Q: In regards to our focus and following…When you say something else aside from God — is it automatically against God?

A: You need to be defining terms. If by “focus and following” you exclude everything that is of God, then yes, you will find yourself fighting against God. He expects first place in your life and everything else must fall in line with that.

However, to simply say that focusing on your career, or following a dream is wrong, misses the point. Your focus will change as you live and grow. There are appropriate times in life when you will focus on your education, your work, your family. Not only are you “allowed” to do this but it is the expectation of God’s Word that we would give special attention where it is needed. It becomes a question of priorities. God is first and nothing must take his place. This is the first commandment both in the Old Testament (Exodus 20:4) and in the New Testament (Matthew 22:37).

Jesus Christ, and your relationship to him, is more important than your job, your family, fortune, or your position, flat out. Focus on him first, and all of these things will fall into place (Matthew 6:33). The writer of Hebrews warns us against drifting away (Hebrews 2:1). It is not automatically against God, but anything can become an idol

Q: How can I seperate myself from the world and be more Christ like?

A: We must absolutely hold those values to be true. All this ‘everybody is right’ nonsense is a bunch of crap. We can be more inclusive by stepping back from our ‘pet projects’ in the church, our ‘theological ideals’ that we like, and begin to focus on two questions. 1. “Who is Jesus?” and 2. “What has he done?” It comes down to 1. Jesus is the son of God. And 2. You must put your faith in him to be saved. Short Answer, “yes”. Don’t walk around with a chip on your shoulder. Sometimes we get into personality conflicts, sometimes we just want to be right. Focus not on being right, but on Jesus. He is a dividing line. You are either for him or against him. You can only straddle the fence for so long. You cannot be inclusive to everybody and stick to the rules and guidelines God has given us.

Q: Are People born with a sinful nature? And if so why does God expect us to fight with the nature we are born with? Isn’t that like asking a lion to not kill an antelope for food?

A: Yes. Because it is evil and we are told to fight it. No, because the lion can’t fight it. We are born with a sinful nature, and that means that we must fight our nature. There is evidence that some people have a genetic disposition to drink alcohol, but nobody says that being an alcoholic is a good thing. It is the same thing with our sinful nature. As if  it is not enough for God to have told us to fight it, we must realize that the sinful nature is evil and will consume us, just like an addiction or alcoholism. We must pick right from wrong, as God has given us the capacity to do so for a reason.

Q. What should we do when we’re unsure if the authority we’re under has the right to tell us what to do? Does Justice take precedence over Loyalty, or is it the other way around?

            A. The issue that we need to understand is that God has established a line of authority. From Genesis to Exodus, and Ephesians to Galatians, and most of the books in between, God had placed someone in authority over his people. We know that children are to obey their parents. This is a non-negotiable tenet in God’s teaching. We are to honor them. In this situation, yes, honor them, but don’t necessarily do what they say. Regardless of right or wrong, honor them. When they are out of line, there is an appeal. In 2 Samuel, a civil war erupts between King David and his son Absalom, who is attempting to take the throne for himself. In this war, Joab is one of David’s commanders, and David gave an order that wasn’t right. Joab appealed to David in an honorable way, and David re-thought his decision. There are Appeals, and being loyal doesn’t mean being blind, deaf, and dumb.

            How do you appeal honorably? As a loyal follower, you must be certain that what you’re seeing is correct. If there is a problem, you are free, in a true, loyal, honorable, and trustworthy relationship, to ask questions. This leads into the second part of the question.

            Loyalty and Justice aren’t mutually exclusive ideas. If you are doing the right thing, you are, in fact, doing both, as they are both the ‘right thing’. You need to be able to trust those in whom you put your trust. Not giving yourself easily to an untrustworthy person is wisdom. Doing the right thing does take precedence. You are not expected to obey simply because the person in authority said so.

