WHO WAS JESUS? WHY IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY WAY? WHY SHOULD I BELIEVE THAT JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD?

GRAB A PARTNER Tell each other unbiblical explanations of who Jesus is

A Historical Figure Bart Ehrman says, "He certainly existed, as virtually every competent scholar of antiquity, Christian or non-Christian, agrees." (B. Ehrman, 2011 "Forged : writing in the name of God”) Jesus is God Jesus Claimed to be God: John 8:58, Exodus 3:14 Confirmed by his enemies: John 8:56-59 Proven by Miracles: Mark 2:5-12 ESV

WHO WAS JESUS? Not a Teacher “I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” C.S. Lewis

WHO WAS JESUS? Not a Spirit 36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,[b] 43 and he took it and ate before them. (Luke 24:36-42 ESV)

PRACTICE Pair up and defend that Jesus is God & is not a good teacher or spirit

WHY IS CHRISTIANITY THE ONLY WAY? Jesus said so John 14:6 The only True revelation of God John 4:22-26 Only God can pay for sins 2 Corinthians 5:21 1 Peter 1:19 Hebrews 10:4

PRACTICE What’s the logic behind there being only one way to God?

Jesus resurrected appeared to people 1 Corinthians 15:3-7 The Disciples doubted after seeing him Matthew 28:17 John 20:24-29 The disciples confirmed the resurrection through miracles Mark 16:19-20

THE DISCIPLE’S WOULDN’T LIE They live extremely difficult lives proclaiming the message 1 Corinthians 15: of the 12 disciples died brutal deaths proclaiming the resurrection The 12 was boiled alive and put in exile (John)

THE DISCIPLES STOLE HIS BODY

THE TOMB WAS EMPTY BECAUSE THE BODY WAS STOLEN Who stole it? The tomb was protected Matthew 27:62-66 Stolen body theory is a lie Matthew 28:11-15

Did Jesus die while on the cross?

I DON’T BELIEVE JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS The Romans were exceedingly efficient at killing people and knowing when they were dead Jesus' wounds were far too severe to heal in a few days (if they could heal at all) The "water" flowing from Jesus' spear wound is consistent with cardiovascular collapse

MODERN THEORY IT’S MADE UP AFTER THE FACT Christianity is founded on the Resurrection 1 Corinthians 15 There is no historical evidence of a "Christianity" that did not believe in the resurrection The Earliest Christian Creed Explicitly Proclaims the Resurrection Paul was told of Jesus' resurrection in a creed from Ananias less than 5 years (possibly mere months) after Jesus' crucifixion. 1 Corinthians 15:5-6

PRACTICE What’s hard for you to believe about the resurrection? Which answer was the most helpful?

QUESTION AND ANSWER Any Question is Game!

CLOSE WITH STORY AND PRAYER Tell Story Pray Fill out Note card with feedback and questions that were unanswered