QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (89)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     There was a website that I found that noted there are at least 15 different types of questions that can be asked.

1.        Closed questions

2.       Open questions

3.       Funnel questions

4.      Leading questions

5.       Recall and process questions

6.      Rhetorical questions

7.       Probing questions (NOTE:  There were five different kinds of probing questions)

 

B.      We get several different kinds of questions on our Q&A Sundays. 

Too, we get questions about things that we might not otherwise study.

Some of these questions may have been on the minds of others.

Some would have never thought of the question in a million years.

This is part of the fun of our Q&A Lessons.

 

C.      In this lesson, let’s look at three questions.

 

I.                   QUESTION #1:  Leaving the Faith

 

A.     Stated:  Why do Christians leave the faith?

 

B.      Answer:

1.        In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus provides us with two answers to this question.

a.       Persecution and tribulation (Matt. 13:20-21)

 

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same he is that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while:  for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

 

1)       The writer of Hebrews wrote his book trying to keep this from happening to his readers.

a)      They had been persecuted but not unto blood (Heb. 12:4).

b)     He exhorts them over and over to remain strong, steadfast, and faithful.

c)      Hebrews 4:11

 

Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

 

2)      Demas (2 Tim. 4:10)

 

Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica…

 

b.      The cares of the world and riches (Matt. 13:22)

 

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

 

1)       Mark’s gospel adds “…and the lust of other things.”  Luke’s includes “the pleasures of this life.”

2)      This world contains many, many things that can take our eyes off Jesus Christ and faithful Christian living.

a)      Some of the things are fun.

b)     Some of the things appear to be necessary and essential.

c)      Some of the things fool us into being important to our lives.

d)     Some of the things simply entice our desires.  In other words, they are things we long to do.

2.       There are several other things that cause people to leave the faith.

a.       A lack of commitment

1)       There are some people who want the blessings of Christianity, but they do not want the responsibilities that come with it.

a)      They want to be forgiven, but they do not want to work.

b)     They want to find peace, but they do not want to fight the good fight of faith.

c)      They want the hope that Christ offers, but they do not want the cross that He asks them to bear.

d)     They want to be born again, but they do not want to grow and mature in the faith.

2)      Matthew 16:24-25

 

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it:  and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

 

b.      False doctrine

1)       Doctrine is simply teaching.

2)      Something exist that  the Bible calls “sound doctrine” (Tit. 2:1).

 

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine.

 

3)      Satan opposes sound doctrine with false doctrine.

a)      For some reason, some people prefer false doctrine over sound doctrine.

b)     It was the false doctrine of the Judaizing teachers that caused some to err from the truth among the churches of Galatia.

-          Galatians 5:7

 

Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

 

-          Galatians 5:4

 

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

 

c.       Sin

1)       When we become Christians, Satan does not withdraw from us.  In fact, he probably turns up the heat hoping we will fall away.

2)      If he can’t deceive us with false teaching, he will lure us away with temptation to sin.

3)      Example:  Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:3, 9)

 

But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?...Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord?...

 

d.      Anger

1)       Anger is an emotion that can quickly lead one to sin.

a)      Ephesians 4:26

 

Be ye angry, and sin not…

 

b)     Ecclesiastes 7:9

 

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry:  for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

 

2)      A person gets angry with another member or a with a decision of the elders or with a sermon that has been preached.  In anger, he leaves the church.  He has just confirmed Solomon’s words:  “…for anger resteth in the bosom of fools” (Eccl. 7:9).

e.       Church problems

1)       Churches are composed of imperfect people. 

a)      Sin can arise.

b)     False teaching can arise.

c)      Power struggles can happen.

d)     Arguments and disputes can transpire.

2)      Unfortunately, all of these things can bring sinful behaviors into the church.  Too, the church can split.

3)      There are some who get upset, disillusioned, and disappointed in the actions of those who call themselves Christians. 

4)      Instead of holding on to the Christ and weathering the storm, they fall away from the church (Matt. 12:25).

 

…Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.

 

f.        Self-will

1)       Self-will is defined as “pursing one’s own wishes or aims” (Dictionary.com).

2)      Will worship is when my will is elevated over the will of God.

3)      The problem with our will at times:

a)      It takes too much time away from God’s will.

b)     Our will at times can stand in bold opposition to God’s will.

c)      Our will can “feel” right, even though it is far from right.

4)      Paul mentions “will worship” in Colossians 2:23.

 

Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship…

 

5)      What the will worshiper says and does:

I will believe as I please.

I will worship as I please.

I will serve as I please.

I will live as I please.

I will save myself as I please.

 

C.      In the course of this answer, we have given eight reasons individuals fall away from the faith.

1.        Tribulation and persecution

2.       The cares, riches, pleasures, and lusts of this world

3.       Lack of commitment

4.      False doctrine

5.       Sin

6.      Anger

7.       Church problems

8.      Self-will

 

II.                QUESTION #2:  Study Materials for Christians

 

A.     Stated:  What are some things Christians should be using to help them study and learn God’s Word?

 

B.      Answer:

1.        The very best thing a person can do is learn “how” to study.

a.       Learn to use the tools of Bible study.

b.      Learn the various types of studies that can be conducted.

c.       NOTE: 

1)       This alone can provide you with a lifetime of study in God’s Word.

2)      This is much easier to do now because we have Bible programs that cut down the amount of time it takes to look up information.

2.       Commentaries

a.       Barnes Notes

b.      Keil and Delitzsch

c.       Beacon Bible Commentary

d.      Truth for Today

e.       Coffman Commentary

f.        Some of the volumes of the Gospel Advocate Commentaries

g.       There are individual commentaries that are very good:  J.W. McGarvey on Acts, Wayne Jackson on Acts, Moses Lard on Romans, David Stewart on Philippians, Gene West on the Revelation.

h.      Other brethren have written numerous commentaries on individual books of the Bible:  Robert Taylor, Jr and Tom Wacaster.

i.        There was a time when the sound lectureships of the brotherhood attempted to cover every book of the Bible. 

3.       Books:

a.       All of the books by Foy E. Wallace, Jr.

b.      All of the books by Franklin Camp

c.       All of the books by Gus Nichols

d.      All of the books by Guy N. Woods

e.       Lectureship Books

f.        The Herbert Lockyer Series

4.      Publications

a.       Spiritual Sword

b.      Gospel Journal

c.       House to House

d.      Gospel Gleaner

e.       Gospel Gazette

f.        Seek the Old Paths

5.       Websites

a.       Apologetics Press

b.      On-Line Academy of Biblical Studies

c.       Polishing the Pulpit

d.      Christian Courier

e.       World Video Bible School

f.        Gospel Broadcasting Network

6.      Listen to sermons of men such as Cliff Goodwin, Glenn Colley, Hiram Kemp, B.J. Clarke, Don Blackwell, John Shannon, Allen Highers, Dan Winkler, and others.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     The two questions that were asked do not seem to relate to one another, but they do.

 

B.      First, we must be aware that it is possible for us to fall from grace (1 Cor. 10:12).  We need to know the reasons why people fall.

 

C.      Second, if we know the Word of God, it will strengthen us and keep us from falling and give us an inheritance among those who are sanctified (Acts 20:32).