Scenario Series: How should a funeral go?

You are asked by someone to give the eulogy at a service of someone you know that died. The family is grieved because the person was a pillar in their life. They are looking for comfort and direction. There will be many attending the funeral. Now, you being a Christian, how would you eulogize such a person? (To make it interesting, answer for both a Christian and a non-Christian). Would you eulogize the person like the pastor below?

The Scenario Series: Polygamy Missionary

Thanks Eric Lewis for reading the blog. God bless you. Okay here's the scenario:

You are a missionary for your church in a country that has the practice of polygamy in its culture. You abide in a village for about a year preaching the Lord Jesus Christ. A certain man and all of his wives become believers in Jesus Christ. Now, what does this man do? Does he stay with his wives? Does he divorce them? Is he in sin if he stays with his wives or not? Is this man even saved having all those wives? What do the wives do? Again, search the scriptures as you think on this one. God bless

The Scenario Series: A man beaten up

You and your friends are enjoying your lunch at McDonalds. Suddenly a commotion begins to take place and two men start fighting. One is elderly, the other a young man. The young men, and then several young men join in and began to beat up this elderly gentleman. What do you do as a Christian? Do you intervene? Do you wait until the man is left alone? Do you stay out of it? What do you do Christians? Okay, I'll leave a scripture verse that may help.

Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise." (Luke 10:30-37 ESV)

The Scenario Series: Do You Pray?

The boss on your job is a Jewish man, and he believes in God. In regular day-to-day business, he encourages his employees to practice their religious beliefs freely. He has no problem with you placing scriptures on the walls of your cubicle, and expects all employees to respect one another's religious beliefs. You've witnessed Christ to some of your employees, and some have tried to convert you.

Your boss decides to throw a party for the company's growing success. You, and some other co-workers are asked to pray out loud during the festivities. Your boss request you hold hands in agreement with your Muslim, Jewish, Jehovah Witness, Mormon, Atheist, and Gay/Lesbian co-workers to share in group prayer. All are going to offer their prayer out loud. What are you going to say to your boss? Will you pray? If you don't, what is your biblical reeason for not praying. If you do, what is your biblical reason in praying and will you pray in the name of Jesus Christ? Also will God honor you prayer? Will God honor their prayers once your is prayed? Get those minds thinking. May His grace be with you!

The Scenario Series: Having another's child

This scenario series today is taken from a real situation. I know of a person actually going through this. So lets begin!

You are married to a Christian woman. She is loving and humbly submits to you as a husband. Rarely is any evil spoken to you nor does your wife speak evil of others. She walks giving all the time and is a self-sacrificing Christian.

Your wife has a brother who has been trying to have a child for many years. Time after time he has failed. He is at his whits end. Your wife has prayed for him and done what she can to help her brother. Because of the love your wife has shown, she brings to you a request. She desires to be artificially inseminated and carry her brother's child so he may have a baby. She is acting self sacrificing so her brother can rejoice. Is this sin? Is it sin for your wife to carry another man's child? Would you say yes to your wife's request? If you're a friend, is there any sin that you should confront? Or should you support such an effort? What would you do as a Christian?

The Scenario Series: Winning over David?

David is a great guy. He was born to two wonderful Christian parents. His father lead his family well. Loving and always giving honor to his wife, as well as giving his life up for his children. David's mother was humble, quiet, and submissive to her husband as unto the Lord, nurturing her children in God's Word. David went to church will them all the time, and heard some good expository preaching. David is kind, gentle and sweet. He gives to the poor, and helps many who are in need. He is married and takes care of his family the same way he saw his father do. All of David's brothers and sisters are professing Christians. David is an atheist. He doesn't believe there is a God. He is not angry with Christians, he just doesn't believe in God. He's heard the expository preaching, been raised by Godly parents, and has seen his family live Christ before him. After all that, David refuses to believe there is a God.

David comes to work at your job. You observe David and see he doesn't outwardly do anything that would merit him not to be a Christian. He doesn't curse, swear, or get angry often. In fact David is very humble. He works hard and speaks evil of no one. You find out about David's family and that's when he tells you, "I am not a Christian, I don't believe there is a God!" What do you do? How does Christ work through you, to win David over? Do you hand David a tract? Do you explain to him the Gospel? He's heard it before right? David values your friendship. He loves you like a brother. How is David won over? How do you love David?

(PS - David can be turned to Christ. Leaving it in God's hands is not an answer. Christ has placed you in David's life, how does Jesus Christ win him over? Come one you strong evangelist, how does the Lord Jesus Christ save this one, because he is saveable? Okay, I'll help, we can apply the wisdom of scripture from John 3 when Jesus had discourse with Nicodemus)

The Scenario Series: Judging

James is an awesome expository pastor. He can take the scripture and expose on it in a way people have never seen. He lives by biblical Christianity. You never hear him curse. He treats all men with respect and in humility esteems them more than himself. His wife is loving and submissive to her husband, James truly loves his wife. He has also raised his children in a Godly manner. His children (teenagers now) have not fornicated, they treat others with respect in public, and the follow hard after their father's example.

