The Grace Message with Dr. Andrew Farley

Should I worry about making sure I'm always "in God's plan"? Can I fall out? What are your thoughts on abortion following a prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis? What is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? Why is it unforgivable?

Are we told specifically to remember God and reflect on His attributes? What is "double-mindedness" exactly? My friends are telling me I won't go to heaven, because I don't go to church. Are they right? Is it true that we (the people) are the church? How do we best understand the warnings to the churches in Revelation? What about people who never hear the gospel? And what about babies who pass away?

If Jesus Sat Down, Why Are You Still Trying So Hard? Discussion Questions for Hebrews 10: Read verses 5–7. What do these verses reveal about the Father's heart and Jesus' willingness? Read verses 8–9. Where do Christians still mix the first covenant with the second, and why is that exhausting? Read verse 10. What changes when holiness (sanctification) is a once-for-all gift, not a lifelong achievement project? Read verses 11-12. What does standing vs. sitting represent here? Which are you doing? Why? Read verse 14. What arises within you when you hear that Jesus made you perfect forever? Objections? Celebration? Why? Read verse 15. How does this shape your view of the Holy Spirit's attitude toward you? Read verses 16–17. How does "sins remembered no more" change how you view yourself with God? Read verse 18. What modern "offerings" do people still bring today when forgiveness is already complete?

Did Satan really "persuade" God, talking Him into allowing Job to be tempted? How do I "contend for the faith" (Jude 3) with the Mennonites and other communities steeped in tradition? What kingdoms of the world have been delivered unto Satan (Luke 4)? What does that mean for God and His place in our nations?

What do you think about R-rated movies, M-rated video games, and heavy metal music? At the rapture, will only Christians hear the trumpet? Are we with Jesus immediately upon our death, or do we sleep and awaken at the rapture?

What does the Parable of the Talents mean? Who does the servant thrown into outer darkness represent? Hebrews 6 warns those who have "tasted" that, if they fall away, they can't find repentance. Who is this warning really for?

What does "obedient from the heart" really mean in Romans 6? Do you think I can baptize my own boys? I still struggle with alcoholism and pornography. Am I missing a truth? Or what's my main problem?

How can God tell us to "go forth and multiply" when humanity is sinful? Isn't that a contradiction? Why does God seem so different in the Old Testament? Will we see our pets again in Heaven?

My father has a short time to live. How can I effectively share the gospel with him when he doesn't seem open? My mother is in a memory care facility, and this has caused a rift between me and my sister. I wonder what to do! Can you explain the "left behind" concept again from Matthew 24 and Luke 17? How often should we do the Lord's Supper? What about claim we shouldn't do it at all?

What If Jesus Already Took It All Away? Discussion Questions for Hebrews 9-10: What does Hebrews mean when it says Jesus offered a "better sacrifice"? Better than what, and why does that matter? Why is it important that Jesus did not offer Himself repeatedly, but "once for all"? What is the difference between sin being temporarily covered and sin being completely taken away? How does this change the way we relate to God? Why could the blood of bulls and goats remind people of sin but never remove sin? Hebrews 10:2 says OT worshipers, if "once cleansed," would have no longer had consciousness of sins. What does this tell us about what we DO have in Christ today? Use Hebrews 10:2 to react to this lie: Christians are forgiven eternally but still need daily cleansing. What does it mean that Jesus "takes away the first in order to establish the second"? Why couldn't the old covenant remain alongside the new? Hebrews 10:10 says, "we have been sanctified…once for all." How does this contradict a lot of teaching on "progressive sanctification" today? React to this statement: Jesus will return without reference to our sins and we can eagerly await Him!

Can Mormon theology lead to salvation? Is anyone in their church saved? Jesus prayed for our "oneness" with Him in John 17, but does that happen for us now or later in Heaven? How can we die and be "present with the Lord" but then "the dead in Christ will rise first" at His return? When is the Matthew 25 final judgment in relation to the return of Christ?

Why did Paul tell the Corinthians to "examine themselves" before the Lord's Supper? What is "not my will but Your will be done" really mean? Does Romans 11 mean that we Gentile believers have been grafted into Israel?

