May 15- Biblical Answers to the Six Most Commonly Asked

Hi Guys! 
This night’s program sort of continued from last week’s Straight Talk.  The goal of this night was to focus on six questions people asks the most about Christianity and God.  By targeting these questions with the Bible and our views, we can, as a fellowship, challenge and help each other in their faith.  

We started the night off with an icebreaker: draw out your relationship with God!
Ie. 1/2 filled jar= God is continuing to teach me things , equation= God is bigger than me , rollarcoasting heartrate monitor= ask mike LOL.  

(The Following are from our discussion & my prepared notes)

1. Does God Exist?

• How the world came be?
• Is there a way to prove that God exists?
• Compared to a banana = it has 3 colors (green means its ripe, yellow means its ready, black means it is expired)
• God exists because of His creation
• Is it only Big Bang or only God
• Evolution only modifies what exists, but where did that come from
• God exists because the bible says so, but you need to know why you believe and what the bible says about this
•  Alvin Plantinga (one of world’s more brilliant living philosophers) delivered a paper outlining few theistic arguments: Argument: God is the best explanation for the Beginning of the Universe
  
• • Reason1: Whatever begins to exist must have a cause
  • Reason2: The universe did begin to exist
  • Conclusion: Therefore the universe has a cause
  • Philosophers unable to prove its truth but always been fundamental 1st principle of philosophy and science that “from nothing, nothing comes.”
• Scientific Confirmation: The Second Law of Thermodynamtics
  • Given enough time the universe will eventually reach a state of equilibrium- a cold, dark, motionless state
  • If universe w/o beginning, hence the past is finite, then we should already be in a state of equilibrium , clearly IT’S NOT

 2. Do all religions lead to God? True God?

• No, under Canadian Law every religion has higher power, historical evidence
• Jesus is the way, they truth, and the life… not a way
• Is God and Allah the same God? Conflicting arguments between bible and Koran
• Does religion lead to control
• Religion is a search for truth, Christianity is the truth but not a religion
• The  10 commandments, shall have no other Gods before me
• Do religions have some self-seeking attributes, or characteristics of God
• Do other religions proclaim that their God is the creator?
• There are aspects of it, yes

• Religions around world differ greatly on basic concepts – God, truth, reality, basic human dilemma and the solution to those dilemmas, hence, these religions contradicts each other and contradictory statements cannot be true
• Christians do not base their claim of salvation on Christianity (the religion) but on Christ alone: “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me”~ John 14:6 – when someone makes such a claim, we can believe or temporary stubbornly not believe
• Many people claim that all roads lead to God but Jesus taught just the opposite of the concept of all roads leading to God. 13“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. ~Matthew 7:13-14
• People thinks all roads lead to God, forgets the need for Christ paying for their sins. Deep repentance/sorrow for sins is enough for God to forgive them. They think they can become good people. Yet the Bible says, “There is no one righteous, not even one…There is no one who does good, not even one”~ Rom 3: 10, 12
• Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses does not lead to God: claim to represent Christian religion, but rejects Jesus as second person of the Godhead. They do not believe He is God in the flesh. “So also these men oppose the truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected” ~2 Tim 3:8
• Existence of so many religions is not an argument against God’s existence. Rather, demonstrates humanity’s rejection of the one true God and their replacement of Him with gods that are more to their liking. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life” ~Galatians 6:7-8

• All religions lead to God and His judgement but ONLINE ONE will lead to His forgiveness and eternal life: Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, ~Hebrews 9:27.

 3. If God is good, why is there evil and suffering?

• The cause of evil is sin but it is not caused by God
• Cause and effect
• It is choice, God gave us free-will (He gave it out of love, because of love there is sin)
• Is there any good from evil and suffering? Job from the bible is a good example because he didn’t turn away from his faith instead he drew closer to God
• There are consequences to everything. Something good can come from evil
• There is a lot of good that comes from suffering but does it validate God
• To have free-will you need to have a choice between what is good and what is evil
• Sometimes you don’t have to make mistakes and still suffer
• Suffering is a result, it’s the consequence of free-will
• It could be the consequences but it’s not the consequence

• First, it is possible that God has reasons for allowing evil to exist that we simply cannot understand. In this the Christian can have confidence in God knowing that His ways are above our ways: 
  8 ”For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 
         neither are your ways my ways,” 
         declares the LORD.

