Welcome to Ontario Community Church. I'm Pastor Patrick Daly, and you're listening to a special Ask Away episode.
Today is a little different from a normal sermon. This is a question-and-answer format. Real questions, real answers.
And during the recording, you'll even hear my wife, Amber, join me as we respond to questions together.
Some of the questions are theological, some are practical, and some are personal.
But our goal is simple, to keep Christ at the center, to pursue clarity, and to grow together.
All right, let's begin together.
Well, good morning, everyone. We are doing things a little bit different today, as we have been just going through our mission and vision.
We've been going through just all sorts of things with the new year.
Our annual theme being Blessed Are the Peacemakers.
And we've been...
And we've just been really going through a process of just identifying who we are as a church.
And it's just, there's been a lot of questions that's been going on, and it's just been really, really rewarding.
It's, I'm really grateful for you guys to submit the questions that you have.
And some of the other questions we put on are questions that we have commonly gotten in the two and a half years that we've been here.
Some that we get are a little more, some are pastoral, some are more about children's ministry, some are about family.
And so we just wanted to take some time to really just respond to some of the questions here that we have.
And so what I'd just like to do is, I'd like for us to open in prayer, and then we'll just go ahead and get started in our time together.
And so, Father God, we thank you for this time, this opportunity for us to gather together.
We recognize that this is not a typical sermon.
This is more of us responding to questions that have been submitted by the congregation and the community as well.
And we just pray that this will be a good opportunity for us to respond, for us to respond in wisdom and clarity.
And we just pray for everyone who is here in person and those who are tuned in online, that this message will just, these answers, these responses will be made clear and on ears that can hear and understand.
And we're just grateful for this church body.
We're grateful for this congregation.
And you have given us just a wonderful task to be able to preach the word and to be present with this congregation and to be salt and light to the community.
So bless this time together, and we just love you so much.
And thank you so much.
It is in the name of Jesus that we pray and we all say together, amen, church.
All right.
So, again, today is we're just doing a Q&A session.
We did this two years ago.
It was actually in 2023 or 24 when we did that.
And it was more biblical-based questions, which naturally, you know, when a pastor comes on, you want to ask questions regarding scripture and whatnot.
And it's still, it's a time for us to, as leadership for me as a pastor, and then I have Amber up here.
There are some questions regarding children's ministry and regarding just us as a family unit.
We'll answer as clearly as possible, and we will just with grace and truth.
And if you guys have any other questions, feel free to just write them down and give them to us.
If we have time, we'll get to any additional questions.
We do have, I think, 15, 16 questions to go through.
So, we're just, again, this is not a typical service that we do.
So, if this is your first time, we typically open the Word, we observe it, right?
We learn the lessons, and we learn what we need to do as Christians.
And so, we're going to go ahead and go into, I've titled this on here.
It's the same title as we had back in 2024.
It's Ask Away, and it is real questions and real answers.
If it wants to...
All right, just give it a second in here.
Real questions and real answers, and this is basically the 2026 or part two of Ask Away.
We're not going to have this every Sunday, but will be situations for us to go over things.
So, the first question that comes up, then, is...
Let's start to the next slide, then, is...
Does God help those that don't know Him?
This is a common question that you get when regarding...
What if they're not a Christian, right?
How does God help at all, or what does that look like?
And what I put on this next slide here is that God shows kindness and help to all people.
Now, what type of help that looks like is going to be different.
And you think of the creation of the earth, right?
You think of the rain and the sun, right?
And every day that you have life, that is a gift from God that is for everybody.
Now, when we're thinking of salvation and transformation, becoming more like the Lord, that is more exclusive for Christians.
And there's a verse that's in Matthew 5, verse 45, where it says,
He makes His sun rise on evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
So you think about the creation of the earth, like I'm saying, the sun, the rain, every day that we have is a gift from God.
And that is going to be for the unbeliever.
That's going to be for the believer as well.
But when we're thinking of what God gives to us, that's going to be...
Us as Christians, that is going to be very different.
And so it's important for us to know that with every gift that God gives the unbeliever or soon-to-be-a-Christian,
it's an opportunity to see God's provision, to see that God does provide even for those that don't know Him.
So you think of how God is the God of abundance.
He gives so many gifts and opportunities for us to know Him.
And what an amazing God that we have that gives gifts even to those that don't believe Him.
It's an opportunity for them to believe.
Right?
You observe the earth.
You observe the universe.
You look at the sun, the sunrise and the sunset.
You look at the mountains and the birds that are chirping in the air.
And it's supposed to be evidence of something that is much greater than that which is created kind of thing.
And so there's a lot into that.
Amber, did you want to...
Yeah.
And so as some of you might know, I have a background in biological and part of my classes was going through cultural and religious and that was one of the questions that would get asked quite frequently from a lot of my classes.
And so they were quite frankly, they would say, well, isn't that not fair that people in remote places may never hear the gospel message?
And so that was one of the things that I would hear frequently.
But as Pastor said, there's kind of this divine revelation that God does send through beauty of the earth, through instances where people do come into contact with us that really displays God's power.
And quite frankly, a lot of people may not have heard the message yet.
But they do...
They say there's something that's just special.
There's something that is great about this place or how there's miracles happening.
We don't know where they come from.
And...
And I would also preface that with that is why we are called to go out into all the nations as well.
So we are called to go out and to share the gospel, share the news, get it translated for even the most remote places so that they can really have that deep relationship with God.
But they could very well come across God and an understanding of God in their own circumstance.
