GBC | Big Three

Marc answers 3 Big Questions raised from Sunday's sermon

This week's questions:1. 1 John 3:16 says ‘lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters’. Is that brothers and sisters in Christ or all of humanity?2. If Christian’s are unified, why are there so many denominations? Is there any value in them or are they more of a divide?3. How do we support someone who is trying to seek Jesus’ love?

This week's questions:1. Is there a list of Every Spiritual Blessing in Christ?2. Can we accelerate or obstruct God's plan?3. How to interpret predestined & chosen from Ephesians 1?

This week's questions:1. How should we navigate the connections and contrasts between God's commitment to fulfil his explicit promises, and his ability to bring in surprises or twists?2. Does God need or want us to be apart of his plan and where do we find this in the Bible?3. What are your thoughts on any connection between the restorative justice of God and the Sabbath as per 2 Chronicles 36:21?

This week's questions:1. Manasseh was influenced by his father & grandfather. Should this encourage the way we worship in front of our children2. Why doesn’t 2 Kings include Manasseh’s repentance?3. How do we stay faithful when it feels like God is punishing us or allowing the punishments of the world

This week's questions:1. How else can we fulfil our baptismal commitment to the church?2. Why are there different views and practices of baptism?3. Is church tradition a reliable source of information?

This Week's Questions:1. How do we better hold in balance our differing theology of faith = rewards?2. How do we get better at discerning Gods purposes for us, when faithfulness could mean blessing or adversity but we naturally move toward the former.3. Can you talk about the differences between the accounts of Hezekiah in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles

This Week's Questions:1. Chronicles 30:20 says the Lord healed the people. Apparently this Hebrew word means physical healing. Traditionally interpreted as meaning forgiven. What’s going on here?2. How do we maintain the tension between the demand for perfect obedience and the priority of the heart?3. What are some of your other favourite passages and why?

Why don’t the biblical authors tell us more about the politics of the day?Jehosaphat faced an existential threat. To what extent is today's secular state of Israel synonymous with God's chosen people and the covenants of the Bible?How could Isaiah’s prophecy of a virgin birth be a sign to Ahaz given he wouldn’t see it in his lifetime?

Jehoshaphat recognised that the battle was against principalities and powers but it was also a real battle. How do we recognise one without ignoring/confusing the other?Stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you. How do we stand firm in a crisis?I’ve heard people make a big deal about the singers leading the army – What do you think?

This week's questions:1. One application was not to support Trump, like evil King Ahab. Harris too has flaws: immigration, inflation, family policies. Why polarisation over compromise?2. None of the leaders of today follow the tenants of the bible. How do we, as Christians decide who we should be voting for as our leaders?3. I’m certain we have diluted our duty to God and His church but where in the historical background of Christian beliefs did the wheels go off the rails?

This week's questions:1. Ironically it was the blessing of God that led to Asa's demise. How do we deal with comfort to avoid becoming comfortable?2. The prophet says that Asa's folly let Aram escape. What does that mean?3. Asa only sought help from doctors not the Lord. What is the relationship between faith in God's healing and going to the doctor?

This week's questions:2 Chronicles 15:13 is an account of the death of those who 'would not seek the Lord'. What are we meant to do about verses like this one?There seem to be a lot of ideals and high places to be removed in Israel. Why?What does it really mean in practical terms to 'seek the Lord'?

1. Do you think Sabbath has anything in particular to say about work?2. When we think of what Sabbath is in today's context we seem to get into details that could easily become legalism. Are we over-complicating the Sabbath?3. Looking at examples from the Bible, is Sabbath mainly observed independently or with others? If mainly with others, what does that look like for GBC as a church?

1. We explored the gods battling each other. There is the command to have no other gods. Is there evidence of other gods?2. Does the Sunday “church service” (for some clergy & lay people) make it difficult for some to observe Sabbath?3. We looked at why we should sabbath. Knowing it’s a practice we don’t often do & whether it be sabbath or something else, isn’t it enough that God commanded it?