9 ”As the heavens are higher than the earth, 
                so are my ways higher than your ways 
                and my thoughts than your thoughts. ~Isaiah 55:8-9

4         “See, he is puffed up; 
       his desires are not upright— 
       but the righteous will live by his faith  ~Hab. 2:4

• Second, God may be letting evil run its course in order to prove that evil is evil and that suffering, which is the unfortunate product of evil, is further proof that anything contrary to God’s will is bad, harmful, painful, and leads to death
• Thirdly, on the day of Judgment, the condemned will have no right to say that their sentence is unjust. God is not stopping people from exercising their free will
• Fourth, it is quite possible that God uses the suffering to do good. In other words, He produces patience through tribulation
• Not only so, but we[a] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance”~Rom. 5:3     

• Christ provides inner resources to cope in the midst of difficulty and suffering.  He causes all things to work together for good to those who love God: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b]have been called according to his purpose.~ Romans 8:28
• He promises victory>death (ultimate evil) : So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable~ 1 Corinthians 15:42. “in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”~  
  1 Corinthians 15:52

 4.Is Jesus God?

• Fellowship, with no doubt, says yes and provided verses such as John 1:1- “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”
• Jesus’ claim: “I and the Father are one”~ John 10:30.  Liar/ Lunatic: Not liar/lunaticà His moral character and willingness to die for His claim to be God, convinced most people and His humility and unselfish love, intelligent communication w/crowds, amazing self control and composure during the tremendous physical and emotion stress for His betrayal and crucifixion all points to His contact w/reality!
• God/Jesus Never Changes: Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8
• God/Jesus is the Only Saviour: Isaiah 43:11, 1John 4:14
• God/Jesus created the universe and the earath: Isaiah 44:24 , Hebrews 1:10
• God/Jesus is the Word: John 1:1,  John 1:14
• God/Jesus is the first and the last: Isaiah 41:4 , Revelation 1:17
• God/Jesus forgives sins: Psalms 103:2-3,  Mark 2:5
• God/Jesus is our redeemer: Isaiah 63:16,  Titus 2:13-14
• God/Jesus are one: Deuteronomy 6:4, John 10:30
• God/Jesus is the Holy One: Psalms 71:22, Acts 2:27
• God/Jesus is worshipped: Matthew 4:10, Matthew 9:18
• God/Jesus is Messiah: Isaiah 9:6, John 4:25-26
• God/Jesus is from everlasting: Psalms 93:1-2, Micah 5:2
• God/Jesus is “I am”: Exodus 3:14, John 8:58
• God/Jesus heals all diseases: Psalms 103:2, Matthew 8:16
• God/Jesus is the Judge of the whole earth: Psalms 94:1-2, John 5:22
• God/Jesus has a life in Himself: John 5:26, John1:4
• God/Jesus raises the dead: John 5:21

  5.What will happen to those who never hear about Jesus?

• If you have never heard about Jesus, can you go to heaven?
• Romans 15:21, Romans 2:14-16
• Can’t depend on people because people change but you can depend on God because he doesn’t change
• Psalm 51:3, Romans 5:12-21, Psalm 51:5, Psalm 58:3
•  “Let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.  He will judge the world in righteousness   and the peoples with equity”~ Pslams 98:9 àGod won’t condemn somebody who hasn’t heard of Christ but we are already condemn for something more basic (ie. Right or wrong)
• God revealed Himself to everyone through the creation around us the sense of right and wrong inside us:
• For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. ~Romans 1:20 & 2:14, 2 Sam. 12
• and in the hearts of people: “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”  ~Ecclesiastes 3:11
• The problem is that the human race is sinful; we all reject this knowledge of God and rebel against Him: “21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles” ~ Romans 1:21-23
• If it were not for God’s grace, we would be given over to the sinful desires of our hearts, allowing us to discover how useless and miserable life is apart from Him. He does this for those who continually reject Him : Romans 1:24-32

