Questions and Answers - Part 5

Note: The time signatures [00:00] below indicate the start of a question if you'd like to skip to a particular one of interest in the audio file.

1. [01:32] - Q: Can you do whatever you want to in heaven?
    
2. [02:35] - Q: How did we get the Bible we have today (with books, chapters, and verse numbers)?
   A: See Luke 24:44
    
3. [06:49] - Q: If infant baptism is not Biblical, what is the justification of so many churches/denominations practicing it? What is the history/origin of the practice?
   A: See Acts 2:37
    
4. [13:39] - Q: What’s your favorite cliché that Dan Smith uses?
   A: "Prayerlessness is carelessness!"
   A: "Hell is too long to be wrong, so you better get it right!"
    
5. [17:22] - Q: Can Christians lose their Salvation?
   A: No! See: John 10:28-30 and 1 John 2, security (the fact: objective) vs. assurance (the feeling: subjective) 
    
6. [21:12] - Q: So if you are supposed to be able to see Jesus in heaven, how can that happen? The bible says that He is so bright you can't look at Him or see Him.
   A: See Rev 1
    
7. [21:58] - Q: Please discuss what the Bible says about why women of all ages should dress modestly.
   A: See 1 Tim 2: 9-10, Rom 14:13. Modesty = having regard for others
    
8. [26:05] - Q: Other than His birth, what reliable history is out there about the childhood, teen, and younger man years of Jesus? Since much of that isn't in the Bible...I think...
   And if it is not in the Bible, should we assume not to trust it anything else that is out there?
   A: See John 2:11, Luke 2:41
    
9. [29:34] - Q: Can you explain the term "ministry" and broad examples of ministries?
   Can I make something that I love, that isn't "churchy," a ministry that is God-honoring and valuable in a Kingdom perspective?
   A: Ministry = service in the name of the Lord with the mindset of advancing His kingdom or glorifying His name.
    
10. [33:11] - Q: Can we pray to the Holy Spirit, that is asking for wisdom or discernment, or are we only supposed to direct our prayers to God the Father. And what is the biblical basis for this?
    A: See Matt 6, Luke 11 (Jesus teaches how to pray), John 17 (Jesus praying), John 14:14 (Jesus teaching prayer to God the Father), Rom 8:26 (the Holy Spirit prays with us), John 15:16 (we pray in the name of the Son). No biblical basis to pray to anyone else.

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

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):

Review and discuss the questions and answers given on Sunday's Q&A day together. Have you found any additional biblical support for the answers given?

Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another.

Questions from the Congregation - Part 4

Note: The time signatures [00:00] below indicate the start of a question if you'd like to skip to a particular one of interest in the audio file.

1. [01:33] - Q: Can you explain the meaning/symbolism of the new Harvest Vertical Church logo? Is there any military/militia inspiration or hidden meaning to its design?
    
2. [04:27] - Q: In Mark 3:17, Jesus calls James and John, sons of Zebedee, "Sons of Thunder". (BLB says Greek "Boanereges" comes from 2 Aramaic root words meaning "son, child | rage".) Was it     their zeal and passion for the Lord that earned them this nickname, a reference to fiery personalities given to hot-headedness, or both?
   A: Luke 9:51
    
3. [07:24] - Q: Some people feel it is important for all of us to use a supernatural language today. Please help us to understand this. Thank you.
   A: 1 Corinthians 12, 13, 14
    
4. [08:58] - Q: What exactly is happening at the Lord’s supper? Real presence? Just remembrance?
   A: Hebrews 9:25-26, 1 Corinthians 11:25
    
5. [13:44] - Q: What are some Bible references for people who have made wrong decisions     but God continued to love and provide for them? I am looking for     some hope that all is not lost because of my wrong decisions. The Psalms seem to address when people are being persecuted for their faith. thank you.
   A: (David) - 2 Samuel 11, (Peter) - John 21, (Paul) - 1 Timothy 1:15-16
    
6. [22:33] - Q: What do you think about the “new perspective on Paul”?
   A: 2 Corinthians 5:21, Philippians 3:8-9
    
7. [27:10] - Q: What do you think about the documentary hypothesis? Like is it ok to believe or no?
   A: (Jesus) - Mark 12:28, (Peter) - Acts 3:22, (Paul) - Romans 10:5
    
8. [29:05] - Q: What is the lesson & significance of Jacob’s ladder?
   A: Genesis 28:10-22
    
9. [30:43] - Q: What is Satanism? How does it tie into the Bible?


10. Q: Does David seem to show signs of arrogance in some of the things he writes in the Psalms? For example, Ps. 18: 20-24, “The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness;, according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not turned away from his decrees. I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin. The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.” NIV I know David is known as the man after God’s own heart, but every time I read this passage, I feel like David is saying he DESERVED God’s blessing. Am I wrong?
    A: [Check Pastor Jeff's Blog soon for an answer]
     
11. [34:12] - Q: Did God know Adam and Eve would sin? Did God create hell before or after the first sin?
    A: Isaiah 46:9-10, Revelation 13:8, 1 Peter 1:18-20, Matthew 25:41-46

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):

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.

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.