OceanSide church of Christ




Click here to see all of the YouTube videos belonging to OceanSide
(opens in a new browser)

 Previous Return to Sermons Next  Click to download Audio

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (80)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

  1. There are questions that can be, and perhaps, need to be asked about every aspect of our lives.

 

  1. Recently, I read an article entitled:  “24 Crucial Questions about Finding Success and Happiness.”

 

  1. Often we are scared to ask questions about our lives.  Why?  Because we do not really want to hear the answers. 

1.       The answers reveal weaknesses and failures.

2.       The answers expose our shortcomings.

3.       The answers bring emotions like anger and fear to the forefront.

 

  1. Those who answer questions, however, and who answer them honestly can get a handle on where they are and where they really want to go in life.

 

  1. Our Q&A Sunday always revolves around Bible topics.  Most of the time these questions are asked in order for us to gain spiritual insight and understanding.

 

  1. In this lesson, we are going to be examining three questions. 

 

I.                    QUESTION #1:  Emmaus Walks

 

A.     Stated:  Do denominations get the retreat "Emmaus walks" from Luke 24:13-34?  What is their purpose?

 

B.      Answer:

1.       The Emmaus Walks are connected to the Methodist Church.

2.       However, the Methodist Church adopted the practice from the Catholics.  In Catholicism these events are known as the Cursillo Movement which originated in Majorca, Spain in the 1940s.

a.       The word “cursillo” means “little courses.

b.      The original name was “Cursillo de Christiandad” which means “little courses in Christianity” or “short-courses in Christianity.”

c.       These are weekend events.  They are open to people of all faiths.  They are presently conducted in some 60 countries throughout the world.

3.       When the Methodists adopted the practice, they desired a different name.  They took the name from the event that happened to the two men who walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus. 

a.       After Jesus departed from these men, they made an interesting statement recorded in Luke 24:32.

 

And they said one to another, did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures?

 

b.      The leaders of the Methodist church who adopted this event said that they wanted this to be the experience of all who attended the Emmaus Weekend.

4.       Many other groups have taken the event and have called it by a multitude of names:  Tres Dias, Journey to Damascus, Great Banquet, Diaspora, Jubilee Journey, Discipleship Walk, Faith Walk, Journey through Faith, DeColores Ministries, , Awakening, Chrysalis (for teens), and Karios (a prison ministry).

5.       As far as the Emmaus Walks are concerned there is a governing board that oversees the events.  Too, there is an Emmaus Manual.   The Emmaus Ministries Community Manual provides a comprehensive overview and explanation for the Emmaus movement and all of the ministries, both from theological and technical perspectives” (The Upper Room Store & Resource Library - Emmaus Ministries Community Manual).

6.       The Objective:  “The objective of Emmaus is to inspire, challenge, and equip the local church members for Christian action in their homes, churches, communities, and places of work.  Emmaus lifts up a way for our grace-filled lives to be lived and shared with others” (About - Walk to Emmaus (upperroom.org).

7.       The event:

a.       It takes place on a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

b.      Fifteen spiritual topics are discussed during the weekend.

c.       There are also periods of discussion, witnessing, singing, prayer, and meditation.

8.       There are several problems with these Emmaus Walks.

a.       The movement seeks to be ecumenical in nature.

1)      Ecumenical means:  “including or contain a mixture of diverse elements and styles.  The ecumenical movement is what used to be called “unity-in-diversity.”  It is all of the religious groups getting together to agree to disagree.

2)      One verse refutes this type of so-called unity (1 Cor. 1:10).

 

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

 

b.      The teachings are based on the creeds of the religious group that is hosting the weekend. 

1)      The teachings of denominations is man-made in nature.

2)      Jesus addressed these teachings in Matthew 15:9.

 

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

 

c.       They seek to transform the community through Christian values rather than a direct appeal to the gospel.  Answer:  What caused the hearts of the men on the road to Emmaus to burn within them involved Jesus opening the Scriptures that involved His suffering and rising from the dead on the third day (See Luke 24:32, 45-46).

d.      Some feel that individuals who attend these weekends are put under too much duress.  The sessions are long.  The nights are long.  Often there is a long of emotional testimony.  This pressure causes people to often make decisions based on emotion and not rationality.  Answer:  It was Paul who said that our obedience needs to be from the heart (Rom. 6:17-18).

e.       There is also a good deal of secrecy that goes on within these events.

1)      A person has to be invited to the event by a sponsor.

2)      These individuals are carefully screened by the leaders of the event.

3)      The leadership of these meetings do not reveal what goes on in the events completely. 

4)      Too, the participants are told not to reveal the nature of the event so it can remain “special” and “sacred.” 

5)      Answer:  Christianity is not about things hidden and done in secret (See John 18:20).

 

Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.

 

II.                 QUESTION #2:  Ephesians 6:12

 

A.     Stated:  Please explain Ephesians 6:12

 

B.      Answer:

1.       Ephesians 6:12

 

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,  but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

 

2.       When we read this verse, we are somewhat confused.

a.       There are men in the world who are false teachers who seek to lead us astray.

b.      There are evil individuals in the world who try to influence us to sin.

c.       There are wicked individuals who boldly proclaim that they are enemies of God.

d.      QUESTION:  Aren’t we wrestling with these individuals in a spiritual sense? (See Jude 3, 4).

