Servant Team Training

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Servant Team Training

• Handling objections to the Gospel

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Important PerspectiveBut in your hearts set
apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give
an answer to everyone who asks you to give the
reason for the hope that you have. But do this
with gentleness and respect. I Peter 315
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Discussion

• What are the main reasons that you hear about why
  people object to the gospel?

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Objection 1

• How can a good God allow evil and suffering to
  exist?

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Objection 1

• How can a good God allow evil and suffering to
  exist?
• Discussion How would you answer someone who has
  this objection?

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Objection 1

• How can a good God allow evil and suffering to
  exist?
• Freedom to choose possibility of sin
  suffering

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Objection 1

• How can a good God allow evil and suffering to
  exist?
• Freedom to choose possibility of sin
  suffering
• God can use suffering in a persons life to bring
  about a greater good.

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Objection 1

• How can a good God allow evil and suffering to
  exist?
• Freedom to choose possibility of sin
  suffering
• God can use suffering in a persons life to bring
  about a greater good.
• God isnt finished dealing with sin yet. 2 Peter
  38,9

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But do not forget this one thing, dear friends
With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and
a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not
slow in keeping his promise, as some understand
slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting
anyone to perish, but everyone to come to
repentance. 2 Peter 38,9
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Objection 2

• How can Christians say that Jesus is the only way
  to God?

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Objection 2

• How can Christians say that Jesus is the only way
  to God?
• Discussion What would you tell someone who
  thought that all religions take different
  pathways to the same God?

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Objection 2

• How can Christians say that Jesus is the only way
  to God?
• There are two basic systems of salvation.

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Objection 2

• How can Christians say that Jesus is the only way
  to God?
• There are two basic systems of salvation.
• Trusting in God - Christianity

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Objection 2

• How can Christians say that Jesus is the only way
  to God?
• There are two basic systems of salvation.
• Trusting in God - Christianity
• Trusting in yourself All other religions

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Hinduism
A Hindu's goal is to become free from the law of
karma...to be free from continuous
reincarnations. There are three possible ways
to end this cycle of karma 1. Be lovingly
devoted to any of the Hindu gods or goddesses
2. Grow in knowledge through meditation of
Brahman (oneness)...to realize that circumstances
in life are not real, that selfhood is an
illusion and only Brahman is real 3. Be
dedicated to various religious ceremonies and
rites.
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Buddhism
the goal of a Buddhist is to purify one's heart
and to let go of all desires. A person must
abandon all sensuous pleasures, all evil, all joy
and all sorrow.
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Islam

• Worship Allah, a powerful and strict judge,
  whose will is supreme and who is transcendent
  from humankind.
• Muslims honor Muhammad, the last prophet whose
  words and lifestyle are their authority
• At judgment, their life is measured according
  to how they followed the 5 pillars of Islam.

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New Age
The Earth is viewed as the source of all
spirituality, and has its own intelligence,
emotions and deity. But superseding all is self.
Self is the originator, controller and God of
all. There is no reality outside of what the
person determines.
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Christianity

• Believe in one God who created man to be
  fulfilled in a relationship with himself.
• Believe that eternal life and forgiveness of
  sins comes through putting faith in Jesus Christ,
  who is God incarnate.
• Believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God

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Summary

• Hindus believe in 300,000 gods.
• Buddhists say there is no deity.
• New Age followers believe they are God.
• Muslims believe in a powerful but detached God.
• Christians believe in a God who is loving and
  approachable.

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Conclusion They cant all be true!
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Objection 2

• How can Christians say that Jesus is the only way
  to God?
• The issue is not that Christians claim that there
  is only one way to God, but that Jesus said that
  there is only one way to God.

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Objection 2

• Jesus claimed to be the only way to God
• I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one
  comes to the Father but through me.
• John 146

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Jesus is God
True
False
Thought It was true it wasnt
Knew it was a lie
He is Lord
Reject Him
Accept Him
Lunatic
Liar
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Objection 2

• John 146 I am the Way, the Truth, and the
  Life. No one comes to the Father but through
  me.
• The most conclusive evidence establishing the
  deity of Christ is the resurrection.
• If the resurrection is true, then we must give
  ear to the things that Jesus said about Himself.

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Objection 3

• How can a loving God send people to hell?

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Objection 3

• How can a loving God send people to hell?
• Discussion How do you answer people who
  respond emotionally to the doctrine of hell?

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Defining Terms

• What Hell is
• Eternal, conscious punishment for the wicked.
• Separation from God
• The natural consequence for those who say, I
  want to do things my way.

• What Hell is not
• It is not an eternal torture chamber.
• It is not unjust.
• A place to party with other non-believing
  friends.

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Objection 3

• How can a loving God send people to hell?
• 1. God has given all people enough evidence to
  know that he exists.

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Objection 3

• The heavens declare the glory of God the skies
  proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day
  they pour forth speech night after night they
  display knowledge. There is no speech or
  language where their voice is not heard. Their
  voice goes out into all the earth, their words to
  the ends of the world. Psalm 191-4

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Objection 3

• How can a loving God send people to hell?
• 1. God has given all people enough evidence to
  know that he exists.
• 2. Nonetheless, people choose not to know him.

