Question 7: Is Jesus a Republican or a Democrat?

It’s election time! How does our faith in Jesus affect the way we vote? Or does it? Should it?

What do you think?

– Rich

IS JESUS A REPUBLICAN OR A DEMOCRAT?
November 5, 2006

Jesus on politics?

Then the Pharisees met together to think of a way to trap Jesus into saying something for which they could accuse him. They decided to send some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to ask him this question: “Teacher, we know how honest you are. You teach about the way of God regardless of the consequences. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to the Roman government or not?”
But Jesus knew their evil motives. “You hypocrites!” he said. “Whom are you trying to fool with your trick questions? Here, show me the Roman coin used for the tax.” When they handed him the coin, he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
“Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God.” His reply amazed them, and they went away. – Matthew 22:15-22 (NLT)

Then Jesus answered, “I am not an earthly king. If I were, my followers would have fought when I was arrested by the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” – John 18:36 (NLT)

How is it that honest, thinking, Bible-believing followers of Jesus can find themselves supporting different political parties?

What does God call us to do as citizens?

1. We’re called to pray for our leaders.

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God’s mercy upon them, and give thanks. Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, for he wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. – 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NLT)

2. We’re called to respect our leaders.

Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God’s emissaries for keeping order… Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government. – 1 Peter 2:13-17 (Message)

This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. – Romans 13:6-7 (NIV)

3. We’re called to disagree agreeably.

Dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Your anger can never make things right in God’s sight. – James 1:19-20 (NLT)

For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. – Galatians 5:14-15 (NRSV)

A servant of the Lord must not argue. Instead, he must be kind to everyone, teachable, willing to suffer wrong, and gentle in refuting his opponents. – 2 Timothy 2:24-25 (ISV)

4. We’re called to bring God’s transforming love to our world.

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. – John 17:15-18 (NIV)

You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. – Matthew 5:13-16 (NLT)

Question 6: Does God have a plan for me?

So… what do you think? Does God have a plan for each and every one of us? If so, how detailed is it? Has God already scripted our lives out for us ahead of time? Or is God just making it up as we go along? Or is the truth somewhere in between?

The message outline will be posted here on Sunday, but in the meantime, feel free to chime in with your opinions, questions, thoughts, etc.

UPDATE: The outline/notes are below. What do you think? Does A, B, or C come closest to the way you look at it? Does the notion of having real freedom to work within God’s boundaries excite you or scare you?

– Rich

DOES GOD HAVE A PLAN FOR ME?
October 29, 2006

Does God have…
A. …a “perfect plan” for every detail of my life?
B. …a plan for the big decisions, and the others are up to me?
C. …no specific plan for me, just general guidelines for all of us?

In the Bible, we see God have specific plans for some individuals.

We also see that God’s plans are flexible, depending on our responses.

Then the word of the Lord came to me: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it. – Jeremiah 18:5-10 (NIV)

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent. – 2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)

We have great freedom… within boundaries.

B. God’s plans for the kinds of people we are to be.
(his moral will – for us to become like Jesus Christ)

How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ. Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the wonderful kindness he has poured out on us because we belong to his dearly loved Son. – Ephesians 1:3-6 (NLT)

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified … – 1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NIV)

So how do I make sure I’m living according to God’s plans for me?

1. Give my everyday life to God. Live for him in the little things.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. …

(The Message paraphrase: So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life –and place it before God as an offering.)

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

2. Pay attention to what God is saying to me.

In the Bible…

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. – Psalm 119:1 (NIV)

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)

By the Holy Spirit…

But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. … Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. – Galatians 5:22-25 (NLT)

3. Live for God boldly! Do great things for God right here & now!

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. – 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 (NIV)

Question 5: What happens when we die?

Obviously, we don’t mean this question in the sense that it might be asked on CSI. Many of you asked about death and heaven, so here’s my best one-message shot at correcting some common misconceptions and giving a kind of basic biblical timeline.

