How do I repent of stealing from my neighbors?
Question: Hello, I have sinned for many years. I recently gave my life to Christ. I repented to the Lord of all my sins. I am devoting the rest of my existence to serving the Lord Jesus Christ. One of my biggest sins was being a thief for many years. I stole mainly to survive,…
Read MoreShould we send our son to a therapeutic boarding school?
Question: Dear Minister, I have two sons: A is 13, and B is 9. Both are adopted and are non-biological siblings. My husband and I have had both boys since they were infants. We go to church twice a week, pray and study the word together every day, the boys go to an excellent private…
Read MoreI can’t find a job
Question: Good day, I’m 20. I’ve been searching for a new job since I lost my previous one. I’m a web developer and a graphics designer. It has been frustrating searching for a new one. I’ve been rejected more times than I can count. I even got an acceptance email, and I never got a follow-up after that.…
Read MoreFour Challenges of Evangelism
by Andy Cantrell There are countless reasons why Christians struggle with evangelism, but I believe the following four categories cover most, if not all, of those reasons. They are Care, Consciousness, Courage, and Craft. Most of the excuses we are willing to vocalize come from the last three areas. We are willing to admit we…
Read MoreThe Sabbath
by Terry Wane Benton The Sabbath day was for Israel to have a day of rest. Paul, by the Spirit, said that sabbaths, among many other things, were a “shadow” of the good things to come (Colossians 2:13-16). Since the shadows lead up to the substance that cast the shadow (Jesus), the substance takes preeminence.…
Read MoreThe Gospel Perverted
by Terry Wane Benton It wasn’t that the Judaizing teachers did not believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. They did. So, how were they “perverting the gospel” (Galatians1:6-10)? They were adding to what the apostles preached. They demanded that circumcision and old law typology be brought in with what the apostles preached…
Read MoreJesus, Alive Forevermore
by Doy Moyer “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades” (Revelation 1:17-18). This is how Jesus described Himself after John saw the great vision of “one like…
Read MoreThank you for the many resources
Question: Good morning, I just wanted to say thank you for the many resources y’all provide on the website. They have been very helpful in my studies. May we continually grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Answer: Thank you for the encouragement.
Read MoreTheism
by Zeke Flores Theism is alive and well. Aside from those religions that venerate men (Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, and Islam, to name a few), some worship supernatural deities (Greek mythology, Hinduism, and many other Eastern religions). There are gods of our own making (money, sex, relationships) which we hope will save us from _________ (fill in…
Read MoreDo I have to marry the man I committed fornication with?
Question: Hi. I am a born-again Christian woman. I have committed fornication with a younger man who is still in college and who is also a Christian. I have realized that it is wrong and repented since then, and I have not had any further sexual relationships with him. I have also avoided communicating with…
Read MoreIs God Responsible for Ahab Doing Wrong?
by Tommy Peeler Is God responsible for Ahab doing the wrong thing? Ahab is ready to go to war without inquiring of God (I Kings 22:4-5). When 400 prophets tell him that he will take Ramoth-Gilead, Ahab is content, but Jehoshaphat wants to inquire of a prophet of the LORD (I Kings 22:6-7). Ahab does…
Read MoreThe Reliability of the Bible
by Zeke Flores There are several ways to establish the reliability of the Bible. One is by manuscript evidence. There are thousands of manuscripts, both whole and partial, of Old and New Testament books that provide harmonized agreement on the teaching of the Bible. Though the original documents are long lost, many of the copies…
Read MoreThe Solution for Sins
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Corinthians 6:9-11 Sin was a big problem in the church at Corinth. It is a big problem worldwide and throughout all time. But Jesus offers a solution to sin: Washed Sanctified Justified Cleansed Set apart for a holy purpose Made right before the law Justified When we sin,…
Read MoreTime to Reflect
by Terry Wane Benton If you are bored, you are not studying and thinking about the rich treasures available to be enjoyed in Christ. When Paul and Silas were in prison, do you think they had time to be bored? Reflect on what gives you purpose and drive. Do you have a proper hunger and…
Read MoreCan you be forgiven in old age if you willfully sinned in your youth?
Question: Good day, minister, I have been faced with this question a few times and even got the question recently again, but I never had any real good answer to it. I have read your article about deathbed repentance, but my question doesn’t really extend that far. Whether it is scriptural or not, I refuse…
Read MoreShould I arrange for someone to study with my son?
Question: Good morning sir. I hope you are well. My son, who is 14 years old, has shared that he wants to be baptized into the Lord. I don’t know if, at his age, he understands and wants to be baptized for the right reasons. I had planned to arrange for someone from the church…
Read MoreThanks for the help with my OCD
Question: Thanks so much for all the help you have given me over the years. Answering questions by email and speaking to me on the phone. I am very thankful. I have truly learned so much over the years. I got hooked up with NOCD last year, and the counselor I’ve been working with has…
Read MoreDenominationalism
by Doy Moyer Denominationalism today is not just about one particular doctrine but a mindset that relates to how we think about the Lord’s body. Denominational thinking perceives the church (universal) as comprised of an interconnected web of congregations instead of seeing the church as comprised of individual Christians without respect to time or location.…
Read MoreWhy are the laws for remarriage different between the Old Law and New Law?
Question: If the marriage law is universal, why is the remarriage law in Deuteronomy 24 different from Romans 7:2 in that the guilty party who gets married to a second spouse can go back to his/her first husband? Answer: The two laws of God are different. “Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I…
Read MoreDid I defile myself by sexually touching a woman?