And we can't put God in a box to say that he cannot speak divinely to those people in some way, shape, or form as well.
You have to think, not only is it nature that is speaking, right?
You think of the heavens declare the glory of God, right?
Or all of creation sings out to glorify God, right?
You have all of these verses throughout Psalms, Proverbs, just throughout Scripture that is testifying to the awesome power of God.
Not only do you have it within the creation, but also through people, right?
Part of us is to share in the gospel message, right?
The ministry of presence, speaking truth in love, all of these different ways to get people to see that there's something more than this earth, right?
There's something more to this life.
And it's just such a wonderful thing.
It's a great question.
Absolutely.
Let's go to that next one.
Question two, then, is does one have to be baptized and born again to be saved?
Now, this is a question I get all the time.
I don't know about you, Amber, but I get that all the time.
Because in Scripture, there are some verses where, for example, where it says, repent and be baptized, for example, right?
And then you have other verses that talk about, well, believe and be saved, and it can cause some confusion that happens, right?
So I want to put the answer that we have on here, which says that we are—what's that next slide?
Is that we're saved by grace through faith.
And baptism is obedience that follows that.
Now, sometimes when you read certain verses where it says, well, repent and be baptized, it's kind of talking about, right, repentance.
We understand that as metanoia, the changing of mind, right?
Our minds to be changed on who the Lord is.
And through that repentance, through that metanoia, we come to believe in the Lord, right?
And from belief comes the obedience, which is baptism.
There are so many verses that talk about faith in God and believing in the Lord.
That is the core.
That is the first—that is the most important thing.
Now, does it mean you should never get baptized?
Well, no, you should absolutely get baptized.
And it's important for us to know that if we create baptism to be a requirement for salvation, it then becomes part of a workspace salvation, right?
What happens to those—and there are case studies of this where there are people who may be more allergic to water or they may not have access to water.
And it creates just this kind of strange situation that happens.
And so, as Christians, in so many verses, it talks about believe in the Lord and be saved.
And I understand there are some people who have a different theological understanding where it may be more of their conviction to be baptized than by all means be baptized.
But when we're talking about salvation, it talks about belief, right?
Salvation is the gift of God, right?
And it is received by faith in Jesus Christ.
And so, being born again, if you go in the Gospel of John, where there's that conversation with Nicodemus, how can somebody be born again, right?
And Jesus answers by saying, that which is born of the flesh is born of the flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is born of the Spirit.
And you have to look—I think it's John chapter 3 where it's talking about that.
It's important for us to realize that we are born in the physical realm, and there's also the spiritual realm, right?
Being born again.
And that occurs when we believe in the Lord, right?
Believing the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
And so, again, baptism, it is important.
It is something that we should do after salvation.
And what you see commonly in the book of Acts is they'll believe, and then they'll then get baptized.
And that's fine.
I actually think that's wonderful.
And a lot of churches that do that, they make a decision for Christ, and they're ready to get baptized.
That's a beautiful thing to see.
Many different churches have timing.
Sometimes they might have baptism classes and things.
But we must not make it where baptism becomes the requirement.
It is belief in God.
Having faith in Him is so important.
Yeah, and I just like to add a piece.
Because I work with the children, they often ask me a way to get baptized.
And so, we don't typically baptized infants.
But we do believe that when you have made that choice, you have professed your mouth and believe in your heart.
And then you can be baptized.
So, I mean, really, as early as children can do that, they might find it more significant, especially when they're a little bit comforted.
And can really take to heart that.
But I'm of the belief that when they're at five, and we're professing that Jesus is there, so we're at that.
But we just don't typically do it.
But if we're baptized, we think that's okay.
Yeah, there's a lot of times where some churches will talk about, well, re-baptism and legitimate baptism.
And we don't want to go so much into that.
But it's just important to get baptized.
One way or not.
And it's one final thing before we go to that next question.
It's important for us to know that believing in Christ, receiving salvation, right, making that decision for Christ, that's a very personal thing.
Right, that's something between you and the Lord.
That's very personal.
And when you're ready to get baptized, that's something that you want to tell everybody.
Share with your friends that now you're ready to make that public confirmation.
And so that's something that's...
Yeah, exactly.
It's a part of our way to think that if we are baptized in front of our friends, our family, they may not be at the meeting yet.
And so it opens up that conversation.
What's going on?
Where are you going in the water?
Why are you doing that?
So it's also a piece of that that is a beautiful...
All right, let's go to that next question.
So the question is, what do you say to a Christian who's concerned for their non-Christian loved ones who have passed away?
And this is a very, very good question.
And I wanted to take a moment to pull up in Scripture.
It's from Genesis 18, 25.
It's actually a very, very good verse.
If you want to turn your Bible there, that's fine.
If not, you don't have to.
But what's very interesting is you have the scene of Sodom and Gomorrah, right?
And it says in verse 22, men turned from there and went towards Sodom.
Abraham stood before the Lord.
Abraham drew near.
Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
Suppose there are 50 righteous within the city.
Will you then sweep away the place of non-spirit or the 50 righteous who are in it?
And then verse 25, far be it from you to do such a thing.
To put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked.
Far be that from you.
Shall not the judge of all the earth do what is just?
And it's this question that's being asked here where we don't always know the heart of someone.
Now, we can see the outward expression, right?
We can see the actions of people, right?
Someone who has a heart of bitterness.
We can see that.
We can see the anger and the animosity that people have towards other people.
