The New Testament Witness to Christ and His Kingdom, Student Workbook, SW13

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T H E N E W T E S T A M E N T W I T N E S S T O C H R I S T A N D H I S K I N G D O M

The Need to Travel Light

Many today, especially those involved in Church growth, believe that the easiest and most credible way to see growth in numbers in the Church is to travel light, theologically speaking. Many churches no longer teach Christian doctrine proper, at least not directly. Convinced that such matters are too abstract and uninteresting for modern seekers, these churches concentrate their attention on matters which they believe will better strike the chords of people today. So, it is neither unusual nor odd to see the pulpits of these churches filled with messages about banking, romance, contemporary issues, or psychological insights regarding happiness and self-development. Messages about the resurrection, ascension, and Second Coming of Christ are seen to be both old-fashioned and ineffective, simply not relevant to an internet-savvy, modern 21st century crowd. What do you think about these trends in preaching and teaching–are they a sign of health or sickness in the Church today?

Resurrection Not a Scientific Possibility

Imagine being asked to join a panel of important figures from the scientific and religious communities to discuss the topic of the resurrection of the dead. How would you respond if one of the panelists denied the possibility of resurrection on the grounds that it cannot be proven scientifically? They are not suggesting that it may never happen, or did not happen in the past. Rather, they are suggesting that since we cannot verify it, show it to be a possibility through experimentation and scientific method, we simply cannot say that such a thing is possible. How would you answer this view on the resurrection? Should you even try to do so?

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Materials Are Confusing, Scattered, and Inaccurate

On a long flight back home after a wonderful vacation, you encounter a passenger who is greatly interested in discussing religion, especially the Christian faith. He suggests that the most important doctrine of Christianity is its most difficult one. “In my own study of the Gospels and the different accounts of the resurrection, I just can’t seem to harmonize what the different books say. As hard as I have tried, I find the various materials in the Gospels which speak of Jesus’ resurrection to be confusing, scattered, and inaccurate. They just don’t seem to fit together at all.” What would be your argument to this seeker about the Gospels, and their testimonies regarding the resurrection of Jesus?