QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (123)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   A teacher once said in class:  “There is no such thing as a stupid question.”  Little Johnny took that as a challenge and immediately raised his hand.  The teacher said:  “Yes, Johnny.  Do you have a question?”  Johnny said:  “When we go and buy a pair of shoes, we get two shoes.  So when we buy a parakeet, why don’t we get two birds?”

 

B.   There might be a few dumb questions about there.  The questions you ask on our Q&A Sunday are not ignorant in any way. 

1.    They challenge us.

2.    They make us think.

3.    They make the lesson enjoyable.

 

C.   In this lesson, let’s consider three of your questions.

 

I.             QUESTION #1:  Proverbs 18:24

 

A.   Stated:  There seems to be quite a difference in the way the KJV and the NKJV translated Proverbs 18:24 and the way it is translated in the ASV, NIV, and AMB.  Why the difference?

 

B.   Answer:

1.    Let’s look at the translations:

a.    We have heard Proverbs 18:24 from the KJV many, many times.

 

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly:  and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

 

b.    The NKJV is almost identical. 

 

A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

 

c.    Other versions translate the verse differently.

1)    ASV:  He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

2)    NIV:  One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

3)    AMB:  The man of too many friends [chosen indiscriminately] will be broken in pieces and come to ruin, But there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother.

2.    Explanations:

a.    There are two reasonable explanations:

1)    There could be different texts from which the various versions are translated.  However, most of the versions of the Bible have been translated from the same Hebrew texts.

2)    All of the versions could be saying the same thing.  This means that we have not been interpreting what the KJV and the NKJV are saying properly.

b.    We have been using the KJV and the NKJV to teach a principle that is true.  If a person really wants to have friends, he must show himself friendly.  Angry, stubborn, negative, selfish, and mean people have a tendency to turn people away instead of causing them to be drawn towards them.

c.    Could it be the words of the wisdom writer were really meant to teach us something much different?

1)    There are some people who desperately want certain individuals to be their friends. 

a)    In order to make them their friends they “shew themselves friendly.”  In other words, they will do almost anything and everything to make a certain person or group of persons their friend (i.e., take oaths, reject others, mistreat others, engage in evil behaviors, etc.)

b)    In such cases, the realities expressed by the ASV, NIV, and AMB are true.  They make friends to their own destruction and ruin.

2)    This makes a perfect contrast with the second part of the verse Instead of trying to make friends with everyone by doing anything, remember the importance of having one loyal friend.  This friend will not reject you or turn on you.  He will stick closer than a brother.

 

II.           QUESTION #2:  Describe the Unseen Realm

 

A.   Stated:  Describe the unseen realm.  Is Satan there?  Are angels there?

 

B.   Answer:

1.    There are things we do not have regarding the unseen realm:

a.    We do not have the words of any human being who has been there and come back to tell us all about it (See 2 Cor. 12:4).

b.    We do not have any pictures of videos of all the individuals and things that are found in that place.

c.    No maps have been provided that tell us the location of everything that is there.

2.    We have what is revealed in Scripture, and what is there leaves a lot of questions weighing upon our minds. 

a.    All three members of the Godhead are in the unseen realm.

1)    “Our Father which art in heaven…” (Matt. 6:9).

2)    “…this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven…” (Acts 1:11).

3)    “…and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove…” (Matt. 3:16).

b.    The angels are referred to as “the angels of God in heaven” (Matt. 22:30).  According to Hebrews, there is “an innumerable company of angels” (Heb. 12:22).

c.    Satan is a real being and resides in the unseen realm.  At times, he can have access to God (Job. 1:6).

 

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.

 

d.    The devil has angels who have allied with him who are in the unseen realm (Rev. 12:7).

e.    There are places in the unseen realm.

1)    Hades (The rich man and Lazarus, Luke 16:22-23)

2)    Hell cannot be seen, but it has been prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41).

 

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

 

3)    Heaven (2 Cor. 12:2)

 

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell:  God knoweth;) such a one caught up to the third heaven.

 

f.     There are objects that are said to be in the unseen realm:

1)    The throne of God (Rev. 4:2)

2)    The book of life (Rev. 20:12-15)

3)    A “great city, the holy Jerusalem” (Rev.21:10)

4)    A river of water of life (Rev. 21:1)

5)    The tree of life (Rev. 22:2).

3.    Again, there are a lot of questions that we have about the unseen realm.  When we get there, we will see it for ourselves.  The key is to get there.  Jesus provides us the “how” in Matthew 7:21.

 

Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

 

III.         QUESTION #3:  HTH School of Evangelism

 

A.   Can you tell us about the Evangelism Seminar hosted by Rob Whitaker and the arm of House to House known as “The School of Evangelism”?

 

B.   Stated:

1.    The School of Evangelism is connected with House to House, Heart to Heart of which most of us are familiar.

 

 

2.    In 2018, Rob Whitacre was brought on board to focus on training the saved to teach the lost.  He started and now directs the House to House/Heart to Heart School of Evangelism.

 

      

 

3.    School of Evangelism

1.    The school has developed six congregational steps based on seven fundamental principles to establish a Congregational evangelism model.

a.    Introduction & Vision Setting

b.    Training the Saved to Teach the Lost

c.    Establishing a Congregational Evangelism Plan

d.    Implementing the Evangelism Process

e.    Follow-Up & Accountability

f.     Evaluation & Growth

2.    They bring this school to your local congregation and implement proven methods for church growth. His techniques are simple to learn, based on scriptural principles, and have a successful track record.

3.    Recent statistics:

 

Statistics
Total Baptisms Reported from U.S. Congregations (2018–2025): 8195
Total Baptisms Reported from U.S. Congregations 2025: 2508
Total Baptisms Reported from U.S. Congregations 2026: 508
Total Restorations from U.S. Congregations (2024-2025): 950
Total Restorations from U.S. Congregations 2026: 69
Total Seminars Conducted (2018–2025): 366

 

4.    Why have we told you all of these things?

a.    Rob Whitacre will be with us on Saturday and Sunday, August 22^nd and 23^rd to conduct the School of Evangelism here.

b.    Prior to his arrival, he has several emails that he sends out to the church.  These emails include reports and videos that he would like for us to watch prior to his arrival.

c.    In the near future, you will be receiving these emails from Mike Wencel.  Read the information and watch the videos.  Most of them are from 2 to 6 minutes long.

d.    He wants us to start getting our minds directed toward evangelism.  Too, he wants us to be excited about the seminar.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   We did not mention our mission work for June in the body of his lesson.  It is the Central Florida Bible Camp.

1.    Representatives came in the past and reported on that work.

2.    We have not contributed to this camp but decided to do so this year.

3.    All money over budget will go to this work.

4.    Church camps do a great work in teaching young people the gospel of Christ.  Many young people are baptized at a youth camp.

 

B.   Jesus was soul conscious. 

1.    We are to be like Him and be soul conscious as well. 

2.    He has given a plan in the gospel (Rom. 1:16-17) that enables individuals to be saved.  It is very simple and involves five initial steps:  hear (Rom. 10:17); believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God (John 8:24); repent of sins (Luke 13:3); confess th name of Jesus Christ (Rom. 10:9-10); and be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).