But what's so important is that towards, in the course of someone's life, how God may have revealed himself to a person, we don't know that.
And so we have this hope.
That question that gets asked, it comes from a place of love.
Love for someone who, you may not have seen the evidence, right?
You may not have known them as a Christian.
You may have known them as someone with a heart of a stone, right?
Or a really cold heart, as it were.
And we honor that.
But it's important for us to know that we place our loved ones into the hands.
Right?
And God knows the heart.
We trust in the character of God.
Especially when we don't have all of the information, right?
How many of us know every thought in our own minds, right?
Sometimes we wrestle with our own thoughts.
And so when we think of someone that has lived a life that is a non-Christian, we don't know their heart.
It is only God that knows that.
And so I want to give these words to you.
We grieve with hope.
And that's so important for us, right?
We grieve honestly.
And we are not hopeless, though.
Because it is God who will.
He knows.
He knows you better than you may know yourself, right?
He knows you better than a family member would.
And so we trust in God.
And we give our loved ones into the hands of God.
And this is not...
We have to know that from those verses in Genesis that God is just and God is merciful.
So part of it is we can't even fathom the mercy of God on one end or God's justice.
And at the same time, we may not understand a person's heart.
How many of you have may known somebody who has a hard shell but a soft inside, right?
I mean, I'm sure we could all raise our hands and know someone who's like that.
Maybe you yourself are like that.
We just don't always know the heart.
And that's so important for us.
So when there is a loved one, we have to offer that to the Lord.
And so that's very important.
And if you have had a loved one who has passed away, I mean, I'm here for you as your pastor.
You can always talk to Amber or anyone from the board.
We can pray with you.
And this is not an easy question.
You know, we're in our third question.
And that's a heavy one.
Yeah, and I think we have to be mindful of how we interact with people who are greedy.
And it's something that sometimes our words are meant to try to help someone get through that.
But they actually become a lot more harmful.
That might work, well, they're not going to heaven.
You know, they were such a wicked person.
It's really not our place.
God is the ultimate judge.
And he knows our hearts.
He knows their hearts.
And so we have to check ourselves in how we respond to someone who's grieving.
Because all of us are around people who might be going through those.
And sometimes we do it as a way to relate.
Or, oh, yeah, my grandfather just died.
And he was a wicked man.
Or, you know, we try to relate.
But we be mindful.
The scripture says to us to be mindful.
It's slow to speak, right?
To listen.
To hear where they're coming from.
And comfort them without necessarily pushing on what we believe to be about their problems.
And certainly with the loss of any family member.
I mean, the last thing you want to do is be like, well, they're in hell.
You don't want to do that.
You want to comfort them and be present with them.
Because at the end of the day, you don't know.
You really don't know their heart and what they have been through.
The people that have interacted.
Every single person that interacted with their life.
It's certainly possible that someone planted a seed that was there.
So.
And you're speaking as the person.
Yeah.
To the living.
And you have a profound effect on how their faith developed as well.
Let's go to the next question then.
So it's why do you partner with the secular community?
Now this is one.
This is a question we've gotten a few times.
Where it's so.
It's important for us to recognize that.
Jesus calls for us to love God and to love us.
To love our neighbors.
There's a verse in Jeremiah 29.7.
Where it talks about seeking the welfare of the city.
And pray to the Lord on its behalf.
And it's so important for us.
You know.
The church is a safe place.
For us to come together.
Encourage one another.
To grieve together.
To be present with one another.
But it's also important for us to be salt and light for the community.
That doesn't mean we are compromising our beliefs.
It means that we are representing Christ when we go out in the community.
Because let's be honest here.
Is anyone 100% never interact with anybody?
I mean maybe if you're alone on an island I suppose.
Right?
But more often than not you're going to interact with somebody.
Right?
And how are you representing Christ with every interaction?
Whether that's at Dutch Brothers.
Right?
Whether that's at Walmart or Albertsons.
Right?
Or you're going to Walmart.
How are you representing Christ?
And that's so important in that.
Right?
And we partner with these secular organizations.
Because it's the common good.
So I think of building healthy families.
I think of FACE.
I think of the Treasure Valley Relief Nursery.
A lot of them they are focused on having strong and healthy families.
That's something that is very important.
That we as the church we value.
Now how they help families might be a little bit different.
We have the spiritual side.
Right?
We have the biblical and scriptural side.
Right?
The ministry of presence.
For them they may have evidence based or science fact or different ways.
Different techniques.
But it's so important that when we are out in the community.
We can build relationships.
We can.
It's really.
We're focusing on.
You think of how Jesus dined with sinners.
Right?
How he was present with all of these different people who are worldly.
Or secular as it were.
Right?
Well he was there to be present.
And as we go further on in these questions.
We believe in this idea of friendship evangelism.
And the ministry of presence.
Where it is about building relationships.
And when the proper time is right.
You don't force it.
When the time is right.
Then you share.
In who Christ is.
It's not force.
It's by waiting upon the Lord.
Waiting on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
And you have to think families.
They need support.
They need presence.
And so we partner with them to.
Because we value families.
But also.
That's part of our mission.
Yeah.
When we first moved here.
We've been doing ministry for many years.
So I thought.
Oh.
Just do the same things that I've always done.
You know.
I have some events.
And different things.
And very quickly.
I was humbled.
By the amount of resources.
Organizations.
That are in our community.
There is a lot going on.
And actually.
We were talking about it.
In our class this morning.
That we live in a post-Christian world.
That might seem very strange.