Q: You said at the beginning of the service that our purpose is not about choosing a religion, it is about God choosing us. Does that mean that people who are not Christians have simply not been chosen by God? Or did God choose us all by sending Jesus to die for us and people who aren’t Christians simply rejected that?

            A: We choose our religion, and God offers himself.

            Q: What’s the difference between “Playing Church” and Being the church?

            A: Playing church is going through the motions. We put on our church face, and go to church, but it is so much more. It is taking on God’s attitude and going out into the world to follow his will and tell others about him. It’s about becoming a part of the church, not just letting the church be a part of you.

Q: How can you tell if God wants you to go into a certain direction or if it is something else in your life, even your own desires?

            A: That’s really the crux of the matter isn’t it? I think it really does start as James says in chapter 1, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”Ask God. Is it consistent with God’s teaching? Is it consistent with what he’s declared his will to be?

            Practically, Fellowship and being around others following after Christ. In Proverbs we are told “Being in the council of many others brings wisdom.” We are warned that our hearts can be deceptive, but the Spirit of God will make your path straight. If your intentions are in line with the first two, well…

            If you’re unsure, talk with an older, wiser, more mature Christian, perhaps your discipler. Then, step out boldly. I’ve found that if you are trying to walk with God, he will keep your path straight.

Q: Is there any real difference between prayer and luck? Don’t you have basically the same odds of something happening either, since God says no frequently?

A: Firstly, you forgot an answer. Sometimes, God says, not yet. Secondly, It’s not simply a question of odds. The real question behind this seems to be, “Does God really answer prayer?” God has given us the choice to not pray. To throw your fate to the universe and hope it lands in your favor.  God has invited his people to come into his presence, and, as a child does to their father, ask him what you will. Daddy knows best, and sometimes, the answer is no, you can’t have ice cream. Sometimes, it’s wait until tomorrow for ice cream. God wants nothing more than for us to come to him, climb into his lap, and ask him questions.

You may remember the story of Job, who was a righteous man. He was just minding his own business, and all of a sudden, BAM! Cattle dead. BAM! Family dead. BAM! Him on his deathbed. Do you think that God didn’t want him to pray? Most of that book is Job crying out to God.

God does say no at times. But let me encourage you to pray. Most of my prayer life is giving praise to God, because I know God likes to be praised, and when we praise him, God is happy.

Q: How can I bring my soul back to thirst for the Lord?

A: Here’s a few free flow ideas. When I was a college student, we talked about this. Anytime you’re in the church, it can become routine, the going, singing, praying, and you can lose sight of the importance and significance of what you’re doing. A girl in our group suggested this. She said that she made a pact for herself, that she wouldn’t read the bible for 30 days. She said she missed it and that the lack of it made her hunger for God’s word.

            One of the reasons for this is that the distractions of this world feed us so much that we no longer hunger for the word. Monday mornings, during football season, instead of opening my bible, I found myself going to sportsillustrated.com, and looking up the latest stats from the games of Sunday, and the ones for the games that were coming on Monday night.

            We need to realize that God does NOT leave us alone. If you find yourself wondering or not as excited, first of all, trust in God. Rely that God is coming for you, and won’t let you down. Secondly, we participate with God. We need to read, pray, fellowship and spend time in worship. For me, the Psalms, reading and praying them back to God. That feeds my soul.

            You will deal with this your whole life. You don’t suddenly explode and become on fire for God forever.

            Q: Are you saying that it is wrong to listen to secular music? Or just that we shouldn’t idolize the musicians and make that a priority?

            A: No. Yes. It’s a weight thing. There is music that is good. There isn’t any good music that God doesn’t enjoy. There is a picture I like…it’s really a personal thing and not necessarily biblical…of Jesus “singing” the world into creation. Secular music in and of itself isn’t bad. There is good music. I know what I like. The Idolization of musicians and their lifestyles is a problem. God honoring music is the best music.

            Q: Where do you draw the line on “being in the world and not of it.” without being ignorant of what the world truly is?

