This picture ("Who is God") has been residing in my to-do list for quite some time now and I had planned on doing a series on God for a long time. Then, this past week, one of our ministers (Larry Shatzer,above) asked for suggestions for a new course of study- naturally, the topic of God came to mind and I suggested it to him.Then, I remembered a four part sermon study I did in the mid-nineties; here it is.
Who
says there is a God?
Theology in question
John
20:24-29; 1 pet 3:15
I. Introduction
A. Understanding
God is necessary for the Christian. 1 pet 3:15
B. Understanding
God begins at an early age. My granddaughter Amanda.-
Where did I come from? Why am I here?....
Where did I come from? Why am I here?....
C. Understanding
God begins with questioning His existence.
D. Understanding
God is what theology is about (discourse on God).
E. Understanding
God is the theme of this four part series.
1. Who
says there is a God? Theology in question.
2. Who
is God? Theology in action.
3. What
is God? Theology in conception.
4. What
does God mean to me? Theology in practice.
F. Understanding
God starts with explaining His existence; and that is the focus of
our
lesson.
lesson.
II. Body
A. The
Cosmological
argument for God's existence. (cause and effect) Psa 19:1-2
1. Things
just don't happen, there are causes. Creation of matter.
2. These
things didn't just happen, their existence is an inherent proof of
deity.
B. The Teleological
argument for God's existence. (plain man's argument)
Eccl. 12:13
Eccl. 12:13
1. Everything
man makes has a purpose (an end design).
2. Every
complex thing has a higher intelligence designing it.
3. Everyone
asks "why am I here"... can't be answered without God!
C. The
Ontological
argument for God's existence
(philosopher's
argument)
1. Proof
God exists because man universally conceives of God.
2. Perception
of God (whether or not He exists) and the assertion He does not exist
is impossible, because this would invalidate reasoning. No atheism possible.
is impossible, because this would invalidate reasoning. No atheism possible.
D. The
Moral
argument for God's existence (right vs. wrong)
1. Man
is different from the animal; he has reasoning, a conscience,
remorse.
2. Man's
universal concept of morality proves the existence of God.
E. The
General
argument for God's existence (religious necessity)
1. All
men feel the necessity to worship God. This is fact.
2. An
understanding of religion is seen in the human tendency to conceive
of the
reality of life in terms of what is true or not true. This means standards. Who provides
perfect standards... God.
reality of life in terms of what is true or not true. This means standards. Who provides
perfect standards... God.
F. The
Historical
argument for God's existence. (The Jewish people)
III. Conclusion
A. Realizing
God exists is fundamental to Christianity. Heb 11: 1-6
B. Really
questioning all our beliefs is healthy, it makes us
THINK, PROVIDES CONFIDENCE.
THINK, PROVIDES CONFIDENCE.
C. Ready
arguments for God's existence reveal our hope of eternal life to the
world.