Is it wrong for a spouse to move back in with elderly parents to take care of them?
Question: Is a wife moving back in part-time (several days and nights per week) with her parents to provide care a violation of Ephesians 5:31? Her elderly parents will not accept paid help (strangers) in their home even though they can afford it and the arrangement could foreseeably be for months or possibly a couple…
Read MoreIs eating balut or anchovies wrong?
Question: Hello brother, I read this post as part of my research and study: Was eating blood only wrong because it was associated with idolatry? We’ve also been teaching this in our local congregation, and I agree with everything that you wrote here. As mentioned, I’m doing my research because I came across a question that…
Read MoreMeasured to Us
by Doy Moyer “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:2). “Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same…
Read MoreGenetic Link Between Marijuana Use and Psychiatric Disorders
Source: “Shared Genetics for Cannabis Use and Psychiatric Disorders,” Neuroscience News, 21 May 2023. “Researchers discovered shared genetic underpinnings for cannabis use and psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.” “Some genetic variants can have opposing effects – increasing risk of cannabis use while decreasing the risk of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.” “These findings may…
Read MoreIs it a sin to marry an unbeliever?
Question: Please, I’d like you, sir, to answer this question. It’s also a problem that’s come into our congregation and I would like you to please explain to me what the scripture says about this. Our preacher is teaching us that it is a sin to marry an unbeliever. He interrupts everyone claiming to believe…
Read MoreAm I wrong to see a non-Christian doctor?
Question: As a patient who needs to have an appointment for a potentially serious health issue, is it acceptable according to God’s Word for the patient to see a doctor who is most likely not a Christian? I would prefer that the doctor be a Christian, but in the location where we live, the non-Christian…
Read MoreAm I failing because I don’t lead prayers in the congregation?
Question: I have followed your site for many years and asked a few questions from time to time. Now I have a big one. I have been a member of the church of Christ for many years. I do sermon readings, I always participate with answers in class, I say the prayers at the Lord’s…
Read MoreIs there hope for me to overcome pornography?
Question: I’m a Christian and a member of the church of Christ. I’ve been married for 20 years. For most of those years, I have struggled with pornography. Nobody knows this about me. I’m also a very weak Christian. Here’s how the cycle works for me: I watch porn, masturbate, feel guilty, pray for forgiveness,…
Read MoreThe Holy Spirit (Fulford)
by Hugh Fulford Quite possibly more confusion exists with reference to the Holy Spirit than any other Bible subject. The divine personality of the Holy Spirit is not recognized by many people; how He works in the conviction and conversion of sinners and in the life of a Christian is often misunderstood. A single essay…
Read MoreThe Quiet People
by Matthew W. Bassford Let us exalt the quiet people. Let us consider and honor them. They are nothing in the sight of the world and too often nothing in the sight of their brethren, but they are choice and precious in the sight of God. Every congregation has them. They assemble faithfully each Lord’s…
Read MoreDid Jesus take some of the dead with him to heaven?
Question: Good morning, sir, In Ephesians 4:8, “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men,” Do you have a lesson on this? Does it mean that Jesus took some of the dead to heaven with him? Answer: “And you were dead in your trespasses and…
Read MoreThe Right Kind of Preaching
by Cled E. Wallace (1892-1962) Much is being said about the right kind of preaching and writing. Charges of hard and soft are being bandied back and forth. With as plain a book as the New Testament in hand and with its abundant supply of examples of the very best preaching and writing, it ought…
Read MoreThe Importance of Our Thoughts in Motivation
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/The-Importance-of-Our-Thoughts-in-Motivation.mp3 by Garry Floyd
Read MoreFearful or Cowardly?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Fearful-or-Cowardly.mp3 by Austin Hausner
Read MoreA Death, a Burial, a Resurrection
by Doy Moyer Josiah was one of the greater kings of Judah who initiated reform and called the people back to God. Sadly, his reforms did not last and the people soon reverted to evil after his death. While Josiah himself would not live to see Judah taken into captivity, his children, who did not…
Read MoreGod’s Will for Motivation
God’s Will for Motivation (Part 1)God’s Will for Motivation (Part 2) by Garry Floyd
Read MoreShamefastness and Dress
by Jerry Fite In the context of holiness, Paul instructs women to ”adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefastness and sobriety; not with braided hair, and gold or pearls or costly raiment; but (which becometh women professing godliness) through good works” (I Timothy 2:9-10). We communicate many things about ourselves through dress. It should not…
Read MoreDealing with Criticism (Grushon)
by Mike Grushon One of the persistent problems young people must overcome is criticism from adults. Paul exhorted Timothy to conduct himself in such a way that he would give no one a basis of truth for such criticism (I Timothy 4:12). Unfortunately, some choose to criticize the young even if they do not provide…
Read MoreTeaching with Care
by Doy Moyer “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness” (James 3:1). For men and women who choose to teach in whatever capacity provided by the Lord, this passage can generate conflicting feelings. On the one hand, we know the…
Read MoreCan I get baptized while being in a relationship?