            A: If you’re walking with Jesus, he’ll show you for everyone the line is a little different. Music can draw the line with some. Alcohol with others. Video Games with still others. I was the dorm drunk back in college before I came to Christ. There was a period of time where I had to force myself to stay away from parties, because if I went, I’d get drunk. But by the end of Senior year, I’d go to a bar with my friends, then I’d get a Coke, and I’d end up as a type of Designated driver for them, and I used that as a way to show God’s love.

Q: You said something happens when people meet together in church. What is that specifically?

A: One true statement is that God is a God of communion. A God of Love. He is a God of relationships. For each of the 3 persons of the trinity there is, revealed in scripture, a definite sense of relationship between them that only happens when they are together. God is creating a race of Children like his only begotten son, and God had a very close relationship with Him.

In Revelation the church comes together around the throne of God and they are said to be myriad and myriad. Paul uses the example of the different living parts of the human anatomy to relate that we are the body that is the church. We are told that we are individual stones being perfectly put together as a place for God to dwell in.

In the Old Testament, the Glory of God enters the temple when the people of God gather together there.

Q: Is the church anyone who experiences, responds, and is sustained by the work of the trinity? I ask because I have catholic friends who have said that I am not a part of the one “true” church.  Am I correct in responding to them like that?

A: The Church is the Gathering of God’s people. Without going into too much catholic doctrine, they teach that the One True Church has a historical record back to Peter, who they believe was the first Pope.

The One True Church is the one mentioned in the Bible. People who come to the cross, realize that they need Jesus, and repent. Whatever flavor of Christianity you have is irrelevant. It is being born again of the Spirit of God who moves mightily. THAT is the only way to come to the One True Church. So yes. You are right.

Does a Christian have to be Holy?
Yes, but what does that mean?
To be set apart. When we say holy, we mean superspiritual, but it truly means to be right with God. Christians are being made holy in the process of sanctification, or growing up in our faith. So we aught to exhibit holiness. Then there is glorification, where we are given glory with Father in heaven.

-When living a Jesus-centered life, why do I feel drawn back to the old life?
Honestly, it is easier and more attractive in the short term. There is a dual-nature inside of us that is at war. We still have an aspect of us that is still us-centered. Over time, we are more fully given over to the Spirit’s influence over us

Q: You said that there are no sins God can’t forgive, but isn’t there an unpardonable sin mentioned somewhere in the Bible?

How do I stay enthusiastic when I’m kind of Boring?

I used to think I was the most enthusiastic guy in the world. But truthfully, we’re all kind of boring. Which begs the question, why are we all boring? God created you to be special. If you feel like you’re boring — talk to God. People seem to get pushed aside because they’re construed to be boring or un-enthusiastic, but God will show you what you can do and how he has made you to be “not boring.” It’s our enthusiasm (in God)-ness that makes us exciting. This ought especially be true when we’re talking about God. The story of Jesus is the farthest thing from boring there is!

If we can’t muster the enthusiasm needed to participate in the situation at hand, should I remove myself from that situation and re-evaluate?

I was tempted to say something to the effect that if you can’t be sincere in your enthusiasm, then you ought to take a step back. But we need to watch ourselves here, as this can become an excuse for not being enthusiastic…for not being ”in God.” If you can’t muster the enthusiasm, check how you are with God. Don’t use this as an excuse. Focus everyday on what your life is about, and you’ll get enthusiastic.

How can we recover from someone mistaking our enthusiasm for sarcasm?

Honesty. You need to have honesty here. We’re smart, we can read people, so you should be able to tell when you’re being sarcastic…even if those around you don’t pick up on it.  This can be an occasion for a mixup, at which point you need to clarify with that person who thought you were being sarcastic that you were being genuine. Be careful to be honest with each other when you perceive something as fake, and be careful when you’re talking about God to make clear the parts where you’re being  sarcastic and the important genuine aspects.