christian Daily International, 23 October 2025. “… most Americans now say that they only consider half of 12 specific behaviors presented to them and traditionally considered sinful, as actually sinful.” “Some behaviors, such as drinking, gambling, and working on…
Read MoreIs Baptism a Work?
by Vicky Buckwalter It is not uncommon to hear some insist that baptism is not a work. Yet I fear that, in responding to criticism from denominational voices who accuse the Lord’s church of legalism, we have grown hesitant to admit that baptism is indeed a work—specifically, a work authorized by God. Some have reasoned…
Read MoreThe Risk of Small Amounts of Alcohol
Drinking in Moderation Is Not Harmless by Andy Sochor via Plain Bible Teaching for Today It is not uncommon to hear or see debates on whether it is permissible for Christians to drink alcohol in moderation. That is an important discussion. However, it is also interesting to take note of reports and studies from secular…
Read MoreEven a Caveman Can Do It
by Zeke Flores Remember the old insurance commercials that claimed to be so simple, “even a caveman can do it”? We had become so “politically correct” that no one wants to insult anyone else, so Geico came up with a victim they were sure we could poke fun at with impunity, since there are no…
Read MoreChrist Redeemed Us from Law?
by Terry Wane Benton A brother argued to me that Galatians 3:13 says, “Christ redeemed us from law.” Actually, the verse says that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, and the context tells us that it was the Law of Moses (Galatians 3:19). But He did not redeem us from His righteous…
Read MoreBut God . . .
by David Gibson When troubles mount, as they often do, we need the assurance these passages offer us: “And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him and rescued him out of all his afflictions . . .” (Acts 7:9-10). “And when they had carried out all that was written…
Read MoreThe Other Ethiopian Eunuch
by David Gibson Most Bible students know the conversion story of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-39. But how many know the story of an Ethiopian eunuch named Ebed-melech? His heroic actions are recorded in Jeremiah 38:1-13; 39:15-18. Courageously countering evil Because Jeremiah was proclaiming the truth God told him to preach, his enemies threw…
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