Two weeks ago we opened this topic with a few simple points:

• Men and women are equal.

Genesis 1:27 (NIV)
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Men are NOT more in the image of God than women. Women are as valuable as men. Women are as capable as men. Read the rest of this entry »

Review from last week:

Men and women both have the same status before God

Genesis 1:27 (NIV)
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Nowhere does the Bible “speak” as if men are more in the image of God than women are, or that men are superior to women. Whenever and wherever we see this in our thinking, it is sin. Women are not inferior, women are not less capable, women are not less valuable – that concept doesn’t exist biblically. Read the rest of this entry »

Q – What is a woman’s role in the church?

We are going to spend two Sunday’s on this question. Today we are going to look at the background of this question so we understand it better. Next Sunday we will move into it “head on”.

Culture has always been a dominating force that bends us and twists us and molds us into the image of what it understands to be acceptable, and noble, and admirable, and helpful, and right and wrong. Culture is VERY powerful – it can actually creates the way we think. Cultural norms develop as its people change – the people, in turn, create the culture. Whatever “drives” the people creates the culture. If sin and self drive the people, sin and self will flow through the culture and the culture they create will magnify sin and self. Read the rest of this entry »

Q. – What is the place of the church in politics? Where do we draw the line between submitting to government and following God?

My first point - Those who follow Jesus DO NOT, or at least SHOULD NOT, function as if this country and this culture has an authoritative claim on their identity and their ultimate loyalty. Our identity is tied to the One who gives us life. Our identity is tied to the One who trumps any earthly bloodline… and this is not our home. Read the rest of this entry »

Q – God basically commits genocide in the Old Testament. For a God that doesn’t change, why does there seem to be such a discrepancy in his behavior between the Old Testament and the New Testament?

If we do not understand the wrath of God, if we don’t get this, and we at best will be nominal Christians. Read the rest of this entry »

Psalm 143:10 (NIV)
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

Q – Does God have a specific significant other for each person? And if so, how do you know he or she is the one God intended when you meet: Where does dating fall into this? How should Christians approach dating? What happens if that specific person dies or you divorce, is there a second person God intends? Read the rest of this entry »

Q – With all the starvation and poverty in the world, how are Christ’s followers to live? Is it wrong to be rich in light of the needs that exist? What about when Jesus says it’s impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Read the rest of this entry »

Question – How could a God who is merciful and loving send someone like Gandhi to suffer terribly for all eternity in hell while if Hitler confessed his sins on his deathbed he’d spend eternity in heaven basking in God’s glory? Read the rest of this entry »

Q – Does someone in a distant country have a substantially reduced chance of being saved than someone in America? Does anybody have no chance simply because of where they are and what information they have access too?

The first thing I want to do is give the short answer to this question. Being a target of God’s mercy is not a function of chance – it is a function of God’s sovereign action toward those who hate him – turning hard, proud, self-centered, idolatrous hearts into soft, humble, repentant, dependent hearts. God can break through deception and blindness anywhere, anytime – and he has – and he does. Read the rest of this entry »

So this morning as we consider the question, “Are Christians required to give 10% (a tithe) of their income back to God?“, we again come face to face with a question that is much, much bigger than simply “yes” or “no”. Now some of you might say, “No, it’s not really that complicated – the answer is, ‘Yes, all Christians are required to give 10% of their income to the Church so let’s hammer that home and get too it.’”. Well let’s go through it. Read the rest of this entry »

This morning we are going to talk about the Christian and alcohol. How we might think about the Christian drinking wine or drinking beer.

This is a VERY important topic for everyone. If you think this is simple, whatever your opinion, your probably wrong. In reality this discussion is MUCH MORE than a simple yes it’s fine to have a glass of beer, or no it’s wrong. This discussion, and all that goes with it, is actually a testing ground for almost all of us. This is a messy issue. Read the rest of this entry »