Questions From Our Friends

See answers to questions about ...

Bible

1. Can I trust the New American Standard translation since it differs from New King James Version?
2. Is purgatory in the Bible and where is it?
3. I am looking for a reference to the "mercy seat." What exactly is the mercy seat? 
4. Confused about the creation accounts in Genesis 1 and 2..
5. PSALM 91- What is the meaning of Shield and Buckler?
6. Why were Jesus, Stephen, and Phillip considered famous Evangelists?
7. What is the "third heaven" mentioned by Paul?
8. Who wrote the book of Isaiah?
9. Was Noah a drunk before, or after the flood? He walked with God but how was he a drunk?
10. What does the Bible say about charity?
11. What is the bible actually saying in Genesis Ch 33:1-16?

Church

1. Can you provide some strategies for dealing with acute conflict in the church?
2. My wife and I attend different churches. Is it wrong to leave mine to worship in hers?
3. My child goes to a Christian school run by a church. Does this count as my "tithe"?
4. Can a divorced man be a pastor or deacon?
5. Should a man married to a divorced woman (before she was a Christian) qualify to become a deacon or pastor?
6. Is is scriptural for a divorced man to preach a message from the pulpit since for that limited time he would be considered the "pastor"?
7. What were Paul's views of leadership in the Pastoral Epistles?
8. How does one become a "saint" like Saint Christopher or Saint Anne?
9. Is Sunday the Christian "Sabbath" or should the church worship on Saturday?
10. Should we worship God on Saturday as the Sabbath Day or Sunday?
11. Should our small church build a permanent building or not?
12. My pastor preached that everyone had to tithe. I am financially strapped. Do I have to give 10% of my income to the church?
13. Is there a scripture that I can use for the official leadership of a church?
14. Is it right for some pastors to favor some of their members more than other because they may have more money or influence?

Creation of the World

1. Who were Cain's enemies and where did Cain get his wife?

Cross of Jesus/ Crucifixion

1. What is the prophetic symbolism of the crucifixion? Why did Jesus have to endure the cross?
2. After Jesus was crucified, did He descend into Hell and take away from Satan the keys of death and Hell?
3. Why did Jesus have to be dead for three days? And where was Jesus during those three days?

Doctrinal Issues

1. Is it sinful for my fiance and I to go out dancing and have a few drinks?
2. Did Jesus actually drink alcohol?
3. What does it mean that man was created in God's image?
4. What happens to the body, soul, and spirit after death? Is there a difference between the soul and spirit?
5. Is Holy Laughter a gift of the Holy Spirit?
6. Is the Christian obligated to obey the Ten Commandments or the Law of Moses?
7. What is the Apostles' Creed?
8. What is the Nicene Creed?
9. Is gambling a sin?

God - Nature and Work

1. How can an unchanging God relate to an everchanging world?
2. Are not God and the universe totally separate from each other?
3. What real significance does the universe have to God?
4. I am having a hard time accepting that a good God could create Hell much less put His creatures in it...
   
5. Did God create evil when He created the Tree of Good and Evil in the garden?
6. Where does it say Jesus first came as a lamb and now he may come as a lion?
7. When does the Holy Spirit indwell a person?
8. Did God actually command an angel to lie (1 Kings 22:22 lying spirit)?

Marriage and Family

1. I have several questions about dating...
2. How do I make a guy fall in love with me?
3. What do you do about a one-way marriage?
4. How do I hold on to a promise when there are all types of personal, family, and financial issues I face?
   
5. Should a born-again Christian get romantically involved with people of other faiths such as Roman Catholic?
6. What does the Bible say about interracial marriage?
7. Is it OK to divorce when in an abusive relationship?

Ministry

1. What advice do you have for a young man going into the ministry?
2. What do you think about pursuing a seminary degree at a distance learning school?
3. Would a degree be worth pursuing at a TRACS accredited school?

Personal Issues

1. I have been feeling down since last week and cannot stop crying. Can God strengthen me and give me hope?
2. What would you say to a Christian who wants to tattoo their body?
3. Why is obedience costly?
4. How can you judge Samson's life if we are commanded not to judge one another?
5. Is there anything wrong with having a picture of Jesus on my wall?
6. How do I deal with the loss of a friend - God is not fair or God is not there?
7. How do you deal with loneliness?
8. How do you know if you are hearing from the holy spirit or if it is your own thoughts or demonic spirits?
9. I am a married woman recently diagnosed as "intersexed" and cannot have children - how do I respond to this?
10. I am a Christian and a homosexual.  Will I still go to Heaven?
11. What all does the Bible have to say against smoking and drugs?
12. How does the Church deal with homosexuals? I am attracted to a woman who is a lesbian...
    

Prophecy

1. Why teach the "rapture" if the word does not appear in the Bible?
2. Can you explain the concept of the "Rapture" made popular in the "Left Behind" series?
3. Have the events in Matthew 24:29-30 already been fulfilled?
4. What will our new body look like after the resurrection?
5. Is the "last trumpet" in 1 Corinthians 15:52 the same as the seventh trumpet in the book of Revelation?
6. When will the world be at peace?

Salvation

1. A good friend who believed in God recently died.  Will he go to Heaven if He just believed in God?
   
2. Is it true that once you have accepted Christ as your Savior and then willfully sin, you will not be forgiven?
3. Eternal Security - how to resolve the issue with a friend?
4. Is it possible, because of sin and apathy, to fail in the Christian Life? Is there any foundation to the saying, "once saved...always saved?"
5. Will believers be judged or just the unbelievers?
6. Can you explain what it means to be "born again?"

Satan / Spiritual Warfare

1. Are Lucifer and Satan the same creature?
2. Does an unrighteous spirit mean that you belong to Satan?
3. Can a child be demon possessed?
4. Is schizophrenia a demon-possession?

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