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I read in Matthew 24:36 that not even the son knows the day that he will return. Only god the father knows. If Jesus is God how can this be? Also when Jesus went off to pray who was he praying to if he is God?

Great site, thanks for all your insight.

I have a follow-up query about Judas. It would seem from the gospels that during Jesus’ ‘travels’ he came across many of the Jewish leaders , Pharisees, etc, and in fact was questioned and tested by them on several occasions. As they considered Jesus to be a threat to them, they possibly also had ‘spies’ keeping track of where Jesus was and what he was doing. In light of this I have often wondered why they needed Judas to ‘identify’ Jesus and tell the guards/officials where he was so they could arrest him, as surely they already knew what he looked like and where he could be found?

In the article, “Will God Punish Me for Praying to Jesus?“, you say that God is the same as Jesus. I have always had difficulty understanding the trinity. I heard someone say it is sort of like water…Water can have three forms, liquid, gas and ice. They are all different, but they are all water. The same is true for God. He has three forms, Himself, the Holy Spirit and Jesus. Would you say this is a good example of God’s trinity?

Why must we pray to God and ask “in the name of Jesus Christ?” Is this simply to acknowledge what Jesus (God) done for us and that we trust in it?

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!

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 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.

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 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.

What did Jesus mean in Matt. 15:11 by saying it isn’t what goes into a man’s mouth that defiles him but what comes out of it?

Since nobody knows the day or hour, some persons who have accepted the Lord and repented of their sin, could be committing adultery, lying, gossiping, stealing, hating, cursing, having an abortion, murdering, having homosexual sex, and in the twinkling of an eye, they are given a glorified body and are meeting the Lord in the air and clouds. Is this right?