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What is the difference between “them” and “all others” in II Corinthians 9:13
Question: “By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others” (II Corinthians 9:13 ESV). Is there any difference between “for them” and “for all others”? Are they both needy…
Read MoreIs it repentance if I sin just this once and never do it again?
Question: There is an assignment that I was supposed to complete, and I had ample time to do it, but I didn’t, which I admit was wrong of me. I look to change this attitude in the future. The root cause is social media. I know I must repent of that and not spend too…
Read MoreIs this a good way to do a word study?
Question: I’ve been working on a personal Greek word study structure because I want to gain a deeper understanding of the original meanings of biblical words. I’ve created a layout for how I approach these studies, and I’d appreciate your feedback. This is what I have so far, and I’d love to get your advice on…
Read MoreWas “hell” changed to “hades” to support the idea of purgatory?
Question: Good day, I received the following letter: You’re wrong, brother. The word was changed from “hell” to “Hades” as a way for the church to support purgatory, which is not true. There is no purgatory for sanctification, as sanctification is done here on Earth through the Holy Spirit who dwells within true believers. To…
Read MoreWhy do people change the teachings of Christ?
Question: Hello there! My primary question is this: How can “Christians” claim to love the Lord and accept the Bible as truth, block out, look over, or misconceptualize truths in the Bible that cover their salvation and how to worship? The best thing I can think of is: It’s so traditional that their hearts are…
Read MoreIs baptism by immersion valid?
Question: Is baptism by immersion valid? Ezekiel prophesied, “I will sprinkle clean water upon you.” Doesn’t that verse mean baptism is to be done by sprinkling and not immersion? Peter said we are “sprinkled with the blood of Christ.” Also, Peter baptized in Jerusalem on Pentecost, where there wouldn’t have been deep enough water to…
Read MoreAre all denominations false?
Question: Are all denominations false? Did Jesus ever command anyone to create denominations? To me, it seems that denominations are man-made religions, not something the Lord initiated. I don’t believe God leads people to follow a particular denomination or to find their identity in one. Many people proudly call themselves Pentecostal, Baptist, Methodist, and so…
Read MoreCan a person have the gift of recognizing and casting out evil spirits today?
Question: I came across your website and have been encouraged by your biblical answers. Thank you for having it available. My friend professes to have the spiritual blessing of recognizing evil spirits in others and casting them out. He has mentioned examples of this. I was unsure about that, so it seems possible after searching…
Read MoreShould someone work for a company that is involved in alcohol and gambling?
Question: Hi Jeffrey, I hope all is well with you. I would appreciate your thoughts about a company’s activities and the Bible’s guidance on working for that company. The company in question is a large retailer that does much good for society by providing food and other items at low prices. However, the retailer also…
Read MoreMy cousin left after announcing he was gay
Question: Hello pastor, My congregation is a close-knit congregation. The majority of us are family. My cousin, who was baptized in our church, has recently told the congregation that he is gay and that he does not want to be part of the church, he never believed in God, etc. This destroyed his family. He…
Read MoreMy cousin is upset that I didn’t invite her to my wedding
Question: Hello Pastor, I have a question that has been on my mind recently. I was reading in Matthew something like, “If your brother has something against you, leave your offering at the altar and reconcile.” I remembered a circumstance that happened a while ago, and it’s worrying me if I’m right with the Lord. I wonder…
Read MoreHow can I know that God has forgiven me?
Question: How can I know that God has truly forgiven me? And how can I be sure I’m now free to move forward without needing to return? Answer: Paul tells us that God cannot lie — not will not lie, or sometimes doesn’t lie, God is not capable of lying (Titus 1:2). It is God who…
Read MoreOutstanding article on the date of Revelation
Question: I came across Steve Hamilton’s articles on the date of the Revelation, and I just have to say: Outstanding! He writes like a true scholar, backing up every word with primary source references. Please forward this to him! I’ve added his articles to my library. Answer: I’m sure he will be happy to see your…
Read MoreWhat does unity look like?
