History does not dispute the existence of Jesus. There are records beyond biblical testimony showing he lived and preached some 2000 years ago. Some think of Jesus as merely a great moral teacher, but this thinking falls flat under his own statements. Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. To accept his teaching on humility but disregard his claim of divinity would make him a madman or a least a hypocrite, thus nullifying what he taught on humility in the first place. Accepting the truth that Jesus preached means acknowledging who Jesus truly is: God in the flesh.  


Questions for further thought:
1. What claims does Jesus make about himself throughout the Gospels?

2. What does the story of Jesus show about God’s character?  


​Challenge: Read through Isaiah 53, marking references to Jesus and connections between the two testaments. 

Our creator didn’t stop moving when the creating was done. We were not abandoned. We have in our possession the single greatest account that has ever been written concerning God’s continuous plan. It is the testimony of a nation of people who say God is still working, we have witnessed this. Now you might be thinking, ‘If God wanted us to know what He was up to, why did he leave it to the Jews to testify?’ Good question but hang on to your cynicism. A God of infinite power knows what he’s doing. The Holy Bible is more than human words, it is full of God’s own spirit.    


Questions for further thought:
1. How do we know the Bible is trustworthy?  

2. What does the Bible’s existence say about who God is and what He wants?


​Challenge: Want to feel more confident in the Bible’s trustworthiness? Go to the Hillcrest site and watch the Jan. 6th sermon. 

Why do we feel guilty? It’s certainly not a very pleasant feeling. And yet all of humanity seems to have this sense of certain actions being wrong and other actions being right. The big question is where did this sense come from? Did it evolve as a benefit to society? But why should I care about you in the first place? Or did it too come from that infinite wellspring? If our moral sense was determined along with our creation, then that infinite something becomes an infinite someone. 


Questions for further thought:
1. If morality is crafted into our nature, is it possible for there to be more than one higher power?

2. If we have an inner moral law, why do we consistently break it?  


​Challenge: Check out chapters 1-5 of C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity for more on the moral law. (Don’t worry they’re short)

Humans have been pondering the question of our origin, and the origin of everything around them, for their entire existence. The reality of a beginning seems natural to us. After all, even we begin and end. Over the years, scientific research has confirmed that something cannot come out of nothing. So how is any of this here at all? If everything begins and ends, but something cannot come out of nothing, then another factor must be added into the equation. There must be something out there that is infinite out of which everything else could’ve come. 

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Questions for further thought:
1. Where else can you see the concept of infinity in the world?

2. Would this infinite something require sentience in order for the universe to exist?  


Challenge: God has more to say on creation than just what’s in Genesis. Read Job 38-41and look for an infinite power. 

I know that I cannot 100% prove God’s existence, nor can someone disprove it, but from the beginning of written history to the present time, the impact of people driven by the desire to serve a great and awesome God, have left a legacy of cathedrals, churches, hospitals and orphanages. Atheism has given us nothing of moral excellence which speaks to the dying, gives direction for living, or assurance that you will live forever. 


Questions for further thought:
1. Have you ever heard of an atheist group that generates compassion and cares for babies and the unborn? 

2. Can you think of anything good at all that has come from atheists? 


​Challenge: Read Psalm 19:1-14 

When it comes to different points of view, we are often encouraged to “read up” on both sides of an issue. But is this something we can do for atheism and the disputing of the bible? When Dr. Harold Sala addressed this issue, he said “There are not two sides when it comes to truth.” When the premise is wrong, the conclusion must be wrong as well. 


Questions for further thought:
1. Have you ever been told you should be more “open-minded” when it came to things that go against the bible? 

2. How do you feel about “learning” or “understanding” what atheists think? 


​Challenge: Be ok to stand your ground, you don’t need to study anything that you know is untruthful. 

While no Christian would ever be guilty of being an atheist, many Christians are guilty of being practical atheists. Practical atheism lives as if there is no God, instead of believing there isn’t a God, like atheists do. An atheist does not pray, read the bible, walk by faith and lives only for this life. If some of those similarities are too close for comfort don’t wallow in guilt or shame. Instead confess it as sin and ask God continually for a changed heart. You do not want to live another day as if He were not alive and able to work miracles. 


Questions for further thought:
1. Have you ever thought about what (if anything) you may have in common with an atheist? 

2. Which of the things mentioned do you need to change to avoid living the same as atheists do? 


​Challenge: Confess any ways that you may not be living out your faith and start living the way God wants you to. 

Atheists say the reason why people throughout history have believed in God is because these poor ancient people were ignorant of scientific facts. Atheists today do not acknowledge any connection between faith and reason. They think a believer has no ability to think rationally. It boils down to all the believers must be devoid of any real understanding of science. The irony of it all is that even the quickest glance at history shows that the whole discipline of rational thinking on this planet, as well as almost all our scientific knowledge, comes from the minds of men and women who believed deeply in God. 


Questions for further thought:
1. Have you ever felt belittled because of your faith from someone who wasn’t a believer? 

2. Were you able to defend yourself or your intelligence? 


​Challenge: Read or extend your knowledge this week on something that connects God and science. 

There is a belief that only atheists are critical thinkers. A lot of the problem stems from the belief that in order to think critically you must abide by the rules of naturalism. Naturalism is the belief that nothing exists beyond the natural world. If any evidence is outside of nature (where the term supernatural comes into play) or if it points to God, then it cannot be part of critical thinking. So, Christians can’t be critical thinkers? People that truly believe this don’t know what the real definition of critical thinking is. There have been great critical thinkers such as George Washington Carver, Isaac Newton and Galileo who all claimed to be Christian and spoke on how science showed the fullness of God and His infinite power.


Questions for further thought:
1. Are scientists these days more likely to proclaim God’s connection with science?

2. Do you feel it would be difficult or easy to be able to connect God with scientific findings?


​Challenge: Read 1Thessalonians 5:21

God’s had a purpose for His Word and it will accomplish what He desires. That includes archaeological discoveries that prove the validity of the Bible. God’s Word renews our lives and makes us wise


Questions for further thought:

1. What have you seen God’s Word accomplish?
2. Who first introduced you to God’s Word? Who is someone you can introduce it to? 

Challenge: Try placing Scripture on sticky notes around your house and in your vehicle to keep it top of mind.