Questions You Never Thought You Could Ask in Church

The podcast is going to be going on hiatus for a short time as we reformat, reassess, and build something new! Big things coming!

What does the word "hope" really mean to Christians? Are dreams from Satan or God? Does God create people with birth defects? Was the second day of creation good? Why didn't God call it good? What is the difference between Joy and Happy, and how can that manifest itself in our lives?

Randy is back from missionary work in Europe, reaching out to one-percenters in the motorcycle world. Hear his stories about the questions these believers and non-believers are asking. On top of that, some questions on how to treat refugees in light of Jesus, how sanctification works, why God doesn’t make us perfect, seeing God, and how can we know whether the Bible is true.

Is Easter actually a pagan holiday? Well, Steve’s version is as he expounds about God’s hidden Easter egg. (We pray for Steve.) Here’s more: If Luke wasn’t an eyewitness, is his Gospel as reliable? Are Bible people buried in Hebron? What do Protestants say about purgatory? What’s the difference between people before and after the flood? And the marijuana question comes up again.

Did John actually see visions of heaven? Does the spirit world interface with people today? How do we know when it’s legit? Did God form the Muslim nation, is the Muslim and Christian God the same? Are the days of creation a template for when Jesus is coming? A little dash of Leviticus and lot of talk on prayer completes today’s show!

Steve and Andrew use ChatGPT to fill the third chair in Dave’s absence. They use it as a barometer to see what AI knows about Christianity, culture, and everything in between. What keeps people out of churches? What questions do people have about Christianity? How has social media and technology changed the landscape for churches? And does AI know how to define Greek words?

Follow up questions to last week's discussion on graphic media content. Does God use a carrot or stick to lead people to repentance? Did Jesus abolish the Law or fulfill it, and what does that mean? What the heck is a Jot and Tittle?

It’s episode 100 and we went for 100 questions in less than an hour. How many did we hit? We don’t know. We’re saying 137, but it’s a guess. Thanks for helping bring us to 100. We’re looking forward to the next century!

What scroll did Jesus read? Which did Augustine use? What does Jesus mean by “rooms in heaven?” Who were the dead people busting out of tombs at the resurrection? What should a Christian couple do when one wants more kids than the other? And is FOF a gay-affirming church?

Dave is back and questions come flying on Leviticus and Old Testament commands. Here’s a few: Wait, is the Sabbath a Saturday? Are the 10 Commandments ranked in order of importance? I thought it was a Sunday! Why does God command blood sacrifice in the OT? Where did it come from? I’m reading Leviticus. Was it just a bloody mess at the Tabernacle? How does the OT law work? Does it list things we can’t do and then we can do everything else? What about sex toys? I’m a Christian and so is my wife. My wife often doesn’t orgasm. Is it okay to use a vibrator? How do I figure out right and wrong when the Bible doesn’t talk about it?

The "He Gets Us" Campaign has sparked some recent controversy and public debate following a couple Super Bowl commercials that they paid for and were shown during the Super Bowl. Steve, Andrew, Kent and Randy discuss the good, the bad, the potential, and the public response to the commercials and the overall movement. Is it a waste of money? Is it a watered-down version of Jesus? Is it too far left, or too far right, or both? Can extra-biblical stories and forms of media still be impactful to the Kingdom? Is it heresy or genius? Does Jesus need to be re-branded?

Learn more about the campaign at www.hegetsus.com

When did Christians start using Christmas trees? I’m trying to read the whole Bible for the first time. What makes an animal clean or unclean? And how come no one ever tells us there were seven pairs of clean animals and one pair of unclean instead of just two-by-two? Will there be food in heaven? Sleep? Sex? Will Judgment Day happen before the New Heaven and Earth, or at the same time? Is Job a true story, or just fiction? Why does Jesus speak in parables? Why is the Catholic Church changing the words in the creed?

