Question 15: Why do we believe Jesus is the only way to God?  Is that judgmental and narrow-minded?

TITLE: One Way

TEXT: John 14:1-6, Acts 4:12

THEME: Each person must decide if Jesus is who He claims to be:

Why do we believe Jesus is the only way to God?

I. Jesus and the early church make _______________ claims that He is the only way to God.

A. The claim is clearly supported in ________________.

B. The claim is usually rejected for emotional- sometimes intellectual reasons.

C. It does not claim every other religion is completely wrong.

II. The only _______________ that matters is, “Is it true?”

Three Tests

A. We must ask is it coherent?

B. We must ask is it _________________ consistent?

C. We must ask what does the evidence show?

III. If His claim is true it has both present and ____________ implications.

A. It means if I believe in Him I become a child of God (John 1:11-12)

B. It means I inherit eternal life. (John 3:16)

C. It means if I believe my life has ______________.

(Romans 5:1-10)

Question 14: Why don't I feel loved?

TITLE: Facts Should Drive our Feelings

TEXT: Romans 8:22-39

THEME: The reality is that God’s love is always present whether we feel it or not.

How can we be assured of the unchanging love of God?

I. The love of God gives you _________ in a world which is groaning in pain. (22-27)

A. All of creation groans in pain as a result of the fall.

B. Believers are in ____________ mode until our deliverance.

C. The Spirit supports us while we wait.

II. God will ___________ the suffering believer.  (28-30)

A. He will work all things for your good.

B. God _______________ and predestined us to be like Christ.

C. His purpose is to glorify us along with Christ.

III. There is nothing that can ______________ us from the love of God. (31-39)

A. With God on our side we need not fear anything.

B. Even _____________ Himself is interceding for you.

C. The reality of God’s love does not depend on your feelings.

Question 13: Why does the Bible seem to be gender biased toward males?  Is Paul misogynistic?

TITLE: Equal but Different

TEXT: Genesis 1, Galatians 3, I Timothy 2

THEME: The Bible created male and female to complement each other.

Why does the Bible seem to support patriarch?

I. The equality of male and female has its ___________ in the Bible.

A. Both are created in the image of God. (Genesis 1:26-27)

B. Both come to Christ through _________. (Galatians 3:28)

C. Christianity is unique in its value of the woman. (Prov. 31)

II. God created man and woman to ______________,  not duplicate, each other.

A. They are created to become one flesh.

B. They are created equal but __________________.

C. Their union represents that between Christ and His Church.

III. Modern feminism ______________ the real nature of male/female differences.

A. The differences are more than __________________.

B. Feminism distorts the history of the relationship.

C. The benefits do not outweigh negatives.

Question 12:  Why is the church so Judgmental? Doesn't Jesus teach not to judge others?

TITLE: Judging the Right way.

TEXT: Proverbs 14:12

THEME: The believer needs something outside himself to live righteously.

How do we respond to people who claim the church is judgemental?

I. Everyone has a sense of righteousness. (Proverbs 14:12)

A. We all have a conscience- a moral oughtness.

B. Our subjective moral oughtness seems right to us.

C. We seldom question what shapes our consciousness.

II. Acting on our sense of righteousness has consequences.

A. Most paths of righteousness lead to a destructive end.

B. Some of history’s greatest evils are by people with a righteous cause.

C. A biblical view of righteous leads good outcomes.

III. We need something objective know and do what is right.

A. The Bible offers the best alternative.

B. Jesus offers grace and forgiveness.

C. A true understanding of forgiveness overcomes the dangers of victimhood.

Question 11: Why does the Bible seem to support slavery?

TITLE: I Have a Dream

TEXT: Galatians 3:28, Philemon

THEME: The Bible lays out the principles that abolished slavery in Western cultures.

Why is Christianity the primary catalyst for the removal of slavery through out the world?

I. Slavery existed in almost every ___________ throughout history.

A. Most modern critiques of Christianity regarding slavery ignore the historical contexts.

B. The OT law was exceptional by giving limits and safeguards to

the ______________________.

C. The New Testament was written when slavery was the norm- many were slaves.

We must ask, “What caused the elimination of slavery in most cultures?”

II. The teachings of scripture ______________ the practice of slavery.

A. The creation of man in God’s image. (Gen. 1:26-27)

B. Salvation is available to all who believe in Jesus. (Philemon)

C. All believers are _____________ through faith in Jesus. (Gal. 3:23-28)

III. The church overwhelmingly _______________ slavery throughout history

A. The early church unanimously rejected slavery.

B. The Medieval Church considered slavery against

______________ law.

C. The objection to black slavery was from the church.

Question 10: Why are there so many different churches and religions? Are there any real differences? Don't all of them lead us to the same God?

TITLE: The Essentials of Christian Faith

TEXT: I Corinthians 15:12-28

THEME: Believers should agree on the essentials of the faith.

