Alpha Course, Week 2

Here's a look at the outline for tomorrow's session.

Alpha Course, Week 2

Who Is Jesus?

Key Verse: Matthew 16:13-16 “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But what about you,’ He asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.’”

Historical Evidence:

  • Roman historians Tacitus and Suetonius
  • Jewish Historian Josephus
  • New Testament manuscripts
    • 5,000 Greek, 10,000 Latin, 9,300 others.

1. What did He Say About Himself?

  • Teaching on Himself
    • “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35)
    • “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12)
    • I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25-26)
    • “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6)
    • “My Kingdom” (Luke 22:30)
    • “Come to Me” (Matthew 11:28-29)
    • “Follow Me” (Mark 1:17)
    • “Receive me, receive God” (Matthew 10:40)
    • “Welcome me, welcome God” (Mark 9:37)
    • “To have seen me is to have seen God” (John 14:9)
    • “Claims humanity’s supreme love” (Matthew 10:37; Luke 14:26)
  • His Indirect Claims
    • To forgive sins (Mark 2:5)
    • To judge the world (Matthew 25:31-32; 40, 45)
  • His Direct Claims
    • Messiah (Mark 14:61-62)
    • Son of God (Mark 14:61)
    • God the Son
      • Before Abraham was born, I am (John 8:58)
      • My Lord and my God (John 20:28-29)
      • Claim to be God (John 10:30-33)

2. What Evidence Is There to Support What He Said?

  • His Teaching (The Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7)
  • His works (John 10:37-38)
  • His character
  • His fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy
  • His conquest of death
    • His absence from the tomb (Theories)
      • Jesus did not die (John 19:33-34)
      • The Disciples stole his body
      • Authorities stole his body
      • Robbers stole his body (John 20:1-9)
    • His presence with the disciples
      • Hallucination?
      • Nature of appearances (Luke 24:36-43)
      • Number of appearances
        • At least 11 different occasions
        • More than 500 people
        • Period of six weeks
    • Immediate effect
      • Birth and growth of the Christian church
    • Effect down the ages
      • Experience of Christians down the ages

Conclusion:

  • There is a great deal of evidence to support Jesus’ existence.
  • Christians believe He is the Son of God.

Questions to Consider:

1. Nicky talks about the moment when he accepted the Gospel as true. Do you have a moment like that? What was it?

2. Nicky talks about the mountain of evidence supporting the veracity of the New Testament. What do you think about this evidence?

3. C.S. Lewis said “A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher, he would either be insane or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either Jesus was, and is, the Son of God, or else he was insane or evil.” What do you think about that statement?

4. C.S. Lewis concluded, based upon the evidence, that “however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that He was and is God.” Do you agree with Lewis’ conclusion? Why or why not?

5. What is the biggest obstacle to convincing others that Jesus was, and is, who He said He was?

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