I didn’t have time to tease out some of the implications on Sunday mornings. What difference does it make if we believe that (a) our ultimate goal is to leave this place and go to heaven or (b) our ultimate goal is to see God’s kingdom come to earth? Does it change things to believe that the 60-100 years we get in this life is not all there is?

I’d love to hear your thoughts & questions!

– Rich

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE?
October 22, 2006

According to the Bible…
1. You’re alive.
2. You’re dead.
3. You’re raised from the dead.

When you die…

A. …you go to the grave (Sheol/Hades)…

Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb? … For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest… There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the weary are at rest. – Job 3:11-17 (NIV)

The grave below is all astir to meet you at your coming; it rouses the spirits of the departed to greet you… They will all respond, they will say to you, “You also have become weak, as we are; you have become like us.” All your pomp has been brought down to the grave, along with the noise of your harps; maggots are spread out beneath you and worms cover you. – Isaiah 14:9-11 (NIV)

(1 Samuel 28 – King Saul has a medium “bring up” Samuel from the grave, a practice that is forbidden by God.)

B. …and are either in torment or in paradise.

“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell [Hades], where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’” – Luke 16:22-26 (NIV)

Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” – Luke 23:43 (NIV)

When Christ returns, you’ll be resurrected…
(Also see Psalm 73, Daniel 12:2-3, Isaiah 26:19, Hosea 6:1-2, and Ezekiel 37.)

We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. – 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 (NIV)

But someone may ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” … When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. … So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. – 1 Corinthians 15:35-44 (NIV)

…and judged…

…man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment… – Hebrews 9:27 (NIV)

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. – Revelation 20:11-15 (NIV)

…and enjoy eternal life with God or suffer eternal separation from him.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” – Revelation 21:1-4 (NIV)

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

Question 4: What does it mean to “get saved”?

It’s a phrase we hear a lot, it seems, when people are talking about God. But what does it mean? That’s what we’re looking at this week, in answer to questions you asked.

After you read it, I’m curious… How does this compare to what you’ve been thinking?

– Rich

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “GET SAVED”?
October 15, 2006

1. It’s not about joining a religion.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature. But God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful. God destroyed sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the requirement of the law would be fully accomplished for us who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. – Romans 8:1-4 (NLT)

2. It’s not about trying to be good.

How can people like us be saved? We are all infected and impure with sin. When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall. And our sins, like the wind, sweep us away. – Isaiah 64:5-6 (NLT)

For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. – Romans 3:23-24 (NLT)

3. It’s not about believing the right things.

Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all – it is dead and useless. … Just as the body is dead without a spirit, so also faith is dead without good deeds. – James 2:17, 26 (NLT)

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder. – James 2:19 (NIV)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. – John 3:16-17 (NIV)

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him. – John 3:36 (NIV)

So… what does it mean to get saved?

The Bible uses lots of different images…
Political – Jesus ransomed/rescued us from the kingdom of darkness
(Mark 10:45; Colossians 1:13; 1 Timothy 2:5-6)
Religious – Jesus as perfect high priest/sacrifice for our sin
(Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:11-14; 1 John 2:1-2)
Legal – Jesus bore penalty for sin, so we are declared “not guilty”
(Romans 5:9-11; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:24)
Mystical – We are united with Christ, “in Christ” / Jesus as second Adam
(1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3-4)
Family – We are adopted into God’s family, given an inheritance
(John 1:12; Ephesians 1:5, 18; Ephesians 2:19-20)
Resurrection – We were dead in sin, now alive in Christ
(John 5:24; Ephesians 2:1-10)

So… “Getting saved” is about what God does for us, not what we do for him. It means we are rescued from sin and death so we can experience the fullness of life in God’s kingdom by trusting and following Jesus Christ.

