Several years back I was raking leaves in the late autumn sun while Keri pruned a rose bush. When I reached down to grab a big pile of leaves to stuff in the bag, my fingers grasped a handful of thorny briers Keri had tossed under the leaves when I wasn’t looking. As the thorns … More Sermon: Suffering & God’s Providence
Repost from 2018. -JB “Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, TEACHING in the synagogues…and he HEALED every kind of disease and illness” (Matt 9:35). My sermon text for this Sunday is Mark 1:29-39 which displays Jesus’ powerful healing ministry, first with Simon’s mother-in-law, and then “the whole city was gathered … More Q&A: Why do prayers go unanswered?
Q: How can a modern person believe a man was raised from the dead? I’ll let Hank Hanegraaff answer this one in his article “The F-E-A-T that Demonstrates the FACT of Resurrection” Because of its centrality to Christianity, those who take the sacred name of Christ upon their lips must be prepared to defend the … More Q&A: Did Jesus Really Rise Again?
I was recently asked a good question: What do you think about the popular practice of “mindfulness” and “meditation”? Here’s my initial response. I’m not sure what kind of “mindfulness” you’re critiquing. Eastern meditation seeks to empty our minds, to be mindful of our own “inner divinity” and mindful of the Oneness that permeates all … More Q&A: On Mindfulness & Meditation
Here’s a question from a former student of mine. Great question for Halloween! Q: What do you believe about spiritual warfare and its affects on people, including believers? I know it is pretty open ended question and topic but I am not quite sure what type of answer I am looking for. Any input would … More Q&A: What do you believe about Spiritual Warfare?
Question: What about the people who were born in the deepest jungles or in some rural African village? They never heard of Jesus, and no one has ever shared with them the “way to salvation” through Jesus Christ. Will they spend eternity in Hell for not believing in something they never heard about? Answer: There … More Q&A – What about those who’ve never heard the gospel?
This is a link to one of my all-time favorite resources: Hours of Q & A with Pastor Greg Boyd and Professor Paul Eddy of Woodland Hills Church on all things theological and biblical. Q & A themes include New Age Spirituality, Imaginative Prayer, Letters from a Skeptic Book, The DaVinci Code debate, and recently … More Theological Brain Buzz – Q & A Resources
Q: Why is the Bible so strict on prohibiting pre-marital sex? What’s the big deal? Pastor Greg Boyd sheds some light on the Bible’s perspective on this sacredness of sex and marriage: Today in western culture people tend to have a rather “recreational” view of sex. It’s just a pleasurable physical activity we engage in. … More Q&A – What’s the Big deal about Sex?
I highly recommend this! I will be attending and hope to bring along with me as many MainStreet friends as possible. This will be a fun, thought-provoking field trip together. -JB Woodland Hills Church’s next Q&A with Greg Boyd and Paul Eddy is coming up on Tuesday, June 7 at 7:00 p.m. There has been … More Heaven & Hell Q & A
Here’s a great answer from Sandy Richter. Is understanding the context of the Old Testament essential to understanding the meaning of what Jesus taught? I certainly believe with all the campus ministries and Four Spiritual Laws and tracts … the simplest presentation of the Gospel message can bring someone into the Kingdom–but … that is … More Q&A: Is the OT essential for understanding Jesus?
Do you ever feel like God has left the building? Ever feel like your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling? Ever desire to rekindle those old feelings of passion and intimacy with God you once felt? What do you do when you just don’t feel like loving God anymore? Brian McLaren offers some great pastoral … More Q&A: How do I rekindle my love for God?
Question: Don’t all religions offer different paths to the same ultimate reality or destination? Aren’t all religions equally valid sources of spiritual truth and salvation? Answer: The Bible is very clear that Jesus is the pathway to coming into a saving relationship with the Creator God.“I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one … More Q&A – Do all religions lead to God?
Our youth group grappled with the tough question last night: “Can someone lose their salvation?” We discussed both sides of the issue while presenting some of the Biblical evidence on each side. The Reformed tradition is quite firm on their doctrines of God’s “Unconditional Election” of certain individuals for salvation and the “Perseverance of the … More Q&A – Can Someone Lose their Salvation?
Do you have theological questions and doubts about the Bible and Christian faith? You’re not alone! I want to share a valuable resource for finding well-thought out and balanced answers to many of the toughest doubts and questions faced by both Christians and skeptics. Please check out the Woodland Hills Church Q & A channel … More Q&A – Solid Answers to Faith Questions
A former student (now in college) asked the following question a while back. How would you answer this fascinating theological question about the nature of Satan, forgiveness, judgment, heaven and hell? Q: I was discussing Lucifer and his fall from heaven with a roommate, and she wondered if Lucifer ever had a desire to return … More Q&A: Can Satan repent, be forgiven and saved from Hell?
An inquisitive high school freshman from our youth group emailed me the following question today: Q:“What do you think the Bible means by the Kingdom of God?” This is such a central theme of the NT and yet it is so dynamic and varied in its uses and references that one does not blame someone … More Q & A – The Kingdom of God in a Nutshell
In light of the recent John Piper interpretation of the Minneapolis tornado, Greg Boyd hosted a Q&A centered around the debated concept that God might be behind the natural disasters in the world…as well as other related questions from the congregation. Well worth checking out links below! LISTEN TO AUDIO WATCH VIDEO
Jeremy L. Berg 