The Gospel of the Circumcision and the Uncircumcision

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/GospelOfTheCircumcisionAndTheUncircumcision.mp3 Text: Galatians 2:1-10   I.         I suppose a casual reader could read verse 7 from our text and come away with the idea that two different messages were being taught.             A.        One being taught to the Gentiles and a different message being taught to the Jews.             B.        Yet the goal of the gospel was to unite Jews…

Read More

I have no friends and I’m depressed

Question: I’m 18. I don’t have a girlfriend or any friends. My parents are not religious. Should I tell them about the Bible? Is it fair that you have a great family who are Christians? What did I do to deserve this living hell? I’m depressed. How do I solve this issue about an existential…

Read More

My efforts to help a person is going so slowly!

Question: Thank you for your time. I just found this site and have been blessed by it! I recently moved and met a woman who needed someone to talk with. Her husband had just tried to murder her (he is now in prison) and she was looking for a place to live. My husband and…

Read More

Your articles are not the gospel, they only use the gospel

Question: I was happy to read your statement on your home page and hope to visit you when am in Omaha. What bothers me is “the articles you write and put on the site.” The New Testament church must and should only preach the word of God. Most, or all of the articles are not…

Read More

He Preached Jesus to Him

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015Spring4HePreachedJesusToHim.mp3 by Jonathan Perz Spreading the Gospel

Read More

Spreading the Gospel

by Jonathan Perz Are You Open Minded? Traditions House to House He Preached Jesus to Him Judas Iscariot Imitating God Choices Seven Paradoxes of the Cross

Read More

Is rebuking a sinner once enough?

Question: Hi, I was reading your article How do I tell someone they are sinning? and I wanted to ask a question concerning Galatians 6:1. When correcting another Christian about a sin, does one have to continue until they stop or try and leave the rest up to God? Answer: It would be a rare case…

Read More

Children and the Bible

by Doy Moyer Somewhere along the line, it seems to me, there has been an assumption that all the stories in the Bible have to be something for children. If some account is disturbing, then there is a problem with the Bible — as if the Bible was written just for the sake of kids.…

Read More

The Teaching of God’s Word

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/TeachingOfGodsWord.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 92   I.         Jesus made a comment in Matthew 16:18 that we are all familiar with             A.        Notice something that many overlook: What does Jesus mean that the “gates of hell will not overcome it?”                         1.         Many talk about how Satan’s army cannot overcome the church.                         2.         But read this again. Which…

Read More

When I get busy in school, I lose sight of God. Is that wrong?

Question: Now I’m back in school and it’s getting busy again. But in the classroom, I always get distracted thinking that I am doing something wrong when I’m doing the work. I obviously know that homework is not a sin, but it feels like when I get busy with work I just lose sight of…

Read More

The Church Ain’t Doing Nothing

by Raymond Elliott How often have we heard that statement from a brother in Christ? And it is to be admitted that we often fail in fulfilling the many obligations that God has given us. But there are some pertinent observations that need to be made relative to this broad statement. First of all, we…

Read More

How do I tell people I’m not interested in preaching?

Question: Hello, Hope you can answer a question of mine that I need a biblical answer to. What to say to people who come up to you and ask you, “Why don’t you preach?” I tell them not everyone is meant to be a teacher, and like it says in Bible not everyone is meant…

Read More

How do I deal with erroneous comments on Facebook?

Question: On Facebook, I have friends who are religious but not scripturally correct in their teachings. They do post things that are correct at times but knowing they are in error, on the whole, I am always questioning myself as to whether I should respond when they comment, or just try and teach them that…

Read More

How do I talk to family members who are committing fornication?

