Is it right to say your own prayer while someone else is praying in worship?
Question: Good day, First, I find great biblical knowledge on your Facebook page! It is a very valuable resource for Bible questions and answers. I want your assistance regarding some questions that I have. Is it appropriate or biblically correct to pray aloud (in a hushed but audible voice) while someone is praying during service?…
Read MoreUnapproachable Light
by Chadwick Brewer “Who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen” (I Timothy 6:16). Millions of people will stop their daily lives to go and stare at the spectacle of an eclipse. Yet, they will do this…
Read MoreIs I Corinthians 7:9 talking about unfulfilled desires?
Question: I was wishing to ask a question about I Corinthians 7:9. Is it okay to say that it is better to marry than to burn with unfulfilled desire? Answer: “Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner,…
Read MoreHard Words
by Doy Moyer Somewhere along the line, our culture has been convinced that insulting people is the way to win others to their way of thinking. Harsh words that disparage intelligence coupled with character-destroying insinuations have become embedded in our arguments and disagreements. This is the way of the world, a path lacking grace and…
Read MoreAs the Holy Spirit Says
by Terry Wane Benton When the topic of “inspiration” (breathed of God) is brought up, some will argue that we don’t know how the Scriptures are “breathed of God,” but we do know that the words of the Scriptures were delivered from God’s mind to the mind of the writers of the holy Scriptures. Whenever…
Read MoreIs it wrong for a married couple to give up their child for adoption?
Question: Hello, I hope you are well! If a married couple (who got pregnant after marriage) is willing to give the baby up the baby for adoption because they don’t have the money to keep it, is this a sin? Answer: Adoption is not wrong, though it may not always be the best option. Our…
Read MoreHow do I move forward from a breakup?
Question: Good evening, I’m relatively new to this website, but I have found it particularly helpful for hearing Q&A’s specifically related to Christian life. I’m a freshman college student who dated a girl for around 4-5 months when college started. It has been almost three months since she broke up. I’ve been slowly getting better,…
Read MoreWhat Kind of Life Do You Want?
by Dennis Abernathy I recently read this observation about today’s society: “Modern society wants entertainment instead of enrichment and a ‘good time’ rather than a ‘good life.'” Sadly, we see this played out in many people’s lives, and none of us are immune to the temptation to want the same. Instead of being spiritually enriched,…
Read MoreNot Peace but a Sword?
by Terry Wane Benton What did Jesus mean here? Does it contradict other verses that show He came to bring peace on earth? “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father,…
Read MoreCan a person who committed fornication marry someone else?
Question: Good day. I have a question concerning your answer: Do I have to marry the man I committed fornication with? My question for you is: Can the lady who asked the question get married to another person? If yes, won’t that count as adultery for her and the man she marries? Thank you. Answer:…
Read MoreYour Taste Buds
by Frank Jamerson The word taste is used in many different ways. It may refer to sampling (I’ll taste your dessert), preference (that house fits my taste), ability to recognize (she has a taste for men’s clothes), or to experience (he had a taste of freedom). The context in which it is used often determines…
Read MoreWhat Shall We Do with Jesus?
by Doy Moyer Jesus does not allow us to be neutral about Him. We are not left with the option of just calling Jesus a good man while denying His claims. If He was not who He claimed to be, He was delusional at best and a lying manipulator at worst. Or if, as some…
Read MoreMust married couples have children?
Question: Hello Mr. Hamilton! I hope this finds you well! I have a question and wanted to hear your thoughts on it. I don’t know of any verse that says Christians, if married, should have children. However, in I Timothy 5:14, Paul says he wants widows to bear children. Does that mean they have to?…
Read MoreGod’s People in an Ungodly World
Text: Matthew 7 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Gods-People-in-an-Ungodly-World.mp3 by Don Bunting One (or Two) Chapter Lessons
Read MoreUnderstanding Bible Faith
Text: Hebrews 11 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Understanding-Bible-Faith.mp3 by Don Bunting One (or Two) Chapter Lessons
Read MoreTwo Reasons to Follow Jesus
Text: Hebrews 1-2 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Two-Reasons-to-Follow-Jesus.mp3 by Don Bunting One (or Two) Chapter Lessons
Read MorePerilous Times in the Last Days
Text: II Timothy 3 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Perilous-Times-in-the-Last-Days.mp3 by Don Bunting One (or Two) Chapter Lessons
Read MoreThe Winning Side
by Doy Moyer “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death” (Revelation 12:11). Revelation employs the imagery of the red dragon (Satan) who underlies the opposition to God and His people. The…
Read MoreImagined Obstacles
by Ray Warfel, Jr. “Praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned” (Colossians 4:3). I wonder if there is a play on the language here.…
Read MoreWhat Christianity Is All About
Text: Ephesians 1 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/What-Christianity-Is-All-About.mp3 by Don Bunting One (or Two) Chapter Lessons
Read MoreReasons to Believe in Jesus
Text: Matthew 1-2 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Reasons-to-Believe-in-Jesus.mp3 by Don Bunting One (or Two) Chapter Lessons
Read MoreHow do I teach my family?
