Dialogue with the World

Series: Dialogue with the World
Questions about Christianity by John Burke, June 1, 2008
This lesson was distinctly different from any others. Due to John’s illness two weeks ago and his travel last week, the discussion with leaders from different religions was postponed. Sill, John DID stay with the theme of this series, Dialogue with the World, but in this case it the Dialogue was with John. People text-messaged questions for John to answer. So, this week, Second Helping is based on your questions too. You’ll pick the questions to discuss in the group (Note: you’ll need some paper and pen/pencil before you get started.)

1. Begin with a couple of minutes to just think about your own questions about God, spirituality, the Bible, Jesus, heaven, hell… whatever. Write down the top three questions you would like to discuss. (Note: some might be questions that were discussed by John, but that you’d like to explore more and discuss in the group. There is a “cheat sheet” list of questions that were covered during the first two services below. But try not to look until you’ve spent some time thinking about your own questions) Next, go around the group and have each person read their top two questions. After everyone has nominated questions, get a list of those that were most common and work through those with discussion. (Just in case you have more time, you can go to question # 3). (45 - 50 minutes)

Before you start, keep in mind a couple of guidelines:

• As John said, not all questions are created equal. There are some questions that are key questions of faith… sort of foundational issues that really impact whether one can accept the whole idea of belief in Jesus as Savior (i.e., “Did Jesus claim to be God?”). Then there are some questions where sincere, reasonable Christ-followers can have differences of opinion that are impossible to resolve… but might be interesting to discuss (i.e., “Do we have free will or are our lives predestined?” or “Did creation happen through evolution or in one week?”). Last, there can be those that we will NEVER be able to answer given our limited existence in time and space (i.e., “What will it be like to live forever?”). (John also said there were silly questions.. i.e., “Can God make a rock so big He can’t lift it?”… but clearly that doesn’t count here). As John did, in your discussion, try to focus on the first type – central questions… or perhaps even the second type as long as everyone understand that any “answers” will be personal opinion.


• Next, be sure to keep an open mind. Jesus said that we could know the Truth, and it could set us free. Gateway values include open and honest questions… so remember the point is not to out-argue, but to sincerely and lovingly seek Truth together.

2. After the discuss, stop and think again. Did anything set you thinking in a different way? Is there more you need to learn? No doubt you addressed important question… questions at the heart of how you live your life and think about and relate to God. So, take a couple of minutes to write what YOU want to know more about and how you will start – a real, concrete “next step” you can do this coming week. Surely it delights God to know that someone is hoping to know Him better. (5 minutes)

3. End by discussing whether there are any big questions left “hanging”. If so, nominate someone in the group to go to the Second Helpings website and list those questions. In response, we’ll post reading ideas, Bible passages and other thoughts to those that are the big puzzlers in the group discussions. (5 - 10 minutes)

Questions from the Dialogue with John (for John’s answers you can listen/download the message at the Gateway Message Archive)
1. How do you “know” God is there?
2. Why do someone have to believe in “Jesus”… why can’t they just be a good moral person?
3. What happens to people who died without hearing about Jesus?
4. Why don’t Protestant Christians pray to the Virgin Mary?
5. If Christians are supposed to search for world peace, why is there so much fighting in the Bible?
6. Why did Jesus have to die to forgive my sins? Why didn’t God just forgive if He wants to forgive?
7. Will we meet spiritual leaders such as the Dali Lama in heaven?
8. Why are there so many different religions? 10. What happens to “non” christens when they die? Will non-Christians go to hell?
9. How do Adam and Eve tie in w/ the dinasours? Can I be a Christian an believe in evolution?
10. Did God pick people to go to heaven and earth?
11. Are Jesus and God one and the same?
12. Why does God forgive murderers and people who hurt children?
13. How can you know that the Bible is true when it was written by “man”?
14. How can you reconcile the vengeful God of the Old Testament and the loving/self-sacrificing God of the New Testament?

Want to get more/go farther?

• You can listen to this message - and other ones too at Gateway Messages.
• Get an idea of where you are in your spiritual journey and customize your own next steps at Gateway's Discover, Develop, Deepen website.
• Check out some books:
Read more about what C.S. Lewis says about Moral Laws in the Abolution of Man Learn about one scientist's road to belief in The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief, by Francis S. Collins.

Read a systematic walk through the evidence that supports Christianity in The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
Similar themes are covered in Evidence for Christianity by Josh McDowell, The Verdict of History by Gary R. Habermas (at Amazon.com) and Science Speaks by Peter Stoner (at Amazon.com)

• Search for other topics you want to know more about Gateway's online Bookstore. or go to the virtual Bookstore on the second level of the auditorum at Gateway's main campus.

