Core Truth #5 (bump)

This is what we are tackling tonight at Contagious

This week at Contagious we are looking at Core Truth #5: Resurrection

We are nearing the end of our study that has been based out of Alex McFarland's book, Stand, Core Truths You Must Know for an Unshakable Faith.

The statistic says that 3 out of 4 Christian students leave their faith and church after graduating from high school.  The biggest reason is they don't know what they believe or why they believe what they believe.  For years kids are told what to believe but not why to believe it.  For years many parents have pushed the responsibility of discipling their teen off onto the church.  For years the youth ministry focused more on games and spoon feeding rather than a balanced approach.  I now step off the soap box to give you a snap shot of our outline this week:

Core Truth 5: Resurrection

Christians Believe Jesus Christ Rose from the Dead

Job 19:25

• Jesus predicted His death and resurrection:
  

Matthew 16:21;17:22-23;John 2:19-22

• Why is the resurrection crucial to our faith?  Matthew 12:39-40;Romans 1:4
  

The Resurrection is the Cornerstone of the Christian Faith

I Corinthians 15:3-8;14-20

Six sad conclusions if Jesus had not risen from the dead: (from I Cor 15)

1. Our preaching about Jesus would be worthless
2. Our faith in Jesus would be worthless
3. We Christians would be liars
4. Our sins were not forgiven and we are still guilty
5. Our loved ones who we thought were saved are not
6. We have no hope for the afterlife and in this life we are miserable

I Corinthians 15:20

No More Fear

We don't have to fear death (2 Timothy 1:10)

Exhibit A:  The empty tomb

Alternative theories to the resurrection:

1.  Jesus faked his death

Flaw:  Crucifixion was not survivable

2.  The women went to the wrong tomb

Flaw:  The tomb belonged to a well known follower of Christ, Joseph of Arimathea

Believers in Jerusalem would have known the tomb that was sealed with a huge stone (probably weighing 1.5 to 2 tons) and guarded by Roman soldiers.

3.  The disciples stole the body of Jesus 

Flaw:  They wouldn't have had the nerve to do so.  They were huddled together behind locked doors on the night of Christ's execution.  They would not have dared take on the Roman soldiers.  They feared for their own lives.  Matthew 27:62-66; John 20:19

Why Resurrection Matters

Resurrection is the supreme proof that Jesus was the Son of God

Christ's death and resurrection was a huge moment in history.

Jesus' death and resurrection change the course of history.