In the Big 3, Marc Rader answers the Big 3 questions from Sunday's sermon (11th August, 2024)1. What does observing a Sabbath year look like in our modern life? Should we dedicate an entire (metaphorical) year to trust God and giving out or is it different?2. Practically speaking, if Israel had kept the Sabbath year, would they have prepared for it or blindly trusted God to provide? Wouldn’t prepping undermine trust?3. If generous actions are permissible how can we do them while still resting?

1. The proscription to rest ie. not to work is clear enough. Are we also being implored to do holy things, “Keep it holy”? What does it mean to keep it (be?) holy?2. In the OT sabbath was about physical rest at a prescribed time. What does the NT say about the “new” rest we now have available to us through the Holy Spirit.3. Marc explores some potential future ways to "Sabbath" as a spiritual practice.

Marc answers 3 Big Questions raised from Sunday's Sermon on Sabbath: Learning to Rest with Jesus.

1. Can you elaborate on praying specifically rather than sin as a whole? Who are we to decide that, doesn’t God know more about what we need?2. Does God only do something or answer prayers if we ask? What happens if we only praise or repent?3. What did it mean that the Tax Collector went home justified? Can you unpack this idea a bit more?

Here are this week's three questions:Is it realistic to expect "good" answers? How do we reconcile answers that are "bad" or no answer at all?Do we really have to ask God not to lead us into temptation? Or to deliver us from evil?Christians obviously use many forms of prayer. Should we use the Lord's prayer more often?

Today's Big 3 Questions:If Jesus is both fully God and fully man why does he need to pray? And is he praying to himself then?If Jesus prays for us and we pray with him, when is it appropriate to pray to Jesus (rather than the Father)?If the disciples are hopeless at praying but still see Jesus’ glory why not just sleep and rely on Jesus’ prays for us?

Here are this week's questions:You said the miracle revealed something about Jesus. What was revealed?We follow Jesus wherever we are – how else can we see Jesus revealed in our vocation?How do you know when you should “leave the nets” and consider a call to vocational ministry?

What other echoes or meanings from the Old Testament are found in Acts 2?If the Spirit's activity in our lives is super-normal, how do we know it's the Spirit?If we are all inclusive, does that mean we would be welcoming to the Queer community?

Marc answers 3 Big Questions from Sunday's service

The gate was opened for the predestination talk! If we have the choice to accept being headhunted, does that mean there is free will in predestination?David did the preparations when he was told not to build it. Was it God's or David's will for Solomon's temple to be built? Was God speaking of Jesus alone?So we speak about the amazing work of Lebanon Baptist churches with Syrian Refugees - how do we do this at GBC with displaced peoples e.g Aboriginal Peoples ?

1. How does 2 Samuel 24:1 (where he Lord told David to take the census) match up with 1 Chronicles 21:1 (attributing the motive to Satan)2. So God killed 70000 men as the result of a fairly harmless sin? Why not tell David before hand? Or punish David? Does it seem proportional/ fair to you?3. Rox said “God’s mercy meets people’s greatest need”. But it was God’s angel who was killing people. Do we need God to save us from God? Is this the gospel?

1. How do we do better at focusing on the forest when the stump is so prevalent for us?2. Psalm 89 laments and attacks God for the wrath He has outpoured. How does God respond to this? Is it ok to talk to God like this?3. So are 1 Chr 17:11 & Ps 89 referring to Jesus rather than David and Solomon?

Marc unpacks 3 Big Questions raised from Sunday's Sermon1. If you did have time to tell us more about the ark of the covenant, what would you tell us?2. Who actually wrote the psalms that the Chronicler included and when were they written?3. If the promises of God aren’t dependent on us at all what is the role of confession?

1. Should we be worried about the differences in the four gospel accounts of the resurrection?2. How valid are word associations when we read the Bible?3. Is it enough to simply read the gospels to “remember” what Jesus has said? What actions go along with the mental assent?

Most of us would say like Mary we trust and have faith in God but what are some small was that we can actively respond in this way when our lives are flipped?Can you elaborate on the 'zoom out' idea? Looking at Easter by zooming out to see Christmas. Is this important for our understanding of Easter and all Scripture?How can we participate in the reversals that accompany God's activity?

