Is God Real? (Grace in the Park)

Intro:

Through our church in the parks, we’re going to be taking time to answer some questions that every person should be asking themselves:

Is God Real

Is the Bible True

Do all roads (and religions) lead to heaven

How can a good God allow Suffering

1 Thessalonians 5:16–22 ESV

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

Focus on verse 21…Test everything, hold fast to what is good.

That’s why we’re doing this...

Tonight we’re dealing with is God real?

Mankind has been trying to answer this question for thousands of years: IS God Real?

They’ve been trying to answer this question so much, they have invented some Gods…Buddha, Allah, themselves, the god of the Mormons, etc.

Tonight, we’re going to quickly go over 5 reasons we as Christians can’t point to that proves God is real...

The Universe (Cosmological)

Isaiah 46:4 ESV

4 even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.

If something exists, how did it get here?

This is the natural question that comes from viewing creation.

St. Thomas Aquinas speaks of this very much…if you would like to go into detail you should read some of his works.

Google Thomas Aquinas 5 proofs

Tonight we’re going to take a surface level view of the cosmological argument...

1. Everything is contingent on something else...

Everything comes from something else. So it is contingent on what came before

2. Everything is dependent on something else...

Plants need sun for Photosynthesis, Sun needs gravity to keep it together.

There must be a cause to these truths… something uncreated (Not contingent) and independent. Eternal and self-sufficient. Only a being who is not dependent or contingent could put these absolute truths into motion.

There is order and sense to our universe. It cannot possibly be that everything just appeared. That leads to our next proof.

Creator (Teleological)

Jeremiah 10:12 ESV

12 It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.

All of design reflects a designer.

Walk the hallways of our school. You will see different designers, with different abilities.

When you consider creation, you see it was designed by an ingenious, beautiful, and detailed creator.

Votaire said,”I shall always be convinced that a watch proves a watch maker...”

Psalm 19:1 ESV

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

God is trying to tell us...”I’m here! I’m True! I exist”

Yet we keep trying to find ways around Him. Some other ways to explain where this all came from

Let me give you an example...

Imagine this: Coke illustration…Banana Illustration

The creator is billiant, thoughtful, creative, and delights through 5 senses.

Morality (Axiological)

Romans 2:15–16 ESV

15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: When God Gives up (Romans 1:18–3:20)

Wherever you go, you find people with an inner sense of right and wrong; and this inner judge, the Bible calls “conscience.” You find among all cultures a sense of sin, a fear of judgment, and an attempt to atone for sins and appease whatever gods are feared

We all have morals

Some people have intentionally decayed their morals

However, we all know right from wrong

Everly loves to climb the stairs even though she knows it’s wrong

How can I judge? I do the same...

There were many things where my head said “DON”T” i did it anyway.

Where did this code come from?

We cannot create something greater than we are. Morality is greater than we are.

Therefore, it must have come from a higher being—God.

Jesus

John 8:58 ESV

58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met

I met a basketball player once in a Walmart. His name was Elton Brand.

He was a jerk

How many of you have met

Jesus claimed to have met the most famous Jew ever…Abraham

This is one time that Jesus claimed to be God

He’s using the I AM and the Jews wanted to stone Him for it

Jesus knew what He was claiming to be.

Many people view Him as a good teacher, a moral person, a prophet…all of these are true because He was God!

C.S Lewis talks about the “Trilemma”—Liar, Lunatic, Lord

Proof of deity—Miracles, prophecies, resurrection

5 people found the tomb empty, 500 people saw Jesus alive. Enemies never denied the resurrection.

Personal Experience

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

We’re all at different points in our walk with God.

Some may think he’s out there somewhere.

Some may hope He’s interested

Otheres may daily meet and worship with Him.

It’s important to know God wants a relationship with you! But He also wants you to have a personal experience with Him!

I’m not talking about emotional experience that transcends knowledge.

Rather, i’m talking about learning about God, reading His Word, enjoying His presence, and seeing that He is TOTALLY worth it.

God’s standard for us was percection. It’s unattainable.

However, because ofJesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we have hope.

Acts 16:31 ESV

31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”