Does a Leader’s Appearance Matter Anymore?
by Max Dawson Daniel was a prophet of God who was among the first captives taken by Nebuchadnezzar from Jerusalem to Babylon in 605 BC. He, along with some other Hebrew captives, were highly spoken of (Daniel 1:4). They are described as “…young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all…
Read MoreKindness and Generosity
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Kindness-and-Generosity.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Isaiah 58:1-12 I. I ran across an interesting article by Aemily Smith, originally published in The Atlantic, November 9, 2014. “Science Says Lasting Relationships Come Down to Two Basic Traits.” A. It was about what factors showed whether a relationship would survive or not. B. The basic factors were kindness and…
Read MoreSuffering in Baptism?
by Perry Hall Amid Peter discussing suffering and judgment, he mentions, “baptism now saves” (I Peter 3:21). Contextually, what baptism saves us from is God’s judgment on a sinful world. The context from 3:14-4:19 is “Suffering and Judgment.” However, there are many ways baptism cannot save us from suffering because baptism is inherently tied to…
Read MoreIs the Bible Incomprehensible?
by Gardner Hall A growing number of articles in the last few years emphasize difficulties in translating the Scriptures. Perhaps they are slightly helpful in giving pause to some “hyper rationalists” who declare that all the Bible is easy if you’ll just let them interpret it for you! However, such essays need to be read…
Read MoreAn Old Body with a Young Heart
by Orlando Gonzalez Time: one of the great many banes of our existence. It’s a useful tool to measure how long we’ve been at a certain place or how long to bake a cake in an oven, but it is also an unstoppable process that leads toward the end of countless things on Earth, including…
Read MoreHow do I deal with work requirements that involve supporting sinful things?
Question: Good afternoon, I’ve been dealing with this dilemma for several months now and would love advice from a gospel teacher. I am going into my last year of college at one of the most liberal public universities in my region. I currently work as a Resident Assistant, where I help lead the residence halls…
Read MoreWho should pay for a date?
Question: I am dating my boyfriend. He always pays, and I always express how grateful I am. Last month, his card was stolen, and his bank account was frozen. During that month, I would pay for our outings. I never paid intending to have to. In my heart, I knew it was the right thing…
Read MoreWhat is an alien believer or an alien sinner?
Question: Hello, I was reading somewhere in an article mentioning the “alien believer.” I am not sure what it actually means. I have noticed there are two different persons: “alien sinner” and “alien believer.” My question is: Cornelius, in Acts 10:2, was godly and had a fear of God in his heart, but he was…
Read MoreWhy are there multiple churches near each other?
Question: I hope you are well. I’m writing to you to ask a question about unity. The Bible speaks about unity and that his people should be united, but why are there so many churches of Christ in one city? I live in a small town with a population of 4,000 people, and there are…
Read MoreMiracle or Miracle Worker?
by Perry Hall Every physical miracle points to a spiritual reality. Every sign and wonder is inferior to the spiritual reality it points to. What would people rather experience? Jesus condemned those demanding signs and wonders (John 6). Miracles visibly benefited people. Therefore, they are preferred. Why are we so willing to accept the inferior…
Read MoreHonor the King
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/Honor-the-King-1.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Peter 2:13-17 I. I Peter 2:17 – Honor the King A. It is getting hard to avoid the problems this country has with its leaders B. Everyone knows about the sins commit by some of our recent presidents and each has his own opinion on the matter C. But knowing that…
Read MoreDo I need to break up with my boyfriend?
Question: Good day, I am writing to seek advice concerning my relationship with my boyfriend. We met two years ago and started as friends. We grew closer but made the decision not to take things further because he had the intention to relocate to the country. Unfortunately, we started having sexual relations without a label…
Read MoreIf the damages caused by a sin are corrected, does the sin need to be confessed?
Question: I used my employer’s equipment and electricity to mine cryptocurrency without their permission. I didn’t realize the full implications of what I was doing until some time had passed. When it finally struck me that what I was doing was unequivocally theft, I immediately stopped. My employer never realized (or suspected) that I was doing this,…
Read MoreIf a man gains children through marriage, is he qualified to be a deacon?
