The entire site and all contents: ©2005 - 2022 Living Word Lutheran Church, All Rights Reserved
Every month Pastor Dave answers a common question from members of the
congregation and confirmation youth in the church newsletter. This is an archive of
past questions and answers. (More current questions towards top of list.)
Also, some additional lessons from Pastor Dave to help you in everyday living.
If you have a question you would like answered here, please send an e-mail to
pastor@livingwordlutheran.net
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2022 May
I heard the Building Committee is up and running again. What are they working on?
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2022 April
I don’t understand…
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2022 March
What does the Bible say about Ash Wednesday and Lent?
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2022 Feb
What is your favorite Bible Story? - Part 2
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2022 Jan
What is your favorite Bible Story?
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2021 Dec
Is Santa Claus real?
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2021 Nov
A few random, easy-to-answer questions this month:
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2021 Oct
Is slavery in the Bible different than what we think of it?
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2021 Sept
If God Knows Everything, Why Do We Pray?
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2021 August
Have you read all the Psalms?
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2021 July
What does God think of witchcraft and astrology?
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2021 June
Do you remember your confirmation verse?
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2021 May
“What book of the Bible would you recommend as a first book for a new Christian or someone interested in finding out
about Jesus?”
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2021 April
Why did the authorities want to arrest & kill Jesus?
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2021 March
Will we know everything when we get to heaven?
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2021 Feb
Can you print out the ‘Sin Shoveling’ Instructions?
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2021 Jan
How was your Christmas?
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2020 Dec
Are we going to have…?
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2020 Nov
What can we do about the Christmas Program?
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2020 Oct
How was the wedding?
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2020 Sept
Do you thing there is a “silver lining” in every cloud?
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2020 Aug
Which Ten Commandment list should we go by, the one in my Bible or the one in the Catechism?
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2020 July
What is “Apologetics”?
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2020 May
When can we get back to church?
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2020 April
Is this it? Are we in the end times? What does Revelation say?
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2020 March
Why do some churches say the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper “represents” Jesus’ body and blood?
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2020 Feb
Does God love trans-gender people?
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2020 Jan
Pastor, What is your favorite Bible verse?
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2019 Dec
Why do we give gifts to each other at Christmas when Jesus is the One with the birthday?
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2019 Nov
Do you know of any Christians who celebrate Sukkot?
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2019 Oct
If God knows what we need, why do we pray?
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2019 Sept
What’s the best advice you’ver ever received?
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2019 Aug
Do the people who believe in something other than Jesus end up going whereever they believe? Part II
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2019 July
Do the people who believe in something other than Jesus end up going whereever they believe?
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2019 June
How do they get anything done?
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2019 May
Are we going to pray?
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2019 April
Why did God create Satan, knowing what he would do?”
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2019 March
What is “Stewardship”?
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2019 Feb
Does is ‘count’ if you do what God asks - even if you don’t want to?
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2019 Jan
What does it mean to be “legalistic”?
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2018 Dec
How can God be everywhere... and hear everyone’s prayers at the same time?
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2018 Nov
Do Christians celebrate Sukkot?
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2018 Oct
How would you explain the “Gospel” to someone not familiar with it?
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2018 Sept
Can I use your article?
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2018 Aug
What is your favorite Bible passage?
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2018
July
Why do we have baptism and confirmation?
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2018 June
How old will we be in heaven?
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2018 May
What do you think God would think of you?
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2018 April
Who were the first eyewitnesses of Jesus’ resurrection?
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2018 March
In Revelation 4:8 and 7:15 it says they praised God and served Him “day and night.” But in Revelation 21:25 and
22:5 it says there will be no night. Which is it?
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2018 Feb
How do they decide when Easter is going to be each year?
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2018 Jan
Do you go to heaven if you “half believe” and half don’t?
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2017 Dec
Why are we having the Sunday School Christmas Program in January?
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2017 Nov
Should we be nervous talking to God? Part II
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2017 Oct
Should we be nervous talking to God?
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2017 Sept
Does God love everyone - even if they don’t believe in Him?
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2017 Aug
The church seems to be getting ‘filled up.’ What are the plans for Phase 2?
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2017 July
What is the blaspheme against the Holy Spirit?
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2017 June
Would you die for Jesus?
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2017 May
What did Jesus mean by, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,”?
