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You Asked For It: Week 1 – What Do We Do When We Have Questions?

You Asked For It: Week 1 – What Do We Do When We Have Questions?

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You Asked For It – Week One                                                                                                                                   Sam Meredith

REVIEW

  • Last series – book of Jude // The Faith, once for all handed down // Doubting is normal
  • Evidences for Christianity and celebrating Resurrection Sunday

 

Series Overview: You sent in questions, we’re responding

  • We had a lot of questions come in – we’re not able to address them all. So we’ve tried to group them under common themes
    • What do we do when we have Questions?
    • What is the Trinity and how does it work? // How does a good God allow bad things?
    • How do I witness to people from other religions // How do I fight against doubt?
    • What does the bible say about the end of the world / end times
    • How would Jesus interact with the LGBTQ+ community?

PREVIEW

  • Today – we’re talking about … “What do we do when we have questions?”
  • Seek to create a framework for HOW we process Questions

 

HOW to seek answers to our Questions: Creating a Framework

  1. Biblical: Start with the things we know

Deuteronomy 29:29 “The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions. NLT

  • God doesn’t reveal everything to us – His is Infinite, we are finite – this isn’t our focus
  • What’s already been reveal – “the Faith, once for all handed down” (Jude 1:3) is our focus, the Bible
  •  See Jesus’ responses to questions (Matt 19:4) and temptations (Matt 4:7) // 1 Cor 10:11; Rom 15:4
  1. Application: The goal of our understanding, obedience

Deuteronomy 29:29c “… so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions. NLT

  • Building our lives on God’s Word by doing what He says, brings a needed stability (Matt 7:24)
  • We are to choose to “do what it says” (James 1:22-25) even before we know all of what it says
  1. Wisdom: Learning to think biblically when the Bible is not direct

Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. NLT

  • We humbly (Proverbs 9:10) ask God for wisdom (James 1:5) and for His Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:12) to help us come to His perspective on any given situation or circumstance
  • We come under our spiritual leadership (Ephesians 4:11-13; Hebrews 13:17) as we seek wise, godly counsel (Proverbs 19:20; 11:14) so we can continue to mature and recognize what is right and wrong in different situations not directly addressed in the Bible (Hebrews 5;13-14; 2 Timothy 2:15)

 

  1. Grace: We will still have questions and we won’t all agree, our response matters

John 13:34-15 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” NLT

  • Having questions and disagreements is human. Loving, serving and sacrificing is Christian.
  • We’re do avoid many topics that only start fights (2 Tim 2:23) but on some topics, we are to “gently instruct (2 Tim 2:25) as we remember who the real enemy is, the devil (2 Tim 2:26; Eph 6:12).

CONCLUSION

Practical Next Steps

  • If you haven’t already, establish a regular routine of being in the Bible
  • Ask the Holy Spirit, if there is any area of your life you are currently not living in obedience. Then choose to repent and do what God says.
  • List out who your “go to” people are for understanding life, God and the Bible. Then get some counsel on that list from some mature believers.
  • Think about one or two people that need some grace for you, rather than an argument.

 

Let’s continue to be a church:

  • That prioritizes God’s word both personally and collectively
  • That seeks to live out ALL that He says
  • Let’s continue to build relationships and environments where it’s safe to ask questions
  • Let’s continue to give grace to one another as we humbly follow our God

 

For Small Group Discussion: Which of the Scriptures used in the sermon resonated with you the most?

Opening Question: Describe a time when you found something important that was lost.

Main Point: Knowing and understanding God’s Word is crucial to being an obedient disciple of Christ.

Read/Tell the Story: 2 Kings 22:1-23:3

Questions:

Head – 

  • What kind of a king was Josiah?
  • What happened when the Book of the Law was found?
  • What is God’s attitude towards His people when they are obeying His Word? What about when they are not obeying His Word?
  • What does it mean for God’s Word to be authoritative?

Heart –

  • In the same way Josiah lacked knowledge of the Book of the Law, when has a lack of information been costly?
  • What are some questions you’ve had about the Bible? (Remember, no fixing!)
  • What, in the Bible, do you believe is true but doesn’t seem to make sense?

Hands –

  • How can you get answers to questions you have about God’s Word?
  • When have you had to practice obedience, even without fully understanding?
  • In what ways can you grow from being just a ‘hearer’ of God’s Word into being a ‘doer’?
  • How can you help lead others in your spheres of influence into obedience and/or understanding of the Word?

Supporting Scripture: Deuteronomy 29:29; James 1:22-25; 2 Timothy 2:14-15, 3:16-17

 

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