This sermon is from a series on Tube Theology.
I have researched sermoncentral as well as other sources. I use an expanded outline in preaching though it is not exactly a manuscript. I also use a sermon outline for the congregation to fill in.
CSI: OUR FAITH
NOVEMBER 7, 2004 Jay Robison 1 CORINTHIANS 15:3-8
Last few weeks been looking at Tube Theology
What do popular TV shows teach about life and God?
Today come to look at Crime Scene Investigations
CBS show uses latest technological tools to unmask mysteries & get to the truth, what appears not always what is Automated Fingerprint Ident System, Micro spectrophotometer & infrared heat sensors
Characters are part scientists part police officers
Very logical show pieces of puzzle are put together
Get impression these officers & their lab can solve anything
Question is does our faith stand up under scrutiny?
Sometimes shy away from this, afraid faith will crumble
God supports logic says: “Come now let us reason together,
Sometimes I have to question our logic
Why is it that doctors call what they do "practice"?
Why to stop Microsoft Win, you have to click "Start"?
Why is lemon juice made w\artificial flavor, & dishwashing liquid made w\real lemons? Why is person who invests all your money called a broker? Why is time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour? Why isn’t there mouse-flavored cat food? Why don’t you ever see headline, "Psychic Wins Lottery"? Why are there Braille labels at drive-up ATMs? Why are they called apartments when are all stuck together?
If we did a CSI of Christianity what would happen
Do the claims of Christianity stand up under scrutiny?
If we investigate will we find it is all fantasy?
Some Christians very threatened by this
Greatest claim of Christianity, linchpin foundation of our faith Is the belief that Jesus was resurrected from the dead. Without that we only have nice teachings
Even the bible says this is at the heart I Cor 15:14 NIV And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is worth nothing, and your faith is worth nothing. How can we believe Jesus was raised from dead?
I Cor 15 Paul dealing with this question he gives those of us reading today 3 pieces of evidence for believing resurrection
1. According to THE SCRIPTURES
It happened according to the scriptures
There were people who wrote about what went on
Historical events are investigated by WRITTEN RECORDS
What are read in bible are written accounts of events
History is based on written records
Today we research about our families by written records
The history we have as a nation based on written records All history of world civilization from writing
Vs 3 begins in the first place, first of all, first on my mind Says Christ died for our sins, was buried and raised According to the scriptures says 2 things
Were written records from this event 20+ years prior
Also these events were fulfillment of written records
Jesus’ birth death burial & resurrection foretold in OT. OT contains OVER 300 PROPHECIES FULFILLED BY Jesus
What chance did Jesus or anyone else have of fulfilling these? In Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Josh McDowell says Peter Stoner, who figured on just 8 of 300 prophecies: Chances of one person fulfilling 8 of them are 1 IN 10 TO THE 17TH POWER 1 with 17 zeroes
These prophecies where written by various men Over 100s of years, centuries before Jesus was born Yet there are 300+ references to Messiah true in Jesus
To get back to the chances of just 8 of 300 fulfilled
That is 100 zillion; that many silver dollars would cover face of Texas, 2 ft deep. Now mark 1 of these silver dollars & stir coins Blindfold a man & tell him he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up one silver dollar & say that is right one.
What chance would he have of getting the right one?
Same chance of just 8 OT prophecies true in any 1 man.
Secular historians Josephus foremost told story of Jesus Jesus, death burial and resurrection have written evidence 2nd piece of evidence
2. He appeared TO MANY WITNESSES
Women were 1st witnesses to say saw Jesus
Both Jesus’ friends & enemies testified tomb was empty.
To discover what happened we look for WITNESSES
The historicity of events based often on witnesses
That is what reporters do for story, tell me what happened We use witness testimony in court; how we decide disputes
If the man died & the death was witnessed then he came
back to life & that was witnessed hard to refuting it.
