Have you ever had a question but were too afraid to ask? You’ve already been told that there are no stupid questions, so ask. If you have a question you’ve always wanted to ask, ask it (privately or personally) and I’ll do my best to offer a biblical answer. Below is a sampling of questions people should be asking but aren’t…
- Why is attendance of religious services falling around the world?
- How do I join the local church of Christ?
- Variation: Do I have to identify with a local group of Christians?
- Are all churches of Christ the same? Does it matter?
- What is the most important aspect of our Assemblies?
- How come the churches don’t have crosses in their buildings?
- Can we eat in the building? How come we don’t eat in the building?
- How come we don’t have community benevolent programs?
- What is the work of the church?
- Why does the evangelist get all bent out of shape when someone calls him ‘pastor?’ Or when I use “church” as an adjective?
Future articles in 2019 will be dedicated to answering, with scripture, many of these questions.
CAN WE EVEN QUESTION THE BIBLE?
Jesus was asked a bunch of questions by folks. He never rebukes us for asking, unless we’re asking to justify ourselves or refuse to be honest with the answers.
In one such encounter, the Pharisees asked Jesus about His authority, “And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?” [Mat 21”23]
Jesus’ reply was not a rebuke for asking, for He said He would answer them, “if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?” But they refused to answer, as either possible answer would rebuke themselves. It was then that Jesus refused to answer their question, because they weren’t being honest about the truth.
In another place, the Apostle Paul went about preaching and came to some folks who took what he preached and searched for some verification. The Berean’s, “received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” [Acts 17:11] You see, they took the preaching of Paul and compared it to the scriptures. Oh, if more people in denominations would do that!
Paul also told the Galatians, “though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” [Gal 1:8] He was ok with them verifying what he or anyone else preached. The problem was they had stopped following God’s word in favor false teaching.
He also told those in Thessalonica to, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” [1Thess 5:21].
In another place, John wrote to the saints and told them to, “believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” [1John 4:1]
The moral of the story is that it’s OK to ask questions. It’s OK and even encouraged to verify whatever anyone teaches or preaches.
There are just a few criteria…
- Be honest with yourself, even if it means you may be wrong,
- Be willing to search for the truth and
- Be willing to accept the truth and to follow it.
We here in this local body of Christ want to know the truth and to obey the truth. We don’t mind it when someone asks questions and we often invite folks to visit with us after services to ask questions. Just be honest and be willing to accept the truth. If you’re unwilling to listen to God’s word for the answer, don’t bother asking us, because that’s the only qualified answer. The Bible is our only Guide. If you don’t want a bible answer, don’t ask any of us.
There are many false places to which people appeal for the answers to their questions….
- False teachers – 1Tim 4:1
- Yes men – 2Tim 4:3
- The book of ‘opinions’ & ‘I think so’ – Mark 7:7
- “that’s how we’ve always done it” Mark 7:8
None of these are the source of sound doctrine, and there are many more. Jesus warned the Sadducees, “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” [Mat 22:29] We must be careful from where we get the answers to the questions of life and eternal life. God’s word gives us all we need for life & godliness [2Pet 1:3].
Would you like your question answered, and do you want it to be from God’s divine word? Then you’ve come to the right place. Come, let’s reason together.
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” [Isaiah 1:18]
Borger church of Christ @ Franklin & Juniper 
Due to Corna 19 we haven’t been able to go to church n health issues. Now husband hasn’t been a member long enough to know how to do lords supper so is it sinful if I do our lords supper or am I sinning. I am getting ready to celebrate my 30th yr as a christian I call it my most important birthday. I don’t want do something really offensive to my Lord.
I was baptized in the church of Christ…at the age of 17.im 68.i remember being baptized because Jesus would save me from hell.i knew it was for sins but I didn’t have much sins as I understand sins now.was I baptized for the right reason.
William,
what a great and sincere question. I can’t answer what was going on in your heart at 17, but I can give you two things to think about and find assurance in.
