Can a woman baptize if there is no man available?
Question: I need to ask you about what a person should be baptized for. I was baptized. My reasons were: for the washing of sins, to confirm my faith in Jesus, because it was a commanded, and because it’s necessary for salvation. And the pastor baptized me in the name of Jesus Christ. Was it valid,…
Read MoreWasn’t wine used during the Lord’s Supper?
Question: I was thankful for the short piece on Jesus not having long hair and not being handsome. I wanted to correct you, though, in your interpretation of the commandment to observe Passover in Luke. It was wine, not grape juice. Nowhere can you find the Greek words written by Luke or the other New Testament writers…
Read MoreI lied to my girlfriend, telling her I was a virgin when I am not. What should I do?
Question: My girlfriend and I recently talked a bit about our past relationships, and the subject of being virgins slowly came up. Although I have tried my best to live a good Christian life, there came a point where under pressure I lost my virginity. It only occurred once and never again afterward. I realized…
Read MoreAs a couple, we seem to be arguing too much
Question: What advice would you give a Christian couple dealing with a long-distance relationship for a while? We’ve had several arguments over the phone, and it seems like things aren’t going well and might not get better. I feel like there’s something going wrong that can be helped with scriptural advice, but I have no…
Read MoreI’m scared to make a public presentation. What do I do?
Question: I need an advice: My group is going to present a project in school. She’s going to choose a student randomly so only one of us will present it. The problem is: I’m afraid to speak in public because my hands shake and I forget some things. I get afraid of what people will…
Read MoreCan you help me get closer to God?
Question: I ran across this website in my search for help in understanding the Divine one and His word. From the response I read from you to another inquirer, it seems as though you have a heart filled with love and may be able to help me obtain a closer relationship with God and understand…
Read MoreIs phone sex with your fiance a sin?
Question: I am a born again believer, and I am going to marry a person committed to the Lord. We are engaged and we are waiting for the marriage. During these times we indulge in a little phone sex. It ends up with me ejaculating. Is it ok or is it a sin? We are…
Read MoreCan I be a Christian and not go to church?
Question: Is it wrong to feel like as long as you keep God in your head, and you do right, and all you listen to is Christian music, and you talk to Him on a regular basis, to not go to church? It’s just that church is a place I don’t feel like I fit…
Read MoreI love my girlfriend, but she does a lot of bad things. I want to follow God. What should I do?
Question: Hi, I have a question about what I should do with my girlfriend. She’s the love of my life, and I can’t imagine ever being without her, but ever since I got real serious about God, things she does bothers me so much more. She smokes weed and cigarettes, she dranks, she cusses up…
Read MoreYou were wrong about her
Question: I read the article about the women with the dryer. You were so wrong about her. I understood what she was saying and you stuck up for the husband. You’re a women basher. Wow, I can’t believe you were so mean to her. Answer: Let’s see: Pointless name calling Casual reading overlooked the two statements…
Read MoreIs group prayer biblical?
Question: Hi, I attend a couple of churches of Christ, both of which practice group prayer. If we are so concerned with serving God strictly with biblical authority (e.g. no music in worship, etc.) then surely there must be some explicit mention of group prayer in the New Testament. Could you please point this out…
Read MoreTwo Preachers: Amos and Amaziah
by Mark White The Old Testament prophet Amos was a shepherd turned preacher. The crowd to whom he preached was the upper class of Israel, including the King himself. He was not their choice of a preacher, however. They did not choose him — God chose Amos for them. His oratory was not refined eloquence.…
Read MoreIs the reason I fell away so often because I wasn’t truly converted in the first place?
Question: I was baptized over forty years ago, and in the ensuing years, I have fallen away and came back to the church numerous times. My question is if a person has been truly converted will he or she never fall away and become unfaithful? Is the reason I have been unfaithful to the Lord…
Read MoreIs it “Eli” or “Eloi” in Matthew 27:46?
Question: God bless you my brothers and sisters of this church. Now I noticed when I was reading one of your articles on the calling that Jesus shouted while on the cross; I noticed that you have Matthew 27:46 incorrect. What it should say is “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” Not Eli. Answer: The verse is quoted correctly.…
Read MoreAm I doing right in reconciling with my former husband?
Question: Hi, Thank you in advance for reading and answering this question. I have a problem. I got married about 15 years ago to a man I’d been in love with since I was 17 years old. During the marriage, we had several problems, some physical and emotional abuse, and also I committed adultery with…
Read MoreIf we are forgiven of our sins as Christians, what is the Judgment for?
Question: Romans 14:12 says: “So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God” and Matthew 12:36 says: “But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” Both of these verses state that individuals must someday, before…
Read MoreHow can I get my husband to stop his sins?
Question: My husband is an unbeliever. He has never stopped me from going to church. He would come with me many times and was even to be baptized, not because of conviction, but because of legalism. We got married at a Pentecostal church less than ten years ago. The church, unfortunately, has scattered since then. People…
Read MoreDo I need to confess every sin I committed?
Question: I am having trouble with understanding repentance and forgiveness. I have strayed away from God for a couple of years now. I want to be back in good standing with the Lord. However, I have committed many, many sins. As I understand it, I cannot be forgiven unless I repent of my sins. But…
Read MoreWhere do you start in helping a young Christian?
Question: My wife and I are acquainted with a single mom with three children. Over the years the eldest girl left home and went away. The middle child remained and finally graduated from high school. Since that time, the mother has asked her to leave the home three times. I am sure that in every…
Read MoreJudging with Righteous Judgment
by Steven Harper The world’s favorite Bible passage must surely be Matthew 7:1, where Jesus said, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” This verse is most often cited when someone points out a sin in the life of another and the accused one is then quick to reveal the depths of their Bible knowledge by…
Read MoreWhy can’t I have faith?
