Menu-driven Bible Study Menu of Topics
 

---This is version 4 of the permanent menu of topics for these Bible studies.
---All menu items have permanent numbers.  The numbers became permanent with version 3.
---Version 5 of this menu will be this same menu with added topics.
---Version 4 was used for the first time at Feast 07 at Kings Beach.
---See this same menu with text, audio and video answers and discussion here.
---See cross-reference of menu-topics
---Links to printer-friendly and pdf formats of this menu here
 
---This version 4 has 72 topics.  They are arranged by topic headings [see below].  Therefore the numbers are not in order.  When a new topic is added to the menu, it is added to the appropriate heading.
 
---If you wish to discuss any of these topics now, drop me an e-mail, using the Subject heading of "Open Forum Bible Study question."  chriscumming@icgchurches.org  Give me the number of the topic you wish to discuss. 
Subject headings for Topics:  Church - Salvation - Doctrinal - Ministry - Scripture - Member Relations
 Member Attitude - Kingdom - Gospel - Prophecy

 
---Topic Number Index:                           See cross-reference of menu-topics

 

See this menu with all answers and discussion [text, audio, video] here

 

Topics

Church Related Topics

01

Churches:
Can Church A badmouth Church B?  Example:  A church, claiming to be in the Body of Christ recently came out with a full frontal attack against Garner Ted Armstrong and the ICG
 

02

Lying in the Body of Christ:
How to eliminate it entirely using a prime Biblical example.
 

03

Work of the ICG:  
Did the Work and Message of Garner Ted Armstrong die with him?
 

04

Apologetics: 
What is Apologetics?  What does it have to do with the Faith?  Is there any room in the Church of God for Apologetics?
 

05

Definition of "Independent Church”:
What is an independent church?  Is there such a thing?
 

06

The only true church of God? 
There are churches out there saying they are the only true church of God?  Is it true that only one of the 350 groups from Worldwide is the true one?  Problem is, several of them are saying it?  Who are they saying it to?  Must this be stated?
 

07

Song service and prayer:
Why do we have the opening prayer AFTER the song service?  Doesn’t it sound more logical to enclose everything we do within prayer?
 

08

Legalism:
---what is it?  Is the ICG legalistic?  Is the entire Church of God legalistic?
 

09

Growth in the church: 
Is this proof of anything one-way or the other?  Does the number of local churches, new churches or number of converts or baptisms have any bearing on God’s true church?  What can we do about growth or the lack there of?
 

10

The perfect church: 
Is it possible—probable that we could have a local ICG church or fellowship group in complete peace and harmony?
 

11

New Church Starts: 
How this is done (viewpoint of Web Site Office---present status and future plans).
 
68 How Churches are Scattered 
Why it happens.  How it happens.  What to watch for.  What you can do.
 
70 Are you a member of a splinter group?
What is a splinter group?  Is the ICG a splinter group? 
 
71 Bible Studies
How are Bible studies conducted in the ICG? Can anyone in the ICG conduct a group Bible study in his or her home?  If not, why not?
 

Menu of Topics with Answers and Discussion at Portland site

Salvation Related Topics

12

Meditation
--
what is meditation?  Why do we do it?  What might be the best sequence with prayer and Bible Study?
 

13

The 3 Basic and Essential rules for every Christian and every situation
---every word, every thought, every action and every deed.
 

14

Achieving Peace and Contentment: 
3 Rules for freeing up your life.
 

15

Salvation: 
What two spiritual elements will keep the most numbers of people out of the Kingdom of God?
 

16

Second Chance: 
Do humans ever get a second chance in the Plan of God?  Is our calling to the Salvation Process, a second chance?  Is the Second Resurrection a second chance?  Is repentance a second chance?
 

17

Can a firstfruit leave a church organization? 
If so, how, for what reasons?
 

18

Spiritual Maturity
When does spiritual maturity come?  How is it attained?
 

19

The Spiritual Diary  
Have you ever given thought to keeping a spiritual diary?  How does it work? 
 

20

What is the difference between "free choice" and "Godly Calling"?
 

21

Self-Examination: 
Before the Bread and Wine of Passover, just how do I examine myself?
 

22

Spiritual Lesson about God: 
What spiritual lesson do we learn from the biblical town of Ai that was encountered by Israel right after the fall of Jericho?
 
69 What motivates a firstfruit to righteousness?
What motivates people in our church to start tithing and to keep the Sabbath, Holy days etc.?
 
72 It's All About Godly Calling
What is Godly Calling?  How does it work?  What decisions does the firstfruit get to make?
 

Menu of Topics with Answers and Discussion at Portland site

Doctrinal Related Topics

23

Is voting a sin? 
Can we vote?  Should we vote?  What is our doctrine on the subject?
 

24

Women:
What will be the role of women in the spiritual Kingdom of God? 
 (Note: question repeated in Kingdom Related Topics)
 
63 Gambling:
Is gambling a sin?  What is gambling?  Why is this subject so volatile?  Can a firstfruit buy a lottery ticket?  What does this subject teach us about good and bad theology?
 

25

Idea babies, theories, prophesy ideas, doctrine AND the Book of Acts.
How can we use the concept of the Book of Acts to try and test these things?
 

26

What is a biblical twig? 
Why do we get involved with them?  What are the pitfalls?
 

27

Godly Correction  
How does God correct the church?  By what means would He bring the correction?  What is the essential element that must be present in one to give or receive the correction?  Who would God use to bring the correction?  Who would He not use?
 

28

The 24 Elders
Who or what are the 24 Elders of God?
 

29

Root of Bitterness: 
What is it?
Confusion might exist because the phrase has been used two different ways in the church.
 

