What are some examples of deacon work?

Those whom the Lord calls to preach His word are deacons (Acts 12:25)." TARGET="_blank">Acts 12:25). Those who have regular responsibility to preach the gospel or arrange the speakers for assembly gospel meetings are deacons. Those who have primary responsibility to open and teach the believers in assembly Bible Readings are doing deacon work. A man entrusted with the responsibility of superintending an assembly’s Sunday School work serves as a deacon. Sunday School teachers have a spiritual responsibility for imparting divine truth to young people (as do the children’s mother and father), but the structure of the Sunday School is more like an extension of the home than an assembly meeting, so I question if Sunday School teachers are deacons in the spiritual sphere addressed in 1 Timothy 3." TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 3. A brother or sister may be entrusted with the responsibility of arranging a dinner to take care of believers attending an assembly gathering. In that case, they are deacons in the Christian sphere, as was Phebe, but not in the sphere described in 1 Timothy 3." TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 3.

D. Oliver
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How much alcohol should a Christian drink before feeling that he has gone too far?

How much alcohol should a Christian drink before feeling that he has gone too far?

A simple answer is that a believer should avoid alcoholic drinking in a social setting. Drinking alcoholic beverages can become a habit and lead to drunkenness. The first time wine is mentioned in the scriptures is in connection with Noah, "And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent" (Genesis 9:21)." TARGET="_blank">Genesis 9:21).

Drunkenness and impurity are associated, as wise King Solomon points out in Proverbs 23:29-35." TARGET="_blank">Proverbs 23:29-35. Genesis 19:32" TARGET="_blank">Genesis 19:32 gives further evidence of this. Wine in itself is not condemned in scripture; however, it is clear that drunkenness is a very serious sin (1 Corinthians 5:9)." TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 5:9).

Paul exhorts Timothy to "use a little wine" as a medicine, not a beverage. He limits the amount to "a little" (1 Timothy 5:23)." TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 5:23). "Be not drunk with wine, ...but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18)." TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 5:18).

What about a Christian's testimony before unbelievers to whom he has spoken about Christ when they see that believer drinking?

J. Abernathy

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What does submit mean for wives in Ephesians 5?

What does the submission of wives entail, Ephesians 5:22" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 5:22?

Verse 21 teaches voluntary subjection one to the other in the fear of God. One of the manifestations of this (verse 22) is the (Christian) wife's being submissive to her (Christian) husband as unto the Lord. This indicates that the wife submits (Greek: hypotasso) in loyal subjection (which includes obedience) to her husband, even as the Church is subject to Christ as Head (verse 23). The submissive wife acknowledges her husband's role of CONTROL and RESPONSIBILITY. "Everything" (verse 24) is limited by Lordship based on God's Word. This subjection is not slavish fear of a despotic husband but willing submission. The teaching in no way implies inferiority, but rather Divine intention.

A. Hull

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Is the role of an elder's wife as significant as her husbands?

Is her role just as significant as her husband’s?

Yes. Eve was equally responsible for the work entrusted to them on creation’s sixth day (Genesis 1:28)." TARGET="_blank">Genesis 1:28). Her role in fulfilling that work was different, but inseparable from Adam’s role. Competition between a man and his wife is unbecoming; marriage should reflect the wonderful union between Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:32)." TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 5:32). Each rejoices in the usefulness of the other and supports and encourages the other in fulfilling God’s will.

A husband who fails to appreciate the significance of his wife’s role does not understand God’s intention in his marriage. Having responsibility as an overseer never exempts a man from his responsibilities as a husband. He is equally accountable to the Lord for both roles. Caring for and nurturing his wife (Eph 5:29)" TARGET="_blank">Eph 5:29) will express the kindness, sensitivity, and concern that should mark his shepherding work in the assembly (see 1 Thessalonians 2:7)." TARGET="_blank">1 Thessalonians 2:7). In caring for his marriage, he will be better equipped to "take care of the church of God" (1 Timothy 3:5)." TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 3:5).

D. Oliver

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Must discipleship be "radical"?

Must discipleship be "radical"?

