Posts Tagged ‘church’
How do I deal with the fact that my daughters were molested by a leading member of the church?
Question: Hi there, I have a complex issue that I am trying to sort through biblically and do right by my family, others, and the law. Two of my daughters have been sexually interfered with by a “leader” of the local church here. The first time was with my oldest daughter on a couple of…
Read MoreI appreciate the clarification of the purpose of the church
Question: I appreciated your clarification of the purpose of the Lord’s church on your home page. So many are turned off by the fact that we don’t, as a congregation, give handouts to everyone who stops by. They are shocked that we don’t have a gym or youth group entertainment. Our society needs to know…
Read MoreWould God condemn every member of the church whose candlestick was removed?
Question: Dear Brother Hamilton, Is there a point in time when a church has become so disobedient to the commands of the Lord they are considered “apostate” and rejected by God? And would this mean that all members in that church are condemned, even though they may not even believe all the teachings presented by…
Read MoreHow do we notify the congregation that the preacher was asked to leave?
Question: How do we notify the congregation that a minister has been asked to leave? It has not grown over the last several years, and we want to move forward. Answer: I’m not certain how you determined that the lack of growth was the preacher’s fault and not due to the members of the church…
Read MoreIs it bad that most members in our church were raised in the church?
Question: Dear Mr. Hamilton, I’ve been emphasizing how important truth is in the Bible to one of my friends. She has been very receptive to the truths I’ve shown her in God’s Word. I’ve taken her to the church I attend and she enjoys it but she says it’s not her thing. Now I tell…
Read MoreWhat is the correct way of saying a particular congregation: the La Vista Church of Christ or the church of Christ at La Vista?
Question: What is the correct way of saying a particular congregation: the La Vista Church of Christ or the church of Christ at La Vista? Some contend the latter should be used. They argue that the former emphasizes place rather than the church. They use as an illustration as to what Paul has referred to…
Read MoreJust a Church?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2014Spring5JustAChurch-1.mp3 by Brian Faulkner On Being a Christian
Read MoreThe Church Is the Kingdom
by James R. Cope via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 11, Sept. 1952. Within the past twenty years, much has been written and spoken about the “church phase of the kingdom” in connection with premillennialism. For the most part, the influence of those who would deny the “eternal purpose” of God in and through the church…
Read MoreIndividual Duty or Local Church Duty?
by Howard Justice During the past half-century, there has been a serious amount of confusion as to how a member of God’s family relates to his role in the family of God and how this service involves the local unit known as the local church. It has presented problems in understanding what a Christian may…
Read MoreIs it scriptural to go to church via the Internet?
Question: I have a friend who “goes to church” via the Internet. Is that a scriptural way of worshiping and meeting? Thank you as always. I am very appreciative of the work you’ve been doing for so long! Answer: No, it is not a scriptural way to worship. In doing so he cannot: Assemble: “And…
Read MoreWe have concerns about the local church and there are no other churches nearby. Is it biblical to study at home?
Question: There is one local church of Christ where I live. My family has been a part of this church in the past; however, due to great conflict and many issues surrounding this one church, my family decided that we were best not to attend there. No, we did not vocalize our concerns to anyone…
Read MoreHow can the church and the kingdom be the same when the Bible says flesh will not enter the kingdom?
Question: How you make the statement that the church and the kingdom are the same, while the Bible teaches that flesh will not enter the kingdom. Answer: “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption” (I Corinthians 15:50). In this context, Paul is…
Read MoreWhat do you think about area-wide services?
Question: Hi! There is a new movement starting here which has me troubled. One of the local congregations is organizing an area-wide morning worship service to replace the normal worship service in the local congregations. My husband has tried to point out Hebrews 10:25, but one of the preachers involved said there is no forsaking…
Read MoreCan you choose the wrong church to attend as a Christian?