For some of these.
Because we were raised.
In the Christian era.
In the Christian church era.
Where the church really dominated.
A lot of life.
Social life.
A political life.
Just everyday interactions.
We're really centric.
Around church.
But our world has changed.
And our world has progressed through.
And a lot of things in our community.
Are going to happen.
Whether or not.
We show up.
Or not.
And so I quickly learned.
That you've got to be where the people are.
Because they're not going to step through these doors.
Unless something drastic happens in their life.
Or.
By friendship with the people.
By just being there with one another.
Seeing how you live your life.
And so.
I put.
My.
My children and myself.
We went to.
Building healthy families.
We went to.
A lot of these activities.
And I met other moms.
I met other families.
And.
Very.
Seldom.
Did I.
Reveal.
I'm a pastor's wife.
I've got a church.
You know.
I thought.
I was a selder.
But.
When the questions.
Hey.
I can't lie.
So.
I tell the truth.
And I tell.
Yeah.
I'm a pastor's wife.
I do children's ministry.
And it just.
Opens up doors.
That are more authentic.
That are more.
Real.
That says.
Yeah.
My kids.
Run around.
And just like.
You are not.
Perfect.
And you're welcome.
You're not perfect.
With me.
And know that Jesus loves you.
And so.
That was really.
What kind of.
Shifted that.
And the church already had these relationships.
Built in.
When we came.
You guys were already supporting.
CDCRN.
Not at the time.
You guys weren't supporting.
Building House and Families.
But now we are.
But there's a lot of other organizations.
That you guys were already supporting.
And you guys have.
Joined in partnership.
With each other.
At the food pantry.
You get to know people.
You serve alongside them.
People love.
To be in community.
With one another.
They love to serve together.
And when those.
Moments happen.
It's the most organic thing.
That really.
Shows the love of Christ.
Before we go to question five.
I think.
Just as people ask.
Why do you partner.
With the secular community.
How often.
The secular community.
Will ask.
What are you guys doing?
You're from a church.
What do you.
What do you want from us?
And it's.
It's.
Very standoffish.
But.
It's.
I'm here to serve.
I'm here because I value families.
And I'm no different.
I'm.
No better than you.
And I just want to.
Be here to help.
And the amount of conversations.
That you get from people like.
Oh.
Churches don't do that.
I don't want to judge other churches here.
But.
It's.
This is a real conversation.
That Amber and I have.
All the time.
We're going into.
Question five.
Why is Ontario Community Church.
Nonpolitical?
Now this is a very interesting one.
We'll go into the answer.
Directly.
Right.
We are.
Nonpartisan.
We're not going to.
Going to endorse the candidate.
That's not appropriate.
We.
Come to church.
To gather.
To worship the living God.
Right.
To.
Celebrate the.
Who Jesus Christ is.
Being the way.
The truth.
And the life.
And.
It's important to know.
That Christ.
Is above.
Political parties.
Now I know.
In the culture.
In which we live in.
Well.
What seems to happen.
Does the news media.
Or social media.
That try to bring everybody together.
I wish.
Right.
But they tend to divide.
Right.
They tend to divide.
On.
You know.
How taxes should be paid.
And you know.
Who has so much authority.
Or you should endorse this candidate.
Or that candidate.
And it goes on and on.
But the reality is.
Just because we are nonpartisan.
Does not mean.
That we are non-moral.
We turn to the pages.
Of the word of God.
To guide us.
In how we live.
In our everyday lives.
And it's important.
To make that distinction.
Because some people may say.
Well.
Why aren't you picking a side?
Are you watering down the gospel.
Or compromising things?
Absolutely not.
In fact.
It's a call for us.
To double down.
On scripture.
And what it says.
And what it means.
And how we can apply it.
Let the word of God.
Mold you.
And how you vote.
And how you.
View politics.
Not the other way around.
It's very tragic.
When you see politics.
Trying to force.
Itself.
Into the pages of scripture.
For some sort of agenda.
Or narrative.
And so.
That's something.
That we've got to be.
Very careful.
Just as Christ said.
In the.
Gospel of John.
That my kingdom.
Is not of this world.
That's very powerful.
And very strong language.
Because how often.
Do people want to.
Make their own kingdom.
Right.
Or weaponize Christ.
As it were.
And there's also a verse.
In first Timothy.
Where it says.
I urge that prayers.
Be made for people.
For kings.
And for all those.
In high authority.
Right.
Important for us.
To pray.
For those.
Who are in political office.
Pray for those candidates.
Pray for those.
Who are currently serving.
Ask the Holy Spirit.
To move.
In their life.
Let there be change.
Because if you remember.
When we went over Ezra.
We had those three.
Pagan kings.
That the spirit of God.
Changed their hearts.
And through the Holy Spirit.
God's purpose.
Was fulfilled.
The very.
I mean.
That's why we went over Ezra.
To see.
Wow.
The spirit of God.
Can work through pagan kings.
I pray that.
He'll work through.
A lot of.
Some of our leaders.
In political office.
And I'm not saying that.
To take so much of a job.
At politics currently.
But I guess I am.
But.
It's just important for that.
So.
Just understand the difference.
Between that.
Right.
That Christ is above.
Political parties.
And that.
Our unity.
Is in Christ.
We're seeking the things.
That are higher.
Seeking the things.
That bring us together.
And we pray for our leaders.
And we just.
We refuse to be divided.
By.
Our.
Yeah.
And I was just.
I was that with.
Don't be afraid.
To ask.
