“I don’t understand myself. I’ve had a lot of stress in my life recently, and I’ve suddenly realized that whenever I’m under stress I end up eating more and gaining weight (which I don’t want to do). Why do I do this?”
“Why do some people get all wrapped up in trying to predict the end of the world? We’ve always experienced wars and natural disasters, and we always will. All those prophecies about the end of the world are just nonsense, in my opinion.”
“I’ve been teaching a Bible class at our church for several years, but I’m about to give up. The class is for junior high students, and I just don’t feel like I’m getting through to them. How can I know if it’s time for me to quit?”
“I understand why God is important, and I understand why Jesus is important, but what about the Holy Spirit? Where does it fit into my faith? It’s all some people talk about, it seems, but I’m not sure what I’m supposed to believe about it.”
“My friend says he’s interested in Christianity, but I’m beginning to have my doubts. He’ll ask me a question about the Bible I can’t answer, but once I research it and give him the answer, he’ll come up with another question. Should I just forget about him?”
“Our daughter is in her first year of college, and she announced over Thanksgiving that she's abandoned the Christian faith. She said Christians have always oppressed women and minorities, and she doesn't want anything to do with such a backward religion. Where did she get this?”
“My grandmother says she isn't going to make any New Year's resolutions this year, because she never can keep them. But I think it's still a good idea, even if some of them end up in the wastebasket. Do you think New Year's resolutions have any value?”
“If you could ask God to do just one thing in your life during the coming year, what would it be?”
“Do you think the Internet will ever replace going to church? I think it could, because people can stay in touch through the Internet just like they do in church. They also could listen to sermons or participate in a Bible study without having to go anywhere.”
“My wife insists on bringing our two children to church, but I'm not sure I agree. They don't get anything out of it, and sometimes they're just a distraction to the people around us. Why bother?”
“Last year, our son was killed in an auto accident shortly after Christmas; his car was hit by a drunk driver. It’s been hard, but would you say something about the dangers of drinking and driving, especially during the holidays? This really concerns us.”
“Maybe no one else has this problem, but after the holidays I always get kind of depressed. It doesn’t make sense because we have a close-knit family and I always enjoy Christmas, but afterward I always feel this big letdown. Why is this?”