Mission Hills Church
For most of history, people didn’t think of God as a “problem” so much as a solution. But times have changed. Today, belief — let alone trust — in God seems to be hard to reconcile with science, evil and suffering, hypocrisy in the church, questions about the reliability of the Bible...and more. Whether you’re wrestling with these questions yourself — and who doesn’t sometimes? — or know someone who is, you won’t want to miss a single weekend of this series.
Two important things to keep in mind:
1. We all have questions. On a scale from 0 to 10, where am I with faith in God?
2. These answers aren't weapons, they're medicine. Use them to help, not hurt.
These answers aren’t weapons, they’re medicine.
Now there arose at this time a source of further trouble in one Jesus, a wise man who performed surprising works a teacher of men who gladly welcome strange things… (Josephus, Antiquities, 18:3:3)
Everybody agreed Jesus did miracles. They disagreed about how he did them.
Jesus didn't claim to have wisdom, he claimed to be the source of all wisdom.
Why are miracles a problem? Because what we do is an extension of who we are.
John 17:1 NIV
1. He’s calling himself the Son of God.
Jesus claims to have God's authority over everyone.
Deuteronomy 6:4 NIV
2. He’s claiming the right to be worshiped int he same way as God
John 17:2 NIV
Isaiah 40:5 NIV
Isaiah 66:16 NIV
Jesus claims to have God’s authority over everyone.
John 17:2-3 NIV
He's not saying he knows the secret to eternal life, he's saying he's the source of eternal life.
John 17:4-5 NIV
Jesus claims to be pre-existent.
Jesus claims he is the source of eternal life.
John 17:4-5 NIV
Jesus claims to be pre-existent.
Jesus claimed to be co-equal and co-eternal with God.
Now there arose at this time a source of further trouble in one Jesus, a wise man who performed surprising works a teacher of men who gladly welcome strange things… (Josephus, Antiquities, 18:3:3)
Jesus caused trouble by doing remarkable things and making remarkable claims about himself.
Luke 22:70-71 NIV
Both his fans and his critics agree: Jesus claimed to be co-equal and co-eternal with God.
We can accept his claim or we can reject his claim, but we cannot ignore his claim.
Why do I believe? Four pieces of evidence I consider
1. The rise of the early church.
2. The persistence of the early church.
3. The experience of Christians throughout history.
4. My own personal experience.
2. The persistence of the early church.
3. The experience of Christians throughout history.
4. My own personal experience.
1. Who do I know who needs to know what I know about Jesus?
2. What questions need answered to help me decide what I believe about Jesus? What step will I take to try to get answers to those questions?
3. Do I have enough answers to take my step of faith?