Are Small Groups As Important As Sunday Worship?

Should churches require members to attend midweek gatherings.

That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will hi this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel 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.

Now if you want to post your question on one of our social media site, you can do that right now.

You can also watch atrial live in the studio on YouTube and send us a message through our YouTube channel course you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to Stephanie who is calling in from California.

70. What your question for atrial I know what to do something very not have children and allocated the Christian to make a great question eyes.

I've also noticed this as well.

Stephanie, among many of my peers. I guess I think you know the question is what is the reason behind the decision. I think that there can be good reasons for an individual or a couple saying he may be right now is not the time for us to have children. There can also be selfish reasons, wrong reasons as as well. I think that one of the bigger issues today is just kind of the shift in how people culture more broadly views family and children are there a lot of jokes out there in society in which children are just the kind of a nuisance that that sort of a thing in any just take and take and take and so I don't I don't want anything to do with.

That's a lot of people I think are choosing not to have children. Really, you know that I think before for very selfish reasons. We need to recover the Bible's view of the family and of children and I love what the psalmist said in Psalm 127 read the whole Psalm to that short verse one unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Must the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain that you rise up early and go late to rest eating the bread of anxious spoil, for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord. The Fruit of the Loom a reward, like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them, he shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. Children are a blessing. A blessing a gift from the Lord and and that that something that the Bible teaches that something that we should believe as Christians in embrace on the basis of God's word and it's something that many in in society today. I don't believe they reject that and so I think if we if we bought into that light, the children are not a blessing given to us by God for us to teach that the disciple will then there's a serious problem, but that doesn't mean as I said that there may not be some some legitimate reasons. Good reasons, godly reasons, even for saying hey right now is not the time for us to have children and so this is an issue of wisdom.

It's an area where I think couples really have to pray I Nass themselves and what is our priority and are we honoring the Lord, are we honoring his word or are we focused on ourselves and so there is there some some freedom here, but I really do think we need to recover just that. That beautiful high view of the family that the Scriptures give to us and so Stephanie, thank you for that question, no I drill you mentioned that you've known some people that have made that decision there is that the term dinks dual income no kids. And unfortunately, as you said, there's a lot of people, especially the millennial generation that are saying you know what we just want to be able to party and travel and not have those kids you know as a burden on our lives right now.

Bill don't be talking about the millennial's, because that's me man so I don't I don't want any one in the problems here with you. Yeah that that that that is I think out how some people view it right is is well we don't want kids because we want to live our our best life now and and so you know that this is why this decision requires wisdom. We really need to know pursue the Lord pray asked for wisdom. I can say having got. I have four kids and my wife is due this month with our fifth is it hard work. Yes it is but is it just so much joy and such a blessing absolutely on the II.

I know that it is none of you know that is well-built and so is this something it I think. I think what we were seeing all around us.

Assertive indicative is as I mentioned earlier, of just that that the sense that many people have in broader society as a sort of minimizing of the family that were sitting all over the place and so that's that's not in line with what the Scriptures teach very well said this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez, one of the ways you can ask us a question is by calling and leaving a voicemail 24 hours a day.

We try to listen to your voicemails each day. And here's the phone number to call its 833. The core is a voicemail that came in last week I drilled a different take.

My question life and are members in good standing at a local church. We sent Sunday morning Bible study. In addition to main service faithfully where business owners in a business requires a lot of time and attention and flexibility with schedule, especially on evenings and weekends. This conflicts with schedule tricks, Bible studies, prayer meetings, discipleship groups and extracurricular church activities. Other members in our congregation are suggesting that we are violating Hebrews chapter 10 verse 24 through 25 because we do not attend his activities with them outside of our faithful church attendance. Every Sunday, their position seems to be very legalistic to us a drill I we in violation of Hebrews chapter 10 verse 24 through 25 or are we freeing Christ to continue our weekly fellowship once a week as our schedule permits. Thank you for taking my question that I thank you for that question very articulate and I'm just in a cycle.

