ROAD BLOCKS: Barriers to Belief

a series on the common roadblocks we encounter that keep us from believing in God, and how to overcome them.

#8: How to Drive Through Your Roadblocks

• Watch (or listen to) How to Drive Through Your Roadblocks
• Book recommendation: Can Man Live Without God, by Ravi Zacharias
• Scriptures:
  • John 21:1-14
  • 1st John 4:7-10, 14-16, 19
• Additional Scriptures: 1 Peter 3:18; Ephesians 2:13; Romans 5:6-8; Matthew 22:34-39
• Discussion Questions:
  • Which road block has shrunk for you as we’ve studied the reasons for faith in Jesus?
  • Peter made it personal, jumping out of the boat and swimming a hundred yards towards Jesus as fast as he could. Do you actively respond like that to our Savior’s love? (How so? Or, Why not?)?
  • Are you compelled to love Jesus and commit your whole life to trusting and following Him?

#7: If God is Good, Why Do Bad Things Happen?

• Listen to If God is Good, Why Do Bad Things Happen?
• Read a brief message from Pastor Joel on the importance of understanding the vital theme of suffering
• Book recommendation: Hope for the Brokenhearted: God’s Voice of Comfort in the Midst of Grief and Loss, by our own Dr. John Luke Terveen
• Watch the video we showed of Zac Smith, a man who suffered well with cancer and trusted God in the midst of considerable pain.
• Key points of message:
  • Why do we suffer if …
    • God knows?
    • God is good?
    • God is fair?
    • God is powerful?
  • Why Does Suffering Exist? (Romans 8:20-22)
  • The expectation of suffering in the Christian life (Philippians 1:29)
  • Types of Suffering (1 Peter 3:13-17)
    • [Not an exhaustive list, but general categories]
    • Natural evil: Suffering in this broken world
    • Moral evil:
      • Suffering from one’s personal evil (sin & consequences)
      • Suffering from the evil of others (rebellion & its effects)
      • Suffering for doing right (persecution)
  • Why does God allow suffering? (for believers in Jesus; Romans 8:3-5; 8:28-29)
    • God uses pain to draw us to Jesus.
    • God uses pain to make us more like Jesus.
  • What do I do with my suffering?
    • BE REAL // Be honest with God (Job 19:7)
    • BE CONNECTED // Don’t suffer alone
    • BE FOCUSED // Live in the light of your eternal home (Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
    • BE HELPFUL // Use your suffering to serve others
• Concluding Scripture: “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” —John 16:33
• Additional Scriptures: Genesis 3:17-18; Romans 8:15-18; Matthew 5:11-12; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Hebrews 12:1-2; Psalm 73:25-28; Revelation 21:3-4
• Discussion questions:
  • What is your prayer to God in the midst of your trials? (How will you be honest with Him?)
  • Who around you is suffering? How will you embody with them the hope found in Jesus?

#6: What’s So Special About Jesus?

• Jesus is the only way to God
• Listen to What’s So Special About Jesus?
• Download the message notes
• Key points:
  • [1]  Jesus’ life & teachings are unique (1 Peter 2:21-23; John 20:30)
  • [2]  Jesus’ claims are unique (John 10:30-33; Hebrews 1:3); see notes for Jesus indirect divine claims and divine actions
  • [3]  Jesus‘ sacrificial gift is unique (Romans 5:7-8)
  • [4]  Jesus‘ bodily resurrection is unique (2 Peter 1:16; Romans 1:4)
  • [5]  Jesus’ impact is unique (John 3:36)
  • Additional Scriptures: John 11:23-27; 14:6-9; John 17:3; 20:19-31; Matthew 16:15-16; Mark 14:60-62
• Book recommendation: The Case for Christ: A Journalist’s Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus, by Lee Strobel
• Discussion Questions:
  1. What proof of Jesus’ being God is most compelling in overcoming your road block?
  2. How is Jesus being the only way to God actually good news for the world? (We no longer have to guess what God demands of us.)
  3. We who have the Gospel must go with Jesus’ message to the ends of the earth (and the ends of our cul-de-sacs). How will you respond and join in God’s mission through His church?

#5: How Can You Take the Bible Literally?

• Listen to How Can You Take the Bible Literally?
• Book recommendation: Know Why You Believe, by Paul E. Little
• Homework: read Matthew 22 this week
  5 False Assumptions about the Bible:

  ❶ The Bible is man-made & inaccurate. Therefore, it is not divinely inspired & not reliable. (In response see Psalm 18:30a)

  ❷ The Bible is a religious rule-book.  Therefore, it is repressive. (James 1:17; John 15:10-11)

  ❸ The Bible is intolerant.  Therefore, it is not for everyone. (Psalm 119:160, 142, 151; John 17:17)

❹ The Bible is regressive.  Therefore, it is not to be taken literally.

