Do people in heaven know what is happening on earth?

What do departed loved ones know of life on earth, particularly about the lives of those they have left?

Departed believers are fully conscious (Luke 16:24-26;" TARGET="_blank">Luke 16:24-26; 2 Corinthians 12:2)." TARGET="_blank">2 Corinthians 12:2). In the Revelation, the redeemed in heaven (apart from John, the prophet) seem only to be aware of events on earth through what takes place in heaven (Revelation 7:11, 13; 11:15, 16; 19:1-4)" TARGET="_blank">Revelation 7:11, 13; 11:15, 16; 19:1-4) In chapter 11: 17, they hear that God has taken the kingdoms of this world. From Scripture they know the accompanying events (verse 18). They are aware of what God is doing. The same is true of Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration discussing with the Lord "His decease..." They were not present however when Peter blundered. In Luke 15:7," TARGET="_blank">Luke 15:7, 10 the Lord teaches that those in the presence of God share in the joy of sinners' being saved.

These passages suggest that departed loved ones are fully occupied with events in heaven. Although they don't know the daily events transpiring on earth, they are aware of what God is doing, what brings glory to Christ, and what brings joy to the heart of God. That includes many events in our lives - and excludes many, as well.

D. Oliver

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Can people come back from the dead to talk to us?

Recently a friend asked about a message he heard from a church where the preacher claimed he asked God to take his life and let him visit the other side of death for the purpose of returning to tell his congregation what awaits on the other side.

The result was that the pastor saw certain members of his congregation suffering in hell because of certain errors in their life. Does God allow his servants to come back to life to warn others of dangers ahead?

Rather than debate whether or not God is capable of resurrecting a person (which of course he has done in the past and will do again in the future), it is wise to look into the scripture to see whether God will resurrect someone for the purpose of preaching to others.

Luke 16" TARGET="_blank">Luke 16 is quite clear about this situation. Lazarus and his rich friend both have died. Lazarus is in heaven and the rich man in hell. The rich man asks for Lazarus to go back to his house and warn his brothers not to come to this awful place. Abraham refuses to send Lazarus because the brothers already have the Bible at their disposal – “Moses and the prophets.” God uses his word to warn people, not appearances of dead people.

Luke 16:25-31" TARGET="_blank">Luke 16:25-31 But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. (26) And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.' (27) And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house-- (28) for I have five brothers--so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' (29) But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' (30) And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' (31) He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'"

Also consider that God has already warned us about hell in his word. If a messenger from beyond the grave would return to tell us about his experience, it should be exactly as Jesus described in Luke 16" TARGET="_blank">Luke 16 which makes the messenger unnecessary. If the witness tells of details that do not agree with the Bible, he is a false messenger and should be rejected.

We are not left to imagine what might be the final end of a person in Hell. Revelation 20:11-15" TARGET="_blank">Revelation 20:11-15 tells us that every one dead in sins will be raised, judged and then hurled into the Lake of Fire.

Additionally to this example, prayer directed toward the dead is strictly forbidden. Deuteronomy 18:11" TARGET="_blank">Deuteronomy 18:11 says that anyone who “consults with the dead” is “detestable to the Lord.” King Saul went to a witch to talk to the departed spirit of the prophet Samuel which lead to his death “because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance” (1 Samuel 28:1-25;" TARGET="_blank">1 Samuel 28:1-25; 1 Chronicles 10:13-14)." TARGET="_blank">1 Chronicles 10:13-14).

Shad Sluiter
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What is the meaning of the cup and bread in remembering the Lord?

What is the meaning of the cup and bread in remembering the Lord?

In First Corinthians chapter ten, the significance of the emblems forms the basis of Paul’s teaching about separation from evil outside the assembly. Believers in an assembly must maintain separation from all that rivals the claims of God. In chapter 11, the emblems particularly relate to Paul’s teaching of behavior within the assembly. Believers’ behavior must be consistent with the holy privilege of remembering the Lord. The meaning of the emblems in chapter 11 is clearly related to the blood of Christ, symbolized in the cup, and the physical body of Christ, symbolized in the bread. This conforms to the Lord’s teaching at the institution of the Supper in the Matthew, Mark, and Luke’s Gospels.

Chapter 10 teaches the significance of partaking of these emblems. By drinking from the cup, believers express their relationship to God. By breaking bread, they express their relationship with one another.

(For a fuller explanation, see Q & A Forum, November, 2000).

D. Oliver
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Free sunday school curriculum

The Sunday school curriculum provided here for free contains several parts:

1. Curriculum planning

First you should start with a curriculum planner and teaching helper. The section titled Sunday School Helper is an online book with ideas for organizing a lesson, creating a learning unit, maintaining discipline in the classroom, selecting an appropriate Bible verse, reaching children with various learning styles and more.

