Confident Christianity
Confident Christianity Loving God with our Heart and Mind
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Peter’s Confidence
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” Acts 2:36
Peter’s Confidence
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” Acts 2:36
One out of every five people in the world is Muslim.
In 1990 there were 30 mosques in the United States. Today there are over 3000. On average one new mosque opens each week in the United States. Since 1990 Buddhism has grown in the United States by 170% and is the fourth most practiced religion in America.
67% of the world’s population does not identify itself as Christian.
Source of Confidence?
“God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact . . . Exalted to the right hand of God.” Acts 2:32, 33
Source of Confidence?
“God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact . . . Exalted to the right hand of God.” Acts 2:32, 33
Major Objection
The most enduring objection is that the disciples, for whatever reason, were lying!
How to Tell a Good Lie The rules of deception
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Test case
"Everything you have read is correct. It was ALL lies. I in fact HAVE lied since a younger age and had a problem with it. I am coming out and making a statement because I DO want to come clean. I do in fact take FULL responsibility for the actions and words I have said, and know that this will never go away. In NO way was I looking to take from everyone who has served. I started to believe my own lies...The lies end here.” Matt Farmer
Two Fundamental Rules of Lying S Don’t mention specifics!
Two Fundamental Rules of Lying S Don’t mention specifics! S Only tell lies that benefit you!
Don’t Mention Specifics
“So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body . . . So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock.” Mk 15:42-46
Don’t Mention Specifics
“So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body . . . So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock.” Mk 15:42-46
Don’t Mention Specifics
“He [Jesus] appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.”
1 Cor. 15:6
Lies that Benefit You
Lies that Benefit You
S James (son of Zebedee)—beheaded.
Lies that Benefit You
S James (son of Zebedee)—beheaded. S Philip—scourged, thrown in prison, crucified.
Lies that Benefit You
S James (son of Zebedee)—beheaded. S Philip—scourged, thrown in prison,
crucified. S Matthew—slain with a crude, half-axe, half-
sword weapon called a halberd.
Lies that Benefit You
S James (son of Zebedee)—beheaded. S Philip—scourged, thrown in prison,
crucified.
S Matthew—slain with a crude, half-axe,
half-sword weapon called a halberd.
S Andrew—crucified.
Lies that Benefit You
S Mark—dragged to pieces.
Lies that Benefit You
S Mark—dragged to pieces. S Bartholomew—beaten and crucified.
Lies that Benefit You
S Mark—dragged to pieces. S Bartholomew—beaten and crucified.
S Peter—crucified.
Lies that Benefit You
S Mark—dragged to pieces. S Bartholomew—beaten and crucified.
S Peter—crucified. S John—banished to the Isle of Patmos.
Eusebius
“Let us band together to invent all the miracles and resurrection appearances which we never saw and let us carry the sham even to death! Why not die for nothing? Why dislike torture and whipping inflicted for no good reason? Let us go out to all nations and overthrow their institutions and denounce their gods! And even if we do not convince anybody, at least we’ll have the satisfaction of drawing down on ourselves the punishment for our own deceit.”
Implications
S “Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue
rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave.” (Acts 2:26,27)
S “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Cor. 15:55)
S
Peter’s Confidence
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” Acts 2:36
Peter’s Confidence
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” Acts 2:36
One out of every five people in the world is Muslim.
In 1990 there were 30 mosques in the United States. Today there are over 3000. On average one new mosque opens each week in the United States. Since 1990 Buddhism has grown in the United States by 170% and is the fourth most practiced religion in America.
67% of the world’s population does not identify itself as Christian.
Source of Confidence?
“God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact . . . Exalted to the right hand of God.” Acts 2:32, 33
Source of Confidence?
“God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact . . . Exalted to the right hand of God.” Acts 2:32, 33
Major Objection
The most enduring objection is that the disciples, for whatever reason, were lying!
How to Tell a Good Lie The rules of deception
S
Test case
"Everything you have read is correct. It was ALL lies. I in fact HAVE lied since a younger age and had a problem with it. I am coming out and making a statement because I DO want to come clean. I do in fact take FULL responsibility for the actions and words I have said, and know that this will never go away. In NO way was I looking to take from everyone who has served. I started to believe my own lies...The lies end here.” Matt Farmer
Two Fundamental Rules of Lying S Don’t mention specifics!
Two Fundamental Rules of Lying S Don’t mention specifics! S Only tell lies that benefit you!
Don’t Mention Specifics
“So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body . . . So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock.” Mk 15:42-46
Don’t Mention Specifics
“So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body . . . So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock.” Mk 15:42-46
Don’t Mention Specifics
“He [Jesus] appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.”
1 Cor. 15:6
Lies that Benefit You
Lies that Benefit You
S James (son of Zebedee)—beheaded.
Lies that Benefit You
S James (son of Zebedee)—beheaded. S Philip—scourged, thrown in prison, crucified.
Lies that Benefit You
S James (son of Zebedee)—beheaded. S Philip—scourged, thrown in prison,
crucified. S Matthew—slain with a crude, half-axe, half-
sword weapon called a halberd.
Lies that Benefit You
S James (son of Zebedee)—beheaded. S Philip—scourged, thrown in prison,
crucified.
S Matthew—slain with a crude, half-axe,
half-sword weapon called a halberd.
S Andrew—crucified.
Lies that Benefit You
S Mark—dragged to pieces.
Lies that Benefit You
S Mark—dragged to pieces. S Bartholomew—beaten and crucified.
Lies that Benefit You
S Mark—dragged to pieces. S Bartholomew—beaten and crucified.
S Peter—crucified.
Lies that Benefit You
S Mark—dragged to pieces. S Bartholomew—beaten and crucified.
S Peter—crucified. S John—banished to the Isle of Patmos.
Eusebius
“Let us band together to invent all the miracles and resurrection appearances which we never saw and let us carry the sham even to death! Why not die for nothing? Why dislike torture and whipping inflicted for no good reason? Let us go out to all nations and overthrow their institutions and denounce their gods! And even if we do not convince anybody, at least we’ll have the satisfaction of drawing down on ourselves the punishment for our own deceit.”
Implications
S “Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue
rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave.” (Acts 2:26,27)
S “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Cor. 15:55)