Yes. The world, the flesh, and the devil unitedly oppose total commitment to Christ. Devotion that consistently follows Christ, learns of Him, and produces likeness to Him must be all or nothing. Mary’s alabaster box of spikenard was broken; no part of its precious contents could be retained for any other use (Mark 14:3)." TARGET="_blank">Mark 14:3). "Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:33)." TARGET="_blank">Luke 14:33). On at least two other occasions, Luke points out that discipleship involves "forsaking all" (Luke 5:11;" TARGET="_blank">Luke 5:11; Luke 18:28)." TARGET="_blank">Luke 18:28). Discipleship is immediate, total submission to Christ. Anything less robs the Lord of deserved honor and produces partial obedience at best.

Consider, however, Paul’s charging the Thessalonians to be occupied with their job, work diligently, and provide for their necessities (1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12)." TARGET="_blank">1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12). Radical obedience is not irresponsibility. It does not produce an irrational lifestyle. We express this radical obedience by consistent, wholehearted submission to all the claims of Christ.

D. Oliver
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Is confidence of value in the service of God?

Is confidence of value in the service of God?

Self-confidence is a plague in divine service (Jeremiah 17:5)." TARGET="_blank">Jeremiah 17:5). When a believer relies on his presumed ability, his service for God can produce nothing (John 15:5)." TARGET="_blank">John 15:5). When a believer, because He feels inadequate, does not serve in a work God has given him, he too is a liability and equally self-reliant.

Confidence in God is indispensable. When a believer - parent, preacher, spouse, or elder - knows that God has given him a responsibility, he should have confidence that God will provide the grace and ability to accomplish the divine intention for that work (Judges 6:14)." TARGET="_blank">Judges 6:14). Could a believer wish for more, or less, than that?

D. Oliver
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Is the living bread from heaven, the same as the bread of the church communion?

Is Paul’s reference to the body and blood of Christ related to John 6:53-56" TARGET="_blank">John 6:53-56?

In John 6:53" TARGET="_blank">John 6:53 and 54, eating the flesh of the Son of Man and drinking His blood are necessary and sufficient conditions for having eternal life. That is describing what took place once; at the moment of conversion, we took the death of Christ to ourselves and received all its benefits. In verse 56, feeding on Christ and His death is characteristic of all who are saved. This, linked by some to Israel’s initial and continued eating of the Passover, is individual. "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:7)." TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 5:7). Our redemption is individual, as is our appropriation of the Lamb. The annual Passover shares the feature of remembrance with the Lord’s Supper, but, although instituted at the Passover, it does not replace the Passover or fulfill it.

At the Lord’s Supper, the assembly unitedly blesses and partakes of the cup and bread, thus expressing the blessings they share. Being a corporate act, it is therefore distinct from what the Passover expresses and from the personal communion of which the Lord speaks in John 6:56." TARGET="_blank">John 6:56.

In addition, John 6" TARGET="_blank">John 6 speaks of eating in a spiritual sense, 1 Corinthians 10" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 10 of eating physically.

D. Oliver
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Should a sister meet with the elders to discuss doctrinal issues?

Should a sister meet with the elders to discuss doctrinal issues?

The general statement regarding sisters is, "Let them ask their husbands at home" (1 Corinthians 14:35)." TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 14:35). In some cases, the elders could all meet to teach the sister privately from the Scriptures; however, generally it would seem best to discuss the issue with the sister’s husband (where this is appropriate or possible). Shepherds, though, are responsible to shepherd all the sheep (Acts 20:28)," TARGET="_blank">Acts 20:28), whether male or female.

If, however, the question implies a sister’s meeting with the elders to correct them, instruct them, or direct them, this is in direct violation of Hebrews 13:17," TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 13:17, "Obey your leaders, and be submissive" (JND). Further, 1 Timothy 2:12," TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 2:12, "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man," clearly opposes a sister’s teaching or directing the elders. "Entreating"them " as a father" (1 Timothy 5:1)" TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 5:1) would be an acceptable approach. Priscilla taught Apollos, but that is not relevant to this issue, since she was in her home and acted privately and in conjunction with her husband.