Question: Greetings, I just wanted to know if I sexually touched a woman with clothes on but no intercourse, did I defile myself as Revelation 14:4 says? “These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and…
Read MoreWhen There Seems to Be No Fish Out in the Sea
by Orlando Gonzalez The Western World widely sees the month of February as a time for love, a significant period in the year to celebrate romance, to be more specific. Romantic relationships have become a primary focus for many (no surprise there), especially for those who are single and sincerely want to take the next…
Read MoreWhat Is God to You?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/What-Is-God-to-You.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreInstrumental Music
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Instrumental-Music.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreDoes the type of water matter in baptism?
Question: Dear Minister, Thank you for your website. It has a lot of good stuff. It is really awesome. Thanks. And thanks for being willing to answer questions by email. Is any water type (fresh, chlorinated, salt, a bit muddy, etc) acceptable before God for baptism? As far as I know, no one but me…
Read MoreIs saying “in the precious name of Jesus” at the end of a prayer wrong?
Question: Dear brother, Recently, a brother in the congregation insisted that it is wrong and unscriptural to end one’s prayer with the phrase “in the precious name of Jesus.” He insisted that adding the adjective “precious” is tantamount to adding to the word of God. He has quoted a La Vista Church of Christ article…
Read MoreJesus, the Good Shepherd
by Doy Moyer One of the great figures for the Messiah is that of the Good Shepherd. Jesus refers to Himself as the “door of the sheep,” but He is more than that. “I am the good shepherd,” He claimed (John 10:11). We will consider more in that context, but let’s back up a little.…
Read MoreIs Matthew 5 only for the Jews?
Question: Hello, A friend of mine who is against divorce and remarriage says that Matthew 5 has a “Jewish element,” that is, the word “council” in Matthew 5:22, so it is a chapter only for Jews and not for Christians. What do you think about that? Thank you. Answer: This is a variation of an…
Read MoreAre the churches of Christ the only correct church?
Question: Hi Jeffery, In the article “Wasn’t Babel the city of Eridu?” you mentioned, “You will not find any claim that the churches of Christ are the only correct church on this site.” Do you no longer believe in the one true church? I understand that not every church with the name “church of Christ”…
Read MoreRejoice in the Lord Always
by Terry Wane Benton It is noteworthy that Paul had been in prison for two years in Caesarea, then had a terrible shipping mishap from Caesarea to Rome, and was under house arrest in Rome for two more years, but writes to the Philippian brethren to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). He did…
Read MoreComplaints About God’s People
by Doy Moyer I grew up in California. I have worked and lived in several states across the U.S. over several decades. And I have found this consistent pattern: Christians are good people. They are loving, giving, and striving to do what is right. None that I know claim perfection. But they want to please…
Read MoreDoes a Christian have to believe in a young earth?
Question: Good day!I hope you are well. I have a rather strange question. I do believe the Bible literally without question where it needs to be, but I’ve never really even thought of asking this question before, even though it seems to be an obvious question. The question is this: Does a Christian have to…
Read MoreI liked the way you handled a heckler
Question: I just read something that the minister wrote about a question where somebody asked about masturbation and prostitution. The guy got mad at being corrected and chastised the minister. He said that he was judging him and called him a liar, but he didn’t say that. Meanwhile, the minister highlighted the man’s own quote…
Read MoreCalling Attention to the Heart
by Doy Moyer One can work and not have faith, but one cannot have a living faith and not work. One can do for others and not have love, but one cannot love and not do for others. We may be prone to evaluating the outward works, the visible doing, “but the LORD looks on…
Read MoreAn Honorable Man: Mordecai
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/An-Honorable-Man-Mordecai.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Corinthians 13:1-10 I. Because of Paul’s late arrival on the scene, his apostleship was at times questioned. A. In Corinth, though established by Paul, the church struggled with many sins. 1. There were some among the Corinthians less inclined to correct their problems or to heed Paul’s rebukes 2. Paul warned…
Read MoreCan I Know for Sure?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Can-I-Know-For-Sure.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I John 5 I. Salvation means forgiveness of sins, but it also means a better life on earth and spending eternity with our God in heaven – Luke 18:29-30 A. Such a gift is immeasurably valuable – Matthew 13:44-46 B. We should not be anxious – Philippians 4:6-7 C. See the confidence…
Read MoreWhen Miracles Ceased
by Jefferson David Tant Miraculous events were commonplace in the Old and New Testaments, beginning with Creation, when God “spoke” and the heavens and the earth came into existence. A true miracle is basically the suspension of or overriding the laws of nature. The word is used rather loosely today, as people refer to the…
Read MoreIs wasting food a sin?
Question: Hello, Brother in Christ! I recently got into a discussion about the usage of food in certain parlor games and advertisement tactics. In these situations, people would buy food and use it as paraphernalia to perform the game mechanics or as a way to advertise a product. The result of this is that the…
Read MoreHow can you discount near-death experiences?
Question: Hello, I have a few comments about near-death experiences. First, you answered “No” to Job’s question: “If a man dies, shall he live again?” To me, your answer is not biblical unless I misunderstand you. Jesus Christ promised eternal life for those who repent while on Earth and believe in him. So if one…
Read MoreConvict the World of Sin
by Terry Wane Benton The Holy Spirit used the revelation He gave to Peter to “convict the world of sin” (John 16:8; Acts 2:22-37). When they heard the convicting truth, they felt a need to be saved. Without telling the world of sin, no one feels a need to be saved. Everyone thinks they are…
Read MoreHow can the King of Moab sacrificing his son cause great wrath against Israel?
Question: Can you also explain II Kings 3:26-27 for me? I’m confused as to how the King of Moab sacrificing his son would cause great wrath against Israel and then cause (what it sounds like to be) the servants of Israel (or Moab?) to withdraw and return back to their country. Answer: II Kings 3:27…
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