Why are there so many different churches and religions- don’t they all lead to the same God?

I. All religions and philosophies have _____________ truth claims. (Psalm 53)

A. Claiming that all religions lead to the same God is a truth claim.

B. You must be familiar with all religions to make such a claim.

C. Most religions are fundamentally ________________ but superficially the same.

II. There are only three _____________ for a truth claim. (Is. 44)

A. Only the _______________ exists: Scientism-Materialism

B. Only God exists: Pantheism- Hinduism-Animism

C. Both God and the Universe Exist: Christianity- Judaism-Islam

III. The truth claims of Christianity rest or falls on the

__________________. (I Cor. 15:12-28)

A. If Jesus did not rise our faith is worthless.

B. Islam and Judaism deny the resurrection of Jesus.

C. The differences in Christianity are grounded in questions

of ________________ and interpretation.

Question 9:  Why is it so hard to make going to church a priority sometimes? It just seems there is so much to do on the weekends - not enough time.

TITLE: Balancing Life’s Priorities

TEXT: Hebrews 10:19-25

THEME: We need each other to grow spiritually and do the work of Christ.

What should I make going to church a priority?

I. As a believer in Jesus you belong to His ________________. (Acts 2:42-46)

A. The meaning of “Koinonia”.

B. As His children we form a household.

C. Our common faith creates a fellowship of the _________.

II. Your spiritual ______________ happens in the context of community. (Hebrews 10:19-25)

A. We encourage each other and avoid ____________ away.

B. It helps shape us into the image of Christ.

C. It puts checks on our sinful and selfish bent.

III. Jesus uses you and His church to _____________ Him.

A. The church is an extension of the person and work of Jesus.

B. We are Christ’s ____________________. (II. Cor. 5:12)

C. It helps us remain faithful in a hostile world.

Question 8:  Why should I give? What is a tithe?  Does God really need my money?

TITLE: Joyful Giving

TEXT: II Corinthians 9:6-11

THEME: God wants you to freely give to Him out of gratitude.

Why should I give to God and His work?

I. Sowing bountifully leads to _____________ bountifully. (6)

A. Titus is coming for a collection to help the impoverished Macedonians.

B. Paul has asked them to give generously like the model set by Jesus.

C. Paul uses a _________________ analogy to demonstrate we reap more than we sow.

II. Giving to God is a matter of a grateful ____________. (7)

A. Giving is something we purpose in our ____________.

B. God loves a cheerful giver.

III. Generous giving reflects and produces _________________. (8-11)

A. God blesses materially and ___________________.

B. The blessing He gives allows us to be generous.

C. Our generosity will result in thankfulness to God.

Question 7:  Can I Lose My Salvation?

TITLE: In God’s Grip

TEXT: John 10:22-30, Romans 8:34-39 Hebrews 6:1-4

THEME: While God may discipline the wayward believer his eternal salvation is based on grace.

Can you can lose your salvation?

I. If it’s yours, you can’t __________ it- if it’s Christ’s you can.

A. Due to ______________sin means none of us can save ourselves.

B. God’s divine sovereignty is what makes your salvation possible.

C. Your salvation is solely dependent on Christ.

(John 10:22-30)

II. If it’s yours, you can _________ it- if it’s Christ’s you cannot.

A. Our security is based on the finished work of Christ.

(I Peter 1:3-5)

B. Salvation is the objective sovereign act of God. (John 6:37-39)

C. Nothing can ______________ us from the love of Christ. (Romans 8:34-39)

III. If it’s yours, you are ______________- if it’s Christ’s you are not.

A. You cannot go back to the Old Covenant. (Hebrews 6)

B. Christ said that not all faith takes ____________. (Matt. 13:18-23)

C. God disciplines those He loves. (Hebrews 12:4-11)

Question 6: Why does God make the Christian life so hard? Why do I feel I am not good enough?

TITLE: Too Wide a Chasm

TEXT: Romans 7-8:1-4

THEME: There is no condemnation for believers who have been delivered through Jesus Christ.

Why does God make the Christian life so hard?

I. It’s not just hard- its ____________________. (7:17-20)

A. The Mosaic law shows us what should be.

B. We are powerless by our own efforts to fulfill the law.

C. We are prone to ________________ and justifying our behavior.

II. God has to ____________ us to become what He wants.

(7:21-25, 7:1-7)

A. When we accept Jesus we must be willing to let Him change us.

B. We must ________ for the bondage of the law to end. (Rom. 6)

C. Grace gives us the motivation to live the Christian life.

III. God gives us the Holy Spirit to do in us what we __________ do ourselves. (8:1-8)

A. The Mosaic law can no longer condemn the believer.

B. The Christian life is a process and a journey of

_________________.

C. The Christian life is a battle that we will ultimately win.