During the month of December Rick and Svea turn the microphone around and answer your questions on the podcast. Do you have a questions you'd like them to address? Email your questions to podcast@autumnridge.church.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:55 Send your questions for the podcast to podcast@autumnridge.church
• 03:18 QUESTION 1: What advice or insight would you give on silencing or at least quieting the questions of "Is God real?" or "Did Jesus really die for us?"
• 06:10 An unexpected answer: lean in to those doubts and questions. Jude 22: Be merciful to those who doubt.
• 09:52 It's not my responsibility to convince you. It's my responsibility to share with you what convinced me.
• 11:55 Hold on to profound moments and experiences with Jesus - they can be powerful motivational tools to keep on keeping on.
• 13:04 Resources: Podcasts - Undeceptions with John Dixon; Theology in the Raw with Preston Sprinkle; books on topics like the resurrection by N.T. Wright.
• 14:59 QUESTION 2: How do we reconcile once saved always saved and losing salvation? Individuals use scripture for both approaches.
• 15:33 Those two positions can't be reconciles. They are mutually exclusive. Looking at the whole of Scripture, what Jesus said, and the Epistles point to security.
• 17:50 If we could lose our salvation, we would.
• 18:05 Two passages people look at about losing salvation: Galatians 5 and Hebrews 6.
• 23:24 Passages that convinced Rick about security in Christ: John 10, Romans 8, Ephesians 1.
• 27:44 QUESTIONS 3: Can you comment on spiritual circumcision? Is this a requirement and specifically who does the circumcising of the heart?
• 29:17 Used as a symbol like a wedding ring or baptism. It's a profound symbol of something that has been done.
• 36:48 It is a synergy. We can't circumcise our hearts on our own and God won't circumcise our heart on his own even though he could; he wants a relationship.
• 38:05 QUESTION 4: How do we reconcile that we are all made in the image of God and yet we live outside of God's design?
• 40:39 Good news - we are made in the image of God. Bad news - we've all fallen short. Good news - Jesus stepped into the world to be with us and make it possible to be united with him through his life, death, and resurrection.
• 42:22 Being made in God's image we should expect that people from all walks of life will exhibit things that reflect the goodness of God.
• 48:53 The assumption that Christians "should be" more of all these good things than non-Christians. That assumption implies we're Christians because of our behavior not our Savior. We should see a trajectory of personal growth, but we shouldn't assume that Christians are the "good guys" and the non-Christians aren't. As Jesus followers, we need to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do as he did.