Let's go to Hebrews chapter 10 verse 24 and in 25 let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Now the context here the author the Hebrews is writing to a group of Christians who are forsaking the fellowship and by by forsaking the fellowship what what he means is not there not attending the Wednesday night Bible studies. They're not going to the Tuesday morning prayer group there of abandoning essentially Christ and the gospel there beginning to go back to the old covenant sacrificial system that that's why the author the Hebrews throughout this book is providing them with some really stern warning ceasing to go back to that year and you're in serious trouble. Your your your trampling Christ underfoot actually goes on to say that later in in chapter 10 and so no you're not, you know because you don't go to Wednesday night Bible study are that kind of the thing you're not forsaking the that the fellowship I think it really is important for us to understand the site. I remember when I was in college I went to a church plant and this church plant was a really a wonderful church was kind of a good place for me to be at that time at a very flexible schedule in college and so were able to get together all the time you would do we do discipleship groups and Bible studies throughout the week and of course church on the Lord's day, but we are gathering together quite a bit and then I moved and switched churches and I went to a church didn't have all of those Bible studies and discipleship groups, and at first I was kind of judgmental of think you like okay this church is not really know fellowship in like they ought to be, but I realized the demographic of the church was very very different.

It wasn't a bunch of young college students who had extra time on their hands and and their schedules and permitted them to get together like this. It was a lot of families with children and business owners and people that were working a 9-to-5 job and and you you you go home after a long day of work and you want to spend time with your wife with your children. You want to care for them and I think that that's what God calls you to do and so I would say look be committed to gathering with the saints on the Lord's day worshiping together receiving the means of grace.

The preaching of God's word, the sacraments, the ordinances of grace. Jesus gave to the church. Baptism, the Lord's supper.

That's what God calls us to. And then when there are opportunities for fellowship.

You're able to be hospitable or someone has when their home to take advantage of that.

We do want to cultivate those relationships in and of course we know that the Christian life isn't just something we live on Sundays, but throughout the entire week, but you are called to be faithful in your work to be faithful to your family.

If you have children to tilt to love your children to care for them to be present with them I I'm concerned that you sometimes if we have so many things going on in the life of the church were pulling people away from from oftentimes with the primary calling is in terms of just loving loving their families well discipling your children that takes work that takes time and if were you know going to all of these meetings throughout the week that can be very difficult and so just on the basis of the context of Hebrews 10. The answer to your question is no, you're not forsaking the assembly. I would say continued it to fellowship at your church go to church on Sunday received and love your family well. Work hard and and may the Lord bless you as you do that rather great counsel. Thanks for that Israel. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez Thanksgiving just around the corner and with thanks and coming up we have a very special resource just in time for that holiday yes is the holiday season begins to ramp up. We have a brand-new free resource that our listeners can download it core, Christianity.com five biblical reminders for Thanksgiving. This is really important because we often see posts on social media you know about did the importance of being grateful, being thankful. But how do we truly do that. How do we really have that thankfulness that the Scriptures call us to all over the place and Paulina give thanks for all circumstances.

He says is we want to help you to give thanks at this resources can do for you. And as as we Artie said it's a free download over it. Core, Christianity.com love the send that to you or have you downloaded just go to core Christianity.com/offers to look for that five biblical reminders for Thanksgiving and as always you can call us for that resource or any one of our resources. 833-843-2673 go to another caller. This is John from Modesto, California John, what's your question for Pastor Israel will call you.

Have a question concerning the second best alone.

Chapter 2 verse 11. Specifically, and up until this past Sunday, Dr. dressed as a he is saying that it was a post rapture prophecy. But before this past Sunday I was to get a pretty rapture prophecy of verse concerning you know God ascending the diluting, you know, are you people's eyes. Basically that thought they were Christians, not just would like to get your thoughts on this verse. Specifically or not work proper was the proper context.

If you could explain or appreciate it. Yeah, yeah, thank you for that question. Of course you know first and second Thessalonians is the books we want to go to and what we were thinking about the coming of the Lord the day of the Lord you went to the rapture you knows this is pretty rapture is this after the rapture. Oftentimes you know when we get questions about that the second coming of Christ or the rapture. One of things I like to say John is there. There's a lot of difference of opinion about that, within the church, not issues that we we need to disable this person is not a Christian because they don't hold that view. But now, for example, you know, there are some who say well there's a rapture where the churches is lifted up into heaven.

