Be Merciful
by Doy Moyer We cannot see what is going on inside someone. That’s obvious, but sometimes our judgments about people assume that everything should be normal for them because we can’t see anything outwardly wrong. If we see them acting in ways we would otherwise expect, we might judge them to be rude, or worse.…
Read MoreGood News?
by David Gibson His mission The Bible calls him “a righteous and holy man” (Mark 6:20 NASB). Jesus said of him, “He was the lamp that was burning and was shining …” (John 5:35). The task of John the Baptist was to prepare the people of Israel for the coming Messiah. John’s preaching consisted of…
Read MoreWho does “firstborn” refer to in Hebrews 12:23?
Question: In reading Hebrews 12:23 in another language, I noticed that “firstborn” is in the plural. Does it refer to the Christians in the church? Answer: One of the interesting results of studying with people with different backgrounds is that things will be pointed out that you never considered before. In English, “firstborn” is used…
Read MoreThe Place of Preaching
by David Gibson Why some won’t listen Have you ever heard someone say, “Don’t preach to me!” Preaching is not always appreciated. The rebellious inner self, the Bible says, must be put aside. In its place, there must be childlike humility. We must be willing to yield control of our lives to God and make…
Read MoreIs it wrong to send someone to jail knowing that they will likely die there?
Question: Hi Mr Hamilton, I hope you’re doing well. I had a question if you don’t mind answering. My wife and I recently had a trial against her rapist, and he got sentenced to 50 years in prison with all his charges. She heard it’s a sin to sentence someone to prison when they’ll likely…
Read MoreIs there a difference between “divorce” and “puts away”?
Question: Mr. Hamilton, First of all, thank you very much for taking the time to respond to emails. Your grace and patience have been a tremendous help to me. I have some questions I have been pondering on and hoping to gain some of your insight on, if that’s alright? While reading my Bible, I…
Read MoreDo you have to send away your children from an unlawful marriage?
Question: How about children born from an unlawful marriage? Will repentance require you to send them away, too? Answer: “The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon…
Read MoreWho Are the Sons of God in the Book of Job?
Author Unknown Almost every reference in the Bible to “sons of God” refers to men who live in harmony with the will of God. However, I believe the three instances of the sons of God found in Job (Job 1:6; Job 2:1; Job 38:7) refer to angels. I would be inclined to believe that the…
Read MoreWhat About “Faith Only?”
by Mike Riley It is not uncommon to hear sincere religious folks speak of being saved by “faith only”. They say, “All you have to do is believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.” Their statement is designed to convey the concept that one is saved at the exact moment of belief in Jesus. Those who…
Read MoreAmazingly Saved and Radically Changed by the Cross
by David Gibson Why did Jesus die on the cross? To save our souls? Indeed, He did, but that’s not all. For Him His death means the end of our self-centered living and the beginning of Christ-centered living: “he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him…
Read MoreRestoring the Spirit of the Early Church
by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. Members of the churches of Christ today generally recognize that they are beneficiaries of “the restoration movement” that began in this country in the late 1700s. While we recognize that our faith and practice must not be rooted in that movement, but in the New Testament, we are grateful to…
Read MoreThe Godly Family
by Marc Hyde When you think of family, you think of being close, doing things together, and looking out for one another. You care for one another, look out for each other, and want to see each other do good and succeed. You do not like to see others hurt or make fun of them.…
Read MoreWill Christ Reign on Earth for a Thousand Years?
by Samuel Matthews Loved ones, the doctrine of Premillennialism teaches that, when Christ returns, there will be a resurrection of the righteous. Then there will be a seven-year rapture (the righteous taken to heaven) while there are seven years of tribulation on earth (during which the antichrist reigns). At the end of the seven years,…
Read MoreParenting Battles
by Randall Caselman A game reserve in Africa was experiencing difficulties with young bull elephants. They were going on rampages, killing other wildlife and just generally being destructive in the park. They were even killing endangered rhinos, and no one knew why. As a result, several of the young bulls had to be put down.…
Read MoreDoes God need us?
