Questions from the Congregation - Part 16

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. [02:45] - Q: What does scripture say about one world currency?
    A: See Revelation 13:16-17 - Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.

  2. [6:18] - Q: If you could experience any moment in The Bible as an observer what event would you witness?
    A: Lazarus being raised from the dead by Jesus. No wrong answers here.

  3. [09:12] - Q: How do you break generational curses?
    A: See Exodus 34:6-7 - The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
    See Ezekiel 18:20-23 and 1 Corinthians 15:33

  4. [15:31] - Q: How long after the birth of Jesus did the 3 wise men appear? Most nativity scenes have them there along with the shepherds. Matthew 2 says they arrived about the same time as his birth. Some have told me they arrived more than 1 year after his birth which would beg the question, what did they do in Bethlehem all that time.

    A:
    See Matthew 2:11 - And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:16 - Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. See Matthew 2:2

  5. [21:26] - Q: Romans 13:3a → “For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong.” This is backwards these days. 12:21 says not to be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good. So, we are to fight. Why don't we? Or are we to passively accept evil rulers?

    A: It is God who puts up and takes down kingdoms. We war by praying.

  6. [28:58] - Q: Are there any verses in the Bible that speak against a multiverse theory (as an explanation for why our universe is so finely tuned)?
    A: The only reality that we are aware of is the one that God created.

  7. [32:07] - Q: Is there an “Age of Accountability”?
    A: See Numbers 32:11, Psalm 51:5, Jonah 4:11
    There is an age, but it differs on a person by person basis. There has to be a point in your life where it’s possible that you can understand and make a decision whether you are going to follow and accept or reject Christ in your life.

  8. [36:55] - Q: If we are called to forgive everyone, should we forgive the devil? Is that our place to do that?
    A: Forgiveness is about the healing of a relationship. God doesn’t forgive everyone because not everyone wants to fall into a right relationship with God.

  9. [40:51] - Q: Why should we bring children / babies into the world? Especially if we are in the end times.
    A: See Gen 1:28, Gen 9 - We are commanded to be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth.

  10. [42:35] - Q: If it took the Council of Trent to determine the Old Testament, how can we as Christians be assured there are not some books missing from the Old Testament and/or the Bible as a whole?
    A: See Luke 11:51 - from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.

    Any question that was missed due to time constraints during the service Pastor Jeff will address the answer
    on the blog.

Small Group Questions (Whole Group):

Review the questions submitted above. Discuss any of these that stuck out to you, or that maybe your group finds particularly interesting.

Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another!

Baby's First Christmas - The Perks of Waiting

Introduction:

What Happens to Me When I Wait on the Lord (Luke 2:36-38)

  1. My Woes become Small . (Luke 2:36-37)
  2. My Worship becomes Authentic . (Luke 2:37)
  1. My Witnessing becomes Natural . (Luke 2:38)
  2. My Waiting becomes Worth it. (Luke 2:38)

Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!

Small Group Discussion
Read Luke 2:36-38

  1. What was your big “take-away” from this passage / message?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Baby's First Christmas - Great Expectations

Introduction:

(Luke 2:22-36)

  1. Mary and Joseph were expected to Follow the law, which They did. (Luke 2:22-24)

    See: Lev 12:4, 6, 8

  2. Simeon expected to See the Messiah, which He Did! (Luke 2:25-32)

See Isaiah 42:1,6-7 | Isaiah 49:5-6

  1. I am expected to Believe in Jesus, which I Do. (Luke 2:33-35)

    Acts 17:30 - The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent...

    1 John 3:23 - And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ

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

Small Group Discussion
Read Luke 2:22-35

  1. What was your big “take-away” from this passage / message?

  2. Have you ever felt so unclean or so unworthy that you thought God could not possibly have anything to do with you? Does the knowledge that Jesus makes everyone He touches clean and holy change your perspective?

  3. Share an example of a time you waited on or cried out to God – did you focus on your circumstances, or on His promises and His Holy Spirit? If you are going through trying circumstances now, how can knowing His Word and listening for the Holy Spirit’s counsel give you hope?

  4. Have you repented and believed in Jesus for salvation?

  5. Consider this statement: “Salvation requires obedience” (See Acts 17:30 and 1 John 3:23). Discuss.

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Baby's First Christmas - Who is Jesus For?

Introduction:

Who is Jesus For? (Luke 2:1-21)

  1. Jesus is for people who make Him Priority . (Luke 2:7)

    Colossians 1:18 - And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent...

  2. Jesus is for who are actively Seeking Him. (Luke 2:8-16)

Proverbs 2:3-5 - ...if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

  1. Jesus is for people who need a Savior . (Luke 2:11)

    Matthew 1:21 - She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

    If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator;
    If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist;
    If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist;
    If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer;
    But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.

    Mark 2:17 - "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

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

Small Group Discussion
Read Luke 2:1-21

  1. What was your big “take-away” from this passage / message?

  2. In what ways have you made Jesus a priority in your life? Have you been guilty of giving Him leftovers? If so, what changes do you need to make?

  3. Why do you think God chose the shepherds to give the big birth announcement to?

  4. How would you explain to a non-believer what it means to “seek the Lord”?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Knowing Jesus - Knowing His Restoration

Introduction:

3 Things Jesus Calls Restored Failures to Do (John 21:1-25):

  1. Care for His people. (John 21:15-17)
  2. Follow Him to the end. (John 21:18-19)
  3. Refuse to Compare yourself with others. (John 21:20-23)

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

Small Group Discussion
Read John
21:1-25

  1. What was your big “take-away” from this passage / message?

  2. Why did Jesus ask Peter three times if Peter loved Him (John 21:15-17)? Why was Peter grieved (John 21:17)? What does this conversation teach us about the Lord's restoration of a failure?

  3. What was Jesus telling Peter to do when He said “Feed my lambs / Tend my sheep” (John 21:15-17)? What is this commanding us to do, ie, how do we fulfill that?

  4. Why did Peter ask about John (John 21:21)? Why do we tend to compare our walk with Christ with someone else's? Why is this foolish?

Breakout
Pray for one another.