Posts Tagged ‘church’
Do you think it is right for a congregation to go door-knocking while neglecting to help its needy members?
Question: I have a question concerning our church. No church of Christ I have ever attended has done this. I have been disabled and been divorced, biblically, for a long time. No boyfriends and very poor. I got into a bind and could not pay my light bill. I was also asked to move because…
Read MoreDevaluing the Local Church
by Glen Young via Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 25, June 22, 2008. The local church occupies an important position in God’s scheme of things. It is through the local church that Christians execute certain works. These are works that God commands that can only be accomplished as a group in the context of a local…
Read MoreMajority Versus Elder Rule
by James R. Cope in The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 5, March 1952. To Bible students and faithful Christians majority vote and rule in the church of Christ are as foreign to the Bible’s teaching on church government as Russia is foreign to a democracy. The majority vote always means an open division in the body…
Read MoreMajorities and Manners
by James R. Cope via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 4, February 1952. All civilized countries recognize the necessity of government. Different forms of government hold sway in various lands but all admit the necessity of some final tribunal and ultimate authority. Chaos and confusion prevail where no rule obtains. Whether we study the civil,…
Read MoreWhat Makes the Church of Christ Different?
by Billy Moore Question: “You say the Church of Christ is not a Protestant denomination, but I know you protest the Catholic religion for I have read a lot of your writings, so what makes you different from the other churches. You look like one of many churches to me.” Answer: Yes, we have said…
Read MoreChristians Without Churches?
by Ethan R. Longhenry Over the past few years, a trend has increased among people, especially Americans: the idea that people can be good Christians without being part of a church. Many people will recognize that Jesus is the Messiah and Lord, but yet want nothing to do with any church. This attitude fits with…
Read MoreNew Churches
by Gilbert Alexander The number of new churches started by men and based upon a human standard has grown rapidly over the past century in this country. Their creation and continued existence reflect the unbelief and arrogant self-will of their builders, and the gullibility of those who have joined them. Apparently, the church of Jesus…
Read MoreChurch Is Not Like It Used To Be
by Kent Heaton Going to church is not like it used to be. Church services have turned into places of entertainment and frolic and high-pitched computer-generated displays of excitement, energy, and temporal feelings of self-worth. Auditoriums are filled with choral groups arrayed in splashing displays of sparkling gowns with sound systems that generate twenty-seven million…
Read MoreIngredients for a Strong Church
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/IngredientsForAStrongChurch.mp3 by Garry Floyd
Read MoreWhat are the requirements for joining the church there and what are the requirements for getting married there?
Question: My fiance and I are looking for a Church of Christ to join in your area. We were wondering if you could give us some information about requirements for joining your congregation and also any rules, regulations, and information about getting married in your church as we’re looking to get married next year. Thank…
Read MoreDo you have to join a church?
Question: I would like to know do you believe in having to join to be a member of the “Church of Christ”? Answer: This question only becomes difficult to answer in that I don’t know if you understand the way the New Testament uses the concept of “church.” “Church” is used in two senses. One…
Read MoreDoes “the whole church” refer only to the men?
Question: I am so appreciative of all the information from your studies of God’s word that you make available on your web site. I have recently been studying, teaching and preaching on the subject of the Christian woman’s role and her silence or quietness. The information on your web site has been so helpful! I…
Read MoreHow do you seek first the kingdom of God?
Question: How do you seek first the kingdom of God? Answer: “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of…
Read MoreWhere Is the Kingdom?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/WhereIsTheKingdom.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 18:33-40 I. We frequently talk about the Jews’ mistaken concept of the kingdom A. They were expecting the Messiah to restore Israel to the glory it had in the days of David and Solomon. B. Despite being around Jesus for several years, the concept was so firmly rooted in the…
Read MoreShould I not make waves because of the sin in the church I’m attending because I’m only here for a short while?
Question: I have yet to talk to my problems with the head guy. I have figured I should talk to the pastor and the elder first because the Bible dictates this. I had a conversation with someone whom I really respect here, even though his beliefs are more charismatic than anything — so a lot…
Read MoreI want to attend a different church than my parents. What do I do?
Question: I have a question and it is very important to me. I’m eleven years old and I have accepted Jesus into my heart, so I am a Christian. But, here’s the problem. I really don’t like my church. We visited one, and we went there for about six weeks, but then we went back…
Read MoreHow do I address the criticism of the church by a family member?
Question: Hello, I am a member of the body of Christ and it disturbs me greatly that people within my physical family, as well as my spiritual family, are saying that God never founded the church of Christ. Below you will find a few correspondences sent to me by a family member who has left…
Read MoreIs the church the building or its members?
Question: is the church the building or is the church made up of its members? Answer: In English, the word “church” can refer to either the building or the people worshiping God in a local. For example, one set of definitions is: one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of…
Read MoreWhen did evening worship services start?
