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Paul On January 17th and January 24th - YOU are going to help with the sermon!
It's called "Any Questions?" - and we will be fielding questions that YOU have about things related to the faith. Ask anything you want about God, Jesus, the Bible, Paul's favorite Starbuck drink, Shane's golf handicap...anything!
We won't have time to answer all the questions, but we'll pick some of the most popular ones and give it our best shot!
If you have friends with questions, send them to www.askmypastor.com and they can contribute also..
If you don't have a Facebook account...just send your question to:
questions@askmypastor.com
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Here's My Question:
about 8 months agoPaul Login to Facebook to post your question here...
about 8 months ago
Jen My husband and I were recently watching a movie where someone was being given lethal injection...yes this was just "Terminator Salvation"...but it brought us to the discussion (yes we actually paused the movie for this!) on whether or not God intends for people to have the power to end someone else's life...a heavy and gruesome subject to be discussing during a sunday morning sermon, but we thought it brought out a good discussion for what the bible really says on this type of issue, we had mixed thoughts from the Old testament to the New.......Thanks
about 8 months ago
Sue Where does a believer go immediately after death, and in what form? Do we go to heaven in spirit and our bodies follow after Christ's return?
I've been studying John this year and John 5: 25 is confusing "I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live."
I mean we won't be just on "pause" until he returns, right? Thank you
about 8 months ago
Jeremy I would like to understand trinity and its importance to our faith.
Thanks
Jeremy
about 8 months ago
Shane We have some great questions already! Nothing like starting with some "heavy lifting" ones!
Just a heads up: Our "Got Questions?" sermon series has been moved back to February 7th & 14th. This isn't because we need more time for answering these great questions :). Rather it is because we've extended the current "TRU[ish]" sermon series due to the overwhelming feedback we received from week 1.
So, please keep adding questions! And we'll get to as many as we can on Feb. 7th & 14th.
Shane
about 8 months ago
Jason What can you say about "Wolves in sheeps clothing" and what that might look like today in America and in the "churches"? And what do we do about it? (expecially in light of some of the strangeness happening in some of the major denominations, Oprah's stuff, etc.)
about 8 months agoJason What exactly does "Without Faith it is impossible to please God" really mean today?
about 8 months ago
Kristina It sounds simple, but why does God allow bad things to happen to innocent people? An example being harm to a child, why can't God step in to prevent a child (especially) from crime, torment, pain? thank you
about 8 months ago
Neil How would you explain the seeming paradox of Predestination, Prayer and free will? How can we have free will and have things predetermined simultaneously? If things are predetermined, why should we pray? I'm not saying I don't believe it, i'm just wondering how you can explain these things coexisting.
What are the essential doctrines for believers? Ex: "Grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone" is essential doctrine. What are some other doctrinal issues that are non-negotiable/not open for interpretation/personal conviction?
In relation to my previous question on doctrinal issues: at what point can people believe different things and still be classified as a believer? At what point does someone become a "False teacher/believer"?
How can we discern between truly "hearing that still small voice" of the holy spirit vs. just a passing thought or idea?
What are some tips/advice for confronting sins in others and also confronting false beliefs that people hold true when they are CLEARLY in opposition to scripture?
In regards to other "Holy" books used by religions/cults that also acknowledge Jesus (Ex. Apocraphya, The Beatitudes, The Book of Mormon, The Watchtowers book, etc.): How can we prove the the Old and New testaments as the true words of God? I would be especially curious about the Apocrypha since it is used in many Catholic bibles.
What do you think is the best thing the body of Christ could do to help their relationship with Jesus? What is missing the MOST in the body of believers from your point of view?
How does God handle people who never hear the gospel? How are they judged?
Sorry for the long list. Even worse news for you: I will probably think of a dozen more in the next few days. :)
Thank you for making this website though...I think this "Ask My Pastor" thing is incredibly cool and I think it will be such a blessing to the congregation.
about 8 months ago
Sarah I'd love to hear your take on the question of where Adam and Eve's son's wives came from.
and... I got caught up on a History Channel special the other day.... so -what are your thoughts on the so-called biblical writings that weren't included in what we now have as our modern bible. Did the Bible that emerged after the Council of Nicaea have the Divine's stamp of approval? Is there validity in any of the non-included books?
about 8 months agoNeil Just realized for some reason I put Beatitudes in my list of books...ignore that...I had a Brain-Fart. : P
about 8 months ago
Jen Dave wants to know:
How old is our planet? How do we reconcile dinosaurs' fossils and their carbon dating?
about 7 months agoJen People we know - have receiced "messages" from God, they attend "spirit filled" church services, speak in tongues and hear prophetic messages. Can we take seriously when "word" comes via these believers that GOD HAS A CALL on our lives, CONFIRMING OUR MISSION, etc?
about 7 months ago
Katherine Is it ever appropriate for a woman to teach from the stage (not to have authority over anyone - just teach) if there are men in the audience?
If not, at what age does teaching teens/young men (i.e, "Sunday School Youth") translate into an inappropriate teaching scenario?
about 7 months ago
Darin -American culture is plagued with consumerism. Unfortunately, this attitude/philosophy has crept into the church. Is it possible that the attractional model of church encourages this consumerist mentality? If our approach to church is to get the people to come to us rather than us going to the people, then don't we need to put a great deal of effort and resources into making the Sunday morning service attractive and appealing to make it work? Doesn't this potentially set the bar higher and higher for how church is done? Doesn't that encourage consumerism?
- Has Westport ever considered the possibilities of going to a cell based form of church? Church would primarily take place in small groups meeting in homes or coffee shops or wherever, and the whole church would come together every week or every other week for a Sunday morning worship service. These cell groups would be where church primarily takes place rather than the Sunday morning worship service.
-How is Westport going about making disciples?
-How can churches become more like spiritual families and less like businesses or corporations?
about 7 months agoNeil In watching part 3 of True[ish], the subject was broached about the pastor being convinced that there are MANY false believers out there (people who THINK they are saved, but are not). How can someone be assured of the authenticity of their faith and therefore their salvation? What are some things people should ask themselves to see if they "pass the test"? What are the signs of TRUE faith?
about 7 months ago
Danell Could you differentaite between "sinful nature" and "flesh"?
What "law" are unsaved Gentiles under? Does the Mosaic law apply to them/us? Is this the plumb line for everyone?
What is the primary role of women 1) at home, and 2) within the church?
How should our "entertainment" be filtered? Is there a general rule/guideline?
about 7 months ago
Thomas Revelation 21:4 and many other verses say in heaven there is no more death, sorrow and tears. Then Revelation 21:8 and many other verses describe all who will be cast out of heaven.
We will have friends and relatives in the second group that we are "responsible" for. How can there then be no tears and sorrow at seeing them cast out?
If we are in fact responsible for them hearing the gospel, how is it that God leaves something of eternal consequence (the lost's eternal destiny) in the hands of the saved, who are still sinful, flawed human beings?
about 7 months ago