Question: Dear sirs, I thank you for your site. It has been a great source of information as a new believer. Although I always considered myself a Christian, I never truly understood its true meaning until starting and completing, cover-to-cover for the first time, the Bible last year culminating in accepting Christ as my Savior…
Read MoreOn Some Nebulous “CoC” Thing
by Doy Moyer I often see discussions where people keep referencing some “CoC” position, or “CoC” tradition, or “CoC-er” or whatever. So… here are a few thoughts about that adapted from a previous discussion. What exactly is this CoC to which people keep referring? Is there some particular local group of Christians they have in…
Read MoreMetaphors of the Church
by Dennis C. Abernathy via Truth Magazine – January 3, 1980 In our age when the church is thought of as some unimportant, outdated, or take-it-or-leave-it institution, it becomes very important for us to investigate what the Scriptures have to say pertaining to it. It is so important that we stress the beauty of, the wisdom behind,…
Read MoreTerms of Membership
by Irven Lee Truth Magazine – January 3, 1980 The Lord built His church and paid for it with His blood. He is its head and has all authority in it. It is not my church, your church, or our church. It is not ours to plan its mission or work, nor do we enter it…
Read MoreAre you a church that constantly talks about Obama and abortion?
Question: Is your church a place where I am going to constantly hear about Obama and abortion? Do you discuss politics? Are these topics that are continually touched upon? I would appreciate an honest answer. Thank you. Answer: You can look through the Sermons and see what is discussed here. Moral topics are discussed and why…
Read MoreKeep the Unity
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/KeepTheUnity.mp3 Text: Ephesians 4:1-6 I. The wedding day comes and a couple joins together in a covenant due to their love for each other. A. The two become one flesh. They are united and now see everything from the same point of view. 1. Some of you are smiling out there. No? It isn’t always perfect blissful…
Read MoreWould it be a sin to worship in a congregation where the elders are not correct?
Question: Would it be a sin to worship in a congregation where the elders are not correct (I Corinthians 5:11)? Answer: “Not correct” is too vague. Not correct by who’s standard? If anyone is in sin, then what have you done to rescue them? To point fingers but to seek no restoration is to hate…
Read MoreHow do I find a church?
Question: Hello, I really want to become a Christian and be saved, but my problem is finding the right church. By the way, to whomever this is going to, I found this website and don’t know how I have forgotten but I love it. I started to cry and I cry all the time when…
Read MoreA Day of Small Things
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DayOfSmallThings.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Haggai 2:1-9 I. As Israel began to return from seventy years of captivity, there was great excitement A. Zerubbabel lead the first wave of less than 50,000 people back to Jerusalem. 1. There was a lot of work to do because Jerusalem was completely destroyed. 2. But worship restarted immediately – Ezra…
Read MoreI like this church, but my dad doesn’t because it doesn’t have a piano. What do I do?
Question: I’m having some issues right now. We just moved into a new area, and are trying to find a church. There’s one that we went to today that I really like, and feel like I really connect to, but my parents don’t like it. My dad says that he doesn’t like it because there isn’t a piano…
Read MoreShould a man who committed the same sin many times and is still fighting against it be in a leadership position?
Question: Should a man who committed the same sin many times and is still fighting against it be in a leadership position? Answer: Preachers are involved in helping people out of their sins. Elders are involved in keeping people faithful to the gospel. Given that Jesus said, “And why do you look at the speck…
Read MoreWhat if a church doesn’t have studies during the week?
Question: Hi brother, I hope you are still holding fast to Him. I have just moved to a place where there’s a small congregation of about nine members, who don’t meet during the week, only on Sundays. I have asked them to meet at least twice a week but to no avail. What is your…
Read MoreIsn’t filing for a 501(c)(3) exemption making a covenant with the people of the land?
Question: Exodus 34:12 reads in the NASB: “Watch yourself that you make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, lest it becomes a snare in your midst.” Without expending too much on the passage in Exodus 34:12, I am trying to determine the extent that verse 12 covers. By…
Read MoreCan a group split off from a church to worship in the same location at a different time?