Why did God require the shedding of blood for forgiveness of sins? I told someone Jesus came to serve us, but they didn't get it. What are your thoughts on cessationism? Have the spiritual gifts stopped? I have been experiencing disappointment in my prayer life. Am I praying wrong?

Our church leadership is telling me that I don't have the Holy Spirit living in me, because I don't speak in tongues. Is that truly the main evidence of salvation? And what about praying in a heavenly tongue? I'm wondering about salvation and in particular, my father, who was raised Catholic. What is the bare minimum that saves a person? What role does water baptism play?

What does it mean to enter God's rest? Why is the cross not enough? What role does the resurrection play in our salvation? What purpose do the Ten Commandments serve? What about in the life of a believer? Do Christians "fall out of fellowship" with God when they sin?

Did You Put the Veil Back Up? Discussion Questions for Hebrews 9: Hebrews 9 says the old covenant had barriers, veils, priests, repeated sacrifices, and limited access. Where do you still tend to live as though there is a barrier between you and God? What would change if you believed Christ has brought you all the way in? The priests entered the outer room continually, but the Holy of Holies was entered only once a year by the high priest. How does this contrast help you appreciate your daily, personal access to God through Jesus? Do you relate to God freely, or do you still feel like you need to "wait outside"? Verse 12 says Jesus entered the holy place "once for all" and obtained "eternal redemption." What does "once for all" do to the idea that you need to keep proving yourself, re-earning forgiveness, or getting spiritually "re-cleansed"? Verse 14 says the blood of Christ cleanses our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. What are some "dead works" believers today might still rely on to feel okay with God? How is serving God different when it comes from a cleansed conscience instead of a guilty one? Jesus is called the mediator of a new covenant. What does it mean to you that your relationship with God is not determined ("mediated") by your performance, your consistency, or your spiritual résumé but by Jesus Himself? Hebrews 9 connects forgiveness with blood, sacrifice, and covenant. Why is it important that forgiveness is not God "looking the other way," but God fully dealing with sin through Christ? How does that make forgiveness feel more secure? Where do you need to stop standing outside the veil and start living like someone who is always inside the Holy of Holies?

How many returns of Christ are there? How does this fit with the idea of a "secret" rapture? What about the final judgment? Those clothed in white in Revelation 7? And the 144,000? Does "narrow gate" in Matthew 7 mean most Christians are going to Hell? What are your thoughts on "profession versus possession"? How hard is it to be saved? What's the minimum needed?  

I'm a new believer and keep hearing mixed messages about our security in Christ. Can we lose our salvation or not? When we sin as believers, do we need to repent? My parents have a friend who is constantly having dreams about people dying. How should we look at those dreams?  

Is suicide an unforgivable sin? What does it mean to stand on the promises of God? What are they? What does Jesus mean by "giving us His glory" in John 17?

When the church is taken to heaven, will unbelievers be aware? How can God love someone like me? I'm an addict! Can you help me with my problem? *Previously aired

Andrew, has God ever inspired you to pray for something in life or ministry and you struggled along the way? I heard a minister say you have to ask the Holy Spirit for access to God in prayer. Is that true? I have some major health issues, and some people tell me that I should just claim healing because of the finished work of Jesus. Am I free to spend money to seek medical advice?

Do people who reject "once saved, always saved" really believe God might kick us when we're down? What can you say about Christ as the Living Word? How can I share the  "Christ in you" message effectively with others? What happens to Jews (and Gentiles) who don't hear and believe the gospel today? And what about Jews in Old Testament times? Suddenly, understand the new self in a deeper and more meaningful way. Am I crazy? Why does this truth feel like such a game-changer?

