How You Can Reach Gen Z

Do you think that a church that sings hymns and recites creeds can still appeal to the younger generation that is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer along with pastor Adm. Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. You can call us right now with your question. At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 and you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today.

If you're a married person who's trying to lose weight. Ask your spouse to join you, according to a new study couples to attempt to lose weight together are almost 3 times more likely to be successful, heart attack survivors in the Netherlands were given diet and exercise plans to cut their risk of suffering another attack. Their partners were encouraged to join in. The scientist could compare the success rates between couples who attempted to lose weight together and those who didn't. What here's what they found patients lost more weight if they were supported by their spouse. In fact, they were 2.7 times more likely to lose weight over year than those who did it without the support of their partner. So later, I was thinking if you ever need to go on a diet when you get older you want to get your wife to start making you those kale smoothies and you know Bill, you didn't. They didn't have to have like a whole scientific study to determine that I did. How can it not be the case. To me, like I there have been times in my own life. I said to my wife and I really wanted to cut back a little bit. But if she's not on board and she still making cookies and all the good stuff like this is impossible so I just feel like yet makes it makes sense that you gotta be in it together. Otherwise, it's not can happen well with your kids get to be teenagers because my daughters are always making the cookies. Now it's like, oh, let me make like five batches more the better. It is a constant battle in our house will look into our first question of the day and that left emailed us and said I have a family member that will not forgive the person says they're a believer and there's evidence of religion there but digging deeper.

This person does not want to be questioned on whether or not they are saved assuming they are, how does their unforgiveness affect their salvation.

Or does it only affect their reward in heaven. Tell us. Thank you for that question.

I have shared the statistic before, but Barna recently reported that one in four professing believers say that there is someone in their life who they simply cannot forgive that this they don't want to forgive but but it's almost as if there there saying I can't. It's physically impossible for me to forgive this person and I think that's a pretty shocking number 25% of professing believers say that there is someone that they cannot forgive it's it's staggering, especially because forgiveness is at the heart of the Christian message. The forgiveness that we receive from God himself. Now it does seem like in the New Testament bears this correlation between God's forgiveness of us and our forgiveness of others, and I think that needs to be explained and thinking of what Jesus said in Matthew chapter 6 that you know the passage related to the Lord's prayer. He said he said pray then like this. Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, and then note very closely what Jesus says next. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your father forgive your trespasses. Very sobering word there from Jesus that I think we have to note a couple of things one in Scripture it's not that our having been forgiven is dependent on how well we forgive others in the fact of the matter is that that's really antithetical to what the gospel teaches if somebody were to go to God demanding that God forgive them because of how well they forgiven. Others will best is not the gospel that's salvation by works by my forgiving others know in the Bible are forgiveness of others presupposes that we have been forgiven, and this is why our focus when it comes to forgiving others that left has to be on how much God has forgiven us to see if if were so consumed with what someone else is done before focusing on their sin first and foremost, that it will be very difficult to extend forgiveness to them. But if we recall the fact that we were dead in trespasses and sins that we were rebelling against a holy God that what we deserved for our sins was – and yet God in Christ reached down to us and pooled us up from the pit of sin that we were in and washed us and cleansed us and forgave us will then and when we were meditating on that were focusing on that, and we realize how great a debt we've been forgiven will then were able to turn around others to our brothers to our sisters to those even who are outside of Christ and extend to them forgiveness through the forgiveness that we've received.

You know a passage like the one that I just read from Jesus there. I think also is this argument from lesser to greater. It's supposed to make us confident in God's forgiveness. If we who are weak, sinful and broken. If we can forgive others how much more will God forgive who is compassionate beyond measure. So I think you know, a lack of forgiveness among believers is is really a serious issue with the symptom of of a deep heart problem of a lack of understanding when it comes to the gospel when it comes to the extent of our own sin and how much God has forgiven us. And so I think the way that we that we help with that is not by downplaying the ways in which we been sinned against it. I think what you want to do with his family members is not to go to them and say, well, look it wasn't that big of a deal with this person you know their sin is not that bad know because often times were sinned against these horrible ways downplay the sin of others. We focus on the fact that God has forgiven us an immense weight of sin.

And if God has forgiven us and been kind to us what we ought to forgive others what a great point drill this is core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez. Here's a question that came in through our Instagram account from tray bond pronounces what does according to his works mean in Romans chapter 2 in regards to us getting eternal life isn't Paul contradicting himself in Galatians chapter 2 when he says that by the works of the law no one will be justified. I have a hard time understanding how good works put into my Christian walk. Yeah, we're sort of just talking about it right there that text on forgiveness and the relationship between God's forgiveness of us in our forgiveness of others. I think you're referring to Romans chapter 2 verses six through eight where it says he will render to each one according to his works. To those who by patients in welldoing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. For those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness. There will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, to the Jew first and also the Greek glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.

