I’ve been living irresponsibly, but I want to serve God
Question: Dear Sir, I am a 35-year-old single man. I am writing this with utmost shame, disgust, and remorse for my sinful and irresponsible lifestyle when it comes to the sexual department. I have been very immoral, you name it, I am entirely guilty of the sin. Whether it be masturbation, pornography, fornication, you name…
Read MoreDoes “race” exist?
Question: In Mark 7:26, Mark mentions that the mother of the daughter who had the unclean spirit was a member of the Syrophoenician race. Don’t races not exist, as stated in Galatians 3:28 and Acts 17:24-26? Answer: The Greek word genos has several meanings. It can refer to a race, a nation, a kind (or species),…
Read MoreHow do I know God is good?
Question: Hello there, I need help with many spiritual questions. I was baptized into Christ a few years ago and had been exploring the spiritual aspects of life for many years before that. While at times I have experienced fleeting moments of assurance, most of my Christian experience has involved negativity and anxiety. I believe the…
Read MoreGod Is Good All the Time (2)
by Zeke Flores God is good! That pithy phrase pops up in my newsfeed several times a day, usually in a comment where someone reports something good in their life. It could be favorable results from a medical test, the arrival of a new baby, a financial windfall, the purchase of something new, or one…
Read MoreHow Can We Help Someone in Times of Loss?
by David Gibson A woman has a miscarriage. A middle-aged man is laid off from his job. A family’s house burns. Parents lose a teenage son in a traffic accident. A child is diagnosed with cancer. A surviving spouse must now go on without the other. Responding to loss A common response to the suffering…
Read MoreDepression Is Real
by Zeke Flores I understand the hard-fought struggle for those who wrestle with feelings of inadequacy, isolation, and gloom. And I know that when others say that depressed people should just “snap out of it,” well, that’s just dumb. Unfortunately, too many who grapple with depression hinder their own recovery by dwelling on the depression…
Read MoreThe Danger of Quietly Walking Away
by Cleve Stafford Picture yourself out on the open water in a small boat. The waves are gentle, the wind mild, and the sun warm on your face. You close your eyes just for a moment to enjoy the peace. But when you open them again, you realize something chilling: you’ve drifted far from the…
Read MoreEducation
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Education.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Psalms 78:1-8 I. Why go to school? What use is all those endless facts? A. A question I’m sure more school-aged children ask. B. Does an education have value? 1. To answer this we must compare the alternative. a. Solomon did this and concluded wisdom, which is gained by learning, is…
Read MoreHow Can I Be Happy with All These Troubles?
by Charles Box In our society, there is much talk about happiness. Happiness is even a Bible subject. In Psalms 35:9, we read, “And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.” We do not think of happiness as a choice, but happiness is, in fact, just that, a…
Read MoreYou Are Complete in Him
by Terry Wane Benton “And in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority” (Colossians 2:10). The book of Colossians says that nothing is missing or lacking in Christ. In Him we have all we need for assurance, forgiveness, direction, wisdom and knowledge, freedom from sin and…
Read MoreStill Trying to Prove a Point
by Becky René Some people carry an invisible burden. Long after the moment has passed, they continue to live in the shadow of a past insult, injury, or trauma. It might have been a harsh remark, a personal failure, abuse, rejection, a physical condition, or a tragic accident. Perhaps someone made them feel incapable or…
Read MoreMixing the Law of Moses and the Gospel of Christ
by Terry Wane Benton When brethren at Galatia tried to bring over circumcision from the Law, it was a faith problem. It essentially inferred that the gospel of Jesus is not sufficient without the Law of Moses. It states that Christians are incomplete with Jesus as head over all things to the church (Ephesians 1:19f).…
Read MoreHow much should we judge?
Question: I know that it is not our job to decide who goes to heaven or hell. Still, my boyfriend says that my family will not be saved because God will not accept the worship that they offer, because they are using instruments and teaching false lessons, such as once saved always saved, and other…
Read MoreWhat kinds of sex are included in Leviticus 18:22?
