The Grace Message

What is 1 John 3 really saying about being born of God and practicing sin? I struggle with obsessive thinking and wonder if I have committed blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. What is the difference between the true promises of God and the prosperity gospel?

Why is it important to understand how spirit and soul and body interact? What makes a good church? What should I look for? Where did Jesus go for three days when He died?

What does James really mean about faith and works? What is the flesh? What does it mean to not make a provision for the flesh? What is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? Should I be worried that I committed that sin?

If we don’t have to ask for forgiveness, then what should we do when we sin? Don’t we break fellowship with God? Doesn’t unconfessed sin create a barrier? What is your perspective on antidepressants? What are your thoughts on how to study the Bible?

Does Jesus offer us guaranteed health or wealth? What if a Christian blasphemes the Holy Spirit? Should visitors or children be allowed to take communion? Why does first Corinthians 11 say to “examine” yourself before taking it?

Here’s the second half of my take on Romans 7. It helps dispel the lie that there’s no real victory on this side of Heaven. It also explains how we are truly free from the clutches of sin. This is such an important message, as it introduces a revolutionary perspective on a central passage in the New Testament. Be encouraged! Discussion Questions for Romans 7:14-25 1. Read verse 14. Why is “sold into bondage to sin” such an important expression in this passage? 2. Read verses 15-16. What is his focus or goal? How does this speak into whether he’s referring to pre- or post-salvation? 3. Read verses 17 and 20. What is the core issue? How is this also revealing to us as believers? 4. Read verse 18. How should we interpret both “nothing good dwells in me” and “the willing is present in me”? 5. Read verse 19. What is the “good” that he wants to do? Why is this important to factor into our view of the passage? 6. Read verse 21. Imagine asking a devout Jewish person three questions: Do you want to do good? Do you always end up doing good? If not, why not? Now, how do you think they would answer those questions? And how does this help us interpret the passage? 7. Read verses 22-23. What is the specific goal of this person? What do they want to accomplish? Do they accomplish it? If not, why not? What does this say about the body (housing sin) vs. willpower for the unbeliever? 8. Read verse 24. What experience does this refer to? How does understanding this help? 9. How does verse 25 return to summarize the problem (before salvation) and the true origin of the conflict?

Are people in Heaven aware that we are "with" them spiritually? Would Jesus call some Christian teachers today a "brood of vipers"? How open do I need to be with my confession of Jesus to be saved? If we accidentally give a wrong statement, is that a willful sin? What time period is Matthew 24 referring to? Why is the virgin birth important? Where does political activism fit in? What is your opinion of generational trauma and reparations? Does Matthew 24 say we can lose our salvation?

What kind of authority does Satan have? What does the Greek Orthodox Church believe? Why does the New Testament say everything will come to light, including the motives of men’s hearts? Should Christians worry about that?

What is the context of John 20:23? Should human priests be forgiving sins? What is binding and loosing? Who gets a new name in Heaven? How should we view the "woke" or cancel culture? How do we know what is okay to say and do and what's not?

Where is the Ark of the Covenant today? Could you explain more about the total, once-for-all forgiveness that we have in Christ? It's difficult to find a church that teaches the love and grace and forgiveness of God. Could you touch on 1 John 1:9 and why it's not a "bar of soap" for daily cleansing?