If you could ask JUST 1 QUESTION
what would you ask the church?
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Some of the questions below were asked during a local street fair, West Allis "AlaCarte."
Stop by our tent on Sunday, June 2, 2013 at West Allis AlaCarte.
12 Noon – 6 PM on Greenfield Avenue between 70th and 76th Street
One of the area’s most popular street festivals,
AlaCarte offers a family oriented blend of food,
FREE entertainment stages, unique vendors,
games, activities and much more!
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Is my faith strong enough?
Am I going to heaven? Some Christians mistakenly look inward for the answer by asking themselves:
"Have I really given my life to God?"
"Have I done enough for God?"
"Is God on the throne of my heart?"
Instead of asking, “Is my faith strong enough,” we should ask, “What did Jesus do for me?” Jesus paid for our sins in full. God says he forgave ALL of our sins while we were still dead in sin and incapable of doing any good works (Colossians 2:13). Our sins have been forgiven on account of Jesus’ name (1 John 2:12).
If you worry whether or not you have faith, then look to Jesus and what he did for you. He has given you eternal life as a free gift. Do you want to believe this? If so, then God has already given you faith in Jesus as your Savior.
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).
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Will you baptize my child?
- Good Shepherd’s regularly baptizes children (including infants) whose parents are not members of our congregation. Please contact one of our pastors to discuss the baptism of your child.
Jesus says, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Mark 10:14).
We (adults, children, and infants) are all sinners who need a Savior. In Psalm 51:5 we read: “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” (also see Romans 3:9-10; Genesis 6:5; Romans 3:22-23).
Jesus paid for the sins of everyone (“the whole world”), including children and infants. In 1 John 2:2 God tells us, “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (also see John 1:29; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
Faith in Jesus is a gift from God. We do not do anything to receive faith from God. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
The Scriptures show that children and infants can have faith in Jesus. “…from the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise” (Psalm 8:1-2 and Matthew 21:15-16). “For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you.” (Psalm 71:5-6). “And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.” (Mark 9:42). “…from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:14-15).
Jesus tells us to baptize the people of “all nations” (Matthew 28:18-20).
God can bring infants to faith through the Word of God in baptism. “…baptism that now saves you…” (1 Peter 3:20-21). “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).
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Who is Jesus Christ?
- “Christ” is a title meaning “anointed.” “Christ” is a Greek New Testament word, the same as the Hebrew Old Testament word, “Messiah.”
The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is fully God (John 1:1; Isaiah 9:6), fully human (John 1:14; Romans 8:3; Galatians 4:4-5), our Creator (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16), and our Savior from sin (John 3:16; 1 Peter 3:18).
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is fully God and fully human. This is why He could live a sinless life in our place and die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. The Son is NOT a created being as some people teach. The Son is the One True God, who humbled Himself for our sake, and became fully human, to be our Redeemer from sin.
One of our interactive Bible Studies answers this question in more depth, Who Is Jesus Christ?
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Is anyone of any denomination welcome at your church?
- In the Bible we read that God “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3-5 – NIV2011).
Everyone is invited to worship at Good Shepherd’s. We have guests at worship on most Sundays. Common visitor questions about worship at Good Shepherd’s are answered at worship FAQ.
Some of our worship visitors simply wish to see what Lutheran worship is like. Others come somewhat regularly, as a variation to worship at their non-Lutheran congregations. All are welcome.
Some of our worship visitors are looking for a new church home. People from a variety of religious (and non-religious) backgrounds are now members of Good Shepherd’s. Good Shepherd’s community outreach seeks to reach those who have no Christian church home. It is not our place to seek those who already have a church home, where they hear the gospel message (John 10:16), but we gladly welcome those who are looking for a new church home, or who have none.
Our pastors are always happy when asked (whether by guests or members) “Where is that taught in the Bible?” Some churches teach the basics (like the Nicene Creed), and then say we cannot know for certain other Christian teachings. Good Shepherd’s is not like that. We follow Christ’s command to teach all that God reveals in Scripture (Matthew 28:20; Deuteronomy 12:32; also see Deuteronomy 4:2; Matthew 5:18-19; Luke 24:25; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; Revelation 22:19.)