30

Good overcoming Evil. 
Many movies and television shows have a theme of good overcoming evil.  Some justify the violence and other untoward elements [witchcraft, sorcery, gore, etc.] because of the good overcoming the evil.  Is this a biblically or Godly justified theme?
 

31

What is our doctrine?  -discussion One
Is it our booklets or sermons or our doctrinal statements?
 
64 What is our doctrine?  -discussion Two
Just how many doctrines do we have?
What are the subject headings for these doctrines?  That is, what is our doctrine about?
How are our doctrines constructed? 
Where do doctrines come from?  That is, who is the author of each one?
 
65 What is doctrine vs. a personal element of belief?
What is a personal element of belief?  How does it differ from doctrine?  Do we or can we have a personal element of belief within one of our doctrines?  How do we deal with differing personal elements of belief
 

32

Religious Debate:
Why do religious/spiritual arguments and debates not work?  Does the Word of God encourage argument and debate?  If someone is in 100% opposition to you on a religious, spiritual or Biblical subject, what can we conclude?  What does Gal. 5:19-21 have to say about this.
 

Menu of Topics with Answers and Discussion at Portland site

Ministry Related Topics

33

Matthew 7:15-20
What "fruit" means.       (Note: question repeated in Scripture Related Topics)
 

34

Standards:
Should ministers be held to a higher standard?
What does our doctrine say?      Is there a “higher standard”?
 

35

Newly revealed knowledge:
What is it?
How is it imparted?
What is usually given?
Has Chris Cumming ever received such knowledge?
 

36

Infallibility of the minister:
Are ministers infallible?
If the sermon is inspired does this mean the sermon will be perfect?  Ditto Bible Studies and counseling.
 

37

Minister & Member: 
Disagreements between minister and member on non-salvation subjects and various speculations or opinions on various subjects.
 

38

Complaint of a detractor-- Situation with question
A person told me that in the past, a minister had led him astray.  Is this possible?  How would God evaluate the situation?
 

39

Self Promotion - Self-Serving Attitudes. 
What is this?  How does it manifest itself?  Does it work? 

 

Menu of Topics with Answers and Discussion at Portland site

Scripture Related Topics

40

Matthew 7:15-20
What "fruit" means.  (Note: question repeated in Ministry Related Topics)
 

41

Luke 15—The parable of the Lost Sheep:

Misused and misapplied scripture.  Who are the lost sheep?  Are they people who left the ICG?  Can ministers and members be likened to the shepherd who goes after the lost sheep?
 

42

Matthew 10:8:
“Freely thou has received, freely give” This verse has often been misapplied.  What does it really mean?  What does it have to do with the present-day Work of God and our giving out free booklets and tapes?
 
66 1 Thessalonians 5:22: – “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”  
–Mistranslated, misapplied and often misunderstood scripture.
–What is the more correct rendering of this verse?  To whom is this scripture directed?
–How is it misused?  What is an “appearance of evil?”
 
67 Matthew 7:1 –Judge not, that ye be not judged
What is this verse saying?  Is ALL judging wrong?  Is there a right kind of judging?  If so, how is it done?
 

Menu of Topics with Answers and Discussion at Portland site

Member Relations Related Topics

43

Matthew 18 Process
Detailed step-by-step procedure.  Goals and Purposes of the Process.  What are the pitfalls?
 

44

Matthew 18:20 “Where two or three of you are gathered”:
Misused and misapplied scripture.  What is this verse actually referring to?
 

45

Blessing on the meal in public places:
—when, where, how—especially in public places such as restaurants.
 

46

Who can judge your humility?
 

47

Is there such thing as "a geographically isolated member?"
 

48

Accusers and Accusation: 
Is there any room in the church for accusers?  Is there ANY biblical foundation for one to accuse his or her brother in the faith?  What does the Bible say about accusers and the end time?
 

Menu of Topics with Answers and Discussion at Portland site

Member Attitude Related Topics

49

Is worry a sin?
 

50

Sermons/Sermonettes-- Situation/Attitude: 
“Hey, you pointed that sermon/sermonette at ME!!”
 

51

Sermons/Sermonettes: 
Are they clubs with which to beat my brother over the head?
 

52

“I’m just not being fed over there?”
Is this a valid complaint?
 

53

Is someone telling you what to believe? 
This is a charge brought from detractors and those fallen away from the faith.  Is it a valid charge?  Should it be?
 

54

"All I Do is Pay and Pray": 
Have you ever heard someone lament, “All I do in this church organization is pray and pay.”  Is this a legitimate complaint?  
 

Menu of Topics with Answers and Discussion at Portland site

Kingdom Related Topics

55

Women:
What will be the role of women in the spiritual Kingdom of God? 
 (Note: question repeated in Doctrinal Related Topics)

 

56

Kingdom of God:  Authority vs. Character:
How will God rule Earth for the 1,000 years?
How will He rule the firstfruits?
How will God rule the Kingdom of God after the 1,000 years and White Throne Judgment?
 

Menu of Topics with Answers and Discussion at Portland site

Gospel Related Topics

57

What are Fear Religion and Headline Religion?
 

58

The Era of the Slick Argument: 
How does it work?  How does it manifest itself?
 

Menu of Topics with Answers and Discussion at Portland site

Prophecy Related Topics

59

Prophecy:  What is the purpose of prophecy?

How do we interpret prophecy?  What do we need to know now?  How do we prove prophecy?  Is knowledge of prophecy required for Salvation?
 

60

Prophecy:   Prophecy vs. The Salvation Process
The battle for your time and your mind.
 

61

Prophet vs. Gospel-spreader:
What is the difference? 
 

Menu of Topics with Answers and Discussion at Portland site

See Menu-Topic Cross-Reference