Core Christianity

Episode 641 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. Why did God place the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the garden? 2. Is purgatory a biblical doctrine? 3. Is having a prayer language biblical? 4. Does fasting have to be from all food? In our church we say fasting can be giving up anything that we think we can't do without. I am a dia...

Episode 640 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. A friend of mine has bought into the teachings of a New Age guru who has told her that she is the reincarnation of Mary Magdalene and that Jesus is her husband. I was reminded when you spoke about 1 John and our need to use discernment when testing the spirit. I am wondering if I need to take a...

Episode 639 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. I'm still relatively new to the faith. Recently I've been confused about the meaning of 1st John chapter 3 verse 4. There are a lot of discrepancies regarding that verse, and many are using it to say that we must uphold God's law, including the sabbath. I ended up going deep down the rabbit hole...

Episode 638 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. How should the church observe communion and take the Lord's Supper? 2. Must a born again Christian be extremely zealous about the things of the Lord? 3. Should pastors perform special prayers just for men in the worship service? 4. In Mark 11:24, Jesus says, "I tell you, whatever you ask in pray...

Episode 637 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. I am a convicted felon. I know that Jesus has forgiven me for my past sins, but even after paying my due to society, it seems that I am forever marked by my past. How can I find rest when every day society reminds me of my past sins? 2. What is Lent, and why do some churches practice it and othe...

Episode 636 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. Does the story of Judas prove that suicide is the unpardonable sin? Help is available – Speak with someone 24/7 at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255 2. I would like to tithe, but my spouse does not want to. Should I tithe out of my own paycheck? 3. How do I address my pastor...

Episode 635 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. As a new Christian I find myself ashamed of myself for turning my back to Christ. How does one returning to the faith overcome the sense of shame and accept the love of Christ once again into my life? 2. How do you comfort someone whose teenage son died unexpectedly and the parent has no assuran...

Episode 634 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. I struggle with pornography. I know it's wrong and a sin and I hate that I am so weak. When I fail I stay away from God for a little while because I am ashamed and am not worthy. Even though I know I am forgiven, my brain just cannot comprehend that God can forgive me over and over again for the...

Episode 633 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. What are the marks in a church we keep an eye out for when we are looking for a new church to attend? 2. I have heard some people say that the true Sabbath is on Saturday, and if we do not observe the Seventh-Day Sabbath then this does not make us eligible for salvation. Is this true? 3. The Old...

Episode 632 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. If John was administering baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and Jesus was sinless, why did Jesus get baptized? 2. Should Christians be cremated or buried when they die? 3. I run a 12 step program and I use 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 where Paul talks about temptation to help those in the program....

Episode 631 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. I am naturally interested in studying the bible and theological books. I also have a young family and while my wife is not uninterested in these things, I also know it would not be ideal for us as a family to read and discuss the types of things I am naturally drawn to, theologically speaking. I...

Episode 630 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com   1. What book or character in the bible is most underrated or glossed over in our churches? 2. In Luke 9, Jesus sends out His apostles to proclaim the Kingdom of God, yet a few verses later after Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ, Jesus commands them not to tell this to anyone. What were the apo...

Episode 629 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. How do you explain the doctrine of the Trinity to young children? My kids understand that Jesus is God but have a hard time understanding the idea of other persons in the identity of God. 2. Do we have to keep forgiving someone who keeps sinning against us? 3. Jesus say He will send the Holy Spi...

Episode 628 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions.   CoreChristianity.com   1. What generation is passing away in Matthew 24:34? 2. How should the church view cultural changes in regards to homosexuality? 3. In Genesis 9, it says that "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image." Does this mean that the bible condones capital...

Episode 627 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. Are there certain scripture passages you can point me to that helps us find God's will for our lives? 2. In Deuteronomy 32:52-53, it seems as if God is being vengeful toward Moses. Is God vengeful? 3. I have recently gone through multiple traumatic experiences and I am having trouble find joy in...

Episode 626 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. If God knew that Lucifer was going to betray him, why did he create him in the first place? 2. Are there any biblical principles to handle conflict in marriage? 3. Should I leave my church if I disagree with the political endorsements of my pastor even though he is doctrinally sound? 4. I don't...

Episode 625 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. In Colossians 1:24, Paul says, "I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions…." What does he mean by Christ's afflictions lacking? 2. What kind of future awaits for us in heaven, what will heaven be like? 3. I fully believe in...

Episode 624 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. In James 1:2, it tells us, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds." How does joy help us face life's trials? 2. In Esther 4, when it says that Esther has been born for "such a time as this," does this apply to our lives as well? 3. How can we help non-believers com...

Episode 623 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. Is it a contradiction when it says "faith without works is dead" when faith is a gift and works are things that we do? 2. Lately I have felt a strong call to start fasting, but I do not know much about fasting. How do I draw close to God as I fast and how do I determine how long and how often to...

Episode 622 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. Why do Christians need the church when our own bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit? Didn't the tearing of the veil signify that God could not be contained by a building? 2. In Matthew 27, it says that other people other than Jesus were raised from the dead. Do we know anything about who these...

Episode 621 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. I am a family man and a faithful member at my church. However, I have lingering feelings of discontentment in my life. Because of this I then find myself feeling guilty that I am not always fully and completely satisfied with the blessings I have—I want to be grateful and thank the Lord for ever...

Episode 620 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. I am going through the bible with my 12yo son, and there are strange instances in the bible like the Sons of God in Genesis 6 and the witch of Endor in 1 Samuel that really trip him up when reading scripture. So much so that it is hard for him to focus on the bigger picture of scripture and the...

Episode 619 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. I am wondering if you have any advice on when and when not to bring up current events or pop culture into your bible teaching? I am a bible teacher and note that some preachers bring up current issues and make pop-culture references non-stop while others never mention these things. Any advice on...

Episode 618 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. I know that it has been said on the program before that Christianity isn't about us living our best life, but does that mean that it does not help us live a better life at all? I know you are trying to avoid teachings like the prosperity gospel, but the book of Proverbs, for instance, seems to t...

Episode 617 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions. Show Notes CoreChristianity.com 1. I was wondering if you could offer some scriptural advice on whether or not believers should watch shows like The Chosen. On the one hand, I think that it's a faithful representation of the character of Jesus and the disciples. And while it does take creative liberties, I don't think any of the...