Tommy Mann

Q. What is the church? A.   All those who believe the gospel of Jesus Christ make up the church .   The Bible never says to go to church. While that statement might seem shocking, the reality is church is not a place we can go. We are the church. By definition, church refers to the “called out ones.” All who believe the gospel of Jesus Christ make up the church. We have local church buildings and assemblies, but all true believers are a part of the church. In heaven there isn’t a First Baptist congregation and a Calvary Baptist congregation; there will not be a UMC section or a Pentecostal section; we will all just be the church. The Bible doesn’t say to go to church, but it does say to not forsake assembling together. Whenever we meet together—whether a Sunday morning service, children’s church, or a small group meeting for coffee and Bible study—we are having a church service. The church provides accountability, discipleship, educati...

Q. How do people lose the Holy Spirit? A. Believers cannot lose the Holy Spirit, but they can quench His power through sin .   We do not earn the filling of the Holy Spirit, so we cannot be expected to earn the keeping of the Holy Spirit. At the moment of salvation the Holy Spirit is given to believers, and He is there to stay. He doesn’t leave us when we sin, or else we would be forced to get saved all over again to get the Spirit back. That is an amazing promise! But just because we can’t lose the Spirit doesn’t mean our sin doesn’t affect the relationship. The Bible speaks of quenching and grieving the Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 plainly says, “Do not quench the Spirit;” Ephesians 4:30 says, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed until the day of redemption.” To quench means to suppress fire. The Holy Spirit wants to work through the believer to do great things for God, but when we sin we throw water on that fire. Read Ephesians...

Q. How do people receive the Holy Spirit? A. Believers receive the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation .   When Jesus prepared His disciples for His departure, He let them know they would not be alone; “ the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you (John 14:26).” The Holy Spirit did not indwell believers until after Jesus went back up to heaven. The Holy Spirit first came to live inside believers during a Jewish holiday called Pentecost, which was the anniversary of God giving Moses the law. At that moment, described in Acts 2, believers everywhere were simultaneously filled with God’s Holy Spirit. From that time on, as soon as a person trusts in Christ for their salvation, they also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13 says, “ In Him (Jesus) you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the prom...

Q. Do all religions lead to heaven? A. No; Jesus said He is the way, the truth, and life, and no one gets to the Father except through Him .   Some well-meaning people like to say that all religions eventually lead to heaven. “You have your religion, and I have mine; we’ll all make it in the end.” This sounds nice to people who are tired of religious bickering, but there is no way that can be a true statement. If two people are looking at a map, and one concludes a left turn is needed, and the other thinks they must turn right, they cannot both be correct at the same time. One has to be right, and the other has to be wrong. If two gods both claim to be the exclusive way to heaven, how can they both be right? Jesus said He is the way, the truth, and life, and no one gets to the Father any other way (John 14:6). That is either true or false. Christians believe Jesus is the only way to the Father, but Jews reject the Messianic claims of Jesus as they wait for...