5 Questions GCA

The Questions You’re Afraid to Ask

Why is it that so many people interpret the Bible differently, resulting in different denominations even among Protestant Christians?

personal context vs biblical context

abortion is/isnt murder (perspective)

lense that we look through

14 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. Ro 14:1–4.

Martin Luther "We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone"

Jesus is the only way to the father (John 14:6)

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. Jas 2:14–26.

There are questions every student in this room has… Not surface-level questions… real ones.

The kind you think about when you’re alone. The kind you don’t say out loud because you’re not sure how people will respond.

And here’s the reality:

If you don’t let God answer your questions… you will find answers somewhere else.

and God’s already answered them! They are written in HIS word.

That’s exactly what happened to Saul. (1 Samuel 28) He got desperate… and instead of going to God, he went somewhere else.

POINT 1: “Why does God feel so far away from me?”

Let’s be real…

Some of you have tried to pray… And it felt empty.

Some of you have sat in worship… And everyone else seems to be having this moment with God… but you feel disconnected.

And you start wondering: “Is something wrong with me?” “Did I mess something up?” “Did God leave?”

But here’s what you need to understand:

God’s presence is not something you measure by emotion. It’s something you trust by truth.

The Bible says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

Not based on your mood. Not based on your performance. Based on His character.

So if God feels far… it’s not because He moved.

Sometimes it’s because:

we’ve filled our lives with noise

we only go to Him when we’re in trouble

or we expect instant connection without consistency

We live in a generation that expects everything instantly— but God builds relationship slowly.

And here’s the deeper truth:

God is often doing His deepest work when He feels the quietest.

Because He’s not just trying to give you a feeling— He’s building your faith.

Application: What if you stopped chasing a feeling… and started building a relationship?

5 minutes a day. No distractions. Not polished. Not perfect. Just real.

“God, I don’t feel You… but I want to know You.”

POINT 2: “Who am I really… and does my identity even matter?”

This question sits underneath almost everything you do.

Because if you don’t know who you are… you will spend your whole life trying to become someone else.

And students today are under constant pressure:

Be fun enough

Be attractive enough

Be successful enough

Be liked enough

So what happens?

You start adjusting yourself depending on the room you’re in.

And now you don’t even know which version of you is real.

But here’s the truth:

If you don’t let God define your identity… you will build it on something unstable.

And anything built on opinions… will eventually collapse.

The Bible says you are a new creation. That means your identity is not based on:

your past

your mistakes

your labels

It’s based on what God has already said about you.

And here’s what’s powerful:

Identity in Christ is not something you achieve—it’s something you receive.

You don’t earn it. You live from it.

Application: Some of you need to stop asking: “Who do people think I am?”

And start asking: “Who does God say I am?”

And then actually believe it.

POINT 3: “Why does God allow pain, anxiety, and suffering in my life?”

This is the question that hits the deepest.

Because for some of you… this isn’t theoretical.

This is your reality.

You’ve felt:

anxiety that won’t go away

family situations that are messy

pressure that feels overwhelming

loneliness even when you’re around people

And the question becomes:

“If God is good… why does this exist in my life?”

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Jn 16:33.

And if we’re honest… this is the question that makes people walk away from God.

But here’s what Jesus said:

“In this world, you will have trouble.”

That means pain is not a sign that something is wrong with your faith.

It’s part of living in a broken world.

But here’s what we miss:

God doesn’t promise a pain-free life. He promises a purposeful one.

Romans says He works all things for good.

Not that all things are good— but that He can redeem anything.

And here’s what separates Christianity from everything else:

God didn’t stay distant from suffering. He stepped into it.

Jesus experienced:

betrayal

rejection

pain

death

So when you’re hurting… you’re not talking to a God who doesn’t understand.

You’re talking to a God who’s been there.

Application: Stop hiding your pain from God.

Bring it to Him honestly.

And don’t isolate— healing often happens in community.

POINT 4: “Why should I follow God when culture says something different?”

Let’s be honest:

Following Jesus today can feel confusing.

Because culture is loud. And it’s constantly telling you:

“Do what feels right.” “Be true to yourself.” “Live your truth.”

And then Jesus says:

“Follow Me.”

And those don’t always match.

So you feel the tension:

Do I fit in… or do I follow God?

And that’s not easy.

Because following Jesus might mean:

saying no when everyone else says yes

standing alone sometimes

not being understood

But here’s the truth:

The goal of your life is not to fit in—it’s to be transformed.

The Bible says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world.”

Why?

Because the world doesn’t always lead you toward life.

It often leads you toward what’s easy… not what’s right.

And here’s the deeper reality:

Every choice you make is forming who you are becoming.

So the question isn’t just: “What do I want right now?”

It’s: “Who am I becoming because of this?”

Application: Decide your convictions before the moment comes.

Because if you wait until pressure hits… you’ll follow whatever’s loudest.

POINT 5: “What do I do when I keep messing up?”

This is where a lot of students quietly live.

You love God… but you keep falling into the same things.

And after a while, it starts to feel like:

“Maybe I’m just not who I’m supposed to be.” “Maybe God’s disappointed in me.” “Maybe I’ve gone too far.”

And that leads to shame.

And shame leads to distance.

But listen carefully:

“There is now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

That means:

God is not looking at you thinking, “I’m done with you.”

He’s looking at you saying, “Come closer.”

Here’s the difference:

Shame says: “You messed up—stay away.”

Grace says: “You messed up—come back.”

And most people run the wrong direction.

But here’s the deeper truth:

Growth in your faith is not about never failing— it’s about never giving up on God.

Even the strongest believers struggled.

The difference is—they kept coming back.

Application: Don’t sit in shame.

Confess quickly. Get real with someone you trust. And start replacing patterns—not just removing them.