Timeline of Each Sermon

Early (8:30) Service

[3:57] How does God answer prayer when He already knows the future? I know prayer changes things from personal experience, but it doesn't make sense.

[7:45] Why don't we have communion to partake of the body and blood of Christ every Sunday?

[10:08] Scientists seem to have compelling evidence that the earth is very old – tens, hundreds of million years; dinosaurs, etc. Yet the creation story requires a Christian to argue the earth and universe were created in a short time frame. How can we explain this?

[13:19] Is it wrong to give presents at Christmas, Easter, and birthdays?

[13:39] I am a gay man currently attending services every week. I have yet to join your church. My sister, a member, has asked me when I plan to join. To date, your position on gays has not convinced me to commit. Can you respond to help me make my decision?

[18:08] Does the Bible tell us if babies and children in heaven age (grow up)?

[18:15] We are studying 2 Timothy 3:16-17, focusing on how the Word of God is God's revelation of Himself to man – that it is indeed God-inspired. The class requested that I ask you specifically WHO decided what books would make up the canon and HOW they decided which books would be considered scripture and which would not, i.e., the "human" factor.

[24:15] Is America mentioned in the Bible?

[24:25] In 1 Corinthians 11:5, it says that it is wrong for women to pray with their heads uncovered. It seems like we consider this passage archaic and outdated, so we disregard it. So why do we still consider those about wives submitting to their husbands and women not being preachers or deacons to be applicable today?

[28:08] How do you recognize your loved ones in heaven? How can heaven be happy if I get there and my mother is not there?

[29:35] Where did Jesus go between His crucifixion and resurrection?

[32:15] Explain what the Bible says about reincarnation.

[32:25] Why are some babies born with serious birth defects and other babies born healthy?

[34:50] As God has dominion over everything, why not just make it a pure state without evil? I understand that's where we are heading to eventually, based on scripture, but why allow evil to persist in the first place?

Middle (9:50/10:00) Service

[4:05] Do you have to come to church to go to heaven?

[6:32] What is heaven like? Do we go right after we die, or do we wait for Jesus' second coming?

[9:48] My wife and I have questions on being cremated (hot subject). Can you please try to give us answers, what Jesus would give us?

[10:05] How can you live with the concept of eternal horrible punishment in hell - especially for those who just believed the wrong thing? Torture forever? Why not annihilation?

[11:50] Why aren't there any female elders and deacons? Paul in his letters to Timothy defined the criteria for the positions, but I think the gender part needs to be updated to reflect the needs for today. If I'm not mistaken, Paul also said something about women not teaching in church. If we do not follow that to the letter, why should we do so when it comes to elders and deacons?

[15:28] Does the Bible tell us if babies and children in heaven age (grow up)?

[15:40] I am a gay man currently attending services every week. I have yet to join your church. My sister, a member, has asked me when I plan to join. To date, your position on gays has not convinced me to commit. Can you respond to help me make my decision?

[18:55] Explain what the Bible says about reincarnation.

[19:05] Why did the 4 gospels delay their writings so many years after the death of Christ? Is it possible that accuracy has been compromised since none of them were actual witnesses? What about other events? How can we believe that the info has not been changed?

[25:15] Is America mentioned in the Bible?

[25:25] What is God's "select" and why does He choose some and not all people?

[28:48] Please explain Judas. Was he saved? Was he in the will of God?

[30:34] Is it wrong to give presents at Christmas, Easter, and birthdays?

[30:44] I have a question about people's salvation, specifically in remote places of the world. For instance, if a family in Africa never hears about Jesus but dies, where do they go? What if they never get the opportunity to make that decision about Jesus?

[34:25] I've been talking with my house painter, who is definitely a seeker. In his own words, he is searching for the "truth" but doesn't think the Bible is it. One of the reasons is that the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament seem like opposites to him – "spiteful and vengeful" vs. "loving and kind."

[36:45] Are the Jews going to be treated as everyone else when it comes to their salvation (salvation from belief in Christ and repentance of sin)? Or will the Jews be given another chance to accept Christ after they die?

[38:25] Why would Jesus say, "Father, why have You forsaken me?" It seems contradictory to what Jesus had said in His life.

Late (11:20/11:30) Service

[4:00] Which denominations can come together in marriage and be considered "equally yoked"?

[7:00] I am a Christian and attend Johnson Ferry regularly. I went to Mexico with the youth last week and while we were there, my friend and I started talking about God being 3 in 1. I understand that God has three parts, but I do not understand if they are still a part of God or separate. Also, why did Jesus pray to God if He was God?

[10:45] My grandmother committed suicide. Although she was a very Christian woman, I've been told that she did not go to heaven. I believe she is with God, but please confirm my thoughts.

[13:25] Why does a loving God let people go to hell?

[15:15] I have often heard that when Christians die on earth, our soul and spirit go to heaven to be with Jesus and God the Father. However, the Bible also talks about our new bodies bursting from the grave when Jesus returns for us during the second coming. I have also heard that our souls are asleep with Jesus when we die here on earth until Christ comes back for us. When explaining death to my children, I have always said that "Grandpa or Grandma is in heaven with Jesus." Can you explain the sequence of events and provide the passages in the Bible so that I can correctly explain this confusing concept to my children?

[17:27] Does the Bible tell us if babies and children in heaven age (grow up)?

[17:42] I am a gay man currently attending services every week. I have yet to join your church. My sister, a member, has asked me when I plan to join. To date, your position on gays has not convinced me to commit. Can you respond to help me make my decision?

[21:28] Explain what the Bible says about reincarnation.

[21:38] Please explain Judas. Was he saved? Was he in the will of God?

[24:08] Is it wrong to give presents at Christmas, Easter, and birthdays?

[24:17] When witnessing, all my statements/proof point towards the Bible as the whole truth/only truth. My Jewish or atheist friends then want to know why or what proof there is that the Bible is the only truth!

[30:13] Is America mentioned in the Bible?

[30:23] Why is there so much cruelty in the world?

[33:15] What is the antichrist?

[35:42] One recent comment from a friend we brought to The Easter Story was, "I pray everyday and ask God to help me and bless my family. I'm familiar with the Bible. I'm just not a church-goer, as my relationship with God is between me and God." What's the best way to respond?

[38:30] Surely it's possible to understand God in a different way, yet still be saved and go to heaven. That is, Muslims know God as Allah, Jews worship Yahweh, some find a supreme being in themselves. So, who's to say that Jesus is the exclusive, only way to reach God and heaven?

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