Everyone is welcome to come visit Good Shepherd’s worship and/or Bible studies as often as they wish. Everyone is invited to ask our pastors, “Where is that taught in Scripture?”
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Is creation faith and evolution science?
- Creation and evolution are two competing explanations of origins. Both share the same observable evidence: the same fossils and rocks, the same plants and animals, the same stars. So why two explanations instead of one?
World Views Everyone interprets observable facts based upon their own prior views. This is why creationists believe that a particular observable fact clearly confirms creation, while evolutionists believe that the same observable fact clearly confirms evolution. Both creationists and evolutionists have problems understanding how some of the evidence fits their position. Both have proposed unproven solutions to their respective problems.
Creation Creation starts with the view that there is a Creator God as described in the Bible. Creationists interpret observable evidence in light of this. Less than 15,000 years ago, God created time, space, and everything in the entire universe. He did this in six days of ordinary length. During those 6 days God created every “kind” of plant and animal. The Biblical “kind” is not the same as any modern taxonomic rank (species, genus, family, order, etc.), although for many living things it may be closest to “family.” Significant variation has developed within each kind, due to natural selection. No new kinds ever develop, but some kinds have gone extinct. Creationists believe there was a planet wide flood which covered the entire earth. Most creationists believe this single flood produced most fossils.
Evolution Evolutionists start with the view that all things — living and non-living — came into existence naturally. If there is a God, he had nothing to do with origins. Evolutionists interpret observable evidence in light of this. [Many Christians believe that God used evolution as a means of creation. Even these “theistic evolutionists” normally interpret facts as though God had nothing to do with origins.] There are many evolutionary views, but the following is commonly held by most evolutionists. About 13.7 billion years ago, an infinitesimally small point rapidly expanded (the big bang) producing time, space, and energy. Then energy cooled becoming elements of matter. These lighter elements were pulled together by gravity to form stars. Stars made the heavier elements, which later formed naturally into planets. Living things came naturally from non-living chemicals. The first one-celled life forms gradually changed into all the various plants and animals. Evolutionists reject the possibility of a planet wide flood on earth. They believe fossils and rock layers were laid down over hundreds of millions of years.
Is One More Scientific Than the Other? Creationists and evolutionists each use science. Their starting views serve as judge over all scientific investigation. Evolutionists reject all interpretations that would imply a Creator God, such as the strong evidence pointing to a worldwide flood, and that life cannot come from non-life, because that would go against their starting view of natural causes.
Our Creator In the Bible we learn the truth of our origins from God, the one being who was there at the very beginning. The world God created was a paradise. There was no disease or death. God created Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, who had a very close and loving relationship with God.
Suffering and Death So much changed when Adam and Eve rebelled against God. Their entire thinking was corrupted. Now they had evil thoughts and desires. They no longer loved and trusted God. Suffering and death entered the world because of their rebellion (Romans 5:12). We, as their descendants, also have this spirit of rebellion against God. That is why, by nature, we are so enticed by evolution with its promise to eliminate the need for God. Adam and Eve’s rebellion against God (their sin) separated them from God, just as our sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 8:7).
GOD’S ANSWER God answers our rebellion (our sin) with love. The Bible tells us in the book of John, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV)
God is carrying out His plan to restore creation to its original state of perfection. He desires to give everyone, including you, the free gift of eternal life with Him in heaven (Revelation 21:4).
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Why should I trust the Bible?
- Hundreds of books are available giving overwhelming evidence and solid reasons to trust the Bible. Many Bible statements can be confirmed through history, archeology, anthropology, astronomy, and other fields. These "proofs" will never convince a skeptic to believe in God, although some skeptics have been led by this evidence to study the Bible and become believers in Christ Jesus.
The Bible is "self authenticating." God himself convinces us that the Bible is true as we hear the Bible message. Read the Bible and hear God speak to you through its pages. It is through the Gospel message in the Bible that God brings us to faith and strengthens our faith.