Most people think of the 1% as the wealthiest in terms of wealth inequality. But bikers have used this term for decades to refer to outlaw motorcycle clubs. Randy Birchfield with SparkPlugMinistries.com joins the show today and shares his experience ministering to the one-percenter community.

Questions come rolling in today on bits of the Bible: How can I learn more about that scary passage in Hebrews 6? I’m reading Genesis 1-4 and confused on so many details. Help! What’s going on with Jesus and the thief on the cross in Luke 23? I can’t square the end of Ezekiel and the new Jerusalem. What’s going on? And what happened between Noah and Ham?

It’s our last episode of 2022! Are angels male and female? Do they have gender? Was Mary born without sin? Who is the woman in Revelation 12? I struggle with original sin in infants. How can something pure and innocent be sinful? What is original sin? When Jesus says he comes to bring life in John 10, is he saying we should be Epicurean?

What’s with all the dead bodies coming out of the grave at Jesus’s crucifixion? Is the resurrection zombies? What’s the “better resurrection” about in Hebrews 11? Is December 25 the day Jesus was born? What do Protestants have against religious art and stained glass windows? How do we balance confidence and humility?

Wait, we got a question on paper? In John 8 Jesus writes with his finger on the ground. What’s more important: What he wrote or how he wrote? Which is right: Immanuel or Emmanuel? What the heck does Amen mean? I heard that the Bible uses feminine language for God’s Spirit. Is he feminine? Why 8 candles in a menorah? And some questions demanding future episodes: Is the Bible corrupt from a telephone game? Are all religions the same? And why were Christians so harsh to my lesbian friend?

I was raised Catholic and taught to pray to saints and angels. What do Lutherans teach about that? Do you think Peter was crucified upside down because he was unsure of his redemption? Please explain the fall and original sin. All religions teach the same thing about God, don’t they? What are deaconesses and elders? Am I sinning if I don’t have kids? Does God still communicate in visions and dreams?

Andrew wants to know about scary passages that say sinners won’t go to heaven. Other questions pile in on how to make sense of Jesus being God and human, whether there are rewards in heaven based on what we do in this life, and how to hear God’s voice. Is it God? The devil? Schizophrenia? Help!

Steve is back from Arizona. Dave is late, and Andrew braces for a solo run. But the show must go on! Any thoughts on predestination and free will? How do Lutheranism and Calvinism stack up against each other? What does it mean to “fear the Lord”? Are you premillennial, postmillennial, or amillennial? And what about pre-trib or post-trib?

Questions about the nature of God came streaming in. How come he lets dictators destroy his creation? What’s divine impassibility, and does God change? How should I address God? By all different titles? By each person in the Trinity? How do I get that euphoric feeling with God back? What’s the difference between soul and spirit?

Questions from our last episode on worship meld with new ones on the Christian life and prayer. Is it sinful to be hypnotized? What does it mean in Romans 12 to give yourself as a living sacrifice? Is it okay to use instruments in church? Does the liturgy go back to the time of Jesus? If Jesus is there when two or three gather together, is he there when I pray alone? What about food sacrificed to idols? How do we bring our faith into everyday life? Oh, and how hot is Steve?

Steve’s dad crashes today’s show, so we tackle the questions that have been coming in on worship (Steve is our Worship Director, after all.) Why doesn’t FOF do communion every week? Why do pastors wear robes on Sunday? (Are they wearing anything underneath?) Can non-Christians actually worship God? Why do some pastors say “I forgive you all your sins” instead of “God forgives you all your sins”? I feel like something important is going in liturgy, but it’s all kind of confusing. Help me out!

Is Jeffrey Dahmer saved, and was his murderer an instrument of God? What was Lazarus doing for four days? How do I talk to someone about faith when they’re abusive and abrasive? What about when they say they believe in God, but not the Bible because it was written by mere men? Can you sin in heaven? If a new heaven is coming, is the current one perfect? And what about praying to Mary?