Question: In the history of the church (the Lord’s church) when did evening services start? I ask this question because I grew up without evening services due to preacher circumstances in a small community. I understand we should desire to meet with our brothers and sisters when the opportunity presents itself, but I witness condemnation…
Read MoreTen Rules for Improving the Church
I. The bookstore shelves groan under the weight of “self-help” books. The kind that tell you how to improve various aspects of your life. A. I would like to offer a different type of self-help: a way you can improve the church — all by yourself! B. It sounds like a tall order, but it is not. 1. Each…
Read MoreReligious Bargain Hunting
Text: II Peter 2:1-3 I. There are few of us who don’t like a good bargain when we can get one. A. There are some here who will look high-and-low for the best deal, whether it be groceries or a used car. B. Of course, some people don’t seem to have a clue as to what truly…
Read MoreThe Church Community
by Sam Stinson “The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. And when both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting.” (Numbers…
Read MoreThe Work of the Church
Text: Psalm 104 I. The world is evidence of the ability of God to design perfect systems – Psalms 19:1 A. Everywhere we turn the wisdom of God is manifested – Psalm 104:24 B. This same masterful designer displayed His great wisdom in the design of the church – Ephesians 3:8-11 C. Just as man is not able…
Read MoreYour home page took me aback
Question: I don’t remember the circumstances why I stumbled upon your web page. Upon reading the focus statement on your home page, I decided I would pass something by you for your consumption. It is rather refreshing for a congregation to unabashedly profess that the true nature of Christ’s Body and its purpose is to evangelize.…
Read MoreWhere does it say that only members of the church of Christ will go to heaven?
Question: Does it say anywhere in the Bible that only the church of Christ will go to heaven? That is, only people who go to the church of Christ? What about the other churches, such as the Church of God, or a none denominational church, or the baptist? The reason I ask is that I…
Read MoreJesus only followed Judaism because he was born in it. Doesn’t Jesus want his followers to remain in whatever religion they were born into?
Question: Jesus was born a Jew and he followed the rites of the Jewish community. Had he been born in a Brahmin family he would have worn a sacred thread and follow all their rites to the letter and spirit. He would also have reprimanded their priests for hypocrisy. He had not started a new…
Read MoreHow do you fund your church?
Question: I checked on your web site for anything new and read about your Church on its Home Page. The business model is very good. As you know, I have a nonprofit as well. I had this fantasy that I could create a worldwide organization that I could call on when someone or an organization…
Read MoreIf there are no sound churches in my area, should I worship with a liberal one?
Question: I am disabled and would like to attend an anti-church but there are none nearby and I was wondering if it would be okay to take communion at a liberal church instead of missing communion with the Lord? Answer: All Christians are required to partake of the communion and to attend services. Most of…
Read MoreAre you a part of the “Church of Christ” denomination?
Question: I just found your site on the web. Very interesting information you have compiled. I am curious, are you, in fact, affiliated with what we know as the denomination Church of Christ? Or is it that you just align yourself with the Christ? Answer: As far as I know, there is no denomination using…
Read MoreWhat was the church used for in the 14th century besides religious activities?
Question: In the 14th century in Europe, apart from religious activities what did the public and nobles use the church for? Answer: My first inclination was to dismiss the question since it wasn’t biblically based, but I realized there is a small point that should be made. The question, from a biblical viewpoint, is inaccurate…
Read MoreDo the elders and preachers constitute the church in decisions?
Question: I have been a member of the church of Christ for some time now. My family and I moved to another congregation to help out because they were very small. My wife and I began to have difficulties in our marriage. She decided to take our problems to the elders and the preacher of…
Read MoreIs there no salvation outside the church?
Question: Is there no salvation outside the church? Will those who never heard of Jesus and his gospel be damned because they have not obeyed it? Will people with brain defects like Downs Syndrome be damned because they do not obey the gospel being incapable of doing so? Answer: “Let it be known to you…
Read MoreIf I am just not able to get out, can I worship at home?
Question: I have a very serious question. In some of your answers to others, you have pointed out that to have a worship service alone on Sunday at home is not really what is acceptable, except for when we choose to worship God by ourselves at other times during the week. This is according to…
Read MoreWhat should a new congregation be called?
Question: I am starting a small church in my home. I have attended the Church of Christ here most of my life and preached there as well. I greatly value your site. I am starting this church because the two churches of Christ here have a nasty reputation around town. They make the church of…
Read MoreSin in the Church: A Study of I Corinthians 6:9-10
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton The church at Corinth had many problems in living the Christian life. Their problems did not come from a rebellious attitude toward God. Most of their problems came from a misunderstanding of God’s law. In I Corinthians 5:1-8, Paul takes the Corinthians to task for accepting an immoral person as a…
Read MoreShould families with small children sit in the back pews?
Question: Recently a congregation I am familiar with had an article concerning those who have small children. The preacher stated in the article that it would be best if those that have small children sit on the back pews due to children sometimes being noisy and having to be removed from the auditorium. In fact,…
Read MoreAre Gentiles also descendants of Abraham?
Question: If we Gentiles are also descendants of Abraham, then from whose mother: Hagar, Sarah or Keturah? Is it from Keturah to whom she bore Abraham six legitimate sons after Abraham married her after Sarah died? Am I correct to say that Muslims are descendants of Ishmael who later intermarry with the descendants of Esau,…
Read MoreWhy are so many churches of Christ so small?
Question: Why are so many churches of Christ so small? Why do so many of them seem to have so few young people? Why do so many of them have so many problems? Why are there so many churches? (denominations) Answer: What immediately strikes me is the focus of these questions. They are all internal:…
Read MoreIs the church or Israel the bride of Christ?
Question: Is the church or Israel the bride of Christ? Answer: In the Old Testament, Israel was depicted as God’s bride in several prophecies. But she was declared to be a faithless wife. God declared that He was a husband to Israel (Jeremiah 31:32), but Israel broke the marriage covenant. She became a spiritual adulteress.…
Read MoreIntroducing Ourselves: We Are a Church of Christ
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton based on several similar works by other authors Who we are We are a church of Christ in the most biblical way possible. Being Christians individually, together we are a church. We are baptized believers, raised to walk in “newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4) through faith in God’s work of salvation…
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