CONCEPT OR PRECEPT?

RESPONDING WITH CONCEPT OR PRECEPT?

Wednesday, March 11, 2020



  Colossians [ESV] 4:5-6 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

  2Timothy 4:1-4 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.



  As professing Christians we are responsible to answer questions at any time comfortable or not. Considering my earliest John 3:3 born-again days and observing believers since, this is sometimes done too often with ideas instead truth grounded in God’s Word. Of course, this takes 2Timothy 2:15 diligence to first gain the answers for one’s self. Ah, but when are we asked many of the questions? Before we know the answers, that’s when!

  Here are some questions and discussion points to prepare for our work of Biblical conversation:

·         Are all religions pretty much the same? How or how not?

·         The Bible is God’s Word?

·         Are all gods God with different names?

·         Is there life after death?

·         How good do you need to be to get to heaven?

·         How bad do you have to be to go to hell?

·         What is the purpose of life?

·         What stresses you out most?

·         Where is relief from stress found?

·         What about God do you think is most interesting?

·         What about God do you say is most frightening?

·         What about God is most comforting?

·         What are you willing to give up that hinders your relationship with God?

·         Whom influences you most, God or people?

·         If God is good and just, why do bad things happen?

·         What now is the attitude of family and friends toward you?

·         Does God really forgive?

·         How does God forgive?

·         Are Christians to be judgmental?

·         Are Christians to ever judge?

·         Do friends see you as hypocritical?

·         Do others see you as unloving, selfish?

·         What are some doubts you had or still do wrestle with?

·         Can you believe in both science and God’s Word?

·         When someone asks if you believe the Bible is God’s Word, how do you respond?

·         If God isn’t the Creator then where did everything come from?

·         If Jesus visited your church how would you or others there react?

·         If Jesus visited you congregation what do you think He would say about it?

·         If Jesus visited your school what do you think He would say about it?

·         Is going to and participating in church important? Why?

·         When have you felt that God has failed you?

·         When have you felt you failed Him?

·         Does God primarily provide guidance or should we depend on Him to always in all ways be the Fixer?

·         What matters do you think are most important to pray for?

·         Which do you must depend on, God’s Word or experiences?

·         How do you react to gossip or criticism?

·         When and about what do you see as acceptable to confront a person or people?

·         What do you do after you’re told or discover a secret?

·         What does God want most from you?

·         What do you do when you’re caught lying, emulate Adam and Eve?

·         What words do you think God would use to describe you presently?

·         Your friend is being harassed or bullied , how do you react?

·         A stranger is being harassed or bullied, what do you do?

·         Family or friend ask you to cover (lie) for them, what do you do?

·         Describe a terrible time when you enjoyed God’s comfort.

·         What about you reflects Jesus to your family, friends, and acquaintances?

·         What do imagine heaven is like? Your info source?

·         If you could ask God any question and get a quick answer, what would it be?

·         Are answers/solutions to life problems provided in God’s Word?

·         Does God really provide answers?

·         Tell about a time(s) you forgave someone, and why.

·         If you could have one superpower for a day, how would you use it?

·         What is your favorite movie or story and why so?

·         What is something families and friends should do more of?

·         If you could, what would you change about the world?

·         Say one kind thing about persons you know.

·         What is your favorite thing to do with family and/or friends?

·         If you could know about the future, what would you choose to know?

·         Which Bible character would you treat to lunch?

·         What is the most beautiful thing told in Scripture?

·         What Bible character, other than Jesus, would you most like to be like?

·         If you had one last day what would you do?

·         When someone asked, how do you describe yourself?

·         What things are most important to you?

·         What do you most often think about?

·         How do you describe Jesus?

·         When asked, can you promptly give your Christian testimony?

EBB4