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If I haven’t married yet, can I still be a deacon?
Question: Good day, Bro. Jeffrey, I write this email in order to seek a mature answer and guidance from a well-rounded spiritual leader. Our local church here wants to appoint deacons since we don’t have formally appointed ones. We already studied the apostle Paul’s teachings on appointing deacons based on I Timothy 3:8-12 for many…
Read MoreChurch should just be simple Bible teachings without the unnecessary “frosting” that just adds empty calories to people’s spiritual lives
Question: May God bless you all. I came across your great page and just thanked the Lord for that. Reading through it was just a great piece of God letting me know He has been listening to my questions and thoughts about the church. Recently I have been feeling pretty frustrated with how most churches…
Read MoreDid God send my boyfriend a sign that we should break up?
Question: Hi there, Recently at church, I met this man who right from the start was different from all the other guys I know. He had a deep passion for Christ and was so excited about getting to know him more. His excitement was contagious and I found that through hanging out with him and…
Read MoreI left an abusive marriage. Can I date and remarry?
Question: I divorced a man who hit my son and hit me. His pastor says that I am not allowed to ever remarry and if I date and remarry I will burn in the Lake of fire and hear his words for all eternity in my mind in Hell. My ex-husband did not have sex…
Read MoreI can’t bring myself to stop fornicating
Question: Hello, I have a difficult situation that I blame myself for. I have two children out of wedlock by two different men. I am very ashamed; however, I love my children. I got saved a year ago and just got baptized last week. Anyway, to make a long story short, I have stopped fornicating…
Read MoreIs it all right to stay living with someone until we get married?
Question: Okay so on the subject of living together before marriage: I chose this before I knew God. Now, I am stuck in this situation. I have repented for having premarital sex. My boyfriend and I will be getting married soon. Will I go to hell if I die? I have nowhere else to go…
Read MoreCan we be forgiven when we have had children out of wedlock with different people?
Question: Hi, I have been trying to get on the right path. I know I have sinned and was lost. I made mistakes. I am in a relationship, never married, but we love each other and would like to marry eventually. We have a child together. However, we both have children with other people. What…
Read MoreI’ve sinned with a girl, but our parents won’t let us marry
Question: I was deeply in love with a girl. She is a Hindu and I’m a Christian. We were deeply in love and lost control of our love. We had intercourse and oral sex. We learned that our parents are not willing to let us marry and live happy lives. In anger, I sexually harassed…
Read MoreI kept my boyfriend from penetrating me, but now he won’t talk to me
Question: Hi, I am 27 years old. I’ve kept myself a virgin all these years. I recently met my long-time chase. I told him I was already in a relationship three years ago (that relationship did not work out), so we started talking again and visiting each other. The first time I visited he tried…
Read MoreDo you have to tell everyone you lied to that you lied in order to repent?
Question: Does the Bible say that if you lie, you have to tell whoever you lied to that you did? I am wondering because I have been obsessing over something that is probably stupid to obsess over. Anyway, it was a long time ago, and I don’t even know for sure if I did lie,…
Read MoreThe man I committed adultery with wants to marry me, but I’m not certain it is right
Question: Good evening I’m a child of God who knows the truth about salvation but backslid for many years. I met this man on a speed date. He is a pastor. He runs his own ministry with very few church members. At the time we met earlier this year I was so deep in the…
Read MoreWas the Lord’s Supper a part of the Passover meal?
Question: Greetings, First, I’d like to say that I praise God for your site. I use it for my Bible study and it has really helped me a lot. Now the question I have is whether or not it is sinful for me to be in a church that is teaching we should only use…
Read MoreI don’t know what else to do. If my boyfriend doesn’t come back, I think I will kill myself
Question: I am 22 years and am a final year college student. I don’t know much about this site and when I googled I got this link. I am writing this email seeking help. First I am a Hindu, but I believe in Christ. I want something that convinces me and makes me believe that…
Read MoreHow can a government execute the death penalty when we are told not to take vengeance?