A question.
That is.
For.
pulpit, but you can certainly
have meetings of pastor,
myself, or, you know, us
together, where we go through that.
Where in Scripture can we find some
wisdom? Where can we find direction?
But yeah, you're not going to hear
the, what's
on the news headlines.
Let's keep going.
I know we're already taking a lot
of time. So question six, how does OCC
hold grace and truth when
either I or someone I love is
worldly, a sinner, or non-Christian,
et cetera, right? That's a pretty
big list in here, right? And I actually think
that covers the questions submitted, right?
It's important for us to
know that we stand
on the truth of God's Word, right?
We stand on the truth that is found in Christ
and we love others
like Christ has loved us.
And we are to be a light for others
to come to Christ, right?
It's important
for us to know that
the Lord
invites all of us,
no matter what our background is,
no matter how sinful
we are, no matter how
much in darkness we are,
there's still the call to come to the light.
And so,
as far as I'm concerned,
you are welcome to,
no matter what kind of sinner
you are.
There's a joke that
I hear every so often where it's
name a place that's full
of sinners, right?
I think a family feud.
And when the number one answer
was the bar.
I'm like,
a bar in the church?
Like, why is the church?
I think the church was like
the third one in the list here.
I'm like,
what in the world?
The church is full of sinners.
Sinners that are in need
of a Savior.
Sinners that are in need
of direction in their life
and divine transformation.
That's so important.
And this is just a place
for us to come together
no matter what your backstory is.
And that's the beauty
of this place.
We'll just go ahead
and just keep going.
Going to question seven,
I have to thank certain people.
I'm looking at you, Matt.
As I hear you're speaking
at Baylor University on AI.
Is this for the church?
And the answer is yes.
I am presenting
at Baylor University
at the end of the month
on artificial intelligence.
And I'm just going to go
over this real quick.
AI is a tool
like any technology
that we steward.
And I'm speaking
on behalf of Ontario
Community Church
for others,
leaders to learn from.
We have used AI
to see what it can
and cannot do.
In fact,
that's why I have
this next slide.
This is kind of
our congregational.
This is part of
what I'm presenting here.
And that it's that
scripture remains
the source
and the authority, right?
And we turn to
the word of God.
Amen?
Right?
That's important
for us to know.
And number two
is that AI may help us
but it may never
replace the word, right?
With all these prompts
and these generations
that happen from AI,
it can be overwhelming
but it must never
replace the word of God.
The third thing is
the church must discern
and steward AI.
Just be mindful
of what it is
and what it generates.
What kind of images?
What kind of videos?
What kind of answers?
It's no different
than how you discern
conversations
that you have
with people.
And then finally,
ministry requires
human and spiritual presence.
I put that on there
because I kid you not,
there are churches
that have AI ministers
and they don't forget.
And I don't know
about you,
a computer that doesn't forget
doesn't sound good to me,
right?
Especially if I'm
pouring out a lot
of personal information
kind of thing.
So when we think
of ministry,
right,
it requires human presence
but also spiritual presence,
right?
We have the Holy Spirit
that is with us
and we also have people,
humans that minister.
So that's very,
that's the gist of that.
I don't want to go
too far into that
but this is for
the church,
for Ontario community
but also for
the collective church
to have a framework
in how they use AI.
Let's go to the next one then.
Question eight.
How do you handle
recent events?
Now this is one
that I really,
I wasn't sure
about putting on here
because let's be honest here,
there's a lot of recent events
that are going on.
There's a lot of violence,
a lot of confusion,
misinformation,
and debates
and then it goes on and on,
right?
And I put on here
as the response
is that we respond
through prayer,
discernment,
and scripture.
We could spend
days if not weeks
going on
and all the current events
that are happening
in our world
but it's important
for us to know
that we pursue
peace,
truth,
and doing good
in the name of Christ.
Just as it says
in Romans
chapter 12
verse 18,
if possible,
so far as it depends
on you,
live peaceably
with all.
Or in Romans 12
21,
do not be overcome
by evil
but overcome evil
with good.
It's very important
for us to know,
right?
And I know
whenever I have
any sort of
news thing
that goes on,
I have to really
pray about it
and think
very often
the media
will try to,
you might have
heard the word
rage baiting,
right?
Just trying to
get you built,
right?
Get you angry,
right?
Get you warped up.
And then there's also
the truth of things
that are happening.
But it's important
for us,
we see that
a lot of evil people
and a lot of evil
things that are happening,
that's why we trust
in the living God.
we trust in him
and not to be afraid
but just double down
on him.
Now,
question nine.
So this is a classic
if I have a dollar
for everybody
that asks this question,
right?
So,
real quick,
God has provided us
five beautiful children,
right?
And we're focused
at this time,
we're focused on
faithfully raising
our children
in a Christian home.
God has blessed us
with those five children
and some of you
may know,
some of you
may not know,
it took us
four years.
Amber was actually
told that she
could not have children
and it is by
the grace of God
that she
was able to get
pregnant
and have lots
of children
and we are blessed
by that.
God has provided
in such wonderful ways
and yeah,
that's something
that we get
all the time
but you know,
it's okay,
that's all right.
So the next question
then is,
how do you
personally share
the gospel?
This is an interesting
one.
I get this every so often
and I know for Amber
she gets this every so often
as well.
We'll go to that
next slide
in answering this.
It's known as
the ministry
of presence,
right?
It's being present
with people
in the community,
people within
the church,
right?
You think of how
Christ in his ministry
he was present
with the disciples.