Question: I know the Bible says a deacon is to have one wife and rule their children well, among other qualifications, but these are the two I have a question about (I Timothy 3:8-12). If a deacon is divorced based on scriptural grounds, meaning his wife cheated on him and he left her. Later on,…
Read MoreWhat happens if someone makes a mistake during worship?
Question: Thank you so much. May God bless you for the amazing work that you do. I find it hard to switch from one act of worship to another, especially when I believe the one leading has made a mistake. For example, one Sunday, during the Lord’s Supper, the one leading us in the Lord’s…
Read MoreIs it wrong to teach in a denomination?
Question: Is teaching specific subjects, such as apologetics, wrong in a denominational church? Thanks. Answer: Throughout Acts, we find the apostle Paul teaching in Jewish synagogues (Acts 9:20; 13:5,14; 14:1; 17:10; etc.). Paul did that because he had an audience interested in God, though they did not follow God correctly. Paul often focused on proving…
Read MoreShould a head covering be worn while singing?
Question: I have a question regarding the head covering. My current practice is to cover my head whenever praying, in or out of the worship. And I generally wear it throughout the worship period. But I do not normally cover it for singing outside of the worship. However, the question arises, “Are we praying when…
Read MoreChristianity Is a Crutch
by Zeke Flores Some people say, “Christianity is a crutch for the weak!” I agree; it is a crutch. More precisely, it’s a help, a way to cope. God’s way is a comfort for the afflicted (II Corinthians 1:3-5), help for the persecuted (Hebrews 10:32-39), and strength for the downtrodden (Romans 8:31,36-39). The reason we…
Read MoreCan We Know God?
by Terry Wane Benton We must “believe that He is” (Hebrews 11:6) and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him, but knowing He exists and knowing Him are still two different things. I can know you exist without knowing you. The second is deeper in significance than the former. Knowing you exist is a…
Read MoreI Ordain in All the Churches
by Terry Wane Benton Text: I Corinthians 7:17 There was no such thing as each church making up the rules for themselves. From the very beginning, they “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42), and when the apostles taught something, it was meant for “all the churches” to teach the same thing and practice…
Read MoreThe Freedom to Choose
by Jefferson David Tant The freedom to choose is among the many blessings we have in this world. That freedom is found only in living beings, whether animals or humans. I have an automobile that is very useful to me, but it is a robot. It can only do what I choose, such as turning…
Read MoreForgive and Forget
by Luther Blackmon An old slave had defied his master’s order not to read the Bible and was being flogged for it. As the whip cut into his flesh, his owner taunted him with: “What can your Bible do for you now, boy?” “It can teach me to forgive master,” he replied. It is sometimes…
Read MoreThe Direction of This Country
by Andy Diestelkamp “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other” [John Adams, October 11, 1798]. Are you concerned about the direction of this country? Then, be concerned about the direction of your family. Too many patriots are more concerned about their…
Read MoreJesus, the Great High Priest
by Doy Moyer When God brought Israel out of Egypt and established a covenant, He also established a priesthood through the levitical family of Aaron. Aaron and his sons were anointed and consecrated through sacrifice, with Aaron as the first High Priest. The tent of meeting was made so that God would meet with the…
Read MoreShould We Follow the Majority?
by Jefferson David Tant The title presents an interesting question. Following the majority is a common practice in our everyday lives. When elections are held, whether for the President of the United States or for our High School Student Body President, the “majority” always wins. In a presidential election, I may vote for the losing…
Read MoreLessons from Saul’s Conversion
by Terry Wane Benton Saul would become the saved apostle Paul, and his conversion from being totally against Jesus and his disciples to becoming a disciple of Jesus, from being a persecutor to being persecuted, is a remarkable account of what is involved in the process of conversion to Christ. Read Acts 9 and then…
Read MoreYou Make This People Trust in a Lie
by Terry Wane Benton Text: Jeremiah 28:15 Jeremiah confronted some popular teachers of his time and rebuked them for getting people to trust in lies. It has happened since the Garden of Eden that people trust in lies. There are plenty of preachers willing to give false assurances. Religious leaders can be bought, or they…
Read MoreDoes Foot Washing Indicate Acceptance?
