Q&A #117 - Ostriches, talking sex with your kids, Purity culture, masturbation and LOTS on Innerancy

1. Does Brock actually have an ostrich in the basement?
2. Any advice on navigating the topic of sexuality with kids as they grow?
3. What is everyone's take on church "purity culture" now that we have a decade or two to reflect on its pros and cons
4. The Bible doesn't say much about masturbation, given it is an almost universal topic, and the church has varying opinions on it from "never ok" to "never an issue". What is your opinion?
5. Feedback on Innerancy


* Scriptures for reference in question 5
The bible does in fact specifically claim to be “Beyond Perfection” and “Flawless”, Psalm 119:96, Psalm 12:6 and Proverbs 30:5 (See translation notes for each of these verses regarding the original Hebrew) There are many other verses that speak claims to It’s pervasive truthfulness, that it is eternal, unbreakable, and completely reliable. And that God is watching over it. As Jesus specifically stated that “[God’s] word is truth.” (Psalm 12:6&7, 19:7-9, 119:160, 119:89, 119:96 - Proverbs 30:5&6 - Isaiah 40:8 - Jeremiah 1:12 (original Hebrew) - Mathew 5:18, 24:35 - John 10:35, 17:17 - Second Peter 1:19) When you look at all of these and many more it is pervasively clear that the bible does in fact claim to be inerrant.

Q&A #116 - Beards, 3 days, inerrancy of scripture, sufficiency of scripture and marijuana

1. For those of you with Beards: Have you ever had an urge to have fine oil poured on your head which flows down your beard? (Psalm 133:2) If yes, have you acted on your urge? If no, then do you need to repent of your unbiblical attitude? 
2. Why did Jesus have to be dead for three days?
3. What is the definition of “the inerrancy of scripture” - do you believe in this?
4. What is the definition of “the sufficiency of scripture” - do you believe in this?
5. What is the churches stance on both medicinal and recreational marijuana usage?

Q&A #115 - Pigs vs Babies, Healing, and LOTS more on the Death Penalty

1. Who would win in a fight between a Pig and a baby
2. Kyle, please share your story of healing recently.
3. As a follow up to the death penalty question from last week, someone mentioned that it’s not ok to kill another person as an individual but that the government structures could allow for that. Even if that were the case, in the end it would still be an individual implementing the punishment so given that’s the case, do you think the heart of God would want the government to have the authority to essentially make someone kill someone else?
4. Concerning last week’s argument about what God thinks about the death penalty a couple of responses, thoughts and questions come to mind:
a.) The question “What does God think of the Death Penalty” clearly states Death as a penalty: therefore a penalty for something. If, as was implied last time, since Jesus has come and risen from the dead, that God is now against the death penalty, then why are we all still subject to the Death Penalty that entered the world when Adam sinned? (We all still die the first death, but not all are subject to the second death. The original question was clearly about the first death.)
b.) God told Noah (Genesis 9:6) “Whoever sheds human blood, by other humans must his blood be shed; for in God’s image God has made humankind.” Is not the God who told us this the same yesterday, today and forever?
c.) Although some of you seemed to stubbornly refuse to listen to Doug’s point about Romans 13, I wanted to add to Doug’s Point that at the time when Paul wrote “For there is no authority except by God’s appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God.” That the Roman government was the specific authorities Paul was referring to and they had the death penalty and it should also be noted that by todays western democratic standards the Roman government would have seemed corrupt, barbaric, oppressive, unjust etc. and yet Paul tells us that God appointed this Government, Death Penalty, corruption and all.
d.) It would seem that regardless of how some would think of what God “Feels” about the death penalty, that He (God) thought that the death penalty was absolutely the correct and appropriate course of action for Ananias and Sapphira (Acts Chapter 5) and also when some in Corinth were behaving badly during communion (1 Corinthians 11:30). And again God thought the death penalty was correct and appropriate when Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark. (2 Samuel 6:7)

Q&A #114 - Praying for government, Are we gods?, Images of God, Faith, and Capital Punishment

1. My question was Why don't we have corporate prayer in church for our govt and leaders? Especially since we are told to do so in Timothy and also with everything we are facing here with 2 elections etc. Not to pray a certain party wins but that God would Be glorified in our elections. Just wondering. Thanks!
2. In John 10:34, why does Jesus tell the Pharisees that it is written in the Law that "you are gods"?
3. Exodus 20:4  says -  “You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water below.”   So is all art and sculpture wrong?  (Except for maybe abstract art)
4. In John 4:46 to 4:53, Jesus’s response to the noble man’s request to come and heal his son seems strange or insensitive, can you explain Jesus’s response?
5. What does God think of the death penalty?

Q&A #113 - Pastor title unbiblical, Hippies/Cowboys, John and Prophecy

1.) -  In last weeks episode Doug stated that it’s not biblical to call everyone in leadership a pastor. 
a.) -  Why are you participating in (and perpetuating) something that is unbiblical; especially when you have the power to change it? (or do you not have the power to change it?). 
*Comment: I did not grow up in the church and had not heard the term pastor much at all, and very shortly after I was saved I was taught about the 5 rolls of leadership in Ephesians and what it meant to be a true Pastor.  A couple of years after that I moved to North America where virtually anyone on church payroll was referred to as a pastor:  it has always bugged me, especially as back home even those I knew who were clearly a true Pastor did not even call themselves a Pastor.
Question b.) -  Why not say for example, something like: - “I’m Doug and I head up the teaching ministry here at Living Springs”, or “I’m Blake and I’m on the pastoral care team here at Living Springs”

2.) - What do you think the connection is between hippies and cowboys  both wearing tassels on there clothing?