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Objection 3

• For since the creation of the world Gods
  invisible qualities- his eternal power and divine
  nature-have been clearly seen, being understood
  from what has been made, so that men are without
  excuse. For although they knew God, they neither
  glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but
  their thinking became futile and their foolish
  hearts were darkened.
• Romans 120,21

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Objection 3

• How can a loving God send people to hell?
• 1. God has given all people enough evidence to
  know that he exists.
• 2. Nonetheless, people choose not to know him.
• 3. Therefore, God is giving people what they
  want.

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Objection 3

• How can a loving God send people to hell?
• The question really should be, How can a Holy
  and Just God send people to heaven?

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Objection 4

• Doesnt science and evolution disprove the
  existence of God?

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Objection 4

• Doesnt science and evolution disprove the
  existence of God?
• Discussion How would you respond to people who
  say you cant prove God exists?

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Objection 4

• People complain because you cant prove the
  existence of God scientifically.

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Objection 4

• People complain because you cant prove the
  existence of God scientifically.
• It is impossible to prove historical events using
  only the scientific method because historical
  events are not repeatable in a controlled
  environment that can be repeatedly measured.

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Objection 4

• People complain because you cant prove the
  existence of God scientifically.
• It is impossible to prove historical events using
  only the scientific method because historical
  events are not repeatable in a controlled
  environment that can be repeatedly measured
  verified.
• Historical events are measured by
  legal-historical proof, which is based on showing
  that something is fact beyond a reasonable doubt.
  

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Legal-Historical proof

• A verdict is reached based on the weight of the
  evidence.
• Depends on three types of testimony.
• Oral Testimony
• Written testimony
• Exhibits (gun, bullet, notebook, etc.)

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Legal-Historical proof

• The scientific method can be used only to prove
  repeatable things.
• Scripture provides testimony as to the question
  of how did the Universe come into being.
• In the beginning God created the Heavens and the
  Earth
• Scientific observation does provide exhibits
  to examine regarding the origin of life and
  beginning of the Universe.

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Objection 4

• Defining Terms
• Macro-evolution - Darwinian theory that through
  major genetic mutations one species can evolve
  into another, so over a long period of time fish
  could evolve into insects, birds and mammals.
  From this concept it's suggested that all life
  could have evolved from simple chemical
  structures, thus life could have resulted from
  natural processes without the need for a creator.
• Micro-evolution - Deals with small changes within
  a species which adapt that species to be better
  suited to its environment.

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Objection 4

• Doesnt science and evolution disprove the
  existence of God?
• The complexity of our planet points to a
  deliberate Designer who not only created our
  universe, but sustains it today.

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Natural forces or Intelligent Design?

• A single cell of the human body contains as much
  information in its DNA as the Encyclopedia
  Britannica - all thirty volumes - three or four
  times over.
• Ripples on a beach vs. a message that says John
  loves Mary

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Natural Forces or Intelligent Design?

• Is it more reasonable to think that Mt. Rushmore
  was formed by wind, rain, and erosion or by an
  intelligent designer?
• What is more complex, the carved images or the
  men that the images represent?

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Cosmic Coincidence or Creator?

• Anthropic Principle - The physical structure of
  the universe is exactly what it must be in order
  to support life. The earth was designed with
  life in mind.

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Cosmic Coincidence or Creator?

• Earths orbit - If Earth were any closer to the
  sun, all its water would boil away and life would
  be impossible. If it were any farther away all
  water would freeze and the terrestrial landscape
  would be nothing but barren deserts.
• The existence and characteristics of water and
  several features of the atom all similarly
  combine to make life on this planet possible.
• These coincidences demonstrate Gods care in
  the very structure of the universe.

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Objection 4

• Doesnt science and evolution disprove the
  existence of God?
• Mere chance is not adequate to explain the
  origin of life nor the complexity evident in
  life.

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Objection 4

• The probability of life beginning and evolving by
  chance is about as likely as a tornado whirling
  through a junkyard and accidentally assembling a
  fully functional Boeing 747.
• Sir Frederick Hoyle

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Objection 4

• Doesnt science and evolution disprove the
  existence of God?
• Humankinds inherent sense of right and wrong
  cannot be biologically explained.

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Objection 4

• Law of Human Nature
• Why do we find It wrong to kidnap babies and
  torture them?
• Why are courage and sacrifice seen as virtuous
  character traits?
• Conclusion It seems that the Human race has
  been created with an internal moral compass.
  Science cannot explain this.

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Objection 4

• The Evidence demands a verdict We have not come
  close to examining all the evidence that points
  to a creator, let alone the historical evidence
  supporting the life, death and resurrection of
  Christ. However, there is enough evidence
  already to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt
  that there is an intelligent designer behind all
  the complexity that we see from the vast cosmos
  to the tiniest cell.

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Resources - Books

• The Case for Christ The Case for Faith Lee
  Strobel
• When Skeptics Ask Norman Geisler
• More Than a Carpenter Josh McDowell
• Evidence That Demands a Verdict Josh McDowell
• Finding Common Ground Tim Downs
• The Gospel and the New Spirituality Charles
  Strohmer
• Mere Christianity C.S. Lewis

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Resources - Websites

• Christian Research Institute (www.equip.org)
• Campus Crusade website Evangelistic website
  (www.Everystudent.com)
• Academic Initiative (ai.clm.org)
• Leadership University (www.leaderu.com)
• Apologetics Index Postmodernism
  (www.gospelcom.net)