“Last weekend, my husband started getting his tax records together, and like every other year, he’s figuring out ways to cheat on his taxes. He says the government would only waste the money anyway, but I’ve told him that doesn’t make it right. Am I being too picky?”
“My fiancé and I got engaged several months ago, but I’ve discovered he gets upset when he doesn’t get his way. Sometimes he’s even gotten very angry and fairly violent, although he always apologizes and says it won’t happen again. Should I be concerned?”
“Our church is talking about taking on a lot of debt in order to build a new building for our youth groups. I suppose we need it, but I wonder about going so deeply into debt. Do you think this is the right thing for us to do? ”
“I think people who believe in heaven are just trying to escape from their responsibilities on earth. How we live right now is what’s important, not believing in some pie-in-the-sky dream that may or may not be true.”
“Do you have to go through a deep emotional experience in order to become a real Christian? If so, I guess I’ve missed the boat. I really believe in Jesus, but I’m not a very emotional person. Does this mean I must not be a Christian after all?”
“I’ve led a fairly rough life — alcohol, drugs, jail, broken marriages, you name it. But two months ago I gave my life to Jesus, and it’s made all the difference. The problem is, no one believes me when I tell them I’m different now. How can I convince them?”
“My husband and I have been married almost 30 years, and now that our children are grown and out of the house, I have to admit we’re bored with each other. We loved each other once, but I guess those days are over. Why should we stay together?”
“After our baby was born with a serious heart defect, we prayed and prayed that God would heal her. He didn’t, and I admit I’m having a hard time not being angry at God. Why would He let this happen?”
“Why do Christians disagree so much about what the Bible says? I suppose I’d become a Christian if I knew for sure what I was supposed to believe, but I get confused because everyone seems to have a different opinion.”
“What happens when we die? Do we go immediately to heaven, or do we have to wait until the end of time (or something like that) before God finally lets us go there?”
“If I had to make a list of my faults, the first thing on the list would have to be “impatience.” I wish I was a more patient person, but I’m afraid it just isn’t in me to be that way. Does the Bible say anything about this? ”
“Our pastor recently retired after almost 25 years, and I’ve been placed on the committee to search for a new one. What kind of person do you think we ought to look for? Must it be someone just like our old pastor (which is what some people want)? ”