Episode 569 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. How do I know without a doubt that a choice I am making is God’s choice for me? It really feels like I am talking and listening to a wall 99% of the time. 2. I believe in the Trinity and in Jesus Christ, but what confuses me is that the Bible also says that “no one knows the day or hour” of Jesus’s return except for the Father. If Jesus is God, wouldn’t he know? 3. Does the bible say anything about the mistreatment of wild or domestic animals? I see so much of that going on today and was wondering if the bible addresses this. 4. I recently have become visually impaired. I have also heard that Jesus’s miracle of giving sight to the blind man was only symbolic of giving the man understanding to the gospel. What do you think?   Resources The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything by Fred Sanders Offers Request our latest special offers here or call 1-833-THE-CORE (833-843-2673) to request them by phone. Want to partner with us in our work here at Core Christianity? Consider becoming a member of the Inner Core.      

Episode 568 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. What is the ministry of reconciliation in 2 Corinthians 5? Is it a specific kind of ministry or is it more broad than that? 2. I am an athlete and I am getting older in age and am wondering if the bible has anything to say about hormone therapy or other forms of supplementation? 3. When Jesus is tempted by Satan in the desert, his answers to Satan’s questions do not really seem like answers. Could you explain what Jesus’s answers mean? 4. I was wondering about why it’s so hard to live the Christian life? It is one thing when you first really submit your life to God, you’re walking with the Lord, and you’re seriously loving Him for the first time, but then you begin to feel mentally attacked and you feel discouraged. How do we live through those attacks? It’s hard to live like that. When you want to try to do what’s right– and I’m doing what’s right, I stay in the Word– but the discouragement keeps coming. How do you keep going?

Episode 567 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. As a pastor during COVID and an election year, what are some of the biggest challenges facing the church right now? How are you facing these challenges? 2. In Ephesians 2:8, is it grace or faith that has been gifted by God? 3. Is there any truth in the idea that “the ends justify the means”? If so, does it every apply to the Christian life? 4. Based off of Israel invading Canaan, were the colonists justified to conquer the natives in the Americas? 5. If you are without transportation, is it acceptable to baptize oneself?   Resources The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb: Searching for Jesus’ Path of Power in a Church that Has Abandoned It by Jamin Goggin Introducing Covenant Theology by Michael Horton Offers Request our latest special offers here or call 1-833-THE-CORE (833-843-2673) to request them by phone. Want to partner with us in our work here at Core Christianity? Consider becoming a member of the Inner Core.      

Episode 566 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. Should pastors preach on current events more? I have seen some pastors not mention current events in their sermons and others seemingly construct their sermons around what is happening in the news. What are your thoughts? 2. The parable of the unjust steward in Luke 16 is difficult for me to understand. Is God applauding the unfaithful servant’s shrewdness? 3. How can Christians sometimes be so unkind? 4. I know that God is sovereign, and in light of the upcoming election I know that he will not be surprised by who wins. My question is about if God really chooses who is going to win. Daniel 2:21 says that, “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” It seems here that God appoints rulers over nations, but was this specific to the kings of the nations only during the time of the Old Testament, or does this verse apply to the world and its rulers today? 5. Is Allah just another name for God?   Resources Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community by Dietrich Bonhoeffer Devoted to God: Blueprints for Sanctification by Sinclair B. Ferguson Offers Request our latest special offers here or call 1-833-THE-CORE (833-843-2673) to request them by phone. Want to partner with us in our work here at Core Christianity? Consider becoming a member of the Inner Core.

Episode 565 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. There is a church in our town that has an alternative event for kids to attend instead of trick-or-treating. What do you think about these types of alternative events? 2. Is it ok for Christians to eat pork now, or is it something we should still refrain from like in the Old Testament? 3. What does the word “repent” really mean? Does it mean to ‘stop sinning,’ or does it mean, ‘a change of mind leading to a changed life’? 4. Are the Sons of God in Genesis 6 angels? In the Gospel of Matthew it seems to indicate that angels cannot participate in things like marriage and sex. I do not put too much thought or stock into this, but I am wondering what you all think about this view of angels being the “Sons of God” in Genesis 6.   Resources True vs. False Repentance: What’s The Difference? by Adriel Sanchez Offers Request our latest special offers here or call 1-833-THE-CORE (833-843-2673) to request them by phone. Want to partner with us in our work here at Core Christianity? Consider becoming a member of the Inner Core.