Question: According to Leviticus 18:22, “Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable” (NIV). My Question: Is it oral or anal sex, or something else? What if the person is a transgender woman, meaning male to female? Answer: “You shall not lie with a male as…
Read MoreCan you be forgiven if you intentionally sin?
Question: Hello, I was told by my parents (who are a deacon and a deaconess in a church) that if someone sins intentionally (meaning that they know what they’re doing is a sin), God would not forgive them. Is that true? Answer: I assume your parents are thinking of: “For if we go on sinning…
Read MoreReaching the Lost
by David Dann Most people are lost. “Few” are headed in the right direction in contrast to the “many” who are bound for destruction (Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV). They are “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1) and are “alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the…
Read MoreThe First Day of the Rest of Your Life
by Zeke Flores “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” Cheesy, maybe—but true. Yesterday is fixed, and no amount of regret can rewrite it. I may not be able to undo my past mistakes, but I can seek forgiveness, make amends where possible, and learn from them. God isn’t finished with…
Read MoreThe Issue of Authority
by Randy Robinson John Mellencamp lamented in song over twenty years ago, “I fight authority; authority always wins.” Indeed, authority is a powerful force with which to be reckoned. In the case of this songster, his perspective is easily noted as one who is rebellious against authority, as indicated by his lyrics, “I’ve been doin’…
Read MorePrinciples of Sharing
by Hugh DeLong In II Corinthians 8-9, we find instructions for the disciples to share with one another on an ongoing basis–specifically, addressing the needs of poverty and famine among their fellow disciples. The situation in Judea was bleak; the disciples simply were in serious need of help. Thus, the instructions given by Paul were…
Read MoreThe Almighty
by Terry Wane Benton John describes Jesus as “the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8). Isaiah predicted the “child” who would be born and later called “Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6-7). The Hebrew of the Old Testament refers to “El Shaddai” (God Almighty). The term emphasizes God’s ability to handle any situation that confronts God’s people. It is first…
Read MoreCommitment Is Hard
by Zeke Flores As I survey the fractured state of the people of America in general, and God’s people specifically, I’m humbled and grateful for those precious saints in congregations across the continent and around the world who understand the concept of congregational loyalty while others wander looking for greener pastures; who support their leadership…
Read MoreIs It Still a Mystery?
by J. F. Dancer, Jr. Some people read the Bible every day. Others read it occasionally, and some never open it. All have different views on what it teaches. Do you think God had it written so that we would “understand” it differently, allowing each of us to believe what we want to believe? I…
Read MoreGod’s Power to Save
by J. F. Dancer When Paul wrote the letter to the saints at Rome, he explained to them why he had not yet visited them. He had promised to come and still intended to do so (Romans 15:24), but had been prevented (Romans 1:13). Then he set forth the basic principle of salvation – “…the…
Read MoreResponsibilities of Husbands and Fathers
by Kerry Blackaby As Father’s Day approaches, we plan to celebrate the husbands and fathers in our lives and what they mean to us. But are today’s fathers what they used to be? Or more importantly, are they the kind of fathers described in the Bible? Almost all fathers portrayed on television today are not…
Read MoreProfile of the New Age Movement
by Warren E. Berkley via Guardian of Truth Definition Built on the assumption that we are all divine beings with supernatural potential, the New Age Movement asserts that through knowledge, enlightenment, and meditation, we can discover our own divinity. Then, in concert with other “enlightened ones,” we can create a new world and usher in…
Read MoreCan You Really Lose Your Salvation?
by Clay Gentry You’ve no doubt heard the saying, “Once saved, always saved.” It’s a slogan, rooted in Calvinism, meant to express an assurance of eternal security. But then, you’ve no doubt heard the counterargument: “No, you can lose your salvation.” While the latter is said with good intentions, I wonder if this response can…
Read MoreSome “Old Stains”
by Dennis Ross The other day, while washing dishes, I came upon a small pot that had been scorched during its use. Even though I had soaked it for quite a while, in hot water and soap, I still had a great deal of difficulty removing all the stains from the bottom of the pot.…
Read MoreDesign Flaws?