6. Is there really right and wrong?

• Here’s a good way to determine right from wrong. Turn the situation around on yourself. Jesus said it best. ~Matthew 22:39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’
• When you turn it on yourself, you realize that even inside ourselves God has placed a moral conscious and that conscious tells us when we do right and when we do wrong. And when we violate our conscious, we need forgiveness. That’s why the bible said, “God sent Jesus to earth so that we might be forgiven of all of our wrong.”

 

For those of you who could not join us, we hope this update of the night would help you understand the six common questions more and for those who did join us, thank you for your open and curious hearts, questions and views on the topic.  Feel free to leave comments, questions or discussions.

GOD BLESS

Workshop – May 8th – Questions, questions, questions!

The workshop was based on a discussino of questions that were asked by the fellowship.

The purpose of the night was to challenge our faith and to question Why do we believe what we believe, and are we sure of what we believe as true.  We do not have all the answers, nor do we expect to.  We do not claim to be 100% accurate in our responses, so please do not expect such.

If there are more questions on the answer please email genesis.t3c@gmail.com

Questions include:

Personal Questions:

1)      Why do you come to church on Sundays?

2)      Why do you come to fellowship on Fridays?

3)      What does fellowship mean to you?

4)      Why should we serve in the church?

5)      Why are there so little people willing to serve?

6)      Why are we so afraid to share the gospel?

7)      How do we find our spiritual gifts?

Questions about God:

8)      Doctrine of the Trinity: Is it really necessary? What role does it serve and what are the biblical grounds for this doctrine? Why isn’t it ever mentioned in the bible?

9)      Why would an all-powerful, just God create sinful humans, but put the responsibility and blame on mankind?

10)   Why would God put a tree of knowledge of good and evil knowing in advance that they would eat from it? Then, punishing them for their disobedience?

11)   Why is scripture limited (reformists) when God’s communication to humankind should be limitless?

Questions about the Bible:

11)    

12)   Why did God continue to harden pharaoh’s heart?

13)   Why did Jephthah have to sacrifice his daughter while Abraham got to keep Isaac?

14)   Why did God permit Lot’s daughters to get him drunk and have sex with him?  How is that right?

Miscellaneous questions:

15)   Will we still remember our earthly relationships when we are in heaven? Will we remember the past?

16)   Why should God make people knowing they are going to hell forever?

17)   Can God make a rock so big that even He Himself cannot hold it?

18)   Why is there evil and suffering in the world?

19)   If everything needs a creator, then who or what created God?

 Answers generated by the fellowship:

1)      Why do you come to church on Sundays?

• To learn and grow spiritually
• Receive wisdom
• Acts à apostles teaching, need the fellowship, breaking bread, eating together, and praying
• “When 2 or 3 gather in His name, we will all be in the presence of God”
• Is attending church really necessary, is it okay to be a Christian and not attend church?
• Place of worship, a place to get spiritually fed
• A gathering is an act of worship
• God wired us in this way
• Hebrews 10:24-25 “don’t give up and meeting with each other”
• Accountability, worshipping

 

2)      Why do you come to fellowship on Fridays?

• Fellowship and church is to build-up one another
• For unity in Christ
• Ephesians 4:13-14 “if we reach unity, we will no longer be infants”
• When twigs are put together, they won’t break as easily, there is support
• Tradition aspect à if we just attend church on Sunday then we just get fed and this is more of an individual thin
• Fellowship can be outside of Sunday where we are not restricted to just worship
• Attending church is important because it not only sharpens your spiritual growth and wisdom, it is about the accountability, as iron sharpens iron
• Fellowship is more of an opportunity for application, where we can show what we have learn and share what we have learned

 

3)      What does fellowship mean to you?

