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In the book of Proverbs, it says a friend loves at all times. So, what does that really mean? Jesus called his followers “friends.” This should give us a sense of its importance. Marriage can and should be between friends. Brotherhood in Christ should be fertile ground for forging deep and powerful friendships. It turns out, there is a lot to this friendship thing. Fortunately, we have many biblical examples of what true friendship looks like and what principles need to be present to build a friendship that will not only flourish but become a vital contributor to faithfully following Jesus. As we will see, God created the concept of friendship for our happiness, wellbeing and fulfillment!
God and AbrahamOne of the most significant friendships in all of the Bible was also the most unique as well. Abraham, known as the father of the faithful, was referred to as a “friend” of God. How could this be? How could the God who is ruler over all of the vastness of time and space be a friend to this one teeny, tiny human being who was born into the broken world that Adam’s sin unleashed? The answer not only shows God’s greatness but also exemplifies the fundamentals of friendship. It is all about mutual respect. God saw and respected Abraham’s love and loyalty to Him, and He chose to work with Abraham in the development of His eternal plan for humanity. This unique friendship had love and loyalty working both ways for the good of all.
John the Baptist and JesusAnother not often talked about friendship in the Bible was between John the Baptist and Jesus. When John’s influence with the people was beginning to wane, he explained to some of his concerned followers that he saw himself as a bridegroom’s friend. He knew Jesus as the bridegroom was destined to receive the bride as his own. John expressed his great joy that his friend would be the one to be so honored. John was happy to decrease as Jesus would increase. Again, we have the deep loyalty of true friendship expressed in a truly powerful and proactive relationship.
Check out our February 17, 2025 podcast, “What Is True Friendship According to the Bible?” for more. We look at many of the building blocks true friendship needs to thrive. Then we address the perils of deep friendships that can destroy our lives instead of enhancing them. We also delve into the way Jesus described friendship. Interestingly, he did not address his disciples as “friends” until the end of his ministry. When he did, he lifted the meaning of friendship up to a whole new level. While we all have friends, we likely don’t have many friendships that live up to what Jesus taught. Join us as we learn how the give and take of true friendship really works so we can ultimately be better friends!
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Demons are scary. Not only are they mysterious, but they are also powerful beyond our human capacity. In our last episode, we mentioned scriptures that assure us they are restrained in “chains of darkness.” While this condition does limit them, they can still exert great influence on our world – and on individuals as well. We know Jesus cast many demons out of many people and some of his followers were able to do the same. The big question here has to do with whether or not such power and authority is still present within Christianity. Are we supposed to be casting out demons today? If so, who is supposed to be doing this and what scriptural instruction have we been given to follow?
Then and nowLooking through denominational Christian history over the last 1,900 year or so, we can observe a wide range of exorcism practices. From rituals, to prayers, to incense to relics, crosses and commands, these varied practices have widely been in use. The tragedy here is that until recently, there was not a deep understanding of mental health issues. Many of the “exorcisms” performed over the centuries ended up further harming those afflicted people instead of helping them. Looking at this in the most positive way, we see well-meaning efforts creating damage due to medical science ignorance.
How did Jesus do it?This brings us to the fundamental question about what Jesus’ actual instructions were regarding casting out demons. It is important to note that when he himself cast demons out, it was basic. His command simply brought them out. Every time. Interestingly, all of the other recorded examples of demons being cast out by his followers seem to follow that same pattern of simplicity. We have no record of any rituals, lengthy prayers or ceremony.
An amazing fact is the Greek word for “exorcist” is only used once in the New Testament. It may be surprising that this word actually means “one who binds by an oath (or spell) i.e. by implication an exorcist (conjurer).” This definition of the practice of exorcisms gives us a very different perspective on casting demons out than what Jesus did and taught. The sole use of this word was to describe some Jewish individuals in the Apostle Paul’s day who were in Ephesus. These men were posing as authorities regarding the casting out of demons and had their fraudulence dramatically exposed.
Check out our October 28, 2024 podcast, “Should Christians Be Involved in Exorcisms?” for more. We examine what Jesus instructed his followers to do and thoroughly look into one of the more dramatic examples of Jesus casting out demons. Through this example, we are able to glean an understanding of the powerful principles that cast demons away from their personal manipulation of individuals. We then directly address the question of what our role is and is not regarding demon possession today. Join us for this sobering and enlightening conversation. We follow the biblical path to knowing and handling our current-day Christian responsibilities.
