Inquiring Minds Part 1 - 02-01-09

Inquiring Minds - Questions I would like to ask a pastor? 02-01-09

1. Can I have some money please?
From my daughter Allsion

2Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

2. What is the meaning of the pictures in the stain glass windows?

Adam and Eve in the Garden - Genesis 1,2
Noah and the flood - Genesis 6
Abraham and Issac - Genesis 22
Moses before the pharaoh - Exodus 5
Rahab and the prostitute - Joshua 2
Elijah ascends to Heaven in the chariot of fire - Joshua

Birth of Jesus - Luke 2
Jesus presented in the temple - Luke 2
Jesus teaching the the temple - Luke 2
Baptism of Jesus - Luke 3
Jesus-sermons on the mount - Matthew 5,6,7
Jesus on the cross - Matthew 27
Jesus resurrected-ascending - Matthew 28

Holy Spirit-the day of the Pentecost - Acts 2

Heaven and Hell
3. Is there a Hell?

Does God punish people? God loves people
God is a God of love. God so lave the world, John 3:16

People that choose to live for themselves in this life, do not want to hand with God, the have rejected Him. Many theologians believe that the presence of Hell in Shristian theology is an action of grace. That God has created a place for those who hate God in this life, can continue to do so in eternity.

4. What would be the point of this life if what we learned here had not value in the spiritual after life?

I do think that we grow and change in this life. When we arrive in heaven, it should feel like home.

2 Corinthians 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Maybe there are different things that happen to us depending on how we lived this life....

2 Corninthians 12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body O do not know - God knows.

Of course there is purpose to our learning, growing and living here.

5. Do dogs go to Heaven?
Isaiah 11:6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.

6. What will Heaven be like?
(Will we have physical bodies? what will we do?) will there be golden streets

we will live inthe real spirit, in the presence of God. The thought of this and the understanding of this is beyond our comprehension.

1Corinthians 2:9 "No eye has ever seen, nor ear heard, no maind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him".

Revelation 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be not more death or mourning or crying or paidn, for the old order of things has passed away."

7. Many ancient cultures predict that 12/21/12 will be the end of time. What is the church's explanation about these types of theories?

Ahh, we enter the realm of speculative theology
the best biblical interpretation is based on themes, not stand alone versus.

Matthew 24:36 [The Day and Hour Unknown] "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

List thoses who have been wrong is very long.

Don't spend your time worrying about the future, receive the grace of God and live for him today. Matthew 5,6,7 the sermon on the mount is all about living today.

8. Why do I find revelation so terrifying?
Because people have used it to scare you - isn't that sad?

How do we understand it today?

A letter to the people in 90AD
Primarily a reminder to them and to all that would follow him, that Jesus will be victorious.

There is not secret code to be deciphered in Revelation or in the Bible. This gospel message is simple and clear.

1Corinthians 2
1When I cam to you, brother, I did not come with wloauence or superior wisdon as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ was crucified. 3I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4My message and my preaching were not with wise persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

So live your life about how you treat others today. Live out your faith today, don't worry about tomorrow.

Baptism
9. What is the 'right' way of being baptized?
(How much water, what age?)
the Methodist way of course

Methodists recognize all Christian baptism.
Prectice 3 historical methods: sprinkling, pouring, dunking

many scriptures regarding the symbolism of baptism
a washing, a cleansing, a rebirth

Jesus was baptized inthe Jordan river

Why do we baptize children? The father made all of the decisons...
Philippain jailer and his house
Acts 16:31They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your household." 32Then they spoke the word to the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God - he and his whole family.

321 Constine declares Christianity the official religion of Rome.

There are no scriptures that prohibit children from being baptized

There are no scriptures that illustrate older children or youth being baptized, as if they waited.

10. Should I be rebaptized?

If you believe that baptism is about your commitment, then you may want to be baptized every time you need to repent.

If you believe that baptism is about God's promise, then there is not need. God is faithful even when we are not.

There us no case in scripture ever, where a person was baptized more than one time.

General
11. How do we teach our children to stand against Atheism?
How do we combat atheism that is all around us? Idolatry?

Teach them well
Set the example
Be ready to give answer

1Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

12. Are we separate from God? Beneath him? Is God in all of us, is God in all things? Are we one with God?

We are created in God's image - Genesis 1
We are one with him in worship, in prayer
God is know by the things that are made - Romans 1

Is God in everything?

13. Explain the verse, when I am weak, then I am strong.

2Corintians 12 7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassing great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flest, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 6Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakenenss, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."