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2017 April
Do our realtives in Heaven watch over us?
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2017 March
What is heaven like (part 2)?
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2017 Feb
What is heaven like?
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2017 Jan
What exactly is this “Reset” thing?
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2016 Dec
God doesn’t tell us to celebrate Christmas, so why do we?
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2016 Nov
What does God’s Word say about electing leaders?
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2016 Oct
Why do we memorize the books of the Bible?
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2016 Sept
What does “begotten” mean?
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2016 Aug
What do you think of Donald Trump / Hillary Clinton?
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2016 July
What is your favorite hymn?
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2016 June
So, what are your answers?
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2016 May
Who do you say that Jesus is?
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2016 April
Why do we call it “Good Friday”? What happened to Jesus was horrible!
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2016 March
We all worship the same God, don’t we - Part 2
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2016 Feb
We all worship the same God, don’t we?
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2016 Jan
Why don't we call the church Bethlehem?
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2016 Dec
Why do we give each other gifts at Christmas when Jesus is the One with the birthday
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2016 Nov
Why do we have communion bread that tastes like the stuff the dentist has you bite on when he takes x-rays?
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2016 Oct
Do you think there were dinosaurs on the ark?
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2016 Sept
What does it mean to “believe in” Jesus?
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2015 August
What about first fruits?
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2015 July
Why have the colors on the alter been different almost every week?
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2015 June
“So, what insights did you get?”
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2015 May
I don't understand how there can be a God when I see all the death and suffering in the world.
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2015 April
What do we have to offer?
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2015 March
Who created God?
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2015 Feb
What is a virtue?
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2015 Jan
Will we be reading through the Bible from front to back?
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2014 Dec
What’s your favorite Proverb?
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2014 Nov
With the election coming up, it's not always easy to figure out who to vote for. What does God's Word have to say
about electing leaders?
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2014 Oct
What Sundy is Reformation Sunday?
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2014 Sept
What do you see as the root cause of all the problems in our country / world?
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2014 August
What advice do you have for me?
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2014 July
Does He mean that literally?
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2014 June
Will my dog be in heaven?
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2014 May
How can I tell someone about Jesus?
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2014 April
Does God get 'sick' of us?
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2014 March
What's the right way to make the sign of the cross (I see you do it different than what I was taught)?
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2014 Feb
What is your favorite book in the New Testament?
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2014 Jan
What’s going on with Thrivent?
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2013 Dec
What's Your Favorite Book in the Bible - Gospels?
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2013 Nov
What’s Your Favorite Book in the Bible - Old Testament?
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2013 Oct
Why Did God Put Us Here - Why Do We Exist?
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2013 Sept
What's Your Favorite Memory of Our First Year in This Building?
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2013 Aug
If you could spend one day with someone - living or dead - who would you choose to hang out with?
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2013 July
Will I recognize and know my relatives and friends in heaven?
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2013 June
Do we go to heaven when we die - or to a new earth?
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2013 May
What do you think about the proposed Gay Marriage law?
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2013 April
What makes you so sure that Jesus rose from the dead?
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2013 March
How do we know God is real - other than the Bible telling us?
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2013 Feb
““What Ministry “wins” have you had this past month that have moved Living Word forward in spiritual and numerical
growth?”
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2013 Jan
Where Was God?
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2012 Dec
Do you think the world will end this month - like the Mayan calendar says?
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2012 Nov
What dreams do you have for the future growth of Living Word?
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2012 Oct
What does the Bible say about homosexuality?
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2012 Sept
What are you looking forward to most about being in our own building?
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2012 Aug
Seen any good movies lately?
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2012 July
Does God cause bad things to happen or does He allow them because of sin?
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2012 June
When will you be able to be in your new building?
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2012 May
What’s going on with your building project?
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2012 April
Do dogs go to heaven?
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2012 March
What do you mean, too comfortable?
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2012 Feb
What is a “Born Again” Christian?
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2012 Jan
What happens when we die?
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2011 Dec
What is your favorite Chirstmas__________?
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2011 Nov
Why does the Church (i.e. Christian organizations in the US that agree Jesus is Lord and the Bible is the Word of God)
ignore critical issues that directly affect God's people?
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2011 Oct
I’m wondering about cremation. I’d prefer it to burial, but is it a sin?
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2011 Sept
So, what happened at the Planning Weekend?