Yeah,
I'm out with everybody,
right?
All walks of life.
He spoke the truth.
He dealt in love,
right?
He was present
with people
and so
it's nothing
to really overthink.
It just means
be present with people.
It's not about
force or coercion
or aggression.
It's about
building relationships
with people.
That's something
that is incredibly
important for us
to know.
And there's another
one that is known
as friendship evangelism.
It's very similar.
It's again
building relationships
and at the proper time.
It's not to say
you're never going to
share in the word of God.
It's when the time
is right.
For some people
it may be years.
For others
it may be a few weeks.
It just depends
on the person
and it's important
for you to ask
the spirit.
When is the right time?
More often than not
you'll know.
You'll know
when they're not ready.
More often than not
you will know
when the time is ready.
And what I have found
in my own experience
is when people
begin asking questions.
Hey, I thought
is Jesus
just this
cool surfer guy?
He's got long hair,
he's got a robe,
he walks in sandals.
Is he like
a Laguna Beach guy
or what?
You know?
Or I heard
Jesus was this.
Or
why do you do that?
Just like we're talking
about our presence
in the community.
Yeah,
I would just like
to say to do it
with gentleness,
respect,
and authenticity.
You're not going
to be everybody's
best friend.
And
not every
seed is meant
for yourself.
And for some
you may go to
community events
and different things
and think,
oh, I'm going to
tell people about Jesus.
There might be people
there that already
have a home church.
I would
implore you not
to try to take them
away from the home church.
God has them
with it.
He has them.
And
it's just
being real.
Don't be safe.
The world
has
very big
radars
of knowledge.
Just be real.
And a lot
of our culture
is actually
very against
the idea
of forcing
scripture down
or forcing
faith down
people's throats.
You find this
a lot in
the global
Christianity,
global stage.
There's all these
articles that are
written on it.
But what's
important is
building those
relationships
is far more
powerful
than forcing.
And as I said
last week,
and I'll say it
again,
God does not
force us
to choose him.
So what are we
doing forcing
people to choose
him?
Right?
It's the same
intentionality,
focus,
building that
friendship,
being present,
right?
Letting your
life,
the words that
you speak,
exhibit the
life-loving
truth of
Christ.
We're going
to go on
to that next
question then.
This one is
geared towards
Amber.
Yeah,
you guys are
all,
you guys
are worried
on the
burnout,
but mostly
as part of
the choice
of serving
God for
us,
it allows
us to be
in the
community,
it allows
for our
children to
have
experiences
outside of
school,
and to see
the amount
of people,
my children
are no
stranger to
all kinds
of people,
all kinds
of kids,
it's something
that allows
us to
actually balance
our family,
our church
life,
and our
community,
let them
feed off
of each
other.
So it
might look
like sometimes
we're doing
a lot of
things,
but we're
cultivating
relationships,
we're allowing
our children
to learn
and experience
it well
in different
ways,
and sometimes
we get the
opportunity
to share
to people,
and that's
usually the
most beautiful
thing.
And it
definitely
allows for
us to
have
balance.
Because Amber
and I are
so active
in the
community and
active in
the church,
we have a
flexibility
that just
allows for
us to go
where the
Lord leads
us,
and then
also have
spontaneous
trips to
be able to
teach the
kids different
opportunities,
going to the
zoo,
going to all
different.
I think
I have
some
opportunities.
somebody in
our
congregation
invited us
to that,
and so
that was
something that
you were
able to
enjoy,
and the
kids were
able to
hear different
instruments.
Then we
have the
last one day
of prayer.
If you
look at the
crowd,
there's not a lot
of kids there,
because most of
you are in
school, but
our kids get
to experience
that, and we
do pray, and
we get
together, and
we're kind
of one of
the only
couples that's
actually ever
at that
national day
of prayer,
because other
couples might
have to
work somewhere
else at the
school, or
different.
So we have
a presence
together, and
as a family,
which so many
times I have
people say,
it's awesome
to see your
family function
together, and
to see what
a family can
do together.
it's not
something that
they see.
So it's
these kind
of opportunities
that allow
us to have
that.
In community
service, we've
got to go to
home to
families.
We've got to
actually remember
in the spring,
in the winter,
they've got to
go to the
for the
residents, and
in the winter,
they sang
Christmas carols
to them.
So they were
able to go
there into
shining flight.
And we
did a
community
research
at
Four Rivers
Cultural Center
and also
we get to
this was a
dual purpose.
We were
promoting our
VDS, we
were promoting
faith, and
we were also
to have fun
in the park,
and it was
amazing as
well.
So if you
can see that,
it kind of
all is
together.
So we get
to do things
as a family,
but we also
get to serve
our community
and share
the church
presence in
these spaces.
We're most
oftentimes
we're the
only
presence
in these
spaces.
Also, if
you don't
know, Amber's
previous job
when we were
in Hawaii,
she was the
head of
school of a
Montessori
school, so
she's got
credentials in
this.
Not only is
it gifting to
be able to
teach our
own children,
but also the
children here,
so it's just
been a
wonderful blessing
with that.
Let's move
on to that
next question
12.
Go ahead,
if you want
to talk to
it or not.
How come
we don't get
anyone to
ask you
those questions?
And that
actually breaks
my heart.
Oh my goodness,
who has been
angry to you
when you've
asked questions?
Questions are
beautiful.
Questions reflect
the heart.
Questions reflect
that you want
to go deeper.
It shows us
you want to go
deeper.