2. Lessons plans and Activities.

Lesson plans - A quick-start to help study a passage and important talking points for your next class.
Printable activities - Crafts, foldable paper models, worksheets, PowerPoint presentations and other items to make your lesson more interesting and active.

3. Free Sunday School Bible Verse Puzzle Maker.

You can turn a Bible vese or chapter into a Sunday School class activity in a 3 mouse clicks.

4. Online Study Bible

Bible search, commentary, dictionary and other tools to help you prepare a lesson for your next class.

5. Newsletter for Sunday School Teachers - The Encourager

Get a weekly class activity in your mailbox. There are two options for the Encourager:

These are free resources. "Freely ye have received, freely give." Matthew 10:8" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 10:8

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Should all the men in an assembly share in preaching the gospel?

Should all the men in an assembly share in preaching the gospel?

No. All believers are responsible to "do the work of an evangelist" (2 Timothy 4:5)" TARGET="_blank">2 Timothy 4:5) by speaking to individuals as the believers did in Acts 11:19, 20." TARGET="_blank">Acts 11:19, 20. Some have a knack for this, although they may not be effective public speakers. The risen Lord provides evangelists (Ephesians 4:11)" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 4:11) for the work of the gospel. Since God oversees the operation of gifts (1 Corinthians 12:6)," TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 12:6), we can be certain He employs only those He has enabled for this important work.

Testimonies of conversion are one means of declaring the gospel (Acts 22)." TARGET="_blank">Acts 22). Some who may not be effective "preachers" can effectively tell how they were saved.

The priesthood of all believers does not imply that all the males should take their turn "preaching." On the other hand, fairness should be a part of all assembly decisions (1 Timothy 5:21)," TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 5:21), including selecting speakers for gospel meetings. Wise elders look for potential in a speaker and give opportunity for the Spirit of God to develop that ability by its use. At the same time, they will be careful not to discourage a less capable brother ("a smoking flax shall He not quench," Isaiah 42:3)." TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 42:3).

D. Oliver
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Are overseers failing to do their work because of the burden of deacon work they assume?

Are overseers failing to do their work because of the burden of deacon work they assume?

Overseers bear a heavy responsibility, given to them by the Lord (Acts 20:28;" TARGET="_blank">Acts 20:28; Heb 13:17)." TARGET="_blank">Heb 13:17). To handle God’s Word in a way that discourages them would displease the Lord (1Co 12:7)." TARGET="_blank">1Co 12:7). Overseers, sharing the same weaknesses that we all have, may unconsciously fall into counterproductive habits. Being able to step back and view their habits objectively could be helpful.

While qualifications for overseers are listed separately from those of deacons (1Ti 3:1-13)," TARGET="_blank">1Ti 3:1-13), this does not eliminate the possibility that an elder could also be a deacon. Since spiritual service is the primary responsibility of deacons (1Ti 3:9, 10)," TARGET="_blank">1Ti 3:9, 10), overseers who are "apt to teach" likely serve as deacons. The question, however, likely deals with deacon service noted by the apostles as serving tables (Acts 6:2)." TARGET="_blank">Acts 6:2).

The priority for overseers is protecting and shepherding the flock (Acts 20:28)." TARGET="_blank">Acts 20:28). If the Lord has given them this work, He will not also give them work that interferes with this service. He never presses us beyond our limits (1Co 10:13;" TARGET="_blank">1Co 10:13; Psa 103:14), but gives us the needed physical help to fulfill our responsibilities (1Ti 4:10," TARGET="_blank">1Ti 4:10, "Preserver of all . . ." JND).

Perhaps some overseers need to make adjustments in their scheduling. The shepherds need to "know well the face of thy flock" (Pro 27:23," TARGET="_blank">Pro 27:23, YLT), to visit with them, and to have appropriate food that will meet specific needs.

D. Oliver
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Was Adam alive before God breathed into him the breath of life?

Had the body of Adam physical life, before the Lord God “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life”? (See Genesis 2:7)." TARGET="_blank">Genesis 2:7).