Later on, after John was arrested by Herod Antipas, Jesus went to Galilee to preach God’s Good News. “At last the time has come!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Turn from your sins and believe this Good News!” – Mark 1:14-15 (NLT)

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn! – John 1:12-13 (NLT)

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 2:37-38 (NIV)

So what do I do?
1. Turn from my sins.
2. Turn to God.

Question 3: Why do bad things happen?

Of all the questions I received for this series, this one was asked the most. Why do bad things happen? If God loves us, then why is life filled with so much pain, violence, and grief?

Maybe you’d like to share your story of how God brought good out of bad in your life. Maybe you’d like to ask a question. Or maybe you just need to express your pain, confusion, and anger to God like the author of Psalm 22 did. Those are all welcome here. Just use the comment form at the bottom of the page.

(My apologies on the lateness of this posting. The database server was hiccupping and lost it the first time I posted it. Looks like it’s working now…)

– Rich

WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN?
October 8, 2006

My God, my God! Why have you forsaken me?
Why do you remain so distant?
Why do you ignore my cries for help?
Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief.
– Psalm 22:1-2 (NLT)

1. Is God cruel? Is he evil? Is he an abusive Father?

God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. – 1 John 1:5 (NIV)

God is love. – 1 John 4:8 (NIV)

2. Does God not care? Does he not notice? Is he an absentee Father?

Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows. – Matthew 10:29-31 (NLT)

You have stored my tears in your bottle and counted each of them.
– Psalm 56:8 (CEV)

3. Is God unable to prevent evil? Is he a weak Father?

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. … And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. – Genesis 1:1-3 (NIV)

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. – Matthew 9:35 (NIV)

None of those? Then why do bad things happen to us?

1. Because people make bad choices with real consequences.
(God gives us real freedom so we can love him & each other.)

You cannot fool God, so don’t make a fool of yourself! You will harvest what you plant. If you follow your selfish desires, you will harvest destruction, but if you follow the Spirit, you will harvest eternal life. – Galatians 6:7-8 (CEV)

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. – 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. – John 10:10 (NLT)

2. Because we live in a broken world. (And we broke it!)

Then he said to the woman, “You will bear children with intense pain and suffering. And though your desire will be for your husband, he will be your master.”
Then he said to the man, “You listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree, although I commanded you, ‘You must never eat its fruit.’ The ground is cursed because of you. Through hard work you will eat food that comes from it every day of your life. The ground will grow thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat wild plants. By the sweat of your brow, you will produce food to eat until you return to the ground, because you were taken from it. You are dust, and you will return to dust.” – Genesis 3:16-17 (NLT, GW)

3. Because God can use suffering to help us grow (if we’ll let him).

But we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
– Romans 5:3-4 (NIV)

Endure your discipline. God corrects you as a father corrects his children. All children are disciplined by their fathers. … For a short time our fathers disciplined us as they thought best. Yet, God disciplines us for our own good so that we can become holy like him. We don’t enjoy being disciplined. It always seems to cause more pain than joy. But later on, those who learn from that discipline have peace that comes from doing what is right.
– Hebrews 12:7-11 (GW)

Though he was God’s Son, he learned trusting-obedience by what he suffered, just as we do. – Hebrews 5:8 (Message)

Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. – 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 (Message)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Question 2: Why are we here?

OK, so the title might be a little misleading on this one. I felt like the best way to get at the remaining questions was to set a little context. So this week’s message was mostly about setting the stage for answering future questions like, “Does God have my life all pre-planned, or do my decisions really matter?” and “Why do bad things happen if God is in charge?”

I have to acknowledge my indebtedness to Greg Boyd for the outline/framework I used here. He’s a pastor & author whose work I’ve appreciated ever since I bumped into one of his books a few years ago.

What do you think of the framework laid out here? Do you find it helpful? Does it make sense? Share your thoughts in the comments section at the end.