First. When you were baptized (full immersion in water) at 17, had you done it by faith, and with the knowledge it was for the washing away of your sins, then you were saved in hope, and added to the Lord’s church at that moment. (Acts 2:38-47). But since then you may have stumbled.
Like many of us, we’ve been weak and have stumbled. If we say we haven’t, we make Him a liar. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1John 1:9-10
John writes to assure us of our salvation although we stumble along the way. He is not saying you could never lose your salvation. He is reminding the Christian of how to restore fellowship with Him and the father if we’ve obeyed the gospel, but we’ve been unfaithful to Him.
So, If this is you, repent and confess your sins and return to full fellowship with God.
The Second thought is also assuring. If one who had been baptized as a young person realizes that they may not have obeyed the gospel for the reasons revealed in the New Testament (only you & God know 1John 3:20-21), then they can make it right today. There’s no upper age limit to being baptized.
If you have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. Matt 7:24
If you believe with all your heart that Jesus is the Christ. John 8:24
If you have repented of your sins. Luke 13:3
If you will confess Him with your mouth. Matt 10:32; Rom 10:9
Then you should be baptized in water today. Mark 16:16; Acts 16:30-33
Then you are to remain faithful to Him all the days remaining in your life… Matt 28:20.
I hope this helps you and offers assurance to you to do what is right.
If you’re in my area, send a private message to me with your contact info and we can study further.
Agape,
Spencer
Please answer this for me.
What day was Jesus crucified on?
Thank you.
Jerry
This is a common question. Let’s work backward from when He rose from the dead. It was the 3rd day, being the 1st day of the week; SUNDAY.
Mark 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
1Cor 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
The day before that, the Sabbath, SATURDAY, was the 2nd day He was in the grave.
The day before that, the day before the Sabbath, was the day He was crucified and buried, FRIDAY. This being the First day in the grave.
I hope that helps you.
spencer
Since Supper is an Evening Meal, Main Meal of the Day, Especially the Evening Meal, and it can refer to a Heavy and Full Meal. In the South, Dinner can refer to the Noon Meal, but while Supper refers to the Evening Meal.
Supper can also be used to refer to a light meal Eaten Late in the Evening.
Shouldn’t christians be Eating the LORD’S Supper either Saturday Evening after Sundown or Sunday Evening before Sundown, since Supper is an Evening Meal?
*
Is it okay to take my LORD’S Supper Saturday Night after Sundown, because isn’t this when the First Day Of The Week actually starts? Acts 20:7…Aren’t we supposed to be following apostolic examples?
Saint Paul preached until midnight, so did he take my LORD’S Supper Saturday Night? It is a Supper and Not a breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch, etc.
Isn’t Supper a Main Meal in the Evening or Evening Meal?
* Can the LORD’S Supper be offered in the Morning and Evening?
Relevance vs. Incidental in Scripture
When interpreting examples like the Lord’s Supper, we look at what’s relevant—the core components tied to the command—and what’s incidental—details that accompany the event but aren’t part of the directive. Jesus’ command in Luke 22:19-20, “Do this in remembrance of me,” centers on the act of taking bread and the cup to recall His death. The elements (bread and fruit of the vine) and the purpose (remembrance) are relevant because they’re explicitly stated. In 1 Corinthians 11:23-25, Paul reinforces this, emphasizing the what (bread and cup) and why (proclaiming the Lord’s death), not the when or where.
The day becomes relevant through apostolic example in Acts 20:7: “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread…” This ties the practice to Sunday, showing a consistent pattern in the early church. The day is relevant because it’s a recurring detail in the context of worship (cf. 1 Corinthians 16:2), though not explicitly commanded in the institution passages.
Now, let’s consider the time of day and the upper room. Acts 20:7 describes the gathering extending into the night, with Paul preaching until midnight. The term “supper” (deipnon), meaning the main evening meal, reflects the original setting when Jesus instituted it (during Passover, at night). But is the evening timing relevant or incidental?
Similarly, the “upper room” (Mark 14:15, Luke 22:12) is where it happened, but no command ties the Lord’s Supper to that location.