Does I Timothy 2:11-12 only apply to the assembly?

Question: What is your opinion regarding Paul’s instruction to Timothy regarding women in I Timothy 2? Is this instruction specific to the assembly or is it more general in nature? For example, some teach that a woman cannot hold a place of authority over a man in any situation, i.e. a Christian woman should not…

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If 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…

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Should people dress up for church?

Question: Is it appropriate for children or adults to dress up to go to church? Does this mean that they are closer to God than someone in jeans? Answer: People dress up when they head off to some special event. Their selection of clothing tells everyone whether they think the event is important to them…

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Shouldn’t Saturday be the Lord’s Day?

Question: Why do most Christians call Sunday the Lord’s day?  I was reading through a Bible and was surprised to find in Matthew 12:8 that Jesus Himself  says…”For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”  If Jesus says He is Lord of the Sabbath wouldn’t that make Sabbath — which was Saturday as…

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Is a head covering needed for all prayers or only during worship?

Question: Is a head covering needed any time a prayer is said (i.e. before dinner, around the house, baseball game, Bible class, etc.) or just during a worship service? Answer: “But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head…

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Foot Washing

by Dudley Ross Spears Question: “What is your understanding of feet washing as it was practiced in the Bible? Some people still practice it in church. What do you think?” Answer: This question deals with foot washing, not merely for sanitary purposes, but as a religious act allegedly done in worship of God. Please read…

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Is the use of a “praise team” scriptural?

Question: Have you heard of this idea of having a “praise team” in the song service of some churches?  This is confusing to me because it would seem that it would place women in a leadership role if they were part of the “team” leading the congregation.  What are your thoughts on this? Answer: A…

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The Amazing History of Instrumental Music in Christian Worship

by Allen Webster “I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also” (I Corinthians 14:15). In the average person’s mind, gospel singing and organ music go together like “rock” and “roll” or “blues” and “rhythm” or “hip” and “hop.” It is assumed, expected, even celebrated. Most would be genuinely surprised…

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How did Sabbath day worship get turned into Sunday worship?

Question: How did the Sabbath day (Saturday) when we worship together turn into Sunday?  Can you tell me where it is in the catechism’s doctrine?  I know a little about the Council of Trent but cannot find where this issue is addressed. Answer: The change in the day of worship came with the changes in…

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When should an invitation be offered?

Question: We meet in a rented hall so we don’t have a bell or buzzer to use to alert everyone when services begin. During our business meeting last evening one brother (whose wife teaches the children’s class) made a request. He stated that our normal procedure during our mid-week services has been that we make…

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Further objections to the idea that Catholics worship Mary

Question: Your answers are generally very straightforward, and I assume that you appreciate straightforward responses, so I’ll get directly to the point: you’re not telling the truth about the Catholic Church and its teachings about Mary.  As someone who seems devoted to the Truth (though somewhat misled on several important points), I figured you’d like…

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An objection to the claim that Catholics worship Mary

Question: I was reading over your web site about Catholicism. I have had doubts about the Catholic Church before, and the one thing I knew to do was to pray. So I prayed and the next day God led me to a website. Since I read your web site, I ask that you may read…

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Worship the King (Song)

Midi Tune: https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Worship-The-King-Music.mid Sheet Music: Loading… Taking too long? Reload document | Open in new tab Download [1.08 MB]

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Despising the Blood of Christ

Text: Hebrews 10:23-31   I.         The Hebrew writer warned that just as Moses’ law required obedience, rejecting Christ’s law would bring a greater punishment.             A.        He calls is trampling the Son of God underfoot                         1.         Counting the blood of Christ as a common thing                         2.         And insulting the Spirit             B.        I suspect that if you ask most people, they would…

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How do you know that Ephesians 5:19 is speaking about worship?

Question: I understand which verses talk about singing, but the main verse used by the churches of Christ to back up their singing is found in Ephesians. However, the verses prior to and after do not imply anything about worship. The prior verse speaks of not being drunk from wine wherein is excess. Did the…

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Is it wrong to clap or raise hands during singing?

