Finding Evidence for Your Faith

Story of three Friends: friends discover smashed window/missing TV…3 theories…They all stick with their theory and try to fit the evidence to it…what’s going on?

Worldviews: this story demonstrates how we all have a basic set of beliefs about the world…worldviews differ…run into problems when we disagree with others.

Some say-doesn’t matter, not hurting anyone.

Maybe true for some beliefs-best flavor of ice cream, but for some there is one truth. Truth matters.

No one wants to be deceived, will eventually be hurt by false beliefs: taken advantage of/trying to maintain a lie.

Three friends will be able to uncover truth as seek evidence. Let’s take a look at another situation, though.

Four guys standing on a beach: “What a beautiful sight”

1-praise God

2-achieve oneness with spirit of the earth

3-dedicate to religious principles, rewarded with world of my own in which I can continually enjoy all its pleasures

4-amazed at nature

Four different beliefs

Some say doesn’t matter/all religion good

Reality is that there is only one truth about God: Does He exist or not? Is He all-loving or not? Did Jesus really die and come back to live or not?

Truth of these things matters.

Jesus said, “I am THE way, THE truth and THE light. Noone comes to the Father except through me.” He says I am the true way to God…unless you acknowledge that, there will be consequences-like an eternity spent suffering apart from God.

So, like the people in the first story, we owe it to ourselves and to people around us to seek the truth about God-ask the questions and find answers.

At this point some would say you are putting God to a test…we need to just have faith.

Faith is still at the root of beliefs about God-won’t find conclusive evidence like you will with something like math: can prove without a doubt that 2+2=4.

You can find all kinds of evidence pointing you toward the truth about God, Jesus, the Bible…but it won’t be black & white. You will have to choose to believe at some point and trust that God has shown himself to you.

This is the way God wants it…love is a choice.

Bible also does not say to have blind faith:

-Halloween example (cut of running short on time)

1 Thess. 5:21-Test everything. Hold on to the good. Refers to prophecy about God…test it to see if it is good., then hold onto it.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Heb 11:1 NIV)

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, (1Pe 3:15 NIV)

Being prepared means that you’ve checked things out. If you have ever had doubts yourself about whether any of this is true, you’ve sought out the answers. We can discover the truth about God.

Seeking out the answers about who God really is also gets back to that relationship again.

-you can’t have a personal relationship with someone through another person

-boys & grandparents

-you & God-faith will no longer be based upon what I or parents or grandparents or friends have told you…it will be based upon own personal knowledge of God.

You will no longer come to church just because supposed to.

So it is very important that we dedicate ourselves to finding the truth about God and examining our faith. We want to know Him more and believe true things about Him.

Over the next four weeks you will be hearing some evidence from historical, archeological, scientific and spiritual points of view. I encourage you to come with hearts AND MINDS fully open to knowing more of the truth about God.

Invite your friends to come, too…whatever worldview they might have now, they will surely benefit from exploring the truth about God.

In John 8:29, it is written that Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.”

He is saying-when you see the evidence of the things I’ve been telling you, then you will know it is true!

He goes on in verse 32 to say, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Let’s close today asking God to set us free with the TRUTH about Him as we seek to know Him more over the next several weeks.