Sunday, January 29, 2012

Why Him?

Why Him?

Why believe in an obscure carpenter from a backwater town in Israel, who never travelled out of his small country, lived 2000 years ago, and who proclaimed himself to be the only way to God?

Lets briefly examine the evidence for Jesus’ deity.

Jesus himself – Jesus himself offered proof of his deity in three ways:
a)His miracles – raising of Lazarus, healing the blind man, etc
b)His resurrection –  It was predicted in the Old Testament that Jesus would rise from the dead. There were numerous witnesses after the resurrection that saw Jesus. The disciples were so convinced that Jesus was alive they were willing to die for their belief (see below).              
c)His fulfillment of prophesy – born of a virgin, born in Bethlehem, would cleanse the temple, from the line of David, among others.
From:Geisler and Brooks When Skeptics Ask

Biblical sources – eyewitnesses to Christ’s life, death, and, resurrection could have refuted the stories of the miracles, resurrection, or post resurrection appearances. None did.

Non-biblical sources – Here is a list of non-Biblical sources about Jesus: Cornelius Tacitus – he mentions that Jesus was crucified by Pontius Pilate; Lucian of Samosata – states that Christians worship a man who was crucified; Suetonius – mentions Christ and Christians; Pliny the younger – talked  about killing Christians and that he could not make a true Christian deny Christ; Thallus (referenced by Julius Africanus) – he was looking for a natural explanation of the darkness that fell over the land during Christ’s crucifixion. He did not doubt that Jesus existed or was crucified; Phlegon (referenced by Julius Africanus) – also mentions the darkness at the time of Christ’s crucifixion; Mara Bar-Seraplon – he mentions a wise king of the Jews who was killed. From: McDowell The new evidence that demands a verdict.

Disciples – went throughout the world preaching the good news and most died a horrible death because of their preaching. One does not die for a lie. 
How the 12 disciples died:
Peter – crucified upside down
Andrew  - crucified
James - beheaded
John - exiled, died of old age
Matthew - speared to death
Bartholomew - beaten then crucified
Philip - crucified
Thomas - speared to death
Simon - crucified
James - stoned to death
Thaddaeus - stoned to death
Judas  - suicide by hanging

So, we have Jesus’ claims, biblical and non-biblical sources confirming that Jesus existed and performed miracles. None of those present denied the events that took place. And we also have the disciples lives as proof.

 Any Questions? 


בְּרָכָה
ed

Friday, January 27, 2012

Pushed into life


Pushed into life

David Henderson in Culture Shift says that the Bible pushes us into life rather than pulling us out. Isn’t what this Jesus said in the great commission? To go and make disciples. We need to meet people where they are. Be it bars, homes, workplace, street, wherever there are people we need to be there.
Alan Hirsch states that we need to follow Jesus’ command “by going out rather than just reaching out.” By the end of the third century there were 20,000,000 followers of Christ. Think about that. There was no transportation except your two feet pretty much. No means to spread the message except one on one communication. The zeal the early Christians had to spread the message was amazing! Hirsch lists some of the "handicaps" these Christians faced as they spread the message of God:
             They were an illegal religion throughout this period: At best, they were tolerated; at the very worst they were very severely persecuted.
             They didn’t have any church buildings as we know them: While archaeologists have discovered chapels dating from this period, they were definite exceptions to the rule and they tended to be very small converted houses.
             They didn’t even have the Scriptures as we know them:They were putting the canon together during this period.
             They didn’t have an institution or the professional form of leadership normally associated with it. At times of relative calm, proto-typical elements of institution did appear, but by what we consider institutional, these were at best pre-institutional.
             They didn’t have seeker sensitive services, youth groups,worship bands, seminaries, or commentaries, etc.
             They actually made it hard to join the church. By the late second century aspiring converts had to undergo a significant initiation period to prove they were worthy.
So what is your excuse? Why are you not out among the people of your neighborhood, state, or world engaging them where they live as you live out the Gospel of Christ?

בְּרָכָה
ed

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Annotated 23rd Psalm for the workplace

Annotated 23rd Psalm for the workplace

The Lord is my real boss, and I shall not want.
Boss – Person in charge; Want – needs, got to have
He gives me peace, when chaos is all around me.
Peace – no worries about the past, present, or future.
He gently reminds me to pray and do all things without murmuring and complaining.
1 Thess 5:16-18 Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
He reminds me that he is my source and not my job.
Hebrews 5:9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation
He restores my sanity everyday and guides my decisions that I might honor him in all that I do.
Guide - One who, or that which, directs another in his conduct or course of life
Even though I face absurd amounts of e-mails, system crashes, unrealistic deadlines, budget cutbacks, gossiping co-workers, discriminating supervisors and an aging body that doesn't cooperate every morning, I still will not stop, for He is with me!
Psalm 118:6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
His presence, His peace, and His power will see me through.
He is with us always!
He raises me up, even when they fail to promote me.
Psalm 145:14 The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
He claims me as His own, even when the company threatens to let me go.
We are His
His Faithfulness and love is better than any bonus check.
Psalm 119:90 Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures.
His retirement plan beats every 401k there is!
Rev 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
When it's all said and done, I'll be working for Him a whole lot longer and for that, I bless His name.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

בְּרָכָה
ed

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Rules of a Godly Life

Rules of a Godly Life


The Amish have a devotional called Rules of a Godly life. It contains  rules for living the Christian life. I would like to focus on one.
Concerning your thoughts: In the morning, awake with God and consider that this might be your final day. When you go to be at night, you do not know if you will ever rise again, except to appear before the Judgement. For this reason, it is all the more expedient for you to pray every day, falling upon your knees both mornings and evenings, confessing your sins to God and asking His forgiveness, and thanking Him for blessing received. (from The Amish Way, Kraybill, Nolt, and Weaver-Zercher)
This echos what Jesus said in Luke 12:16-20
16And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. 17“And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ 18“Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’
You never know when you will draw your last breath; so live each day as if it were your last and live for God!


בְּרָכָה
ed

Saturday, January 21, 2012

"I've got your back"

From our small group last night:

Jesus holds the door open to the unknown and motions you to go first, saying "Go ahead. I've got your back."


בְּרָכָה
ed