Question: I have a question regarding two people getting married. Someone in my family was once married and got divorced. In Matthew 5:31-32 it says that one can’t divorce her husband or his wife except for sexual immorality. This family member did not divorce her husband for sexual immorality but for another reason. She wants…

Read More

Reaching the Youth

by Terry Partain Forty-five years ago I was hired to work with another preacher to especially reach out to the youth. I was too late. The youth and their parents had separate social lives. The practice of catering to groups according to their age has destroyed the bonds of affection and understanding as well as…

Read More

Soldiers of Christ

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/SoldiersOfChrist.mp3 by Clint Crosier

Read More

Is 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 More

Fed and Led

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2014Spring2FedAndLed.mp3 by Brian Faulkner Text: Psalms 23 Introduction: Live in a society that wants no responsibility Welfare mentality Want someone else to do the thinking Little or no investigation Even less concern Do as little as possible Runaway lawsuits to get rich Lottery Want and look for the easiest way out This leads to socialism…

Read More

How can I teach when I am so unworthy?

Question: I am currently 21 years old. Every day I wake up and cannot get the sins I have committed in my past out of my head. They haunt me day in and day out. I want to get to know Christ better, but I feel like I can no longer be the Christian I…

Read More

What authority do you have to teach on the Internet?

Question: If every example of preaching in the first century was done in person by mouth to those that could hear, and the direct command was to go and preach, where is your Bible authority to preach on the Internet? Answer: Here is an example of artificially restricting a command. Communicating by writing is a form of…

Read More

I used some of your materials to teach others. Thank you

Question: Dear Brother, I don’t know who you are but I want to tell you that the articles you have on your congregation’s website are fantastic. I am a member of the church. I am at the present studying the Bible with two people, one is a retired doctor who is a Seven Day Adventist…

Read More

Aren’t you being rude in some of your answers?

Question: Hello, I was writing because I’ve read some of your articles and found them helpful and appreciate all that you do. There is one thing that is not a big problem, but I see when you write some of the answers to questions you come off rude to a couple of people, and I…

Read More

You Just Don’t Understand

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/YouJustDontUnderstand.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 119:97-104   I.         Some people are confident that no other person can possibly understand what they are going through.             A.        “You’ve never struggled with addiction”             B.        “You have more money, so you can’t understand my difficulties.”             C.        “You grew up in the church, I didn’t.”             D.        “You’ve never experienced prejudice.”             E.        Do you have…

Read More

Was I too impatient when I gave my mother constructive criticism?

Question: Hello, I am really into Christianity and trying to learn and grow, but they still seem to be rather worldly. I am trying to lead by example, but I wonder if that is enough. The knowledge that they could die at any time makes me want to be rather hasty and get on them…

Read More

How do you handle a 10-year-old making critical remarks?

Question: Hello, Your website is great and very helpful. My question is about my niece, who is 10 years old. She has had a sudden change in her personality in school, Sunday school, and at home. She has become critical of everybody and is commenting on everything, so as to make people around her laugh.…

Read More

How can I defend the faith as a Christian youth?

Question: Please assist me with this question: “How can I defend the faith as a Christian youth?” Thank you. Answer: “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to…

Read More

How do I teach my worldly family when I visit them?

Question: Hello, I am visiting my worldly family right now and plan to be here for the next few days. I would like to at least spread some seed while I am here. I feel as though I could explain the basics of Christianity well enough if someone were already seeking to be a Christian…

Read More

How do I prove that Jesus exists and the Bible is true?

Question: How do I prove to an atheist that Jesus exists and that every word in the Bible is true? He believes in “om” and the energy runs the world. That life is made of energy. Answer: This person is not an atheist. An atheist does not believe in any higher being or force. The…

Read More

If I aim to preach or teach, what do I need to learn?

Question: It would seem that not many are even aiming to try and follow the truth, and as such, I would like to someday be a preacher and or teacher in hopes that some might be won over to Christ and the truth. I appreciate that you seem to do that as well. It seems…

Read More

Are women prohibited from ever teaching men in an assembly of any kind?

Question: Is there any verse, to your knowledge, that prohibits women from ever teaching men in an assembly of any kind? I know she can’t teach from a position of authority such as an elder, deacon, preacher, evangelist, etc. And, I know that she can’t usurp authority over a man, but can she teach men…

Read More