Question: Hello Jeffrey, I have a question about the practice of capital punishment. I was having a discussion with my mom about the matter and we came to the understanding that capital punishment is not lawful in God’s eyes. What confused me was in verse 4. It says “he does not bear the sword in…
Read MorePlease continue to upload your public domain pictures
Question: I wanted to thank you, brethren, for the public domain pictures and would encourage you to continue to upload them. They are very helpful! I am planning on uploading some YouTube videos on baptism and want the videos to be as professional (within reason) as I can make them. These pictures, though black and white, are…
Read MoreShould I leave the Baptist church?
Question: I’ve been up since 5 this morning wrestling through scriptures, websites, my pastor’s teaching from three Wednesday nights ago entitled “Is baptism required or necessary for salvation” and emails from a close friend (who is a Baptist) who is trying to help me study the Scripture. I asked several questions that night at Bible…
Read MoreI don’t know how I got myself into this situation
Question: My boyfriend and I have been together for two years. I am 22 years old and he is 25. Before I meet him, I was on fire for God. I used to tell people about the goodness of God. I am even an armorbearer for my pastor — I carry his Bible and travel…
Read MoreDoes Matthew 19:9 only refer to fornication prior to marriage?
Question: Hi, I am confused about your definition of porneia in Mathew 5:32 and Matthew 19:9. In your answer to the question “My wife is leaving me after only seven months of marriage. Where does this leave me?” you said that: “One of the reasons for the divorce has to be because the other person…
Read MoreAre willful sins irremissible?
Question: Hello, I repented wholeheartedly and believed that I would never (willfully) sin again. I was determined to not sin. I was overjoyed to be baptized for the forgiveness of my sins because I knew what Jesus went through to make it possible, and I thought that surely I would never turn my back and…
Read MoreIs my boyfriend cheating on me or am I just being hormonal?
Question: Hi, I’m having trouble figuring out if I’m being paranoid, or if my soon-to-be husband is cheating on me. I’m 8 months pregnant. I had an episode of angina several days ago. My doctor said it was caused by excessive stress and it could happen again. Now my fiance is being careful with his…
Read MoreGod’s Plan for His People
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2014Fall3GodsPlanForHisPeople.mp3 by Mike Waters The Good Life
Read MoreI’m not happy about my girlfriend’s past and I’m afraid it might happen again
Question: I have been with my girlfriend for about a year. We have known each other for about five years. I’m not happy about her past, and it scares me if she will ever do it again. She had a boyfriend for four years, but it wasn’t a really nice relationship. He treated her badly…
Read MoreMy wife is having an affair and wants a divorce. What do I need to do?
Question: Hello, My wife and I have been married for 15 years. For over five years I have been dealing with jealousy issues because of flirting and her having emotional-type affairs with other men. I felt like my masculinity was in question and if I said the way she was acting bothered me, it seemed…
Read MoreI’m taking prescription medication without a prescription. Will this keep me out of heaven?
Question: I was baptized in a nondenominational Christian church at the age of ten. I fully believed and accepted the message of Jesus Christ and the cross. I backslid at fifteen, had a series of sexual perversions happen to me, and started to use drugs. I have been struggling with drugs ever since. My drugs…
Read MoreIf we were married in a courthouse, does God consider us married? Also, how do I stop lying?
Question: Hi, I have a question for you. My wife is Catholic. We have been married for over a year. She and I were married in a ceremony at the local courthouse; however, we were never married by either a priest or minister. I love her and don’t want her to suffer spiritually. Does God…
Read MoreI feel the Lord doesn’t want me to be happy because He has not sent me a wife
Question: I feel like the Lord does not want me to be happy because He has not sent me the right woman yet that I want to marry. I am already 34 years old and I have a very good job and a lot of good things going on. It just seems like women only…
Read MoreWhen my fiance broke up with me, I slept with another woman. Now they are both mad at me. What do I do?
