Questions on Hell.

1. What do you think is the biggest misconception about Hell?

2. Do you think the explanation of God allowing us freedom (and we've abused the freedom by making bad choices) is adequate in explaining the reality of Hell? Why or why not?

MM

Everything In Light Of The End

Two questions this week:

1) What's your idea of what Heaven will be like and why?

2) What's a specific example of how the future reality of Heaven should change the way we experience something in the present? 

MM

Heaven Our True Home

If everyone realized that the good things in life, like good relationships and careers and hobbies, are very important, but were never meant to give us ultimate fulfillment, (they are inns to stop at on the way home, as Lewis says), and that our ultimate satisfaction comes only when we are with God in our true home (AKA Heaven), how would this change people? How would this change the crime rate? The divorce rate? Would it have any bearing on the current economic problems we've been hearing so much about on the news?

What do you think?

MM

Where Lies Our Security?

If given the choice, do you think most Americans would give up their freedoms of religion, speech and press, (say, to a dictator) in exchange for guaranteed economic and military security?

What perspective does the Bible (especially OT books like Hosea) give on this question? 

MM

 

Real Change

In light of Paul's story, and the other points made about personal change, what is a mark of authenticity that indicates real change in a person's life once he or she begins to follow Christ? In other words, what's an indicator that a person is truly serious about living the Christian life and not just treating it like a hobby?

(Maybe consider Jesus' descriptions of the different types of soil in the parable of the sower and the seed in Matthew 13)

MM

Experiencing God Through Scripture

Feel free to post a comment on the sermon. Since the topic for this week is experiencing God through Scripture, instead of posting a question, I thought it would be good to list three of the best Bible study resources available on the web. 

The Online Bible site is especially helpful because it allows you to download Bible study and research software, whole searchable texts of the Bible, and many commentaries and maps, all for free. 

Here's the list: 

http://www.onlinebible.net/

http://www.biblegateway.com/

http://biblos.com/

MM

Love As A Key To Knowing

It's a common idea that love blurs people's vision--that it distorts people's view of reality. In the message for today, I've said the opposite--that a truly loving heart brings one closer to the truth and makes a person's perception of reality more clear and accurate. 

Usually someone's judgment is clouded by "love" when love is understood only as an emotion. Considering the way Jesus equates love for him with obedience to his commands in John 14:19-24, what more is love than just emotion? 

What would be a good example of someone acting in love when the loving act may not involve warm feelings? 

MM