Question: I’m a 21-year-old male. My Father is a pastor. I’m in a relationship with my sister-in-law. Now I wanted to take baptism, but I have concerns. Do we need to break our relationship in order to get baptized? She is a very good girl, and I preached the gospel to her and made her…
Read MoreI think it’s bizarre that people do NOT think prophecy has been fulfilled
Question: Just read your article on AD 70 Doctrine. I think it’s bizarre that people do not think prophecy has been fulfilled. I mean, our Lord clearly said “this generation” will not pass until “all” is fulfilled. I do not understand why people can’t accept this. The Bible nowhere teaches the end of the physical…
Read MoreOf Moods and Motivation
by Jason Moore There are days I don’t feel like working. There are days when I’m around people that I don’t want to be. I’d rather not smile. I’d rather be alone and not be bothered. Moods are peculiar things. Like the weather, they’re hard to predict. They are affected by so many variables –…
Read MoreThe Hands That Hang Down
by Terry Wane Benton They were beaten down. Their possessions were plundered, and family and friends were speaking evil of them. They were Christians on the verge of quitting. But, Paul wanted to remind them of the superiority and greatness of Christ, so he penned Hebrews with word pictures that Christ is all that truly…
Read MoreWhy Aren’t Instruments Part of the Pattern?
by Edwin Crozier Sometimes I fear we have become a people of rules for rules’ sake. No doubt, God has given us a law (I Corinthians 9:21). Certainly, there are rules we should follow. But our God is not a capricious and arbitrary God. He has not established a pattern simply to see how well…
Read MoreNever Again Will They Learn War
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Never-Again-Will-They-Learn-War.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Isaiah 65:17-25 I. King Nebuchadnezzar had enough with the rebellion of Zedekiah, the last king of Judah A. He removed the nobles to retrain them in his ways; yet, the stubborn Jews continued to rebel. Jehoakim was removed and his son Jehoachin was put in his place. B. He removed the…
Read MoreWhat if Judas had given Jesus permission to kill him?
Question: There is a question I have about Judas in the gospels who betrayed Jesus and committed suicide. I was curious that if Judas instead of committing suicide, decided to give Jesus permission to kill him, do you think that Jesus would have done that? Jesus could decide that since he is God and has…
Read MoreHow do I teach others about the Bible?
Question: Good morning minister, It’s a beautiful morning here. I want to first express my appreciation for the good work you are doing and pray that God blesses and supports you as you help many growing Christians know God’s will. I am a nursing student, and in my school, we have only three Christians (members…
Read MoreWhat Does Peace Look Like?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/What-Does-Peace-Look-Like.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 12:5-14 I. A prize was once offered to an artist who best depicted the concept of peace A. One image was of a calm lake perfectly mirroring the distant mountains. Overhead was a blue sky with puffy white clouds. B. Another picture was of rugged, bare mountains with foaming waterfall…
Read MoreThe Wisdom of Abigail
by Matthew W. Bassford The spiritual wisdom of the Bible is usually easy to understand but hard to put into practice. There are few better examples of this than Proverbs 15:1. There are no big words in this verse. The concepts are so simple that a child can understand them. However, even those who have…
Read MoreThe Small Things We Can Do
by Al Diestlekamp A gospel song that has recently become a favorite of mine is “Room in God’s Kingdom,” the lyrics of which acknowledge the value of “the small things that you can do.” While we need citizens in God’s kingdom who can tackle the “big” things, there’s a place for those who will do…
Read MoreWhy Do Most Churches of Christ Use Shaped Note Hymnbooks?
by Wayne S. Walker Question: I’m still doing some research as time permits regarding hymnbooks and how certain practices arose among our brethren. I know the history of shape notes well, but not how the system came to be used (and how widely it still is) among our brethren. A couple of questions you may…
Read MoreDo You Feel Saved?
by Wayne Greeson Are you saved? How do you know you are saved? “I know I am saved because I feel it in my heart,” many often say. But are the feelings of your heart the proper standard to determine your salvation? We do not use this standard in other matters. No one says of…
Read MoreChoirs and Solos
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Choirs-and-Solos.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 13:12-16 I. Satan never stops in his relentless pursuit of God’s people to lead them astray – I Peter 5:8-9 A. In the past, we talked about the introduction of musical instruments into the worship. 1. We showed from scripture that the practice was not authorized by God 2. We showed…
Read MoreCan taking Holy Communion miraculously heal?
Question: Dear friend, I was baptized as an adult who believes in Christ. I was told that he is our Perfector and our Savior. I had previously struggled with lust, hoping to rid my life of pornographic images. After the baptism, I would still sometimes masturbate, which a Christian friend said he once had problems with.…
Read MoreThe Church in Prophecy
by Jerry C. Brewer Over the period of many centuries, the process of revealing God’s eternal purpose in the church was gradual. As parents impart knowledge to their children in portions and parts from infancy to adulthood, God dealt with the human race in the revelation of His eternal purpose. Fed on milk when they…
Read MoreOn What Was Jesus Crucified?
by Jefferson David Tant According to the Jehovah’s Witnesses doctrine, Christ was put to death on a pole, rather than a cross. Notice a quote from their literature. “Jesus did not die on a cross. He died on a pole, or a stake. The Greek word translated ‘cross’ in many Bible verses meant just one…
Read MoreIs the Bible Relevant?
by Dennis Abernathy How relevant is the Bible in today’s world? Some think it isn’t relevant at all. But I submit to you, that if the Bible is not relevant, then God is not relevant, because God cannot be separated from His Word! Thankfully, many millions of people, however, are still finding the Bible relevant…
Read MoreBeware – Hungry Lions
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Beware-Hungry-Lions.mp3 by Joe Greer Lessons to Build Your Faith
Read MoreA Word to Fathers
by Jefferson David Tant Men have some very important roles to fulfill in family life. There are quite a few passages in the Bible, both Old and New Testaments that mention their responsibilities. This article is focused on the relationship with their children that God has given fathers. One of the early passages on this…
Read MoreBeginning to Sink
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Beginning-to-Sink.mp3 by Joe Greer Lessons to Build Your Faith
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