OCEANSIDE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH & PRESCHOOL
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Looking for Answers to
Life’s Biggest Questions?
You are not alone!
At Oceanside First Presbyterian Church, we believe that faith isn’t about having all the answers, but about exploring the questions. Whether you're wrestling with life’s purpose, wondering if God is real, or searching for hope in the midst of pain, you're not alone. These are some of the most important questions people ask, and we want to walk with you as you discover the answers.
We’ve partnered with ExploreGod.com, a trusted resource where people just like you can dig deep into the spiritual questions that matter most. Below, we address eight of the most frequently asked spiritual questions and provide links to further explore these topics.
Does Life Have a Purpose?
Have you ever wondered, Is this all there is to life? You’re not alone. Many people—whether they’re students, parents, or just navigating life’s challenges—feel a sense of aimlessness at times. At Oceanside First Presbyterian, we believe every life has a divine purpose, and we’re here to help you find yours. Learn more about life’s purpose and discover how your journey fits into God’s greater story. It's a question we all face at some point, often during major transitions or even in quiet moments after a busy day. You might ask if there’s more to life than work, bills, and searching for joy. Here’s the good news: the Bible reveals that life is full of purpose. It’s not just about finding your purpose—it’s about realizing that life itself is meaningful, by design. 1. You Were Created on Purpose, for a Purpose From Genesis 1:27, we learn a powerful truth: we’re made in the image of God. Your life is intentional, not an accident. Ephesians 2:10 affirms this by saying, “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Your life has divine purpose, set from the beginning of time. 2. Purpose Isn’t About Status—It’s About Impact Purpose isn’t found in career success, wealth, or status. It’s about making a meaningful impact in your everyday life. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:13-16 that we’re the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world,” calling us to influence the world around us through small, everyday acts of faith and kindness. 3. Your Purpose Is Part of God’s Bigger Story Your purpose is woven into God’s eternal story. Romans 8:28 reminds us, “In all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Even in life’s challenges, God is fulfilling His plan through you. 4. True Purpose Begins with Knowing God Real purpose starts with a relationship with God, the One who created you. John 17:3 says, “This is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” Knowing God unlocks the path to understanding your true purpose. What’s Your Next Step? If you’re searching for your purpose, it begins with knowing God. As you deepen your faith and relationships, your purpose will become clearer. At Oceanside First Presbyterian, we invite you to explore your purpose in life through community, service, and faith. Join us this Sunday as we continue this important conversation. Read more at Explore God’s article on life’s purpose and find stories from others who have asked the same question.
Is There a God?
This is the question that shapes everything. Is there really a God? If so, what does that mean for us? Explore various perspectives and discover the evidence that points to a loving Creator who is deeply involved in your life. Explore the evidence for God’s existence. Let’s be real—this is the big question. If God exists, then it changes everything about how we see ourselves, the world, and the purpose of life. But how do we know? How do we really know if there is a God? Is it just blind faith, or is there evidence that points to the existence of something—or Someone—bigger than ourselves? At Oceanside First Presbyterian Church, we believe that this question isn’t just important—it’s foundational. And it’s one that we all have to wrestle with at some point. But here’s the good news: we don’t have to approach this question empty-handed. There are some really solid reasons to believe that God is real, and we’re going to explore a few of them together. 1. The Universe Points to a Creator Have you ever just stared up at the stars on a clear night or looked out over the ocean and thought, There has to be something bigger behind all this? That feeling isn’t random. It’s built into us. Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” Nature itself shouts the existence of a Creator. And science backs this up. The universe didn’t just pop into existence out of nowhere. The fact that the universe had a beginning (what scientists call the Big Bang) points to something or Someone outside of it who caused it. This is often called the Cosmological Argument—everything that begins to exist has a cause. The universe began to exist, so it must have a cause. That cause? We believe it’s God. 2. Design Demands a Designer Think about a smartphone for a second. It’s complex, right? But no one would ever look at their phone and think, Wow, what a coincidence! This just happened by chance. It’s clearly designed by someone with purpose. Now look at the world around us. DNA, the human brain, ecosystems, the laws of physics—all of these are far more complex than any smartphone, and they work in perfect harmony. It screams design. And design always points to a designer. Romans 1:20 puts it like this: “For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” This is what’s called the Teleological Argument. The universe looks designed because it was designed. And behind that design is God. 3. Morality Requires a Moral Lawgiver Deep down, we all know there’s such a thing as right and wrong. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or how you were raised—there’s this universal sense that some things are just wrong. But why? Where does that sense of morality come from? If there is no God, then morality is just a human invention. But if that’s true, then why do we all instinctively know that things like murder, lying, or injustice are wrong? Our moral compass points to a higher standard—one that isn’t determined by culture, but by the One who created us. This is often called the Moral Argument: If God doesn’t exist, then objective moral values don’t exist. But objective moral values do exist, so God must exist. 4. Jesus Points to God At the end of the day, the clearest evidence we have for the existence of God is found in the person of Jesus. Jesus claimed to be God in human form (John 10:30), and if He was telling the truth, then we have a direct line to God Himself. Now, you might be thinking, But how do I know if Jesus was really who He said He was? That’s a great question! The historical evidence for Jesus is solid—His life, death, and even His resurrection are backed up by eyewitness accounts and reliable sources. And if Jesus really did rise from the dead (which we believe He did), that’s proof that He is who He claimed to be—God in the flesh. So, What’s the Next Step? If you’re wrestling with the question of God’s existence, you don’t have to figure it out alone. We invite you to keep asking questions, keep seeking answers, and most importantly—keep exploring who God might be. And we’re here to walk with you on that journey. If you want to dig deeper into this question, check out ExploreGod’s article on the existence of God. They’ve got some incredible resources to help you think through this question from multiple angles.
Why Does God Allow Pain and Suffering?
This is a question that goes beyond theology—it hits the core of human experience. Whether you’re dealing with personal loss, watching a loved one suffer, or witnessing tragedy on a global scale, it’s natural to ask, Why? Why would a loving, all-powerful God allow such pain and suffering to exist? And while we won’t pretend that there are easy answers, the Bible does give us perspective and hope. Let's walk through some ways to understand this deep and difficult question. 1. God Created a World of Free Will One of the first things we have to remember is that God didn’t create us as robots. He gave us the gift of free will—the ability to choose how we live, how we love, and how we relate to Him. But with that freedom comes the possibility of choosing wrongly. And let’s be honest, we’ve all made choices that have hurt ourselves or others. From the very beginning, human beings have chosen to walk away from God’s perfect design (Genesis 3). And because of that, sin entered the world, bringing brokenness with it. Pain, suffering, and death are not what God wanted for His creation, but they are the inevitable consequences of a world where people are free to make their own choices. 2. Suffering Can Lead to Growth Here’s something that’s hard to swallow, but incredibly important: pain can be a tool that God uses to shape us. James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” That’s not to say that God enjoys our suffering—far from it. But He is able to use it to build character, deepen our faith, and make us more like Christ. In some ways, pain can act as a spiritual wake-up call, reminding us that we aren’t in control and that we need something bigger than ourselves to get through life’s challenges. 3. God Is Present in Our Suffering It’s one thing to know that God has a plan for our pain, but it’s another to know that He’s with us in it. The Bible is filled with promises that God is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18) and that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). In fact, one of the most powerful truths about Christianity is that God doesn’t stay distant from our suffering—He enters into it. Through Jesus, God experienced the ultimate suffering: betrayal, humiliation, and death on a cross. When we suffer, we’re not alone. We have a Savior who knows what it’s like to feel abandoned, to hurt, and to cry out, Why? 4. This Isn’t the End of the Story Here’s the hope that we cling to as Christians: suffering doesn’t get the final word. Romans 8:18 reminds us, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” In other words, there’s something better coming. The promise of the gospel is that, through Jesus, God is making all things new (Revelation 21:5). There will come a day when pain and suffering are wiped away forever, and we will experience a world as it was meant to be—whole, healed, and restored. In the meantime, we live in the tension of knowing that this world is broken, but that God is working to bring ultimate redemption. 5. We Have a Choice in How We Respond When we face pain, we have a choice: we can turn away from God in anger, or we can run toward Him for comfort. And while it’s natural to feel upset or confused in the midst of suffering, the Bible encourages us to cast our cares on God, because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). In moments of pain, we’re invited to be honest with God—just like Job, David, and even Jesus were. God isn’t afraid of our questions or our emotions. He wants us to bring them to Him, trusting that He is big enough to handle them and loving enough to walk with us through them. So, What’s Next? If you’re wrestling with the question of why God allows suffering, know this: you’re not alone. People have been asking this question for centuries, and there’s space for you to ask it too. Whether you’re in the midst of pain right now or just trying to make sense of the world, we invite you to continue the conversation. It’s okay to question, to struggle, and to seek understanding. And we believe that, in time, you’ll find a God who meets you in your pain and leads you to hope. Want to go deeper? ExploreGod’s article on pain and suffering has more insights and stories from people who have wrestled with this same question.