Question: Good day, Minister, I have been subscribed to La Vista Church of Christ emails for a while now, and I’ve really benefitted from it. But now I have a problem of my own. I’m the youngest child of several siblings, and my siblings are all boys. I turned 18 recently, but I became a…
Read MoreMy Voice
by Chadwick Brewer “Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:19-20). Have you ever wondered why God never asked us to have choirs…
Read MoreOne Reason Congregations Fail
by Perry Hall Why are congregations failing? If one answer can be given, groups rely on man’s wisdom rather than God’s. An example of this faulty thinking is found in the eldership. A common model for choosing elders and how these elders “rule” is the business model. The misaligned thinking is if they are successful…
Read MoreDoes God Give Us a Pattern to Follow?
by Terry Wane Benton The total evidence of scripture is that God is a God of order and expects us to follow the pattern of sound words in everything we do (II Timothy 1:13; Colossians 3:17; ICorinthians 14:33ff). God’s Patterns Noah had a pattern to follow in building the ark (Genesis 6:22). He had to…
Read MoreLooking for a Man
by Dene Ward via FlightPaths.org Sometimes, I wish we had taught classes in our churches specifically about what to look for in a mate. I have seen too many young people looking at only the outer man to decide whether he is suitable to marry. One of the best pieces of advice I ever got…
Read MoreOf Necessary Inferences Again
by Terry Wane Benton All my detractors say they believe in necessary inferences, but then they act like I made some point that was counter to their understanding of necessary inference. So, I will define my terms and show that all I have said is beyond dispute on any legitimate level of common sense reason.…
Read MoreWhere does the Bible say the people of Babel defied God?
Question: Good day, I’m slightly confused about Scripture and interpretation here. The story of Babel is always propped up as a story of man’s defiance of God’s will, but nowhere do I see the Bible actually state that they defied God. Yes, they did go against God’s command. God wanted people to disperse around the…
Read MoreJesus, the Master Teacher
by Doy Moyer Teaching is hard work. Trying to determine the best approach to teaching a variety of people from diverse backgrounds brings many challenges. What appeals to one group might not appeal to another. Some will hear what others will not, and Scripture anticipates this (e.g., Isaiah 6:9-10). Add to this the ample warnings…
Read MoreWhy does Mark 1:2-3 says it quotes Isaiah when it is not just from Isaiah?
Question: Good day, First, I need to say that I tried to find this answer. I’m unaware if you have answered this. I’m just struggling with the ‘new’ answers page as the old search mechanic allowed me to find the answers I’m looking for quicker, but I’ll probably still get used to it using the…
Read MoreWas Acts 2:36 a Necessary Inference?
by Terry Wane Benton Peter presented many powerful points of evidence from the Jews’ own scriptures and eyewitness testimony in Acts 2:22-35, and he brought his presentation of evidence to a conclusive “therefore.” This word signals that he draws necessary inferences from the facts presented. “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly …”…
Read MorePossible Inference Versus Necessary Inference
by Terry Wane Benton It is “of necessity” (necessary) “a change of the Law” for Jesus to be a priest since He was not a Levite (Hebrews 7:11f). In other words, the evidence of Psalms 110 and Jesus being that priest after the order of Melchizedek forces the necessary implication that the Law of Moses…
Read MoreThe Providence of God and Miracles
by Osamagbe Lesley Egharevba via Unmasking Sophistry, Vol. 4, No. 2, April-June 2024 It is a common teaching among the Pentecostals that miracles exist today. We often hear various claims among different churches about certain miracles that were performed. Sadly, even among some members of the churches of Christ, there seem to be those who…
Read MoreThe Reformation Movement
by Andy Sochor via Unmasking Sophistry, Vol. 4, No. 2, April-June 2024 In terms of general “church” history, it is difficult to overstate the importance of the Reformation Movement. As we have already studied, the Roman Catholic Church dominated the world – religiously and politically. As “Christianity” became the official religion of the Roman Empire,…
Read MoreMisconceptions About the Lord’s Supper
by Osamagbe Lesley Egharevba via Unmasking Sophistry, Vol. 4, No. 2, April-June 2024 One of the acts of worship the New Testament church engaged in was the Lord’s Supper. It is also called “the breaking of bread” (Acts 2:42; Acts 20:7), “the Communion” (I Corinthians 10:16), or “the Lord’s table” (I Corinthians 10:21). In Acts…
Read MoreTeaching the Old Lessons
by Mark White Occasionally, some well-meaning but misguided brother will chide us for teaching the old lessons. He will say, “You are answering questions no one is asking any longer.” By this, he means to squelch our teaching on the first principles of Gospel obedience and salvation by grace through faith; the nature, organization, and…
Read MoreHow do I know I received the Holy Spirit?
Question: Good morning, Thank you for all the helpful resources available through this website. I have found this site to be very helpful. I have read many of the articles you have regarding re-baptism, and I would like to gain further insight into this topic. I was baptized at the age of 14. However, I…
Read MoreOne (or Two) Chapter Lessons
by Don Bunting April 7-10, 2024 Simple topics presented in a single context Reasons to Believe in Jesus (Matthew 1-2) What Christianity Is All About (Ephesians 1) Perilous Times in the Last Days (II Timothy 3) Two Reasons to Follow Jesus (Hebrews 1-2) Understanding Bible Faith (Hebrews 11) God’s People in an Ungodly World (Matthew…
Read MoreHebrews: Encouragement to Remain Faithful
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Hebrews-Encouragement-to-Remain-Faithful.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 10:19-25 I. The book of Hebrews interleaves evidence of the superiority of Christ, His covenant, and His church with encouragement to the brethren to remain faithful. A. After giving evidence that Jesus is God’s son, the writer said – Hebrews 2:1-4 B. Jesus was a faithful son and so must…
Read MoreMorality Without Godliness
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Kings 6:24-31 I. Some people have a pretty good sense of morality and yet are not interested in following God A. For example, not all atheists are immoral people B. But there is a problem with the consistency of their moral standards. II. Jehoram A. Jehoram was not a good man, but his…
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