The Game Changer (Jesus)

Something happened 2,000 years ago. Hundreds of people spread a story that a man claiming to be divine proving his claim by rising from the dead. If they were telling the truth, we have to re-evaluate everything about our lives. (Message recorded April 15, 2012) Going Deeper John 3:16-18 (NLT) 16 For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. 18 There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. The Minimal Facts Approach to Believing in Jesus' Resurrection* • FACT #1: Jesus was ___________ by __________________. • FACT #2: Jesus’ disciples believed that he _____________ and _____________ to them. • FACT #3: The conversion of the church ________________ Paul. • FACT #4: The conversion of the skeptic ____________, Jesus’ half-brother. • FACT #5: Jesus’ ________ was _________. *From The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus (Licona & Habermas, 2004), as quoted in The Case for the Resurrection (Strobel, 2009 Zondervan). Questions for Reflection & Discussion 1. What does genuine belief in the resurrection of Jesus say about a person’s worldview? 2. What explanations have you heard for Jesus changing the world over 2,000 years ago (e.g. “Jesus was just a moral leader or a prophet; supposed witnesses of his resurrection were mass hallucinations.”)? How do those explanations hold up against the Minimal Facts Approach? 3. Do you believe that belief is a gift from God? Why or why not? 4. In Mark 9:23-24 Jesus tells a man “Anything is possible if you believe.” The man responds, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” Can you relate? When is it easy to believe in Jesus? When is it tough?