Why Should We Believe Christianity is True?
| Style | APA |
| Number of words | 428 |
| Number of sources | 0 |
| Spacing | Double |
| PowerPoint slides | 0 |
Getting Started
Acts 10:40-42
40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.
John 20:1-10
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.
1 Corinthians 15:18-20
18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Resources
Bible
Video: Evidence for the Resurrection, William Lane Craig at
Website: 7 Proofs of the Resurrection – https://www.learnreligions.com/proofs-of-the-resur…
Background Information
Christianity is unique among all religions in claiming that central to its existence is the actual resurrection of its founder from the dead. In fact, Christianity claims that not only did Jesus rise bodily after being dead, but that he then ascended into heaven and continues to live today; that he was in fact, God in human flesh. If such an outrageous claim is indeed true, then it is vital that Christians both at the beginning and now have evidence to back it up. Indeed, if the preponderance of evidence supports that Jesus rose from the dead, what Jesus taught and said must be true and taken seriously and he is Lord, savior and the only true way to God. In fact, everything about Christianity hinges on the resurrection. As even the apostle Paul pointed out, if Jesus is not risen from the dead, then Christians of all people are to be pitied, for we are fools.
If you are currently a Christian or from a Christian background it is vital that you understand that your faith is based on evidence, not merely blind belief. If you are not a Christian or have never taken Jesus seriously, I invite you consider that Jesus was who he said he was and is the living and risen savior who wants you to know him even today.
Social workers believe that evidence based and supported practices are among the best tools for helping others. In this final field practicum, you have also been submitting evidence over the last eight weeks to prove your competency as a generalist worker. Consider the evidence below that Jesus rose from the dead and is who he claims to be.
Prayer
Jesus, you claimed to be equal with God and told your followers in advance that you would be crucified, buried and rise again. No one has ever made such a claim and backed it up. But your dead body was never found. If you rose again and are God then you are alive and can reveal yourself to me. Where I have doubts, show me you are real. If you came to save people from their sins as you said you did, then I need to know. I want to know. Amen.
Instructions
Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
Watch, Evidence for the Resurrection with William Lane Craig.
Read, 7 Proofs of the Resurrection.
Navigate to the threaded discussion and respond to one or more of the following prompts:
If you are a Christian and follower of Jesus, what evidence helped convince you that believing in Jesus as Lord was a reasonable choice? (An experience, research, someone’s testimony, etc.) Explain. If you are not a Christian, describe your experience with hearing or examining evidence for Jesus and the Christian faith so far.
Of the evidence presented by Dr. Craig and described in the material, what parts of the evidence do you find most compelling? Discuss two.
In your own words, explain why the resurrection is so important to the Christian faith and making a commitment to following Jesus. Do you agree that it is the most important thing about Christianity compared to other religions? Why or why not?
If Jesus really rose from the dead, is alive and Lord as he claimed why do you think some Christians say they believe this but live like those not following Jesus? What might help them to take him more seriously? Share your thoughts.
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