Does the Truth Matter Anymore: Session 1 Questions

Does the Truth Matter Anymore?

Part One Questions for Discussion:

1.    How did C. H. Spurgeon attempt to warn the church in the late 19^th century? Answer: Modernism – short sermons without real content, esp. no doctrine

2.  How does the health/wealth movement mock the poor? Answer: It tells us that the poor have no faith, aren’t saved, etc. or they wouldn’t be in their dire situation.

3.  What can you tell me about this quote by John MacArthur: “People, I’ve discovered, will forgive even poor theology as long as they get out before noon.” How does it relate today? Answer: Eating is more important than training in theology! Lethargic Christianity; apathetic, carnal Christians  - “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God!”

4.  What is Pragmatism and where did it come from? How has it affected the church today? How is this contrary to what the Bible teaches?

     Answer: Pragmatism = ends justifies the means/whatever gets results

    William James early 20^th Century – roots in Darwinism and humanism

5.  What does it mean when you say Pragmatism is relative?

Answer: Nobody should be too dogmatic or black and white about anything - all is relative – It demands the rejection of absolute truth!

6.  Is the Bible pragmatic? Why or why not? Answer: No, the Bible is absolute truth and all the believer needs for faith and practice

7.  Does the majority rule throughout the Bible? What are some examples of the majority not ruling? Answer: Babel, Moses vs. Dathan, Moses vs. Aaron and all Israel/golden calf; 12 spies

8.  Who is the author of pragmatism? Answer: Satan wants to destroy absolute truth; which he has tried to do for thousands of years starting in the garden in Gen 3 up until today.

9.  Describe what MacArthur meant by “bait and switch?” Mislead or lie to people by stating that this is all about one thing and switch to real reason to get at people – see this all the time on the internet – picture will show one thing and then try to sell you something

10.  What did MacArthur mean when he said: “When churches shift to be more workable and relatable, they lose sight of their own holiness and the  holiness of God!” Answer: Real theology centers in on who God is (holy) and who were are (unholy).

11.  To whom does God look upon with favor according to Isaiah 66:2? Answer: The humble – Why is humility important in God kingdom? Answer: It puts others first, their cares and concerns like God does with us. – Arrogance breeds false doctrine

12.  Why does the church think it can plan programs or events without any insight into God’s Word? What do you think of Andy Stanley telling his 5,000 member church in Atlanta that they don’t need to read the Bible anymore. Just come to church and he’ll tell you what to believe!? Answer: This is a form of humanism, not biblical theology.

13.  What is the problem with more love, less doctrine? How does Eph 4:3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. enter into this equation? Answer: Paul and the HS never intended that we compromise God’s word for the sake of peace. Jude 3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. 4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

14.  Upon what is love based if there is no doctrine? Answer: Feelings. How is agape love in the Bible different than that sort of feeling love? Answer: God’s love is determinative love. What is determinative love? Answer: It is willful love, based upon your character and not on the character of the recipient.

15.  How can we speak (Eph 4:25) truth in love? Eph 4:14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

14.  What were the four priorities of the early church? Acts 2:42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. – How are these priorities different from what the church is doing today? Answer: No doctrinal or theological teaching and even less prayer!

15.  What does understanding Romans 8:6-7 tell us about what a non-believer can understand – Rom 8:6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. What about 1 Cor 2:14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. Answer: The “tares” cannot understand spiritual things and don’t want too and aren’t able to.

16.  What does MacArthur mean when he says, “When those things (coffee, humor, etc) become the bait to attract and hold the attention of otherwise disinterested crowds, then all it is doing is propping up a ministry that has no spiritual power to change lives. The simple answer to that is this: There is nothing new about it. The actual form may be new, but the principle is certainly not a new one at all. Indeed it has been the particular emphasis of this present century.” 2 Tim 4:3

       For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,

17.  How does Ezekiel 2:7-8 tell us to handle God’s Word? Ezek 2:7 “But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious. 8 “Now you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.” Answer: The response of the crowd does not dictate how you proclaim God’s Word!

18.  What did modernism do to the church in Europe? Answer: Destroyed it. How? Answer: it undermined its proper theology. What was modernism purpose? Answer: To unite denominations. What did it accomplish? Answer: The liberalization of all the denominations. What is pragmatism doing to the church in the USA. Answer: Seeker, word of faith, Elevation, Hillsong, et. al.

19.  How did Martin Lloyd-Jones and C. H. Spurgeon warn the church against modernism? Answer: They proclaimed the uncomprised truth of God’s Word and warned the church in writing and in sermons. Lloyd-Jones would have to parts to his service. He would pray for 15 minutes and then he would preach 1 hr 15 min.

20.  What does MacArthur mean when he says, “Churches problems always arise from subtle errors within the body itself? Answer: Those who undermine theology from within are the problem. We say “love covers a multitude of sins” so we fail to address sin and soon it becomes an accepted practice.

21.  Will the church learn from its mistakes or is it destined to repeat them? If the gates of Hell and all evil outside the church cannot prevail against the church, what does that say about the mistakes from within the church? Answer: They are the more evil and we fail to be a watchman if we fail to address them.