What is it that I am missing?

Question: God truly does work in mysterious ways! My seventeen-year-old daughter came to me a few minutes ago as I was finishing up the kitchen for the night and told me that she had received counseling from a minister online and how great the advice given to her was.  Seeing as I am a born…

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How do I talk to my husband about God?

Question: How can I talk to my husband about God? He is a very confused soul. He doesn’t believe that the Bible was written by God. He believes that it was written by men. He thinks that religion is overstated and not really worth anything. I don’t really have a good track record with him…

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The Work of the Holy Spirit in Teaching

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton The teaching in the Bible about the work of the Holy Spirit is plain, but many in today’s religious society confuse the issue. Part of the confusion is the mysticism that made to surround the Holy Spirit and his work. We are not satisfied with simple answers, we want something more.…

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Did I go about teaching my now Buddhist son correctly?

Question: I have a new situation that I am trying to deal with and would like to ask your advice as to how to proceed. Some time ago, I received an e-mail from my son. We have had an ‘on and off’ relationship for some time, as well as with his sister. This is all…

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How could the gospel have been preached to every creature?

Question: My brother and I disagree about Matthew 24:14. I used it in relation to where Paul said the Gospel has been preached in all the world. His response was that was saying Jesus’ death had been proclaimed to all the earth but not preached. I understand his point of view because it says every…

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What is meant by “speaking the truth in love?”

Question: “That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ:”…

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How It Works

by David Thurman via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 36, Sept. 5, 2008. Churches today are looking for ways to reach out to the communities in which they serve. Some look to the latest book, or the most recent demographics, the best mail lists and so on. I think sometimes we so over-complicate church work…

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You don’t really teach children about the stoning of Achan, do you?

Question: I stumbled across your web site and saw the drawing of the stoning of Achan. In the upper right, it said something about pictures going with children’s Bible stories. You don’t really mean to teach children about stoning, do you? The Stoning of Achan Joshua 7:24-26 Answer: You misunderstood. The pictures are from an old…

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How do you know if someone likes you?

Question: I am a senior in college. There is a girl that I like who just started attending school here whom I am trying to get to know. It seemed she liked me in the beginning, but it seems she doesn’t really like me as much now. It seems she is trying to avoid me now. I’ve…

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How do you teach the Scriptures to an agnostic?

Question: I have an agnostic friend who was raised Catholic and believes that ‘something’ is ‘up there’ and created all of this. But he is convinced that all religion is man-made, whose purpose is behavior control and extortion. I sense that he is searching for something to hope in. Where do I begin to demonstrate…

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What do you do when people say it is wrong to speak out against homosexuality?

Question: Here lately the whole country seems to be quite preoccupied with the lifestyle of being a homosexual. It is all over the Internet, TV, everywhere it seems. And amazingly churches everywhere are ‘jumping on the bandwagon,’ so to say. So-called priests and other ‘leaders’ are actually embracing this lifestyle themselves while fighting their own…

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Does it please God when we preach and teach His Word?

Question: Does it please God a lot that we try to preach His Word and teach about Him to people? I have a gift. I can communicate very well with people, and I have the power to convince them. I am never scared of public speaking, I am an excellent speaker. When I talk to…

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How were the Thessalonians taught by God to love one another?

Question: In I Thessalonians 4:9, how were the Thessalonians “taught by God to love one another” so that Paul did not need to write to them? Are we taught in a similar way? Were other New Testament Christians taught in the same way? If so, why did apostles write to them telling them to love,…

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How do we teach against bad language?

Question: How do we teach against bad language with easy steps for rectification? Answer: The number one way to prevent bad language is for the parents and anyone else involved in the training of the child not to use bad language. Children imitate what they see and hear around them. That is their primary way…

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How do I teach a young woman who harbors anger over the past?

Question: Would you recommend specific passages that I can use for a girl who still harbors pain, anger, resentment, but who is looking for acceptance and love? I have tried to express love and acceptance to her. I think she believes me but doesn’t believe that God loves her. What can I do? Answer: You…

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How do I talk to my Buddhist grandmother about Christ?