But consider those who were witnesses to see Jesus alive. “the 12” disciples did they believe Jesus would rise from dead? NO THEY RAN AWAY FROM HIM Followers knew what he said. He is killed, crucified like a common thief. Dead
Friday, Saturday, nothing happens Sunday Jesus gets up, As a matter of fact they all ran away from him,
if this guy could rise Lk 18:34 Certainly could protect them Mk 16:11, 13-14 Thomas doubted others were feeling same
Some said disciples in such grief wished him alive
So they just imagined him alive claimed to see him
But he appeared to 500 at one time! Some hallucination
Witnesses became WELL WITNESSES Those who saw Jesus, who never thought he would Had to be amazed, shocked, dumbfounded and incredulous
Jesus is no longer just a man. He is God The women from tomb told all The disciples who ran from Jesus before cross Ended up all dying martyr’s deaths
In one swoop, Jesus exposes all other religions for what are: schemes & speculations of mere mortals who stepped onto the stage of history for just a season.
100s of teachers in world for a time but they died left their philosophies behind
The sure-fire way to silence belief in Jesus’ resurrection. SHOW ME THE BODY! Religious leaders in Jerusalem would go to any length to stop preaching about resurrection, most logical way stop to produce Jesus’ body but could not
Resurrection caused conversion of skeptics James bro of Christ Resurrection evidence by witnesses, many of whom were still alive and confident of resurrection more than 20 yrs later
3rd piece of evidence for Jesus’ resurrection
3. He will make A DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE
Okay maybe you believe Jesus was raised from the dead
Believe what was written, and eyewitness accounts
Leaves us with question, so what? What difference to me? Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. Vs 8 NRSV
He can appear to you
What makes Paul an unlikely believer?
HE WAS A FOLLOWER OF ANOTHER RELIGION
A highly trained devout Jew, studied at feet of masters
A PERSECUTOR OF THE CHURCH believed so much tried to stamp out Xnity killed Xns
ZEALOUS IN HIS BELIEFS Great debater, went all over known world
But Saul met Jesus and became Paul everything changed
Jesus longer an enemy, or a historical figure but a real person If does come back from dead, everything said about himself that He’s son of God; Messiah; seen Him have seen God; He’s way, truth, & life nobody comes to God except by him
All stuff the Buddha said about great nothingness it’s false, because Siddhartha Buddha is still dead and Jesus is alive. Muslims believe Mohammed greatest prophet Jesus prophet not as enlightened as Mohammed Jesus is alive, M still dead You want to build your life on words of a dead man, or on one who came back to life? Frederick Nietzsche said that God is dead. If the resurrection is true, then it’s Nietzsche who’s dead! That spirit guide who told your friend that Jesus is just one of the ways to a higher spiritual plain is dead wrong. No matter what Tom Cruise or John Travolta say, L. Ron Hubbard’s Scientology is dead wrong as well. If Jesus really rose from the dead, then Christianity is ultimately true
You don’t have to believe me; but we’re all going to die. And five seconds after both you and I die, we’re going to find out who was right
If Jesus rose from the dead; then life is more than:
ECONOMICS OR PHYSICAL PLEASURES If Jesus rose from the dead, then we are immortal beings with a body and soul who were destined to be resurrected with immortal bodies to match our immortal souls.
Jesus’ resurrection unmistakable demonstration nature of life You don’t get a bunch of chances to get it right. You get one chance, and then you face eternity
But if Jesus had to die GOD IS DESPERATE For r-ship with you why else would God send Jesus to die?
If God had to send his only begotten son to die for our sins, our situation must have been extremely perilous. When a criminal is condemned to die, we assume that what he did must have been particularly heinous. In this case, it’s our sins which are so heinous that they could only be atoned for by God
himself taking the form of a man and suffering the penalty of divine justice.
We all know the reality of the world in which we live.
People here have faced great sins Sexual abuse, alcoholism, theft, you have been mistreated by teachers, by employers; We read about suicide bombers, & those who cook meth. Know about respectable businesspeople lying to their stockholders ripping off retirements for huge bonuses
But that knife cuts both ways we have also mistreated others Hey, we have all done wrong some shoplift from store in mall or steal from our employer’s office, right? If we are honest we are in need of savior help to live life We all struggle with sin and dark side of ourselves