When you're
asking those
questions,
it's like,
okay,
yeah,
I don't
think your
question is
so like,
you're in
trouble,
like,
oh,
let's get
you,
like,
we're going
to jam
all these
scriptures down.
No.
It just
means that
you might
be hurt.
It might
mean that
you're confused
about something.
You might
be hearing a
lot of what's
going on in
the media,
and you're
going,
I'm just
confused.
But I'll
tell you that
God is not
a God of
confusion.
He's a
God of
clarity.
And so
clarifying is
by asking
questions and
being open to
you talking
about it.
I might have
a slightly
different
perspective than
you.
And we might
be able to
work that
through and
go through
the scripture
and see what
that looks
like.
But I'm
sorry if
anyone has
ever told
you to stop
asking questions.
I personally
notice that
they go to
Amber with
the questions.
And so
she'll bring
it to me.
Hey,
somebody asked.
I'm like,
who asked?
She's like,
that's the
kind of
question.
And I
might not
always have to
answer them.
I might say we
have to
research this.
I'm not
sure.
I'm only
34 years old.
It's important
to know that
there are
many things
that we are
certain about
when it comes
to scripture.
We think of
the gospel
story,
the significance
of Christ,
being the
savior of the
world,
being the
Messiah,
the atoning
sacrifice,
all of these
different things.
We know for
sure.
There's other
things.
Oh, gosh,
you scratch
your head.
In one of my
classes, I was
going over the
book of Job
and the
three friends,
Eliphaz,
Bildad,
and Zophar.
Oh, my
goodness.
You want a
heavy book of
the Bible,
read Job
sometime,
right?
But sometimes
we have
questions that
we may not
have the
answer in
this life,
or there's
sometimes we
find passages
in scripture
that we're
not meant
to understand
at this time.
Sometimes it's
the proper
time, right?
There's a
section in
Daniel.
It's towards
the end of
Daniel.
I don't know
the exact
verse where
Daniel's
having all
these visions
of what's
to come,
and he's
basically
saying,
God, I
have no
idea what
you're saying
here, but
you're telling
me to write
it down,
and God's
like, yeah,
so shut
your mouth
and you're
going to
write it
in.
It's not
your time
for you
to know.
And that
seal goes
in and is
revealed in
Revelation,
which is
wild, but
that's a
whole different
thing, but
that's an
example of
knowing at
the proper
time,
right?
It may not
be in your
lifetime.
It may be
it's okay
for us to
not know
certain things,
and sometimes
that's intentional.
Sometimes
that's God
saying, not
yet.
You'll know
sooner or
later.
It makes
us very, it
actually humbles
us in things
that we don't
know.
That shouldn't
uproot our
faith.
In fact,
it shouldn't
even.
So the next
question then,
what are
sea nights
and how are
they different
from parent
cafe and
dad cafe?
Ooh, we
get this one
one night.
Want to
take this
one, Amber?
Yeah, so
parent cafe and
dad cafe is
something that
building healthy
families offers,
and so we
extend our
facility to
them, and
we also
serve through
that by
providing
childcare,
providing
presence, and
just being
there with
them.
And for
dad cafe,
it's kind
of more led
by Patrick
and I,
like we
designed that
whole thing,
but we
are trying
to help
people to
come to
that
care.
So the
word that
dad is
good.
But it's
just a
time for
parents,
grandparents
to come
together to
be able to
talk about
their stories,
they go
through
questions,
they're
called
protective
factors and
different
things that
Building
Health with
Families
has, and
they've
got a
set of
questions,
and it
builds that
community,
it gives
them knowledge,
it gives
them resources,
resources,
and we
get to
be there
with them,
and we
get to
care for
them,
whether that
be child
care or
being part
of the
discussion,
and allowing,
we are not
hired by
them, so we
can say
whatever we'd
like to say,
we are just
another person
in that room,
and so that's
another way
that our
light shines
into people
that we
may never
have ever
come into
contact with,
so it's
different than
the sea
night, because
sea nights
are something
that our
church is
doing, from
inside it
is completely
ours, so
we can
share Jesus
a little more
blatantly, but
we do that
by a take
home, we
do a take
home piece
where we
give the
kids the
science
projects we
take home,
and I put a
scripture on
there, I
put a little
bit about
Jesus on
there, but
we do
prayer before
we have a
meal, so
that's an
introduction
into what
does prayer
even look
like, what
does having
a meal
together as
a family
look like,
and we
look through
some of the
flavors and
then another
slide, we've
got people
come together,
they do some
writing meals,
they do science
experience,
technology,
there's I
think one
more, or
two more,
but yeah,
we get together
at a table
and dinner
together,
and have
conversations,
and it
gets to
do hands-on
activities,
and so it's
really, it's
our ministry
to families,
it's our
ministry to
children, and
particularly trying
to reach the
middle school
age children,
because we do
a lot with
the young
kids through
building healthy
families, but
we would like
to try to
help the
middle school,
future coming
in March, we're
going to be
working on
youth group,
and we
started with
Melinda and
I, and we
were having
an Olympic
pizza night,
so those are
all something
that the
church is
doing from
inside,
reaching out
to the
community.
Let's go to
the next
question then.
