Inquiring Minds - Week 2 - 2-8-09

Inquiring Minds - Week Two 2-8-09 Questions I would like to ask a pastor

1. The person I love does not believe in God - How do I bring them to Christ? Is it wrong to be with this person?

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 2Cornintians 6:14

Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2When they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 1Peter 3:1-2

2. How do we tech our children to stand against Atheism? Idolatry?

You don't stand against something, you stand for something
You teach by word and deed

Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Psalm34:11

3. Tithing, before or after taxes?

10% gross or net. Dave Ramsey says adjusted gross income.

Breing the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there many be food in my house. Test me in this, says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of Heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it..Malachi 3:10

4. What does it mean to 'turn the other cheek' or do not resist an evil person?

17Do not repay anyone eveil for evil. Be careful to do that is fight in the eyes of everybody. 18If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written:"It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:17-21

Sometines the good is to say "No".

5. Why do we judge people by what's on the outside, not what's on the inside?

We are behaving foolishly

A Wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless. Proverbs 14:16

6. What does it mean to live a holy like in this world?

but now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. Romans6:22

To have in your heart a passion, a desire to serve God and his people
It is a gift fro God, you do not earn it. By the sacrifice of Jesus, our hearts are changed.
It is a gift from God, you do not earn it. By the sacrifice of Jesus, our hearts are changed.

Not perfect, but growing in our desire for God.

7. Talk to me about balancing everyday life with the life that God wants us to have. Juggling, work, kids, home, husband, schedules, bills, etc and fit God in too...priorities.

We are doing too much

We are doing - not being

25One one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked "what must I do to inherit eternal like?" 26"What is written in the Law?" he prelied. "How so you read it?" 27He answered: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all you soul and with all your strength and with all you mind', and 'Love you neighbor as yourself." 28You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." 29But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Luke10:25-29

Live your life, not someone elses

8. What do you do when your dreams for your life and your job don't come true?

Are our expectations too high?

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. 6in all you ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 7Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. Proverbs3:5-7

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

Oprah's Authors

Not going to quote a scripture passage, bible is replete with stories about the personhood and personal nature of God. He is not a benign force or energy, but a spiritual being that loves us and wants to be in relationship with us.

10. What's wrong with asking "why" in some situations?

Nothing at all.

5Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "the Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses." 6The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice amoung you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believer. Acts15:5-7

11. I have been hurt by others in Bible studies who do not respect my opinion. When reading and interpreting the Bible, do I accept what the majority believe or do I trust my own opinion?

There is a blessing in the wisdom of others...tradition hold the opinion of Wesley and Luther. Consider their thoughts.

the problem is that others hurt you.

12. Do you believe that speaking in tongues became extinct with the closing of the canon of scripture or can that gift be prevalent today?

27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also thoses having gifts of healing, thoses able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and thoses speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way. 1Corinthians15:42-44

13. What about cremation?

42So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 1Corinthians15:42-44

14. I have a problem that I am having trouble turning over to God - I want to trust him for the plans he has to prosper me and hope and future, but I seem to be stuck.

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 7Do not be wise in your won eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. Proverbs3:5-7

15. If I believe in God why do I fear death so much?

Draw near to God, he will draw near to you. James4

4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadwo of death I will fear no evil. for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm23:4

16. I wonder since my life has been so good up to now - how can I ask for more?

22Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and opened her womb, 23She bacame pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, "God has taken away my disgrace." 25She named him Joseph, [may he added] and said, "May the LORD add to me another son.

17. How can I stay on fire for God?

Story of the fire starter and the churches built that only had the fire making tools

1Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Psalm1:1-3