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2011 Aug
Let’s say the government made it illegal to possess a Bible and the authorities showed up to take yours. You decided
to tear out just one page to keep, hide and read. Which page would you tear out?
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2011 July
Can you go to hell for telling a lie? Part III
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2011 June
Can you go to hell for telling a lie? Part II
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2011 May
Can you go to hell for telling a lie? Part I
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2011 April
With what happened in Japan and all the earthquakes and tsunamis recently - and predictions of the end of the world
- don’t you think we are getting close to The End?
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2011 Mar
Why is Ash Wednesday so late this year - wasn’t it in January last year?
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2011 Feb
Why do we believe the Bible?
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2011 Jan
How do I know what God wants me to do?
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2010 Dec
Is it ok to talk to God when I’m walking?
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2010 Nov
When I tell someone that I belong to a Missouri Synod congregation, sometimes I get a response like this, “Oh, you’re
the people who discriminate against women, not allowing them to be pastors.” How do I answer that?
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2010 Oct
What’s with all these ‘Only comes once in a century’ signs?
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2010 Sept
I have a friend who’s going through some tough times. Do you have some verses I could give them that would help
out?
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2010 Aug
Do animals go to heaven?
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2010 July
I hear that the LC-MS national convention is this July. What’s on the agenda?
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2010 June
Why are the Ten Commandments so confusing?
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2010 May
How is that possible?
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2010 Apr
Where did this "Maundy Thursday" come from?
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2010 Mar
What good can come from death?
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2010 Feb
How do I answer someone who says “We all believe in Jesus, that’s all that really matters,”?
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2010 Jan
Does the Bible say that Adam & Eve weren't created in the Garden of Eden?
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2009 Dec
How do I deal with all the crazy relationships during the holidays?
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2009 Nov
What lesson has God used His creation to teach you recently?
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2009 Oct
What do you think of the ELCA decision regarding homosexuality?
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2009 Sept
What else is there to say about the ELCA decision?
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What did you accomplish at the "Eat, Pray, & Brainstorm" session?
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The Bible says “God knows our needs before we ask,” so why do we need to ask?
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What goes on at a District Convention?
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What is the event that separates Christianity from all other beliefs?
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How do we know these Bible stories are true?
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I’m supposed to "testify" to Jesus, but what does that mean?
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Why, does God put up with us?
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How come you write in your Bible? Doesn’t the Bible tell us not to add to God’s word?
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In Galatians chapter five we see that there are two forces battling in our lives: our sinful nature and the Holy Spirit. You said that the
Holy Spirit is the stronger force, but isn’t our sinful nature stronger? I mean, we keep on sinning.
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Why did God create us as sinners?
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What does Scientology teach?
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What is the purpose of praying for something or to change a situation when God is going to do what he's going to do anyway?
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The Bible says that all we need to be saved is "repent and believe." So why do we have to try to quit sinning, and why do we have to
do things like read our Bibles and pray daily and worship every week?
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What have you been reading lately that’s brought you closer to the Lord?
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Was Pontius Pilate forgiven for putting Jesus to death? (i.e. Did God forgive him?)
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Will we see our pets in heaven?
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Is God "For" or "Against" the War in Iraq?
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Why don’t we celebrate the Passover?
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Is it a sin to wonder if there are other Gods - since thinking it is the same as doing it?
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I don’t really need to pay attention to the Old Testament now that Jesus has come - do I? And besides, the God of the Old
Testament is a God of wrath and in the New Testament He’s a God of mercy...
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How come Jesus has so many names?
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What do Muslims believe anyway?
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Why do we worship on Sunday, not Saturday?
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People always say, "Oh, you’re the strict ones," when I tell them I go to a Missouri Synod church. How do I respond to that?
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When are you going to start building?
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What did you do at the Planning Retreat?
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Why should I bother to pray when God is going to do what he's going to do anyway?
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What kinds of punishments or consequences are given when you break a commandment only by what you think in your mind?
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Our Bible Study to get ready for the Youth Gathering told us that we were created to praise God. Isn’t that kind of... self-centered on
God’s part?
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How come the "Passion" movie didn’t show more of the good things Jesus did?
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You saw an early showing of the Passion of the Christ movie. What did you think?
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What will we look like in heaven?
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There’s nothing wrong with Ouija boards is there?