Romans 10:17 Romans 16:25-26
The Word Of God (the Bible) calls itself a "double-edged sword", "flawless", "a light for my path", "seed", "the sword of the Spirit", "the power of God", "fire", and "a hammer that breaks a rock." Hebrews 4:12 Psalm 12:6 Psalm 119:105 Luke 8:4-15 Ephesians 6:17 Romans 1:16-17 Jeremiah 23:29
Jesus said, "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4
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Do we know much about who Jesus really was?
- TV and magazines often have a show or cover story about the “Real Jesus.” They always interview several “experts” who say that Jesus is someone other than the Jesus described in the Bible. These so called “experts” do not believe what the Bible says about Jesus. They invent the “Real Jesus” from their own imagination.
The Bible tells us that Jesus is fully God (John 1:1; Isaiah 9:6), fully human (John 1:14; Romans 8:3; Galatians 4:4-5), our Creator (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16), and our Savior from sin (John 3:16; 1 Peter 3:18).
Jesus, the Son of God, is fully God and fully human. This is why He could live a sinless life in our place and die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. The Son is NOT a created being as some people teach. The Son is the One True God, who humbled Himself for our sake, and became fully human, to be our Redeemer from sin.
See the interactive Bible study "Who Is Jesus Christ?
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I would like to know more about Mary after Jesus’ death.
- The Bible provides very little information about Jesus’ mother, Mary, especially after Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Mary was present when Jesus was on the cross. At that time Jesus directed his disciple John to take care of Mary, and John did so (John 19:26-27).
Mary was with the disciples just after Jesus’ ascension to heaven. In Acts 1:12-14 we read, “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”
The Acts passage above mentions the brothers of Jesus. These brothers are named in Matthew 13:55-56, “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us?...” Jesus’ brothers are also mentioned in Matthew 12:46-50. These passages are good evidence that Mary gave birth to children after Jesus was born. It is also possible that these brothers and sisters of Jesus were children of Joseph from a previous marriage, or even cousins of Jesus. Regardless of the exact relationship, these brothers and sisters of Jesus would certainly have played a role in the later years of Mary’s life.
Jesus’ brothers initially rejected Jesus as the Messiah, “For even his own brothers did not believe in him” (John 7:5). After Jesus rose from the dead, some or all of his brothers and sisters came to faith. James, the brother of Jesus, was probably the author of the Biblical book of James and the leader of the Christian congregation in Jerusalem.
Mary died in Jerusalem around 47 AD, according to Christian tradition.
Mary is a wonderful example for us all, a hero of the faith. Like all the heroes of faith mentioned in Scripture, Mary was a sinner who needed a Savior. We sometimes would like to know more about these heroes of faith, but God has chosen to not provide those additional details. The central message of all 66 books in the Bible is about Jesus our Savior.
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What happens at the end of the world?
- God is the definition of perfect and total love. God is love. 1 John 4:7-10
God is also the definition of perfect fairness and justice. Job 34:12 Deuteronomy 32:4 Deuteronomy 10:17 Jeremiah 9:24
God is the lawgiver. He is not under any law, since His very nature and being define right and wrong, justice, fairness, and love. God cannot be held to any standard, for He is the highest standard, the standard to which everything is compared. Isaiah 40:25 Job 4:17 Job 21:22 Isaiah 33:22 Matthew 5:48
God must punish sin in keeping with His fairness, justice, and righteousness. Nahum 1:3 Daniel 9:14 Psalm 5:4-6 Ezekiel 18:23
At the end of the world, everyone who has ever lived will face God the Righteous Judge. Hebrews 9:27 2 Corinthians 5:10 Romans 2:5 Hebrews 4:13
Everyone who ever lived and trusted in Jesus, received Christ's righteousness as their own, and will be judged sinless. They will spend eternity in heaven with God, where there will be no pain or suffering, only happiness and great joy. Those who did not receive Christ's righteousness (who did not believe in Jesus their Savior) will receive the just punishment for their rebellion (their sin). They will spend eternity completely separated from God in hell. John 3:36 John 5:24 Mark 16:16 Matthew 25:46 2 Thessalonians 1:8-10
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Why are there so many churches?
