If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 Cor 5:17
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Derek’s Blog which comes out weekly to fortnightly is at -
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Explore new horizons of a living faith
These pages are designed to aid study or investigation for Christian discipleship through individual Bible study, Cell groups, Home groups, or meeting one to one. The questions could be used alone allowing each person to use their own Bible.
Introduction
Doubts about faith are common. Doubts are especially common for those young in faith. They are not to be concerned or guilty about. To doubt is not a sin, indeed the book of Job is about a man who though strong in faith is brought to a place of questioning God through suffering. The Lord does not rebuke him, but rather brings him through his difficulties to a place of more mature faith.
Bible Zone
- Believing - Why is it important to have faith for life?
- Evidence for Christianity - The key evidence for Jesus is that He was resurrected.
- Believe the Bible - There is good evidence for believing the Bible
- Science v Christianity - Science fails to explain beginnings without God.
- Suffering - Suffering is something we share with God. It has a purpose.
- Tried and Failed - Reevaluate your situation in the light of Jesus’ message.
Why is faith so important? Why can’t someone just live a good life?
- What is it about faith that is significant to God?
- Would you care if someone wanted something from you, but didn’t trust you?
Hebrews 11: 6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
More detail on faith and believe
People don’t rise from the dead! If Jesus was in fact resurrected from the dead as He said He would be, then that makes Him God. This event validates the Christian faith. If it is true, then everything else follows - God, the spiritual realm, the authenticity of the Bible, Jesus’ statements about life and faith, ...
This single fact makes the evaluation of Christianity simple. We evaluate the evidence presented that He did rise from the dead.
- Evaluate the evidence - Check scenarios against all the events.
- Key Events - The 5 key events to be evaluated against.
- The Scenarios - The known scenarios to be evaluated.
- Disciples Stole Body - Fails on the guards and resurrection appearances.
- Thieves Stole Body - Fails on guards and resurrection appearances.
- Disciples saw Ghost - Fails on resurrected Jesus eating fish.
- Wrong tomb - Fails on authorities being able to present the body.
- Jesus never died - Fails on pushing away 2 ton stone and Roman expertise.
- Jesus switched before execution - Fails on behaviour of Jesus at death.
More detail on Evidence for Christianity
The Bible is believable. It is Truth. This is not merely a statement of blind belief but based on very real evidence.
Examine the logic of the evidence.
Science and Religion have become a battle ground. The battle ground has been over the question of origins; it centres on two specific areas. The questions of Evolution vs Creation of life, and of what Physicists call The Singularity, or more commonly, the Big Bang vs God creating the universe in 7 days.
Many assume that Science has overwhelmed belief in God through providing explanations for our beginnings that are totally naturalistic. In fact, when going to the very beginning the opposite is the case.
More on science and Christianity.
We are not alone to suffer. Jesus suffered, and the suffering that comes to us gives us the opportunity to share in His life and consequently His glory.
- What suffering did Jesus endure?
- What is the outworking of going through suffering with Jesus?
Romans 8: 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. 18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.
A broader perspective on Suffering
How frustrating when we try something and fail while it seems to work for everyone else. The way to address such an issue is to go back to the start and reevaluate the different components of your decision. This is how Jesus summarised His message. Mark 1:15.
- How does Mark describe Jesus’ message?
- How did Jesus describe the realm in which a Christian lives?
- In your initial decision did you submit to Jesus as king of His kingdom?
- What two actions did Jesus ask of His hearers?
- In the initial decision did you do what Jesus tells people to do?
Mark 1: 14 Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God's Good News.*15 "The time promised by God has come at last!" he announced. "The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!"
More detail on Tried and Failed
CHALLENGES TO FAITH