Question: Dear Jeffrey, I’m struggling a bit with what unity really means in light of scripture, and I’d appreciate your guidance. From my study, I understand unity to involve being “of the same mind and judgment” as in I Corinthians 1:10-11, and having the humility and love described in Philippians 2:1-5. This seems to point toward…
Read MoreShould parents visit their homosexual children?
Question: Jeff, I have a question regarding a situation someone close to me is in. I’m wondering if I need to say something to them or not. They are a couple in the congregation. They have a daughter who, unfortunately, is a homosexual. She is (to my understanding) married to another woman and lives in…
Read MoreShould churches have a Mother’s Day event?
Question: Should churches have a Mother’s Day event? Answer: Why? Where do you find God requiring churches to create special events around secular holidays? After all, Mother’s Day in the United States started in 1908 and became an officially recognized day in 1914. It is easy to get caught up in seeing the “good” and…
Read MoreHow do I straighten out the mess I’ve made?
Question: Dear servant of God, For 17 years now, I have lived with the woman I consider my wife because we have three children together. Last year, she slept out in another man’s house while on a trip to our home area, and I immediately realized what was happening. Once she returned to where we…
Read MoreIs using a VPN wrong?
Question: Hello, I’ve seen that you answer practical questions from people. I’ve been struggling with a dilemma about using a VPN to evade geographical restrictions imposed by the commercial blockade on Cuba. I’m working on a website for affiliate marketing. I didn’t consider the VPN, but that started to resonate with me because I decided…
Read MoreCan we use “saint” as a title?
Question: Good evening, dear brother. I saw a flyer by a church that referred to its speakers as Saint … . My question is can we use saint as a title? Answer: I suppose there is as much justification for using “saint” as a title as there is for using “brother” as a title. All Christians are…
Read MoreWas Noah Sinning?
by Perry Hall In Genesis 9, Noah gets drunk. Ham’s actions follow, leading to a curse. Noah was not cursed. Was drunkenness, therefore, not a sin? This is a good example of allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture, specifically showing how Genesis Narratives help explain other Genesis Narratives. The Bible keeps telling the same stories, just…
Read MoreIs it proper for a woman to preach?
Question: Good day, Minister, I am reaching out because I was searching to see if it was okay for a woman to preach in a church. I read a lot, and your breakdown was more understandable and less depressing. I recently joined a church, but women run it. The church members are doing everything in…
Read MoreWhat happened to the dead raised at Jesus’ death?
Question: Good evening, Minister, This question has been lingering on my mind for quite a while now. In Matthew, we read of the dead being resurrected after Jesus died. So what happened to these people? I know the Bible is silent on what happened to them, but I was just thinking: Where did they live?…
Read MoreIs it OK for a Christian to be a “sugar baby” or to engage in “sugar dating”?
Question: Is it OK for a Christian to be a “sugar baby” or to engage in “sugar dating”? Answer: “Sugar Dating” is described as one partner who is wealthy and often older, giving financial support to someone in exchange for companionship and sexual intimacy. The relationship puts pleasure before righteousness. It is wrong because it…
Read MoreWhat if a ride sharing program is used to commit a crime?
Question: My question is: Should I continue to be friends with someone who takes someone to the grocery store to steal? My friend works as a ride-sharing driver (Uber, Lyft, etc.). He was recently baptized, but he continues to take people to stores, knowing that they are stealing from the stores. He says he has…
Read MoreIs it wrong to attend a different church after being baptized?
Question: Greetings Brother, I want to know if it’s wrong, once we’re baptized, to worship at a church other than a Church of Christ. Answer: I’m puzzled. If you were baptized at a church of Christ because you realized you need to obey the Lord and you realized the church taught the truth regarding baptism,…
Read MoreWhat do you know about the Prophecy of the Popes?
