Csi Our Faith Series

This sermon is from a series on Tube Theology.

I have researched sermoncentral as well as other sources. I use an expanded outline in preaching though it is not exactly a manuscript. I also use a sermon outline for the congregation to fill in.

CSI: OUR FAITH

NOVEMBER 7, 2004 Jay Robison 1 CORINTHIANS 15:3-8

Last few weeks been looking at Tube Theology

What do popular TV shows teach about life and God?

Today come to look at Crime Scene Investigations

CBS show uses latest technological tools to unmask mysteries & get to the truth, what appears not always what is Automated Fingerprint Ident System, Micro spectrophotometer & infrared heat sensors

Characters are part scientists part police officers

Very logical show pieces of puzzle are put together

Get impression these officers & their lab can solve anything

Question is does our faith stand up under scrutiny?

Sometimes shy away from this, afraid faith will crumble

God supports logic says: “Come now let us reason together,

Sometimes I have to question our logic

Why is it that doctors call what they do "practice"?

Why to stop Microsoft Win, you have to click "Start"?

Why is lemon juice made w\artificial flavor, & dishwashing liquid made w\real lemons? Why is person who invests all your money called a broker? Why is time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour? Why isn’t there mouse-flavored cat food? Why don’t you ever see headline, "Psychic Wins Lottery"? Why are there Braille labels at drive-up ATMs? Why are they called apartments when are all stuck together?

If we did a CSI of Christianity what would happen

Do the claims of Christianity stand up under scrutiny?

If we investigate will we find it is all fantasy?

Some Christians very threatened by this

Greatest claim of Christianity, linchpin foundation of our faith Is the belief that Jesus was resurrected from the dead. Without that we only have nice teachings

Even the bible says this is at the heart I Cor 15:14 NIV And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is worth nothing, and your faith is worth nothing. How can we believe Jesus was raised from dead?

I Cor 15 Paul dealing with this question he gives those of us reading today 3 pieces of evidence for believing resurrection

1. According to THE SCRIPTURES

It happened according to the scriptures

There were people who wrote about what went on

Historical events are investigated by WRITTEN RECORDS

What are read in bible are written accounts of events

History is based on written records

Today we research about our families by written records

The history we have as a nation based on written records All history of world civilization from writing

Vs 3 begins in the first place, first of all, first on my mind Says Christ died for our sins, was buried and raised According to the scriptures says 2 things

Were written records from this event 20+ years prior

Also these events were fulfillment of written records

Jesus’ birth death burial & resurrection foretold in OT. OT contains OVER 300 PROPHECIES FULFILLED BY Jesus

What chance did Jesus or anyone else have of fulfilling these? In Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Josh McDowell says Peter Stoner, who figured on just 8 of 300 prophecies: Chances of one person fulfilling 8 of them are 1 IN 10 TO THE 17TH POWER 1 with 17 zeroes

These prophecies where written by various men Over 100s of years, centuries before Jesus was born Yet there are 300+ references to Messiah true in Jesus

To get back to the chances of just 8 of 300 fulfilled

That is 100 zillion; that many silver dollars would cover face of Texas, 2 ft deep. Now mark 1 of these silver dollars & stir coins Blindfold a man & tell him he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up one silver dollar & say that is right one.

What chance would he have of getting the right one?

Same chance of just 8 OT prophecies true in any 1 man.

Secular historians Josephus foremost told story of Jesus Jesus, death burial and resurrection have written evidence 2nd piece of evidence

2. He appeared TO MANY WITNESSES

Women were 1st witnesses to say saw Jesus

Both Jesus’ friends & enemies testified tomb was empty.

To discover what happened we look for WITNESSES

The historicity of events based often on witnesses

That is what reporters do for story, tell me what happened We use witness testimony in court; how we decide disputes

If the man died & the death was witnessed then he came

back to life & that was witnessed hard to refuting it.

But consider those who were witnesses to see Jesus alive. “the 12” disciples did they believe Jesus would rise from dead? NO THEY RAN AWAY FROM HIM Followers knew what he said. He is killed, crucified like a common thief. Dead