-Rich

WHY ARE WE HERE?
October 1, 2006

Remember: Questions are good!
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. – Matthew 22:37-38 (NIV)

A brief outline of history…

1. Creation & God’s Original Goal

…your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. – Matthew 6:10 (NIV)

Then God said, “Let us make humans in our image, in our likeness. Let them rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the domestic animals all over the earth, and all the animals that crawl on the earth.”
So God created humans in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female.
God blessed them and said, “Be fertile, increase in number, fill the earth, and be its master. Rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that crawl on the earth.” – Genesis 1:26-31 (GW)

(God shared his authority with us. We became responsible for part of his kingdom.)

2. Our Rebellion

A. Why we’re created free.
…because God is love. – 1 John 4:8

B. Our surrender to Satan. Satan is…

• 2 Corinthians 4:4
• Ephesians 2:2
• John 12:31; 14:31; 16:11
• 1 John 5:19
• Luke 4:6-7

(When we rebelled, we handed over our part of the kingdom to the enemy, so that it became his kingdom, with us as his slaves.)

C. The effects of the rebellion on creation.
Against its will, everything on earth was subjected to God’s curse. All creation anticipates the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. – Romans 8:20-23 (NLT)

3. The Kingdom Revolution

A. Jesus comes to…

…destroy the devil’s work. – 1 John 3:8 (NIV)

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. – Hebrews 2:14 (NIV)

He canceled the record that contained the charges against us. He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross. In this way, God disarmed the evil rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross of Christ. – Colossians 2:14-15 (NLT)

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves… – Colossians 1:13 (NIV)

B. The Mustard Seed Revolution (Matthew 13:31-32)

C. The Personal Kingdom Challenge
(making our own personal “kingdom” a part of Christ’s kingdom by allowing him to reign as king over our lives.)

D. Joining the (“looks like Jesus”) Kingdom Revolution

Follow God’s example in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you and gave himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins. – Ephesians 5:1-2 (NLT)

4. The End

The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.” – Revelation 11:15-17 (NIV)

Question 1: Why believe?

OK, here are the notes from the message I’m giving today. I’ll be leaving time for discussion during the services, but if you didn’t get a chance to ask your question, or you just thought of a new one, or maybe you just want to add your two cents — go right ahead! Like I said in the comments on the Intro week, just keep it clean. And polite. And honest. 🙂

WHY BELIEVE?
September 24, 2006

Review: Questions are good!
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. – Matthew 22:37-38 (NIV)

Two traps to avoid:
1. Thinking you have all the answers.
2. Thinking there aren’t any answers.

Today’s question: Why believe?

What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. – Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)

Faith has two parts:

Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must [1] believe that he exists and [2] that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. – Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

1. Believing that something is true (certainty, conviction)
“I believe that God exists. I’m convinced that Jesus rose from the dead.”

2. Believing in a person (confidence, trust)
“I’m confident that God loves me. I’m trusting Jesus to lead my life.”

So why do people believe in God? People have different reasons…
(from Lee Strobel’s book, The Case for Faith, chapter 2)

1. God makes sense of the universe’s origin.
2. God makes sense of the universe’s complexity.
3. God makes sense of objective moral values.
4. God makes sense of the resurrection.
5. God can immediately be experienced.
6.
7.

For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God’s children. – Romans 8:16 (NLT)

But doesn’t science contradict the Bible? How can both be true?
“Two books” idea: nature & the Bible

• Nature is God’s revelation of himself in the world.
• Science is our interpretation of nature.
• The Bible is God’s revelation of himself in his Word.
• Theology is our interpretation of the Bible.

Whenever there is a conflict between science and theology, the problem is with our interpretation, not God’s revelation.

So why believe in Jesus and the Christian version of God?
1. Personal experience (the Holy Spirit)
2. The New Testament witness

• Contain eyewitness testimony
• Written very early, no time for legends to develop
• Vast number of copies show no major changes over the years
• Fit with known history and archeology

3. His resurrection

• Empty tomb
• Post-resurrection appearances
• Changed lives of his followers

One of the disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”
Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.
Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who haven’t seen me and believe anyway.”
Jesus’ disciples saw him do many other miraculous signs besides the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life. – John 20:24-31 (NLT)

Intro – Questions are good… right?

