Light and Dark
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2004/08/LightAndDark.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 13:8-14 I. If you look at the religious philosophies prevalent in the world today, you will quickly find that most see the world divided into two camps: good versus evil A. It is argued that good and evil balance each other. B. Some take it a step further to say…
Read MoreDisciplining Children (1)
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. The world in its wisdom comes up with many theories about how children ought to be raised. A. In the 1960s a psychologist named Benjamin Spock became famous with a book proposing that children should not be spanked 1. He argued that other, non-physical methods were just as effective 2. Spanking would damage a…
Read MoreWill God allow sin to get us back?
Question: Will God allow sin to get us back? Answer: While a child of God ought not to sin, there is no promise to the Christian that he cannot sin. Instead, we read of Christians who did fall back into the ways of sin. “This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the…
Read MoreDid Paul sometimes drink wine?
Question: Paul said in Romans that he would eat no meat if it causes his brother to stumble or be offended. In the same context, he mentions wine a few verses later. I have concluded that he would neither eat meat or drink wine if it caused his brother to stumble or be offended. However,…
Read MoreWhat does “the fatness of the land and the dew of heaven” mean?
Question: What does “the fatness of the land and the dew of heaven” mean? Answer: “Therefore may God give you of the dew of heaven, of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and wine” (Genesis 27:28). A “fat” land is one which produces bountifully. Found on Pintrest The twelve spies were sent…
Read MoreHonor Your Father and Mother (Hamilton)
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton The command to honor your parents was carried over into the law of Christ intact. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on…
Read MoreWhere are Cush and Havilah today?
Question: Where are the land of Cush and the land of Havilah today, and what are their names today? Answer: The first mention of Cush is in Genesis 2:13 where the Gihon, one of the four mighty rivers flowing from the land of Eden, encompassed this particular region. Because the great flood of Noah’s day wiped…
Read MoreWhy is Suicide a Sin? (Sermon)
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Job 3:1-11 I. A young man asked me, “Why is suicide a sin?” A. At first it seems a strange question because the answer is so obvious. B. But the young man was struggling with how to explain this to someone he knows. C. You can’t turn in your Bibles to a passage that…
Read MoreWhy does the Bible contain the words of Satan?
Question: If the Bible is inspired, why is it that there are words of Satan? Answer: If two political parties oppose each other, why do they quote their opponent’s words? The Bible contains an accurate record of numerous key events in the history of mankind. In that history, there are interactions between righteous and wicked…
Read MoreWhen did Ahaziah begin his reign?
Question: When comparing II Kings 8:26 and II Chronicles 22:2, which is the true age of Ahaziah when he began to reign? Answer: “Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah the granddaughter of Omri, king of Israel” (II Kings 8:26). “Ahaziah…
Read MoreShould I tell my husband about my adultery?
Question: I have been married for seven years. The first five years were wonderful. Then I started hanging out with an ungodly crowd, and I ashamed to say I cheated on my husband. I didn’t sleep with any men, but I did fool around with several. I confessed this to my husband and he forgave…
Read MoreWhat is wrong with drinking, so long as it is done in moderation?
Question: What’s wrong with drinking, so long as it is done in moderation? After all Jesus turned water into wine in John 2. The disciples were accused of being drunk in Acts 2, so alcohol must have been in use. Older women were only told not to be given to much wine in Titus 2:3 Paul…
Read MoreHow many horsemen did David kill?
Question: II Samuel 8:4 — 1,700 horsemen I Chronicles 18:4 — 7,000 horsemen Are these two passages related to each other? Why the discrepancy? Answer: The two passages do deal with the same event, but they are worded differently. The following is taken from the New King James Version: “David took from him one thousand chariots,…
Read MoreWhat was so bad about Jesus turning stones into bread?
Question: What was so bad about Jesus turning stones into bread? Answer: “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are…
Read MoreWhat is wrong with smoking?
Question: What is wrong with smoking? Answer: Perhaps I should turn the question around and ask “What is right about smoking?” After all, it is an expensive habit that is known to cause damage to the body of the smoker. So what benefit does smoking give that should cause a Christian to consider it? Tobacco…
Read More666 and the Mark of the Beast
by Jerry Falk Do microchips and bar codes have anything to do with “the mark of the beast” (Revelation 16:2; 19:20)? Before answering this question, we would do well to remember that the word of God is “handled” a lot in the world. However, it’s not good enough to just handle it; we need to…
Read MoreThe Use of Alcohol
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Can a Christian drink? It is a question that comes up frequently. Earlier this century, the United States ended the sale of alcoholic beverages because of the perceived dangers of these drinks. The prohibition did not last, due to strong demand for access to liquor. However, the question remains: “Can a…
Read MoreYou Can’t Tell Me How to Dress!
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton He came to services sporting a mohawk haircut spiked tall with hair gel. Each ear was pierced several times: small nut-like objects filled the larger holes in each ear. One eyebrow was pierced. His lip was pierced and when idle the boy toyed with the ring occupying the hole. His tongue…
Read MoreThe Rebel’s Cause
Text: II Thessalonians 3:6-15 I. Israel – the name means “one who wrestles with God” A. Jacob received the name when he wrestled with an angel, asking for a blessing – Genesis 32:24-28 B. It became the trademark of his descendants – Deuteronomy 9:7, 24 C. One that lasted their entire existence as a nation – Ezekiel 2:3-5…
Read MoreModest Apparel
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton “Therefore I desire that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness,…
Read MoreWhat would you consider as modest apparel for a woman?