Why did God destroy the tower of Babel, but let us go to space? Is suicide a sin? And does it keep someone from heaven? Are the Old Testament stories pictures of Jesus? I have gay friends. Have I failed to witness to them? And should I be sharing repentance with them? What do you say to someone who says they aren’t Christian because they can’t follow the rules? What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen while preaching?

Does the church replace Israel? What’s the CliffsNotes version of the doctrine of election? What’s up with the text variant in 1 John 1:4? Can I buy from companies that support anti-Christian things? What do I say to my friends who claim to be “spiritual” and believe in many ways to heaven? And will Rob Bell, Mel Gibson, or Mark Wahlberg come on the show?

Is God right-handed? Do you believe in the Reformed or Non-Reformed position on atonement? What’s up with hell? Did Jesus literally go there? And what’s John up to when he talks about “signs” in his Gospel? Dave, Steve, and Andrew dive in, talk about God’s lisp, and how the models we use make all the difference. Oh, and will Rob Bell take Dave up on his challenge to arm wrestle on the show?

Am I inadvertently worshiping other gods by singing along with “My Sweet Lord” by the Beatles? What advice do you have for parents trying to raise their kids in a non-Christian world? How long should you date before marriage? What’s the marriage process in the Bible? Have different Synods and denominations ever considered converging as one? How did you decide to become a pastor?

Questions today on faith and doubt. What are they? Can they co-exist? And why, oh why, do churches do such a good job at messing people up with this? Dave’s shares his dad’s journey, and fields more questions on heaven, hell, marriage, salvation, and free will.

Covid knocked us out a couple weeks, but Dave, Andrew, Steve, and Kent are back with questions on whether Jesus is human forever, how eternity works, a loving God v a harsh God, and a speed round to see just how fast Dave can go. In your face, Steve!

Why does the Bible talk about God “going down to see”? Doesn’t he know everything? I really feel it when I pray. Is that the Holy Spirit? Is there an offense that justifies not honoring our moms and dads? Why doesn’t the church emphasize repentance more? Can you elaborate on Jesus dying for the world and not just humans? Did God create the devil?

The questions keep rolling in! Is it okay for Christians to wear ripped jeans? Do you believe the world is experiencing birth pangs right now? Are we in the end times? Does the Bible teach the world is flat? Whey I pray, how should I address God? As a child I remember the pastor coming to visit my family in our home. It was a special time and memorable. Do pastors still do that? How about a sermon series on Revelation? Should we believe everything you say, or is it just your opinion? How do I know when God answers prayers with a yes, no, or later?

Today we find out it’s Dave’s anniversary and that his wife, Tina, is now officially a human chimera. Here’s the questions Dave, Andrew, and Kent tackle: Are Christians supposed to rise up and speak against LGBTQ, Disney, or other organizations pushing certain agendas? Is modern day abortion comparable to child sacrifice in the Bible? Who is Molech and is he different than Baal? How did the snake get in the garden? Is America under spiritual attack? Is America mentioned in the Bible? If I see patterns in the Bible, does that mean God is speaking to me? If God knows everything, will he know that he’ll change his mind?

How wrong is it for me to be mad at Jesus? How do we manage anger? How can God expect people to come to Christ who have never heard? How do we explain God to someone who’s faced absolute horrors? Where in the Bible does it say we have free will? Why is God so different in the Old Testament and New?

Can you profess an active faith in Jesus and still have an abortion? How about living a gay lifestyle? Are all sins the same? What saves people? If Jesus died for our sins, then who is going to be in hell?

Pastor Dave takes your questions LIVE during Fellowship of Faith's Sunday morning worship service for the second week of our Questions You Never Thought You Could Ask in Church LIVE series.

Questions about the hidden will of God and things unrevealed haunt and capture imagination. Questions came streaming in on belief in the resurrection, the Gospel of Thomas and the truth of Jesus, squaring divine concurrence with human freedom, whether God changes his mind, the nature of faith, and why it’s worth having. And how far has the church today drifted from God’s word? And will we eat spaghetti in heaven? Oh, and does God think “That’s what she said” jokes are funny?