Question: Someone asked me a question: “If God needs us in heaven, why did He create us here on earth and not directly in heaven? Answer: Based on what passage does the person conclude that God needs us? “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and…
Read MoreOur Common Ancestor
by David Gibson Ark-aeological? From time to time, we hear that Noah’s ark has been sighted. Whether it has or hasn’t, we should have no doubts about the historicity of the biblical account. Jesus accepted the biblical account of the Flood (Matthew 24:37-39). Three times Peter referred to the Flood as historical (I Peter 3:20;…
Read MoreSkeptic: Blunders About Jesus and Bethlehem
by Terry Wane Benton “Further, other claimed ‘fulfilled prophecies’ falter under scrutiny: Micah 5:2 (“born in Bethlehem”) addresses a contemporary Davidic ruler from the 8th century BCE, whereas Matthew appears to adapt the narrative to make Jesus’ origin fit this prophecy, despite other Gospel accounts indicating his roots in Nazareth.” The prophecy of Micah 5:2…
Read MoreBaptism
by J. W. McGarvey Since it has been announced that my subject would be baptism, I think it is highly probable that the question has arisen in the minds of some, Why another sermon on that old, hackneyed theme? Perhaps the objection has arisen that this subject has been discussed and debated for hundreds of…
Read MoreThoughts of Spring
by Bobby L. Graham via Biblical Insights, Vol. 15 No. 2, February 2015 “My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds…
Read MoreShould Christians Meet on Sunday?
by Scott J. Shifferd Why do churches meet on Sunday? The churches in the New Testament met on the first day of the week. Luke reported this is the common practice of churches of Christ (Acts 20:7). However, is this passage all the Bible speaks about meeting on the first day of the week? The…
Read MoreDo you have material on restoring young people who had committed fornication?
Question: Good day, I am looking for resources to restore young people who have fallen into the sin of fornication. Do you have any lessons? Do you know of any books or pages? Thanks a lot! Answer: There is a ton of material on the topic of fornication on this website. I selected a few…
Read MoreMy Servant: Israel or Jesus?
by Terry Wane Benton The skeptic claims: “Christian interpretations emerged over the centuries, often distorting the original meanings by selectively quoting verses and overlooking the nuances of Hebrew grammar. For example, in Isaiah 49:3, the servant is explicitly identified as “Israel.” Here, the skeptic took a verse out of its context and pretended that “My…
Read MoreYou Need a Church
by Jarred McCrary Available data indicate a decline in church attendance nationwide — a trend that has accelerated significantly in recent years. One writer described the rate of attendance as dropping like a cannonball in a pie filling. In case you’re wondering, that’s not a good thing. People need church, and by “people” I mean…
Read MoreThoughts on Balaam
by Josh Welch Been thinking a lot about Balaam lately. The New Testament warns about him three times (II Peter 2:15-16; Jude 11; Revelation 2:14). Yet, when I read Numbers 22-24 in the Old Testament account, he’s just a real conundrum to me. He doesn’t seem all that bad on the surface. Actually seems like…
Read MoreLife and Death
by Chadwick Brewer “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits” (Proverbs 18:21). Our words are more powerful than we often realize. They can bring life or deal death. Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that “death and life are in the power of the tongue,”…
Read MoreNot My Will
by Doy Moyer Jesus prayed in the garden, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). Jesus had no desire to suffer. He desired to save humanity from sin, and this was the necessary path to do so, but He was not enjoying…
Read MoreReligion by Majority
by Dub McClish A Pew Poll of 35,000 Americans, released in June 2008, revealed some interesting statistics about religious beliefs. More than half (57%) of “evangelicals” (strong in their belief in the Bible and in Jesus as God’s only begotten Son, right?) opined that Christianity is not the only way to Heaven. Mainline Protestants stated…
Read MoreHow to Avoid a Spiritual Failure
by Paul Earnhart In his final hours in Rome, awaiting an inevitable execution, a very lonely apostle Paul suffered some additional heartbreak. “Demas,” he wrote, “hath forsaken me, having loved this present world” (II Timothy 4:10). We are left to speculate as to the particulars — what dread fears or powerful allurements led this faithful…
Read MoreSee for Yourself!