Question: I would like to ask you what you think is wrong with me. I know you’re handcuffed a bit by strictly email, but you seem to get a feel for people, so I’ll describe where I am in life and I’ll ask you why do you think I’m this way. It seems like no…
Read MoreI’m falling back into pornography. I know it is stupid, but I need help
Question: I have a very embarrassing problem and question, and I need help. I was born again several years ago and there is absolute evidence in my life of that. When I was born again, God set me free of hate anger, and lust (sexual, pornography, masturbation, etc). Pornography has crept back into my life,…
Read MoreI just wanted to say thanks for sharing the brief teaching on debt
Question: Hey, I just wanted to say thanks for sharing the brief teaching on debt. I found it very insightful and helpful. Keep being a blessing. Answer: Thank you for the encouragement.
Read MoreThe Immorality of Atheism
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ImmoralityOfAtheism.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 1:28-32 I. Atheism is a religion of destruction A. Its adherents try to destroy the belief system of any contrary belief system 1. It demands proof from others while believing that giving no proof of its own is somehow “proof” 2. As an example, “Prove there is a God” is never…
Read MoreWhy does my boyfriend seem so contradictory?
Question: My boyfriend and I met through a mutual friend several months ago. We both are very involved in church. He leads a youth group at a local high school, along with other ministries in our community. This attracted us to each other and was a major conversation starter when we started hanging out. We…
Read MoreDoes God give an extra reward to the unfortunate?
Question: I don’t know if its blasphemy or not but I have been struggling with a particular problem. I know that these are just thoughts and feelings that Satan puts in my head, but I sometimes feel like if God is unfair to all His children. I feel He must like certain people more than…
Read MoreDid God want me to have sex?
Question: Hi, I just discovered this website today, and I had a question. There is this girl that I have fallen in love with. She is everything to me. I prayed all the time asking what I should do with her and where I should go with this. I’m very close to God, and whenever…
Read MoreWhat is the consequence of going without sex after being experienced at it?
Question: I am a student at university. My question is like this: if I can spend a long time without doing sex while I was experienced before, what is the consequence? Answer: You make it sound as if sex was a can of soda — once you pop it open, you can’t reseal it. It is…
Read MoreShouldn’t the Lord’s Supper only use one cup?
Question: I do not believe you have it just right on the container for you have said the following about it: One container is not necessary because the cup was divided before it was drank – Luke 22:18-20 Please notice with me what Luke 22:20 says: And the cup (“the” represents only “one”) in like manner after supper,…
Read MoreIs it wrong to leave out some of my employment history on a resume?
Question: I often struggle with discerning what might be God’s conviction over sin and what might be me worrying excessively. Recently, I filled out a job application that asked for a separate sheet for additional employment that was “relevant to the position” I was applying for. I held many, many jobs during college, some for…
Read MoreYour message about what the church is and is not is powerful
Question: My son just forwarded the message regarding what the Lord’s church is and what it is not. It is powerful and better said than I’ve ever remembered reading. I’m sharing it with other Christians as I’m sure they in turn will do so we can be ready to clearly answer to those seeking the truth.…
Read MoreI like how you differentiated yourselves
Question: I came across your website while doing some study. I am a member of the brotherhood. I was very impressed with your opening remarks and how you differentiated yourselves from the rest of the world of religious bodies. So refreshing to see that. I am simply writing this e-mail to let you know that…
Read MoreI was pleased to read your outline on the sons of thunder
Question: I am a member of the church of Christ. We studied John and James briefly tonight during the invitation. I remembered them being the “sons of thunder,” which got me searching on Google, and I think your website was the first one that came up. Now, you never know what one might get when…
Read MoreShould we just preach the gospel?
Question: Recently one of our members complained to me that one of the men I have been teaching and giving tips on how to present a sermon, often mentions in the Bible classes he teaches and sermons that he preaches, the ungodliness and immorality that a lot of our political leaders are guilty of as well as many…
Read MoreIs “finding yourself” a biblical idea?
Question: Is the idea of a person ‘finding themselves’ through finding God taught in the Bible? To me, drawing closer to God means not drawing closer to oneself, but drawing further from oneself. In other words, the closer a person comes to God, the further they come away from themselves. When Moses spoke to God…
Read MoreWhy would someone not like the ESV?
Question: Why would someone not like the ESV? What is wrong with the ESV? I saw “Which Translation Should I Use?” concerning I Corinthians 7:15: “The ESV is the clearest that it is talking about slavery” I Corinthians 7:15 seems to be talking about marriage to me, not slavery. Answer: “But if the unbeliever departs, let him…
Read MoreCan you help me reach my son? I can’t even understand what he wrote to me
Question: I wrote to you about my son who started worshipping on Saturday. Below is the lastest note I received from him. It does not make any sense to me, but I may not be intelligent enough to understand it. All I want to do is help him. He is highly intelligent, but I wonder if…
Read MoreYour articles and sermons have helped me immeasurably
Question: I just wanted to send this email to thank your church for having this web site. I’ve been a Christian for as long as I can remember, but just recently God has done a lot of work in my life. I’m 19 years old. And many articles and sermons that I’ve downloaded and listened…
Read MoreWhat do you say to someone who leaves the church for a denomination?
Question: What is the best approach to talk with bothers or sisters in Christ who have decided to worship at a denomination? One of the main comments I get from these brothers and sisters is “the church they now worship at teaches the same thing as the church does only it doesn’t say the Church…
Read MoreTactics for Defending Our Faith
Tactics For Defending Our Faith Part 1Tactics For Defending Our Faith Part 2 by Taylor Ladd Influence and Evangelism
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