INTRODUCTION

The following questions can be used by any student or teacher of the Bible. These prompts can lead to careful examination of the biblical text and related works.

There have been untold sermons, Sunday school lessons, books, college lectures from these. Most preacher and teachers just give you their answers to these questions. They weave their answers into their messages. In some cases they may refer to the writings of others who answered the questions.

There is a place for that kind of communication with beginners and intermediate students. However I submit to you that in order to obey the Great Commission we are to make disciples. A disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ needs to become skilled in personal Bible study.

The simplest way to motivate a growing disciple is to ask a question that touches them. The spark of a question can lead to an inner fire that will fuel an extensive study. When they have sought and found an answer for themselves then they own it. That can be much more lasting than just giving them the right answer.

The answers to the questions could lead to an improved biblical worldview. Grappling with these questions and answers could lead to lively discussions. Finding the answers could lead to better and more prayer.

It is possible that a student could come to an answer that is biblically in error. However if they will continue to explore more questions unto answers this will correct itself.

Also along the way it is wise to point to the best writers currently and historically. After a person have been dealing with these matters for a while then other views will be appreciated.

GOD IN GENERAL

Does God EXIST?

Yes (Then continue)

No (Links to apologetics questions and cases for the existence of God)

Not sure (Links to agnostic questions and cases for the existence of God)

Cannot be sure (Links to philosophy questions and cases for the existence of God)

IF God does exist;

THEN WHO is the TRUE GOD?

Has God COMMUNICATED with humans?

IF God did communicate with humans;

THEN WHAT did God communicate?

IF God did communicate with humans:

THEN WHO is qualified to translate and interpret the communications?

WHO are the genuine and reliable messengers, priests, prophets, oracles etc.

of the True God?

WHAT are the reliable, genuine and trustworthy

documents, holy books, scriptures, sayings, proverbs, traditions, etc.

that provide accurate information about

God

angels

devils

creation

cause of suffering

way of salvation

how to live on earth

how to communicate with God

how to please God

how to go to Heaven

how to avoid eternal damnation

how to prepare for and excel in marriage

how to raise children

how to deal with challenges, crises, loss, uncertainty, confusion, etc.

WHO is the real Savior, Messiah, and Redeemer of mankind?

WHAT has the True God communicated about

blessings	curses	penalties
provisions	warnings	guidelines
ways to atone for sins	way to prepare for life after death	what happens after death
How to treat those of other faiths	money	acceptable sacrifices that please God

Is God human-like, animal-like, angel-like, an invisible force or other?

Is God male, female, both or neither?

WHY do many people refer to God as male?

Does God know about and/or care about what is happening

in an individual’s circumstances

in an individual’s thoughts and feelings

in the affairs of human marriages, families, churches, communities, cities, etc.

in the fate of the economy, politics, wars, etc.

Is it possible for God to

lie

sin

break His promise

cancel his covenant

violate His Character

allow sin go unpunished

allow sin into Heaven

forgive sin if a person does not accept Jesus as Savior

stop loving His people

deny His own children

JESUS

Was Jesus of Nazareth a real historic person?

WHAT is the extra-biblical evidence of His existence? (Links to summary of this and there links to other Web sites plus recommended books)

Did Jesus always exist? (link to a page with these Bible references)

Is Jesus

fully divine

fully human

both

WHY did Jesus come to the earth? (link to a page with these Bible references)

Was Jesus virgin born? (link to a page with these Bible references)

IF Jesus was virgin born,

THEN WHY is that important?

Was Jesus a good teacher?

What lessons did Jesus teach?

Are those lessons easy or difficult to apply to daily life?

IF the lessons are difficult

THEN WHAT provision did an all-knowing and all-loving God make?

WHAT did Jesus teach about (link to a page with these Bible references)

relating to God in prayer

loving others

religious hypocrites

the existence of Satan and demons

keeping the law

sins

the forgiveness of sins

life after death

why He had to go to the cross

what would happen after He died

Did Jesus set a good moral example?

Could Jesus set a good moral example

and accept worship if He was not God? (link to a page with these Bible references)

Could Jesus set a good moral example and also lie? (link to a page with these Bible references)

Did Jesus lie about His intimate relationship with God the Father?