Question: Do you know about the prophecy of the popes? I don’t agree with the approach the Catholics use because they’ve strayed far from the biblical teaching that the New Testament has for us. There has been considerable uproar about this since the passing of Pope Francis. People seem to think that this pope’s passing…
Read MoreIt is unfair that I can’t marry again
Question: Dear Sir: Along with greeting you, I would appreciate an answer to my following question from a biblical perspective. My first marriage lasted six years, and despite having certain doubts before getting married, I chose to do so to avoid fornication and because I wanted to start my own family. The truth is, I…
Read More“Fulfill” doesn’t imply ended
Question: “Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished” (Matthew 5:17-18). You…
Read MoreIs it proper to take pleasure in the death of the wicked?
Question: Does the city in Proverbs 11:10 take pleasure in the death of the wicked? Answer: “When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting” (Proverbs 11:10). Everyone is happy when things go well with the righteous because the righteous is generous with his blessings…
Read MoreThe Original Recycler
by David Gibson Recycling is in vogue, but our generation can’t take credit for it. God is the Original Recycler. God uses evaporation and condensation to turn filthy water into fresh water. He created the decay process, utilizing microbes and vultures to manage the carrion. God made our bodies fully biodegradable. Some of us, I’m…
Read MoreAre preachers prophets?
Question: Good afternoon. My family and I are members of the Church of Christ, and I have been reading your articles on your church website for several years now, learning a great deal. If you don’t mind responding to this email, I would greatly appreciate it. Recently, the preacher at our church mentioned that he…
Read MoreWhy didn’t Jesus know there were no figs on the tree?
Question: When our Lord cursed the fig tree, did He know that there was no fruit on it, or was knowledge withheld temporarily? Answer: The account is found in Matthew 21:18-19 and Mark 11:12-14. Early in the morning, Jesus left Bethany for Jerusalem. Seeing a leafy fig tree beside the road and being hungry, Jesus…
Read MoreHow do I deal with traditional beliefs and practices?
Dear Jeffrey I have begun a journey where I truly desire to know God for myself, not just through what others have taught me, but through personal revelation and understanding. However, I am currently wrestling with some spiritual issues that I hope you can help me gain clarity on, especially as they relate to certain…
Read MoreIf I don’t make peace with someone, will this be judged on Judgment Day?
Question: The passage that I’m concerned about is Matthew 5:25-26. Is this saying that if I don’t make peace with someone I have hurt, the situation will be judged in court on judgment day? I am trying my best to clarify what this passage means for me. I know we are all saved by grace,…
Read MoreIt is hard to find a Christian to date
Question: To Whom It May Concern, I am a 27-year-old male, never married, and have no children. I’m single and am a member of a local church of Christ. My question is regarding relationships. There are no opportunities for me to date where I am a member. I want to wait on the Lord patiently…
Read MoreIs it right to dismiss a preacher because he married a non-Christian?
Question: Hello, First, thank you for all you do to answer these difficult questions. They have helped me a lot on my Christian journey. My question concerns something that happened very recently at my congregation; our youth group had two ministers helping and supporting all the activities (spiritual and recreational), and they were doing a…
Read MoreWhat if I hid the fact that I’m a Christian?
Question: Good day, Minister, I am a fellow member of the church of Christ. I’m hoping you can provide me with some insight: If I said that I wouldn’t disclose that I was a Christian and also encouraged my mom not to disclose that she is a Christian as well, and others heard it, would…
Read MoreDo miracles still happen?
Question: Do miracles, such as healing, speaking in tongues, etc., still happen? I have seen videos on YouTube about how a very crippled woman was healed (her testimony), and another video of how a non-speaking boy was also healed and still speaks. Answer: Consider whether the evidence given would stand up in a court. Do…
Read MoreWhy was the bread offered at Pentecost to be made with leaven?
Question: Hi Jeffrey, “You shall bring from your dwellings two wave loaves of two-tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven. They are the firstfruits to the LORD” (Leviticus 23:17 NKJV) Here, God says the leaven is needed when Jews were baking the loaves of bread sacrificed…
Read MoreIn Matthew 26:29, what does “new” refer to?
Question: Hi Jeffrey, In “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29 NKJV), what’s the “new”? And what is “that day”? How can we drink the new cup with…
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