- All who believe in Jesus as their Savior are one in Christ Jesus. We desire that all Christians would also unite in one visible Christian church, but our hope is unfulfilled, since we are divided in what we teach and believe.
God desires that all Christians be united in their full acceptance of the teachings of Scripture. In 1 Corinthians 1:10 we read, “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.” God wants us to faithfully accept everything that is in the Scriptures. We are not to ignore any of God’s teachings. Deuteronomy 4:2; Deuteronomy 12:32; Matthew 5:18-19; Matthew 28:20; Luke 24:25; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; Revelation 22:19.
While God desires Christians to agree on ALL teachings, few churches today agree on even the most basic of Christian teachings. A large portion of Christian churches teach things contrary to Scripture: they falsely teach that Christ did NOT physically rise from the dead, they falsely teach that we must do good works to gain salvation, they falsely teach that the Bible is filled with errors, and they falsely teach that God did NOT punish Jesus for our sins.
Christians who do not accept Biblical correction, but instead advocate false teachings, cause a division between believers. God commands us to separate from these false teachers. In Romans 16:17 we read, “I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.” Also see 2 Thessalonians 3:6; 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15; Matthew 7:15; 2 John 1:9-11.
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Why is there pain and suffering in the world?
- In the beginning pain and suffering did not exist. God had created a perfect world without pain, disease, or death. Genesis 1:31 Deuteronomy 32:4 Romans 5:12
Adam and Eve were the first man and woman. They are the ancestors of every human being. Genesis 3:20
Adam and Eve lived in complete joy and contentment without pain or suffering of any kind. They had a perfect and close relationship with God. That relationship with God was the center of their lives, their very purpose for living. Everything changed when Adam and Eve rebelled against God. This corrupted their entire thinking. They now had evil thoughts and desires. Their rebellion and corrupt thinking (sin) separated them from God. We, as their descendants, have inherited this will of rebellion against God (sin). Just as it did with Adam and Eve, our sin separates us from God too. Isaiah 59:2 Romans 8:7
We are all sinners. Ecclesiastes 7:20 1 John 1:8 Romans 3:10 Psalm 53:3
A consequence of sin is death. Romans 5:12 Romans 6:23
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What is God's answer to pain and suffering?
- As mentioned above, pain, suffering, and death are a result of our rebellion against God. Our rebellion breaks our relationship with God. God answers our rebellion (our sin) with love, by carrying out His plan to restore creation to its original state of perfection (with no pain, suffering, or death) through Jesus Christ. Revelation 21:4 Romans 8:21 Acts 3:21 1 Corinthians 15:26
God's plan is this: He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to live a sinless perfect life in our place, to die an innocent death on the cross to pay for our sins, and to rise from the dead. Jesus did all this. Jesus offers everyone an exchange. Jesus gives us his perfect life and innocent death (His righteousness) in exchange for our sins. Everyone who trusts in Jesus as their Savior receives that free gift of righteousness in exchange for their sins. 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 1 Peter 3:18 Romans 5:19 John 3:16 Romans 3:21-24 2 Corinthians 5:21
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I've never read the Bible before. Where is the best place to start?
- One recommendation would be to start by reading the first three chapters of Genesis, then read the entire books of Luke and Acts. The important thing is to start reading the Bible and continue to do so. Set aside a time each day for Bible reading, such as during lunch, when you first get up in the morning, or just before bed. To read the entire Bible in one year, daily readings are available at DailyReading.
Your Bible probably has an index listing the order of the 66 books in the Bible. The 39 Old Testament books are first. Genesis is the first Old Testament book, so it is also the first book in the Bible. Luke and Acts are the 3rd and 5th books of the New Testament. They are located about 1/5 of the way from the end of the Bible.