Those who are the believers on earth at the time that Christ calls them fine, then there's a time of great tribulation where you have this this man of sin.

This man of lawlessness.

This the strong delusion that's described in second Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 11 as you say, and then you have the second coming know my position. I believe this is a historical position of the church. I think it's faithful to what the word of God teaches that there isn't, you know, rapture, and then assign coming with the passages that are often pointed to in defense of this idea of a rapture are usually just passages that talk about second coming of Jesus and so this is an event that's taking place prior to the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ associated with with the that the man is identified as the man of lawlessness there in second Thessalonians chapter 2, there is this great rebellion if you will. This great apostasy that's taking place. And of course we know that this is something that the disciples warned about throughout the New Testament. I think about with the apostle Paul says in first Timothy chapter 4 verse one, the Spirit expressly says that in the latter days. Many will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and the doctrines of demons and so this is an apostasy that that is taking place prior to the second coming and that strong delusion is is essentially God giving these people over to their own desires, they don't want the gospel they don't want Jesus. They don't want forgiveness and they continue to harden their hearts against the Lord and so the Lord says okay, have it your way. We read about this and in other places in the New Testament like Romans chapter 1 as well and so you know our call right now is not to harden our hearts to believe out was just, you know were just looking at the book of Hebrews in Hebrews chapter 10 the importance of fellowship and not forsaking the assembly earlier in the book of Hebrews in Hebrews chapter 3 verse 12 years were called to in the midst of the strong delusion that the false teaching that's taking place in people who are who are turning towards it were called to this Hebrews chapter 3 verse 12. Take care brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day as long as it is called today that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin in the world around us as they reject the gospel. There is disheartening that takes place.

We need the spirit of God to work to open hearts to soften hearts and we also need to be on guard brothers and sisters that that we are exhorting one another, encouraging one another in our walks with the Lord pointing each other to Christ and to his gospel so that we don't experience that that hardening that takes place as a result of sin. And so it just in terms of chronology that that description there in chapter 2 of second Thessalonians is is really this is it event taking place prior to the second coming of our Lord. Thanks, John John, thanks much for your question and thanks for digging into God's word and really applying it to your life. We appreciate that so much. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to JoAnn in St. Louis, Missouri Joanne what your question for Israel will thank you for your sacrifice to you and I appreciate you and God bless you and your ministry. My question is salvation there.

I hear a lot of different opinion that yes they know I'm in the Scriptures that I'll see. But those that stand you can get this salvation, they always go to the thief on the cloud. Can you please help me with that. Yeah one.

Thank you for your kind words.

My my pleasure to get to serve you on the body of Christ in this way and that was actually the passage of Scripture that was coming to my mind. I like to say look, so long as a person has breath in their lungs.

You know it's never too late. The spirit of God can still work and does work.

And of course the thief on the cross in Luke chapter 23 versus 39 to 43 is one example where you have this man who is a criminal, a sinner. You know facing capital punishment, he's there, he's he's dying.

He's abrupt about to breathe his last breath. And yet Jesus says to him and me. He says to Jesus first, remember me when you come into your kingdom and Jesus said to him, truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.

And so, yes, there is hope. We should never give up hope on an individual, even if if they're on their last breath. We have to pray that the Lord would cause the light of his truth to shine through in their hearts and and I believe 100%. I joined the Lord can save someone now there's a thing it's not wise for us to think to ourselves, to live my life for myself and then once I'm on my deathbed, and a call on the name of Jesus and he's just gonna forgive me and it'll be all good and so II remember long ago prior to walking with the Lord is the think like that. I think to do my own thing and then when I'm when I when I've had my fun. I'll add some religion to my life. All all you know start going to church or embrace Jesus after I've after I've done my own thing I really want to follow him. Now will that's that's a bad idea today is the day of salvation. And we don't know what tomorrow holds for us and so we we turn to the Lord now and for individuals who are in that state on their death bed, then there is the hope that the possibility of salvation. Because God is able to open the heart intent to redeem and so thank you for again for your encouragement and for that question. And as you said, never a good idea to wait because were all just in our car accident. Her brain aneurysm away from meeting or make a right.