Question: My grandma has been a Buddhist for a long time, if not all her life. I see her follow her traditions once in a while. Recently I have been scared about her salvation and I want her to know about Jesus before her time comes. She speaks in my native language, which makes it…

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How do I tell someone they are sinning?

Question: I have a slight problem that I don’t think I know how to fix, and this is concerning one of my family members.  He has been having sex with his girlfriend for a while now, and one day I stumble on to it (don’t ask me how and they don’t know I know). Well,…

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How can I help a brother become a better teacher and preacher?

Question: One brother here that is dependable when it comes to helping me with preaching and teaching.  He has very little experience but will do his best at anything I ask him to do, really a prince of a man.  A few of the members have come to me complaining about his teaching methods.  Although they all agree…

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More Than a Haircut

by Jennifer Kegley via Biblical Insights, Vol. 7, No. 5, May 2007 “Seek and you shall find” You never know when you are going to cross paths with someone who is searching for the Lord. There are people in this world who are seeking and it is our duty as Christians to show them the way.…

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The Lost One

by Edwin Crozier via Gospel Power, Vol. 14, No. 28, July 15, 2007 In Luke 15:1,2, the Pharisees and scribes grumbled against Jesus saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” Jesus responded with a parable of a lost sheep. Seeking the Lost Sheep in the Mountains Matthew 18:12 He asked how many of the…

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How Does the Lord Open Hearts?

by Greg Gwin In Acts 16 we read: “And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of…

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An Urgent Need to Study

Text: II Timothy 2:8-19   I.         It is fascinating to read well crafted prose or poetry. With just a few words, the author can communicate not only a message, but even a mood.             A.        Individual words are not flat. Even synonyms carry subtle differences in meaning.             B.        And the idea is not restricted to the English language. Languages…

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Can you suggest how a new Christian can handle hecklers?

Question: A friend of mine, who is a new believer, was asked a lot of questions regarding his beliefs by a few of our associates. Instead of being sincere questions, it seems to have been more of an attack on him. They asked questions such as “Were you there when the Bible was written? How…

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How can I convince a friend that baptism is required for salvation?

Question: A friend and I are currently studying with an individual who is stuck on the fact that baptism is, in his view, clearly not required for salvation and praying Jesus into your heart will do fine.  We go round and round and just when he starts to agree with us and we think we…

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You shouldn’t be so negative

Question: I happened on to your site because I was searching a biblical question.  I’m impressed that you want to follow the biblical pattern of the church, but you seemed to have missed one.  Jesus didn’t start off by being negative.  He talked about who His father was and who He was.  Most people won’t…

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Gospel, Word, Truth, Seed, Doctrine

by Carl A. Allen The denominational world has tried to seek unity by teaching we are to believe the Gospel and not enforce “doctrine.” According to them we should not divide over baptism, the Lord’s Supper, instruments of music, tithing, marriage, and divorce, etc. because all of this falls into “doctrine,” and we have no…

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Can you give me some advice on how to share the Gospel?

Question: I wanted to say I have problems sharing the gospel with people, mainly because I’m not comfortable talking to people. Yes, I love reading God’s word and debating with you on His Word (not really), but I’m not good at sharing the Word with others. The only thing I know I can do is…

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Your 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.…

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Is mixing Scriptures with lectures about sex ridiculous?

Question: Christians mixing Scripture with lectures to young boys about sex is so ridiculous. You people are backward. Nobody today holds the superstitious beliefs written down by people 2500 years ago and is what you call today as “holy scripture”. There is no personal god and there is no devil. It’s all in your mind. Grow…

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I have problems with my youth group. What should I do?

Question: Well, I am having some issues with some kids that I mentor. My group has both guys and girls in it, but I found a good woman mentor for the girls, so I will be handing off the girls soon.. The funny thing is I have little or no problems with the girls. It…

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Questions about James 3

Question: James 3 seems to be talking about keeping our mouth under control and not to boast about everything we can do. What is it that comes from your mouth and corrupts the whole body? To speak good things and bad things is wrong. It has to be one way. It also compares the earthly wisdom (which…

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