Dialogue with the World: Jesus God's Son?

Series: Dialogue with the World
Is Jesus God's Son? by Ted Beasley May 25, 2008
Note: Because John was very sick this Sunday, this message is a repeat of a message from 2006 in the “Letters from a Skeptic” series. You can think of this topic as a continuation of last week’s message on “Jesus for the World” because the message speaks to why belief in Jesus is credible.

In the message, Ted directs us to the day that Jesus was crucified and to the others who were crucified with him, in particular, the one who changed his mind about who Jesus is. You can read the story snippet below – from Matthew and from Luke… but the essence is that the “robber” went from ridicule to trust. He made a decision to trust Jesus for who He is.

1. Ted talked about the non-Christian historical record that supports the Bible, the credibility of the Biblical story tellers, and the (very low) probability of the prophecies about Jesus being coincidence. Which of these do you think is most credible? Go around the group and talk about a type of evidence that is most convincing for you and explain how it fits into your own beliefs. (10 minutes)

2. Next, think about why we change our minds. First, take a look at your own experience: Think of someone or some situation that you changed your mind about – either from positive to negative or vice versa? What made the difference? Spend some time sharing different people’s stories and try to identify what types of things cause beliefs to change. (10 minutes)

3. Ted said there are decisions that are made “with the head” and decisions that are made “with the heart” . And what we all know is that many important decisions involve both. Think back over the last year: have you had to made any decisions that were somewhat important? (i.e., My most recent one was what kind of stove to buy when mine died: Important to me because it’s a chunk of change and I’ll have to live with it for quite awhile). So, fix a decision in your mind. How did you go about making the decision? Was there a “head” part to your decision? What was one part of your decision process that was mostly “head” related. Now what about the “heart” side? What was one thing in making the decision that talked to your “heart”? As you talk about these things, have someone keep a list of the types of things that appeal to the head and to the heart. (15 - 20 minutes)

4. Next, try to apply all this to a belief in Jesus: Do you or did you have any “issues” with the basics of “Christianity” (i.e., that Jesus was the promised “Christ”, who died in payment for peoples’ rebellion, and that accepting/believing in Him is THE route to have a good relationship with God.) ? If in the past you didn’t believe in the basics of this, but you do now, … think back to any key changes in belief you had: What made you change your mind about that? Do these relate to any of the types of things you discussed in the previous questions? Talk about the things that caused a change of mind and/or heart about Jesus and draw in parallel to the other factors that came up in other questions. Now, what about if you DON’T believe in all the basics of Christianity now: What are the points you have the most questions/issues with? Which are “head” issues and which are “heart issues? Can you identify any things you want to know more about? (Please, everyone remember that Gateway is ALL about being honest about where we are and learning/growing…. And NOT about twisting arms.). If you don’t believe, and have any specific idea about what you’d like to learn more about check out the resources below. Also you can ask others in the group if they can suggest anything directly relevant to your questions to read/hear/watch/study. (15 - 20 minutes)

5. End with some individual time to nail down what you thought about today: Is there some resource or information about Jesus you plan to follow up on? Have you had any changes in head or heart from the message or the discussion? If so, what are they? Or maybe you have decided that you have enough information and you want to decide about Jesus. If so, take time to talk to God, and be sure to tell someone else in the group who can pray with you too. (5 minutes)

Don’t forget that in the coming weeks you’ll have a chance to ask questions about Christianity as well as other religions. If something came up today that you want to know more about – be sure to text it in to:Myquestion@gatewaychurch.com.

Bible verses from the message:
Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"
In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
Matt 27:38 – 40, 44

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
Luke 23: 39 - 43

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
1 Corinthians 15: 3 – 8

Want to get more/go farther?

• Want to work on the “mind” part of whether the story of Jesus is true? Check out the following readings:
  - The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
  - Evidence for Christianity by Josh McDowell
  - The Verdict of History by Gary R. Habermas (at Amazon.com)
  - Science Speaks by Peter Stoner (at Amazon.com)
• You can listen to this message - and other ones too at Gateway Messages.
• Get an idea of where you are in your spiritual journey and customize your own next steps at Gateway's Discover, Develop, Deepen website.
• Search for other topics you want to know more about Gateway's online Bookstore. or go to the virtual Bookstore on the second level of the auditorum at Gateway's main campus.