Is watching movies or making jokes about sinful things really that bad?
Question: What about people who like action movies and stuff like that, or producers who make violent movies. I mean, you can like action movies but that does not mean that you support violence. There is a difference between making a joke about something and claiming that you actually would do it. You can live…
Read MoreOf what tribes were Mary, Joseph, John the Baptist, and his parents?
Question: Of what tribe was Mary from? Joseph was of the tribe of Judah, I think, but was Mary also of this tribe? And was there intermarriage between the tribes of Israel? Was John the Baptist a Levite? Was he actually considered to be a priest, or solely a prophet? It says that his mother…
Read MoreWhat do you think about this preacher’s article? I think he is being offensive
Question: There is a preacher in El Paso, Texas, who wrote this article (the article has since been removed). Please read it. Is this Christian-like or not? I wrote him an email and told him that it was unchristian-like. Insulting people in the way he did was not going to change anything. I asked him…
Read MoreIs there a connection between Jacob’s ladder and Jesus’ statement in John 1:51?
Question: Recently, while reading in the Old Testament at Genesis 28:12, I read about Jacob’s dream of the angels and the ladder going to heaven. Today, I read John 1:51 in which Jesus is talking to one of his disciples and tells him that he will see the angels ascending and descending upon the Son…
Read MoreWho’s Who of the New Testament
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/WhosWhoInTheNewTestament.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 9:1-8 I. Reading some parts of the New Testament becomes difficult because several people have the same name. A. Keeping them straight is sometimes worse than a logic puzzle B. In our society we use multiple names with a surname as an attempt to distinguish people from each other. C. In…
Read MoreWhat can I do? I am new to this country and my husband is seeing another woman
Question: My problem seems to be really big for me. My husband doesn’t care about our marriage, but I want it. He wants me to leave, but it is impossible for me to leave as I have been in this country for a few months and I don’t know my way around. I left my…
Read MoreIs the harlot in Revelation 17-18 the Roman Catholic Church?
Question: I’m reading the prophetic book of Revelation and comparing it with Daniel for I heard they are talking about the same subject. In chapters 17 to 18, it seems to be specific in symbolism for it points out that the woman, who is a whore, is a kingdom that sits on seven hills and…
Read MoreWhat kind of wood was Jesus’ cross made of?
Question: Do we have an idea of what kind of wood the cross of Jesus was made out of? Answer: No. The Bible doesn’t say what type of wood was used and to speculate would be an exercise in futility. “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia–remain in Ephesus that you may charge…
Read MoreThe Certified Gospel
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/CertifiedGospel.mp3 by Jonathan Perz
Read MoreWould I be saved if I died before I was baptized?
Question: What if I already accepted Christ in my heart as my personal savior today, and my baptism is tomorrow, due to conflict schedule, and suddenly the night before my baptism I would die. Do you think I will be saved? Answer: I cannot answer for each individual. That is the realm of God’s judgment.…
Read MoreShould I leave my unloving husband?
Question: I have been married for ten years now and I feel more like roommates than husband and wife. The problem is that my husband is not an affectionate person, never really has been. I just kept thinking he would change. The only time I get any contact from my husband is when we are…
Read MoreWhat is meant by a new heaven and a new earth?
Question: What is meant by a new heaven and a new earth? And what is meant by a war in heaven? Answer: “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea” (Revelation 21:1). The first heaven and…
Read MoreWhen did Jesus restore the hair of a man?
Question: We had a Sunday morning study and the brother conducting the Bible study had mentioned an occasion when Jesus had restored the hair of man named Malkas (not sure if that is the correct spelling). I tried to search for the passage but have been unsuccessful. Do you recall such an event, it has…
Read MoreDid Noah go to heaven or hell?
Question: Did Noah go to heaven or hell? Answer: Noah is spoken of as a man of faith and righteousness. “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD” (Genesis 6:9). “”Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness,” says the Lord…
Read MoreDo you have more verses on the importance of being respectable?
