QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (120)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   Each month on the first Sunday of the month, we have a Q&A lesson. 

1.    Today is the 120^th Q&A lesson.

2.    In other words, we have been doing Q&A lessons for the past 10 years.

3.    We have answered approximately 360 questions in those 10 years.

 

B.   Recently, I typed in a question to Chat GPT and the AI program never gave me an answer. 

1.    I thought that was interesting since AI programs search years of information from all over the globe. 

2.    In another lesson, I will you tell you more about the question that I asked.

 

C.   Today is the first Sunday of March, 2026.  It is our Q&A Sunday.  In this lesson, we will be answering three questions.

 

I.             QUESTION #1:  The Holy Kiss

 

A.   Stated:  We say that we follow the Bible.  In Romans 16:16, Paul tells us to “salute one another with a holy kiss.”  Why don’t we practice this today?

 

B.   Answer:

1.    Let’s begin with the word “salute.” 

a.    The definition of the word is literally “to enfold with the arms.”

It involves a welcome or a greeting.

b.    In every other place this Greek word is connected to the word “kiss” it is translated “greet.”

1)    “…Greet ye one another with an holy kiss” (1 Cor. 16:20).

2)    “Greet one another with an holy kiss” (2 Cor. 13:12).

3)    “Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss” (1 Thess. 5:26).

4)    “Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity…” (1 Pet. 5:14).

2.    Two main thoughts to keep in mind.

a.    A kiss of greeting was prevalent in the first century culture long before these words were written in the New Testament. 

1.    Paul was not commanding the kiss per se. 

2.    This would have been done even if Paul and Peter never wrote these words. 

3.    Think about this.  Romans was not written until about A.D. 56 or 57.  Did members of the church greet each other with a kiss before the book was written?  Absolutely.

b.    Paul and Peter were not so much legislating the kiss, but the type of kiss members of the church were to give one another.

1)    Paul refers to it as a “holy” kiss.  Peter calls it a kiss of “charity” or love.

2)    These descriptions forbid other types of kisses.

a)    Sensual kisses

b)    Hypocritical kisses

c)    Deceptive kisses

d)    Dutiful kisses

e)    Unaffectionate kisses

3)    Remember Judas’ kiss given to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane? (Luke 22:48).

 

But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?

 

4)    NOTE:  There may have been some in the church who wondered whether it was appropriate to exchanged kisses as Christians because they can be intimate in nature.  The apostles answer the question with a “yes.”  However, make certain it is holy and loving.

 

II.           QUESTION #2:  Evil Spirits Knew Jesus

 

A.   Stated:  How did evil spirits know who Jesus was during His earthly ministry?

 

B.   Answer:

1.    The first century was “the age of miracles.”

2.    During Jesus’ ministry, Jesus performed all kinds of miracles.  In his sermon on the day of Pentecost, Peter reminded the Jews of these miracles (Acts 2:22).

 

Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know.

 

3.    These signs were designed to show the power that Jesus had over various things.

a.    Power over the elements.

b.    Power over sicknesses and disease.

c.    Power over the processes of nature.

d.    Power over time and space.

e.    Power over death.

4.    God also wanted to prove to humanity that Jesus had power over Satan and his allies. 

a.    How was this to be done?

b.    It was done by allowing evil spirits to possess the bodies of various individuals.  Then, by the command of our Lord, they would be cast out from them (Ex., Mark 1:23-26)

1)    “And there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit…” (v. 23).

2)    “And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him” (v. 25).

3)    “And when the unclean spirit had torn him and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him” (v. 26).

5.    When Jesus came into contact with these evil spirits, they often knew Him and acknowledge Him (See Mark 1:24).

 

Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth?  art thou come to destroy us?  I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

 

a.    The questioner wants to know, how did these spirits know who Jesus was?”

b.    If these evil spirits were the angels that aligned themselves with the devil, the answer is simple.

1)    Prior to inhabiting a human body, these beings resided in the unseen realm.

2)    They had rebelled against God, were cast out, and sentenced to eternal condemnation (Matt. 25:41).  Thus, they knew all of the members of the Godhead very well.

3)    When God set His plan in motion to redeem man, the devil and his angels paid close attention.  They followed the Christ from conception to the cross.

4)    When their paths crossed during the earthly ministry of Jesus, they did not hesitate to acknowledge Him (See also Mark 3:11; 5:7).

a)    They identified Jesus as the Son of God.

b)    They pled for Him not to torment them before the appointed time.

c)    They submitted themselves to the command of Jesus to come out of those.

 

III.         QUESTION #3:  Chimala Mission

 

A.   Stated:  What mission work will we be supporting in the month of March?

 

B.   Answer:

1.    Last month we help support the work at Dean Road.  The OceanSide congregation in the amount of $3,069.00.  This was the amount contributed over budget in February.

2.    This month, we are focused on the Chimala Mission Work in Tanzania, Africa.  We have supported this work for about the last four years. 

a.    This will be the fifth year that we have supported this work.

b.    The Location:

 

           

 

1.    Basic Facts:

a.    Population:  59.73 million people

b.    The people:  120 different indigenous people

c.    Religion:  Muslim (1/3), Christian (1/3), Traditional (1/3)

2.    A brief history:

a.    Eldred Echols was the first to attempt to enter the country as a missionary in 1948.  He was denied permission to enter.

b.    Churches in the United States purchased two farms in Tanzania that enabled American to enter the country.

c.    When the country received its independence from Britain in 1961, the government informed the churches of Christ that some type of benevolent or social service had to be rendered to the country.

d.    This is what began the medical facility in Chamala.

1)    Andrew and Claudene Connally founded the hospital.

2)    The Park Row church of Christ in Arlington, TX oversaw the work.

3)    490 acres were purchased.

4)    A hospital was built for 50 patients, and there was an out-patient clinic.

3.    Oversight and missionaries

a.    The Delraida church of Christ in Montgomery, AL.

 

 

b.    Hal Ferguson is the stateside coordinator.

 

 

c.    Hal’s son, Nathan, and his family are missionaries in Tanzania at this time.

 

 

4.    Five major aspects of the work

a.    The preacher training school

 

 

b.    The hospital

 

 

c.    The two schools

 

 

d.    The farm

 

 

e.    The outreach to the churches in the country

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   In this Q&A lesson, we have studied:

1.    Kisses

2.    Evil spirits

3.    Mission work

 

B.   Let’s conclude with three thoughts.

1.    Let’s greet one another warmly, sincerely, and lovingly.

2.    Evil spirits will one day be condemned to a devil’s hell.

3.    Let’s give generously to the mission word in Tanzania, Africa.