teaching – Page 8 – La Vista Church of Christ

How do you know what Bible references to use?

September 13, 2012

Question: What is the best way in how to study my Bible? As you do when writing the articles, how do you know which specific references to use? Answer: The simple answer is whatever way that keeps you interested. As an example, I’ve never read my Bible from cover to cover. I’ve read the whole Bible many…

Is it wrong for a younger woman to teach older women?

August 31, 2012

Question: We have been in several small congregations and my wife has been asked to lead woman’s classes or has started one where there wasn’t one. The problem is that she feels a little strange about it because she is a young woman teaching older women some twice her age and Titus 2:3-4 says it…

How do I bring an agnostic friend to Christ?

July 20, 2012

Question: Hello. I thank you again for the opportunity to ask questions and get them answered so promptly! I am debating with my close friends, so my question is how do I bring my agnostic friend to Christ? Here is a discussion we are having at the moment and please let me know if my…

Did I do something wrong in telling my ex-girlfriend that her behavior wasn’t good?

July 5, 2012

Question: My ex-girlfriend and I met a few weeks ago and discussed things and we made peace in following Matthew 18:15. We didn’t get back together, that wasn’t my interest; I just wanted to be Christian brother and sister again so we could help each other spiritually. After she added me back on Facebook I…

Is it ever OK to tell someone they are going to Hell if they don’t repent?

June 23, 2012

Question: Is it ever okay to tell an unfaithful Christian, “You are going to Hell if you do not repent of your sins and come back to the church?” Answer: People have a tendency to want to make rules to simplify decisions, but sometimes rules can’t cover every situation. Generally, we aim for gentle, polite persuasion…

What are the most asked questions by people?

June 14, 2012

Question: I am doing a class about questions people might have. What are some of the most asked questions Christians and non-Christians have? I tried thinking of the top ten questions, but I tried googling and found a lot of pointless stuff for questions, but I didn’t think they would be in the top ten,…

How do I tell family and friends they are living in sin?

June 12, 2012

Question: How do I know what to say when telling people that they’re living in sin, like my family and friends? I’m scared that whatever I say will not even be listened to and then it’s just going to be a squabble afterward. But I know, obviously, it is more important to warn them about…

I’ve taught my wife the truth about dancing, but she won’t accept it. What else can I do?

June 3, 2012

Question: Well, I am married and the only problem we have is that she goes to another church that’s not a church of Christ. To be honest it not really the church that we’re clashing on, even though that’s wrong as well. It’s the dancing that she does that she still commits to doing. Every…

How can I get my mother to turn away from her sin?

May 16, 2012

Question: Hello, Your knowledge and answers to my questions have helped me so much. I can’t thank you enough, but I have another one to ask. My mother has been married and divorced five times, and I know most of them are not because of adultery. She is currently with a man who is still…

What Is the Gospel About?

May 13, 2012

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/WhatIsTheGospelAbout.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Isaiah 49:1-13 I. There is no end to the people who like to tell preachers how to do their job and what they are allowed to say or not say A. For many, they don’t want to hear about things like sin and its consequences, they don’t want to be…

I need some pointers in teaching people

April 11, 2012

Question: Brother Hamilton, I had a crazy day yesterday. I talked to four people total about the gospel; that’s never happened to me. Each encounter brought up some questions, and I thought I’d ask you. The most urgent one is I have a Bible study scheduled Sunday night with a friend on baptism. This is…

How do I teach my girlfriend a little at a time?

March 6, 2012

Question: Hello sir, I am a member of a church of Christ. I have a girlfriend who is part of an apostolic church. They have choir, praise dances, communion first Sunday of each month, and more false doctrine. Could you tell me where to start to let her see the truth? I don’t want to…

How do I teach my fiance that dancing in worship, instrumental music, and women preachers are a big deal if you want to please God?

March 2, 2012

Question: I’m getting my fiance to come to a church of Christ from being a Baptist. She had decided to study with me and learn the Word together, but it seems still a little hard to do so. For one, her mother is always in her ear and to be honest she would be mad…

What do I need to learn to teach others?

February 18, 2012

Question: I have been baptized in Christ’s church since I was a teenager and I am now in my thirties. I’m married with children. I work and go to school. I attend services faithfully and try to work on the things in my life to live righteously. So I’m starting to learn how to teach…

Why does it feel as if I’m going through an intellectual exercise when I talk about the Bible to others?

February 13, 2012

Question: As I study the Bible more and talk with people more about it, it seems like sometimes it becomes an intellectual exercise instead of my way of life. It definitely is my way of life; I feel like I’m living properly as far as I can tell, I do the things I do because…

What about ghosts, sacrificing to the dead, and sin?

February 8, 2012

Question: I have doubts about certain religions. People have asked me what I believe regarding these things and I honestly don’t know what the Bible says about it. You probably know about religions that preach about “ghosts” or “spirits.” I’ve even heard about people who sacrifice animals or other people to get something they want.…

What verses do I need to convince my grandpa to be a Christian?

February 6, 2012

Question: My grandpa doesn’t go to church and is not saved. What verses do I need to tell him out of the Bible? Answer: This is a question I would love to be able to answer but cannot. I don’t know your grandpa. I don’t know why he has decided against being a Christian. Because…

Does Jesus promise in John 14:12 that miracles would continue?

January 29, 2012

Question: Does Jesus promise in John 14:12 that miracles would continue? Answer: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” (John 14:12). In this context, Jesus is giving his…

Are we responsible only for ourselves or for others as well?

