You Asked For It

Sermon Notes and Small Group Questions

Sermon Notes and Small Group Questions

Sermon Notes and Small Group Questions

Jim Putman is back again with Lance Wigton to talk about what it looks like to share our faith with people who have other belief systems. They give some examples of how to enter into a conversation that has the potential to impact lives on an eternal level.

Dr. Steven A Crane – Eagle Christian Church

In a culture increasingly indifferent or even hostile to Christian truth, followers of Christ need to be equipped to communicate with those who do not speak their language or accept their source of authority. In Tactics, 10th Anniversary Edition, Gregory Koukl demonstrates how to artfully regain control of conversations, keeping them moving forward in constructive ways through thoughtful diplomacy.

What would God say about those who blatantly misrepresent His Holy Spirit; who exchange true worship for chaotic fits of mindless ecstasy; who replace the biblical gospel with vain illusions of health and wealth; who claim to prophesy in His name yet speak errors; and who sell false hope to desperate people for millions of dollars? The charismatic movement has always been a breeding-ground for scandal, greed, bad doctrine, and all kinds of spiritual chicanery. As a movement, it is clearly headed the wrong direction. And it is growing at an unprecedented rate.

For years, Mormonism has taught that all the creeds of Christianity were an abomination and all other churches were corrupt (Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith 1:19). Joseph Smith was told not to join with any of them, but to help lead in what would be a restoration of the true church. In the same way, Christianity has never accepted Mormons among their ranks, considering them teachers of a different gospel (Galatians 1:6). But a new ecumenical spirit of openness might suggest that the doctrinal distance between these two groups is shrinking.

Interest in the ways of the early church has never been more intense. What did early Christians believe about the divinity of Christ? What were the beliefs of those who sat at the feet of Jesus’ disciples? Now, for the first time, a unique dictionary has been developed to allow easy access to the ancient material and furnish ready answers to these questions and others like them. David W. Bercot has painstakingly combed the writings of these early church leaders and categorized the heart of their thinking into more than 700 theological, moral, and historical topics to create A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs.

In an era of rapid growth of false religions worldwide, Christians need information they can trust. This comprehensive new edition of the leading book on cults will equip you–no matter your background–to understand and use biblical truth to counter false religions, including many that masquerade as mainstream Christianity. Reflecting the developments in cults and world religions in recent years, this edition, updated by expert Jill Martin Rische (daughter of Walter Martin), gives you the authoritative information you need to know. As our culture becomes less and less outwardly Christian, awareness of the belief systems of those around us has never been more vital.

There is a lot of confusion about what happens after we die.. Nothingness, reincarnation, different versions of paradise, angels, ghosts, Purgatory, etc. Because there are so many views we have to ask the question, “Which view is correct?” In order to answer that question, we have to ask, “Who has the right to speak authoritatively to this question?”

Jim Putman discusses the topic of Heaven with Randy Alcorn – Author of the book Heaven. Their discussion includes: How can I be sure I’m going there? What will Heaven look like? Will we know each other? Will we be bored? Will we ever be sad? Will there be animals in Heaven? Do people ever go there then come back?

Purpose of series: We want to help you BE READY! Recap: When it comes to the End Times Conversation: 1. HUMILITY IS KEY – No one knows when the end will be! Even Jesus (Matt 24) said He didn’t know the exact hour. 2. The mystery of the End Times is NOT an excuse to be uninformed. 3. We are called to be Ready!

Jim Putman and Lance Wigton go deeper into end times topics.

Jim Putman – Senior Pastor at Real Life Ministries, and Lance Wigton, Communications Director at Real Life Ministries, come together in this episode to talk about the LGBTQ+ Community, and how Jesus would interacted with them.

Dr. Christopher Yuan explains that although the phrase ‘love the sinner, hate the sin’ makes sense to Christians, this is not the best thing to say to someone, especially someone who identifies as gay. Dr. Yuan describes how when people hear this, it just sounds like we are saying that their whole person is reprehensible to God. The best way to show you love someone is not to say it, but simply to do it.

Dr. Christopher Yuan suggests that there is no conclusive evidence to support the claim that people are born gay; however, the Bible teaches that people are born with a propensity to sin—whether that specific sin be alcoholism, cheating, or homosexuality. However, by the grace of God we can all be born again to holiness.

