Life Creek Youth Group Spring 2009 Life Creek Youth Group Spring 2009
Give Me a Reason Series Give Me a Reason Series
Exclusivity (1 Peter 3:13-18) Exclusivity (1 Peter 3:13-18)
How can you claim that your religion is the one true religion? How can you claim that your religion is the one true religion?
Two answers that don’t work: Two answers that don’t work:
1. Let’s weaken religions 2. Confine religion to the private life. 1. Let’s weaken religions 2. Confine religion to the private life.
An answer that works: An answer that works:
What makes Christianity unique? Jesus came to us, heaven will come down. What makes Christianity unique? Jesus came to us, heaven will come down.
“In Jesus religion became a reality, consider believing in him” “In Jesus religion became a reality, consider believing in him”
Evil (1 Peter 1:3-9) Evil (1 Peter 1:3-9)
If God is good and powerful why is there suffering? If God is good and powerful why is there suffering?
What won’t work: abandon belief in God. If there is no God then all things are permissible. What won’t work: abandon belief in God. If there is no God then all things are permissible.
3 ways to understand evil: 3 ways to understand evil:
1) Look back at God’s promises (Isaiah 43) 1) Look back at God’s promises (Isaiah 43)
2) Look ahead to our living hope. 2) Look ahead to our living hope.
3) Look right now at the cross: Understand why Jesus suffered. 3) Look right now at the cross: Understand why Jesus suffered.
“What got Jesus out of heaven and through his suffering was: YOU” “What got Jesus out of heaven and through his suffering was: YOU”
Individual freedom (John 8:26-32) Individual freedom (John 8:26-32)
I want the freedom to believe my own truth. I want the freedom to believe my own truth.
1) Truth is important: everyone has to believe something. 1) Truth is important: everyone has to believe something.
2) Freedom is complex: it comes when you live with the right restrictions. 2) Freedom is complex: it comes when you live with the right restrictions.
3) Jesus is liberating: Truth became a person, gave up his freedom so we can be free. 3) Jesus is liberating: Truth became a person, gave up his freedom so we can be free.
“For Christ’s love compels us” (2 Cor 5:14) “For Christ’s love compels us” (2 Cor 5:14)
Injustice (James 2:1-17) Injustice (James 2:1-17)
Christians have done bad things so I can’t believe it. Christians have done bad things so I can’t believe it.
1) The biblical God chooses the poor: the Gospel empowers the poor. 1) The biblical God chooses the poor: the Gospel empowers the poor.
2) Anyone who chooses our God will also choose the poor: is your faith alive? 2) Anyone who chooses our God will also choose the poor: is your faith alive?
3) How do we live for God: don’t show favoritism. 3) How do we live for God: don’t show favoritism.
“In Christ, we are enabled to love so we can be who we ought to be.” “In Christ, we are enabled to love so we can be who we ought to be.”
Hell (Luke 16:19-26) Hell (Luke 16:19-26)
How can a God that judges and sends people to hell be a loving God? How can a God that judges and sends people to hell be a loving God?
1) Understanding hell is crucial for understanding your own heart. 1) Understanding hell is crucial for understanding your own heart.
Sin = building your identify on anything but God Sin = building your identify on anything but God
2) Understanding hell helps us know the love of God. 2) Understanding hell helps us know the love of God.
“On the cross, Jesus experienced infinite hells in our place so we could live” “On the cross, Jesus experienced infinite hells in our place so we could live”
Bible (Luke 24:13-27) Bible (Luke 24:13-27)
Is the bible literally true? Is the bible literally true?
1) We can trust be bible because it is historically true. 1) We can trust be bible because it is historically true.
2) Culturally: maybe what you think it says isn’t true because of our cultural biases. 2) Culturally: maybe what you think it says isn’t true because of our cultural biases.
3) Personally: have you experienced the Jesus of the bible? 3) Personally: have you experienced the Jesus of the bible?
“The bible has been given to you, but it’s all about Jesus” “The bible has been given to you, but it’s all about Jesus”
Doubt (John 20:1-16) Doubt (John 20:1-16)
1) Unmask your doubt (assumptions) 2) Examine your faith 3) Fuel your hope 1) Unmask your doubt (assumptions) 2) Examine your faith 3) Fuel your hope
“Faith is living what you know is true despite how you feel or circumstances” “Faith is living what you know is true despite how you feel or circumstances”
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