Marc answers 3 Big Questions raised from Sunday's Sermon. 1. How do maintain a present tense discipleship? 2. How does forgiveness in Jesus relate to God's immediate response to unfaithfulness? 3. Faithfulness is a different form, but related to obedience and God wants faithfulness more, but aren't there places in the Bible where strict obedience is demanded?

In a world with idols that feel essential to focus on (eg: money) how do we recognise, repent, refocus and ask for guidance for our values, priorities and behaviours?How are waiting and persevering related?Why are you so excited about the genealogies?

1 Are they’re particular actions or practices as followers of Jesus ( that aren’t secular “self help” ) we could be doing to improve ourselves in the work place?2 Is there an area of work we should avoid? I struggle to reconcile military/armed service, or some shady big tech?3 Work can be very long hours and can interrupt family time or our weekend? As this world pushes hustle culture, should we be better keepers of a day to rest?

Mark discusses 3 Big Questions raised from Andrew Sloane's message on the effects of sin on our work. 1. Why does God allow darkness to reach into the Christian world? 2. Since our lives are "hebel/hevel" (breath or mist), how can we correctly value our time, skills, etc.? 3. How might we find meaning and purpose in work that is primarily drudgery, boredom, frustration, etc.?

Marc Rader answers 3 Big Questions from Sunday's Sermon by Kara Martin. 1. When we are on call, have the strength to endure as Jesus endured - how do we balance working too much? Saying yes to too much? 2. The question remains the same but the context changes as we pass through life. How is this different for school leavers vs retirees? 3. If we are are struggling, how do we differentiate between the calling of God in our vocation and genuine reasons to leave/transition to a new vocation?

Marc sits down to answer 3 Big questions raised form Sunday's service. 1.What would be some helpful questions for people to reflect on to discover how their work fits into God’s purposes? 2.How can we find God’s purpose in our work in a capitalist society when a company’s goal is to make money that might not be spent in the most godly way? 3.How should our faith influence our choice of paid work?

Marc answers three big questions raised from a sermon at GBC on our yearly theme: Our [Extra]Ordinary Life Together

In the final Big 3 for our Jesus and the Sydney Morning Herald series, Marc addresses three big questions about the shifts in secularism that provide an opportunity for the church.

Marc answers 3 questions raised by the congregation of Gymea Baptist Church following a sermon on The Taylor Swift Effect - impact and influence.

Marc answers 3 big questions raised from Sunday's sermon on "Should the Church be woke?" as part of our topical Jesus and the Sydney Morning Herald series. Short answer: Yes with an if, no with a but - but listen to the pod for more!

In this Special Edition Big 3, Marc discusses 3 big questions raised from the sermon "Why is Israel so important to Christians?". The questions cover: reading the Bible literally verses literalistically; is there a special role for Israel today; and are there other perspectives around the end times.

Join us as Marc answers three questions about the Holy Spirit from the sermon series The Empowering Presence... with a SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT at the end of our episode.

Join us as Marc answers three questions about the Holy Spirit from the sermon series The Empowering Presence

Join us as Marc answers three questions about the Holy Spirit from the sermon series The Empowering Presence

Marc answers three questions about the Holy Spirit from the sermon series The Empowering Presence

This week Marc and Matt wrap up the series 'The One' looking at doing the one thing. Join the conversation as we explore the wisdom of finding the right time to participate with God.

Matt and Marc sit down to continue the conversation from Sunday's message where Roxane challenged us to Find the One God asks us to reach.

Matt, Jess & Marc sit down to discuss how to best be the One Christian in someone's life -not saying what you think they need to hear, managing expectations and what to say if you're given an opportunity.

Matt & Jess sit down with Marc and grill him on questions about Following the One (Jesus), and the Parable of the Soils from Mark 4:1-9

Hosts Matt & Jess sit down with Marc Rader and unpack 3 Big Questions about Climate Care in our series "Jesus and the Sydney Morning Herald"