Pastor Dave takes your questions LIVE during Fellowship of Faith's Sunday morning worship service! 

Why was God so evident in the Bible, but today it doesn't seem so obvious? When did we feel a call from God in our lives? How do you keep from praying for the same thing over and over again? How do you stay connected to God on a daily basis?

Here in the U.S. it’s LGBTQ Pride month and today’s show is filled with related questions. Should Christians celebrate gay pride month? What about homosexual couples adopting kids? What is a Biblical response to the claims that males and females can switch genders? What makes some instruction on the Bible antiquated and others still relevant? Why did Jesus ignore the Canaanite woman? And completely unrelated, is swearing a sin?

Today we learn that Steve’s idea of heaven is 4-wheelers, paintball, and circuses. Weird! That, and questions like: Can faith be proven? Should Christians be pro-life but against same-sex adoption? Should Christians refrain from watching TV or shopping at stores that don’t support causes in-line with what God’s word teaches? Why are their different accounts of who saw Jesus rise from the dead?

Is it wrong to pray for something you really don’t want? Why are the Psalms organized like they are? Is Paul re-enacting Jesus’ life? How do churches guard against their own agenda? And are they just a community obsessed with saving themselves? While we’re at it, what was God up to before the creation of the universe?

Can women be pastors? Can you help me make sense of the Trinity? How do we keep from getting offended so easily? Do Bible translations matter? How do we talk about abortion in church? That, and questions related to the recent school shooting in Texas.

Pastor Jerome from Uganda joins the show today and shares his experiences as a pastor in Africa. Dashed in are questions on divorce and remarriage, Bible translations, and the Trinity. Oh, and Steve has a rant about Martin Luther and reveals his love for James.

Andrew flips 31, Steve is out sick, and Tina joins the show answering questions about prophecy, Isaiah, Bible holidays, and who wrote 2 Timothy, anyway? Oh, and shortest speed round on record. Hooray for Polycarp!

Did Jesus go to hell after he died? Are people in heaven the same age? If Jesus had scars on his resurrected body, will we? Is metal illness a sign of not trusting in God? Did rainbows exist before the Flood? Does Christianity need denominations? Do I need to know Greek to really know the Bible? Even if we’re not under the law, should we go back to it as a teacher?

Kristopher Whitby, long-time pastor and assistant to a regional bishop, shares the good, bad, and ugly of organized religion and institutional Christianity, and why it matters.

How does a cross kill you? Is it possible to be on good terms with God while not acknowledging Jesus? Will the Holy Spirit let you believe whatever you want? Is Allah the God of the Bible by a different name? When we acknowledge a blessing, does that mean others who don’t have it aren’t blessed by God? What is the prosperity gospel? Why isn’t Dan listed in the 144,000 in Revelation? That, plus some Holy Week shout-outs and an update on Dave’s ducks.  

What is Holy Week and why is it important? How did the masses go from shouting praising Jesus on Palm Sunday to shouting “Crucify him!” in just a few days? What day did Jesus die? What is fasting, and is it okay to eat on Friday? Judas was one of the twelve and it says Satan entered him. What does that mean for me, and was Judas predestined for this?

Does Intelligent Design prove Christianity? Why is the Bible true and how do we know? Should we love the devil? Was Judas destined for hell? That, and a speed round on reading Paul in the Bible.

Jeff Dunn-Rankin is a veteran of youth and family ministry, starting at Christ United Methodist Church in Venice, Florida, in 1999. As executive vice president of Ministry Architects, he has consulted with large and small youth and children’s ministries from California to Florida and is a frequent speaker at events from the Group/Simply Convention to KidMin. What is the biggest problem facing the church? Should the church be run like a business? What does the church need to do differently?