Did Jesus lie about His purposes for coming to earth?

Did Jesus lie about why He needed to die on the Cross?

Did Jesus lie when He declared that He is the way, the truth and the life

no one can come to the Father, except through Him? (John 14:6)

Did Jesus lie about eternal rewards for those who obey Him?

Was Jesus a prophet? (link to a page with these Bible references)

IF Jesus was a prophet,

THEN WHAT was the basis of His office as a prophet?

WHY would it be important that Jesus was a prophet?

WHAT did He foretell?

Which of His prophecies have already come true already?

Which of His prophecies have not yet come true?

Was Jesus a priest? (link to a page with these Bible references)

IF Jesus was a priest,

THEN WHAT was the basis of His priesthood?

WHY would it be important that Jesus was a priest?

HOW has He already functioned as a priest?

HOW will He function as a priest in the future?

Was Jesus a king? (link to a page with these Bible references)

IF Jesus was a king,

THEN WHAT was the basis of His kingship?

WHY would it be important that Jesus was a king?

HOW has He already functioned as a king?

HOW will He function as a king in the future?

Was Jesus the promised Messiah of the Old Testament? (link to a page with these Bible references)

HOW could one know that Jesus was or was not the Messiah?

Did Jesus fulfill hundreds of prophesies in His birth, life and death?

Did Jesus fulfill hundreds of types and shadows given in the Tabernacle and Feasts?

Did Jesus shine new and divine light on the Old Testament teachings?

IF Jesus was the promised Messiah,

THEN WHY is that important?

Did Jesus perform miracles? (link to a page with these Bible references)

IF Jesus did perform miracles,

THEN WHY is that important?

Did Jesus cast out demons? (link to a page with these Bible references)

IF Jesus did cast out demons,

THEN WHY is that important?

Did Jesus ever commit a sin? (link to a page with these Bible references)

IF Jesus never committed a sin,

THEN WHY is that important?

Was Jesus fully qualified to be the Savior of the world?

Was Jesus justly or unjustly convicted of crimes?

Was Jesus justly or unjustly executed?

Why did Jesus need to die on the Cross? (link to a page with these Bible references)

What happened on the Cross that is of eternal significance? (link to a page with these Bible references)

Did Jesus literally die on the Cross?

Was Jesus the perfect God-Man? (link to a page with these Bible references)

IF Jesus was the perfect God-Man

THEN HOW does that relate to His death on the Cross?

Was Jesus buried in a borrowed tomb that was guarded by Roman soldiers?

Did Jesus bodily rise from the dead? (link to a page with these Bible references)

IF Jesus did rise for the dead,

THEN WHY is that important?

Did Jesus appear to many and various people in a resurrection body?

Did Jesus ascend to Heaven in the sight of many people? (link to a page with these Bible references)

IF Jesus ascended,

THEN WHY is that important?

Is Jesus the ONLY Mediator between God and each human?

WHAT qualified Jesus to be the Mediator?

WHY did Each human need a Mediator?

HOW did Jesus serve as the Mediator to reconcile God and each human?

WHY did Jesus as Mediator need to be both God and human?

HOW does this relate to

the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross

His death

His burial

His resurrection

His office as High Priest

His role as the Lamb of God

His amazing grace

His tender mercies

His incredible forgiveness

His wonderful Love

His exact and perfect fulfillment of Isaiah 53

His victory over

Hell

Sin

Death

the Grave

Satan

the celebration of Holy Communion

His broken Body

His shed Blood

IF Jesus is the ONLY Mediator,

THEN what does that say about

the motto -- all paths lead to God

the popular belief that all religions are equal

tolerating all religions (except biblical Christianity)

treating the gospel of salvation with indifference

being lazy about personal evangelism

fearing that the gospel will offend those who need to hear

saying that religion is a crutch for the weak

not being generous in giving to missions

staying too busy to pray for missionaries

WHERE is Jesus right now?

Is Jesus everywhere as the omnipresent God? (link to a page with these Bible references)

Does Jesus dwell in the heart of a believer? (link to a page with these Bible references)

Does Jesus know the thoughts and intentions of every person’s heart?