One day James invites you to his house for dinner. You are excited put on your best clothes. You come and enter James house. His family is kind as they walk you into the dining area. You chat with the family for a while, and share in plenty of laughs and smiles. Then James wife sets dinner on the table. You notice that she sets wine glasses on the table. Then James turns around and opens his wine cabinet. The cabinet is full of all types of fine wines. He pulls out a bottle and says "Ahhh this is best for this occasion!" He pours wine in the glasses, (yes even his children, for this is the only time they ever taste any alcoholic drink. He has done this since they were the age of twelve.) He gets to your glass and ask you would you like some. What do you say? You don't drink no more since you came to the Lord Jesus. Do you say something to James about his drinking? Is James a winebibber? Is James a Christian? Is James in sin?

Scenario Series part 2: Can you forgive?

Okay, here's the scenario:

A man by the name of Robert is upset at you because you had to let him go off the job. You prayed to God to help you find a another way and keep you from doing it. It didn't happen and the boss informedyou to fire him quick. You fire Robert, he becomes irrate and threatens your life and your family's life. He plans to do a hit and run on your wife and 2 children when she walks them to school in the morning. He plans it well enough to make it look accidental. He carries it out and succeeds, your wife is killed and your children as well. In court, Robert tricks the jury and gets little jail time when you know he planned to kill your family. You know because he threatened you before you fired him. (Now remember your a Christian).

Years later Jesus Christ saves Robert in jail and Robert comes out. He struggles to find work for about 10 years but Jesus Christ keeps him. Then God gives him the desire to become a Godly pastor. Robert does, and eventually leads a small congregation of Christians for many years. Fruit of Christ is showing, plus Robert is loving, non-compromising pastor. Then, one day, the Lord leads you to join and fellowship with the church Robert is pastor of. You go and find out Robert is the pastor. Can you forgive? Will you remember that this is the man that lied and toolkyour family from you? Or will you forgive and sit under his teaching (I'll even add that his doctrine is sound)? Robert never asked for forgiveness because you moved out of state when he came to your house looking for you. It's been 20 years since the murders, and you went through a lot of pain. The question is can you forgive Robert? Can you approach him with forgiveness, or will you wait until he speaks to you? Hmmmm! Come on Christians, what does the Lord command us to do and can you obey that?

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
(Matthew 6:14-15)

Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So his brother their trespasses. likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one
(Matthew 18:21-35)

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
(Colossians 3:12-13)

THE SCENARIO SERIES:scenario #1

I will begin to present from time to time Christian scenarios for you to think on. This is something that you profession Christians can begin to open your bibles and really study the Word of God. Second, I hope this will open your heart not to judge your fellow brethren so fast, but give you insight on how to edify your brothers and sisters. I will try and end the scenario with the question:”Is ___ a Christian?” For the first post today, the scenario will deal with smoking:

Jim is a heavy chain smoker. He has been a professing Christian for 20 years and has been smoking for about 30 years. He smokes on lunch breaks and just about every chance he gets. Jim doesn’t say he loves the Lord, he shows it. He is a very peaceful, joyful, always singing praises to God kind of guy. He’s married, never cheated on his wife, and all his children have grown up and become Christians. They choose not to smoke but know that father/husband does. Every time he’s out smoking, he’s preaching about the Lord Jesus Christ to his co-workers. Some co-workers call Jim a hypocrite, saying Jim shouldn’t be preaching about Jesus and smoking at the same time. Others have been drawn to know the Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Many of Jim’s Christian friends approach him and ask why he smokes. They tell him it is wrong and Jim responds “Show me the verse where God says it is sin!” Jim loves his brethren, even the ones that attempt to rebuke him. One of his brethren said they would not be his friend anymore and refuse to hang around him if he keeps smoking. They told him; “God says smoking is a sin, you will go to hell if you keep doing it!” In tears and hurt, Jim says, he will not smoke around this friend as to not offend him if it is sin to him. But Jim doesn’t stop smoking when his friend is not around. He has actually tried to quit, but says he can’t. He’s done the patch and even prayed to God to help him through. Jim keeps smoking, but even more keeps preaching and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ to every person he meets. Is Jim a Christian? Let’s say Jim dies from lung cancer. Is Jim going to heaven? Does the Holy Spirit rest in Jim, even though Jim smokes?

Again, this scenario I wrote is meant to push you to open your bibles and search for the truth.