United In Christ · Growing In Grace · Reaching Out In Love

Sunday Morning Sermon Summary 

Series: “Foundations”

2. Why Believe Anything?

1 Corinthians 1:22-25

January 11, 2009

 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. NIV

 OUR MISSION: Glorify God, extend His kingdom, reconcile the world to Him

►WHY SHOULD ANYONE BELIEVE ANYTHING AT ALL?

            ►BECAUSE WE BASE OUR LIVES ON BELIEVING

            (Believing is like breathing: we do it until it becomes difficult, and then we think about it)

            ►BECAUSE WE NEED TO KNOW THE ANSWER FOR OURSELVES

            (the only thing worth believing is the truth)

            ►BECAUSE OUR STRATEGY IS TO MAKE DISCIPLES

            (If something is true for me, it will be true for others)

 ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

►Question #1:  Why DO we believe what we believe? (CAUSE)

►1)      Social causes

a)    My parents believe, therefore I believe

b)    My friends believe, therefore I believe

c)     My culture believes, (It’s all I know/understand; never really thought about it)

Common Response: Communities “brainwash” people into believing

►2)      Personal causes

a)    It gives meaning and purpose to my life

b)    It gives me a sense of identity

c)     It relieves guilt and fear

d)    It makes me feel good

Common Response:  It’s a crutch people use to avoid reality

►3)      Religious causes

a)    My pastor, priest, guru taught it, I read it in the Bible, etc.

b)    Miracles prove it’s true

c)     I have a direct experience with God

Common Response:  Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, New Agers do too

►4)      Philosophical causes

            It’s true! (but how do we know it’s true?)

a)    It’s reasonable (but not necessarily true)

b)    It’s logical

c)     There’s real evidence for it (If Jesus rose from the dead, it means something!)

d)    I have experience that proves it (so do Muslims, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, etc.)

   Common Response:  We can’t all be right, can we?

 ►Question #2: Why SHOULD I believe in one thing or another? (REASON)

 It provides the best explanation for the tough issues of life

►a)      accounts for all the issues we hold to be relevant

►b)      is internally consistent

►c)      is consistent with everything else we hold to be true

►d)      provides along with our other beliefs a more coherent picture of the world, ourselves and    others than any alternative. (we’ll use these throughout the series)

Example #1:  What if it’s true that Islam is the true religion?  What if there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet?

Example #2:  What if reincarnation is true and resurrection isn’t?  What if there is no after-life at all? 

 It’s true for you but not for me WON’T DO!  It REALLY matters

If Islam is true, what I believe about the God of the Bible isn’t. 

If what I believe about God is truth, Islam isn’t. 

If both are wrong, then what?

Either reincarnation is true and resurrection isn’t, lights-out at death or something else happens.

NO MIDDLE GROUND.

SOMETHING HAPPENS AT DEATH!

 ►#1 REASON FOR BELIEVING SOMETHING:  If something is true, it’s true.  It will cost me dearly if I’m wrong. 

If Islam is true, Allah demands and deserves worship and obedience from everyone (NOT JUST THOSE WHO BELIEVE IT).  Allah is not going to understand that I made a mistake in believing the wrong thing.

 Not believing anything at all won’t help me either! “I’LL LIVE WITH IT” IS LIKE REFUSING TO BELIEVE IN GRAVITY, JUMPING OFF A CLIFF AND SAYING, “IF I’M WRONG, I’LL LIVE WITH IT!”

 WHY SHOULD I BELIEVE IN THE GOD OF THE BIBLE?

 Two important questions to ask: 

1)    WHY DO I believe?  2)  WHY SHOULD I believe?

 Eph. 1:18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Legend:

Green: Mission and Vision
Blue: Illustrations and quotes
Red: Scripture

Note to the visitor:  These are Pastor Paul’s sermon notes from Sunday Morning.  They probably won’t make much sense if you weren’t in the service.  Feel free to contact Pastor Paul if you’d like more detailed information.
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