by David Gibson Check it out! Truth can bear rigorous investigation. Error cannot. The Bible encourages seekers to examine the evidence for the Christian faith (Luke 1:1-4; 24:36-43; John 1:45-51; 4:28-30, 39-42; 20:19-21; Acts 17:9-11; I Peter 3:15). Here are some areas worth investigating: How the Bible came into being, Fulfilled Old Testament prophecies, The…
Read MoreGod Has a Way
by Zeke Flores God has a way of working things out so that they point to His wondrous working. Everything — from good to bad, from happy to sad, from clear-cut to frustrating — how fathomless is the depth of His wisdom and working! Who else could take the disobedient failings of an entire people…
Read MoreGrowing Tired of the Congregation Where You Worship?
by Steve Waller Be careful before you answer the above question! Occasionally, one may be heard saying something like, “I’m so tired of the congregation where I worship. I want to find someplace else to go!” It’s not that there is anything wrong with the local church from a doctrinal standpoint, or that there is…
Read MoreSkeptic: Reexamining Isaiah and Other Biblical Texts
by Terry Wane Benton Quote: “Likewise, Isaiah is not a solitary author crafting messianic predictions. It is a composite work, consisting of First Isaiah (8th century BCE), Deutero-Isaiah (6th century BCE), and Trito-Isaiah (5th century BCE), each shaped by the political landscape of Assyrian and Babylonian influence. The “Suffering Servant” passages in Isaiah 52–53 are…
Read MoreThe Birth of Christ
Author Unknown Consider the impact of Christmas on people. Some people who typically look as though they were weaned on a dill pickle may become full of holiday cheer. Someone who might normally be a tight scrooge may become generous and compassionate. For some, this is when they get together with family. For others, this…
Read MoreThe Parable of the Sower: A Reminder to Soul-Winners
by Kris Groda Although Jesus called it “the parable of the sower,” we view the parable in light of the explanation that Jesus provided (Matthew 13:18-23). The thrust seems to be about the different types of ground, which represent the differences in people; nevertheless, the seed-sower scattered seed on good soil and by the wayside.…
Read MoreFaithfulness in Prayer
by Heath Rogers In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus told a parable to His disciples about a woman pleading with an unjust judge. This parable was spoken for a specific purpose: “that men always ought to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). Prayer is an exercise of faith. When we pray, we speak to a God…
Read MoreHeaven on Earth? No!
by Garland M. Robinson Where will the redeemed be in eternity when this life is over? The Bible teaches they will go to be with the Lord in heaven (John 14:1-3). Yet, some are saying the heaven we’ve always hoped for does not exist —that it’s not going to be in heaven above (God’s dwelling…
Read MoreCommandment Keeping
by Kevin Cauley There are those in the religious world today who ridicule the idea of keeping commandments. They claim that keeping God’s commandments has nothing to do with our salvation today. If someone objects and says that we must keep God’s commandments to be saved, the charge of legalism is leveled against him. Is…
Read MoreWoman’s Work in the Church
by James W. Boyd The belief and teaching that says men and women are to be equal in all matters is as foolish as contending that up is the same as down, and right is as proper as left. God describes their roles, not man. No religion or philosophy places womanhood on the pedestal as…
Read MoreI Should Have Loved More
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/I-Should-Have-Loved-More.mp3 by Raymond Warfel Download Audio
Read MoreI’m not certain some of our deacons are qualified to be deacons
Question: Hello, I’m a member of the church of Christ and have questions about the deacons where I serve. We have several deacons, and some of them have unknown situations to me. The first, to my knowledge, married without having children of his own, but his wife had children she brought into the marriage. I…
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