Does a death bed confession really count? How is that possible? Can a person really change? There are a few problems with this line of thinking. The first and most prominent being the example of the thief on the cross.
No Such Thing As Truth
Truth might seem like a simple concept. There is true and false. If something is true, it’s a reality of life. Modern philosophy, and as we’ll see ancient philosophy, would like you to believe that it’s not that simple. In this week’s study we’ll at what our God has to say about truth.
I Want to Feel Good About Myself
“Isn’t Christianity such a downer? I just want to feel good about myself.” If you’ve been a Christian for a while this might seem like a bizarre complaint. Of course, we feel good about ourselves! We’ll look at this accusation and our defense of Christianity from God’s word. The only cure for a guilty soul are the refreshing waters of the gospel.
Terrible Things
“How can you possibly defend the church?! It’s done terrible things in the name of God.” At first, the only possible reaction is to apologize. Before we climb into a hole, Christianity is an incredibly good thing. In this lesson we’ll separate fact from fiction and look at what terrible things have been done in the past. We’ll find that it’s not just the church that has black marks. In the end, we’ll find that Christianity is the most powerful force for good the world has ever seen.
Where is God
Even though there is no good answer for suffering in this world, we know without a doubt that our God loves us because he sent Jesus to save us. That much we know. It is our loving father who allows heartache and pain into our life.
A Crutch for the Weak
Is Christianity a crutch for the weak? I suppose so. I know that I’m weak. I find my strength in Jesus alone. But I don’t think that the people who said this about my faith were trying to point me to the cross. Calling Christianity a crutch for the weak is an attack on the faith. How could we defend against this?
Other Gods
No other gods… That’s not so hard, right? Well even if you can stay away from the little golden statues, there are other gods that will try and sneak into your heart. These can be good things. Things that God commands us to love and care for. Our bodies, our family, our possessions are all gifts from him. Guard your heart that they don’t climb above God to the #1 place in our hearts.
Law and Gospel
What are the two main teachings of the Bible? It’s Law and Gospel, of course. This morning we’ll break down the differences of Law and Gospel teaching.
Knowledge of God
Where is a good place to start with someone when talking about God? Why not go back to the basics! This Sunday we started a new Bible study: Back to the Basics. We’ll see how we can know about God. All corners of the globe have a concept of God – why do you think that is? God inserted evidence of his existence in creation.
Working Hard
Working hard is a great way to get ahead in life. Trying our best is never a bad idea. What happens when we apply a little elbow grease to our spiritual lives? Working hard is a common thread in almost every religion around the world. Is Christianity really any different? Watch and find out.
Three-In-One God
The topic of the trinity, our Three-In-One God, isn’t a new one to the Christian, but the answers to the seeker might be. How would you explain your three-in-one God to someone who wasn’t a Christian? It doesn’t make sense – neither does God’s love. There are plenty of unexplained things about the Christian faith that we simply accept. Our God says it; we believe it.
Believe What I Can See
“I only believe what I can see!” Really, do you only believe what you can see? Can you really prove that something doesn’t exist? Is Atheism an uplifting world view? Do agnostics really have a hard time understanding or is it a willful ignorance? This question is for the skeptic in all of us. At first glance it seems worthy of a respect. “Maybe these people just want to think things through.” Let’s take a closer look.
God Demands Worship
What kind of a God demands worship? My first reaction to the question is… “When you say it like that… it sounds bad.” But not really. No one has to pry the praise from my lips. I happily offer my life not just my song in praise to my God.