Questions
Passages that Point Us Toward an Answer . . . or the right questions
Eph 1 22-23
God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Eph 4:15-16
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Heb 12
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Perhaps the right questions are not those that focus on what, but on Who? In other words, are we Christians primarily because we believes a correct set of ideas, or because we are living in response to a person?
What are the questions that consume your attention?
Are they "what" questions or "who" questions?
Are you concerned about being "right" or living in authentic responsiveness to the God Who loves us?
Are you more focused on what brings us anxiety, or the Person who invites us to look to Him and then live according to the pattern He invites us to live?
What consumes your attention?
Passages for further reflection
QuestionsNot every one likes these you know.Sometimes we'd rather deal with answers. At least that's what we claim . . . or what we may think that we want . . .. . . unless of course we don't like the answers. Sometimes we might even be tempted to start with the answers and then work backwards to the questions!
Questions can be troublesome. They cause us to think, to probe, to evaluate, to be open to possible outcomes we might not expect, or which might surprise or even change us! Answers are like finishing a sentence, questions are like beginning one. Which are you more comfortable with?
Certainly there are lots of questions facing us today as Christians, and as a church. The question is, which of these are the most central . . . the most critical . . . those that we cannot afford not to address? What might the implications be for asking those questions well and following where those questions might lead? What question or questions might Jesus ask you if He were to pose it/them to to you today?
This week Pastor Jon invites us to explore perhaps one of the most profound questions ever raised. (See the scripture passage to the right). If you would like to listen to his comments in the sermon again, or perhaps for the first time, you can access our sermon library by clicking here.
Matthew 16 (TNIV)
13When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.