Question: Are there verses that address the issue of what we look like in other people’s eyes? How it’s important to be respectable? Something like Titus 2:6-8, but I’m looking for more verses like this. I’m trying to teach someone why it is needful to have good conduct even if what we are doing is…
Read MoreWhy would God turn His back on the world?
Question: Hello, I’ll begin by describing my situation. A few weeks ago I stopped attending church. I felt that something was wrong, but I wasn’t exactly sure what. It was as if I felt that I didn’t belong. It’s possible that somewhere inside I knew what it was then, but didn’t want to admit it…
Read MoreCan my husband be under the spell of a witch?
Question: I want to know if witchcraft really exists. My husband, I feel, is under a spell where he goes to this lady and they are having an affair. We have known each other for ten years and got married last year. Soon after marriage, he got involved with her. He was trying to help…
Read MoreThe gospel doesn’t judge us, Jesus judges us
Question: I really appreciate your articles; they are very informing and biblically-based. I recently read an article that you wrote on why those who never heard the gospel would be/could be/ may be lost (the title was something like that). In it, you mentioned Romans 2:12-16: “For as many as have sinned without law will…
Read MoreWho is the fourth individual in Daniel 3:25?
Question: Who is the fourth individual in Daniel 3:25? Answer: “Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” “Look!” he answered, “I see four…
Read MoreWhy does Hebrews 9:27 state what it does and yet Elijah and Enoch did not experience physical death?
Question: Why does Hebrews 9:27 state what it does and yet Elijah and Enoch did not experience physical death? Answer: “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). The writer of Hebrews is stating a general principle. Because of Adam’s sin, man is appointed to die. “In the…
Read MoreHow can I tell when a word in the New Testament actually has an article in front of it?
Question: I don’t know how to begin without being wordy, so here goes. How do you know when the definite article (the) is in front of a word in Greek? I have the Online Bible program that has Strongs in its King James Version. I was wanting to check more on a speaker and how…
Read MoreWhy did you leave out pictures from Treasures of the Bible?
Question: Awesome black and white sketches from Treasures of the Bible. Why don’t you have any Adam and Eve in the garden? That omission surprised me, maybe you chose to leave it out? Answer: The reason the Adam and Eve pictures were left out: The picture showing Adam and Eve being driven from the garden has…
Read MoreCan a person be baptized correctly while being in a denomination that teaches wrongly?
Question: I have a question about baptism, I thought that one could not be taught wrong and baptized right. I recently got re-baptized, because I was young (12) years old when I obeyed the gospel. I just could not remember if I understood what the gospel was about at that time. I remember hearing when…
Read MoreI’m not against eating meat, I oppose the cruel treatment of animals
Question: I have read your article on Animal Rights and the Bible and it was enlightening. I am a Vegan and animal rights activist. I am not against people eating meat, I wish they wouldn’t, but that is their choice. What I and all activists are opposed to here is the cruel and inhumane treatment of…
Read MorePsalms 119
Psalm119-1Psalm119-2Psalm119-3Psalm119-4Psalm119-5Psalm119-6 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Proverb 4:10-17 I. How do you learn? What do you need to learn? A. The evil decay, but a child of God must learn – II Timothy 3:13-17 B. It is important for all aspects of life – II Peter 1:3 C. Your parents have invested a lot in you, so has…
Read MoreCan a person be baptized correctly while being in a denomination that doesn’t believe in baptism?
Question: I have a question about baptism, I thought that one could not be taught wrong and baptized right. I recently got re-baptized, because I was young (12) years old when I obeyed the gospel. I just could not remember if I understood what the gospel was about at that time. I remember hearing when a person turns…
Read MoreShould I wait until after my schooling to get married?