January 27, 2012

Question: Hi there, I think it is in Matthew we read that we should not cause another to sin. Are we responsible for our own salvation? Or can we be held responsible someday for causing another to sin and which kept them out of heaven? Answer: “But whoever causes one of these little ones who…

What do you do with someone who thinks they are fine and won’t listen to the Bible?

January 24, 2012

Question: How can I evangelize somebody who says that he already does what is right by not lying or killing anybody and that all is needed is to just love God and that’s it? I don’t see any opening to evangelize because if I talk about Jesus, they will just call me crazy. Not that…

Don’t women have the same job as men in teaching the Gospel?

January 22, 2012

Question: Hi, I have been reading through some of your interpretations of biblical scriptures on your website and I felt it necessary to tell you that while whoever is writing them is knowledgeable on the scriptures, they seem to have missed the point of them, particularly in regards to women in the church. Jesus gave…

I missed an opportunity to tell someone that their life is not right with God. What do I do now?

January 16, 2012

Question: My wife ran into an old friend at a store, and they were talking. Her friend talked of how she and her fiance were living together, and my wife said something that kind of approved it. Her friend was also cussing. I walked away and sat in the car. I’m afraid because I didn’t…

How do I teach someone? It just doesn’t come naturally to me.

January 1, 2012

Question: Hello, I wanted to thank you for your web site. It’s such a valuable resource to my studies and very informative and helpful. I have a question of my own if you don’t mind. As Christians, we are to be evangelists and spread the good news. I have taken extensive notes throughout my life…

Is it wrong to hope Jesus doesn’t return soon? I still have a lot of people to whom I want to bring the Gospel?

December 27, 2011

Question: Is it wrong if I don’t want God to come quickly? We always sing songs about being excited to go to Heaven and asking God to come quickly. I don’t really know that I want him to come quickly; it almost feels selfish to pray and sing for that. Although I have some things…

The Dreaded Task

November 21, 2011

by Richard Massey The Dreaded Task Margaret E. Brown I found the task that I had dreaded so, Was not so difficult when once begun; It was the dread itself that was the foe, And dread once conquered means a victory won. How true is the above statement. The first time brethren asked me to teach…

How can I improve in giving presentations?

October 8, 2011

Question: I am a trainer. I will be giving a presentation soon, but I am not confident. I am tense and get scared thinking about it. How can I improve? Answer: Fears exist because of unknown things. You aren’t certain about your abilities or the audience’s reception, so you imagine all the possible ways it…

Self-Inflicted Wounds

October 2, 2011

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/SelfInflictedWounds.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 7:1-5 I. I’ve mentioned to several people an interesting book by Gregory Koukl called Tactics. A. It discuss how Christians can discuss the gospel with others, especially those who might be hostile to the ideas of Christianity. 1. It is about not only presenting points, but getting the other person…

You should be spreading the joys of Christian living rather than taking excerpts from the Bible

September 20, 2011

Question: Your web site is filled with messages of hate and judgment. Your ministry should focus on love and spreading the joys of Christian living rather than taking excerpts from the translated Bible as a rule book for life. Spread love, not hate! Note: I find it interesting that I received both a letter in…

How do I preach the gospel?

August 27, 2011

Question: How do I preach the gospel? Meaning, where should I do it and what should I say? If I do it at work, I would probably get fired. Do I just go up to complete strangers on the street, in stores, etc? I have severe anxiety, and I’m not articulate, but those are not…

How do I bring up that homosexuality is wrong to someone I’m teaching?

June 24, 2011

Question: I was wondering if there is a tactful way to speak to someone about their homosexuality. I’ve made a dear friend in the last year and we have had numerous conversations about Christianity and faith. I’ve covered quite a lot of ground with her, definitely more than I have with any other person. She’s…

The Value of Souls

June 19, 2011

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/ValueOfSouls.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 15:1-10 I. It is far too easy to lose sight of the goal A. We look at the sin in the world around us, knowing that we are not to get caught up in it – Romans 6:1-2 B. We don’t want to be influenced by the world – I…

Should I confront my friend’s pastor?

June 9, 2011

Question: I’ve been arguing with a girl at school. She calls herself a Christian. She recently invited me and my friend to go to her church. So my friend asked her if there’s a female preacher there, she said yes. She asked if women speak there, she said yes. Later that day, they were arguing if…

Your website has helped me a lot in putting together lessons

June 2, 2011

Question: I felt compelled to write and thank you and any others that may be contributing material to your website. Your sermon outlines and lessons have been very helpful to me these last several months. You see, my brother-in-law, who preached for the small congregation that meets here passed away recently, and as the congregation…

What Can be Known Can be Shown

May 22, 2011

by Tim Nichols All rational students of the Bible want to be told, by teachers and preachers, not just what to believe, but also why those things are to be believed. Every faithful teacher of the Bible is prepared to deliver both in clear terms. Bible doctrines are all taught by specific Bible passages and…

I’m scared to make a public presentation. What do I do?

May 10, 2011

Question: I need an advice: My group is going to present a project in school. She’s going to choose a student randomly so only one of us will present it. The problem is: I’m afraid to speak in public because my hands shake and I forget some things. I get afraid of what people will…

What do you say to someone who leaves the church for a denomination?

April 19, 2011

Question: What is the best approach to talk with bothers or sisters in Christ who have decided to worship at a denomination? One of the main comments I get from these brothers and sisters is “the church they now worship at teaches the same thing as the church does only it doesn’t say the Church…