Simplify Jesus

Myth #12: Christianity Doesn’t Want You to Think - Interview with Pastor Jacob Conner

Welcome to Season 2! This season is all about busting up myths about the church. This week we are talking with Pastor Jacob Conner about busting the myth that Christianity doesn’t want you to think. Some people believe that Christianity doesn’t want you to think for yourself, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. The truth of the Bible is we are called to dive in deeper in learning about God and who He is to build that relationship with Him because we could never understand everything there is to know about God.

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Scripture and other References

Season Memory Verse - Romans 10:9 (CSB)

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

2 Timothy 2:15 (CSB)

Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.

James 1:5 (CSB)

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.

Proverbs 9:10 (CSB)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (CSB)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.

Hebrews: 10:24-25 (CSB)

And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.

1 Corinthians 12:12 (CSB)

For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ.

Resources:

The Bible Project - www.bibleproject.com

Blue Letter Bible - https://www.blueletterbible.org/

Free Bible Commentary - http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/

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Myth #11: God and Science Can’t Coexist

Welcome to Season 2! This season is all about busting up myths about the church. This week is our 2021 Halloween episode where we’re busting the myth that God and science can’t coexist. The truth is that they not only can, but do. Proving phenomena with science shouldn’t disprove God, but rather make us realize all the more how awesome and powerful the God who created all of this is.

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Scripture and other References

Season Memory Verse - Romans 10:9 (CSB)

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Exodus 14:15-31 - Story of the Parting of the Red Sea

1 Kings 17:17-24 - Elijah Raises Widow's Son from the Dead

John 11 - Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead

1 Corinthians 15:6 (CSB)

Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep.

Matthew 14:22-33 - Jesus Walks on the Water

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Welcome to Season 2! This season is all about busting up myths about the church. This week we’re busting the myth that faith is a blind leap. The truth is that there’s actually a lot of evidence that what the Bible says is true, that God is really there, and that Jesus is the Son of God as He claimed to be. We put faith day in and day out in things that are much less reliable and proven than God.

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Scripture and other References

Season Memory Verse - Romans 10:9 (CSB)

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Psalm 22 - Psalm prophesying the Crucifixion

Prophecies about Christ from Isaiah:

Isaiah 7:14 - Virgin Conception of Jesus

Isaiah 9:6-7 - Birth of Christ

Isaiah 53:5 - Prophecy of Christ’s Crucifixion

Jewish and Roman Historians Wrote about Jesus

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/did-jesus-exist/

Reliability of the Gospels

https://bible.org/article/historical-reliability-gospels

Old Testament and New Testament Connections

http://www.kalvesmaki.com/LXX/NTChart.htm

Liar, Lunatic, Lord Quote

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/6979-i-am-trying-here-to-prevent-anyone-saying-the-really

Lee Strobel - Case for Christ

C.S. Lewis - Many Books/Writings

Josh McDowell - More Than a Carpenter

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Myth #9: A God who loves people wouldn’t let bad things happen

Welcome to Season 2! This season is all about busting up myths about the church. This week we’re busting the myth that if God really loved us, He wouldn’t let bad things happen to good people. The truth is that bad things happen because God gave us free will. He didn’t make us rule following robots, giving us free will to choose whether or not to love and follow Him. The hope we hold onto as Christians is that God has a bigger plan for us because He loves us, no matter what good or bad may come. 

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Scripture References

Season Memory Verse - Romans 10:9 (CSB)

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Genesis 1-2 - Creation Story, Garden of Eden

Genesis 2:16-17 (CSB)

And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”

Genesis 3 - The Fall, The Serpent tricks Adam and Eve

Ephesians 5:25 (CSB)

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her

John 10:10 (CSB)

A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

Matthew 4:1-11 - Jesus Tempted by Satan

1 Corinthians 10:13 (CSB)

No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.

John 16:33 (CSB)

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

Romans 8:28 (CSB)

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 6:23 (CSB)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 3:16 (CSB)

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

John 11 - Story of Lazarus’ death and Jesus raising him from the dead

Psalm 100:4 (CSB)

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name.

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Welcome to Season 2! This week we’re busting the myth that the church is a private club, an exclusive, “members-only” environment. There are lots of reasons out there that people believe make the church exclusive, like how much you’re able to give, having to have your act together, needing to be baptized, being better than everybody else, or understanding everything about God and the Bible. The truth is that Christianity is, and the church should be, inclusive of everyone.

Scripture References

Season Memory Verse - Romans 10:9 (CSB)

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Mark 12:41-44 (CSB)

Sitting across from the temple treasury, he watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. Summoning his disciples, he said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had —all she had to live on.”