Genesis chapters 1-3 contain the historical account of creation and the fall into sin. Here is found the reason why there is pain and suffering, and why we need a Savior from sin who will restore creation to its original perfection. You'll see why we wear clothes, the origin of marriage, and why a week is 7 days long. Moses wrote the book of Genesis in about 1,450 BC.
Luke is the historical account of the 33-year earthly life of Jesus Christ. It was written by a physician named Luke in about 61-63 AD.
Acts is the historical account of the Christian church covering about 30-62 AD. It is a continuation of the book of Luke. Luke wrote Acts around 62-64 AD.
Many people, books, and websites may have told you conflicting stories about God and what the Bible says. Why not go to the source and read the Bible yourself? The Bible tells us everything we need to know about God and His great love for everyone. The central theme of the Bible is Jesus Christ. You can be like the 1st century Christians living in the city of Berea, who checked the Bible to see if what they were told about God was true. Acts 17:11
Good Shepherd's would be glad to give you a printed Bible as a gift. Just stop by our church and request one.
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Where did the Bible come from?
- The Bible (the Scriptures, the Word Of God) is a collection of 66 books, written over a period of about 1,550 years (roughly 1,450 BC – 100 AD), by many different prophets and apostles, living in several different countries. God guided these people as they wrote the Bible (God inspired them).
2 Peter 1:20-21 Galatians 1:11-12 Ephesians 3:3-5 2 Timothy 3:16
The Bible is The Word Of God, not the word of humans. 1 Thessalonians 2:13
The Bible has 2 parts, The Old Testament and the New Testament. The 39 books comprising the Old Testament were written in Hebrew with a few parts in Aramaic. The 27 books comprising the New Testament were written in Greek. There are many English translations of the Bible. Some translations are more faithful to the original, while other translations are loose paraphrases that change some of the meaning. This website generally uses the New International Version 1984 (NIV-84) English translation.
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Could we pray for the abuse of animals in this country?
- Yes, we certainly can pray for the end of animal abuse.
The Bible has much to say about our care for animals and for everything else God gives us.
In Psalm 50:10-12 we read; “For every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. …for the world is mine, and all that is in it.” God created everything that exists. He claims everything as His own. God even claims all people as His own, because He created us and redeemed us (redeemed means He paid for our sins on the cross). In Isaiah 43:1b God says, “you are mine.” For more on this see parts 1 and 2 of this Bible study.
God gives us the world for our use. In Genesis 1:28 God tells us to subdue the earth and rule over all the animals. He also tells us to be good stewards (caretakers) of all He gives us, which includes the animals. “A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel” (Proverbs 12:10). “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain” (Deuteronomy 25:4).
Not only does God tell us to care for animals, God himself personally cares for animals and sees to their needs.
Luke 12:6-7 “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Matthew 6:25-27 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”
In these Bible passages from Luke and Matthew, Jesus is making the point that we should trust God for our earthly needs. God cares for the birds, and we are more valuable than birds, so God will certainly care for us also.
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What is Epiphany?
- January 6 is Epiphany, when we celebrate the making known of Jesus to the non-Jews, and remember the wise men who visited the baby Jesus.
There are many misconceptions about the wise men. Scripture does not say how many there were, but since they brought 3 gifts for Jesus, some assume that maybe there were 3 wise men. The wise men did not visit Jesus on the day he was born, as the shepherds had. The wise men visited months later, after Mary and Joseph had moved into a house in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:11).
The wise men were not Jews, but came from another country to worship the baby Jesus. God had selected the Jews as His chosen people, but Scripture is also clear that God also chooses everyone from every race and country to be His own (Romans 10:12-13; Colossians 3:11). God offers eternal life in heaven to every person of every race, gender, or position in life, even the worst of criminals (Galatians 3:28; 1 Timothy 2:3-5; 1 Timothy 1:15-16).
We pray: Lord thank you so much for loving me and all people everywhere. I know I will have eternal life in heaven, because Jesus paid the penalty for my sins and for the sins of everyone else too. I praise You for making me an heir of eternal life. Amen
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Worship
