know why you believe class 1

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Know Why You Believe

Chapter 1 – Is Christianity Rational?

Chapter 2 – Is There a God?


Is Christianity Rational?

We live in a world where new choices compete for our attention. Our certainties become diluted and our belief systems wobble. This kind of world heightens our need to know why we believe and examine the truth to support the belief.

What truths do we live by?


Faith is a Key Element

• Faith is simply trust; It is a normal part of our lives. We use faith everyday. We all use faith.

• Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) - Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (NKJ) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.


Are we clear about Christianity?

• Objectivity is impacted by our prior thinking about Christianity. What facts do we know about it?

• Lack of information or misunderstanding of basic concepts is harmful to your Christian faith.

• In what areas have we been crystal clear about true Christianity and where have we been clouded in our thinking?


How can this be? Page19 & 20 - Graphic tale of two explorers who couldn’t agree if there was a gardener attending to the many flowers and weeds.

A gardener who is invisible is tending the garden. This can be likened to Matthew 6:25-34.

Christianity Tested


Faith vs. Superstition

Christian faith - involves submitting our minds, emotions and will to him, that is the whole person in faith.

Superstition according to Merriam Webster means a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart.. With all your mind. Matthew 22:37


The Evidence of Creation

God gives us logical reasons:• Look at the natural world• Look at the universe• Look at your body

They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God Romans 1:19-20.


Who am I and Why am I here?

• We do need God • He created us for His

purposes – Romans 8:28-30

• But, He created us as free moral agents; that is we can believe or not.


Is My Faith Genuine?

• Is it based on confidence or trust in parents because upbringing in Christian home?

• Is it based on friendships?

How do you know the bible is true and God is real? What is your self talk on this subject?


If you can’t find answers

•Ask Questions

•Pray

•Meditate

Full answers to every possible question may elude us, some answers may be considered one of those secret things belonging to the Lord our God. Deuteronomy 29:29


Christianity is true and rational

Jesus states in John 10:10:

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.


Is There a God?

• Can’t prove God by usual scientific methodology. In order for something to be proved, it must be repeatable. Page 30.

• Scientific methods only useful for material things.

• Our God is greater than the scientific methods for measurement.


Evidence that there is a God

• Anthropological research indicates a universal belief in God. – Tower of Babel – God confounded their

speech while building the tower and the project was ceased. Genesis 11:5-8

– The Law of Cause and Effect – God is uncaused – pg 32


God is the Creator

– Design & Order of our bodies, Universe, the Sun – refer to pg 37

– Psalms 102:25 In the beginning you [Lord] laid the foundations of the earth


Theories about Creation

• Continuous Creation/Steady State model. The flaw is a hydrogen imbalance problem Pg 38

• Oscillating model. The flaw is the universe is loosing density with disparities - Pg 39

• Big Bang model. The universe exploded into existence. What cause produced this effect? – Pg 40


God states even the rocks cry out!Luke 19:28-40

• Psalms 19:1 – The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. – David.

• Romans 1:19-20 - since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 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.


The Moral Law

• God has a mind, emotions, conscience and a will himself – a complete personality.

• He made man in his own image and includes a moral law with right conduct – Galatians 5:22

• God’s Law is woven into us. Romans 2:15


Infinite vs. finite

• Can we fathom the mysteries of God – Job 11:7

• It is possible for the infinite to penetrate the finite. But, not vice versa.

• Invisible does not mean unreal.


The True Evidence of God

When Jesus Christ is believed and trusted a profound change takes place.

There is convincing evidence from creation, history and contemporary life that there is a God, and this God can be known in personal experience.

know why you believe class 1

Spiritual

faith genuine

god romans

superstition christian

true christianity

christianity rational

key element faith

evidence of creation

natural world look