70 A.D. ‘ism and the Kingdom
by Carl A. Allen In the book of Daniel there is a prophecy concerning the coming “Kingdom.” When this Kingdom comes into existence it is said of it, “And in the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be…
Read MoreCan you help me answer some arguments that baptism isn’t necessary?
Question: I still haven’t been baptized since repenting again and coming back to the Lord a year ago. I’m just patiently waiting, you see, for my pastor to preach the truth. I know God wants me to be in that church because every time I wanted to leave, the pastor ends up preaching Scriptures based…
Read MoreWhen Christ spoke, “It is finished” and died on that cross, is that moment when the New Covenant took place?
Question: When Christ spoke, “It is finished” and died on that cross, at that moment is when the New Covenant took place? His death paid the penalty correct? Answer: “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit” (John 19:30). The word…
Read MoreI want to commend you on your stand for Christ
Question: I visited your web page and want to commend you on your stand for Christ. Too many churches have gotten away from soul winning. Answer: Your kind words are very much appreciated.
Read MoreIs it a sin for church members to watch TV shows like “Dancing with the Stars?”
Question: Is it a sin for church members to watch tv shows like “Dancing with the Stars?” Answer: I have never seen the show referenced, but then I rarely watch television, so I’ll address the problem of watching dancing. One of the problems with many dances is that they are designed to excite lust both…
Read MoreDid Peter always believe that Jesus was the Christ?
Question: Did Peter always believe that Jesus was the Christ? Answer: Peter first met Jesus because his brother told him that they had found the Messiah (John 1:41-42). We are not told if Peter was immediately convinced or not, but we do know that Peter became a staunch follower of Jesus. It was Peter who…
Read MoreYour home page took me aback
Question: I don’t remember the circumstances why I stumbled upon your web page. Upon reading the focus statement on your home page, I decided I would pass something by you for your consumption. It is rather refreshing for a congregation to unabashedly profess that the true nature of Christ’s Body and its purpose is to evangelize.…
Read MoreMy wife says she forgives me, but she doesn’t trust me. What do I do?
Question: I have written before regarding my and my wife’s relationship. You mentioned that she has issues with forgiveness and I agree. I tried to discuss this with her from a scriptural perspective. Stating that we are commanded to forgive as God forgives, Ephesians 4:32 and Colossians 3:13 emphasizing the word “as”. I said that when…
Read MoreWhat is the creed book for the Salvation Army?
Question: I was reading your articles about The Salvation Army and I cannot seem to locate a “creed book” that you quote. I also believe that what you practice and preach is false. I also believe that the legalism you practice will be the end of your ministry. I shall pray for you and your false…
Read MoreIs mixing Scriptures with lectures about sex ridiculous?
Question: Christians mixing Scripture with lectures to young boys about sex is so ridiculous. You people are backward. Nobody today holds the superstitious beliefs written down by people 2500 years ago and is what you call today as “holy scripture”. There is no personal god and there is no devil. It’s all in your mind. Grow…
Read MoreYou might find it interesting that the Amish in our county recently divided over the use of tractors
Question: I have recently moved to a small community to minister to a church of Christ. I found your article on the Amish very interesting as we have a rather large sect of Amish in the county. What I thought you might find interesting is that the Amish here have recently gone through a split due to…
Read MoreAren’t there more examples of Paul preaching on the Sabbath than on the first day of the week?
Question: You seem to be saying that Acts 20:7 shows that the disciples kept the first day of the week but I would like you to explain why in Acts 13:42-44; Acts 17:1-4; and Acts 18:1-4 that the Apostle Paul, along with the Jews and Gentiles, observed the Sabbath day more often than the first…
Read MoreHow does Satan know what to use to tempt us?
Question: How does Satan know what to tempt us with? He is not God, so how does he know what tempts us? Answer: The simple answer is he doesn’t know. He makes guesses and is sometimes wrong. You can see this when Satan attempted to bring down Job. “So Satan answered the LORD and said,…
Read MoreThanks for the notes on “The Three Chairs”
Question: Several years ago a former pastor preached on the three chairs. I want to hit on this topic tomorrow with my senior High School class. I did a Google and found your notes. Very good. I’m going to use some of your material. Thanks much. Answer: It makes you wonder where the sermon originated. I…
Read MoreI became a Christian and am improving, but my family is lashing out against me. What do I do?
Question: I recently obeyed the gospel earlier this year. Prior to my conversion, I was a member of a Baptist denomination. My boyfriend studied with me about the truth. The more we studied and attended church services together, I quickly began to realize that denominations were wrong. Since my conversion, my family feels I am…
Read MoreTell the truth, that Alcoholics Anonymous works
Question: I have been a sober member of AA for 13 years and I am a Christian. God has removed the desire to drink from me. That miracle is the strongest evidence in my life of a loving God. I am one of the millions of exceptions to your statement that “the desire never leaves.”…
Read MoreWhere does it say that only members of the church of Christ will go to heaven?
Question: Does it say anywhere in the Bible that only the church of Christ will go to heaven? That is, only people who go to the church of Christ? What about the other churches, such as the Church of God, or a none denominational church, or the baptist? The reason I ask is that I…
Read MoreYour site is a help to me
Question: Your site is a help for me. I am glad I came across it answered numerous questions and has inspired me to really control my thoughts more. Answer: I appreciate the kind words.
