What questions you have, though, often depend on where you are standing. We have no illusions that we will answer all of your questions. But we do hope to provide you with some resources that may help you in the journey. Let us be a coach of sorts, a spiritual guide perhaps, as you travel along the road of faith. If you have a specific question that you are wrestling with, email us and let's get a conversation going.

2005 'Questions' Series | Not Sure What You Believe | Exploring Christianity | Growing as a Christian

2005 'Questions' Series:
In October 2004, Mike Queen challenged the First Baptist congregation to ask the questions of God and of faith with which they struggled. The 2005 'Questions' Series is an attempt to deal honestly with these questions. We may not find all of the answers we are seeking, but we believe that we will grow in our understanding of God, and our relationship to him, as we ask these questions together.

If you are a guest among us, we encourage you to journey with us. Meet with us on Sunday mornings at 8:45 am or 11:00 am at the corner of 5th & Market Streets. Be a part of the conversation. Join an online discussion of each week's question by signing up below.

Questions We’re Asking:

January 2, 2005
“What Does It Mean To Be God’s People?”
January 9, 2005
“Is Satan Real?”
January 16, 2005
“Family Life: Why Is It So Difficult To Understand One Another?”
January 23, 2005
“Are We Truly Made in the Image of God?”
January 30, 2005
“Why Doesn’t God Always Answer Our Prayers?”
February 6, 2005
“Why Does God Allow Us To Be Tempted?”
February 13, 2005
“Is There A Final Judgment?”
February 20, 2005
“How Can God Love People Like Us?”
February 27, 2005
“Why Do We Have to Die?”
March 6, 2005
“What Is The Holy Spirit?”
March 13, 2005
“How Did We Get Here?”
March 20, 2005
“Who Was Jesus… Really?”
March 24, 2005—Maundy Thursday
“Did Jesus Really Have to Die for Us?”
March 27, 2005—Easter Sunrise at Airlie Gardens
“Did the Resurrection Really Happen?”
March 27, 2005—Easter Sunday
“What Does Easter Really Mean for Us Today?”

If You Are Not Sure What You Believe:
If you have made your way to this page, you are on a search for God and a search for faith. Perhaps you are looking to replace a faith that you have lost. Maybe you want to rekindle a faith that has dimmed. Maybe you want to develop a faith that you have never had before.

If one of these statements describes where you are at right now, then consider the following book by Brian D. McLaren, Finding Faith: A Self-Discovery Guide for Your Spiritual Quest. In Finding Faith, McLaren does not try to tell you what to believe, but how to believe; how to find a faith that is honest, real and your own. Hear these words from his Introduction:

The search you have embarked upon is a quest of staggering proportions. Its dimensions are wide and deep, breathtaking at times, inviting you to the dizzying rim of some awe-inspiring vistas, leaving you wordless in humbled silence. Though a healthy faith is bigger than the intellect, the search for faith cannot bypass the intellect. The sincere spiritual seeker must engage the mind fully, even while transcending cold or calculating rationalism. This is a journey that will require you to think bigger than you ever have before, and then to think bigger still.

But the search for faith also involves noncognitive parts of us – emotions, longings, aspirations, dreams and hopes and fears, drives, desires, intuitions. It often forces us to face some ugliness in ourselves, some hard facts about life, requiring courage, honesty and determination. Faith involves admitting with humility and boldness that we need to change, to go against the flow, to be different, to face and shine the light on our cherished illusions and prejudices, and to discover new truths that can be liberating even though they may be difficult for the ego, painful to the pride. The search for an authentic faith must be the most life-changing quest anyone can ever launch. It’s no Sunday school picnic. (Finding Faith, p.13-14.)

If this sounds like a journey that you want to be on, consider picking up a copy of Finding Faith. Even better, consider reading through Finding Faith with a coach or a small group of folks who are on the same search as you. Email us if you would like to find out more about a Finding Faith Coach/Small Group.

If You Are Exploring Christianity:
Perhaps you are drawn to Christianity and would like to discover more about what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. One of the best ways is to ask someone who is a Christian how being a follower of Jesus makes a difference in their life. It can be very powerful.

If you are looking for a great book to read, pick up a copy of Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. For those who find their intellect getting in the way of their search for faith, Lewis builds a moving and rational case for Christianity and he does it without a lot of religious jargon. You can read an excerpt from Mere Christianity at www.cslewisclassics.com.

A wonderful online resource for exploring what it means to be a disciple of Christ can be found on the website of Cedar Ridge Community Church. It is an online course called, Disciple!

You might want to check out the Becoming a Christian page on this site. Any of the staff ministers would be happy to talk with you about the Christian faith at any time. Do not hesitate to contact us.

If You Are Looking to Grow in Your Faith:
This portion of Questions is ‘under construction’ as we search for the best resources to which to direct you in your spiritual journey. While we are ‘building,’ be sure to check out some other areas of this website that may be helpful to you:
Sunday School
Small Groups
Upcoming Classes
Spiritual Gifts
Find a Ministry
Sharing Your Story
Personal Study

If there is a specific question that you would like help with, let us know and we will try to guide you in your search.