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Are there different ‘levels’ in heaven - and hell?
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How can I know God’s will for my life?
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What is Rally Day? It’s just for kids isn’t it?
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Will we know people when we get to heaven?
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Have you told them that?
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Why don’t we have “kneelers” in the pews for praying?
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Can Jewish people believe in Jesus? I have a friend who says that he can’t believe in Jesus, because Jews don’t do that.
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What do you make of the finding of this tomb with Jesus’ name on it ?
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Questions About Lent
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What will heaven be like?
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What about Halloween?
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What are your thoughts on this email?
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What is this “Network” thing we are doing in January?
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I feel really guilty for believing in Jesus and taking his forgiveness and eternal life, but then not doing the other stuff he wants. What
does God think about that?
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We need to always seek to do what God wants us to do... but how do we know what God wants us to do?
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Does God Really Love Us?
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Don’t you think it’s horrible that “Happy Holidays” has replaced ”Merry Christmas”?
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What about the "gift" God gave us at Christmas?
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How Well Do You Know The Christmas Story?
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Someone I talked to said the Bible isn’t reliable, because even the Gospel writers couldn’t agree on the details of Jesus’ life. Is that
true?
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Have I really forgiven someone if I say they are forgiven, but don’t feel like it?
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You always say after Confession that God has forgotten the sins we’ve confessed and that we should forget them too. But there are
some things you just can’t forget - there are constant reminders of them in my life.
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What’s your favorite Bible passage or story?
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What’s a "Faith-Promise?"
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Are mediums real?
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What do you think of the Terri Schiavo situation?
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God will forgive them, won’t He?
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Someone told me that an excuse is really a lie. Is that true?
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Do you think we’re coming to the end of the world?
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What do you think of the election?
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Why haven’t we had Ash Wednesday yet - isn’t it always in February?
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Where does the Easter bunny fit in - and why does he deliver the eggs?
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Why do we have to do this?
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Are there dinosaurs in the Bible?
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The Book of Revelation says people will be forced to get a special identifying mark and without it they won’t be able to buy or sell.
They told me this is one of the signs that the end of the world is coming. Is that true? (And is it true that there are plans in our
country to do that)?
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How can the demons believe?
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How do you get rid of demons?
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Some questions about "Forgiving."
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What did you think of The DaVinci Code?
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Why do the Jehovah Witnesses believe that only 144,000 people (the first 144,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses) will get to heaven?
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I know God created the universe, but after seeing the recent front-page article in Time magazine, I’m wondering if he could have use
the process of evolution to do it?
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Why do we change colors on the altar and pulpit - green, red, purple, etc...?
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Why do we say we believe in the holy catholic church in the baptismal rite?
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What is your vision for Living Word - as it relates to a new building?
•
Where did the practice of cremation start and is it ok for Christians?
•
What exactly is "Building Bridges to Creating a Healthy, Caring Community"?
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How do we know the Bible is real?
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How can the Bible say that Jesus was with God the Father at the creation of the world but also tells us that He was born in Bethlehem
long after the world was created?
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What do you think about Jesse (Ventura)?
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Why does it sometimes seem that God doesn't answer our prayers?
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Do We Turn Into Angels When We Die?
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How do pastors get a "call," and what do you do when you get one?
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Questions about God’s calling (continued)
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How do they decide when Easter is going to be each year?
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Can you answer some questions about angels?
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What happens to us after death (until judgment day)?
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What is Advent?
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Why do we celebrate Christmas in winter when Jesus was born in the spring?
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Where did the tradition of the Christmas tree get started ?
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What exactly is this "40 Days of Purpose"?
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How are we doing on finding land for the new mission congregation?
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What was accomplished at the first Vision Planning session?
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So, now that it’s been decided to merge New Life and Shepherd of the Hills, what’s next?
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Was Jesus a Republican or a Democrat?
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I hear we’re getting a DCO intern. What’s a "DCO"?
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What’s going on with the new mission church? I haven’t heard much about it.
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What does the book of Revelation have to say about Y2K ?
Lessons from Pastor David to help you in everyday living:
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THE HOME AS FAITH TEACHER
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WAYS TO LOVE YOUR CHILDREN
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Lessons For the Church from the book of Acts
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Lessons from Bible Guys
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Give Your Spiritual Life A Lift...