Dr. Christopher Yuan articulates a biblical view of sexuality through the narrative of his personal transformation from an agnostic gay man to a Bible professor. He has a message of redemption through Jesus and casts a vision of not embracing our sexuality, but embracing Christ, and shattering the social concepts of gay and straight by pointing toward Christ and what God says about holy sexuality.

Dr. Christopher Yuan explores the concept of holy sexuality–chastity in singleness or faithfulness in marriage–in a practical and relevant manner, equipping readers with an accessible yet robust theology of sexuality. Whether you want to share Christ with a loved one who identifies as gay or you’re wrestling with questions of identity yourself, this book will help you better understand sexuality in light of God’s grand story and realize that holy sexuality is actually good news for all.

Until the last few decades, homosexuality was never celebrated as natural, moral, or healthy. But times have changed. Now Christians find themselves in a fight they did not choose–facing overwhelming odds and fierce opposition–with a culture demanding we abandon the Bible on homosexuality and instead “celebrate diversity.” Unfortunately, as with most controversial issues, misunderstanding abounds on this topic. And as good ambassadors, we want to provide solid, reliable information. But we also want to give insight, too–an awareness of how to maneuver with tactical wisdom and with grace. Homosexuality is among the most emotionally-charged and hotly debated topics you will encounter. The Ambassador’s Guide to Understanding Homosexuality will equip you to be both thoughtful and considerate as a Christian ambassador in the face of opposing views.

After examining key biblical passages in both the Old and New Testaments and the Bible’s overarching teaching regarding sexuality, DeYoung responds to popular objections raised by Christians and non-Christians alike, making this an indispensable resource for thinking through one of the most pressing issues of our day.

Christians, the church and the Bible seem to be out of step with modern attitudes towards homosexuality and there is growing hostility towards those who hold a different view to the culture’s. So is God homophobic? And how do we relate to both Christians and non-Christians who experience same-sex attraction? In this short, simple book, Sam Allberry wants to help Christians understand what God has said about these questions in the scriptures. Drawing on his own experience, he offers a positive and liberating way forward through the debate.

Then, in her late 30’s, Rosaria encountered something that turned her world upside down–the idea that Christianity, a religion she had regarded as problematic and sometimes downright damaging, might be right about who God was. That idea seemed to fly in the face of the people and causes that she most loved. What follows is a story of what she describes as a train wreck at the hand of the supernatural. These are her secret thoughts about those events, written as only a reflective English professor could.

Strength in Weakness Ministries assists Christians in hundreds of churches on every continent in the world. We are teaching evangelists, pastors, church leaders, and pastoral care workers, who through our workshops help Christians to effectively love and counsel other Christians who are same-gender attracted or transgender, and parents, spouses, and siblings dealing with this challenge in their family relationships. We also help with reaching out to our gay neighbors, friends, and co-workers for Christ

We live in a world of pain and suffering. There is no one who is not affected by the harsh realities of life, and the question “why do bad things happen to good people?” is one of the most difficult questions in all of theology. God is sovereign, so all that happens must have at least been allowed by Him, if not directly caused by Him. At the outset, we must acknowledge…(click link below to read more)

Jim Putman, Lead Pastor at Real Life Ministries and Lance Wigton, Communications Director at Real Life Ministries are back with a new episode of the podcast. This week they are talking about how to read and interpret Scripture following a set of principles and questions. We need to be equipped to read the Bible and understand how it applies to us and our lives, along with going deeper in relationship with and knowledge of God. These tips and tools will help us do that!

Real-life, on-the-street Christian apologetics is what readers expect from Josh McDowell. Here, he and his son, Sean, reflect their ongoing research and close engagement with our culture in answers to classic questions

This guide provides a brief, concise overview of personal Bible study for the layperson. Long-time Bible teacher Robert West gives insight into the types, tools, and techniques of personal study, offering both practical guidance and encouragement to pursue the command of 2 Timothy 2:15 (“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth”).

f you’ve ever confused the ark of the covenant with the ark of Noah, or Jericho with Jeroboam, Max Anders’ classic book, 30 Days to Understanding the Bible, is for you. In just fifteen minutes a day, you’ll learn the Bible’s key people, events, and doctrines to get more out of God’s Word. This simple-to-use, straightforward guide has been recommended by Bible teachers and pastors for thirty years, and now it’s available in an expanded thirtieth anniversary edition—with the most requested topics from the original edition restored and updated for today’s readers.