Why settle for religion when Jesus brought something better? Discussion Questions for Hebrews 7-8: Why does it matter that Jesus became High Priest by God's oath, not merely by religious appointment or ancestry? What confidence do we gain from the fact that Jesus' priesthood is permanent and will never be replaced? Hebrews says Jesus "always lives to intercede" for us. What does that mean? And what does it not mean? How does Jesus being "holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners" make Him exactly the High Priest we need? Why is it significant that Jesus is "seated" at the right hand of God, instead of standing daily like the old priests? What is the difference between a priest serving in an earthly copy and Jesus serving in the true heavenly sanctuary? Hebrews 8:6 says Jesus has obtained a "more excellent ministry." What makes His ministry more excellent than the old covenant system? How do "better covenant" and "better promises" help us understand what we have in Christ that Israel never had under the Law?

What does "appointed to life" mean in Acts 14:38? Why are Gentiles mentioned in that passage and near every teaching in the New Testament on predestination? Why did somebody tell me, "actions speak louder than words"? Why do so many churches have elaborate (and expensive) programs for children? Will God judge believers for their sins?

What age are we in Heaven? What about babies? Why does God allow bad things (like the Holocaust) to happen? Can Christians eat whatever they want? Why or why not? What about our freedom from the Law: How does that play into the Christian life?

Can women be active ministers of the gospel? It's such a hot topic in our churches right now, so what's your take? With it being "pride month" right now, what guidance, insights, or passages of Scripture would you use to help those who may be confused about the issue?

Are believers still sinful by nature? At salvation, what changed? Why do we still sin? Doesn't God appear evil in the book of Job? I think James 2 is just talking about works after you're saved. Why do you say the passage is about being justified (saved) by responding to God with faith?

Is it sinful to follow company policy and use a colleague's preferred pronouns? Did God listen to my prayers before I was saved? If you don't believe in "once saved, always saved," you're not saved at all?

How do we start conversations with strangers about salvation? Why do Christians say they "chose" to believe in Christ? Aren't we just "persuaded" by God? I don't know how to read well and often don't understand the Bible. Does God still hear me? How can I show someone they must get counseling to fix their marriage? I know someone who doesn't believe in God, because she wants to be a "woman of science." How can I reach her? What does it mean to be at peace with all men (Romans 12:18)? What is really happening in Matthew 24? Who is taken and who is left behind? *Previously aired

Is Moses Fired If Jesus Is Hired? Discussion Questions for Hebrews 7: Is Hebrews 7:8–10 really about tithing, or is the writer making a deeper point? React to this statement: A change of priesthood means a change of law. How does Jesus' tribe, lineage, or "passport" factor into the Law-versus-grace argument? How do phrases like "setting aside," "weakness," and "uselessness" clarify our relationship to the Law as believers? React to this statement: Jesus is my guarantee of a better covenant. React to this statement: You'll be saved as long as Jesus lives. Why is it so important to understand the "daily" sacrifices versus Jesus' "once-for-all" sacrifice in verse 27?

What does it really mean to be filled with the Spirit? I'm getting married next week: Do you have any advice? Why were Ananias and Sapphira struck dead by God? Should I teach my children to be terrified of Hell?

Should we expect a review of all our sins? What is predestination? What about foreknowledge? How can there be a God if children die of leukemia?

Are we obligated to keep the Sabbath? What does it mean to rest in Christ? Should I sign a petition allowing the sale of alcohol in my area? Exactly how much faith is necessary at the moment of salvation? What if there was also some doubt? Would a second marriage mean living in perpetual adultery?

Does too much grace make people sin more? I think I'm getting a sign from God that I should move to Texas. Am I correct? Is it ever biblical to reduce or cut contact with a friend?

What was the work Jesus had "finished" in John 17:4 if He hadn't even died yet? How can we no longer be "sinful" (instead, righteous) if we still commit sins? I've had nagging doubts about my salvation for many years. What can I do?

