What Price Gambling?
by Wayne S. Walker Several years ago, when I lived in Ohio, there was instituted a state lottery which was supposed to be the salvation of the educational system. Many, and perhaps most, other states now have them too. Although it has been plagued with problems, pari-mutuel betting is allowed at racetracks throughout the nation.…
Read MoreCan we talk with those who have died?
Question: I have a question: when a loved one who was pure and good dies, is it possible for that person to come back to the living? How can one learn ways to communicate with a loved one? Answer: The Bible teaches that those who die are not able to return. Job asked the rhetorical…
Read MoreHave to Sin
by Bryan Sharp God Has Never Given Man a Law He Could Not Obey. “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be…
Read MoreWhat It Leads To
by Robert F. Turner via Gospel Power, Vol. 14, No. 44, Nov. 4, 2007 I hate to admit this, but a man once told me he did not like my sermons and wanted me to change the subject and content of my preaching. I asked him to identify my errors, and he said I was preaching…
Read MoreWhat about hearing voices in your head?
Question: What are some voices that the Bible mentions? How come some of them mess with your head? Some tell you to do things that you don’t want to do and you know is wrong. Could you explain this and help me? Answer: Our minds are amazingly complex. We are able to do many things…
Read MoreDespising the Blood of Christ
Text: Hebrews 10:23-31 I. The Hebrew writer warned that just as Moses’ law required obedience, rejecting Christ’s law would bring a greater punishment. A. He calls is trampling the Son of God underfoot 1. Counting the blood of Christ as a common thing 2. And insulting the Spirit B. I suspect that if you ask most people, they would…
Read MoreWhat do you think about religious art?
Question: What do you think about religious art, especially the portraits of Christ? Have you ever heard that it is a graven image or idolatrous? Some think that to portray Christ in movies or artwork is akin to blasphemy or at the least a kind of pagan idolatry. They say we would never sanction statutes…
Read MoreDoes my son enjoy being spanked?
Question: I read the wealth of information your web site offers with regard to child rearing. I must say that I agree with most of what you say here. I have found the rod to be much more effective than the wooden spoon once I started using one almost two years ago. I have a…
Read MoreWhat Do You Mean By Chasten?
by Gary Colley Jesus dictated these words to the apostle John for the church in Laodicea: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten” (Revelation 3:19). After this Bible reference appeared on a sign in the front of a church building, a phone call was received from a somewhat irate woman inquiring as to…
Read MoreHow do you handle criticism?
Question: What are the biblical teachings concerning criticism, forgiveness, and how to deal with criticism? Criticism has many faces, but I’m inquiring about the kind that can mar a person’s self-esteem and his good reputation. Answer: How you handle criticism depends on why you are being criticized. “For this is commendable, if because of conscience…
Read MoreThe Meaning of Life (Bailey)
by Daniel Bailey originally published in Gospel Power, Volume 13, Number 15, April 9, 2006 What is the meaning of life? That’s a tough question. Millions of people all through the centuries have spent their lives pondering and searching to produce an answer to this fundamental question of human existence. Many philosophies, religions, schools, cults, and…
Read MoreIf God knows everything, then why did Jesus marvel at the centurion’s faith?
Question: I would like to ask some questions, not about the ability or power of God, but I would like to know if God planned these things. Jesus marveled at the centurion’s strong faith when the centurion pleaded with him to cure his servant by just a word in Matthew 8. Now my question is:…
Read MoreHow can Solomon’s writings be God’s words?
Question: I read what you said about Solomon’s writing being the words of God, but it seems to me that something must have changed. How do you explain Proverbs 10:15 (in light of James 1:9-10), Proverbs 10:27 (in light of Jesus and John the Baptist), Proverbs 12:21 (in light of people like Hugh Heffner), and…
Read MoreWhat do I do about a husband that sinned at a bachelor’s party?
Question: What do you do when alcohol and a fully nude strip club at a bachelor party tempted your Christian husband and he gives in to both temptations? Not only was he a visitor at this club, but he and the other three gentlemen had a little personal dance as well. Being the wife of…
Read MoreWas baptism only for the Jews?
Question: In our Bible class tonight with some Dispensational friends I brought up I Corinthians 6:11, about them being washed and sanctified. Our friend said that had nothing to do with baptism, but that the blood of Jesus cleansed and washed us not water from baptism. I mentioned I Peter 3:21 and the comparison to…
Read MoreHow Do They Do That? (Sermon)
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. We have discussed a doctrine in the past which has been advocated which declares the gospel accounts: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, are Old Testament books. A. It is not hard to refute the belief, but I want to use an article written by one of its proponents as an illustration…
Read MoreHow could Moses be called meek?
Question: The Bible says that Moses was the meekest man on earth. Can we really believe that to be true considering all the things he did, such as the angry outbursts which eventually cost him the promised land and the grinding of the burnt golden calf? Answer: The difficulty you are running into is in…
Read MoreWhat is the difference between water and the blood of Jesus?
Question: What is the difference between water and the blood of Jesus? Answer: The shed blood of Jesus is the reason mankind has a hope of salvation. It paid the price necessary to purchase us back from the debt we incurred by our own sins. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness…
Read MoreCan you be certain that the one you are marrying will remain a faithful Christian?
Question: I have another question concerning a young Christian couple marrying. What if a young person was baptized and convinced their boyfriend or girlfriend to become a Christian, subsequently got married, but eventually, they stop attending church? It appears that they only became Christians to marry. It disheartens me because people, including myself, allow feelings…
Read MoreDoes the Bible support the idea that all men are created equal?
Question: Does the Bible support the idea that all men are created equal? Answer: In speaking to the Athenians, Paul stated that God “has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings” (Acts 17:26).…
Read MoreHow far did Jesus carry the cross?
