Thank you again for your wonderful website. I have been reading your teachings for over a year now, and telling everyone I know about you. I hope I am not overstepping a line when I refer to you as my Bible teacher. I am wondering how you interpret “gathered together in my name”? When two or more Christians get together, is Jesus with them even if they only get together for lunch or something? Or do they specifically have to come together to worship Him or pray for spiritual insight, for Jesus to be there?

The reason I ask this is because I am taking piano lessons for the purpose of praising the Lord. My piano teacher is a Christian also and she knows why I want to learn. We are working so that eventually I will be able to praise the Lord through music, but we are not specifically worshiping Him or seeking guidance. Though the Holy Spirit is already sealed within our hearts, would I be reading to much into the scripture if I thought Jesus was there with us?

First of all I thank you for your ministry. I appreciate all the biblically sound articles and answers.

My question may sound off the path of the questions you normally answer. The other night in a Wednesday night church service a man brought his girlfriend to the service. She had never been there before. The woman was so drunk that she could barely walk and she was stumbling and tripping all over the sanctuary. During worship shortly after the service began she left the church and went and sat in her car honking the horn. She would honk the horn for a few minutes, then stop, then start again.

My first thoughts were to pray for her which I did during the service. I also thought that it was good for her to have least come for a few minutes. Then a few days later I just thought this was not right, that she should not of been in church so drunk she never would of remembered a thing. I don’t want to seem un-compassionate or hard hearted but I am not sure if this is respectful to our Lord to have someone carrying on like she did. I would greatly respect your opinion.

Thank you for a wonderful website. I especially like how your explanations are simple and direct, using scripture in its plain meaning. God indeed “means what he says and says what he means”.

My question is about the creation of the universe. Since you seem to believe in a “Gap theory” from your writings, such as the article “Honest to God”, I wonder if you have heard of the “decay of light speed theory” and its relationship to the age of the universe and creation? If correct, it seems to fit much better with the plain text reading of the creation account. No need to insert a “gap” between verse 2 and 3. Also the theory seems to answer many of the anomalies that we are seeing in the field of astronomy even today. What are your thoughts on this? Thanks again for your wonderful work!

Earlier this week you answered a question about whether or not Jesus may have suffered in Hell during his visit there. Scripture tells us, and as you said, “When He went to the side for the unsaved, it was to preach to them, not suffer with them.”

Why do you think Jesus was preaching to the unsaved? Was there a chance for them to experience some form of redemption, or do you think Jesus was explaining to them why they deserved to be on the wrong side of the chasm?

This is the end of a sermon given by my preacher.

The Bible doesn’t say that “whosoever believeth in the inerrancy of Scripture will not perish but have everlasting life”; it doesn’t say that whosoever believeth in the divinity of Jesus, his virgin birth, his bodily resurrection, his second coming; it doesn’t say that whosoever believeth in the doctrine of substitutionary atonement will not perish; it says that whosoever believeth in him–in Jesus–will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

I was shocked. This seems very wrong to me and the way of the new age movement. I need some guidance.

I don’t know about you but I feel like I’m going to be the only Christian without a crown. I’m not sure I’ve ever done anything without some sort of hidden selfish motive. Even when I think I’m being selfless, just thinking that suddenly ruins everything. I guess I’ll just be grateful finally being with the Lord. That will be my reward. Being sinless and being with him is reward in itself. I can’t wait!!!

“My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” cried Jesus. Who is Jesus’ God?

John 5:17-18, says, “In His defense (for healing on the Sabbath) Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too am working.’ At this point they tried to kill Him because He made Himself as high as God by calling God His own Father.”

When we pray, Jesus tells us to say “Our Father Who art in heaven” When we call God our Father, are we also making ourselves as high as God? Would you please explain it to me?

God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so we would not perish but have everlasting life? While Jesus was on the cross he asked God while he had forsaken him? He prayed to his father in heaven? No one comes to the father except through him. I understand the concept that Jesus and his father are as the same. I’m not understanding why he is called the son of God but yet you say he is God.

I think it is fair to say that all of us have buried memories and thoughts we would like to keep buried. Now, what if you’ve already taken them and given it to God? If those memories suddenly flood back because of an argument or event, is that God “doing something” with those memories for say, discipline to bring us closer to Him? I read in your post “The Lord’s Discipline” that discipline does not increase our fear but increases our love. But does the process include making us angry and hurtful?