Is it possible to successfully hide from Jesus?

Is Jesus the same today as He was while on earth and will be in eternity?

Is Jesus seated at God’s right Hand currently?

IF Jesus is seated at God’s right Hand,

THEN WHY is that important?

WHAT is Jesus doing these days?

WHO do you say that Jesus Christ was?

Was He a Legend and not a real historic person?

Was He a Liar who understood that he was deceiving the people?

Was He a Lunatic who did not understand the deceptions He was causing?

Was He the Lord God of Heaven and earth – the only begotten Son of God?

(There is no other choice. Every person must decide for them self. Their eternal destiny

rests on how they answer this question and what they do with that answer.)

WHEN will Jesus return?

WHO knows when Jesus will return?

WHAT will happen when Jesus does return?

WHEN Jesus returns:

WHO will He judge?

WHAT is known about the basis for His judgments?

WHAT are the possible penalties and rewards?

HOW can an individual prepare for His return?

WHAT can one person tell another person about preparing for His return?

WHAT does it mean that Jesus is Lord?

WHY is it important that believers confess that Jesus is their Lord?

WHY have thousands of martyrs suffered imprisonment, torture and death

rather than renounce Jesus as Lord?

WHY have government officials and religious leaders throughout the centuries

made a huge issue of these few words?

.

FATHER

WHO is God the Father?

WHAT did Jesus teach about God the Father?

WHAT did Paul and the other NT writer teach about God the Father?

WHAT did the OT teach about God the Father?

HOW does an understanding of God the Father relate to

Personal prayer life

Better understanding of the Trinity

Better understanding of Jesus

HOLY SPIRIT

WHO and/or WHAT is the Holy Spirit? (link to a page with these Bible references)

Person

Force

Ideal

God

Other

WHAT is known about the Holy Spirit in relation to:

Pre-creation

Creation

Inspiration of the Scriptures

Old Testament

Life of John the Baptist

Life of Jesus Christ

Life of Paul

Book of Acts

Spread of the gospel in the Early Church

Life of those the various epistles were addressed to

History of the invisible and universal church to date

Life of an unbeliever

Life of one being drawn to Jesus to hear and understand the gospel

Life of one the moment that they are born again

Life of a believer

that grows spiritually

that matures spiritually

that discovers and develops their spiritual gift(s)

that produces the fruit(s) of the spirit

that becomes involved in personal ministry

that becomes involved in Christian leadership

that senses the call to full time ministry

that seeks to have a marriage that honors the Name of Jesus

that seeks to have a family that honors the Name of Jesus

that seeks to have a career that honors the Name of Jesus

that does not grow spiritually

that becomes luke-warm in their faith and obedience

that back slides

that is in the process of returning from a backslidden condition

that is dealing with personal grief, sorrow, mourning, healing, etc.

that is effective in prayer and intercession

that is effective in personal witnessing

that is seeking to know and do the will of God

that seeks to better understand a verse or passage of Scripture

that does not fear death

that does not fear what will occur after death

Life of the Local Church

corporate worship

hearing with understanding of the

sermon preached

Sunday school lesson taught

gospel proclaimed

enjoyable Christian fellowship

unity of believers amidst diversity of personalities, backgrounds, etc.

effective corporate prayer and intercession

community outreach

missions

WHAT does it mean and

WHY is it important that the Holy Spirit was given names and terms like the following

Comforter

Another Counselor – Another Comforter

Helper

Paraclete (One called along side)

wind

oil

fire

dove

HOW can the Holy Spirit be

quenched

grieved

blasphemed

resisted

obeyed

honored

WHERE did the Holy Spirit come from

God the Father

Jesus Christ

both

not sure

not important

.

TRINITY

Is the God of the Bible

three

one

both three and one

WHAT is meant by the statement -- God is one in essence and three in persons?

WHAT verses and parts of Scripture describe

the Trinity together (link to a page with these Bible references)

co-equal status of two members of the Trinity (link to a page with these Bible references)

the divine nature of each member of the Trinity (link to a page with these Bible references)

IF the God of the Bible is a Holy Trinity

THEN WHY is that important?

HOW would this influence correct worship?

.