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The subject of eternal torment can be volatile, as there are so many variations in its explanations. Aside from all of the questions and debates regarding the interpretation of Scripture, there’s one fundamental question that often gets overlooked: If a hell of torment is the ultimate consequence for sin, did God’s people always know that? Think about the power of this question. For the many Christians who see the eternal torture of hell as a deterrent from sin, wouldn’t God in His justice have given all of His people through all of history ample knowledge of this overwhelming consequence? Is the doctrine of eternal torment plainly revealed throughout the whole Bible? When do we see this teaching revealed in any ancient pagan belief systems? What is the history of hellfire?
The biblical account of Adam and Eve speaks volumes.
It is a straightforward way for us to understand how the principles of justice emanate from the mind and hand of God to the human race. God creates Adam and then Eve. He puts them into this garden to cultivate and gives them everything they need for a perfect and eternal life. God gives them the rules and plainly expresses that death is the penalty for disobedience. They disobey. They are removed from the Garden and the dying process begins. God had said that they came from the dust of the ground and to that dust they would return.
Such a clearly defined explanation of life and death at the very beginning of humanity’s course SHOULD be the basis for any conversation about the doctrine of eternal torment. Our first important question:
If such an eternally painful and horrifying consequence did come from God, why would He not proclaim it from the beginning?
Why would God tell Adam he would return to the “dust of the ground” if he was to be eternally tortured? Built upon this first question are two further fundamental questions:
Why in the almost 4,000-year history of Old Testament writings is a hell of torment never referenced? Why would God be silent with so much at stake?
What did pagan history during that same period of time teach in great detail about afterlife torture? In how many different pagan cultures did these afterlife torture teachings appear?
Check out our recent podcast, “Did a Belief in Hell Always Exist? (Hellfire Series Part IV).” We delve deeply into these three questions. We trace pagan history in great detail. This history of hellfire reveals clear and incontrovertible evidence of afterlife torment and torture in many cultures. We compare the timeframe in which these beliefs were relevant with what was simultaneously happening in biblical history. The conclusions the evidence presents are more than just thought provoking, they are profound. Join us for this amazing and factual journey through questions rarely asked. What is at stake is our comprehension of the very character of God. What we find are glorious answers!
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The world around us moves so fast that it’s easy to forget to pause and consider just how profoundly God has blessed us. In the United States, somewhere tucked in between the massive Halloween parties and the exhilaration of Christmas, Santa Claus, presents and fun, is a holiday called Thanksgiving. While we won’t take the time to discuss how it came to be, we do want to remember why. Thanksgiving’s origin was actually simple. It was proclaimed to pause and consider just how profoundly blessed those settlers were to have lived through a hard winter and now experience a harvest in preparation for the next hard winter. In short, the thanksgiving they gave was to God above, period. Today we’ll talk about a similar thanksgiving to God but under the biblical name of Ebenezers.
The name of a place and a rockBack in the days of ancient Israel, even before they had a king, Samuel was God’s prophet for the people. In spite of Samuel’s presence, a series of events led them down a road of essentially abandoning God for over 20 years. Finally, under Samuel’s leadership, they begin to turn back towards God. As their enemies the Philistines are preparing to attack, the people urged Samuel to pray to God for their deliverance. God does miraculously deliver them, and Samuel immediately places a big rock as a remembrance of their experience and proclaims, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” He names the rock Ebenezer.
That’s it. Other than being the name of a location, Ebenezer is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. So, why would we be focusing on this one little experience with a named rock for lessons about gratitude? The conclusion is that like so many other things in Scripture, there is an incredible substance beneath the surface. Think about it, this rock was just an ordinary boulder in its natural form. Why not carve it into a shape? Why not engrave something on it? And why name the rock “Ebenezer,” of all things? And why say, “Thus far” the Lord has helped? Did Samuel think God was going to change His mind?
Check out our November 20, 2023 podcast, “What is Your Ebenezer?” for answers. We dig into all of these questions and find an amazing depth of wisdom in the answers. With the principles we uncover, we trace Ebenezer-like experiences in the New Testament. We find that both Jesus and the Apostle Paul used these principles as valuable ways of capturing the gratitude we should have when God delivers us.
Life can be hectic.It’s incredibly easy to get caught up in the current of world events, social media and the dramas of every day. All of this is really about gratitude and finding practical ways to keep thanksgiving relevant in very specific ways. It turns out, Ebenezers can be powerful and significant tools to remember God’s deliverance with heartfelt thanksgiving, if we know how to use them. Join us and learn what the prophet Samuel taught by simply naming a rock.