Question: Recently a portion of our congregation (approximately 30 out of 110-120) started meeting at a separate time from the normal time but in the same building. On Sunday we meet in the morning for Bible classes and worship and then in the evening again for another period of worship. This group began meeting in…
Read MoreHow do you get added to Jesus Christ’s church?
Question: How do you get added to Jesus Christ’s church? Answer: “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. … So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and…
Read MoreYour explanation of what the church is or is not is well written
Question: Just wanted to say that your explanation of what the church is and is not is very well written, and I am in total agreement. Thank you for expressing it so well. Answer: I can’t take total credit for the description. It is a mash-up of three other descriptions that I had in my files combined…
Read MoreI just realized that the church I grew up in is getting old. Is there something I can do?
Question: Hi Brother Hamilton, I’ve been thinking a lot about moving back home to try to build my home congregation back up. I’m currently going to school, not in the area, and this summer break has really been a wake-up call. My congregation is scantly populated by mostly grey-haired people. I love everyone with grey…
Read MoreDo churches of Christ register with the government as a whole or each congregation independently?
Question: I am a member of the church of Christ in Malawi. I would like to find out how the churches of Christ in the USA register with the government. Is it that every congregation registers independently? or is there one registration for all congregations of the churches of Christ? How do are disputes between…
Read MoreBecause of road construction, our church is split into two groups. Are they still one church or are they two?
Question: May God continuously guide you as you continue your service to the lost. I need to ask some questions about the autonomy of the church. Allow me to relate our situation. My home congregation is a large congregation and members come from different areas. At the moment some of the members are having a…
Read MoreWhy Do “Churches of Christ” Differ so Widely?
by Sewell Hall via Biblical Insights, February 2012 A sign reading “Church of Christ” in front of a building tells you very little these days. Most any doctrine or practice may be found inside. This is frustrating to many people. Outsiders make fun of the situation, saying, “You preach unity but you are the most divided…
Read MoreChurch Autonomy
by Robert Turner “Autonomy” is a compound word, composed of autos, meaning “self,” and nomos, meaning “law.” An ordinary dictionary will tell us the word means “self-ruled,” so that an autonomous church is “self-governed, without outside control.” There are those who reject the concept of God and revelation, saying ultimate authority is in man. To…
Read MoreWere Abraham and Moses in the church?
Question: I heard a quote from a preacher sometime ago that Moses and Abraham are not in the Church of Christ (Ephesians 4:4; I Corinthians 12:13), even though they are currently saved. I understand they were never baptized into Christ; but if they are not in the body, where are they? It is my understanding…
Read MoreI’m not certain what group you are with, but I find your website helpful
Question: I am a disciple of Jesus Christ who attends a fellowship of churches once known as the International Churches of Christ. I was googling opinions and articles on various biblical topics when I saw your website. I just wanted to tell you how refreshing it was to see such an uncompromising stand on being…
Read MoreCan you join the church?
Question: I do appreciate the sermon outlines but figured this was an oversight that could stand some tweaking. In Why Are There Denominations? V. “Join the church of your choice” is a foolish idea A. It is advocating pleasing self. B. We need to join the church of God’s choice. We cannot “join” but we can be added to…
Read MoreI’m shocked at your stance regarding 501(c)(3) churches
Question: The web site is excellent. Someone worked very hard on the design. My question is your church a 501c3 church or a free church? More and more I am finding many of the New Testament churches have signed up to be a corporation and be under the IRS rather than the Lord. Even the…
Read MoreWhat if you feel that a particular church is not suitable for you?
Question: What are the suggestions if one cannot afford monetarily to attend church, or feels that a particular church is not suitable for him? If he does private bible study, is this enough? Does he have to go through the baptism ceremony? If a Christian continues to study other religions and philosophies, is this against…
Read MoreIs it wrong for a church to be incorporated?
Question: If a Christian does not want to attend an incorporated church because he says it’s wrong, is it right for him and his wife to worship alone on the Lord’s day because he says an incorporated church is in sin, and he cannot find a church that is not incorporated? Answer: A person cannot…
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