I have a question regarding Ishmael and Issac. Are the Muslims descendants of Ishmael? And for what reason do they hate the descendants of Issac? I was talking to my father about it but I did not know the reason they hate the descendants of Issac except for the fact the devil hates them.

Hi Jack, enjoy your website. What is rightly dividing the word of truth? I’ve been told it’s just keeping Paul’s letters separate from the rest of the bible and I can see that as far as our being saved by grace thru faith. After that there’s a lot of good things to put our faith to work on in the other books but how do you divide them? Thanks.

I have this friend that accepted Jesus only a year ago. At that time, she was in a Catholic church. She now is going to a Catholic one one week and then an Evangelical one the next. She was living with a man, unmarried, and she is a widow with a 13 year old daughter.

I have tried to tell her and show her what the Holy Bible says about her situation, to no avail. The man has moved out, but, they are still seeing each other.

My question to you is, ” how long do I keep telling her what the Bible say’s about fornication, being unequally yoked, and an assortment of other things that she is doing and ignoring Gods’ word? Should I stop speaking to her? (1 Cor. 5: 9-11)

At one time I told myself that I would no longer tell her what Scripture says about her actions, but, then she will ask a biblical question, and I answer it. She has gotten really good at quoting to other friends what I have told her the Bible says, but she won’t read it for herself. I have even gone to the extent of asking her to examine herself and see where she has been obedient to Jesus. No, she hasn’t gotten baptized yet. I have explained to her about the different soils, and nothing gets her attention! I would appreciate any input that you have! I don’t want to loose a longtime friend, but, I want to be obedient to Jesus even more.

This isn’t a theological question. You seem to have a good grasp on ministry and I’m hoping you can help me with a group-dynamics question relating to a small group setting.

I lead a small group in our church. One couple seems to be very good at getting us off-track from the study. As a leader, I don’t know how far to let the discussion wander from the point.

This occurs every week. When it happens, I pray for discernment but, quite honestly, I don’t perceive any clear guidance either way, so I let it go on until the conversation comes around to where I can grab it and continue with the study. By that time, I feel the train of thought has been cut and it’s difficult to continue.

Do you have any insights into the issue of leading small group discussions?

I have an on-going battle or conflict in reconciling the doctrines of grace and forgiveness with the call to holiness (1 Peter 1:15,16 – But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”) I understand that even that work needs to be exacted by the Holy Spirit’s work in my life. It’s just so easy to fall into legalism. Do you have any insights?

I’m leading a study using AW Tozer’s book The Pursuit of God. Tozer deals with some pretty heavy things in our lives that rival God’s rightful place, covetousness, self-life, etc. My apprehension, now that we’re on the 3rd chapter, is that the group may not agree with his approach – heavy on the experiential as opposed to the positional-only stance of being in the presence of God. Are you familiar with this author and book?

I pray God’s richest blessings on you and your family. Peace!

My question is on 1 John 4:12 where it states no man has seen God… but how do we reconcile this with what Jesus told Philip in John 14:9. This is how I interpret or understand this seemingly contradiction. 1 John 4 is a chapter that speaks to having love for one another and for God, verse 7 states that “beloved let us love one another for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God”.

This is conjecture but could John have meant here that the un-regenerated man void of the love of God has never seen Him. I feel that every time I look at one of my brothers or sisters I should see God/Christ in them. Remember to be re-born by the Spirit is to return to the original image that God created us to reflect and that is His image.

Thank God for you Jack, that people like my self can ask questions and get Spirit filled answers in return

After true salvation has genuinely taken place in a persons life,is it possible for that person to take a 15 to 20 year vacation,or until even Death, from hearing or reading or taking in some form of the word of God?

I went through a Dark period of a couple of years where I fed myself with nothing but the world. It had gotten Dark enough where I came RUNNING back to the Light. I didn’t like living without the Gospel or at least hearing the Word of God. As believers, can we truly get saved and then not feed our Souls with the Word in some form?

In other words, feeding on the Word in some form or fashion. If we did take a break from the Word for so long, would not God Chastise us or make things happen to bring us back? Or, a Saved Individual just lives a Defeated life when they don’t Fellowship with God’s Word any longer? Does this have to do with those believers that just do not bear much fruit at all in their whole life?

Our bible study group is studying the 2nd book of Kings. Could you tell me what book is referred to when it says “The rest of the events of (name of King) and his deeds are recorded in the Book of The History of the kings of Israel, (or Judah)”.

We don’t know if it is referring to these books, or another.

I feel extremely blessed to have found GTF and you. My question concerns the mind and how many times various ‘stuff’ pops in there in short time spaces. I have made Proverbs 23:7 and Jeremiah 17;8 my daily theme as best as my mind will allow. My question is when the Rapture occurs so fast and there is a foul thought in my mind how do I get forgiveness before being in the presence of our Lord? I wrestle with this of thing sort constantly. I hope you can help. Thanks and may God Bless You.

Thank you for all the work you do. I started listening to your Olivet Discourse today, taking notes and hoping to teach it to a small group in my home.

I was wondering if you have a favorite version of the Bible, and if so, could you let me know what that is. There are a lot of Bibles out there with Scriptures left out, and gender bias and all that new-fangled stuff. So if you have a favorite please let me know, I respect your advice. Do you know anything about the Holman Bible?