by Doy Moyer Much has been made over the recent “He gets us” ads depicting various scenes of different kinds of people washing their feet and having their feet washed. The debate is over what this means. Is it a good illustration of what Jesus would do? Does it accurately convey who Jesus is or…
Read MoreWasn’t Babel the city of Eridu
Question: Hi there. I used to be a member of the Church and a devout Christian. I recently found something on your website that deeply disappointed me. I am specifically referring to the following answer you gave to “Where is the Tower of Babel?” In that answer, you state that Babel is most likely Babylon,…
Read MoreReading Past John 3:16
by Perry Hall Do we sometimes miss a powerful point because we stop reading? John 3:16 is so well-known that people stop reading. What happens if we keep reading? Notice these contrasts: “For God loved the world” (John 3:16) vs. “People loved the darkness” (John 3:19). “He gave his one and only Son” (John 3:16)…
Read MoreJesus Believed in Necessary Inferences
by Terry Wane Benton He said, “Moses wrote about Me” (John 5:46). Still, since Moses never used the name “Jesus,” it would have to be a necessary implication of Moses and a necessary inference on our end to conclude that Moses wrote about Jesus. The evidence of reason is strong; in fact, it is as…
Read MoreIndependent Thinking versus Presumptuous Thinking
by Gardner Hall Independent thinking about the Scriptures is good! The Jews in Berea weren’t satisfied with blindly accepting traditional Jewish interpretations of Scripture. Still, they listened to Paul with an open mind, searching the scriptures daily to see if his teaching was true. Those who are presumptuous in their thinking often assume the label…
Read MoreA Tender Heart
A Tender Heart (Part 1)A Tender Heart (Part 2) by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Kings 22:14-20 I. The heart of Josiah A. Those were dark days in the kingdom. For 55 years his grandfather had harshly ruled over Judah – a reign of evil and terror – II Kings 21:1-2, 6 1. So terrible were his…
Read MoreAlexander the (not-so) Great
by Jefferson David Tant If you have ever studied world history, you have probably become acquainted with the world conqueror named Alexander the Great. Alexander was born in Pella, Macedon in 356 B.C. His parents were King Philip II and Queen Olympias. He was well educated under the tutelage of one of the best-known philosophers…
Read MoreWhat is “federal headship”?
Question: I really enjoy the content you put out. Very straight and to the point. What do Calvinists mean when they talk about “federal headship?” I’ve heard someone mention this in a podcast in an episode on Calvinism. I had not heard the expression until listening to the podcast. Answer: Calvinists believe that Adam’s sin…
Read MoreI need some advice on my position with Christ
Question: I have some questions about marriage and my position in Christ that I would like you to help me with. I was married, I believe. Although it was a Christian marriage, it was like we came together and stayed. It has been three years so far in this kind of marriage. As a couple,…
Read MoreTabitha
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tabitha.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 9:32-43 I. In our text we find two stories. A. The great miracle that God performed through Peter to raise a woman who had died. 1. This event brought many to the Lord – Acts 9:42 2. We don’t have access to miracles today; yet, we can learn how to lead…
Read MoreTwo Testimonial Testaments to Jesus
by Terry Wane Benton Paul “reasoned” with the Jews for three Sabbaths (Acts 17:2f) from the Scriptures (their own Scriptures). Thus, he started with what both sides agreed was true. The Scriptures had long been settled as true and authoritative to both sides participating in the discussion. The Scriptures would have to be handled accurately.…
Read MoreWhat’s So Important About the Church?
by Jefferson David Tant The comment is often made, “I don’t have to go to church in order to go to heaven,” or, similarly, “I can be a Christian without going to church.” The question is, “Is that really true, or is that a misunderstanding of what “church” is all about?” What Is the Church?…
Read MoreDiscouraged. Disappointed. Disenchanted. Disconnected. Disillusioned. Disheartened. Disengaged.
by Jonathan Perz When one’s expectations for local churches full of imperfect people drive their faith, they often end up facing one, if not all, of these “D’s” in the title of this article. I talk to so many who have walked away because they are hurt by the church. Yet their greater challenge is…
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