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Everybody doubts. So, is this a good thing or a bad thing? The answer is a resounding yes! Doubt can be a godly tool of necessary and righteous caution just as easily as it can be an ungodly tool of imperfect human judgment and destruction. Appropriate doubt that is fact- and integrity-based is an early warning system that can keep us focused on and engaged in the most important things. This kind of doubt is a welcome addition to our lives and should be counted on. By the same token, highly charged doubt that is primarily fed by feelings and personal preferences needs to be examined and adjusted according to higher godly standards. How can we learn to doubt the doubts we should doubt without doubting the doubts that undoubtedly protect us?
What (or whom) exactly are you doubting?Learning to question the doubts in our lives that need to be challenged really begins with one important question: What am I doubting? Answering this may not be as easy as we may think. For instance, we may find that we are doubting ourselves. Such doubt could be a needed and welcome warning sign for staying away from certain questionable circumstances. On the other hand, self-doubt could be detrimental to approaching a specific challenge or experience we may need to face. What if I’m doubting God? While answering this question may seem easier to understand, it also needs a bit more clarity. Am I actually doubting God, or am I doubting what I think God should be doing based on my own perspective?
Is doubt destructive or constructive? Yes.Once we better understand what we are questioning we then want to look at the “why” of the matter. To help with this, we look at biblical examples of doubt, and there are plenty to choose from. As we isolate these examples, we want to put them into two specific categories – destructive doubt and constructive doubt. One clear example of destructive doubt is Eve in the Garden of Eden. She was tempted by Satan, and that temptation caused her to reconsider the specific guidelines God had previously put in place. The obvious question is, why would anyone doubt God’s personally delivered and specifically precise guidelines?
Check out our October 9, 2023 podcast, “How Can I Doubt My Doubts? (Part I)” for answers. We examine the details of Eve’s doubt and compare them with other Old Testament examples of destructive doubts. This exercise begins to unfold a pattern for understanding our negative second guessing. It helps us begin identifying what the building blocks are for our different areas of doubtfulness that are not productive.
We then examine how constructive doubts work and compare those building blocks with those of destructive doubt. We talk about two dramatic examples of biblical characters who used their serious doubts as tools of growth in God’s service. Join us for Part I of this eye-opening journey through one of the most common challenges that humanity faces each and every day. It is “undoubtedly” worth your attention!
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Prayer is an incalculably awesome privilege, and yet it is massively misunderstood. Prayer can easily become a ritual, an almost automatic activity like brushing our teeth. We know we need to do it because we know it’s really good for us. So, we do it at what we think are the appropriate times and in the appropriate ways. Prayer can also become a time of wishful thinking, a time when we essentially tell God how our lives could and should look. It can also become a complaining session, a finger pointing session and even a pity party. Wait, let’s take a breath! Prayer is the opportunity and privilege to talk to the God of all things through His son Jesus. If we are going to use this amazing tool, we want to be absolutely clear as to how it works and why it works!
Let’s look at a few important and fundamental questions.
First, does God hear every prayer that is offered up to Him?Going even deeper, does God answer every prayer spoken? There are several scriptures in the Old and New Testaments that give us guidance on this.
The basic answer is no, God does not hear and answer every prayer.Why not? The Bible describes prayers that are not heeded as from those who are wicked, following idolatry and not following God’s Law. We might look at this and think, I’m safe, none of that applies to me! While this may be true, there is another scriptural piece to this equation. How focused am I on seeking God’s will and God’s way over my own? God answers those who truly seek Him.
Second, what about when God says no?Does this mean we are praying for the wrong things or praying with the wrong attitude? That may be true, and it may not. There are several scriptural examples of very faithful ones receiving “no” answers from God. This can only mean that there are several very good reasons for a no answer.
Third, does God ever want us to stop praying?While our immediate response to this might seem obvious, there is a much larger and deeper purpose we may be missing. Again, scriptural examples help us understand this.
Check out our August 14, 2023 podcast, “How Can I Transform My Prayer Life? (Part I)” for more. We walk through a detailed explanation of these three fundamental points and set the groundwork for how a vital prayer life actually works. Understanding the attitude of our approach to God and the likelihood of getting strong “no” answers from Him is critical. Our prayers are for the purpose of aligning ourselves with God’s will and way. They should keep us open to hearing Him as we ask, seek and find what He wants us to do. Join us for this journey into the amazing power of prayer. All of this sets the stage for Part II of this series which asks the everyday practical questions of how prayer fits into our busy and emotional lives.