Question: So what would you consider as modest apparel for a woman? Does the Old Testament law pertain to now — a woman in man’s clothing and man in woman’s? If so, then what would you consider man’s clothing and woman’s clothing? All men and woman wore skirts. So why is it that women who…
Read MoreNew Testament Beverages
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton One of the greatest difficulties in studying God’s stance on drinking is the bias translators have brought to the meaning of words used in the Bible in regards to drinking. The most common Greek word, which is translated “wine” is oinos which is directly equivalent to the Hebrew word yayin. (See “Old Testament…
Read MoreOld Testament Beverages
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Throughout the Bible, drunkenness is consistently condemned. We understand that a drunkard cannot inherit the kingdom of God (I Corinthians 6:9-10). Paul warned that carousing and drunkenness are improper behaviors for Christians to engage in (Romans 13:13). The warnings are clear enough that few people argue that being down-and-out drunk is…
Read MoreIs a veil required?
Question: When you say that long hair is the acceptable covering, is that what the Bible means or does it require a veil? Answer: I looked through my past writings and I cannot find the article to which you are alluding, but I assume you are referring to the pages on women’s head covering or…
Read MoreA Commitment
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Robert Turner told a story about a hen and a pig who became very good friends. One seldom saw them apart. One day as they strolled about the barnyard lot, the hen suggested that since they had never eaten breakfast together, that they do that the next morning. Never being one…
Read MoreCan you explain what “flesh” is in Romans 4:1?
Question: Can you explain what “flesh” is in Romans 4:1? Answer: This verse is translated in two different ways: “What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?” (New King James Version) “What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?” (New American Standard…
Read MoreShould non-Christians participate in the Lord’s Supper?
Question: When visitors come to visit the church should they participate in the Lord’s Supper? Answer: The partaking of the Lord’s Supper is not limited to members of the local congregation. Paul, while journeying through Troas on his way to Jerusalem, worshipped with the brethren in Troas. “Now on the first day of the week,…
Read MoreWhere is the passage that says dying young spares the person from evil?
Question: In the Old Testament, I can’t remember the book, there was a passage where God was answering a question from the prophet, and God said the reason why the righteous die young or is taken is to spare them from the evil that is up ahead. Where in the Old Testament is that passage?…
Read MoreCan’t a wife abstain from sex for a few days?
Question: How dare you assume that a wife wishing to abstain from sex with her husband for one or many days constitutes ‘sinful ways.’ Sometimes wives are stressed or exhausted from caring for the children and the housework- asking for sex almost sounds like punishment. Once a man has raped his wife he is guilty…
Read MoreWhat proof is there that Mary was born without sin?
Question: What proof is there that Mary was born without sin? Answer: Every person in the world is born without sin. Catholicism and most forms of Protestantism teach that Adam and Eve’s fall brought sin into the world and that sin is passed down from generation to generation. This causes them a bit of difficulty.…
Read MoreWhat happens to you when you die?
Question: What happens to you when you die? Answer: The Bible teaches us that human beings are made in three parts. “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Thessalonians 5:23). Your body…
Read MoreCan a murderer be forgiven by God and still go to heaven?
Question: Can a murderer be forgiven by God and still go to heaven? Answer: Jesus stated, “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation” (Mark 3:28-29).…
Read MoreWhy is suicide a sin?
Question: Why is suicide a sin? Answer: At first, it seems to be a strange question because the answer is so obvious. But the young man who asked this is struggling with how to explain it to someone he knows. The difficulty is that you can’t turn in your Bibles to a passage that says…
Read MoreHad Cornelius heard John’s teaching and, perhaps, was baptized by John?
Question: Would you please help me to understand why, in Acts 10:37, KJV, Peter says, “That word, I say, ye know.” It sounds as if Peter is aware that Cornelius, and maybe some of the others, had already heard the word, and been baptized with John’s baptism. Although they were the first Gentiles to receive…
Read MoreHow do you handle a teenage liar?
Question: Our 13-year-old lies about everything to get what he wants. He lies about not having homework when he does. He hides bad homework from us. We talk to the teachers every day now. He continues to lie even though he knows he is going to get caught. We must search his backpack every night.…
Read MoreWhat is repentance? (Hamilton)
Question: Is the repentance that is involved in the new birth, simply believing the gospel message of repentance, and having a change of heart concerning sin? Is the repentance that is involved in the salvation of the soul, the continuation of the repentance which is experienced at the new birth? I believe the gospel, I…
Read MoreWhat is the difference between being born again and saved?
Question: The thing that I’m trying to figure out is the difference between being born again and saved. I was told that they are the same thing, but I don’t see how they are. Does the new birth save the soul? I thought the new birth causes the spirit to be recreated, and obedience to…
Read MoreHow will male virtues be passed on without spanking?
Question: I am a Swedish man living in Denmark, not a Christian or religious at all, but I am brought up in a tradition where spanking and what my father called “male virtues” was normal. This was in the ’60s and beginning of the ’70s. I do agree that for boys it is a necessary…
Read MoreThe Autonomy of the Local Church (Hamilton)
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. One area that sharply distinguishes the Lord’s church from the various denominations is its organization A. The church is the organization through which God’s wisdom is made known – Eph 3:9-11 1. It is a product of that wisdom and is organized by God. B. The head of the church is Jesus – Ephesians…
Read MoreWhat are the biblical consequences to lying?
Question: What are the biblical consequences of lying? Answer: In a list of things that the Lord hates we find lying. “These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in…
Read More