Why did God kill David’s son when it was David who sinned?

Question: Could you please explain II Samuel 12:14? It seems that the child died because of what David did. But the Bible says that a child shall not die for the sins of the father. Thank you. Answer: “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor…

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Do you think God hears every prayer I pray?

Question: Do you think God hears every prayer I pray? Is He busy sometimes answering someone else? Why does the Bible say in some verses “God heard their shout?” Is that just the way it was written? I could find the verses, but I’m sure you remember. Answer: “Now this is the confidence that we…

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God’s Amazing Love

by Dennis Stackhouse God’s love for mankind; what does that mean to you?  How has God’s love for you affected the choices you have made and the way you have chosen to live your life?  Many will respond in obedient faithfulness as they seek to please God in all they do.  For others, God’s love…

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God’s Care

by Dennis Stackhouse How often have we wondered if God really cares for us, even those of us who are Christians?  We may be in situations where we think that God has forgotten us, or even worse, that He has abandoned us.  Countless Christians, through the years, have wondered this very thing.  That being the…

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I thought God was vengeful and intolerant

Question: Hello, I am 46 and have prayed to God most of my life. Things have happened to me that can be explained as God answering my prayers, or things working out on their own. My Mom informed me of God and Jesus as I grew up, but whenever I messed up in her eyes…

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Praise the Lord!

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/PraiseTheLord.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 113   I.         What, exactly, is meant when someone says, “Praise the Lord!”?             A.        Do you go around saying “Praise the Lord!” once in a while?             B.        When something nice happens to a friend, do you respond with “Praise the Lord!”?             C.        Often words and phrases are used with little thought as…

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How did God create Himself?

Question: I just always wondered, how God created Himself? Answer: God didn’t create Himself. Eternal means He always existed. “Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (Psalms 90:2). Even unbelievers understand that something has to always exist. In…

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God and the Problem of Sin

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/GodAndTheProblemOfSin.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Titus 2:11-15   I.         God’s Nature             A.        God is Holy – Isaiah 6:3                         1.         There is not even a hint of sin in God – I John 1:5                         2.         Evil is not a part of His nature, nor does He accept evil in others – Psalms 5:4                         3.         If we are to have fellowship…

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I fear Judgment, but I’m not sure God exists

Question: I am not a Christian, but I force myself to believe in God because I fear Judgment. I always shiver and cry because I don’t know if I will go to hell or heaven. My fear is so strong that I became depressed and desperate for a few weeks. My grandfather is Buddhist but…

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Does God hate me?

Question: Hello sir, I’ve often thought of this but would like some clarity if that is OK. I have been looking at the advice you give others online, and you give really good and useful advice! I guess my question is, why does God make me suffer? Does he hate me or something? I know…

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The Lord Our God Is One

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/LordOurGodIsOne.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Deuteronomy 6   I.         In the world there are many views divinity.             A.        We can broadly categorize them as:                         1.         Polytheism                                     a.         Many gods, each independent. They interact with each other, sometimes cooperatively and sometimes in opposition to each other.                                     b.         Hinduism is a modern day polytheistic religion                         2.         Monotheism                                     a.         There is a single god…

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Pantheism and Deism

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/PantheismAndDeism.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 5:8-21  I.         It is amazing the many, subtle ways Satan introduces false religions into the thinking of many well intentioned Christians             A.        Movies are a popular vehicle for false ideas. We often look for the big errors.                         1.         Example: Pocahontas was criticized for its slaughter of history and scantily dressed main…

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God’s Proof of His Existence

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Exodus 3:1-6   I.         Perhaps you have heard statements to the effect that the Bible doesn’t try to prove that God exists. It simply assumes the existence of God.             A.        At the beginning of the Bible we read “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)                         1.         Since the…

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Does God only select a few to love?

Question: Hello friend! I found something that has been troubling me greatly. Some things have shown me that God does not love everyone and His love is conditional. Growing up in a southern “Bible-belt” church, I grew up learning that God loves everyone unconditionally. But due to recent discovery, apparently, God has only selected a few…

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Our Love for God

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/OurLoveForGod.mp3 by Andrew Long

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I prayed to God but He doesn’t answer me. Your God is asleep!

Question: Regarding witchcraft: Unless you have lived the person’s life walked the same miles as they walked can you be certain of your responses, a mile in your own shoes does not describe how they feel and what they are going through. I have been impacted for 46 years by my own mother. I have…

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How can I discern God’s voice?

Question: What is the key to living right with God? How can I discern God’s voice? How can I grow spiritually in Christ? Answer: John said, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep…

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What is God’s Will?

Question: Hi, Just a quick note to say I really enjoy your website. I find it very helpful. Quick question: In Matthew 7:21 Jesus talks about only those who do God’s will get to enter heaven. Have you written on this verse before that I could go back and read somewhere? I guess the question…

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What if God tells you to do something horrible, do you do it?