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Israel. Just say the name and likely if anyone listening follows anything about events on the world stage, they will have a strong opinion one way or another. This is fascinating because the nations of Togo and Honduras, while not well-recognized in world events, have about the same population as Israel. What is it about this tiny nation on this tiny sliver of land that draws such attention? Biblically, there are thousands of years of history and events that keep Israel in the forefront of world events. From a Christian perspective, we know God had cast them off as a result of rejecting Jesus as their Messiah. So, what’s the story with that consequence? Did Israel lose their standing with God on a permanent basis, or is there hope for their future? If there is hope, what does it look like?
The start of IsraelTracing the roots of the nation of Israel brings us to a specific point in ancient history. The seed which was planted to establish their very existence was God’s unique and specific request of and promise to Abraham. God told Abraham (known as Abram at the time) to leave his father’s house so God could bring him to a land in an undisclosed location. If Abram went then God promised that he would greatly bless he and his children, and they’d become a great nation. Through Abram’s posterity God further promised that all the families of the earth would be blessed.
Though this was an amazing promise, it had several logistical issues. First, Abram was already 75 years old with no children. Second, he had no idea where he was going. Nevertheless, he followed God’s direction and many years later had his son Isaac. We all know the account of Isaac and his son Jacob, who had 12 sons and whose name was changed to Israel. The nation was established, just as God had promised.
What about the promise?We also know that Israel had a checkered history when it came to following God’s laws and direction. This lack of adherence to God’s ways culminated in their rejection of Jesus who was their long-awaited Messiah. Jesus himself told them that they would be cast off from God’s favor. History shows us how that dramatically happened as they lost their land and were dispersed throughout the world for many centuries. The obvious question here is, what happened to God’s promise of their blessing all the families of the earth? Did they forfeit it? Is this blessing somehow fulfilled in a different way?
Check out our July 17, 2023 podcast, “Is the Jewish Nation Really God’s chosen People?” for more. We delve into God’s promise to Abraham and the incredible ways that it has been and continues to be fulfilled. In spite of Israel’s dramatic missteps, God’s plan through prophecy, reveals just how amazing their future role in world events will be. Join us as we walk through history, Bible prophecy and current events. We peer into the future of God’s chosen people Israel and the entire world.
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It is a given that life is stressful. We all know that the sheer quantity of input that we are each exposed to from the various parts of our lives is overwhelming. Now come the decisions. Do I watch, do I listen, do I click, do I respond, do I message, do I like? Now […]
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Most Christians are very aware of Satan’s influence in our world today. We know he is opposed to God and His will at all turns, and as the “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4), he will ferociously fight to keep all he has laid claim to. What we don’t often think about is how […]
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It is easy to live with bitterness. I am not suggesting it’s initially comfortable, but I am suggesting that being bitter towards one or many people or circumstances is considered acceptable. We know it’s acceptable because if we pay attention, we will see that the harsh and angry results of a bitter temperament are widely […]
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Our shared human experience is linked by extreme grief at the loss of a loved one. COVID-19 has unexpectedly killed millions of people around the world, often with no time opportunity for meaningful closure. When a child dies, or a loved one dies tragically or simply passes away from sickness or old age, we want […]
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CQ Rewind Show Notes are a written transcript that allows you to visually follow along with the weekly programs, quoting all of the scriptures discussed and much of the audio commentary, complete with graphics and illustrations. Click on the Rewind icon near the audio player to view or download the PDF file. CQ Rewind […]
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Christian Questions Daily is an exciting series of half-hour, pre-recorded programs available for radio witness work. It was originally broadcast in Orlando, FL. These programs break down the Bible into bite-sized pieces and make it relevant to our lives today. We open up the Scriptures in a way that focuses on revealing God’s truths. […]
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You can listen to Christian Questions live every Sunday morning from 7am to 9am US Eastern Time! Use the player below, or try the radio station links at the bottom. On a mobile device? Install our latest App! – Click Here Tune in to hear Jonathan and Rick’s lively discussion on a new biblical topic […]
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Meet Rick: My personal Christian experience is as long as my life, as I was raised by parents whose dedication to serving God through Christ was as apparent as the nose on one’s face. Even as a teenager, while most were in a rebellious stage of life, I always had a drive towards God and […]
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Christian Questions is a Christian talk radio program that aims to provoke meaningful discussion along spiritual lines. We say it is “Talk Radio with a Purpose,” and that purpose is to initiate thinking and study based on scriptural evidence as presented in the Bible. We invite listener participation, encouraging a nurturing, politically-free environment of expression […]
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