3.       There is no doubt that we have to encounter and deal with these individuals.  Even Paul had to contend with evil individuals during his years in the ministry (1 Tim. 1:19-20).

 

Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away, concerning faith have made shipwreck:  of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

 

4.       In Ephesians 6:12, however, Paul is reminding us of the source of all conflict.

a.       Evil men are influenced by evil forces in the spiritual realm.

1)      We pray for evil men.

2)      We seek to teach the truth to evil men.

3)      We do not seek revenge upon evil men.

b.      Our real battle is not with flesh and blood, but against powers of darkness in the spiritual world.

1)      Principalities

2)      Powers

3)      The rulers of the darkness of this world

4)      Spiritual wickedness in high places

c.       All of these terms indicate lofty positions that possess some type of authority.

1)      These are the ministers, servants, and angelic hosts who have submitted to Satan and are appointed to carry out his evil work throughout the world.

2)      In the unseen world, they are constantly at work. 

3)      When we hear this, we ask:  “How are they working?”  It is this question about which we have very little information.

4)      Perhaps the most influential being to keep in mind regarding our warfare is Satan himself.

a)      Jesus told Peter:  “Get thee behind me Satan” (Matt. 16:23).

b)      It was Satan who entered into the heart of Judas when he betrayed the Christ (John 13:2).

c)       Peter asked Ananias:  “Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie unto the Holy Ghost?” (Acts 5:3).

d)     And, Peter also tells us that the devil walks about “seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8).

5.       Regardless of where the evil influences come from, each one of us must resist with all of our being (1 Pet. 5:9).  If we do, the Lord has promised that he will flee from us (Jms. 4:7).

 

III.              QUESTION #3:  Grubb Mission Work in China

 

A.     Stated:  Please give us some information about the mission work involving John Grubb and his labors in China.

 

B.      Answer:

1.       China. 

 

BejingChina Map and Satellite Image

 

a.       That word brings many thoughts and emotions to mind.

b.      Politically, China is an enemy of the United States.

c.       Economically, China is one of our main suppliers of goods.

d.      It is a massive nation:  1.4 billion people compared to the United States which only has 330 million.

e.       Its government is Unitary Marxist-Leninist one-party socialist republic.

f.        Religiously:

1)      74.5%        No religion/Folk

2)      18.3%        Buddhism

3)      5.2%          Christianity

4)      1.6%          Islam

5)      0.4%          Other

2.       John Grubb began working to preach the gospel to the Chinese people in 1982.

 

A person and person posing for a picture

Description automatically generated with medium confidence

John and Beatrix Grubb

 

3.       John’s work is presently under the oversight of the Schertz church of Christ in Shertz, TX.

 

The City of Schertz Economic Development Corporation (SEDC)      

 

a.       The church has 3 elders, 4 deacons, and about 110 members.

b.      The minister is Stan Crowley.

4.       Background information on John Grubb and his work.

a.       Since the beginning in 1982, John has made more than 80 campaign trips to preach the gospel to the Chinese.  When I spoke to him, he was currently in Indonesia.  Next week, he and his wife will be traveling to Malaysia and Singapore.

b.      John has prepared himself well to do this work.

1)      He is a graduate of Freed-Hardeman University.

2)      He attended the Taipei Language Institute and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.  He speaks, reads, and can write in that language.

c.       From 1982 to 1992, he served as a missionary to Taiwan.

d.      From 1992 to December 2010, he served as Director of Chinese and Asian Programming with Truth for the World.

5.       John’s work presently:

a.       Videotaping used for TV and classrooms

1)      These are filmed at World Video Bible School.

2)      They have completed more than 185 programs.

b.      He translates and prepares materials in Chinese for use in follow-up work.  He had completed 30+ tracts and several teaching booklets.

c.       He continues to go on campaigns in Asian countries preaching and teaching the gospel.

d.      He teaches for the Four Seas College located in Singapore, an independent nation since 1965.

 

  A picture containing diagram

Description automatically generated              Malaysia | History, Flag, Map, Population, Language, Religion, & Facts |  Britannica

 

1)      This school has been in existence for 52 years.

 

        Four Seas College of Bible and Missions Archives - Singapore Six

 

2)      It is under the oversight of the Jurong church of Christ.

 

150 Attend Four Seas Lectureship – Brotherhood News

 

3)      Our over 200 graduates serve and have served in countries across Asia including Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Philippines, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka” (www.fourseas.edu.sg).

4)      The school offers:  full-time diploma program in Biblical studies, short-term extension Bible courses, an Annual Bible Lectureship, ad-hoc Bible seminars, and other programs to enrich an individual’s understanding of the Bible.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     We have learned several things in this lesson. 

1.       First, just because something appears to be Scriptural, it does not assure one that it is.

2.       Second, there are spiritual forces at work against us which cannot be seen.  The battle is bigger than just this world.

3.       Third, brother John Grubb has been and continues to be doing a fantastic work with the Asian people.  He is in need of additional support.

 

B.      We will close by asking three questions.

1.       Is thy heart right with God?

2.       What wilt thou have me to do?

3.       Why keep Jesus waiting?