Question: Hello, I am in seminary in my first year. I’m 20 years old and I have been dating my girlfriend for 1 year and 3 months. We both want to get married, but my father believes that it is too early to get married because I need to focus my life in the seminary.…
Read MoreHow refreshing to see a church more interested in promoting the Bible than social activities
Question: I was searching for VBS materials on-line and typed in “fishers of men” on my search. Your web site came up. How refreshing to see a church of Christ web site that is more interested in promoting Bible truths than social activities! I just wanted to say that I appreciate your messages and am…
Read MoreMust a Baptist be rebaptized even though he says he was baptized for the right reason?
Question: I was raised in the church of Christ. I am married to someone who was raised in the Baptist church. She has no problem with going to church with me. But she doesn’t think that she should be baptized again. She says that she was baptized for the same reason, the same way, and…
Read MoreWhy didn’t the elders rebuke a preacher for teaching that forgiveness is unconditional?
Question: Recently, I heard of a preacher preaching a sermon partly on “forgiveness.” He used the account of Jesus on the cross to show that Jesus unconditionally forgave the multitude. The question that I have is, if that is so, then why did the Holy Spirit through Peter call them “murderers” and said that they needed to “repent” and…
Read MoreThe Mormons use the Bible too
Question: I just read an article by Dudley Ross Spears on The Mormon Plan of Salvation. There are actually scriptures in the Bible that support their ideas. The Mormon church uses the Bible and Book of Mormon together and both help to clarify and interpret each other. Two witnesses are better than one and I couldn’t…
Read MoreWhat does “put my tears in your bottle” mean in Psalms 56:8?
Question: Can you help me with the meaning of Psalms 56:8, especially the part “tears into thy bottle?” Answer: “You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?” (Psalm 56:8). Each phrase is a reference to God remembering or recording what has happened to David. This particular Psalm,…
Read MoreJealousy
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/Jealousy.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. We started this morning trying to understand the concepts of envy and jealousy II. What is jealousy? A. “Vigilant guarding of a possession.” B. Zelos – It literally means “heat” (Deut 4:24), sometimes translated as zeal. C. The desire to hold on to what is yours for your own personal use. D. Sometimes jealousy is…
Read MoreHaman
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/Haman.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. One of my favorite books in the Bible is the book of Esther. A. It is not a very long book and it is very easy to read. Its story is so compelling that I will be looking for a passage in Esther and before I know it, I’m caught up…
Read MoreCan’t demon possession still happen today?
Question: re: How can I overcome the fear of being possessed by a demon? “With the end of prophecy also came the end of demons in the world. This is not to say that Satan and his minions are not still trying to influence the world toward evil. But it means that no demon can…
Read MoreAren’t many of the questions you receive about spanking fake?
Question: I found your web site while searching for churches for a trip we are taking. I found your question section to be quite impressive–when you do have time to do anything else? I was, however, surprised at the number of questions that you have posted about spanking. I think your answers and support of…
Read MoreIn your sermon “Spiritual Worship” you didn’t mention all the good done by the Baptist church
Question: I was on staff at First Baptist Church in Springdale, Arkansas (FBCS) for several years. In studying for an upcoming sermon I ran across your sermon, Spiritual Worship. In that message, you didn’t mention that Bruce Barry, the designer of the sets, was led to Christ by the pastor just before beginning the task.…
Read MoreIs it acceptable to lie about being in a communist country to teach the gospel?
Question: Hello! I was just reading your message about lying. I will start out by saying that I am a firm believer that lying is a sin! And maybe this question will sound like I’m a bit of an oxymoron, but here goes. If you were in a situation, like missions work in a place…
Read MoreWhen Good Men Do Nothing
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/WhenGoodMenDoNothing.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Edmund Burke once said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” A. In the endless battle between good and evil, it is seldom the numbers that determine the outcome of each skirmish. B. Many times, the side for the right has beaten overwhelming odds…
Read MoreWhat types of touching are forbidden?
Question: I was just wondering, in a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship what is considered “too far?” I’m referring to touching breasts, genital touching, oral sex, and the like. Is touching OK if all clothing is still on? Is seeing one’s undergarments a sin? For me, personally, all forms of sex are sex and are forbidden, but touching…
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