Intelligent Design: Is Christianity Smart? Series

Intelligent Design: Is Christianity smart? Acts 13:4-12

Even smart people believe in God!

Do you consider yourself smart? Why are why not?

Grades do not determine intelligence…

(Nuclear Subs run into each other!)

Can we know God in our mind?

Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. Matthew 22:37

You don’t have to give up your brain to be a Christian.

We are Whole Persons, Not Parts…

"God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:24

Some people ask Jesus into their heart but not their mind (or body!) They give Jesus their heart and keep the rest.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Ephesians 6:17

Some people only know about God but don’t know Him.

It must be a whole package deal or not at all.

Is it logical? Other religions want you to lose your mind, God doesn’t. Jesus never tricked anyone.

Romans 12:2 (KJV) And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Ephes. 4:23 (KJV) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

Philip. 2:5 (KJV) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

2 Tim. 1:7 (KJV) God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Hebrews 8:10 (NLT) But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds so they will understand them, and I will write them on their hearts so they will obey them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Cor 10:5

NO GOD? Does it work? Where is our world going?

They are letting prisoners out by the thousands.

40-50 Teenagers beat a 50 year old man on a bicycle unconscious.

115,000 babies are aborted everyday. (4 per hour!)

A college student is cursed by his professor for a speech on marriage.

All of this is a result of going against God - It’s not working.

"Blind and unable to see.." Acts 13:11

Why do intelligent people reject God but believe in Aliens?

If there is no God, why do we protect endangered species? Why not just let evolution take its course…

What voices are we hearing? Telemarketers..rambling in the background?

Have you lost your mind? Can’t think straight….

And because they had not the mind to keep God in their knowledge, God gave them up to an evil mind, to do those things which are not right; Romans 1:28

Why do we have a hard time talking to people about God? Are we sure we believe? Have we evaluated the evidence?

Does God work?

Faith – Why do placebo’s work? Faith releases power in your body.

Our world will change if we do things God’s way.

Watch out! 1 Peter 5:8 A roaring lion

Illus: Lady killed didn’t stop for the stop sign. We better get focused.

BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT! Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. Ephes. 5:18 (NLT)

We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit to the point that we become spiritually smart…

Illus: There is no God…there are no Barbers

"The proconsul beleived and was astonished..." Acts 13:12

We can be smart and use our mind and know God and trust him based on the evidence, our experience, and the world around us. Faith may be blind but it is not stupid.