If the sister has doctrinal concerns, she is responsible to resolve them with her husband or father

(in the minority of cases where neither of these is an acceptable altemative, she could receive the private help of a couple of overseers). If she and her husband agree on this doctrinal issue, he can discuss the matter with the overseers. If, on the other hand, they disagree, her submission to him would keep her from overriding his judgment. If, after seeking help from a "multitude of counselors" (Proverbs 11:14; 24:6)," TARGET="_blank">Proverbs 11:14; 24:6), she feels responsible before God to express her concern, she could present to the elders a calm, respectful statement of disagreement.

D. Oliver
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Will the Lord recognize married couples as married when they are in heaven?

Will the Lord recognize married couples as married when they are in heaven?

Our unmarried state in resurrection doesn’t mean that marriages on earth will have no effect on us for eternity. Just as experiences in the lives of single believers refine them and provide opportunities for spiritual faithfulness, which the Lord will reward at the Bema, so the experiences of marriage will have an eternal impact on a believer’s reward and in the coming kingdom. At the judgment seat of Christ, the Lord will review how a husband has fulfilled his responsibility to love his wife (Ephesians 5:33" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 5:33a) and how a wife has fulfilled her responsibility to respect her husband (v 33b ESV). That will reveal the results of our response to Biblical teaching, even behind closed doors.

D. Oliver

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Can Atheists Disprove that God Exists?

While atheists can try to give evidence that God does not exist, they cannot disprove that God exists. Similarly, even though theists can give evidence that God does exist, we cannot prove that He does exist. Despite this, a very good case can be built that shows that it is highly irrational to say that God does not exist.

Atheists have a difficulty if they want to try to show that God does not exist in that it is much easier to show that something does exist rather than that it does not exist. Pretend that I have told you many things about my supposed friend George yet you have never seen or spoken to him. In fact, the only reason you know about George is because I told you about him. You have to decide for yourself if you will believe what I say. I can tell you about George until your ears fall off, but it ultimately comes down to your personal decision whether you choose to believe that George exists or not.

This is the same thing with God. Some people—such as myself—have a true friendship with God. It would seem ridiculous to you if I tried to convince you that your best friend didn’t exist. Because I have a friendship with God, it seems ridiculous to me that someone would say that God doesn’t exist. But the great thing about God is that I don’t have to prove Him to you, He speaks for Himself in many different ways.

One way that God shows us He is real is through creation. As Psalm 19:1" TARGET="_blank">Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork”. His glory can be seen in that even though we humans think we are so important, we are but a pale blue dot in comparison to the rest of the universe. Our world barely makes a mark in the solar system, and there is so much out there that we don’t know.

And then our minds can once again be amazed when we consider the complexity of the smallest things in our universe. Scientists used to consider the atom the smallest thing in the universe, but now we know that atoms are merely the beginning. When before we thought we knew everything there was to know, now we have just started to understand how much stuff there is that we don’t understand about how the universe works. Something of this complexity must have a Creator.

Another way in which He speaks to us is through the Bible. It is in the Bible that we read that God loves us but hates our sin. He loves the person (John 3:16," TARGET="_blank">John 3:16, Romans 5:8)," TARGET="_blank">Romans 5:8), but is unable to allow the sin into Heaven (Revelation 21:27)." TARGET="_blank">Revelation 21:27). It is in the Bible that we read about the life of Jesus and how He died to pay for sin (1 Peter 2:24," TARGET="_blank">1 Peter 2:24, 2 Corinthians 5:21)." TARGET="_blank">2 Corinthians 5:21). God tells us in the Bible that “the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7" TARGET="_blank">1 John 1:7 ESV).

But perhaps the most direct way in which God spoke to us is by His Son. The Son of God actually came down from Heaven and lived the life of a human from birth until death (John 1:14," TARGET="_blank">John 1:14, Hebrews 1:2)." TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 1:2). Many of His actions are recorded in the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) all the way from His birth to His death to His resurrection and return to Heaven. This God-man is not a mere imagination of a human author; He actually lived and died on this earth.

God has shown Himself to us in many ways, now it is the responsibility of each person to choose. We must each choose to either believe what God says about Himself or to reject it. But please, consider the evidence for yourself—in light of even these few items, how can someone rationally deny that God exists?

Anthony Elliott

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