Puppet Theology Part 1

People dismiss strange messengers. But, God has a long history of using unexpected voices. Today, we will be rapid firing through a series of videos, the questions are valid and it is good opportunity to recognize the wisdom that addresses the mistakes and misinterpretations you may have faced before. Preface: Don’t get caught in some of the distractions, this is not intended to make fun of anyone in these videos. Period. Do not lose yourself in the trap of attacking someone that you disagree with or has a trait you do not like.

Acts 17:10–12 NLT

10 That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. 12 As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.

1. Video #1 “Challenging the Bible”

“We are using these videos not because a puppet has authority, but because the questions are real, the Bible has answers, and the church needs to stop being afraid of hard conversations.”

Point 1: The format may be unusual, but the questions are serious.

Purpose: establish intellectual honesty.

Line to land:

“The Bible is not afraid of being questioned. The question is whether we are willing to let the Bible question us back.”

Luke 9:23 NLT

23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

2. Video #2 “Christianity Isn’t About You”

SHORTENED***

Point 2: The goal is not butterflies and rainbows here; the goal is examination.

Purpose: destroy consumer Christianity.

Line to land:

“The gospel is for you, but it is not centered on you.”

1 Peter 3:15 NLT

15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.

3. Video #3 “Is Jesus God?”

Point 3: The church must be willing to face the questions people are already asking. And knowing a foundational truth only makes us stronger to share the gospel.

Purpose: move straight to the center: Christ.

Line to land:

“Christianity does not rise or fall on whether Christians are impressive. It rises or falls on who Jesus is.”

4. Video #4 “Are We Allowed to Judge?” ***Shortened***

“Jesus did not forbid discernment. He forbade hypocrisy.”

Purpose: address the cultural objection.

5. Video #5 “Consequences of Sin”

Purpose: turn the sermon inward.

Line to land:

“Conviction says, ‘Come into the light.’ Shame says, ‘Hide.’ The gospel exposes sin so grace can heal what sin has broken.”

6. Video #6 “Native American”

Point 4: Every question must come back to Scripture. This is where you establish the rules of the series: “We will listen. We will test. We will open the Bible. We will follow Christ.”

Purpose: show that Christianity can handle emotionally difficult questions.

Line to land:

“Hard questions do not make God smaller. Sometimes they expose how small our view of God has become.”

7. Video #7 “Demon Christians”

Purpose: end by proving this is not shallow content.

***Consensus does not equal truth!***

Line to land:

“Whether you agree with every conclusion or not, this is the point: Jinx addresses the false message with the inerrable Word of God and is making people open their Bibles.”

“This series is not about a puppet. It is about whether we are willing to bring real questions into the light of God’s Word.

If a puppet on the internet is willing to talk about things the church avoids, then maybe the church ought to be humble enough to listen, test everything, and open the Bible.”