3.) - Why did Jesus look down from the Cross and ask John to take in his mother, why wouldn’t James or His other brothers be expected to look after their very own mother?

4.) - Following from last week’s Q&A podcast I read an article that pointed our the primary role of a prophet in the old testament was to call people to repentance, and to call out injustice, and had very little to do with foretelling the future.  I’ve heard people teach on 1 Corinthians 14:1 when we are to seek the gift of prophesy and they were always talking about the gift for foretelling the future and nothing about calling people to repentance or to call out injustice, (or that’s just the way I heard it.)  
Question: What does this gift of prophecy really look like?

Q&A #112 - Government, games night, David Pawson, Prophecy, Stoning and Last or Least

1. How can I pray for my government effectively?
2. When is the next ladies games night? How can we influence more events like that?
3. What are your views on the teachings of David Pawson? What ASK IT! struck me is what he said about Gods love,its only meant for believers.
4. Hey Is the gift of prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:1) different to the office of prophet? (Ephesians 4:11)  
5. But, (speaking of recent history), when a person claims to be a prophet and then the "prophecy’s" don’t happen, shouldn’t they be then put to death? (Deuteronomy 18:20)  
In 1 CORINTHIANS 15:9 the word “elachistos”  (ἐλάχιστος) which is often translated in this verse as “Least”.  But from what I can work out this word is usually translated as “Last” in most other locations it is used in the new testament.  I would think that the context of verses immediately before, 15:5 though to 15:8 would support a translation of “Last”.  What are your thoughts on this?

Q&A #111 - Unique experiences, true repentance, and people walking away from the faith

1.) - What’s something that each of you have done that probably no one else in Living Springs has done?
2.) - What is true repentance?  Is repentance something we are supposed to do in our own strength or does the Spirit empower us to repent?   John the baptist called people to repent before the spirit was given, but doesn’t Romans teach me that I can’t repent in my own strength.  
3.) - 35-ish years ago I knew quite a few people who were in ministry and seemed to flow in the gifts of the spirit and to genuinely love Jesus, but overt the years many of these people seem to have turned away from God, it’s very discouraging.  Have any of you noticed the same thing in people you knew from the past?  If so, how do you respond to this?

Q&A #110 - David, Worship Songs, Church conflict, song lyrics and marital disputes. - March 9, 2019

1. when David went to fight Goliath, he took 5 stones with him. If David had faith, why did he bring more than one stone?
2. Should worship leaders lead in the best key for their voice; or should worship songs be led in the key that is best for the majority of the congregation? 
3. What is the worst argument any of you have ever had with other members of church staff
4. I was recently listening to “Still” a fairly old Worship song by Hillsong (Reuben Morgan)
The Chorus goes: “When the oceans rise and thunders roar I will soar with you above the storm Father you are king over the flood I will be still and know you are God” The problem is that when the oceans rise and thunders roar in my life, I’m anything but “Still”, I would like to be, but I’m not.   Question: is it wrong to sing the song if it’s not true, or is it something to do with “speaking it in faith”?
5. My spouse has no problem at all with letting me know when I have irritated or offended them, but will fiercely berate me if I try to let them know if they have hurt or offended me. So what I try to do is apologise for what I do and never tell them when they hurt me; am I being loving or am I acting in fear?

Q&A #109 - March 9, 2019

1. Ok, an orca would totally beat a walrus but who do you think would win between an orca and a narwhal?
2. A few episodes ago you discussed praying I tongues for someone and asking for the interpretation. I couldn’t help but think that often I don’t know how or what to pray and my ability to pray in tongues according to romans 8:26&27 allows me to bypass my own will and thoughts and go directly to the “unspeakable yearnings and groaning too deep for utterance” type of prayer. Where I get out of the way in essence and better am in harmony with Gods will. So I guess I don’t agree that we should or could always get an interpretation just to pacify our need To know. Sometimes we can’t begin to know. Am I wrong in this type of intercession?
3. Just curious as to why catholics confess to a priest, instead of asking for forgiveness from God?
4. Can Christians lose their salvation under any condition? If so, doesn't that make their salvation conditional? Would their sins from before being born again somehow be un-forgiven in this case?

Q&A #108 - February 27, 2019

1. Are evil spirits/demons just fallen angels? If fallen angels are those that chose to go with Satan when he left heaven, is there anything in the Bible to indicate whether there are angels that still make that choice or did they all go when he did? Also, if there is no sin in heaven, how did Satan and the angels go against God? Will we have to fight our sin nature for eternity or is it different for angels because they’re not human?
2. Is there a difference between demonic possession and a spiritual stronghold? and Are the dealt with in the same way?
3. Have you heard of the idea of ‘God the mother’? If so, what are your thoughts on that?
4. My question is - does tything 10% to God include the church and all the charities a person gives to?
5. There are some people in our church that cannot hear the sermon ,due to hard of hearing’. A friend of mine came from a church that supplied head phones. Is this something our church would consider?
6. Who would win, an orca or a walrus?
7. How does Jesus walk on the water?
8. I was recently asked why we (Living Springs Church) don’t corporately pray The Lord’s Prayer? 
9. In the Lord’s Prayer, what is the reason that Jesus taught us to pray “Our Father” rather than “My Father”?