I should consider such an idea most speculative. How do we know what interval, if any, occurred between the formation of Adam’s body and the inbreathing of the breath of life? There is no necessary thought of Adam’s body lying without breath, but even so, that would here prove nothing, for the body of a person who has just died has still the blood in it, but there is no life in the blood. James by the Spirit distinctly affirms that “the body without the spirit is dead” (James 3:26)," TARGET="_blank">James 3:26), therefore Adam’s body could not be alive before receiving the spirit. It is striking, but not surprising, how the Bible confirms true science, which are both products of the same divine Mind; but science is a very different thing from “scientists” self-styled, and their theories. Scientists used to make merry at the idea of a body made of the dust of earth. Now it has been discovered that the fourteen elementary substances said to be found in the dust of the earth, do occur also in the human body in greater or lesser quantities. The word for “breath” in Gen. 2." TARGET="_blank">Gen. 2. 7 is UeShãnij, a word only used of God: 2 Samuel 22:16" TARGET="_blank">2 Samuel 22:16 (blast); Job 4:9;" TARGET="_blank">Job 4:9; Job 32:8;" TARGET="_blank">Job 32:8; Job 33:4;" TARGET="_blank">Job 33:4; Isaiah 30:33," TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 30:33, etc.; or of man: 1 Kings 15:29;" TARGET="_blank">1 Kings 15:29; Job 26:4;" TARGET="_blank">Job 26:4; Isaiah 2:22;" TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 2:22; Isaiah 57:16," TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 57:16, and in contrast with animals—see Joshua 11:11, 14," TARGET="_blank">Joshua 11:11, 14, where “everything that breathed was slain”, but the cattle were left alive.

W.H.

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What does worship "in spirit" and "in truth" mean?

What is the Lord contrasting in John 4" TARGET="_blank">John 4: 23-24?

The Samaritan woman mentioned worship, pitting "this mountain" against Jerusalem, essentially saying, "That’s your religion; this is mine." The Lord then contrasted the revelation of God entrusted to the Jews with its absence among the Samaritans. Humanity must be enlightened by God in order to worship Him fittingly. "Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship" (verse 22). But the second movement of the Lord’s response addresses a void in both systems. Externalism, formalism, and ritualism must yield to worship from the spirits of men. Since God is spiritual in essence, He has been leading men from formal worship, as instituted under the Law, to the ultimate of His purpose, "true worshipers." In this age, the Father achieves an ultimate purpose in redemption: worshippers who worship in spirit and in truth. Believers now worship in the heavenly sanctuary and, by the power of the Spirit, their redeemed spirits ("in spirit") offer worship in keeping with the full revelation of all God is, as revealed in the Word ("in truth"). This transcends sacrifices and means of worship that are neither rational (able to know God) nor spiritual.

D. Oliver
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Would assembly-sponsored summer camps be helpful?

Would assembly-sponsored summer camps be helpful?

The New Testament provides us with all the teaching God intended for the functioning and service of the local assembly. One cannot find any teaching or references to assembly-sponsored summer camps in Scripture. The primary activity in summer camps has been recreational, rather than spiritual. A number of such camps do have campfire gospel messages for the young people every evening. The campfire environment tends to have an emotional impact on young people. Unfortunately many children and teenagers, who have vacationed at church-sponsored summer camps, have made campfire professions which have turned out to be false. Such professions have often hindered them from coming to Christ until they have given up their false professions and admitted they were lost. It would be much safer and more profitable to hold daily children's meetings or Gospel meetings for teenagers in a manner that would reach their hearts and consciences rather than their emotions. Summer camps are very common in the evangelical, denominational religious world. God warns His people both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament of the danger of copying the practices of the religious world around us. This has always resulted in a gradual drift from God's plan for His people and eventual discipline from the hand of God.

A. Joyce

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How does the Holy Spirit work differently in the New Testament compared to the Old Testament?

What is the difference in the Spirit's relationship to believers today as compared with Old Testament believers?

There is a distinction between relations of the Spirit to men before and after Pentecost. This is evident from the Lord's teaching in John 14:16, 17," TARGET="_blank">John 14:16, 17, "He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever... He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." So in the old dispensation the Spirit was with believers, in the present dispensation He is in them.

Before Pentecost the Spirit was at work fitting men for special service or testimony to accomplish the purpose of God. The Spirit came only on certain individuals (Numbers 11:29)." TARGET="_blank">Numbers 11:29). Bezaleel was filled with the Spirit of God for the work of the Tabernacle (Exodus 35:30,31)." TARGET="_blank">Exodus 35:30,31). "The Spirit of the Lord came upon David" (1 Samuel 16:13)." TARGET="_blank">1 Samuel 16:13). Verse 14 of that passage states, "But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul." David prayed that the Holy Spirit would not be taken from him (Psalm 51:11)." TARGET="_blank">Psalm 51:11). This indicates the transient nature of His presence prior to Pentecost. In this age, He dwells permanently in all believers (John 14:17)." TARGET="_blank">John 14:17).

J. Abernathy

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