Discussion Questions for Hebrews 6-7: Hebrews 6:11 speaks of "the full assurance of hope." Why is assurance so important in the Christian life? How does confidence in Christ produce diligence, while fear and uncertainty often produce burnout? God swore by Himself because "He could swear by no one greater" (6:13). What does it mean that our hope is anchored in God's promise to Himself, not our promise to God? How does that expose the exhausting lie that "it all depends on me"? Hebrews 6:18 says it is "impossible for God to lie." When you doubt your security, forgiveness, or closeness to God, what are you really being tempted to question about Him? How does God's character become the foundation of your confidence? Verse 19 calls this hope "an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast." What are some false anchors people trust in: performance, feelings, church attendance, spiritual disciplines, personal promises? How is Jesus a better anchor than all of them? Hebrews 6:19–20 says our hope enters "within the veil," where Jesus has gone as our forerunner. What does it mean that Jesus did not merely point toward God's presence but actually brought us in? How does this confront the idea that believers are still distant from God? Melchizedek is called "king of righteousness" and "king of peace" (7:2). How does knowing you've been made right with God produce real peace instead of religious striving? Abraham gave a gift to Melchizedek before the Levitical priesthood even existed (7:6). What does this show about a priesthood greater than the Levitical system? How does Jesus, our forever High Priest, free us from living under an old religious system and invite us into something better?

Is the gift of tongues for every believer? Does it prove we are truly saved? Do believers still sin? What "laws" do we have written on our hearts? My fellow pastors advise me to teach more on obedience. What are your thoughts?

I've been so hurt by bad teaching that I don't know how to react when I still hear it. Can you help me process the pain? Is God giving me a sign that I should leave my job because it's so frustrating at times? What does it mean to "work out your salvation"?

Does God really pre-select some to believe while others can't be saved? Why is "predestined" in Romans and Ephesians, not elsewhere? Does suicide disqualify us from heaven? Can you explain "left behind" in Matthew 24 and Luke 17? You say we should want to be left behind? Why? Do believers need to worry about generational curses?

Are Christians still under the "moral law" (Ten Commandments)? How do I best share grace with my friends when I've been rejected? I planted seeds of grace in the lives of my friends, and years later, there's a harvest! Do Christians have wicked hearts, or new hearts, or both?

What If Hebrews' Most Terrifying Passages Are Not About You? Discussion Questions Hebrews 5-6: Hebrews 5:11 says the audience had become "dull of hearing." What are some ways religious people today can hear a lot of Bible teaching but still become spiritually sluggish toward the message of Jesus? Hebrews 5:12 says they should have been teachers by now but still needed the basics. What "basics" of the gospel do believers often drift away from and need to relearn? Hebrews 5:14 says the mature are trained to discern good and evil. How does maturity help us recognize the difference between Jesus Himself and religious-sounding substitutes? Hebrews 6:1 says to "press on to maturity" instead of laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works. What are "dead works," and why is returning to them such a serious distraction from Jesus? Hebrews 6:4–5 describes people who were enlightened and tasted heavenly things. What is the difference between being exposed to the Gospel and actually trusting Jesus? Hebrews 6:6 warns about falling away after tasting the truth. Why is rejecting Jesus so serious if He is the only sacrifice, priest, and source of life God has provided? Hebrews 6:7–8 compares fruitful land with thorn-producing land. How does this analogy clarify the difference between receiving the Gospel and merely being around spiritual activity? Hebrews 6:9 says, "We are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation." How does this verse help reassure believers that the warning passage is not about Jesus losing His people, but about the difference between mere exposure and real salvation?

"Well, done, good and faithful servant"- is God talking to us there or to Jesus? Are we believers "good" or "bad"? What is the healthy and humble view? Do we need to confess sins to God daily to be forgiven and cleansed? What is confession and its place in our lives? How can someone find joy again after going through something traumatic?

I keep hearing about the Ethiopian Bible and missing books in our canon. Is there truth to this? My pastor says we need to serve the Lord more. What does that really look like? After hearing a message on Zephaniah, I'm afraid I might be "stepping on the threshold" or disrespecting God and missing out on His best. Can you help?

I asked some Jehovah's Witnesses if Christ lives in them, and they said "no." Are they saved? What about my child who doesn't want to talk about Christianity very much? What can you do when you feel like you're constantly falling short of God's expectations? Andrew, do you ever worry you're doing mental gymnastics to believe we're eternally secure?

What is the meaning of the parable of the wicked servant? What would you say to those who hurl accusations of cheap grace, hyper-grace, and easy believism? It feels like some worship services are way over the top! What are your thoughts on worship?