Instead:

[1] Seek an accurate understanding of the text
[2] Distinguish between essential & non-essential truths
[3] Expect exposure to teachings that are new to you

• ❺ The Bible is just words.  Therefore, it is unnecessary. (Psalm 119:16, 103, 72, 97, 127-128; Jeremiah 15:16; Acts 17:11; Psalm 1:1-3)

  Final Scriptures: 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; James 1:22-25

  Additional Scriptures: Isaiah 55:10-11; Luke 11:28; Matthew 7:24-27; Psalm 119:171-172

#4: Can I Trust the Bible?

• Listen to Can I Trust the Bible?
• Book recommendation: Reasons We Believe: 50 Lines of Evidence That Confirm the Christian Faith, by Nathan Busenitz
• Scriptures & notes:
  • 10 Reasons to Trust the Bible:
  • The Bible…
    1. is AUDACIOUS in its claim to be divinely inspired (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Thess. 2:13)
    2. is UNSURPASSED in its circulation & translation
    3. is UNMATCHED in its preservation (1 Peter 1:24-25)
    4. is RATIONAL in its explanation of life
    5. is ACCURATE historically, geographically, & scientifically (Psalm 119:160; John 5:2; Isaiah 40:22)
    6. is VALIDATED by numerous fulfilled prophecies
       • Several fulfilled prophecies:  Gen. 15:13;  Deut. 28:64;  1 Kings 14:15-16;  Is. 39:5-7;   Jer. 29:10;  Ezek. 26:14;  Ezek. 36:22-24;  Daniel 9:24-27;   Dan. 11
       • Fulfilled Messianic Prophecies:  Is. 7:14;  Mic. 5:2;  Is. 35:5-6;  Is. 53:3;  Ps. 69:9;  Ps. 41:9;  Zech. 11:12;  Ps. 22:1-18;  Ps. 16:10
    7. is SUPERIOR in its moral ethic & wisdom (Psalm 19:7-14; Psalm 119)
    8. is COURAGEOUSLY & UNAPOLOGETICALLY shared by its messengers
    9. is CONSISTENT & HARMONIOUS in its message
    10. is UNPARALLELED in its power to impact individuals, organizations, & nations (Hebrews 4:12)
  • Concluding Scriptures: 2 Cor. 4:3-4; 1 Cor. 2:14; 1 Cor. 2:12; John 20:31
  • Additional Scriptures: 1 Thess. 1:4-5; 1 Peter 1:10-11; Luke 11:28

• Homework: read Psalm 119 this week
• Discussion questions:
  • Among the many reasons why we can trust the Bible as God’s words, which is the most faith-building for you?
  • In your life (at work, and in your family) where do God’s words and truth meet real life? Recently, when has the truth of Scripture intersected your life?
  • What is your plan to read and enjoy God’s words more and see His truth work in your life? (start small: with a time, a place & a plan) What obstacle keeps from meeting with God in the Bible?

#3: How Can There Be Just One True Religion?

• Listen to How Can There Be Just One True Religion?
• Book recommendation: The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism
• Discussion questions:
  • Are there ways you have seen that what a person believes cannot be separated from the rest of life?
  • Compare 1st John 4:1-10 to a verse most people are familiar with, John 3:16. How does John echo that verse here? How does he expand on it and apply it to the Christian life?
  • How is the God revealed to us in the Bible and through Jesus completely unique?
  • If you believe that Jesus is the only way to God — that is, you are a Christian — how will you demonstrate His love for people this week?

#2: If God exists, why doesn’t He make Himself more obvious?

• Listen to If God exists, why doesn’t He make Himself more obvious?
• A book recomendation this week is The Case for a Creator: A Journalist Investigates Scientific Evidence That Points Toward God by Lee Strobel (also student & kids editions)
• Scriptures & notes:
  • Romans 1:18-20
  • Compelling clues to the reality of God:
    • The evidence  of existence points to God (Genesis 1:1; the argument of cause & effect)
    • The evidence of continuation of existence points to God (entropy, the second law of thermodynamics)
    • The evidence of order, complexity & design point to God (Psalm 147;4; 19:1-4; 139:13-15; cosmological argument)
    • The evidence of consciousness & free will point to God (moral argument)
    • The evidence of beauty, meaning & love point to God (aesthetic & purpose arguments)
      • Psalm 8:3-6; Acts 17:24-27
  • Additional Scriptures: Job 26:7-8, 14; Psalm 24:1-10; 84:2

• Discussion questions:
  • What aspects of the created universe have a WOW factor to you — how do they shout of God’s existence and character? (Psalm 19)
  • Everyone loves justice, and we can tell what’s wrong with the world. How is this shared sense of right and wrong an indication of God’s existence?
  • How is the God revealed to us in the Bible and through Jesus completely unique?
  • In what ways this week will you show how the one true God is great, good, and gracious

#1: Faith Doubts

• Listen to Faith Doubts
• Book recommendations [reviews]:
  • Welcome to College: A Christ’s Followers Guide for the Journey
  • The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism
• Discussion questions:
  • Can we believe in Christ and still have some doubts?
  • What is your doubt? What kind is it? (many types of doubt were listed in the message; what’s yours?)
  • Honestly, what contributes to your doubts? Where did they come from?
  • Are you wrestling with your doubts? How? (Or do your doubts already have you pinned?)
  • Where will you go from here?