• Can fellowship happen everyday too?
• What differentiates a fellowship we have now vs. the fellowship of the ring
• Why are we here on Fridays? What is our focus of fellowship?
• To sharpen each other Proverbs
• It isn’t all about receiving and fellowship can include contributing to the growth of others in the fellowship

 

4)      Why should we serve in the church? 5)Why are there so little people willing to serve?

• Serving in church may not always mean that you have a strong or good relationship with God, serving is a part of it but not all of it
• Why should we serve? A: we serve out of love, to give back what the Lord has done for us. It is a way of showing how we love others. Through serving others, we can bring Glory back to Him that we may understand God’s heart more.
• There are different ways of serving: it isn’t just about going on missions. God will still give credit to those who are serving behind the scenes
• Maintaining your own spiritual growth can be serving as well
• Jesus’ great commission “Go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey what I have commanded you” In terms of serving we can measure this to the great commission. i.e. are we bringing people to Christ.
• Serving: praying, evangelism, brining others to Christ
• What happens we all of the people are just sitting on the sidelines? Are we just doing it for the sake of doing it and not growing from it? …. What drives you to serve? Why is it you want to serve? What have you been doing with what God is teaching you or have blessed you with?
• Are we serving out of the overflow of God’s love or we doing it just for the sake of doing it? We can ask God to equip and open up opportunities for leaders to step up because God should be the driving force behind the work that we do
• Why are people not stepping up to serve? Do people lack faith in what they are doing? (specifically in the church)
• Although people may not be serving in the church, maybe they are serving elsewhere. Where the need is and where God is calling you serve there.
• God doesn’t need our service, He can work without people serving
• Do you trust that God enough to serve where God is calling you? God could be asking us if we have enough faith in Him that to lead people.
• Be realistic, God called people to be at certain places and others to other places. Trust God to work through whatever area is lacking people
• Lack of initiative, people afraid to step out of their comfort zone. If we see that someone has potential and you see that God is working through them just ask them to serve in some capacity. God will provide people to help
• Encouragement is important, just to see how God works in people’s lives
• Are we as a church struggling with the issue of obedience? (there is no common solution but all we can do is give it up to God because God can work around the issue) we need to be careful
• The need to challenge each other to live out the faith, and to not lose sight of this. If we can’t spur others to help in the small ways, how can we spur others to help in the big ways

 

Questions about God:

 

1)      Doctrine of Trinity

• God is a relational God
• John 15:9
• Are they equal but different?
• Are they the same?
• A way for understanding God’s nature
• 1 Cor 12:4-6, Matthew 28:19
• Is the doctrine there for those who don’t understand?
• Is the doctrine just a tool for understanding the nature of God
• Comparing the bible vs. a study bible

 

2)      Why would an all-powerful, just God create sinful humans, but put the responsibility and blame on mankind?

• God didn’t create sinful humans, but He made humans with choices
• Adam and eve were created good

 

3)      Why would God put a tree of evil and then

• Not fruit is magical, but of choice of knowledge, to choose God’s way or other way
• Everything is permissible, but because God loves us there’s always a way out
• God can’t create another perfect being so he’s creating another god….

 

4)      Why do God continues to harden Pharaoh’s heart?

 

5)      Why does Jabah have to sacrifice his daughter while Abraham could have Issac?

 

6)      Why does God permit Lot’s daughter to be drunken and have sex and says it’s right?

• It all goes back to choices
• God allows a lot of things to happen

 

7)      Would we still rmb our earth relationships while we’re in heaven?

• We don’t know lol

 

8)      Why should God make ppl, knowing they will go to hell forever?

• 20 mintues talk of CHOICE. Lol
• Illusion of choices 
• Though God knows our end results, doesn’t mean we don’t have choices