Question: I love the Lord our God with all that I am. Daily I give my all to show Christ through my actions. Of course, I am a sinner and I know that this is a daily growing experience, but what a journey it is! I am a married young female and understand, accept, and…

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Who is Closer to God?

by Bob Pulliam Now don’t get me wrong! This is not a contest mentality being advocated here. But the question does enter my mind. I surfed over a channel the other day where people had the lights dimmed low, all were holding candles and swaying while singing Alleluia. I’m not trying to poke fun at anyone…

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Music in Worship

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I.          As we look at the denominations around us, we find that the vast majority use musical instruments in their worship services.              A.         Oddly, we don’t. Why not? What harm would there be in using them? Why can’t we be like those around us?              B.         I heard a similar reasoning before – I Sam.…

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Can Musical Instruments be Used to Worship God?

I.          One of the distinguishing marks of our worship is the fact that we do not use instrumental music in our worship.              A.         It is certainly different among the denominations where almost all use instruments.              B.         Lately, I been hearing of numerous congregations deciding to add instrumental music to their worship.                           1.          The reasoning that was so well known…

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Services Canceled Due To Christmas!

by Zeke Flores Much is said this time of year about Christmas. Some scream about “putting the Christ back in Christmas,” while others bemoan the fact that retail stores are “pushing Christmas out” by replacing the term “Merry Christmas” with “Happy Holidays” in their ads. Still others grumble about the increasing “secularization” of Christmas as…

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Should young boys lead singing in worship?

Question: The congregation I am meeting at has, on the last Wednesday night of the month, a singing night. We don’t have classes that night. We come together in the auditorium and sing songs, pray and someone gives a short ten-minute lesson. We let the boys get up in front of the congregation with their…

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Worship

I.         At times I am amazed at the vagueness that has entered our beliefs             A.        I’m sure the wishy-washy-ness of the denominational world has much to do it.                         1.         To define something crisply means you are dividing people into two groups — those who are right and those who are wrong.                         2.         And “Heaven forbid, if we actually charge…

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The Lord’s Supper

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Cor. 11:17-34   I.         It is a covenant meal             A.        Luke 22:19-20 – The cup is the new covenant             B.        A covenant that is taken with us in the kingdom – Matt 26:28-29             C.        Covenants were often sealed with a meal shared between the two parties.                         1.         Jacob and Laban’s covenant – Gen 31:46,54…

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How does a disfellowshiped Christian worship God?

Question: If a person is disfellowshiped at a congregation, then how can that person biblically worship God? How does a person know that they have been disfellowshiped? Today’s churches seem to practice no visible discipline, but many are treated as if they have been disfellowshiped. It seems the decision is made in secret among the…

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You only worship on Sunday because Constantine changed the day of worship

Question: It seems to me that you would find any mention of the first day of the week and anything that happened on that day is used to support the idea of worshiping on Sunday. Mainstream Christianity worships on Sunday only because the Roman Catholic Church and Emperor Constantine changed the day of worship to…

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Acts 20:7 doesn’t speak of worship, does it?

Question: Acts 20:7 says nothing about worship, rest, or the Sabbath, let alone indicating it was a new commandment to worship on that day. Answer: “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until…

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Why do Christians worship on Sunday instead of Saturday?

Question: The tenth commandment clearly states that the Sabbath should be kept on the seventh day and we know through the Jewish people that the seventh day of the calendar is Saturday on the Roman calendar. Also, note that in the Spanish language the word for Saturday is “sabado” and not that in the English…

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Welcome to Church … Kids Not Invited

by Mike Thomas I was so distracted once at a church service (away from here), by an overwhelming amount of noise from the audience, that I had a hard time concentrating on the lesson. I tried focusing my attention on the speaker, but the person behind me and a few others across the aisle were…

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A Heart-Felt Religion?

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I.         It seems many people today are struggling with the concept of worship.             A.        Suppose a visitor comes to worship with us. We sing a song of praise to God. The lights are on, eyes are open, no one is swaying with hands in the air.                         1.         This same person visits another group that…

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What is the purpose of praise and worship?

Question: What is the purpose of praise and worship? Answer: The word “worship” means to honor and give respect to a divine being or supernatural power. God claims worship as His exclusive right. “For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” (Matthew 4:10). And yet through…

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Answering the Sabbatarian

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Colossians 2:8-23   I.         Though only a minority, there are several denominations who believe that worship should take place on the Sabbath – the seventh day of the week             A.        Those adhering to the ideas that the Sabbath day regulations of the Old Testament should be keep today are very vocal             B.        Let…

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Teaching Unpopular Doctrine

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Some questions are difficult to answer, not because the Bible is unclear on a matter, but because there is a strong bias against the correct answer within the culture. Today, we have no difficulty speaking against idolatry. Even non-Christians understand that worshiping an idol is a worthless effort, just as God…

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