Question: Hi Jeffrey, I have a child, under the age of five. The child’s mother is my fiance. She’s currently pregnant and expecting my second child. I truly love her with all my heart but things have turned out the worst for me. We have been engaged since last year, and we’ve finalized our wedding…
Read MoreShould I turn myself in because I had sex with a minor?
Question: First of all let me start by saying, your site is amazing. Your answers remain as biblical as possible and I do appreciate that. I read another question that someone else had that was very similar to the situation I am going through now, and reading your response really helped shed light. Nonetheless, I…
Read MoreWhat is the Christian’s new name?
Question: When we accepted Christ we were given a new name and identity. What is our now or name? Answer: The phrase “new name” is only stated three times in the Bible: “The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, And all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which the mouth of…
Read MoreI want to divorce my husband because I don’t find him sexually appealing
Question: I am a girl from India. Here 70% of the marriages are arranged by parents from the same caste and community. I am a person who listens to what my heart says. I am also a physical kind of person, which means I usually get attracted to smart and cute guys. Nature is also…
Read MoreDo I have to confess my sins before the church? I don’t want people to have more reasons to look down on me
Question: I am a born-again Christian, but I have had many problems since I was raised by different people from among my relatives (uncle, aunties, grandpa, etc). I find myself different from others in a bad way mentally and in behavior. This feeling continues to disturb me. It was about ten years ago that I…
Read MoreDo you have an answer key for your study on the Song of Solomon?
Question: Greetings Jeffrey! I’ve been reading and reviewing your lessons on Song of Solomon. It has been very interesting and educational. I was wondering if you had answers to your questions? Some answers are obvious, but not all. I appreciate so very much the work you do in the kingdom of Christ with this site! Answer:…
Read MoreAre there five doctrines of angels?
Question: I told someone in our Bible study recently that “eternal security” is a doctrine. She said no, that doctrines are doctrines of angels, about five or so in number. What do you think about this? Answer: Doctrine means “teachings.” “For I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law” (Proverbs 4:2). There is…
Read MoreMy congregation is so caught up in meals and activities that they have lost sight of teaching
Question: Hello, I have been a member of the church of Christ for almost 20 years. I now have my own family and have been highly discouraged to continue attending the congregation in our hometown. Lately, I have been noticing so many changes in the church. Many local congregations, as well as ours, host what…
Read MoreA preacher here is teaching that Jesus is not the Son of God but became the Son of God
Question: Christian greetings to you. How are you, bother? I am thankful to you for your ability to preach the word of God. I hope that you are able to give an answer to my question. In our place, a preacher started preaching that Jesus is not the son of God but he became the…
Read MoreThank you for helping me understand how easy it is to fall into sin without noticing
Question: I just want to thank you guys for helping me to understand how easy it is to fall to sin without noticing. I am a teen who was curious about a problem like this and similar situations. After reading through this page I now see and can relate to how sin and shameful acts…
Read MoreShould sex before marriage be encouraged in Christianity?
Question: Should sex before marriage be encouraged in Christianity? Answer: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (I…
Read MoreI’ve squandered our money, hiding it from my husband, but now it is out in the open and I don’t know what to do.
Question: I have been lying to my husband about our finances pretty much ever since we got married. I have always had horrible money management, and he knows that but not to what extent. He is deployed and this is our first time apart for more than two months since we’ve been married, and I…
Read MoreAre yoga pants, bikinis, and short shorts immoral?
Question: Are yoga pants, bikinis, and short shorts immoral? Most women in my area wear these, even pastors’ wives, so it confuses me greatly because I feel sometimes like they’re immodest and that I should avert my eyes. Answer: They can be immoral. When clothing no longer hides a person’s nakedness, then it is wrong.…
Read MoreIs it OK to ask a girl for a date who is seeing someone else?
Question: Hi There was a discussion in which I’d like you to help out. Suppose one is interested in a certain lady who happens to be in a relationship with someone else. Is it OK to try to ‘displace’ the other gentleman? After all the two aren’t married, so technically she doesn’t ‘belong’ to him.…
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