Mark 2:17 (CSB)

When Jesus heard this, he told them, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

1 Peter 3:21-22 (CSB)

Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.

Matthew 20:25-28 (CSB)

Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

John 13 - Jesus Washing Disciples’ Feet

Romans 10:14-15 (CSB)

How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.

Luke 2 - Jesus in the Temple as a Child

Job 38 - God’s Response to Job

John 3:16 (CSB)

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

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Myth #7: Christianity is one of many ways to Heaven

Welcome to Season 2! This season is all about busting up myths about the church. This week we’re busting the myth that Christianity is one of many ways to get to Heaven. The way Jesus taught, it can’t work that way. He taught that He is the only way to get to Heaven. Because He taught that way, it can’t work both ways. Either belief in Jesus is the only way to get to Heaven, or it’s not one at all. With all of the historical and spiritual evidence, it becomes clear that He is the one and only way.

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Scripture References

Season Memory Verse - Romans 10:9 (CSB)

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

John 14:6 (CSB)

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Habakkuk 1:13a (CSB)

Your eyes are too pure to look on evil, and you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.

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Myth #6: Christians are scared of change and new, progressive ideas

Welcome to Season 2! This season is all about busting up myths about the church. This week we’re busting the myth that Christians are scared of change and new and progressive ideas. While there are some of “the old way” of doing things are better, that doesn’t mean Christians are afraid of progress and growth. The truth is that ideas that seem “progressive” today really aren’t anything new, but have been around for a long time. Christians should not be afraid of these ideas, but we do have to stand on our convictions based on Biblical beliefs.

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Scripture References

Season Memory Verse - Romans 10:9 (CSB)

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 (CSB)

What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done;there is nothing new under the sun.

John 14:27 (CSB)

Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.

Galatians 3:28 (CSB)

There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Genesis 1:27 (CSB)

So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.

Ephesians 5:22-26 (CSB)

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives are to submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word.

Matthew 22:37-40 (CSB)

He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”

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Myth #5: Christianity is impossible to do

Welcome to Season 2! This season is all about busting up myths about the church. This week we’re busting the myth that Christianity is impossible to do. Sometimes it may feel that way, whether it’s because we see how hard it is to live life the way Jesus did, or how different the world is around us. Nobody in the Bible was perfect except Jesus himself, not even the heroes of the Bible, and that’s not the requirement for us as Christians either. Living Christian life the way Jesus taught and showed us isn’t an easy one, but life is so much better when we let go and let Him be Lord of our life.

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Scripture References

Season Memory Verse - Romans 10:9 (CSB)

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

2 Samuel 11 - Story of David and Bathsheba

Jonah 1-4 - Story of Jonah

Exodus 2-4 - Story of Moses killing a man, not wanting to speak

John 18 - Story of Peter cutting off Roman soldier’s ear

Matthew 22:37-40 (CSB)

He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”

Matthew 7:13-14 (CSB)

“Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.

Matthew 11:28-30 (CSB)

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Luke 23:32-40 (CSB) - Jesus crucified between two thieves

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Episode #4: Christians Shouldn’t Worry

Welcome to Season 2! This season is all about busting up myths about the church. This week we’re interjecting an episode this week to discuss why Christians shouldn’t be worrying about what’s going on in the world around us. With all the craziness around us with elections, conspiracy theories, and of course the pandemic, it’s easy to fall into worry. The truth is God is in control no matter what’s happening around us, and that should always be enough for it to be well with us.

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Scripture References

Season Memory Verse - Romans 10:9 (CSB)

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Matthew 15:17-20 (CSB)

“Don’t you realize that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is eliminated? But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a person. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander. These are the things that defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile a person.”

Romans 13:1 (CSB)

Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.

Romans 13:6-7 (CSB)

And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks. Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.

Matthew 22:20-21 (CSB)

“Whose image and inscription is this?” He asked them. “Caesar’s,” they said to him. Then He said to them, “Give, then, to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Jeremiah 29:11 (CSB)

For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Romans 8:28 (CSB)

For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

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Myth #3: You have to get your act together before coming to church

Welcome to Season 2! This season is all about busting up myths about the church. This week we’re busting the myth that you need to get your act together before coming to church or before becoming a Christian. The truth is that nobody has their act together, so that can’t be a prerequisite for coming to church. If we let Him, God will use everything we’ve been through, good and bad, to help us reach others with the gospel.

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Scripture References

Season Memory Verse - Romans 10:9 (CSB)

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 3:23 (CSB)

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;

Mark 2:17

When Jesus heard this, he told them, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew 11:28-30 (CSB)

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Hebrews 6:1 (CSB)

Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, faith in God,

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