Hey, this is Rich (the pastor). I’m trying something new here, so tell me if you like it. The idea is that I’ll post the notes/outline/whatever from the talk I give at the Sunday morning services, and we can talk about it here. In this series, we’re trying to be a bit more interactive & discussion-oriented, so I thought — why not give it a whirl?

So here are the notes. The main idea of this message was that questions are a good thing that can lead us toward God instead of keeping us away from him. If you want to leave a comment, go ahead. Your first comment will have to be approved by me, just to make sure you’re not a spambot or something. Oh, and try to keep it clean. There are kids around. 🙂

Possible discussion topics:

• When has someone discouraged you from asking questions?
• What do you think it means to “love God… with all your mind”?
• Have you ever really wrestled with a question or dilemma? What was the result?

QUESTIONS ARE GOOD… RIGHT?
September 17, 2006

He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 18:2-4 (NIV)

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. – Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. – Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV)

Some of the questions we’ve explored in the past 6 years…
(These are titles from past messages.)

• If I believe, why do I doubt?
• Is the Bible reliable? Is it true?
• Why does God allow suffering?
• Is there a Christian view of war?
• Does prayer really work?
• Is Jesus the only way to God?
• Does God have a plan for me?
• Can God be trusted?
• Is God unfair?
• Does God ask too much of us?
• Why on Earth am I here?
• Why should I trust the Bible?
• Why does God seem so evil in the Old Testament?
• Why do Christians say Jesus is the only way?
• What does God think about homosexuality?
• What does God think about divorce?
• Who would Jesus vote for?
• Is there hope for world peace?
• Halloween: good, bad, or what?
• Can “gay” and “marriage” go together?
• How do I know when it’s God talking?
• Why do bad things happen?
• History & fiction: which is which?
• Lost (and found) gospels: can we trust them?
• Jesus: human, divine, or both?
• Women & Christianity: the sacred feminine?

Two ways to miss the growth that comes through questions:

1. Thinking you have all the answers.
Could keep you from connecting with people.

2. Thinking there aren’t any answers.
Could keep you from connecting with God.

Third option: Wrestle with the questions!
(Great examples in David’s Psalms or the book of Job)

This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until dawn. When the man saw that he couldn’t win the match, he struck Jacob’s hip and knocked it out of joint at the socket. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is dawn.”
But Jacob panted, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
“What is your name?” the man asked.
He replied, “Jacob.”
“Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “It is now Israel, because you have struggled with both God and men and have won.”
“What is your name?” Jacob asked him.
“Why do you ask?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there.
Jacob named the place Peniel—“face of God”—for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.” The sun rose as he left Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. – Genesis 32:24-31 (NLT)

Some suggestions:
1. Ask honestly. Do you really want an answer?
2. Ask persistently. Don’t give up!
3. Ask humbly. Get the help you need.

If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking. – James 1:5 (CEV)

[God said,] You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. – Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)

Questions are GOOD

So… what’s your big question? What is it that you’ve always wanted to ask about God, faith, or life in general?

At Living Hope, we’re not afraid of the big questions. In fact, we believe that you can’t find “the answer” without asking good, hard questions. And we know that you’ve got ’em! So we’re inviting you to ask your big questions, and we’re going to devote several weeks to looking for good answers together. The series starts September 17, as Living Hope celebrates its 6th birthday.

UPDATE:

Now you can use the menu on the right to jump to the different weeks in the series. Read the notes & join the discussion!

UPDATE 2:

We’re over halfway through the series now, so we’ve run out of room for new questions. However, if your question didn’t get asked, or you have a new question, and you’d like to discuss it, feel free to share it here. Or you could email or call Pastor Rich directly. He’d love to hear from you.