Question: How far did Jesus carry the cross? I have studied several maps of Jerusalem for that time period, but I cannot find one that is to scale. Answer: It is 0.2 miles (0.3 kilometers) from the Praetorium to the traditional location for Golgotha as the crow flies. However, this doesn’t tell us how far…
Read MoreHow dare you use Solomon’s writings to justify spanking!
Question: The fact that your website tells parents to strike or hit (you call it spanking) children of any age is bizarre and totally sick. I never have read anything where Jesus strikes a child out of anger or discipline. If you refer to “spare the rod” that was Solomon, certainly one of the evilest…
Read MoreWhat qualifications does an elder need that a deacon does not?
Question: What qualifications does an elder need that a deacon does not? Answer: In regards to the family, an elder must have “faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination” (Titus 1:6) and be “one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence” (I Timothy 3:4) while a deacon…
Read MoreIs God’s kingdom vegetarian?
Question: Is God’s kingdom vegetarian? When Christ restores peace will he fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy? Will humans still kill animals? Will Lions still kill lambs? Will the wolf still hunt the sheep? According to Isaiah and Jesus, the strong will protect the weak, and creatures whom the fallen nature of our fallen world made enemies will…
Read MoreWhy was the serpent cursed?
Question: In Genesis 3:14 it states “And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life” Was the serpent in the situation…
Read MoreWho is the “us” when God said, “Let us make man”?
Question: Who was “us” and “our” in Genesis 1:26 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”? Answer: This question is answered at length in the lesson “Who is God?” from the study on Genesis.
Read MoreWas Jesus created since he is the firstborn of creation?
Question: Throughout the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit and Jesus are mentioned. For clarity, I wanted to know if the Holy Spirit and Jesus were created by God or were they ever in existence. Many people use the analogy that all three are of one body, but the Bible says that Jesus was the firstborn of…
Read MoreDoes a person have to attend church?
Question: Does a person have to attend church in order to be accepted into the kingdom of God? This question isn’t sarcastically phrased; I really want to know the answer. And please note that I do attend church. But seeing that I can pray, talk to God, read His word and also worship him in…
Read MoreHow do you handle a controlling father?
Question: What is the best way to help a family member (i.e. father) who proclaims to be a Christian (by the method of the AME) and continues to be of the world? The reason I ask is that his behavior is affecting the whole family and he is reluctant to discuss it (pride). He also…
Read MoreWhy haven’t you written about the Comforter?
Question: I noticed your article on the Azusa street revival…very interesting. However, I looked in the topical index and I see no articles on the Holy Spirit as spoken of by Jesus in the book of John (the comforter, leader, and guider into all truth), nor any reflections on the baptism of the Holy Spirit…
Read MoreHow do you know that Ephesians 5:19 is speaking about worship?
Question: I understand which verses talk about singing, but the main verse used by the churches of Christ to back up their singing is found in Ephesians. However, the verses prior to and after do not imply anything about worship. The prior verse speaks of not being drunk from wine wherein is excess. Did the…
Read MoreIs it too simple to say we are to believe and we will be saved by God’s grace?
Question: I’m concerned that purgatory does not exist in the Bible. I believe that imaginary doctrine can be changed, as has the belief of Limbo, with innocent newborn babies, who have died prior to baptism, no longer going to Limbo. I always thought that God has told us to believe in Him and we will…
Read MoreA brother who was helping me in the Lord’s work left. What can I do?
Question: A brother here was very involved in a ministry that we were a part of. He and I were both the male figures who were coordinating this ministry. Because of his addiction, he has recently left the church and ministry thereby leaving me by myself to manage it. I feel as though l have…
Read MoreHow do you deal with an addict?
Question: I wanted to know how the church deals with a member who practices self-destruction? The individual is a brother who has so much potential to excel in the church but has demons he is facing (e.g. alcohol). He is full of energy and commitment but had a recent incident that could possibly alienate him…
Read MoreWill a person who dies at the same hour as Christ go straight to heaven?
Question: I heard at Mass, during the Liturgy, that one of our church members died about 3:00 on Divine Mercy Sunday. The priest explained that she will go straight to heaven, for having died during the third hour, the hour in which Christ breathed His last breath. I have been looking for a reference to…
Read MoreHow should sexual immorality be addressed with the elderly?
Question: I read many of your very fine Q&A, articles, and sermons on your web site. Your candor is refreshing as well as offering much. We are searching for conclusions on how to address one aspect of the sexual immorality subject and, perhaps, your study of the subject might help us shed some light on…
Read MoreCould my girlfriend get pregnant from what we did last night?
Question: Hey, I was wondering: I had sex with my girlfriend tonight. I was wearing a condom, I cummed, and then pulled out right away, while my penis was still firm. It then went limp, and I took off the condom. I looked at the condom, all my cum was inside of it, and there…
Read MoreHow can a congregation stay focused?
Question: I attend a small church of Christ which is faced with challenges, such as members leaving to go to other churches, brethren falling away because of their selfish ambitions, and family issues. The reason I bring it up is that we have so much potential to grow as we have a beautiful church building…
Read MoreShould the man always make the first move in a relationship?
Question: I am now in a community where most men at my age are married; only one is single. I think he is a very good person, I don’t dress immodestly like I used to. I think physical attraction would not be important for a man seeing a good woman, although, yes it is a…
Read MoreThe Value of Hope
by Dee Bowman via Plain Talk, November 1977 The Scriptures have considerable to say on the subject of hope. And yet I am convinced that many of us are not enjoying and appreciating our hope as we should, simply out of a failure to really understand what it is and how it affects us. Hope…
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