Question: Hello, Often when I hear religious people talk about this or that person in the Bible doing something that God asked, the phrase “Because God said so” is emphasized. It is also talked about how there can be no morality without God, and questions like “If killing you made my life better, why shouldn’t…

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The Judge of All the Earth

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/JudgeOfAllTheEarth.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Job 34   I.         Have you ever told another, “It’s not fair!”             A.        What is meant is that you do not think you are being treated in a just or right way.             B.        Justice means “what is right” and just means “a state of being right or acting in right conduct.”             C.        Justice…

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God Is Love

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/GodIsLove.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I John 4:7-21   I.         What is love? How would you define it? How would you know if you have it?             A.        It is a common question that teens have. How while I know I’m in love?             B.        The Bible gives two definitions:                         1.         Song of Solomon 8:6-8 describes the passion of love…

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God Cannot Lie

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/GodCannotLie.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Kings 22:1-28   I.         Heathen men molded their concept of their gods into their own image – Romans 1:22-23             A.        We can read stories of the Greek gods and in their interaction with men they often lied and cheated to accomplish their goals.                         1.         The Greeks saw their gods as just…

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My God of Mercy

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/MyGodOfMercy.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 2:1-10   I.         Several years ago I taught High School math and science in a private school             A.        As happens occasionally, one student copied from another and turned in the assignment.                         1.         The school’s policy was to give zero grades to both the cheater and the one cheated from.                                     a.         It was…

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Regarding God as Holy

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/HolyIsHisName2.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Peter 1:13-19   I.         Peter charges all Christians to conduct themselves in holiness – I Peter 1:15-16             A.        We will not see God without holiness – Hebrews 12:14             B.        And knowing that this world will end and we all must face God – II Peter 3:11             C.        Holiness is the idea of…

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Gentle Cords and Bands of Love

Gentle Cords and Bands of Love – Part 1Gentle Cords and Bands of Love – Part 2 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hosea 11   I.         Most people’s view of love is very limited.             A.        “God is Love” they declare; therefore, any sin that I may be involved in doesn’t matter because “God is Love.”                         1.         There can’t…

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If everything comes from God, doesn’t evil come from God?

Question: You said in a writing, that all good things come from God. I can understand this and agree with it. But what I don’t understand is if by that same logic don’t all things come from God directly or by proxy, including all the bad and evil in the world? I don’t understand this…

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How can God have the knowledge of good and evil and not sin?

Question: I really liked the answer given regarding God keeping man from living forever since they now would choose to sin of which I found on your website. But I have two more questions: If the tree of life stops us from living forever in the flesh, what of our souls? I would think that…

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Is it wrong to use “Allah” for God in Malaysian Bibles?

Question: Greetings, With the general election just around the corner here in Malaysia, many issues are being used as fodder including the issue of the use of the Arabic word for God in Malay translation of the Bible being used among native congregations. While this is not prohibited by any existing laws, the same issue…

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Our Attitude Toward God

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/2012Fall1OurAttitudeTowardGod.mp3 by Rob Speer God and I

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Could you review this debate on whether God exists?

Question: Can you look at this is a video of a debate asking if the God of the Bible exists? Now it’s lengthy, but I imagine you will skim through the main points. My question is if you could address some of the statements that were made because I feel the Christian side did a…

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Thank you so much for placing Ethan Longhenry’s article on your website

Question: Dear sir, Thank you so much for placing Ethan Longhenry’s article, Understanding the Tetragrammaton: How Is It Pronounced? on your website. It is an incredible blessing to me! I am trying to make the reasoning my own as it will be great to share with others the name of our God. His name is Wonderful!…

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God and I

By Rob Speer, October 28-31, 2012 Our Attitude Toward God Reasons Why I Attend Every Service Personal Worship An Unconditional Faith Why I am a Predestinarian Knowledge: The Key to Security in Christ

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Where does the Bible say that God’s patience is long but not endless?

Question: Sir, Kindly let me know where exactly it is written in the Holy Bible that God’s patience is long but not endless? I am very eager to know the exact book, chapter, and verse in the Holy Bible. Answer: “And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and…

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Jesus is the “I AM”

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/JesusIsTheIAM.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I.          Many religions cast doubts on the deity of Jesus              A.         Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that Jesus is the first creation of God.              B.         Muslims see Jesus as nothing more than a significant prophet, much like Moses.              C.         Probably the best analysis of who is Jesus is found in the book of John. II.         The evidence…

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The Other Side of Truth

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/OtherSideOfTruth.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Thessalonians 1:3-10   I.         People tend to focus one aspect, one characteristic when they deal with another person             A.        We have a tendency to categorize people, to pick out a dominate trait             B.        When people talk about God or Jesus, they will focus on the love of God.                         1.         God is love,…

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Is it proper to bless God’s high and holy name?

Question: I had used the phrase “We bless your high and holy name.” I realize the word bless means basically to make happy. Is it scriptural to pray that phrase?  I figure the elders would have corrected me if it wasn’t, but all men are imperfect.  Just wanted to know so if I needed to,…

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Is Jesus literally God’s son or is it a title?

Question: Since Jesus is the Son of God, the Father, is he literally His son or is it more of a title? I was thinking how Mormons say Jesus and Satan were sons of God as if He bore them. I understand the Godhead. They are three separate but all three together make the one…

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