Question and Answer Night

Matthew 23:23[23] “Woe to you, scribes and

Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and

faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done

without neglecting the others.

1) Is it wrong to use materials in classes or study by authors who are known to teach un-Scriptural

things?

Question and Answer Night

Acts 17:28-29[28] for in Him we live and move

and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ [29] “Being then the children of God, we ought not

to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art

and thought of man.

Titus 1:12-13

[12] One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are

always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” [13] This testimony

is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they

may be sound in the faith,

Acts 17:11

[11] Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica,

for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether

these things were so.

2) What is a scriptural approach

to holidays observed by the denominational

world?

Question and Answer Night

Is it OK (biblically) for men to set aside a day to remember

one aspect of God’s blessings or

God’s word or God’s story?

The Core Question (to me)

Esther 9:26-28

[26] Therefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. And because of the instructions in

this letter, both what they had seen in this regard and what had

happened to them,

Esther 9:26-28[27] the Jews established and made

a custom for themselves and for their descendants and for all those

who allied themselves with them, so that they would not fail to celebrate

these two days according to their regulation and according to their

appointed time annually.

Esther 9:26-28[28] So these days were to be remembered and celebrated

throughout every generation, every family, every province and

every city; and these days of Purim were not to fail from among the Jews, or their memory fade from

their descendants.

John 10:22-23

[22] At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem;

[23] it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in

the portico of Solomon.

Some Concerns to Avoid:

1) Don’t let tradition become equated with God’s word.

2) Don’t let the observance crowd out the true facts.

3) Don’t let the observance crowd out what God has asked us to observe.

3) Is man made with a natural

tendency to sin, or a tendency to seek

a higher being? Can these two go

together?

Question and Answer Night

Romans 8:5-8[5] Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but

those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set

on what the Spirit desires.

Romans 8:5-8[6] The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit

is life and peace; [7] the sinful mind* is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do

so. [8] Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. (NIV)

Galatians 5:17[17] For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict

with each other, so that you do not do what you want.

(NIV)

1 Corinthians 10:13[13] No temptation has overtaken

you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the

temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able

to endure it.

Ecclesiastes 3:11[11] He has made everything

appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so

that man will not find out the work which God has done from the

beginning even to the end.

Romans 1:20[20] For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His

eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being

understood through what has been made, so that they

are without excuse.

Pulling Our Nature Together1) We are both flesh and spirit.2) Both have needs and desires that must

be pursued appropriately.3) True spiritual choice defines us. We

are tempted to let physical pleasures/desires direct our lives.

4) In Romans and Galatians, I understand Paul to be discussing the war of choice within us.

2 Corinthians 4:18

[18] So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary,

but what is unseen is eternal.

4) Please discuss the importance of

examining personal motives driving change in the

church.

Question and Answer Night

Jude 3

[3] Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our

common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for

the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.

Some Pitfalls to Avoid:

1) Changing what God does not want changed. (Jude 3, etc)

2) Refusing any change produces stale, unmeaningful faith.

3) “Trend-chasing” change is counterproductive long-term.

4) Change based on selfish motives.

2 Corinthians 13:5

[5] Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!

Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ

is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?