by Terry Wane Benton “The design of our shared tubes for eating and breathing causing people to choke to death on their food proves the designer was an utterly incompetent halfwit…….or we evolved” [NF]. I would say to NF that this argument is ridiculous! That is like saying that if pollen can get into the…
Read MoreForgiveness of Debts Owed
by Doy Moyer It seems that in the “forgiveness debate” (that sounds odd), people can easily talk past each other. The discussion really hinges on what is meant by “forgiveness.” To further clarify the nature and nuances of forgiveness, please note the phrase used by Jesus in His model prayer: “and forgive us our debts,…
Read MoreEsther: “Such a Time as This”
by Keith Greer A great king, after subduing Egypt and Babylon, determined to have a feast. He invited all the princes of his empire. From the text, we learn that “wine flowed in abundance.” The king’s wife, Queen Vashti, was a very beautiful woman. After the feast, he commanded that she come and parade her…
Read MoreThe Alpha and the Omega
by Terry Wane Benton John describes Jesus as “the Alpha and the Omega” (Revelation 1:8). Alpha is the starting letter of the Greek alphabet, and Omega is the final letter of that alphabet. Even our English word “alphabet” comes from the Greek letters alpha and beta. What does John mean by calling Jesus the alpha…
Read MoreHow Can It Be Right to Turn a Child of God Over to Satan?
by Roger D. Campbell Have you ever heard of the proposal that there comes a point when the Lord’s church should somehow deliver its unfaithful members to the devil? Does that idea strike you as being unreasonable or unthinkable? The truth is, beloved, that is exactly what the God of heaven instructs us to do.…
Read MoreSpeaking in Tongues?
by Ron Boatwright Many in the religious world today are obsessed with “speaking in tongues.” According to the Bible, one of the miracles of the first century was the ability to speak in understandable foreign languages, which the speaker had never learned. In Acts 2, on the Day of Pentecost, only the twelve apostles could…
Read MoreDid the Early Churches Commune with the Lord?
by Terry Wane Benton You might think it is easy to answer with a “Yes,” and it is. However, when an AD 70 advocate gets a hold of almost any topic, the simple becomes very complex, and they would answer the title question with a no. I’m not kidding! Here are quotes from Steve Baisden:…
Read MoreShall We Sin? The Real Point of Romans 6
by Randy Blackaby Virtually any survey of Bible teaching on the importance of baptism includes an examination of Romans 6:3-4, which demonstrates how baptism connects the believer with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. This passage illustrates how baptism imitates and is, in fact, a pattern of our Lord’s sacrifice. However, while these two verses certainly…
Read MoreI Want a Church that Meets My Needs
by William Woodson The statement made in the title is not only the desire of many in the religious world, but it is also becoming the philosophy of many Christians, as many of us are seeking a religion that “meets our needs.” The phrase itself has virtually become a new religious term. Many persons praise…
Read MoreWhy Are We Told the Story of Jael?
by Perry Hall There is only one woman in the Bible who directly killed a man. Her name was Jael. She hammered a tent peg into the skull of Sisera (Judges 4). Why are we told this story? Considering she is the only woman in the Bible to have killed a man, such an anecdote…
Read MoreRemoving Ancient Landmarks
by Terry Wane Benton “Do not remove the ancient landmark which your fathers have set” (Proverbs 22:28 NKJV). “Bring in no new dogmas, nor rites, nor ceremonies, into religion, or the worship of God, that are not clearly laid down in the sacred writings. ‘Stand in the way; and see, and ask for the old…
Read MoreHow do I repair the consequences of my sin?
Question: My girlfriend and I (both from Christian families in the same denomination and church) made the grave mistake of having sexual relations. We sincerely repented before God and asked for His forgiveness, but that act created in me a deep conviction that I had joined her as a married couple before God. My most…
Read MoreMortal Swallowed up in Life
by Hugh DeLong Text: II Corinthians 5 The resurrection of Jesus is the pattern for us, for we will be raised in immortal or changed form if alive at His coming. (Romans 8:11; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; II Corinthians 4:14) Thus, the first part of this chapter. In this mortal body, we long for it to be different. We live…
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