Questions from the Congregation - Part 3

Questions from the Congregation:

Is it correct to say "Bless the Lord" (per the words to the song)? I thought blessings flowed FROM Him TO us. How do WE bless Him?

Is it biblically permissible for an unbaptized believer to take communion?

When we go to heaven we will all know everyone there, but will we remember our lives on earth? Will a mother remember her children or will a husband remember his wife?
Does it say anywhere in the Bible that you will be reunited with your friends and family when you go to heaven?

What does it mean to "fear" the Lord?

Do we, an extension of HBC, hold James MacDonald on a pedestal? Does our leadership here think he does no wrong and/or do we need to copy everything the way they do it in Illinois? I have a lot of respect for James, please don't misunderstand, but I wonder if we think he is somewhat "perfect"?

How does God view Jews now? If they don't believe Jesus was the Messiah and follow Him, can they get in to heaven? They were God's chosen people in the Old Testament. 
Note: Read Jeff's blog for the answer to this questions that he was unable to get to during this Q&A service.

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):

Discuss any of the questions (and answers) from Sunday outlined above. Reflect on the answers given. How would you answer these?


Breakout Questions:

Pray for one another.

Questions from the Congregation - Part 2

GENESIS

Why does Genesis seem to have two accounts of creation? Or is chapter 2 an expansion on Day 6? Gen. 2:4 seems to start the account again.

If "death" in Romans 5 is taken as spiritual death as it is in other places in the New Testament (eg John 3:16), what is preventing us from taking the creation account of Genesis 1 - 2 as non-literal? In other words, is there any way God could have created the world not in one week ~6000 years ago?

Who are the Giants of Genesis 6 and will they be back? "As in the days of Noah, so it shall be in the coming of the Son of Man."

REVELATION

What does the Scriptures say about the timing of the rapture of the church? Will it occur before, or at the start of, the end times?

Does the Bible indicate if the antichrist actually knows he is the antichrist?

Satan and ⅓ of the angels fell from God's grace because of sin (him wanting to be God). How can I be sure it won't happen to ME in eternity (I certainly know I'm no angel)? Revelation 7:4 and 14:1,3. Is the number of 144,000 a literal number of those who will be marked with the seal of God? What does this mean? Will only 144,000 people (believers) make it into Heaven?


HEAVEN and HELL

How will we relate/react to our earthly spouse when we are in Heaven?

If God loves all people as His children and is all powerful, how can He allow ANY of His children to be eternally separated from Him in hell?

Is there a purgatory?

I recently heard a message on the radio that said "sheol" is not the same as "hell". It was said that "sheol" is a holding place. Is this where the Catholic religion gets their model for "purgatory"? Also, IS "sheol" different from "hell"?

When someone dies who is not saved and their loved ones say "he/she is in heaven/in a better place", I don't feel that it's the proper time to explain that is just not so (meaning at the time of the funeral/death). What do I say, then, in response to this at this time?

In 1978, Pope Paul (VI) said, "One day we will see our pets in the eternity of Christ" and a few weeks ago, Pope Francis said, "Paradise is open to all God's creatures." Is there any Biblical basis for either of these statements?


DOCTRINAL ISSUES

What is the deal with the apocrypha? Why is it not included in the protestant canon?

If Jesus forgave us for all of our sins on the cross, why does 1 John 1:9 say that we need to confess our sins and then we will be forgiven? What happens if we don't confess? Are we not forgiven? Signed: Confused!

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK

Questions from the Congregation - Part 1

The Questions are listed below (by category, same as Sunday), along with the Scripture references.

GOD

1. Q: If God created us to glorify Himself, isn't that selfish?
   A: Isaiah 42:8 - ­I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.
    
2. Q: Does God really know everything that will happen in the future….down to the smallest detail?
   A: Isaiah 46:9-10

SALVATION QUESTIONS

1. Q: How do you define faith to an unbeliever? How do you explain to a nonbeliever how/why you believe?
2. Q: When someone does not get to the 3rd level of faith, how does God react to this? Does this person's salvation suffer in any way?
3. Q: Is it possible to jeopardize or lose your salvation? What about Matthew 7:21-23? Do we have to do more than just believe?
   A: Matthew 7:21-23 ­- Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'
   John 10:28 ­- I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
    
4. Q: How can we be sure an elder parent is saved? What if they claim to have said “the prayer”, yet refuse to go church or do other God-­loving things?
5. Q: What happens to people the second they die?
   A: Philippians 1:23 -­ I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
   2 Corinthians 5:8­ - Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
   Luke 16:22-24 ­- The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.'

SUFFERING AND EVIL

1. Q: Where did evil come from?
   Why did God create Satan if God knew that Satan would fall and become the enemy?
   How did Satan become evil/sinful? Where did the evil come from?
   Why did Adam and Eve eat the apple?
   A: Ezekiel 28:16, Ezekiel 28:15, Revelation 12
   James 1:13-14 ­- Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
   Genesis 3:6­ - So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
    
2. Q: Is it OK to pray that God bring suffering to a loved one to bring them to repentance / greater dependence on God? (or to change a trait that may not be sinful, but harmful to others)?
   A: Romans 2:4 -­ Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

OLD TESTAMENT

1. Q: Why was no one else saved except Noah and his family?
   A: Hebrews 11:7, 1 Peter 3:20, 2 Peter 2:5
    
2. Q: Is baptism connected to the Old Testament? If so, how?
   A: Exodus 30, 40, Leviticus 8, 14, 16, Matthew 3:6, Matthew 28:19
    
3. Q: In Proverbs 30, it says, "there are three things…..yes, four…." (Prv 30:15, 18, 21, 24, 29). Why doesn't it just say "there are four things….."?
   A: Amos 1­-2

CHRISTIAN LIVING

1. Q: When we are trying to bring someone to the Lord, how do we know when to "let go and let God"?
    
2. Q: What is a Biblical way to deal with panhandlers? Should I give, knowing that God may be calling me to help, or should I refrain from giving, knowing many are not really in need?
    
3. Q: Remind us what SUBMISSION means and what it looks like in the life of a Christian.
   A: Ephesians 5:21-22 ­- submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):

1. Discuss any of the questions (and answers) from Sunday outlined above. Reflect on the answers given. How would you answer these?

Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another.