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.

A Question for You

1. A question for you: When life is HARD, will I still rejoice? (Habakkuk 3:1-19)


2. The answer: I have REASON to rejoice!

What keeps me going when life is hard?

1. God has a PURPOSE for my trial (Hab 3:1-2)


2. God is FOR me (Hab 3:3-15)


3. My best days are AHEAD (Hab 3:16-19)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!
Sermon Audio: (no recording)

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Habakkuk 3:1-19

1. Which do you think people (in general) associate more with God: His wrath or His mercy? (Hab 3:2)
    
2. Why is it so hard to worship God (go to church, sing, read the Bible, etc) in the times we need Him the most?
    
3. How did Habakkuk settle on rejoicing in the Lord even on the eve of national destruction (Hab 3:18)? How can we apply this?

Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another.

A Question from God

1. A question from God: What are you DOING?


2. The answer: I am walking in FAITH!

The Path of the Flesh:

1. PRIDE: ME first! (Hab 2:4)


2. GREED: Gotta have MORE! (Hab 2:5-8)


3. EXPLOITATION: I will do WHATEVER it takes to get what I want! (Hab 2:9-14)


4. SENSUALITY: Whatever makes me feel GOOD! (Hab 2:15-17)


5. IDOLATRY : ANYTHING but the Lord! (Hab 2:18-20)

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Habakkuk 2:4-20

1. How do you know if you are walking by faith or walking in the flesh?
    
2. When someone is on the path of the flesh, how can they truly come to their senses and get off that path?
    
3. Why does receiving Jesus mean that a believer will not face the judgment of God?

Breakout Questions:

1. Pray for someone you know that is on the path of the flesh.

What are you doing?

1. A question for God: What are you DOING ? (Hab 1:12-2:1)


2. The answer: You are going to have to TRUST ME ! (Hab 2:2-4)

One word to embrace when God doesn't make sense: FAITH
Remember what is true about God!

1. Recite the Characteristics of God. (Hab 1:12)


2. Read what God has Declared. (Hab 2:2)


3. Rest in what God has Promised. (Hab 2:3)

Sermon Notes: BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!
Sermon Audio: (no recording)

Small Group Questions ­(Whole Group):
Read Habakkuk 1:12-2:4

1. How would you define faith to someone who is not a believer? Be specific!
    
2. Why does God require us to live by faith? Why doesn’t He just always act obviously and immediately?
    
3. Tell of a time you saw God turn what LOOKED like a mess into redemption.

Breakout Questions:

1. What characteristic of God and/or promise of God do YOU need to embrace right now?
    
2. Pray for one another.

Where are you?

1. A question for God: Where are you when we need you? (Hab 1:1-4)


2. The answer: Wait and see! (Hab 1:5-11)

Three truths to embrace while you wait:

1. Waiting now means something BIG is coming.


2. Sometimes the ANSWER doesn’t look like the ANSWER.


3. SUFFERING always comes before GLORY.

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Habakkuk 1:1-11

1. Is it wrong to question God?
    
2. What social injustice bothers you the most? (anything such as abortion, homosexual marriage, corporate greed, political corruption, etc?)
    
3. How do you react when God seems silent? Do you have a “standoff” with Him (ie you stop praying) or do you pray even more fervently?
    
4. Can you look back on a situation in your own life when God seemed to be silent, but afterwards He  brought an answer to your prayer? Tell of a time that you looked back and could see why God “delayed” in answering a prayer.

Breakout Questions:

1. What prayer do you want answer for right now in your life?