This Is Why (Part 2): First Steps and Unboxing the Bible

TO START

When you read the end of Acts chapter 2 you find the early church meeting every day to eat, pray, learn, and take care of one another. If that’s the model of community we strive for, how could you pursue something like that level of intimacy as a group? What’s something your group could do to get more connected? Brainstorm fun ways to stay connected during the week. 

TO DISCUSS

Having listened to this week’s sermon, what stuck out to you? What was confusing, challenging, or surprising?

Theologians and apologists have long held to these five steps in bringing a person to faith, and each one generally falls into a specific place in this order:

1. God exists

2. Miracles are possible

3. The Gospels are reliable accounts of actual events 

4. Jesus rose from the dead

5. Jesus can be trusted

Looking at this list, which do you think is hardest to prove? 

  • Do you see this list as progressive? Would you say that if 1, then 2? 

We’ve said in this series, Our faith rises and falls with the resurrection of Jesus.

  • Has that been your experience? Is your faith rooted in the resurrection? 

TO READ

Read I Cor 15:3-4, 12-14.

  • What does Paul say about Jesus’ resurrection?

“If someone predicts their own death and resurrection and pulls it off we should go with whatever that person says.”

  • What do you think? Is that necessarily true? 

  • Is that compelling? Do you think your co-workers would find that compelling?

We said about the books in the Bible that they’re valuable not because they’re in the Bible but that they’re in the Bible because they’re valuable. 

  • Does that seem like semantics or is there truly a difference? Explain. 

TO PRAY

Pray for us as a church (everyone one of us as members) that we’d be better at reaching outsiders and bringing people to faith in Christ. 

Matt DeLano