Yeah, it's just right and in and also any. I think one of things we miss there is there is nothing better than knowing the Lord and knowing his love and and what we think, oh boy, I you know II want to go and live my life and have fun but but in his presence is fullness of joy and so if if you're someone who you know you think about God you think about Jesus and you think she just seems so boring. I want to live my own life and then maybe later get some religion we you don't understand who Jesus is. How Grady is how good he is, his love for you that that the joy that is found in him and in his spirit, and so we should waste no time in turning to him and in drawing near to him in getting to know him, I meant you're listening to core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez.

Let's go to Linda in Pasadena, California Linda, what's your question wondering about what the best responses are a Christian who has hurt somebody and has asked for forgiveness and that person has told them that they have been forgiven that they forgive them, but it just continually keeps getting brought up like it it it doesn't feel like it has been forgiven and basically liked their best way to respond that you just keep apologizing.

How do you even understand what to do what we need is love in the Christian life. Thank you for that for that question, Linda mom, my mind goes to Paul's words in first Corinthians chapter 13 the work we had a group of Christians were poor in the Corinthian church.

If you're from there with the church at Corinth and they had a lot of issues immorality in the church.

They were suing each other. There were dividing.

They were not getting along as brothers and sisters in Christ that were not forgiving each other as they should. And so Paul gives first Corinthians 13 not as as you know, like that the forever Scripture to read it weddings you know that it's kind of what they will people treated as what it is really is. It's a rebuke to the Corinthians he saying, look, this is what love is and it's the opposite of how you guys have been living in and he says in verse four love is patient and kind.

Love does not envy or boast, it is not arrogant or rude does not insist on its own way. It is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

That in and hear it in the context there is also the just a sense of love, not keeping a record of of wrong. It doesn't rejoice in wrongdoing rejoices in the truth it's it's not continually bringing these things up now. Forgiveness is an easy thing we know and and I think you can truly forgive someone and yet still feel pain know from from what's happened and I think part of forgiveness is not continuing to hold onto that and hurt the other person or hold that against them. It's it's saying look were going to forgive work in a free this other person from this this debt that they owe because they've sinned against us. And so I think the best thing in. In this situation is just to talk and and to have a conversation about hey, what does it mean to forgive and and more specifically, what does it look like for us for us to love each other within the body of Christ. Love does not keep a record of wrong I think of even how the Lord has loved us a note with the psalmist as if if you will, Lord, should mark iniquities who could stand but with you there is forgiveness that you may be feared. In other words God if if you were just keeping a record of all all my my wrongdoing.

If you were just now tallying it up and and there was no forgiveness of the who could stand if you are just bringing it up over and over again. None of us we would be we would be dust, but with you there is forgiveness and so I think drawing from that forgiveness we've received from the Lord. Understanding his love toward us and extending that love toward each other and win. The fault is brought up again saying okay, let's work through this. Let's forgiving anything because that's just the of forgiveness is messy, sometimes those things happen but but identifying that for what it is and working through it and striving to love one another. Publishing. Next, Linda. This is core Christianity. One quick question for we go today.

This is a YouTube question from one of our viewers, they say, could you please unpack Matthew 1338 through 39 about the tears or children of the evil one is just talking about the Sons of perdition. Thank you. Yeah, here you this is so that I love this question because I've just been reading through Matt in the mornings and was thinking about this just just the other day so you have that the these tears that are so in in the field of the master and the enemy.

Verse 39 who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age. The reapers are the Angels now who are these tears will, in the context of Matthew's gospel. If you just turn a little bit ahead to Matthew chapter 15 Jesus says, referring to the Pharisees and to the scribes in Matthew 15 verse 13. Every plant that my heavenly father has not planted will be uprooted.

So here it seems like in the in the context of these tears are those religious leaders who have no external image of being faithful of being religious but what they don't have is the gospel.

They don't believe in Jesus, they don't belong to Jesus. They haven't been planted by Jesus and so appreciate that question. May the Lord bless you and thanks for listening. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer.

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