Oh yeah,
yeah, this is
the other one
that I get a
lot, is
TPCRN and
building healthy
families the same,
no they are
not, building
healthy families
does rent a
space from
TPCRN and
they do support
one another in
different activities,
so if TPCRN has
an activity,
building healthy
families will
usually be there
alongside, they
do offer
child care for
some of their
events and
different things,
but they are
two different
entities, that
is why we
support them
financially
differently,
because they're
two different
organizations,
they do two
different things,
one, the
TPCRN provides
common for
early education
and support,
so when a
family is going
through a crisis,
maybe there was
a brain surgery
that needs to
go on, there's
something big
that's happening
that was
unexpected, they
can go to the
relief nursery
to have their
child care for
while they can
go into those
kinds of things,
and building
healthy families
they have
parent updates,
they support
the crisis
of child
care,
they need
parent education
and dad
families,
and so some
of our guys
have gone out
to the dad
families,
and we've
had some
visitors to
check from
those kinds
of things,
all of these
events we
have had
visitors,
not because
we explicitly
asked them,
hey, come to
church, but
just because they
wanted to know
more, they had
more questions,
and they liked
how they knew
somebody, they
knew the
pastor and his
wife, you
know, and so
it's really
important for you
guys, if you
can, come to
these things,
because it's
another familiar
space for them
if they decide
to walk through
these doors.
And usually
the people that
visit are
usually the
ones that say,
why would a
church do
something, why
are you here?
Churches don't
go to these
kinds of
things, and
it's kind of,
it's like,
really?
Well, we're
here, and we're
not like other
churches, so
that's, you
know, it is
what it is.
So finally,
last question
here is, how
can I help
children's
ministry, steam
nights, all
the things?
Yeah, so I
need lots of
help in both
these ministries.
We have, God
has provided us
so many children,
and we kind of
attract families.
It's something
that God is
doing here.
So if you
can just help
me once a
month, helping
the kids go,
that's what
they've got to
like teaching
class, or
maybe you
want to be
able to
teach the
class.
Maybe you
want to
support by
helping hand
out papers
to the kids,
doing the
class, different
things.
Even one
would be such
a tremendous
blessing to our
children in
ministry.
And like
on days like
this where
maybe our
support isn't
able to, they
got sick, I
can call upon
some of those
in our church
body who we
know and trust
and who know
these kids.
Because if you
saw my kids,
they were looking
for Miss Mary
this morning.
They know you
guys, and
they're comfortable
with you guys.
And that's what
we want to have.
So if that's
something that you
would like to do,
that'd be great.
BDS, there's
always lots of
things to do.
Either running
a station or
helping with
decorations,
helping with
snacks.
And then events
I have for like
steam night.
This month,
Patrick's going
to be in Texas.
And so I'm
going to be,
I've got five
kids and I've
got to set up
this event for
sea night at
the end of the
month.
And I need
help.
I can't do it
all alone.
So those would
be some practical
ways.
You can come
help set up
the food.
Or if you
wanted to come
maybe an hour
into and start
helping clean up
the food and
put it away
into the kitchen
or just do
some dishes,
something like
that it
can be just
any capacity
would really
be appreciated.
And then it's
just another
space that people
are familiar
with as well.
Absolutely.
We're going to
go ahead and
close in prayer
and we'll do
a closing
song.
And then
real quick,
I wanted to
answer this.
What cultural
changes occurred
between BC
and AD
to cause
the most
complication
in the New
Testament?
So I think
that is something
that would be
covered in our
class that we
have in the
morning,
which goes
through the
history of
Christianity.
But really,
there was a
gentleman
named Gregory
and he
basically made
it to where
time was going
to exist before
Christ and
after Christ.
And the
world actually
didn't all
agree on it.
Germany didn't
embrace it until
many years later.
But there
is a huge
cultural shift.
It went from
oration,
storytelling,
to being
firm doctrine
and creeds.
And right
now we're in
the medieval
time period.
We're going
through that
history.
So there
was a
tremendous
shift between
being persecuted
as the church
and then as it
went on and
became a
dominant player
of power and
influence in
our society.
So I think
that I answered
that.
If not,
we can have
another talk
of that.
Thank you.
Let's bow our
heads together.
Father God,
we thank you
for this time
together as
we've just
gone over
these questions,
these many
questions that
have been
asked, not
only myself,
but my
wife, Amber,
questions about
the church.
And we just
pray that this
time has been
really good for
us to have a
better understanding
of answering
those questions.
And so we
are grateful
that we can
have this
opportunity to
speak the
truth and to
speak in love.
I pray for
everyone who
is here in
the room,
that they may
understand the
answers to
their questions
and may they
never be afraid
to ask
questions.
And may we
be a church
body that is
sharing in the
light, love, and
truth of your
son, Jesus
Christ.
And we're so
grateful for
this congregation,
for this church
body, and we're
so grateful for
your son, Jesus
Christ, being the
way, and the
life.
And all of
these things, we
pray in the name
of Jesus, the
cornerstone of our
faith, and we
all say together,
Amen, church.
Amen.
Thank you for
joining us for
this Ask Away
episode from
Ontario Community
Church.
If you listened
today and you
heard Amber and
I working through
questions together,
I hope that it
encouraged you to
remember, questions
are not a
threat to faith.
When we bring
questions to the
Lord with humility,
they can become a
pathway to growth.
If you'd like to
follow up, need
prayer, or want to
get connected, visit
our website at
OntarioCommunityChurch.org.
You can also find
sermon notes and
resources at
sermons.OntarioCommunityChurch.org.
May the peace of
Christ rule in your
heart.
May you grow in
wisdom and
discernment.
And may you live
and love like
Jesus.
God bless you, and
thank you for
listening.
Thank you.