So, Is Christianity Too Narrow?
It’s a question that cuts straight to the heart of what many people wrestle with today: Does Christianity claim to be the only way to God, and if so, doesn’t that make it narrow-minded? In a world that celebrates diversity, tolerance, and inclusivity, the exclusive claims of Christianity can feel restrictive or even offensive. So, let’s dive into this question and consider it from a few different angles. 1. Jesus' Own Words First and foremost, Christianity's foundation is based on the words and life of Jesus Christ. In John 14:6, Jesus made one of the most exclusive statements in the Bible: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus didn’t present Himself as a way or one truth among many—He claimed to be the way. Now, that might seem narrow, but think about it in another context. If a doctor told you, “This is the only medicine that will cure your disease,” would you call the doctor narrow-minded? Or would you be grateful that they were honest and gave you the solution? Jesus’ claim isn’t about restricting access to God; it’s about providing the one sure way to experience life with Him. 2. A Radical Invitation to All Even though Christianity claims Jesus is the only way, it’s not exclusive in who can follow Him. One of the beautiful things about the gospel is that it’s radically inclusive. Jesus extended His invitation to everyone—from tax collectors and sinners to religious leaders and fishermen. The Apostle Paul echoes this in Galatians 3:28: "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." The Christian message is clear: anyone can come to God through Jesus. It doesn’t matter your background, your past mistakes, or where you come from. The offer is wide open to all who seek Him. So, while the path to God may be narrow (in that it’s through Jesus), it’s open to everyone willing to walk that path. 3. Truth By Nature Is Exclusive Here’s something we all know but don’t often think about: truth, by definition, is exclusive. If something is true, then its opposite cannot also be true. This isn’t just a religious idea—it’s a principle that applies to everything. For example, 2+2=4. That’s a truth. Any other answer is false. We don’t call math narrow-minded for that. So, when Christianity makes the claim that Jesus is the way to God, it’s not about being closed-minded—it’s about pointing to what Christians believe is ultimate truth. If Christians are right about who Jesus is, then it’s not narrow to follow Him. It’s simply being consistent with that truth. 4. Many Paths, One God? Some people ask, “Aren’t all religions basically the same?” At first glance, it might seem that way—many world religions promote love, kindness, and the pursuit of truth. But when you dig deeper, you’ll find that the core beliefs of different religions are vastly different. For example, Christianity teaches that salvation is a gift from God, received by grace through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). In contrast, many other religions emphasize works—what you do to earn favor with God or reach enlightenment. So, while different faiths may share some moral teachings, they offer very different answers to life’s biggest questions. The idea that all paths lead to the same God sounds nice, but it doesn’t hold up when you compare what different religions actually teach about God, humanity, and the purpose of life. Christianity’s claim isn’t that all other religions are entirely wrong—it’s that Jesus offers something unique that no other belief system can: reconciliation with God through His life, death, and resurrection. 5. Love, Not Coercion Finally, it’s important to remember that Christianity is never about forcing people to believe or coercing them into faith. Jesus never pressured anyone to follow Him. In fact, when the rich young ruler walked away sad because he wasn’t willing to give up his possessions, Jesus let him go (Mark 10:17-22). The Christian message is an invitation, not a demand. People are free to accept or reject it, and God respects our choices. But for those who are searching, Christianity offers a path to peace, purpose, and eternal life in relationship with God. So, Is Christianity Too Narrow? Yes, Christianity makes an exclusive claim about the way to God, but it’s a claim rooted in the person of Jesus—who invites everyone to come to Him. The path may be narrow, but the invitation is as wide as God’s love for the world. If you’re grappling with these questions, we’d love to have you join us at Oceanside First Presbyterian Church. Let’s explore these truths together, and see what it means to live a life centered on Jesus. Want to learn more? ExploreGod’s article on this topic has deeper insights and stories that might help you wrestle with this question even further. This is a conversation worth having, and we invite you to be a part of it! Whether you’ve been a follower of Jesus for years or are just curious, we welcome your questions. Join us at one of our services, and let’s explore faith together.