Episode 564 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. In Deuteronomy 29, when it says that Israel served and worshiped “gods whom they had not known and whom he had not allotted to them,” does this suggest that there are other spiritual beings that are lower gods? 2. Should we repeatedly ask for the same things in prayer? 3. Does God ever say thank you in response to us when we are obedient to walk in good works, or is God too awesome and important to say ‘thank you’ to his servants? 4. In 1 Samuel 28, Saul has a strange encounter with the “Witch of Endor.” From my understanding, Saul consults this woman to summon the spirit of prophet Samuel in order to receive advice against the Philistines in battle. Does this sequence prove that there are ghosts or spirits of dead people that can actually be summoned?   Resources 9 FAQS About Angels and Demons Offers Request our latest special offers here or call 1-833-THE-CORE (833-843-2673) to request them by phone. Want to partner with us in our work here at Core Christianity? Consider becoming a member of the Inner Core.

Episode 563 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. When did the Catholic teaching of purgatory come into existence? 2. When Paul talks about “principalities and powers” in Ephesians 6, is he only referring to spiritual warfare, or is he also referring to worldly forces of power? 3. Lately people have been saying that the word “homosexual” was never in the bible and was translated to pedophile but was later changed. Meaning that being gay isn’t a sin and the bible was actually talking about pedophelia the entire time. How would you address this argument? 4. When the Bible says that a deacon/pastor can only be the husband of one wife, does that mean he cannot be divorced and remarried or does that mean he should only have one wife at a time?   Resources 10 Things You Need to Know About the Bible and Homosexuality by Michael Horton On the Road with Saint Augustine: A Real-World Spirituality for Restless Hearts by James K. A. Smith Offers Request our latest special offers here or call 1-833-THE-CORE (833-843-2673) to request them by phone. Want to partner with us in our work here at Core Christianity? Consider becoming a member of the Inner Core.

Episode 562 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. My parents have recently converted to the Russian Orthodox church and they say that every other denomination has apostatized. I am not sure if I should believe them or if I should believe what everyone else seems to say. Can you help? 2. What does the bible mean when it talks about the anti-Christ. Is it a spirit or a person? 3. Ananias and Sapphira got the “death penality” from God, but Moses, David, Paul, and others who seem to have actually murdered did not get this judgment. Why is that? 4. Do exorcisms still happen today? I have heard that certain miraculous things have ceased to take place after the ministry of Jesus and the apostles. Are exorcisms included in those things that have ceased?   Resources The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way by Michael Horton Can Christians Celebrate Halloween? by Adriel Sanchez Offers Request our latest special offers here or call 1-833-THE-CORE (833-843-2673) to request them by phone. Want to partner with us in our work here at Core Christianity? Consider becoming a member of the Inner Core.

Episode 561 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. I’m relatively new in my serious walk with Christ and I’m working on figuring out this new belief system. With that said, I’m not too sure what the scriptures say about man-run politics, how do Christians navigate engaging with those aspects of life, or is the area of church and state only a gray area? 2. A few questions about Luke 6:6-12. This was another “set-up” by the Pharisees about working on the Sabbath who were trying to catch Jesus working. Why did the Pharisees consider healing as a “work” of Jesus? Was this an occupation that had to be refrained from? 3. How do we get our names written in the Lamb’s book of life? 4. With Halloween and other autumnal festivities approaching, I am specifically wondering about the celebration of “The Day of the Dead,” or “Día de Muertos.” I can see why some Christians would be upset by some of the rituals associated with the celebration, but on the other hand it doesn’t seem like special remembrance of family members who have died is such a bad practice. I am curious what you all think about the celebration, and what your advice to Christians is as we encounter Día de Muertos decorations. 5. Does Hebrews 6:4-6 teach that someone who has apostatized cannot come back to the faith?   Resources Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work by Timothy Keller The Gospel-Driven Life: Being Good News People in a Bad News World by Michael Horton Offers Request our latest special offers here or call 1-833-THE-CORE (833-843-2673) to request them by phone. Want to partner with us in our work here at Core Christianity? Consider becoming a member of the Inner Core.

Episode 560 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. Can we take communion at home, and are we meant to do this once a week? 2. Is there a biblical mandate to be a single-issue voter? It seems that neither political party cares about all image bearers and we end up having to choose between one or the other. 3. I know I should forgive, but how do I forgive? What is that process like? 4. Based on Matthew 6:15, is the forgiveness of our sins conditional on whether we forgive others?   Resources We Become What We Worship: A Biblical Theology of Idolatry Book by Gregory K. Beale You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit by James K. A. Smith Offers Request our latest special offers here or call 1-833-THE-CORE (833-843-2673) to request them by phone. Want to partner with us in our work here at Core Christianity? Consider becoming a member of the Inner Core.