For God shows no partiality in any goes into verse 12 for all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law that we have to understand this text in the context of the argument of the apostle Paul is making what he's doing is he's highlighting the universal sinfulness of humanity. And it's not just the Gentiles are sinful that the people out there and were good to me. That was for the assumption that the Jews had Paul is speaking to here in this context, always highlighting the fact everyone Jew and Gentile has fallen short of God's law that when it comes to salvation by our works. None of us measures up, in effect, this is what the apostle Paul goes on to specify later in verse 25 of chapter 2 for circumcision indeed is the value. If you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes un-circumcision. So if a man was uncircumcised.

That is, a Jew keeps the precepts of the law will not is un-circumcision be regarded as circumcision. We highlighting years. Everyone the circumcised and the uncircumcised have fallen short of God's law, there is none righteous know why does Paul make this point because ultimately he's trying to lead us to the gospel to Jesus to the free justification that we have in him.

Verse 21 of chapter 3, but now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.

For there is no distinction for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified by his grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

So Paul is actually not contradicting himself here in Romans or you know in the book of Galatians.

He's highlighting the fact that all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory and the only hope that we have is not in our obedience to the law me if we could keep the law perfectly will then yeah sure, but none of us to do. The only hope that we have is in the free justification that we receive by faith in Jesus Christ and so where do good works fit in there. Our response to God's mercy to us in Christ were called to them were obligated to do my Paul says later in the book of Romans were were debtors, not to the flesh, to walk according to the flesh. If we live according to the flesh were going to die off.

That is no were debtors to the live lives of righteousness. Why, because we've been justified. We've been forgiven. God is poured his mercy upon us, and so good works are the proper response to the mercy of God showered upon us in Jesus Christ are listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. I'm Bill Meyer and here at this program. Our mission is to help you understand the core truths of the Christian faith. But the fact is we can't do it without your help. Absolutely Bill, we are a listener supported program in all of the work that we do from the articles on our website. Do the resources reproducing each and every question answered on this program is only possible with your support, so if you benefited from the answers to questions about the Christian faith that you hear on core Christianity. If you want others to experience that as well. We would ask you to please consider sending a gift now to help us continue our work as a thank you for a gift of $20 or more will send you our new resource how to read the Bible. This resource introduces you to the history of the Bible key concepts that help to bridge the old and the new Testaments together key ideas from the main sections of the Bible and it shows you how the entire Bible points to Jesus how to read the Bible is a 10 week study that can be used in personal devotions Sunday school classes or your Bible study group.

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This is an email that came in from John. He says how should I approach my pastor. If he does not preach the gospel when asked questions he affirms Christ death, burial and resurrection, but the focus of his sermons is exclusively on a wholly sanctified living in can I tell you kind of a funny story I remember in year one of our church plant probably about six months and you know we have a solid core group and there's this this brother there was no longer at our church and you'll probably figure out why in just a moment, but he is there he was a member at that time and he came up to me after one Sunday morning service and he had been gone the previous week and he said why asked of you. How are things going. How was I was last week and he said all I visited this other church and it was so wonderful. I have never heard the gospel preached like that in the my whole life is like listening to the sky like okay you know you like you've been sitting under my preaching now for some prism time and he said this, there are only two churches were I've ever really felt the love of God at church last week and John MacArthur's church. But the funny thing was, I mean the guy was like he was he was not trying to be upon you know like he was being totally honest, but I remember walking away from that, and I will slap you know laughing in my mind, and it obviously you know disgrace that I've had crying at the same time right yeah that's right. Be careful what you tell your pastor because the subtitling be sensitive and higher number what, when, of course you know I'm I'm I preach the gospel every every Sunday and I want to point people to Jesus that the kissing was he just referred other guys sermons and so I would just say, John. Be sensitive in twice. You have this conversation with your pastor.

Look, I mean this is a serious charge because for a pastor to not preach the gospel is to essentially be derelict in his duties. Pastor's don't preach the gospel shine be pastors. The St. find another job if you can't preach the gospel if you're not pointing people to Jesus Christ through his word will then you shouldn't be in the pulpit.

Now what do I mean by preach the gospel.

I don't mean you preach a sermon and then you do an altar call at the end and you invite people to asked Jesus into their heart. That's not what I mean by preach the gospel. I mean you're showing people how all of Scripture is leading us to Christ and are just giving them a to do list your bill boarding. Jesus is done what he's accomplished for us on the cross so that people aren't focusing on themselves in Christ there growing in their love for God and in holiness and obedience to God's word, not because you're giving them all these things to do, but because they're resting in Christ, receiving him, and by the work of the Holy Spirit cultivating the fruit of the Holy Spirit in their in their own lives through the gospel.

So look as I say, John Emmett, this is so important, I think you want to be sensitive to your Pastor I think you know you don't you don't want to come.

You know from the top down and say you know you're a false teacher not reach them. I don't know exactly what what the situation is, but I think if you can get together and just say hey as one of the sheep hear as a part of this church. One thing I'm struggling with is, I feel like your sermons are continually pointing me back to me. What I really need is the bread of life. Jesus sat under pastors before who that's all it is.

It's five ways to be a better you. You know three things to do to strengthen your marriage, this sort of moralism.