Read MoreWhere does the Bible say the priesthood is given to all men?
Question: I have seen the Scripture in the Old or New Testament which states that the priesthood is to be given to all men. However, I don’t remember where I found it. Would you please help us to locate it? Answer: “Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received…
Read MoreMy parents don’t like my boyfriend. What should I do?
Question: I have been in a relationship for 10 months, planning on marriage soon. My boyfriend and I are saved. We are from churches that are different from each other. My parents do not like him for reasons I see as critical and a bit judgmental. I am 25 and my boyfriend is 36. Many…
Read MoreWhat happens if you disobey the Bible?
Question: What do Christians believe will happen, if they disobey or go against the teachings of the Bible? Answer: “Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay affliction to those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted with us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with…
Read MoreThe Children
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/2007Fall5TheChildren.mp3 by Scott Smelser The Family
Read MoreParenting Mistakes
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/2007Fall4ParentingMistakes.mp3 by Scott Smelser The Family
Read MoreYour statement that a husband can’t rape his wife really bothered me
Question: I am a 40-year-old Christian woman who was looking for a specific discussion on sleeveless shirts and modesty to present to my 17-year-old daughter. She wants to wear sleeveless shirts. I’m having a hard time phrasing my language strongly enough to be accurate about the male perspective. Thanks to Google, I found your book…
Read MoreAre your answers available in book form?
Question: I read your homepage and I want to tell you that your questions and their answers are so useful both scientifically and morally that I want to praise you and tell you that you have done an excellent job. I am 17 years old in Australia. Do you have a book of your own…
Read MoreDiscipline
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/2007Fall3Discipline.mp3 by Scott Smelser The Family
Read MoreThe Wife
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/2007Fall2TheWife.mp3 by Scott Smelser The Family
Read MoreThe Husband
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2007Fall1TheHusband.mp3 by Scott Smelser The Family
Read MoreThe Family
Series by Scott Smelser Fall 2007 The Husband The Wife Discipline Parenting Mistakes The Children
Read MoreThe Corruption of Money (Article)
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton In any discussion of false teachers, you have to address the issue of money. Money is a significant motivator behind those who would compromise the truth, for the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil (I Timothy 6:10-11). Even in Paul’s days, there were men who taught…
Read MoreI’ve stopped having sex with my girlfriend, but now my parents are trying to force us to break up. What do I do?
Question: Hi! I’ve talked to you before about my girlfriend, how we had sex out of wedlock, and about her being of another religion. Well, we haven’t done it again since I talked to you and I’m going to repent, be baptized, and change my ways for good. But the problem is my parents found…
Read MoreThe Moral Danger of the Modern Dance
by Frank Walton Biblical Insights, Vol. 6, No. 6, June 2006. “Dancing” can be defined simply as “the rhythmic movement of the body to music” (II Samuel 6:16; Luke 15:25; Ecclesiastes 3:4). The Ryrie Study Bible notes on religious dancing in Psalms 149:3: “In the Old Testament, whirling motion done by a single individual or by a…
Read MoreDid 120 Receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:1-4?
by Carl A. Allen I have been told, by many preachers of the United Pentecostal persuasion, and many others, that the 120 in Acts 1:15 received the “Baptism of the Holy Spirit!” All one has to do is look at the context of Acts 1-6 and he can see clearly that the 120 did not…
Read MoreCan you discuss “gut feelings?”
Question: We have been having some great discussions at Bible study about gut feelings; for example, when some say I have a gut feeling about that person, but we have never met that person. I got a gut feeling about the boy my daughter is dating, or I got a gut feeling about the preacher,…
Read MoreDo you think I’m too old to be spanked?
Question: I’m 14 and have a question about the way my mom punishes me. It’s embarrassing to admit, but I still get spanked. When mom decides to spank me I feel like a little kid. Do you think I’m too old to be punished like this? Answer: If you are too old for a spanking,…
Read MoreHave you studied the Bible from an academic point of view as a historical document of several communities making sense of God in their time of crisis?
Question: You give your answers in a canonical view; basically, using the Bible as a whole in its entirety to answer the questions. Yet, the core of what the questions address is why did the authors write the apparent contradictions if it was “inspired by God”? There was a time before a Bible, and that…
Read MoreWe enjoyed a visit to your web site
Question: I just wanted to let you know we enjoyed a visit to your web site. It appears you have a doctrinally sound body of Christians at La Vista; something that is getting harder and harder to find these days. You also have some excellent articles. If we’re ever near Omaha we will visit your…
Read MoreIf a couple in their second marriage has children, can the preacher make them get a divorce?
Question: If a man has two children from a previous marriage and marries a woman who has children from a previous marriage and they have two children in their marriage and the man later becomes a member of the church and several months later his wife becomes a member, does a preacher have the right…
Read MoreThe Harmony of the Scriptures
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Proverbs 30:2-9 I. The denominational world has long debated the relationship of faith, works, and grace in man’s salvation. A. Some argue that salvation is by faith alone while others argue the necessity of works. Some turn their attention to grace and argue that grace alone saves men. B. The problem has…
Read MoreWhat does “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem?” mean?
Question: I am teaching the book of Judges this evening and am not sure about one thing I read in 9:28 and hope you can help me. It is my understanding that Shechem is a city. This is a figure of speech called metonymy – where one thing represents another. Examples: I have 300 head…
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