The minutes we call it it's it's all about you and being a better person and living your best life now and and you wonder you like where's the cross actually fit into all of this will and when you sit under that kind of preaching for a long time.

It does one of two things. It either makes you a legalist because you think I'm doing pretty good. I can keep the in of the three things to be a better Christian, you know, sort of survey I can do that and you start to think yourself like I got this or it will completely crush you because you'll realize as the law is being preached that you can't perfectly obey guy and you fail and you struggle you'll just completely feel like every week you're not enough you don't measure up and you'll get discouraged and I talk to people who've left the church after years of being in that kind of church under that kind of ministry because they just feel like this must not be for me.

I'm a failure. All you know what that's what the law does it. It exposes our failures. It shows us that we can't be justified by our own righteousness.

And that's why John we need to hear the gospel every week. That's why this is so important and that's what you you you do if you're if you're not hearing that gospel if you just hearing the law, but you're not being led to Jesus and having Christ and his work placarded before you so that you can rest in him. If you're not having yet have that conversation with humility prayerfully sensitive. The really important that we approach it in that way and why we pray for John right now and for really will all of the believers who been there there in churches where there hearing a lot of the law and appointed to themselves.

They're not being pointed to Jesus. Father, help us help our churches first and foremost Lord to be places where Christ is proclaimed.

Where's Paul said in the book of Galatians, Jesus is being placarded. Bill boarded for us. You think of all the times what I think of all the times where were the apostle Paul talked about the centrality of the cross, how we purposely know nothing, but Jesus Christ and him crucified. May the cross be central in the pulpits throughout the United States and may we be pointed away from ourselves and to Jesus and through that message board, may we grow in holiness and in obedience to your word and I pray for John. I pray that you would give him grace as he talks to his pastor as he seeks Lord to encourage his pastor, but also to understand what's going on in his church and and hopefully, Lord, to be able to point his pastor to a very real need. Would you be with him.

Would you give him the words to say.

Would you bless that conversation.

In Jesus name, amen. MM you're listening to Cora Christianity hi Bill Meyer with pastor Adm. Sanchez in one of the ways you can submit a question to us is by going to our website at core, Christianity.com/radio there's a little microphone icon on the right side of the page, or if you click on that you can actually record your question anytime day or night mess exactly what Logan did you think church that still sings hymns and recites creeds as a congregation can appeal to younger generations.

Absolutely I do Logan I mean and and I better because we do that in the church that I pastor.

We recite creeds and sing hymns and say the Lord's prayer and it such an important part I think of Christian worship in our congregation is is fairly diverse.

You know a lot of young families singles and were we were still growing as a church, but I feel like those things you know that the recitation of creeds. Ancient creeds like the Nicene Creed in the singing of hymns have not kept people away from our church.

Sometimes it can be new for people and maybe in that sense a little bit of a hurdle, but I think that as we understand the faith and what it is that should attract people to the church but it makes perfect sense to seek something our ministries we should attract people about our ministries isn't that they appeal to a particular demographic.

This sort of niche church. What should attract people to our ministry is Jesus is the pure gospel that's being proclaimed one of the problems with this or consumerist to Christianity we have today was born out of the, the church growth movement, the sort of seeker sensitive movement is that we focus on particular demographics and build churches for one kind of person you can grow a church and that way you can be the church of the young hip people are older, retired people are. I made whatever it might be, but at the end of the day.

That church is not can reflect the power in the beauty of the gospel in bringing together sinners from all different stripes and backgrounds. That's what the word with the faith once for all delivered to the saints can do and that's what what's summarized in things like the Creed I was. Not too long ago reading a Christianity today article was talking about different niche churches that are out there you you have cowboy churches which appeal to a particular you know Western sort of style and culture and everybody shows up the church in their cowboy hat, neck, and when those those kinds of churches probably wouldn't do too well where I met in San Diego, but you also have and this is a new thing warrior churches that are springing up throughout the United States, where people gather together early on a Sunday morning and do a sort of CrossFit type of workout and then have some Bible study and teaching in it and it's the church for the physically fit for the warriors.

Now let me just say that that didn't really appeal to me getting up in the morning and doing a lot of push-ups in prayer. But you know it did appeal to me is there's another one that Christianity talked about cold taco churches never heard of, but this is where people gathered together at Taco Bell for prayer and that I didn't even want to mention that when the my church because I felt like we would lose members is like prayer Behringer lupus prayer. It's a lupus thing is, look now, with the churches in a work were not called to try to cater to a particular demographic, young or old, were called, as I said before tip lacquered Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. That should be the message that draws people, young, old, black, white, different socioeconomic backgrounds like that draws people together and brings them into one church so often were were so concerned with the style with you. Note do you do I fit in. Do I have a lot that I can sort of relate to with the people here in this church of the church doesn't exist for you to find people that are just like you. It's not a social church is where sinners like you, from different backgrounds gather together around the bread of life to the gospel and watch God by his spirit. The church in the way you never thanks for listening to Cora Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer.

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